Podcasts about new american security

Peter E. Harrell, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins Kevin Frazier, AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a Senior Editor at Lawfare, to examine the White House's announcement that it will take a 10% share of Intel. They dive into the policy rationale for the stake as well as its legality. Peter and Kevin also explore whether this is just the start of such deals given that President Trump recently declared that “there will be more transactions, if not in this industry then other industries.”Find Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter E. Harrell, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, joins Kevin Frazier, AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a Senior Editor at Lawfare, to examine the White House's announcement that it will take a 10% share of Intel. They dive into the policy rationale for the stake as well as its legality. Peter and Kevin also explore whether this is just the start of such deals given that President Trump recently declared that “there will be more transactions, if not in this industry then other industries.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the implications of the Trump administration's increasingly muscular intimidation moves including the FBI raid on former National Security Adviser Dr. John Bolton's home and the National Guard deployment to Washington; the civil-military implications of the moves; the Pentagon's forced retirement of US Air Force chief Gen. Dave Allvin; what's next for Russia's war on Ukraine after President Trump's meetings with Vladimir Putin as well as Volodymyr Zelenskyy and allied leaders; outlook for peace and security guarantees for Ukraine; how China is viewing Trump's Ukraine negotiations and rhetoric; Beijing's increasingly aggressive intimidation efforts against Manila; in the wake of US tariffs and sanctions New Delhi moves to warm relations with Beijing; despite mounting international mounting pressure, Israel moves to occupy Gaza City as it seeks to relocate Gazans to South Sudan as a massive new settlement is authorized to split West Bank in two to prevent the future creation of a Palestinian state.

Alan Rozenshtein, Research Director at Lawfare, sits down with Sam Winter-Levy, a Fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Janet Egan, a Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security; and Peter Harrell, a Nonresident Fellow at Carnegie and a former Senior Director for International Economics at the White House National Security Council under President Joe Biden.They discuss the Trump administration's recent decision to allow U.S. companies Nvidia and AMD to export a range of advanced AI semiconductors to China in exchange for a 15% payment to the U.S. government. They talk about the history of the export control regime targeting China's access to AI chips, the strategic risks of allowing China to acquire powerful chips like the Nvidia H20, and the potential harm to the international coalition that has worked to restrict China's access to this technology. They also debate the statutory and constitutional legality of the deal, which appears to function as an export tax, a practice explicitly prohibited by the Constitution.Mentioned in this episode:The Financial Times article breaking the news about the Nvidia dealThe Trump Administration's AI Action PlanFind Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump-Putin summit on Friday, followed by Monday's unprecedented White House meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky and seven other European leaders, has left analysts wondering whether recent diplomacy will result in an end to hostilities—or if it's all just pageantry. Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Sergey Radchenko sit down with Ravi Agrawal to debrief these two high-level meetings. Kendall-Taylor is a former CIA analyst and a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Radchenko is a Johns Hopkins University professor and the author of To Run the World: The Kremlin's Cold War Bid for Global Power. Ravi Agrawal: Grading Trump's Ukraine Diplomacy Ivo H. Daalder: Russia and Ukraine Are as Far Apart as Ever Stephen M. Walt: Trump Has No Idea How to Do Diplomacy Rishi Iyengar: Key Takeaways From Trump's Meeting with Zelensky Keith Johnson: 7 Lingering Questions After the Trump Ukraine Summit Michael Hirsh: Trump's Putin Gambit Failed—but Maybe It Was Still Worth Trying Sergey Radchenko: Not Unprecedented but Unprincipled Christina Lu: ‘There's No Deal Until There's a Deal' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alan Rozenshtein, research director at Lawfare, sat down with Sam Winter-Levy, a fellow in the Technology and International Affairs Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Janet Egan, a senior fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security; and Peter Harrell, a nonresident fellow at Carnegie and a former senior director for international economics at the White House National Security Council under President Joe Biden.They discussed the Trump administration's recent decision to allow U.S. companies Nvidia and AMD to export a range of advanced AI semiconductors to China in exchange for a 15% payment to the U.S. government. They talked about the history of the export control regime targeting China's access to AI chips, the strategic risks of allowing China to acquire powerful chips like the Nvidia H20, and the potential harm to the international coalition that has worked to restrict China's access to this technology. They also debated the statutory and constitutional legality of the deal, which appears to function as an export tax, a practice explicitly prohibited by the Constitution.Mentioned in this episode:The Financial Times article breaking the news about the Nvidia dealThe Trump Administration's AI Action Plan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Trump administration took over command of the D.C. police department, and surged federal law enforcement officers and National Guard units into the city. While the United States has a long tradition of leaving most policing to state and local agencies, federal law enforcement has specific powers, and there are well-established limits on the use of military forces for domestic law enforcement, but the rules for DC are particular.In this episode, host David Aaron is joined by Carrie Cordero, General Counsel at the Center for a New American Security and former Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and Senior Associate General Counsel at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and Donell Harvin, Visiting Fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University and former Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence for the District of Columbia. Together, they unpack significant legal and policy considerations concerning the Executive Branch's recent actions and the open questions still in play.Show Notes:Center for a New American Security, The 21st Century National Guard: Expanding Missions, Modernizing AuthoritiesJust Security's Law Enforcement and National Security Archives"How to Truly Keep Washington, DC Safe: President Trump's militarized approach undercuts what's been working" by Donell Harvin

When the war in Ukraine began back in February 2022, the remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle or drone as its commonly known, was peripheral to the conflict. But three years on, the drone in all its shapes and sizes has taken on a central role in this battle, in the air, on land and at sea, for surveillance, reconnaissance, combat and other purposes. Now drone technology is evolving even further into the area of autonomous weapons. But whilst the drone can offer greater strategic and operational flexibility and a possible reduction in the number of military casualties, there are concerns that the drone, particularly in Ukraine's case, has prolonged the war. Only last year the United Nations reported that 118 countries now had military drones, along with at least 65 non-state actors. And as an increasing number of countries have begun to manufacture and export their own array of military drones, many are concerned about how drone technology is presenting a big challenge in terms of defensive measures. So, on this week's Inquiry, we're asking ‘How are drones changing the landscape of modern warfare? Contributors: James Patton Rogers, Author and Executive Director, Brooks Tech Policy Institute, Cornell University, New York State, USA. Dr Oleksandra Molloy, Senior Lecturer in Aviation, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia Stacie Pettyjohn, Director of the Defence Programme, Centre for A New American Security, Washington DC. USA. Dr. Elke Schwarz, Professor of Political Theory, Queen Mary University, London, UKPresenter: Gary O'Donoghue Producer: Jill Collins Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Toby James Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the geopolitical implications of President Trump's tariff war escalation on trading partners; use of US economic might to force Russia to make a peace deal ending the Ukraine war; prospect of talks between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin and what to expect if the two leaders meet; Washington's heavy sanctions on New Delhi with a heavy sanctions for violating US and EU sanctions on Russian oil as furious Indian leaders consider ending US weapons purchases; Ukraine's long-range attacks on Russia's refineries as existing sanctions continue to weaken the Russian economy; Australia's decision to pick Japan's Mogami-class frigate as its next major surface warship in a $6.5 billion deal that would be the biggest Japanese export contract since World War II; Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders agree to a US-brokered deal that gives Baku the transit corridor through southern tip of Armenia it has long sought but with 99-year US economic development zone in Armenia's Zangezur region; developments in Lebanon and Iran; and analysis of Israel's plan to occupy all of Gaza starting with Gaza City to defeat Hamas before handing it to Arab forces and Germany's decision to block export of German arms to Israel that could be used in Gaza.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian the Senate remains in session to markup the defense appropriations bill; moves to block members from trading stock but exempts President Trump and Vice President Vance; twice rejected Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., proposals to restrict arms sales to Israel; confirmed political appointees but Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan briefly blocked Adm. Darryl Caudle from becoming the next chief of naval operations demanding the long-closed Adak Naval Air Station be reopened; South Korea accepted 15 percent tariffs ahead of Trump's Aug. 1 deadline as the president slapped higher tariffs on nations worldwide including 35 percent on Canada, 39 percent on Switzerland, and 50 percent on Brazil to punish the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsenaro who launched an insurrection to remain in power; Mexico's 90-day extension to make a deal; France and Germany frustration with EU for failing to fight a 15 percent tariffs; Trump's demand Russia and Ukraine strike a peace deal in 25 days and imposition of secondary sanctions on India for buying Russian oil; the proposal by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-AK, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, for $54.6 billion in aid for Ukraine; with the Talisman Saber military exercise underway in Australia and Singapore, Washington blocked Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te from transiting the United States enroute to Paraguay to avoid disrupting trade talks with Beijing; and growing international pressure on Israel over growing starvation in Gaza as the Arab League pressures Hamas.

Six months in, President Trump's trade war has entered a new phase. Just this weekend, the European Union agreed to a trade deal that includes a promise to buy $750 billion worth of American energy products over the next three years. And this week, with the August 1 tariff deadline looming, the US and China have restarted negotiations. Trump has been using tools of economic warfare since his first term. And the Biden administration embraced policies such as steep tariffs on electric vehicle imports from China, and levying sanctions against Russia aimed at stifling its energy sector.  These economic chokepoints are part of a broader shift of the global economy. Countries are weaponizing economic power through sanctions, tariffs, and export controls — tools that were designed before the complex geopolitical competition we see today.  So how did we get here? What does this new age of economic warfare mean for global stability and the global economy? And how might these tools reshape everything from energy markets to global banking systems in the years ahead? This week, we're revisiting a conversation Jason Bordoff had with Eddie Fishman about his book "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare," which came out in February. The book traces the evolution of economic warfare from the “War on Terror” to today's great power competition. Eddie is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy and an adjunct professor at Columbia University SIPA. He also serves as an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Additional support from Martina Chow and Richard Nephew. This episode was engineered by Sean Marquand and Gregory Vilfranc. Note: This episode is a re-run. It was originally published on February 11, 2025.

Janet Egan, Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security; Jessica Brandt, Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security at the Council on Foreign Relations; Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at Abundance Institute; and Tim Fist, Director of Emerging Technology Policy at the Institute for Progress join Kevin Frazier, the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a Senior Editor at Lawfare for a special version of Scaling Laws.This episode was recorded just hours after the release of the AI Action Plan. About 180 days ago, President Trump directed his administration to explore ways to achieve AI dominance. His staff has attempted to do just that. This group of AI researchers dives into the plan's extensive recommendations and explore what may come next.Find Scaling Laws on the Lawfare website, and subscribe to never miss an episode.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the furore over whether to release convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's records again upended Congress as the Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., abruptly adjourned the house as appropriations, another continuing resolution, rescissions, reconciliation, the NDAA and the prospect of a government shutdown looming; President Trump announces a tariff deal with Japan and as talks with China and the EU move ahead that likely will result in higher baseline trade taxes; as allies work to support Ukraine, tensions in the country rise over President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's move against anti corruption authorities as Russia presses an offensive that continues to advance; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders department leaders to stop engaging with think tanks; and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as starvation spreads and the president's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff breaks off talks in Qatar saying Hamas isn't interested in a deal and an Israeli cabinet minister says the campaign is an effort to empty Gaza of Gazans.

Janet Egan, Senior Fellow with the Technology and National Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, Jessica Brandt, Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security at the Council on Foreign Relations, Neil Chilson, Head of AI Policy at Abundance Institute, and Tim Fist, Director of Emerging Technology Policy at the Institute for Progress join Kevin Frazier, the AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law and a Senior Editor at Lawfare for a special version of Scaling Laws.This episode was recorded just hours after the release of the AI Action Plan. About 180 days ago, President Trump directed his administration to explore ways to achieve AI dominance. His staff has attempted to do just that. This group of AI researchers dives into the plan's extensive recommendations and explore what may come next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does the United States need a new playbook — or just fewer plays? In this charged episode, big ideas collide over how to sequence American power across the Middle East, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific. Ryan is joined by A. Wess Mitchell (Marathon Initiative), Stacie Pettyjohn (Center for a New American Security), and Justin Logan (Cato Institute) for a scintillating debate over the future of U.S. strategy.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate Republicans' move to rescind $9 billion in approved funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting; the House Armed Services Committee's NDAA markup as the Senate Armed Services Committee filed their version of the bill; President Trump's decision to sell arms to NATO members that would pass the weapons to Ukraine and 50-day deadline to make a peace deal otherwise Moscow would face stiff primary and secondary sanctions; the meeting between British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz; France's new national security strategy; the de-escalating US-China trade war as a possible summit looms; Japan's Defense White Paper ahead of important Upper House election Sunday; China-Australia trade ties as war games and defense pressures mount; Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's eroding coalition; Israel's strikes on Syria to prompt the country's interim leader to protect the country's Druze minority; and the rising death toll in Gaza rises as a Hamas deal remains elusive.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the defense implications of Republican passage of President Trump's signature legislative agenda that cuts taxes and benefits but also increases the debt as lawmakers seek two more reconciliation packages over the coming years; the Supreme Court's decision to allow Trump to unilaterally shrink the government workforce; the president ratchets up his tariff war threatening nations with punishment unless they agree to his terms, straining US relationships worldwide; frustrated with Vladimir Putin, Trump pledges more weapons to Kyiv as Moscow steps up attacks on Ukraine; British Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agree to an unprecedented nuclear pact to respond to “extreme threats” to Europe without US help, a combined joint force, weapons collaboration and immigration; Secretary of State Marco Rubio vows to trim his “bloated” department by 15 percent as he makes his first trip to Asia to attenuate the backlash from his boss' tariffs, including assuaging Australian concerns over the Pentagon's AUKUS review; despite punishing air strikes, the Houthis sink two cargo ships; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is seen in public as evidence mounts that Iran has retained its nuclear stocks; and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu makes his third visit to Washington.

For years, U.S. presidents have complained that European governments spend far too little on their militaries, leaving the United States to pick up a disproportionate share of the tab for the transatlantic alliance. But in the past few years, Europe's defense spending has exploded. At the NATO summit last week, U.S. allies committed to spending five percent of GDP on defense. That's far more than the two percent target U.S. policymakers long called for. It's even more than the United States itself spends on defense—the result of both escalating pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and escalating threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Celeste Wallander, until recently the top defense official overseeing U.S. policy toward Europe and Russia, warns in a new Foreign Affairs essay that this transformation will have more complicated consequences than most Americans expect. A more capable Europe will also mean a more independent Europe, more willing to defy U.S. priorities and make demands for cooperation. Wallander has been a key player in the transatlantic alliance as a top official on the National Security Council and in the Pentagon, including as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs during the Biden administration. She is now executive director of Penn Washington and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. The United States, in her view, will have to take a very different approach to the transatlantic alliance—at a time when it's as vital as ever, in Ukraine and beyond. You can find sources, transcripts, and more episodes of The Foreign Affairs Interview at https://www.foreignaffairs.com/podcasts/foreign-affairs-interview. 

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Republican opposition to President Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” as GOP leaders prepare to adopt unprecedented budget gimmicks to pay for the increasingly unpopular legislation; reconciliation, appropriations, the NDAA and rescissions; what's next for Iran's nuclear program after 12 days of hostilities that including US bombers striking Tehran's nuclear sites; Iran's vow not to return to the negotiating table despite Washington's call for more talks; NATO leaders' strategy of lavishing praise on the US president to curry favor and stall the withdrawal of American forces from Europe; Xi Jinping decides to skip the annual BRICS meeting in Rio de Janeiro prompting questions why the Chinese leader would miss such an important gathering; what's next in Gaza as Israel continues strikes and constricts aid; and the national implications of Democratic Socialist-candidate Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York mayoral primary.

Just when people were saying the future of air power was small, distributed systems like UAVs, the US struck Iran's nuclear program infrastructure with an old-fashioned manned penetrating bombing raid. Which future is it? We ask two experts: retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, the planner behind Operation Desert Storm, and Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn of the Center for a New American Security. Plus headlines in airpower. Powered by GE!

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Reconciliation and Senate rescissions as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee; two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot and two are killed; Israel and Iran continue to trade attacks as Jerusalem presses ahead its drive to destroy Tehran's nuclear capabilities through air attacks and troops on the ground; after initially demanding Iran's “unconditional surrender,” President Trump has said he's given Iranian leaders an “ultimate ultimatum” to give up its nuclear aspirations while still weighing whether US forces should join Israel in strike; America is the only nation with the capabilities to bomb Iran's deeply buried sites, but doing so might cause nuclear contamination; at the G7 meeting in Canada, Trump again sided with Russia as leaders prepare to converge on The Hague for what will be an abbreviated NATO summit during which the US president is expected to announce the withdrawal of some American troops from Europe; the US Indo-Pacific Command raises its threat level as two Chinese aircraft carriers operate together in the South China Sea; as Britain's HMS Prince of Wales also is operating in the region; and the president cleaned the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel after demanding the US government hold a “golden share” in the new entity.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss uncertainty in Congress as reconciliation, the Trump administration's rescissions request, authorizations, appropriations and markups move ahead; President Trump deploys 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to LA amidst largely peaceful protests against the administration's deportation policies; American and Chinese negotiators agree to allow the US access to critically important rare earths as tariffs on China will be capped at 55 percent; the Pentagon reviews the agreement among Australia, Britain and the United States to cooperate on nuclear attack submarines; Russia surges drone attacks on Ukraine as it masses forces for a major offensive to retake territory; talks to craft a ceasefire increasingly diminish as Russia concludes it can win the war; Washington withdraws US diplomats from Iraq as Israel is imminently expected to attack Iran as the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency declares Tehran in breach of nonproliferation obligations as Iranian officials vow to expand their nuclear program.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the outlook for President Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” that's in peril as senators worry that tax cuts will increase the debt as the Congressional Budget Office warns that the debt will increase by another $2.4 trillion; Elon Musk called the spending plan a “disgusting abomination,” prompting a flurry of insults between the president and the man who helped getting him reelected as the world's richest man turned his sights on Republican leaders; reconciliation, the NDAA, appropriations as well as he administration's rescission and more detailed budget plans; the White House's decision tap US Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich as NATO's next Supreme Allied Commander Europe, signaling America will keep the top military job in NATO; Britain's Strategic Defence Review that proposes more spending for nuclear weapons, doubling the attack sub fleet, buying more F-35 fighters, improving ground forces and jointness; Ukraine's daring attacks on Russia's strategic bombers and Kerch bridge; the consequential Shangri-La dialogue including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's warning about the threat posed by China; elections change the political dynamics in Seoul and Warsaw; Gaza descends further into chaos as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says that Israel needs to wean itself off US weaponry.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate's take on the House's massive reconciliation package; President Trump's block on aerospace and chip exports to China and international students from studying in America, and whether the moves stem from president's frustration with stalled trade talks with Beijing or decoupling the world's two largest economies; Russia and Ukraine exchange massive strikes as Trump expresses frustration with Vladimir Putin but refuses to punish the Russian leader and continues to suggest he'll walk away from ceasefire talks; allies ponder the the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as the NATO summit looms and Washington prepares to pull US forces from Europe; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies' annual Shangri-La Dialogue; analysis of Israel's continuing assault on Gaza, expansion of West Bank settlements, strikes on Houthi targets and Bibi Netanyahu's renewed threat to strike Iran's nuclear facilities even as America talks with Tehran; and the administration's move to curb reporters' access to the Pentagon.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the reconciliation package narrowly passed by the House that has bond markets worried that US debt is poised to grow; President Trump taps the vice chief of space operations, Gen Mike Guetlein, to spearhead the Golden Dome air and missile defense system that will cost some $170 billion to establish over the coming three years; the US Air Force takes possession of a Qatari Boeing 747-8 jet that will be converted by L3Harris into a presidential transport; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan; after a two-hour conversation, Vladimir Putin convinced Trump to walk away from Ukraine talks; Iran doubts a deal with the United States labeling Washington's denuclearization demands as outrageous; the UK and EU agree strike a trade and security deal; the changing face of nuclear deterrence in the Indo-Pacific; the launch of North Korea's second big destroyer goes badly; two Israeli diplomats are gunned down outside a Jewish museum in Washington; Israeli forces end an 11-week total blockade of aid to Gaza as Bibi Netanyahu launched a massive new offensive to take the entire Palestinian exclave; and Israeli troops fire warning shots at European diplomats in the West Bank.

In this episode of Current Account, Clay is joined by Richard Fontaine, CEO of the Center for a New American Security, to discuss U.S. foreign policy as President Trump wraps up his first official foreign visit this term. Clay and Richard begin with takeaways from President Trump's trip to the Middle East, what the White House may be thinking in relation to Iran and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), where things stand between the U.S. and China outside the realm of tariffs, how the President and his cabinet are approaching the recent and ongoing conflicts between Israel and Gaza, Russia and Ukraine, and India and Pakistan, what the reaction of the United States's major trade partners has been to its foreign policy approach and much more. This IIF Podcast was hosted by Clay Lowery, Executive Vice President, Research and Policy, with production and research contributions from Christian Klein, Digital Graphics and Production Associate and Miranda Silverman, Senior Program Assistant.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Republicans on Capitol Hill publicly squabble about how deeply to cut Medicaid to cover tax cuts; US and Chinese negotiators strike a 90-day pause on the steepest tariffs; the ceasefire between India and Pakistan; days after floating the idea of accepting a $400 million 747 jet from Qatar as a future Air Force One, President Trump visited the Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE where he struck deals and met with Syria's new leader, lifted sanctions, and delivered a message to Iran; Russian premier Vladimir Putin skips planned meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul meeting that would have been the first direct talks between the leaders in years; Taiwan reports five instances of undersea cable damage this year, compared with three in past years; and Israel Defense Force leaders worry Gaza may be sliding rapidly toward an even bigger humanitarian disaster as air strikes resume.

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. But just hours later, multiple explosions were heard in India-controlled Kashmir and India’s foreign secretary accused Pakistan of breaching the truce. Laura Barrón-López speaks with Lisa Curtis at the Center for a New American Security for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire Saturday after the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades. But just hours later, multiple explosions were heard in India-controlled Kashmir and India’s foreign secretary accused Pakistan of breaching the truce. Laura Barrón-López speaks with Lisa Curtis at the Center for a New American Security for more. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate and House response to President Trump's proposed $1 trillion defense budget; whether lawmakers are ready to push back against the president; the outline of a trade deal with the UK as US and Chinese negotiators prepare to meet in Geneva; DoD seeks to cut four-star ranks by 20 percent; India and Pakistan trade strikes two weeks after 26 Indian tourists are killed by Pakistani terrorists in Indian-controlled Kashmir; Frederick Mertz becomes Germany's chancellor and makes his first trip to Paris to talk about improving European security; Russia prepares to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a Victory Day parade that includes Xi Jinping as Ukraine makes clear it can't guarantee that attacks won't happen; CIA's former director of operations says the Biden administration gave Kyiv enough aid not to lose but not enough to win; Trump halts attacks on Houthis pending talks; Israel and Syria engage in talks as Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu says all of Gaza will be captured as reservists are recalled for a massive new offensive.

In this episode, Michèle Flournoy joins Andy West to share her perspectives on how companies can build their geopolitical resilience. Michèle is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, a strategic advisory firm that helps CEOs and investors navigate geopolitical risks and opportunities. She served the US government as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to 2012 and was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense. In January 2007, Michèle co-founded the Center for a New American Security – a bipartisan think tank dedicated to developing strong, pragmatic, and principled national security policies. She served as its President until 2009, returned as CEO in 2014, and today serves as the Chair. Andy West is a senior partner and the global coleader of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice. Comments and opinions expressed by interviewees are their own and do not represent or reflect the opinions, policies, or positions of McKinsey & Company or have its endorsement. Related Insights Tariffs and global trade: The economic impact on business Navigating tariffs with a geopolitical nerve center Tariffs on the move? A guide for CEOs for 2025 and beyond How American business can prosper in the new geopolitical era. Insights from McKinsey and Company’s Geopolitics PracticeSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Trump administration's proposed $1 trillion defense budget — a 13 percent increase over current spending — that according to a Bloomberg report prioritizes the Golden Dome missile defense project, shipbuilding and nuclear modernization, border security and a 3.8 percent military pay raise; House deliberations on $150 billion defense reconciliation package; Trump's declining popularity and it's impact on GOP lawmakers; continued disarray among Democrats; Trump's decision to fire National Security Adviser Tim Waltz and replace him with Secretary of State Marco Rubio — who will perform both jobs as Waltz will become America's next UN ambassador; China's decision to accept US offers to negotiate on tariffs, but ask White House to ease 145 percent customs duties on Chinese goods as a good will gesture; Washington and Kyiv finish a rare earth elements deal with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledging that Ukraine will remain sovereign and prosperous and that Russian entities that participated in the war wouldn't be rewarded; opposition to Trump propelled Mark Carney to victory in Canada and may help Antony Albanese stay in office in Australia; Britain's Reform Party takes historically Labor seat in by elections; Israel's two strikes on Syria; and the deadly explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas oil complex.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump's endorsement of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the wake of additional revelations of using messaging apps for official business; the president's shifting stance on tariffs and ousting Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell after markets reacted furiously to his suggestion that the central banker's tenure should be ended; how the shifts are being interpreted in Beijing, Brussels and elsewhere; China lifts sanctions on European lawmakers to warm ties with Europe; after heavy attacks on Ukrainian cities, Trump called on Vladimir Putin to stop attacks while his administration continues to pressure Kyiv to recognize Crimea and other occupied territories as Russian otherwise America would walk away from peace negotiations; Vice President Vance visits India as the administration orders US diplomats to avoid events commemorating the end of the Vietnam War; and claims by Ronen Bar, the former chief of the Shin Bet, Israel's interior security force fired by Bibi Netanyahu that the prime minister wants to turn the country into a police state.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the crash in worldwide markets and the US bond market in the wake of President Trump's tariffs; how an unprecedented US bond selloff and spike in US borrowing rates drove the president to freeze tariffs for 90 days, but raise tariffs on China and demand Beijing call him to make a deal; instead, China retaliated by imposing tariffs on American goods and blocking rare earth mineral exports, stressing they will win a trade war and any other kind of war with America; Republicans lawmakers are driving a $5 trillion tax cut package just as US borrowing rates are going up; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cancelled $5 billion in contracts and fired the commander of the Pittufik Space Base for allegedly criticizing Vice President Vance as the administration steps up secret planning to acquire Greenland; recommendations for Lt Gen Dan Caine as the Senate confirms the US Air Force officer as the nation's next chairman of the joint chiefs; Ukraine surges war production and says it captured Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia; and Bibi Netanyahu visits Washington where he is pressured by Trump to not attack Iran and end the Gaza war and Israeli forces cut aid and work for drive Gazans out of the enclave.

On this episode of the Defense & Aerospace Report Strategy Series, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Becca Wasser and Phil Sheers of the Center for a New American Security join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the new report they coauthored “From Production Lines to Front Lines: Revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base for Future Great Power Conflict.”

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump's tariffs on nations worldwide — driving markets to their worst day since 2020 — as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns nations not to retaliate otherwise they will face higher tariffs; president's decision to fire three National Security Council staffers and NSA Director Gen. Tim Haugh and his deputy at conservative activist Laura Loomer's request; Republican lawmakers near reconciliation measure to cut cuts and government spending as well as give the Pentagon more money; House Speaker Mike Johnson weakens his own grip on power over whether lawmakers with young children can vote remotely backfires; Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, speaks for 25 straight hours to inspire Democrats; Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats revolt with ranking member Sen. Jean Shaheen, D-NH, overheard telling her Chairman Jim Risch, R-ID, she's tired of Trump running the committee; days after his vice president lambasted Denmark's stewardship of Greenland, Trump said he wouldn't rule out force to take the island; as it pressures Ukraine, Washington hosted Russia's sovereign wealth fund boss Kirill Dmitriev; Beijing tests a new amphibious capability as it stepped up wargames around Taiwan; and Israel takes more territory in Gaza as a new chief of defense staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir adopts a new strategy to take a hold territory but also play a direct role in humanitarian aid as Gazans protest Hamas and its brutality and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu continues efforts to subordinate the judiciary and security services.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss an update on an appropriations measure and reconciliation package as US officials say America will run out of money in August; Maine Republican Sen Susan Collins sides with Democrats in arguing President Trump can't pick and choose what to fund after Congress decides on appropriations; worried they might lose National Security Adviser Mike Waltz's open congressional seat, GOP leaders have urged the White House to also rescind the nomination of New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik as America's next United Nations ambassador; Trump imposes a 25 percent tax on all cars imported into the United States and threatens higher retaliation if Canada and the EU work together as Canadian officials warn the historically strong relationship with its southern neighbor will never again be the same; the White House continues to ratchet up pressure on Greenland sending Vice President Vance on an uninvited visit to the world's largest island to make the case for annexation; Russia demands sanctions be dropped before it considers ending the Ukraine war; the EU taps France to help negotiate the end of the Ukraine war on Europe's behalf as nations work to bolster spending; after America surrenders the airwaves and allies worry about Washington's commitment to the Indo Pacific, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits the region and America deploys the new Typhon missile system to the Philippines; Beijing steps up its regional intimidation and the EU tries to expand its role in Asia; concerns about the future of Israel's democracy as judicial changes raise questions about the future impartiality of the country's high court; Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu ends its ceasefire with Hamas with a wave of strikes on Gaza and fires Mossad Director David Barnea; and worries that Washington is planning to strike Iran.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Congress averts a government shutdown and passes a full-year continuing resolution while continuing work on a reconciliation measure; lawmakers complain about the Trump administration's proposed consolidation of combatant commands including handing NATO's top military jobs to Europeans, but allow President Trump and Elon Musk to systemically gut government agencies; driven by Washington, Ukraine agrees to a ceasefire as Kyiv strikes Russian bomber base; historically, the first foreign trip by a Canadian prime minister is Washington, but this time, Mark Carney visited Paris and London as a French nuclear attack submarine visited Halifax; European leaders agree on a new defense strategy and plans to deploy up to 30,000 troops to Ukraine; Trump's move to strike Houthis and plan an attack against Iran; Israel ends its ceasefire with Hamas with large scale airstrikes across Gaza as Egypt moves troops and tanks to the southern Gaza border to keep Gazans from fleeing into Egyptian territory; and America's traditional allies in Asia move swiftly to mirror Europe in preparing for a future absent American leadership in the region.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's move to avoid a government shutdown as lawmakers continue to wrangle a debt and budget deal; how retirements, firing of probationary employees and a travel freeze will impact DoD programs as the department was already struggling to bring aboard a new generation of talent; the partnership between Trump and Elon Musk as the world's richest man deposits another $100 million in the PAC the president has used to strong arm lawmakers; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision to disband the Pentagon's long-range strategy and forecasting organization, the Office of Net Assessment; the White House ends an 11-day halt on weapons supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv agrees to Washington's ceasefire demands but Moscow — seeing battlefield gains and a new ally in America — demands greater concessions to pause much less end the war; as Trump escalates his trade war with Canada and Europe, European interest in US weaponry drops with Portugal reportedly deciding against buying F-35 Lightning II jets from the United States; Israel cuts electricity and supplies to Gaza as the ceasefire that allowed hostages to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners expires; Senate and House retirements and remembering Alan Simpson, the former Republican senator from Wyoming.

From March 1, 2022: Over the past week, the United States and its allies have responded to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine with some unprecedented actions of their own—economic sanctions that target Russia in ways that have never been tried before, let alone applied to one of the world's largest economies over just a handful of days.To discuss this revolutionary sanctions strategy and what it may mean moving forward, Scott R. Anderson sat down with two sanctions experts: Julia Friedlander, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Rachel Ziemba, adjunct fellow at the Center for a New American Security. They talked about the different types of sanctions being applied, what impact they will have on the Russian economy and what the consequences may be, not just for the conflict in Ukraine, but for the rest of the world moving forward.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss lawmakers' drive to target Medicare and Medicaid for savings as the US government rapidly runs out of money; President Trump takes a victory lap before a joint session of Congress and makes his case for tariffs, his approach to Ukraine and taking Greenland; after intensive counseling by his allies to swallow his pride, Volodymyr Zelenskyy moves to curry favor with Trump; as America cuts aid and intelligence to Kyiv, Britain and France work to shape a peace plan and European nations race to help Ukraine and bolster spending; Hong Kong's CK Hutchison sells management of the Cristobal and Balboa ports on either side of the Panama Canal through 2047 to Blackrock for $23 billion; China vows to fight tariff, trade and “any other war;” Trump again threatens Hamas with annihilation as Washington negotiates directly with the terror group as Arab League nations craft their own peace proposal and rebuilding plan for Gaza, and Washington reaches out to Tehran for nuclear talks. This program was recorded on Friday morning before Trump threatened Russia with “large scale” sanctions after Moscow's major attack on Ukraine.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss GOP lawmakers move toward a budget resolution and reconciliation measure as defense hawks work to boost Pentagon spending; prospects fora full-year continuing resolution; the race to redirect 8 percent from DoD spending a year for five years to the administration's new priorities; President Trump's firings of the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, the former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Vice Chief of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife and the three military service judge advocates general; Elon Musk and his team continue to terrorize federal workers; Washington sides with Beijing, Pyongyang and Minsk by voting against a UN measure blaming Russia for the war against Ukraine as Washington extorts gas, oil and rare earths concessions from Kyiv without extending security guarantees; the suggestion that a neutral Ukraine will ensure peace; Trump's bizarre Gaza video as the first phase of hostage and prisoner exchanges end between Israel and Hamas.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump's continuing demand for a “big beautiful bill” that includes all his priorities and the Senate passage of its version of the border bill without the massive tax cuts or other legislation the president wants; lawmakers seek to boost defense spending while the Pentagon presses military services to cut 6 percent a year over five years from their budgets that would be redirected to fund new priorities like border security, the Iron Dome air and missile defense initiative the border as well as unmanned systems, attack submarines and the strategic nuclear deterrent; in Riyadh, Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to betray Ukraine and rehabilitate Russia and its economy as Trump denounces Volodymyr Zelenskyy as an unpopular dictator who started the war, mirroring Moscow's propaganda; Washington took on an even more Stalinist flavor as the administration suggested it has submitted to Congress a list of senior officers that would be fired including the Chairman, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Army chief of staff, although sources said the list was “unofficial” and may have been floated as both a warning to those named and to distract attention after a bad week; European leaders met in Paris, vowing support for Ukraine and pledging to continue punishing Russia as faith in America as a reliable ally and global leader evaporates as many wonder whether Washington represents a threat; as America commits great power suicide, China mounts an aggressive PR campaign to paint the United States as an unreliable actor and pledges to fill the void left in the abrupt end American aid and leadership; what's next as the bodies of dead Israeli hostages including two small children are exchanged and Washington sticks to its plan to depopulate Gaza and redevelop it.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss efforts to raise defense spending by $100 billion; President Trump's claim that billions in waste can be cut from the Pentagon as Elon Musk and the Muskovites set their sights on DoD; Trump proposed talks with China and Russia to allow Pentagon spending to be halved; Trump alarms America's closest allies after disclosing a 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin as the two negotiate ending the Ukraine war, rejecting NATO membership for Kyiv, pledging reciprocal visits and calling for Russia to return to the G7; Vice President Vance rips into allies at the Munich Security Conference; allies see Europe shielding Ukraine as Washington helps Putin get off the hook for a war he started that's caused more than 1 million casualties and displaced millions more; a day after getting out of jail free, Putin strikes the sarcophagus containing the reactor at Chernobyl that exploded in 1986; US allies in Europe and Pacific consider new alliances of like-minded democracies to better defend themselves and preserve free trade; president says US businesses shouldn't be constrained by laws against bribing foreign officials; King Abdullah visits the White House where he's put in a tough spot by the President's insistence that America would annex Gaza and force Jordan and Egypt to accept 2 million Palestinians who now live there; Bibi Netanyahu threatens to end the ceasefire and resume military operations; and America's indo-pacific commander warns that Chinese war games around taiwan are now so incessant they could serve as a fig leaf for a military invocation of the island.

 At the start of February, President Trump launched a trade war. The president announced sweeping tariffs on goods imported from China, Canada, and Mexico. Although he temporarily backed away from the highest penalties, Trump clearly indicated that tariffs will be central to his policy agenda. This follows the Biden administration's embrace of steep tariffs on electric vehicle imports from China, and sanctions against Russia aimed at stifling its energy sector.  These economic chokepoints are part of a broader shift of the global economy. Countries are weaponizing economic power through sanctions, tariffs, and export controls — reflecting a shift away from decades of global economic integration. So how did we get here? What does this new age of economic warfare mean for global stability and the global economy? And how might these tools reshape everything from energy markets to global banking systems in the years ahead? This week, Jason Bordoff talks to Eddie Fishman about his upcoming book "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare," which comes out on February 25th. The book traces the evolution of economic warfare from the “War on Terror” to today's great power competition. Eddie is a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy and an adjunct professor at Columbia University. He also serves as an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Erin Hardick, Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive producer.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the latest on appropriations, appropriations, reconciliation and debt ceiling discussions on Capitol Hill as the prospect of a year-long continuing resolution and a government shutdown loom; the Senate moves to clear more of President Trump's nominees including Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services; Elon Musk and his small team move at lightning speed to siphon unprecedented amounts of personal and financial data from agencies under the guise of improving government efficiency and move to gut the US Agency for International Development, offer retirement packages across government including to the CIA's entire staff and fire some 40 percent of FBI agents; the implications of USAID's demise as China, Russia and autocrats rejoice; whether distracted intelligence, law enforcement, allies or senior leaders will result in a future terror attack at home or incident abroad; analysis of Trump's statement that the United States will take over Gaza and relocate more than 2 million Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan and redevelop it; and what to expect at the upcoming Munich Security Conference as America's closest allies increasingly question their relationship with Washington.

The tech industry is calling this AI's “Sputnik Moment” – and President Donald Trump has said it's a “wake-up call” for U.S. companies. We're talking about DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup that has rapidly emerged as a formidable contender in the global AI race.DeepSeek is making waves for developing powerful open-source language models that rival leading U.S. competitors – at a fraction of the cost and with far lower computational requirements.The DeepSeek saga raises urgent questions about China's AI ambitions, the future of U.S. technological leadership, and the strategic implications of open-source AI models. How did DeepSeek get here? What does its rise mean for competition between China and the United States? And how should U.S. policymakers respond?Today, we're going beyond the headlines to dive deeper into DeepSeek. We'll explore popular myths and misconceptions surrounding DeepSeek, the technology behind it, and what it means for national security and U.S. policy going forward. Joining the show to unpack these developments are leading experts in the field: Dr. Keegan McBride, Lauren Wagner, and Lennart HeimKeegan is a Lecturer at the University of Oxford and an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Lauren is a researcher and investor, now with ARC Prize, previously worked at Meta and Google. And Lennart is a researcher at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.This episode was hosted by Dr. Brianna Rosen, Director of Just Security's AI and Emerging Technologies Initiative and Senior Research Associate at the University of Oxford. Show Notes: Lennart Heim (LinkedIn – Website – X) Keegan McBride (LinkedIn – X)Brianna Rosen (LinkedIn – X – Bluesky)Lauren Wagner (LinkedIn — X)Lennart's Just Security article with Konstantin F. Pilz (Bluesky – LinkedIn – Website – X) “What DeepSeek Really Changes About AI Competition”Keegan's Just Security article “Open Source AI: The Overlooked National Security Imperative” Just Security's Artificial Intelligence coverageJust Security's Tech Policy under Trump 2.0 SeriesMusic: “Broken” by David Bullard from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/david-bullard/broken (License code: OSC7K3LCPSGXISVI)

Over the weekend, Silicon Valley had a collective freakout. A Chinese company called DeepSeek released a new artificial intelligence model on par with American rivals, and appeared to do so at a fraction of the cost. For Washington and Wall Street, it's a major wake up call that China's AI ambitions haven't been stifled. On POLITICO Tech, Center for a New American Security fellow Bill Drexel joins host Steven Overly to break down the significance of DeepSeek — starting with whether it's a sign that China is winning the AI race.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The clock is ticking on a potential ban on TikTok. In April, Congress and President Biden gave the app's Beijing-based parent company 270 days to find a new owner or face a shutdown. They argued that Chinese control of the platform was a national security threat. Geoff Bennett discussed the latest developments with Carrie Cordero of the Center for a New American Security. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Paul Scharre is an artificial intelligence expert who led the Department of Defense's working group to establish policies on autonomous weapons systems. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the latest (unclassified) capabilities of AI on the battlefield, the AI arms race with China, and the fine line between utopia and apocalypse which emerging AI tech has to offer us. •    Equipping Congress to deal with Artificial Intelligence •    How software has changed since the 1990s •    No rules: the machine is learning on its own •    Emergence of robots in the Iraq War •    The Pentagon's policy on autonomous weapons •    Drones over Ukraine •    The 4 Battlegrounds of Artificial Intelligence •    The data race with China •    “Why did ChatGPT say that?” •    Chinese spies infiltrating American tech •    Integrating more AI into the U.S. military •    China's 1984 Nightmare in Xinjiang Province •    “They literally call it SkyNet.” •    Scary hypotheticals for when AI “becomes human” •    “We've seen models engage in spontaneous deception.” •    AI cooperation agreements with China •    How do we regulate the next frontiers of AI? •    Could AI build a nuclear weapon? Paul Scharre is the Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security. He is the author of "Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" and "Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War." Scharre previously worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) where he played a leading role in establishing policies on unmanned and autonomous systems and emerging weapons technologies. He led the Department of Defense (DoD) working group that drafted DoD Directive 3000.09, establishing the department's policies on autonomy in weapon systems. He also led DoD efforts to establish policies on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programs and directed energy technologies. Scharre was involved in the drafting of policy guidance in the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance, 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, and secretary-level planning guidance. Prior to joining OSD, Scharre served as a special operations reconnaissance team leader in the Army's 3rd Ranger Battalion and completed multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Army's Airborne, Ranger, and Sniper Schools and Honor Graduate of the 75th Ranger Regiment's Ranger Indoctrination Program. Follow Paul on X at @paul_scharre.