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Artwork for Sirens: A Bombshell production
National Security
Department Of Defense
Tariffs
Climate Change
Reductions In Force
Congress
Iran
Gerrymandering
Nuclear Weapons
U.S. Economy
Trump Administration
Russia
Department Of Homeland Security
Pentagon
Federal Workforce
Ukraine
Summer Reading
Defense Budget
Government Reform
Hiring Practices

Sirens, a new podcast from the ladies of Bombshell, dissects the institutions of American power. With their trademark wit and charm, join Loren DeJonge Schulman, Radha Iyengar Plumb, and Erin Simpson as they sound the alarm on technology, governance, and national security issues. (And maybe lure men to their deaths.)

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes118Founded9 years ago
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NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

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Artwork for Sirens: A Bombshell production

Latest Episodes

Molly Reynolds joins us to talk through all the mysteries and magic of reconciliation, and if the appropriations works will ever be the same. We don't even get to the China trip because we have FISA 702 renewal, hantavirus, Germany troops rotations a... more

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CSET's Lauren Kahn joins us this week to discuss trends in drone deployment and whether or how they are changing the character of warfare. For the rest of the episode, well, it's a whole lot of "you're fired!" The Navy Secretary was fired (for battle... more

YouTube

Radha and Loren welcome Margaret Mullins (Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator) to discuss her new report proposal new models for organizing federal hiring and talent maangement (it's extremely cool, trust us). We have just way too much fun in it's a drill ... more

YouTube

Radha and Loren welcome the glorious Dr. Kori Schake to the podcast for a discussion of her new book, The State and the Soldier:A History of Civil-Military Relations in the United States; hurray! As we hopefully welcome spring, we grapple with chaoti... more

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Recent Guests

Molly Reynolds
Vice President and Director of the Governance Studies Program at Brookings
Brookings Institution
Episode: FISA, Ukraine, and Reconciliation
Lauren Kahn
Senior research analyst at Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology, focuses on national security applications of AI
Georgetown Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET)
Episode: Fired Navy Secretary, Fired NSB, and UAVs
Margaret Mullin
Former government official and director focused on public options and governance
Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator
Episode: Avignon, AI Risk, Federal Workforce Futures
Kori Schake
Senior Fellow and Director of the Foreign Defense Policy Studies Program
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Brent, Science Funding, State and the Soldier.
Martha Gimbel
Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Budget Lab at Yale
Yale Budget Lab
Episode: SAVE Act, VOA, and the Deficit
Dana Stroul
Director of Research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Episode: Endangerment, DOD AI, Iran
Rebecca Lissner
Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: Primes, Schedule P/C, and AI Sentiment
Carrie Cordero
Robert M. Gates Senior Fellow and General Counsel at the Center for a New American Security
Center for a New American Security
Episode: The Fed, Ed Accreditation, and DHS
Dr. Mara Karlin
Professor at SICE at Johns Hopkins and former strategy guru at the Department of Defense
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: FEMA, NATO, GAO

Hosts

Loren DeJonge Schulman
Host of Sirens; experienced policy analyst with Bombshell/Sirens production background.
Radha Iyengar Plumb
Co-host; policy-focused commentator with deep background in national security and governance.
Erin Simpson
Co-host; conveys national security topics with clarity and engaging delivery.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 817 ratings
  • Sharp, smart, and genuinely enjoyable

    The kind of podcast that makes you feel like you’re in on the smartest conversation at the table. The hosts are clever, deeply knowledgeable about how the policy world actually works, and refreshingly fun to listen to. A sharp, enjoyable, and highly listenable podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RecoveringScientist
    United States8 days ago
  • Disappointing…

    If you can’t bother to know the correct name of one of the most famous politicians of the moment, how can I trust that you are fact checking your work or grounding your takes in well-researched reality? Two stars because I liked the NYE traditions.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    egw751
    United States4 months ago
  • Must Listen!

    Cannot recommend enough. Fantastic balance of serious commentary mixed with fun. Certainly leans left but I really appreciate acknowledgement of many points of view, whether the hosts agree or not. Thoughtful guests too off the show in a great way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CrankItUp211
    United States7 months ago
  • Excellent analysis

    I really enjoy the thorough explanation of implications of administration decisions. This is not a podcast to have playing in the background- rather worth making the time to listen deeply.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SheNar1
    United States9 months ago
  • A must listen!

    These ladies give me hope for this country. Listen to this podcast to get smarter on natsec topics, how to think through complex topics, and best books/shows/movies to watch. Loren, Radha and Erin make this show fun and accessible even for those non-security folks. Also, Erin has the most amazing, buttery radio host voice!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nez_9
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows depth and accessibility; guests are strong and perspectives balanced.
Hosts are knowledgeable, insightful, and engaging for policy nerds.
Content blends serious analysis with approachable storytelling; highly recommended.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

FISA, Ukraine, and Reconciliation
Q: What does Molly Reynolds see as the path to a more coherent budget process?
She suggests reinforcing the value of lawmakers' own power, returning to deliberative regular order where feasible, and recognizing that long-term solutions require governance reforms beyond mere procedural tweaks.
FISA, Ukraine, and Reconciliation
Q: What are the risks of using reconciliation for discretionary spending like DHS funding?
Using reconciliation to fund discretionary DHS activities could sidestep traditional policy writers and restrictions, concentrate power in the majority, and reduce Congress's ability to shape spending with appropriate guardrails.
FISA, Ukraine, and Reconciliation
Q: How did reconciliation originate and evolve over time?
Reconciliation started as a budgeting tool to reconcile numbers quickly before the fiscal year, but over decades it became a partisan vehicle for passing major spending with fewer procedural obstacles, particularly for defense and other hot-button issues.
Endangerment, DOD AI, Iran
Q: What does the Iran episode reveal about succession planning and internal regime dynamics?
Iran's leadership shakeup suggests resilience through mosaic defense, with potential succession scenarios including a transition to a more centralized power structure, and the possibility that new leaders could try to engage with external powers for stability or control, all amid domestic protests and international pressure.
Endangerment, DOD AI, Iran
Q: Why is the Anthropic-DOD disagreement significant beyond a single contract?
It highlights a broader governance problem: a technology developed outside the government is shaping military operations, while the government seeks reliable, legally defensible, and ethically aligned deployment; the disagreement encapsulates how to balance corporate risk tolerance with national security needs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sirens: A Bombshell production

What is Sirens: A Bombshell production about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Discussions center on national security, governance, technology, and policy, often weaving civil-military relations, AI, defense strategy, and budgetary dynamics into accessible analysis. Episodes feature seasoned guests and hosts unpack how institutions shape outcomes—from military modernization and civilian oversight to AI governance and fiscal policy—while offering practical takeaways for professionals seeking deeper context on how policy decisions translate into real-world effects. A notable strength is the mix of rigorous policy insight with approachable storytelling and a consistent emphasis on women leaders in national security spheres, which can feel both inviting and authoritative for listeners across policy, tech, and business aud... more

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1. Net Assessment
2. War on the Rocks
3. Rational Security
4. The Lawfare Podcast
5. Angry Planet

How many episodes of Sirens: A Bombshell production are there?

Sirens: A Bombshell production launched 9 years ago and published 118 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Sirens: A Bombshell production?

Recent guests on Sirens: A Bombshell production include:

1. Molly Reynolds
2. Lauren Kahn
3. Margaret Mullin
4. Kori Schake
5. Martha Gimbel
6. Dana Stroul
7. Rebecca Lissner
8. Carrie Cordero

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