Sirens: A Bombshell production

Loren DeJonge Schulman, Radha Iyengar Plumb, Erin Simpson

National Security

Department Of Defense

Tariffs

Climate Change

Reductions In Force

Iran

Gerrymandering

Nuclear Weapons

Congress

U.S. Economy

Trump Administration

Russia

Department Of Homeland Security

Pentagon

Federal Workforce

Summer Reading

Defense Budget

Government Reform

Hiring Practices

China

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.)

816 ratings

Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	118	Founded	9 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	News CommentaryNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

Avignon, AI Risk, Federal Workforce Futures

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

15 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 6 min

YouTube

Brent, Science Funding, State and the Soldier.

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

2 Apr 2026 • 54 min

SAVE Act, VOA, and the Deficit

Radha and Loren are so excited to welcome the Co-Director of the Yale Budget Lab, Martha Gimbel, to explore her team's work and her fantastic recent testimony exploring how the the national debt and tariffs show up in the lived experience of American... more

20 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 1 min

YouTube

Endangerment, DOD AI, Iran

Radha and Loren are so excited to welcome special guest Dana Stroul to help us understand this war, er, special military operation in Iran, but first we wade through cocktail party gossip on the end of the endangerment finding, forced ranking for civ... more

5 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 16 min

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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

Kathryn Edwards

Economic consultant and host of the Optimist Economy podcast

Optimist Economy

Episode: AI Deals, the (Breaking) Justice System, and the Optimist Economy

Heather Williams

Director on the Project on Nuclear Issues at CSIS

CSIS

Episode: Trade Taxes, Acquisition Reform, and Nuclear Testing

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 816 ratings

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 States3 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 States6 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 States9 months ago
Insightful and entertaining!
Thrilled these three national security experts have tagged up to draw upon their experiences and provide no nonsense analysis and perspectives on current events. We need more of this high quality content on the airwaves!
Apple Podcasts
5
Beltway Catalyst
United States9 months ago

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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.

Apple Podcasts	#83	South Korea/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#85	Ukraine/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#185	United Arab Emirates/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#205	India/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#218	Finland/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts	#247	Norway/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.

Endangerment, DOD AI, Iran

Q: What is responsible AI in a defense context, and what framework does the Pentagon rely on?

Responsible AI means the AI does what is intended and avoids what it should not do; the Pentagon uses a framework built on ethical principles, a 3000.09 directive, and a governance approach that blends guardrails with lawful use, though there is tension between what is legally required and what is deemed appropriate for military use.

Primes, Schedule P/C, and AI Sentiment

Q: What does that political vocabulary sound like?

Lissner suggests that a new political approach should acknowledge the public's anxieties about AI, discussing regulations, social policies, and the necessity of a balanced consideration of innovation and public interest.

Primes, Schedule P/C, and AI Sentiment

Q: What is between that gap there? What is it that DC policymakers are missing about this increased unease?

Lissner highlights a disconnect between DC's focus on AI as a geopolitical issue versus the public's immediate concerns about economic impacts and job security tied to AI deployment.

Audience Metrics

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

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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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Which podcasts are similar to Sirens: A Bombshell production?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sirens: A Bombshell production:

1. Net Assessment
2. War on the Rocks
3. Rational Security
4. The Lawfare Podcast
5. The Intelligence from The Economist

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. Margaret Mullin
2. Kori Schake
3. Martha Gimbel
4. Dana Stroul
5. Rebecca Lissner
6. Carrie Cordero
7. Dr. Mara Karlin
8. Kathryn Edwards

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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