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School of War

The Free Press
Iran
China
Ukraine
World War II
United States
Russia
Israel
Taiwan
Vietnam War
Venezuela
Military History
Strait Of Hormuz
Hamas
Iraq War
National Security
Trump Administration
U.S. Military
Geopolitics
Middle East
U.S. Marine Corps

In School of War, CBS News National Security Analyst and Free Press columnist Aaron MacLean sits down with secretaries of state, top military historians, war planners, and key political decision-makers to help understand the lessons of war. Tune in as School of War takes you to the front lines. Aaron MacLean is a former senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor a... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes342Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for School of War

Latest Episodes

When it comes to world superpowers, Cambridge historian Brendan Simms argues there are only four that matter—and two of them are fading. Today, Simms joins Aaron MacLean to argue that Britain still belongs among the world’s leading powers; why its pl... more

The story of Air Force General David Goldfein, who miraculously survived after his plane was shot down over Serbia in 1999, has since become military legend. Today, he joins School of War to recount the harrowing rescue mission that saved him, how he... more

YouTube

More than 75 years after the Korean War, its lessons endure—and divisions over isolationism and American power continue to shape the discourse around modern global conflicts. Dane J. Cash, historian and author of The Forgotten Debate: The Korean War ... more

The U.S. military needs more drones, and it needs to build them without Chinese parts. Today, Defense Innovation Unit Deputy Director Travis Metz joins School of War to discuss how America can build drones quickly, cheaply, and on U.S. soil; what Ame... more

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Recent Guests

DJ Cash
Associate Professor of History at Carroll College; author of The Forgotten Debate, The Korean War and The Roots of America's Ideological Divisions
Carroll College
Episode: Our Foreign Policy Divide Began with the Korean War
Travis Metz
Deputy Director and COO of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Episode: Inside America’s Fight for Drone Dominance
Gary Saul Morson
Dumas Professor of the Arts and Humanities and Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Episode: When Terrorists Become the Heroes to Young Americans
Dave McCormick
Senator for Pennsylvania; guest on the episode
United States Senate (Pennsylvania)
Episode: Senator McCormick Thinks That America’s Military Is Stuck in the Past
Jose Reyes
Colonel, commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, Blackjack, 1st Cavalry Division
U.S. Army
Episode: Tanks vs. Drones
David Cam Smith
Lieutenant Colonel, formerly commander of 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division
U.S. Army
Episode: Tanks vs. Drones
Boris Johnson
Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2019-2022)
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Episode: Boris Johnson on Why Europe and America Still Need Each Other
Ted Cruz
Senator from Texas, chair of the Commerce Committee
United States Senate
Episode: Ted Cruz’s Plan to Bring Down Iran’s Regime—and Tucker Carlson
Yuri Fedorenko
Commander of the Achilles Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Force (Ukraine)
Ukrainian Defense Forces, Achilles Brigade, Unmanned Systems Force
Episode: Ukraine’s Top Drone Commander on What the Pentagon Keeps Missing

Host

Aaron MacLean
CBS News National Security Analyst and former Hudson Institute fellow; host of School of War, focusing on lessons of war and contemporary strategic dynamics.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Not Just for the Military

    I’ve never served and I’m not a particularly keen student of military history, but despite the title that doesn’t affect my enjoyment of the show. Aaron and his guests break things down in a way that someone like me can understand. It’s also a history show, too! Fascinating content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RedbirdCraig
    United States11 days ago
  • Disappointed in new direction

    Have been listening to this show for a couple of years, and while unsurprising, I am disappointed in the Bari Weissification of this show that has occurred. The show has become overtly partisan in favor of neoconservative views and maximalist interventionist policies rather than focusing on what should be non-partisan military affairs, history, and technology. I will not be continuing to listen to this show if the blatantly partisan slant of allowing partisan actors a mouthpiece with zero pushba... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Zachattack895
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sliding into propaganda

    The show started strong years ago. Became a propaganda machine over the last year. I’m sure money is a driver.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Ben1736372
    United Statesa month ago
  • No analysis at alll

    Just listened to the Ted Cruz episode. What happened to examining the subject? The interviewer just accepted Cruz’s long list of nonsense, the ‘Democrats are Communist’, how to stop the Iran war….arm the protesters. How can we do that, well no idea because the interviewer just accepted his rambling and carried on. That episode wasn’t serious journalism or research, stick to history you’re way batter at that.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    lemon_jelly
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • The Stuff of Legends

    Thoughtful and interesting analyses of military history cogently applied to the present day. This podcast is exceptionally good.

    Aaron’s verbal abstemiousness is noteworthy: “School of War” is a unicorn—a programme genuinely centred upon the guests, whom Aaron actually lets speak. His follow-ups are well-judged, often taking listeners in interesting directions. To his credit, vanishingly few podcasters have the restraint and personal humility to carry all this off (more often they find some way... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Great guests and rigorous questioning that draws out actionable ideas.
Can be polarizing depending on guest viewpoints, but consistently informative.
Engaging and thoughtful, though some episodes feel very policy‑heavy for casual listeners.
High level of expertise; guests consistently illuminate complex security issues.
Insightful, balanced discussion with strong historical context.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#61
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#134
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#135
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#88
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#167
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#36
Hong Kong/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Our Foreign Policy Divide Began with the Korean War
Q: How did Dean Acheson's defense perimeter speech influence the United States' posture toward Asia and Korea?
It established a policy framework limiting American commitments to offshore islands like Formosa, the Philippines, and Japan, which historians argue opened room for Korean aggression by signaling a more constrained approach to Asia.
Inside America’s Fight for Drone Dominance
Q: How do you balance speed with security and ensure the products mature enough for widespread use without compromising national security?
We impose progressive, NDAA-aligned constraints through our Supply Chain Framework, requiring US-origin components where possible, while maintaining a bridge role so the services can eventually take over with fully developed in-house procurement processes.
Inside America’s Fight for Drone Dominance
Q: What is the basic idea of the initial gauntlet phase and how did you structure it to shape industry behavior?
We used four escalating gauntlets to create a rolling demand signal, buying drones at the end of each gauntlet, with volumes increasing, prices decreasing, and testing getting harder to push industry toward a scalable, domestically sourced drone supply chain.
When Terrorists Become the Heroes to Young Americans
Q: Maybe I'll just start with a very big picture question, and then I'd like to zoom in a bit on Dostoevsky as we continue to talk.
The guest frames the discussion around the psychology of radicals and how literature, especially Dostoevsky, helps illuminate why people are drawn to violent ideologies and how innocence can be complicit in extremist movements.
Ukraine’s Top Drone Commander on What the Pentagon Keeps Missing
Q: What should the American audience understand about the war in Ukraine that they may not appreciate from a distance?
He stresses the need for a multi-domain approach beyond drones, including air defense and missiles, and argues for international support in experienced personnel and effective technology transfer to sustain Ukraine's defense.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About School of War

What is School of War about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show offers high‑level national security and geopolitical analysis with a focus on great‑power competition, defense policy, and modern warfare. Conversations frequently cover Ukraine, Iran, naval strategy, and the geopolitics of choke points, often weaving in historical context and practical policy implications. Noteworthy is the mix of former officials, military historians, and policy experts, plus sponsor integrations that underscore tech and defense applications. The host's interviewing style aims to extract actionable takeaways for policymakers, defense professionals, and informed listeners who want to understand how strategy plays out on the front lines and in global markets.

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Which podcasts are similar to School of War?

These podcasts share a similar audience with School of War:

1. Irregular Warfare Podcast
2. War on the Rocks
3. Breaking History
4. Modern War Institute
5. GoodFellows: Conversations on Economics, History & Geopolitics

How many episodes of School of War are there?

School of War launched 5 years ago and published 342 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 School of War?

Recent guests on School of War include:

1. DJ Cash
2. Travis Metz
3. Gary Saul Morson
4. Dave McCormick
5. Jose Reyes
6. David Cam Smith
7. Boris Johnson
8. Ted Cruz

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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