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Artwork for School of War

School of War

The Free Press
China
Iran
World War II
Ukraine
United States
Israel
Russia
Taiwan
Vietnam War
Hamas
Military History
Venezuela
National Security
Middle East
Geopolitics
World War I
Trump Administration
Iraq War
Chinese Communist Party
U.S. Military

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 senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor and legi... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes317Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for School of War

Latest Episodes

Eliot Cohen, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, author of The Strategist: How to Think About War and Politics; and co... more

Arthur Herman, senior research fellow at the Civitas Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Founder’s Fire: From 1776 to the Age of Trump, joins School of War to discuss how America’s Founding Fathers helped create a culture of ... more

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ (FDD) Iran Program and a senior fellow specializing in Iranian security and political issues, returns to School of War to discuss the latest round of fighting between Israe... more

Anthony Vinci—co-founder and CEO of Vico, an AI company that empowers judgment and analysis in finance and national security, and author of The Fourth Intelligence Revolution—joins School of War to discuss the technological evolution of spycraft. How... more

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Recent Guests

Matti Friedman
Journalist, columnist, author
Free Press
Episode: The Secret Mission to Save Europe’s Jews, with Matti Friedman
Jake Sullivan
National Security Advisor to President Biden during the last administration; Kissinger Professor of the Practice of Statecraft and World Order at Harvard Kennedy School
U.S. Government, Harvard Kennedy School
Episode: The Democratic Party’s Worldview, with Jake Sullivan
Chris Brose
President and Chief Strategy Officer of Anduril
Anduril
Episode: Grading Operation Epic Fury, with Christian Brose
Sam Brownback
Former Governor of Kansas; former U.S. Senator; author of China's War on Faith
Governor of Kansas (former)
Episode: China’s War on Faith and Trump’s Trip to Beijing, with Governor Sam Brownback
Dan Blumenthal
Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute; convener/editor of China-Taiwan Weekly Update
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Trump Heads to China: Who Has the Upper Hand? With Dan Blumenthal
Nicholas Eberstadt
Harry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: America’s Coming Population Crash—and China’s, with Nicholas Eberstadt
Lance Blythe
Command Historian of NORAD
NORAD/US Northern Command
Episode: NORAD and Protecting America From Nuclear Attack, With Lance Blythe
Douglas Murray
Journalist and author; participant in the conversation
Author of On Democracies and Death Cults
Episode: The Attempt on Trump’s Life and Political Violence in America, with Douglas Murray
Huw Davies
Associate Dean and Professor of British Military History, King's College London
King's College London
Episode: How the British Army Learned to Win, with Huw Davies

Host

Aaron MacLean
Host of the show; CBS News National Security Analyst and Hudson Institute fellow

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Excellent podcast. Very informative.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    dadeboer2025
    2 months ago
  • Excellent podcast. Very informative.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    2 months ago
  • Articulate & Balanced

    Thoughtful and interesting discussions. Highly recommended.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bibliophenia
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Guest Suggestion

    Would be good to invite Sullivan, Finer or Malley on to get their take on the negotiations with Iran.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Won’tBFooled2x
    United States2 months ago
  • Just silly propaganda

    If you were expecting to come and get nuanced, expert opinions, especially given these kinetic and dynamic times, this place isn’t it. Everything is presented in the most maximalist US/Israeli frame, all actions and motivations are asymmetrically judged, selectivity and confirmation bias abound. There’s a place for this kind of tripe, I suppose, but if you’re actually wanting analysis and to be informed, this ain’t it. Useful mainly to understand what the Beltway establishment narrative is.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ecook
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates thoughtful, expert analysis on defense and security.
Some feedback cites perceived bias and political framing by the host.
Balanced, nuanced discussion with high-caliber guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#102
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#175
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#241
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#124
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#170
France/History
Apple Podcasts
#200
Germany/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Secret Mission to Save Europe’s Jews, with Matti Friedman
Q: Why is Hannah Senesh such a central figure in this story, and how did her background shape her choices?
Hannah was a symbol of heroism and artistic sensibility, born in Budapest and shaped by Zionist pioneers; her decision to cross into Hungary embodied the mythic quest that Zionism celebrated, making her a lasting emblem even though the military impact was limited.
The Secret Mission to Save Europe’s Jews, with Matti Friedman
Q: What real motivations did the Zionist leadership attribute to the parachutists, and how did that differ from the British view?
The Zionists wanted to arm and train Jews for resistance and to influence the postwar world by creating a wave of Jews returning to Palestine, while the British hoped the mission would primarily support escape networks and pilots; the two goals often collided, producing a complex, overlapping set of aims.
China’s War on Faith and Trump’s Trip to Beijing, with Governor Sam Brownback
Q: If you were advising the president during the Beijing trip, how would you balance economic interests with concerns about political and religious freedom?
Maintain a strong stance on religious freedom as a core American value, use it as a strategic lever in diplomacy, and recognize that disentangling economic ties will take time; meanwhile, push for human rights and religious rights in all engagements, including Taiwan diplomacy and engagement with persecuted faith communities.
The New Middle Eastern Balance of Power, with Elliott Abrams
Q: What's your take on Turkey's role in this evolving balance, especially as a NATO ally but with inconsistent regional influence?
Abrams argues that Turkey has achieved little durable influence, is isolated, and is hedging between Russia, the Gulf, and the West, with Erdogan balancing risks rather than leading a unified policy.
The New Middle Eastern Balance of Power, with Elliott Abrams
Q: What are we? Two and a half years on from 10-7. So let's start by just unwrapping the UAE Israel dimension a bit more.
Abrams explains why the UAE-Israel axis is a cornerstone of the new Middle East balance, highlighting modernization, wealth, and political calculation as drivers of their alignment against Iran.

Audience Metrics

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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?

This show centers on military history, strategy, and current security policy with a focus on real-world implications of warfare, geopolitics, and defense technology. Episodes pair seasoned military historians and policy experts with a probing interviewer to unpack lessons from past conflicts, contemporary great-power competition, and how emerging tech—like AI, drone swarms, and data networks—shapes modern warfighting. Notable threads include mass-producible weapons versus high-end systems, deterrence in the Strait of Hormuz and the Baltic region, and the evolving defense industrial base. The program frequently features guests from think tanks, military academia, and government or allied militaries, offering rigorous, forward-looking analysi... more

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1. Irregular Warfare Podcast
2. War on the Rocks
3. Modern War Institute
4. NatSec Matters
5. Net Assessment

How many episodes of School of War are there?

School of War launched 5 years ago and published 317 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. Matti Friedman
2. Jake Sullivan
3. Chris Brose
4. Sam Brownback
5. Dan Blumenthal
6. Nicholas Eberstadt
7. Lance Blythe
8. Douglas Murray

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