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Shield of the Republic

The Bulwark
Ukraine
Russia
Iran
Israel
NATO
Operation Barbarossa
Hamas
World War II
October 7th Attacks
Putin
Eastern Front
Ukraine's War Of Independence
Soviet Union
German Army
China
Middle East
Liberal Democracy
Afghanistan
Iraq
Gaza

Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. We probe beyond the hive mind of Washington conventional wisdom on national security and foreign affairs.

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Latest Episodes

Eric and Eliot continue to wrestle with the ongoing Iran war, examining the media coverage surrounding it, the tactical successes the joint forces have had, the inexplicable failure to provide counter-drone defense to US forces, the baffling inattent... more

Eric and Eliot welcome Norman Roule, a non-resident senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a thirty-four-year career veteran of the U.S. intelligence community, where he served in the Directorate of Operations as a d... more

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NOTE: This episode was recorded on Monday, March 2, 2026.

Eric and Eliot assess where the US and Israel stand in the current war with Iran and identify the downside risks while acknowledging the world is a better place with the death of Supreme Lead... more

NOTE: This episode was recorded before the attack on Iran.

Eric and Eliot review the State of the Union and discuss Eliot’s Atlantic article on the degradation of American political rhetoric. They criticize the President’s failure to make a case for... more

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Recent Guests

Norman Roule
Former CIA National Intelligence Manager for Iran
Intelligence Community, former CIA
Episode: Iran's Regional War Strategy is Failing (w/ Norman Roule)
Seth Jones
President of the Defense and Security Department, Harold Brown Chair at CSIS
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: China Is Ready For War. We Aren't. (w/ Seth Jones)
Frank Dikötter
Distinguished historian of China and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University
Hoover Institution at Stanford University
Episode: On The Precipice of Illegal War (w/ Frank Dikötter)
Stephen Kotkin
Currently a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and at the Freeman-Spogli Institute at Stanford University. Author of works on Stalin.
Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Princeton University
Episode: How Evil Regimes Cling to Power (w/ Stephen Kotkin)
Michael Weiss
Internationally respected investigative journalist, Editor at The Insider
The Insider
Episode: Don't Count on Trump Coming to the Rescue (w/ Michael Weiss)
Michael Froman
President of the Council on Foreign Relations with a distinguished career in public service
Council on Foreign Relations
Episode: We Need to Secure Our Supply Chains (w/ Mike Froman)
Jim Himes
Ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
United States House of Representatives
Episode: Double Taps and Drug Lord Pardons
Dr. Ty Seidule
Brigadier General retired, historian, former head of history department at West Point
A Promise Delivered book co-author
Episode: The Pentagon's Confederate Cover-Up
Laura Field
A non-resident fellow in governance at the Brookings Institution and author of 'Furious Minds, Making of the MAGA New Right'
Brookings Institution
Episode: Why MAGA Loves Illiberalism (w/ Laura Field)

Hosts

Eric Edelman
Counselor at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Non-Resident Fellow at the Miller Center, and Bulwark contributor.
Eliot Cohen
Professor Emeritus of Strategy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and contributing writer to The Atlantic.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 694 ratings
  • Sometimes pro-murder.

    Podchaser
    2
    Seyfert
    15 days ago
  • Neocon

    trash

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Just Some Dude 420
    United States15 days ago
  • On the Precipice

    SOTR is becoming one of my favorite podcasts because it is a substantive dive into international relations. In the latest episode, guest Frank Dikötter discusses his new book, Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity. The conversation was compelling. I routinely learn something valuable about how our domestic lives are influenced by events seemingly distant and removed. The discussions are too short. It would be ideal to set aside time for "lessons learned" reflection. ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Intrepid Inquirer
    United States24 days ago
  • Do your homework

    They lack subject matter expertise on the topics they discuss. Many of the arguments made rely on dated or simply incorrect information. One example of many, the Europeans cannot crank out long range fires systems that are independent of US technology in months. Criticizing the administration is fine if you can back it up, but you have to do your homework.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    allothernamesaretaken23
    United States4 months ago
  • Too many ads

    Love the podcast. Hate the new ads. I understand the need to monetise, but please don’t have them repeated so frequently it’s distracting and gauche. It’s really putting me off from continuing to listen to a podcast I have valued for years.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Cato_46
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Critiques of partisanship arise, with some expressing concerns about biased interpretations of current events.
However, some listeners note that the frequency of ads has become a distraction, slightly diminishing the overall experience.
The podcast is hailed as a valuable source of insightful analysis, particularly concerning international relations.
Listeners appreciate the well-informed discussions, often highlighting the expertise and credibility of the hosts.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#125
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#208
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#245
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#194
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#200
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#51
Israel/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Crisis Facing Our Military (w/ Kori Schake)
Q: So, can you trust the military not to obey orders that are clearly illegal, which would do damage to the institutions of free government?
The American system of military subordination relies on the belief that orders received are legal, and if we get to the point where military commanders are having to judge the legality of orders, we have already failed at several important echelons.
The Crisis Facing Our Military (w/ Kori Schake)
Q: Kori, could you just to get us started, say something first about the title of the book for those of our listeners who are not devotees of the literature on civil-military relations?
The title is a reference to Samuel Huntington's, The Soldier and the State, which is widely and I think rightly seen as the first serious book, academic book on civil-military relations in the United States.
How Evil Regimes Cling to Power (w/ Stephen Kotkin)
Q: What do you think the public upheaval in Iran and the situation in Venezuela suggests about authoritarian regimes?
These regimes are powerful but brittle; they have vulnerabilities that can be exploited even with their repressive apparatus.
The Dark Forces Conspiring Against Democracy (w/ Bill Galston)
Q: What led you to write this book?
The book focuses on the dark passions that can undermine liberalism and examines how liberalism is vulnerable in today's political climate.
How The Jews Fought Rome
Q: How do you deal with Josephus' bias as a modern historian?
You have to read a lot of scholarship on Josephus and understand his biases while also considering archaeological evidence.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Shield of the Republic

What is Shield of the Republic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on a layered exploration of national security and foreign policy, discussing complex geopolitical dynamics involving major global players like the United States, China, and Russia. It features critical dialogues on contemporary challenges such as arms control, civil-military relations, and the impact of authoritarian regimes on global stability. Episodes feature a range of discussions from historical perspectives to current events, providing listeners with nuanced insights into the multifaceted world of international relations. The inclusion of expert guest interviews enriches the depth of analysis, allowing for a well-rounded perspective on pressing global issues, making it an engaging resource for those interested in u... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Shield of the Republic?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Shield of the Republic:

1. The Bulwark Podcast
2. The David Frum Show
3. Autocracy in America
4. The Foreign Affairs Interview
5. Main Justice

How many episodes of Shield of the Republic are there?

Shield of the Republic launched 4 years ago and published 190 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 Shield of the Republic?

Recent guests on Shield of the Republic include:

1. Norman Roule
2. Seth Jones
3. Frank Dikötter
4. Stephen Kotkin
5. Michael Weiss
6. Michael Froman
7. Jim Himes
8. Dr. Ty Seidule

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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