Rephonic
Artwork for The Last Line of Defense
Iran
Russia
China
Venezuela
United States
Ukraine
Taiwan
US Military Operations
Maduro
Donald Trump
Xi Jinping
Drug Trafficking
Operation Midnight Hammer
Vladimir Putin
Rare Earth Minerals
Cuba
Latin America
Nicolás Maduro
Delcy Rodríguez
Protests

In this era of uncertainty, knowledge is power. Hosted by Dr. Seth G. Jones, The Last Line of Defense breaks down and analyzes the latest national security news. Each episode provides practical solutions to the toughest national security questions—from war and peace around the world to the role of emerging technology in defense. Produced by Marla Hiller.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes16Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Last Line of Defense

Latest Episodes

Host Seth Jones sat down with Dr. Bonny Lin, CSIS Senior Adviser and Director of the China Power Project, to explore Beijing’s view of the U.S.-Iran war, including its own role, the China-Pakistan peace plan, and potential takeaways.

Host Seth Jones speaks with Ambassador Ryan Crocker to unpack Iran’s complex political landscape, regional power dynamics, and the role of U.S. allies as the conflict unfolds. Drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, Ambassador Crocker offers a d... more

Host Seth Jones sits down with Face the Nation's Margaret Brennan to break down Iran’s nuclear program and offers an overview of the domestic and international politics shaping the future of this conflict in the Middle East.

Host Seth Jones sits down with General David H. Petraeus, retired U.S. Army general and former director of the CIA, to discuss the latest developments in Iran, including ongoing military operations and the escalating challenge of countering drone and... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Russian Roulette
Russian RouletteCenter for Strategic and International Studies
The Asia Chessboard
The Asia ChessboardCenter for Strategic and International Studies
Pekingology
PekingologyCenter for Strategic and International Studies
ChinaPower
ChinaPowerCSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Trade Guys
The Trade GuysCSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies

Recent Guests

Ryan Crocker
Ambassador Crocker; former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon
Former U.S. Ambassador
Episode: Tehran’s Calculus: Iran’s Strategy Amidst the Storm
Margaret Brennan
Chief foreign affairs correspondent, CBS News, host of Face the Nation
CBS News
Episode: The Iran Endgame: Iran's Nuclear Program, View from Tehran & U.S. Ground Troops
David Petraeus
Retired US Army General, former commander of US Central Command and former director of the CIA
United States Army (retired); CSIS guest expert
Episode: Beyond the Air War: What Are the Global Risks of the Iran Conflict?
Joseph Votel
Former Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM) and US Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
U.S. military (retired), previously CENTCOM and SOCOM
Episode: A Widening War with Iran: What Are the U.S. Military's Next Steps
Kate Odell
A member of the Wall Street Journal's editorial board, joined in 2013
Wall Street Journal
Episode: Why Putin’s "Inevitable" Victory in Ukraine is a Myth
Admiral Sandy Winnefeld
Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Episode: Locked and Loaded: What Are U.S. Military Options for Iran?
Norm Roule
Former National Intelligence Manager for Iran at the CIA with 34 years of experience in the agency
CIA
Episode: Inside Iran's Security Apparatus: How Stable is the Regime?
David Shedd
Former Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and author of 'The Great Heist, China's Epic Campaign to Steal America's Secrets'
Episode: America Under Siege: Inside China's Espionage Campaign in the United States
Ryan Berg
Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Maduro is Gone. Now What in Venezuela?

Host

Seth Jones
Host and analyst focused on national security and geopolitics; affiliated with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 10 ratings
  • Recommend

    Wonderful show with great potential.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Insightful, data-driven analysis that helps frame complex security issues.
Some episodes are very dense; great for executives and analysts, less so for casual listeners.
High-caliber guests and thoughtful, strategic discussion.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tehran’s Calculus: Iran’s Strategy Amidst the Storm
Q: Do you think there is any real negotiating space right now, or are talks merely negotiations about negotiations?
Right now there is more talk about negotiations rather than actual negotiations, with regional players talking among themselves and the major powers not in direct discussions, so substantive bargaining is not yet in play.
Tehran’s Calculus: Iran’s Strategy Amidst the Storm
Q: What lessons should be taught in war colleges from the US approach to this campaign?
Lessons should emphasize the importance of clear ends, reliable means, and coherent alliances; the campaign has shown how crucial it is to align goals with capabilities and ensure allied support through transparent, consultative diplomacy.
Tehran’s Calculus: Iran’s Strategy Amidst the Storm
Q: How would you characterize US ends versus Israeli ends in this conflict?
Israel has a clearer, more defined end—destruction of the Islamic Republic as a strategic objective—even if not immediately attainable. The United States has been less clear about its ends, leading to a mismatch with Israeli intentions and creating ambiguity for allies.
Tehran’s Calculus: Iran’s Strategy Amidst the Storm
Q: What is your sense of Iran's internal decision-making and who is effectively in charge right now?
It's very hard to see inside the black box, but there is clear evidence that command and control have been decentralized to lower levels. Central direction exists in theory, but commanders at all levels operate with general orders aimed at conserving and firing systems, making a top-down reading of decisions difficult.
The Iran Endgame: Iran's Nuclear Program, View from Tehran & U.S. Ground Troops
Q: What are people on the Hill saying about the imminent threat and the costs of this conflict?
Views vary but polling shows mixed support; definitions of imminence are debated, and leaders are pressured to justify costs and timelines to the public and to Congress.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Last Line of Defense

What is The Last Line of Defense about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous national security show that analyzes current geopolitical and military developments with expert depth. Episodes typically feature high-level briefings on Iran, Russia, China, and regional flashpoints, paired with practical implications for policy, defense strategy, and energy markets. Noteworthy is the frequent pairing of respected former officials and renowned analysts to unpack complex threats, risks, and policy options for decision-makers. Listeners are likely seeking informed, strategic perspectives on geopolitical risk, defense posture, and the interplay between diplomacy and military power.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Last Line of Defense?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Last Line of Defense. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Last Line of Defense and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Last Line of Defense get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Last Line of Defense, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Last Line of Defense?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Last Line of Defense, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Last Line of Defense have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Last Line of Defense has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Last Line of Defense?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Last Line of Defense:

1. Russian Roulette
2. The Asia Chessboard
3. Pekingology
4. ChinaPower
5. The Trade Guys

How many episodes of The Last Line of Defense are there?

The Last Line of Defense launched 6 months ago and published 16 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Last Line of Defense?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Last Line of Defense?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Last Line of Defense from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Last Line of Defense?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Last Line of Defense. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Last Line of Defense?

Recent guests on The Last Line of Defense include:

1. Ryan Crocker
2. Margaret Brennan
3. David Petraeus
4. Joseph Votel
5. Kate Odell
6. Admiral Sandy Winnefeld
7. Norm Roule
8. David Shedd

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days