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China
Iran
Russia
Ukraine
United States
Venezuela
Taiwan
Donald Trump
Xi Jinping
US Military Operations
Maduro
Drug Trafficking
NATO
Rare Earth Minerals
Operation Midnight Hammer
Vladimir Putin
Cuba
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 monthlyEpisodes31Foundeda year ago
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Artwork for The Last Line of Defense

Latest Episodes

Host Seth Jones sits down with Lieutenant General (Ret.) Curtis Buzzard, former commander of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine and NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, to discuss what over four years of war in Ukraine reveal about the c... more

Host Seth Jones sits down with the Honorable Kathleen Hicks, the 35th U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense and former director of the International Security Program at CSIS, to discuss how industrial production shapes U.S. military readiness across multi... more

Host Seth Jones sits down with United States Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR), chair of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), to discuss next-generation threats to the American homeland. Drawing on HPSCI’s recently pub... more

Host Dr. Seth Jones sits down with Dr. Dan Byman, director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at CSIS and professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the terrorist atta... more

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Recent Guests

Curtis Buzzard
Retired lieutenant general and former commander of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine and NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine
U.S. Army
Episode: Is the U.S. Learning Fast Enough? Lessons from the Ukrainian Front Lines
Kath Hicks
Former Deputy Secretary of Defense
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Episode: Can America’s Industrial Base Handle a Two-Front War?
Rick Crawford
Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: When Will America Wake Up? The House Intelligence Chair on Homeland Threats
Dan Byman
Georgetown University professor and Director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program at CSIS
Georgetown University; CSIS
Episode: 25 Years After 9/11: Is America Prepared for the Next Crisis?
Frank Kendall
Former Secretary of the Air Force; author of Lethal Autonomy
U.S. Department of Defense / Former Air Force
Episode: Are Soldiers Obsolete? How Autonomy Will Define the Coming Conflict with China
General Sir Nick Carter
Former Chief of the General Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff, British Army
British Army
Episode: How Close Are We to World War III? A UK General on Iran, Ukraine, and the Changing Character of War
Robert Cardillo
Former Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Executive Chairman of IONQ
IONQ (Executive Chairman)
Episode: From Orbit to the Battlefield: The Future of Space Capabilities
Leon Panetta
Former US Secretary of Defense and CIA Director; Board of Trustees at CSIS
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense, Former CIA Director
Episode: Ex-CIA and Pentagon Chief Warns: Iran, the Homeland, and Challenges Ahead
Mick Ryan
General (retired) Australian Army, discussed Ukraine war experience
Australian Army (former)
Episode: Is Ukraine Winning? Inside the Battlefield of Drones, AI, and Autonomous Warfare

Host

Seth Jones
Host of The Last Line of Defense; senior national security analyst with CSIS.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 26 ratings
  • Clear, Smart, and Refreshingly Balanced

    This is one of the few podcasts in this space that feels genuinely clear-headed and grounded. The conversations are thoughtful, well-informed, and never slip into slogans or talking points.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aDevl3
    United States7 months ago
  • Recommend

    Wonderful show with great potential.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, well-informed conversations with practical implications.
Clear, Smart, and Refreshingly Balanced talking points that avoid sloganeering.
Data-driven insights make complex topics accessible.
Polished hosting and credible sourcing add reliability.
High-quality guest lineup and rigorous analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is the U.S. Learning Fast Enough? Lessons from the Ukrainian Front Lines
Q: Are we learning fast enough?
Buzzard says the United States has made progress but may not be adapting quickly enough. He urges the U.S. and NATO to learn from Ukraine's use of unmanned systems, prepare to counter large-scale drone attacks, and treat learning from the conflict as a professional responsibility.
Is the U.S. Learning Fast Enough? Lessons from the Ukrainian Front Lines
Q: How are you seeing innovation happen, including on those unmanned systems from the Ukrainians?
Buzzard says Ukraine's advantage is its rapid cycle of observation, adaptation, and renewed action. With limited resources, Ukrainians have developed mid-range strike systems, drone interceptors, and lower-cost capabilities, while quickly adjusting designs and production based on frontline feedback.
When Will America Wake Up? The House Intelligence Chair on Homeland Threats
Q: So what is your answer to that question that you posed?
The guest emphasizes that acknowledging the problem is the first step; without admitting there is a vulnerability, the United States will remain exposed to a potential 9-11-scale attack in the counterintelligence space, and that a coordinated, non-siloed approach is essential.
Are Soldiers Obsolete? How Autonomy Will Define the Coming Conflict with China
Q: How does the concept of the offsets inform today's modernization efforts?
The offsets show that military advantage is not enduring; successive generations of technology—precision weapons, networking, autonomy—create temporary advantages that must be continually refreshed through rapid modernization and new operational concepts.
Are Soldiers Obsolete? How Autonomy Will Define the Coming Conflict with China
Q: What are the biggest challenges to adopting lethal autonomy in practice?
Key challenges include cultural resistance within armed forces, legal and humanitarian concerns, accountability for autonomous decisions, and ensuring robust rules of engagement that prevent undesired outcomes under stress.

Audience Metrics

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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 briefing on national security, geopolitics, and technology with a focus on strategy, policy, and real-world implications. Episodes frequently dissect Ukraine, Iran, China, Russia, NATO, and space-enabled warfare, often featuring senior policymakers, generals, diplomats, and defense analysts who bring historical context and data-driven insight to current events. The show stands out for its detailed, strategic framing—balancing military capability, alliance dynamics, and technology trends (including drones, AI, and space assets)—and for inviting guests with deep government, military, and think-tank credentials. Listeners likely include defense professionals, policymakers, analysts, and corporate partners seeking high-signal analysi... more

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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. ChinaPower
4. Pekingology
5. The Foreign Affairs Interview

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

The Last Line of Defense launched a year ago and published 31 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 The Last Line of Defense?

Recent guests on The Last Line of Defense include:

1. Curtis Buzzard
2. Kath Hicks
3. Rick Crawford
4. Dan Byman
5. Frank Kendall
6. General Sir Nick Carter
7. Robert Cardillo
8. Leon Panetta

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