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

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 monthlyEpisodes22Founded9 months ago
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Artwork for The Last Line of Defense

Latest Episodes

On this episode, host Seth Jones discusses areas of bipartisan support for global engagement, including NATO, the threat posed by China, support for Ukraine, and more. He is joined by Roger Zakheim, who currently serves as the Washington Director of ... more

Host Seth G. Jones sits down with Walter Russell Mead to examine the war in Iran, including its political implications, the state of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the historical forces shaping the conflict. Drawing on decades of expertise, Mead offer... more

Host Seth G. Jones speaks with Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of U.S. Army Europe (2014–2017), about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. They examine key takeaways from the G7 Summit, assess conditions on the bat... more

Host Seth G. Jones sat down with Ambassador (ret.) Edgard D. Kagan, former U.S. ambassador to Malaysia and newly appointed Senior Adviser and Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS. Together, they dissected the recent Trump–Xi meeting, examining how ... more

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Recent Guests

Roger Zakheim
Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute
Episode: The Surprising Truth About How Americans See NATO, China, and Iran
Walter Russell Mead
Distinguished fellow in strategy and statesmanship at the Hudson Institute; Alexander Hamilton Professor of Strategy and Statecraft at the University of Florida
Hudson Institute; University of Florida
Episode: The World Turned Upside Down: The Aftermath of the Iran War
Ben Hodges
General, United States Army (former Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe)
United States Army
Episode: Cracks in the Armor: Russia’s Military Struggles and the G7 Aftermath
Edgard Kagan
Ambassador, Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS; former U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia and NSC official
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Episode: The Room Where It Happened: What the Media Missed About the Trump-Xi Meeting
Mark Cancian
Retired Marine and Senior Advisor in the Defense and Security Department at CSIS
CSIS
Episode: China’s Win? The Missile Gap After Epic Fury
Norman Roule
Former CIA officer and National Intelligence Manager for Iran
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Episode: Strategic Exhaustion: Will Iran Fold?
Bonny Lin
Director of the China Power Project and Senior Advisor at CSIS
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Episode: Beyond the Rubble: Is China the Real Winner of the U.S.-Iran War?
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

Host

Seth Jones
Host of The Last Line of Defense

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 17 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 States4 months ago
  • Recommend

    Wonderful show with great potential.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the clear-headed, balanced analysis.
Guests are credible and deeply knowledgeable.
The show delivers high-quality, data-driven security perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Surprising Truth About How Americans See NATO, China, and Iran
Q: How is support for NATO changing among Republicans and Democrats?
Democrats show higher support for NATO (around 80%), while Republicans support NATO at a lower but still substantial level (around 60%), with MAGA Republicans showing nuanced engagement rather than outright isolationism.
The Surprising Truth About How Americans See NATO, China, and Iran
Q: What are the main divides on Iran policy according to the survey?
Democrats tend to favor a negotiated settlement, while Republicans and MAGA Republicans lean toward weakened regimes or regime change, showing a sharp partisan split on Iran policy.
The Surprising Truth About How Americans See NATO, China, and Iran
Q: How do younger Americans differ in views on China compared to older generations?
Young Americans under 30 are less alarmed by some threats and less likely to rank China as the top threat, while still expressing significant concern about issues like spying and land acquisition; the gap is notable across age groups.
The Surprising Truth About How Americans See NATO, China, and Iran
Q: What does the data say about overall American engagement in world affairs?
Americans, across parties, show a strong desire to be engaged in the world, underpinned by support for a strong military, democratic promotion, and trade with allies.
The World Turned Upside Down: The Aftermath of the Iran War
Q: But where do things stand from your perspective there on Iran's nuclear program?
There is no final agreement and the Iranians continue to pursue capabilities while offering assurances that they have no intention to weaponize, making the situation a persistent stalemate with the potential for miscalculation as regional tensions rise.

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?

Analyses focus on national security, geopolitics, and defense strategy, with a heavy emphasis on U.S. policy, global flashpoints, and how technology shapes security outcomes. Episodes frequently feature senior CSIS analysts, former diplomats, generals, and prominent journalists, offering data-driven insights, risk assessments, and practical implications for policymakers and defense professionals. Notable strengths include a rigorous, evidence-based approach, a clear balance between theory and real-world applications, and the ability to translate complex security issues into actionable takeaways for decision-makers and industry partners. The format tends to combine high-level strategic discussions with concrete implications for emerging thre... 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 Trade Guys

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The Last Line of Defense launched 9 months ago and published 22 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. Roger Zakheim
2. Walter Russell Mead
3. Ben Hodges
4. Edgard Kagan
5. Mark Cancian
6. Norman Roule
7. Bonny Lin
8. Ryan Crocker

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