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The Last Line of Defense

Center for Strategic and International Studies

31 episodes

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.

More about the show

Produced by Marla Hiller.

Episodes

  1. Is the U.S. Learning Fast Enough? Lessons from the Ukrainian Front Lines

    · 33 min

    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…

  2. Can America’s Industrial Base Handle a Two-Front War?

    · 28 min

    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.…

  3. When Will America Wake Up? The House Intelligence Chair on Homeland Threats

    · 29 min

    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.…

  4. 25 Years After 9/11: Is America Prepared for the Next Crisis?

    · 34 min

    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…

  5. Are Soldiers Obsolete? How Autonomy Will Define the Coming Conflict with China

    · 36 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with Frank Kendall, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force and former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, to discuss his new book, Lethal Autonomy: The…

  6. How Close Are We to World War III? A UK General on Iran, Ukraine, and the Changing Character of War

    · 34 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with General Sir Nick Carter, who served as Chief of the Defence Staff and Chief of the General Staff in the UK military, for an assessment of the changing character of warfare. Drawing on…

  7. From Orbit to the Battlefield: The Future of Space Capabilities

    · 34 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with Robert Cardillo, former director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, for an assessment of space as an emerging domain of modern warfare. Drawing on decades of experience in…

  8. Ex-CIA and Pentagon Chief Warns: Iran, the Homeland, and Challenges Ahead

    · 37 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with Secretary Leon Panetta for an assessment of the Iran war, U.S. military readiness, and broader strategic challenges. Drawing on decades of experience at the highest levels of government,…

  9. Is Ukraine Winning? Inside the Battlefield of Drones, AI, and Autonomous Warfare

    · 30 min

    Host Seth Jones welcomes back Mick Ryan, retired Australian Army Major General, for the latest on the Ukraine-Russia battlefield. The pair discussed the Ukrainian air campaign, including the use of AI and drone…

  10. The Surprising Truth About How Americans See NATO, China, and Iran

    · 33 min

    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…

  11. The World Turned Upside Down: The Aftermath of the Iran War

    · 30 min

    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…

  12. Cracks in the Armor: Russia’s Military Struggles and the G7 Aftermath

    · 28 min

    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…

  13. The Room Where It Happened: What the Media Missed About the Trump-Xi Meeting

    · 34 min

    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…

  14. China’s Win? The Missile Gap After Epic Fury

    · 32 min

    Host Dr. Seth G. Jones sat down with retired Marine Corps Colonel Mark Cancian to examine the U.S. munitions stockpiles after Operation Epic Fury, the challenges facing America’s defense industrial base, and what those…

  15. Strategic Exhaustion: Will Iran Fold?

    · 32 min

    Norman Roule is back on the podcast with Seth Jones to provide an update on developments in Iran, including the impact of sanctions and the blockade, an assessment of who is in charge in Tehran, the current state of…

  16. Beyond the Rubble: Is China the Real Winner of the U.S.-Iran War?

    · 29 min

    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…

  17. Tehran’s Calculus: Iran’s Strategy Amidst the Storm

    · 33 min

    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…

  18. The Iran Endgame: Iran's Nuclear Program, View from Tehran & U.S. Ground Troops

    · 29 min

    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…

  19. Beyond the Air War: What Are the Global Risks of the Iran Conflict?

    · 29 min

    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…

  20. A Widening War with Iran: What Are the U.S. Military's Next Steps

    · 29 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with retired General Joseph Votel, former commander of U.S. Central Command, about the evolving situation in Iran after Operation Epic Fury. They break down the military operations, Iran’s…

  21. Why Putin’s "Inevitable" Victory in Ukraine is a Myth

    · 31 min

    Host Seth Jones speaks with Kate Bachelder Odell of The Wall Street Journal about the state of Russia’s war in Ukraine as it nears its fifth year. They discuss recent remarks by J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio, Ukraine’s…

  22. Locked and Loaded: What Are U.S. Military Options for Iran?

    · 29 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with retired Admiral Sandy Winnefeld, the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to discuss the latest developments involving Iran. They examine the U.S. military buildup near Iran…

  23. Inside Iran's Security Apparatus: How Stable is the Regime?

    · 31 min

    Host Seth Jones speaks with Norman Roule, who served as the national intelligence manager for Iran at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence from November 2008 until September 2017. The pair discusses the…

  24. America Under Siege: Inside China's Espionage Campaign in the United States

    · 30 min

    Host Seth Jones explores the implications of modern Chinese espionage cases with David R. Shedd, former Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

  25. Maduro is Gone. Now What in Venezuela?

    · 32 min

    Host Seth Jones speaks with Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at CSIS, about Venezuela’s political landscape in the post-Maduro era, examining U.S. policy…

  26. Which Military Shocks Defined 2025 — and What's Next in 2026?

    · 32 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with Kari Bingen, Director of the Aerospace Security Project and a Senior Fellow in the Defense and Security Department at CSIS, and former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence…

  27. Are the United States and Venezuela on the Brink of War?

    · 31 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with Juan Cruz, who served in the U.S. Intelligence Community and on the National Security Council as special assistant to the president and senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, to…

  28. Is the U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine a Game-Changer or Fantasy?

    · 32 min

    Host Seth Jones sits down with Douglas Lute, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, to discuss President Trump’s proposed peace plan aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. This episode was recorded on November 24th, 2025.

  29. Is Putin Winning the War or Just Buying Time?

    · 28 min

    Host Seth Jones talks with Mick Ryan, retired Australian Army Major General, about his recent visit to Ukraine's frontlines. They discuss the evolving dynamics of the war, highlighting Ukraine's successes, Russia's…

  30. Trump vs. Xi. Who Won?

    · 30 min

    President Trump met with President Xi in a historic bilateral meeting amid growing tensions between the United States and China. Host Seth Jones sat down with Jude Blanchette, the Distinguished Tang Chair in China…

  31. Introducing The Last Line of Defense

    · 1:41

    In this era of uncertainty, knowledge is power. Hosted by Dr. Seth G. Jones, The Last Line of Defense offers clear and insightful analysis on the latest national security news. Each episode provides practical solutions…

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