#national-security
44 episodes
#2199: Mining the Strait: Why Clearing Iran's Weapons Takes Months
The US is conducting one of the most technically complex military operations in decades—clearing Iranian mines from the world's most critical oil c...
#2159: When the State Protects Politicians, Not People
A family sheltering from Iranian missiles while their government issues parking tickets and funds sectarian interests raises a brutal question: has...
#2155: Public Affairs vs. Lobbying: Shaping the Battlefield
Lobbying is just one tool. Public affairs shapes the entire regulatory battlefield—from AI laws to supply chains.
#2138: Housing as National Defense in Israel
Why Israel's next election might focus on apartment prices instead of missiles—and how organizers are reframing housing as a security issue.
#2077: The Tip of the Spear: How Special Forces Actually Work
From WWII's fish oil raids to modern Green Beret teams, discover the real mechanics of elite military units.
#1992: Israel's 4,000-GPU National Supercomputer
Israel is building a sovereign AI supercomputer with 4,000 Nvidia B200 GPUs to keep startups local.
#1897: The Pentagon Pizza Index: Predicting War with Pepperoni
Forget satellites and spies—the most reliable indicator of imminent military action might be the Google Maps 'busy' meter at a Domino's.
#1889: When Spies and Cops Share a Target
How the FBI and CIA share secrets without burning sources, and why "parallel construction" keeps classified intel out of court.
#1865: The Emergency That Never Ends
Emergency powers from 2022 are still active in 2026. Here's how wartime measures become permanent state furniture.
#1824: Why Governments Are Building Bunkers for AI
Public clouds can’t handle the security or scale of classified AI. Governments are retreating to fortified bunkers.
#1823: The NSA Is a Corporate Campus
The NSA isn’t a Bond villain lair—it’s a corporate campus with a Starbucks, hoodies, and a massive workforce.
#1787: The State Is the Enemy: Israel 2086
When shelters rot while billions fund ideology, is the state the enemy?
#1785: The FBI's Dual Identity: Cop and Spy
The FBI is unique among global intelligence agencies, blending high-stakes spy work with federal law enforcement in a single hybrid model.
#1552: Targeted Prevention: Inside Israel’s Assassination Policy
Explore the history, legality, and tactical execution of Israel’s "Sikkul Memukad" policy, from early parcel bombs to modern drone strikes.
#1414: The Faslane Breach: Nuclear Security vs. Public Panic
A recent perimeter breach at the UK’s nuclear sub base sparked panic. We dive into why the deterrent is safer than a fence suggests.
#1409: Why Winning the War is Killing the Country
Explore why front-line victories often lead to systemic collapse at home and how modern governments fail the civilian social contract during war.
#1374: Why Your Boarding Pass Sometimes Takes 5 Seconds to Print
Your boarding pass is a digital handshake between airlines and governments. Discover why that handshake sometimes fails at the gate.
#1368: The Spy-Catchers: Counterintelligence in 2026
As global threats rise, why are elite spy-catching units being dismantled? Explore the fragile state of counterintelligence in 2026.
#1367: The Third Force: Between the Military and the Police
Explore the thin line between soldiers and police, from medieval France to modern legal battles over the limits of federal power.
#1257: Can Israel Survive When 1 in 4 Refuse to Fight?
As the Haredi population grows, Israel faces a breaking point over military service and economic sustainability. Can the social contract hold?
#1148: Who Paid for That Law? How Dark Money Buys Your Policy
Discover how 11,000 global think tanks act as a shadow branch of government, shaping policy behind closed doors with billions in dark money.
#1018: The Spy Myth vs. Reality: Life Beyond James Bond
Forget the martinis and car chases. Discover why real espionage is more about spreadsheets and "friend-making" than gadgets and shootouts.
#1015: Why IRGC Bunkers Became High-Tech Death Traps
How did Israel bypass the world's most paranoid security? Explore the "Fortress Paradox" and the technical myths of the air-gap.
#969: Beyond Bond: The Hidden Reality of Global Intelligence
Forget James Bond. Discover how countries like Ireland and Jordan navigate the high-stakes world of global intelligence and secret diplomacy.
#968: Breaking the Air Gap: The Truth About Industrial Cyber War
Beyond the "hacker in a hoodie" myth, we explore how state actors breach air-gapped systems to sabotage critical physical infrastructure.
#955: The CEO of Conflict: Inside the World of CENTCOM
Forget the "Red Phone" myths. Discover how a 4-star Admiral manages 50,000 troops and 1,700 targets in the middle of a global conflict.
#954: The Polite Fiction: Lebanon’s State-Militia Symbiosis
Is Lebanon a hostage or a willing partner? Explore the "polite fiction" of sovereignty and the blurred lines between the state and Hezbollah.
#900: Epic Fury: The Decapitation of Iran’s Leadership
Herman and Corn analyze the "Epic Fury" strikes, the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, and a Middle East reshaped by unprecedented regional warfare.
#829: The Cold War Heats Up: Militarizing the High North
The Arctic was once a zone of peace. Now, it’s a strategic highway for global powers racing to claim resources and military dominance.
#821: The Pattern Seekers: Autism in Global Intelligence
Why are elite intelligence units recruiting autistic analysts? Explore the intersection of neurodiversity, AI, and national security.
#811: The Gig Economy of Treason: Iran's Digital Recruitment
How does a "side hustle" turn into high treason? Explore how Iranian agents use social media and crypto to recruit unsuspecting citizens.
#763: Shadows of the Sea: Submarine Stealth and Navigation
Dive into the silent world of undersea warfare to discover how submarines navigate without GPS and stay invisible to modern tracking.
#733: The Strategy Lab: Inside the World of War Colleges
How do modern generals use ancient history to plan for AI warfare? Explore the high-stakes world of professional military education.
#705: Kinetic Kill: The Science of Israel’s Multi-Layered Shield
Explore the physics of "hit-to-kill" technology and how lasers are reshaping the future of multi-layered missile defense systems.
#672: The Silicon Soldier: Anthropic, Drones, and AI Warfare
Herman and Corn break down Anthropic’s move into defense and the technical reality of how AI actually pilots drones on the modern battlefield.
#671: Keys to the Kingdom: Securing AI Model Weights
How do AI labs share their models without losing the secret sauce? Explore the tech keeping Claude secure in the Pentagon’s hands.
#624: The AI Kill Chain: Inside the Palantir-Anthropic War Room
Explore how Palantir and Anthropic’s Claude are redefining modern warfare, from the raid in Venezuela to the future of the digital battlefield.
#585: The Citizen-Soldier: How the IDF Manages a Hybrid Army
How does a nation turn software engineers into tank commanders in 48 hours? Herman and Corn explore the IDF’s unique hybrid military model.
#567: The Orbital Shell Game: AI and Satellite Deception
How do you hide a nuclear site from a satellite that sees everything? Explore the high-tech game of orbital cat and mouse and the AI that tracks it.
#548: Guns vs. Butter: The High Price of Israel’s Security
Can Israel balance national security with social needs? Herman and Corn dive into the staggering math of the country’s defense budget.
#537: The Architecture of Secrecy: From State Secrets to Zero Trust
Is there a master list of state secrets? Explore the evolution of government classification and its impact on modern digital security.
#486: Ink and Power: The Hidden World of Diplomatic Letters
In an era of instant messaging, why do world leaders still rely on physical letters? Discover the secret art of high-stakes diplomacy.
#164: Why Your Imported Router Is a Threat to the Iron Dome
Discover the "invisible highway" of radio frequencies and why maintaining "RF hygiene" is critical for modern life and national security.
#50: AI Gone Rogue: Inside the First Autonomous Cyberattack
AI gone rogue. The first autonomous cyberattack by Claude against US targets changes everything we know about AI safety.