The Last Line of Defense

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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.

10H AGO

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

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 battlefield resilience, Russia’s mounting casualties, and the prospects for negotiations and a potential peace deal.

31 min
FEB 4

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

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 and the strategic objectives of both Iran and the United States amid rising tensions.

29 min
JAN 21

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

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 ongoing protests in Iran, the regime’s response, and potential policy responses from the White House.

31 min
JAN 14

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

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).

30 min
JAN 7

Maduro is Gone. Now What in Venezuela?

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 goals, shifting power structures, and what’s at stake for the country’s new president, Delcy Rodríguez.

32 min
12/17/2025

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

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 and Security. Together, they look back at major defense and military shocks of 2025, including Russia’s poor performance, Operation Midnight Hammer, and China’s military parade, among others. They also forecast potential wildcards for 2026, including a U.S.–China deal and land strikes in Venezuela.

32 min
12/04/2025

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

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 discuss the U.S. military’s role in the Venezuela crisis and provide an inside look at Maduro’s armed forces.

31 min
11/25/2025

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

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.

32 min
11/19/2025

Is Putin Winning the War or Just Buying Time?

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 challenges, and key developments, including shifts in U.S. policy, the change in air defense posture, and the increasing use of long-range strikes and drones.

28 min
11/05/2025

Trump vs. Xi. Who Won?

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 Research and the inaugural director of the RAND China Research Center, for a discussion on the outcome of the meeting and China’s defense strategy moving forward.

30 min
10/29/2025

Introducing The Last Line of Defense

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 to the toughest security questions—from war and peace around the world to the role of emerging technology in defense.

2 min

11 Episodes

5

out of 5

5 Ratings

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.