This Episode: The Goat Rodeo crew covers a packed week: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to the White House, renewed momentum in U.S.-Saudi defense cooperation, and what expanding foreign military sales means for the defense industrial base. Dave walks through the Army’s major requirements and acquisitions restructure, where six general officers will control key capability portfolios. The team debates whether this centralization will accelerate modernization or smother risk-taking. They also hit big moves in autonomy and aerospace: CCA progress, heavy-lift eVTOL developments, and URSA Major’s $100M Series E. Plus, what DroneShield’s leadership cash-out signals to DoD buyers, and whether it adds new risk to small-company contracting. The shutdown is over, but appropriations remain a mess, and the crew breaks down what defense companies should expect in the coming months. Also: doomsday prepping, Bosnia collapse lessons, and why everyone should try to stay on AI’s good side. Chapters: 00:00–02:40 AI fear, sci-fi references, and doomsday prep 02:40–04:12 Bosnia and Kosovo collapse lessons 04:12–08:58 Rip It lore, flavors, and chaos 08:58–10:04 Episode intro 10:04–14:18 Saudi visit, F-35s, tanks, and defense alignment 14:18–18:07 CCA, autonomy progress, and unmanned systems 18:07–20:49 U.S.–Saudi strategic implications 20:49–24:45 Autonomy milestones, Airbus eVTOL, Ursa Major raise 24:45–28:06 Joby vs Archer lawsuit and critical tech 28:06–30:49 DroneShield concerns and DoD buyer risk 30:49–36:29 Army acquisition reform and centralization debate 36:29–41:08 Accountability, risk tolerance, and new structures 41:08–45:03 FUZE program, budgeting, and capability overlaps 45:03–47:00 PPBE alignment and congressional issues 47:00–54:45 Shutdown ending, appropriations uncertainty 54:45–58:23 CR mechanics, constraints, and executive flex 58:23–01:01:16 Pentagon dynamics, Hegseth sidelined 01:01:16–End Ukraine diplomacy aside and wrap-up Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo. Listen on other platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2mTJ1oJEgB3rCbQouCL7XD?si=9b2647b843144469 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/goat-rodeo/id1801310605 YouTube: youtube.com/@GoatRodeoPodcast
