Shield of the Republic

4.6 (500)
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Updated Weekly

Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. We probe beyond the hive mind of Washington conventional wisdom on national security and foreign affairs.

20h ago

Shield of the Republic Says Farewell

Eric and Eliot open their final show on the Bulwark with a plethora of jackassery including Trump's threat to bomb Oman, his curtailing of joint exercises with South Korea, and the Pentagon shuttering access to the Defense Technical Information Center. They also discuss updates in Iran, Russia, and Venezuela before turning to a retrospective of the major international developments during Shield's five year run on the Bulwark. Finally, they close with reflections about what they got wrong along the way. Reminder: going forward Shield of the Republic will be available at shieldoftherepublic.com! If you are currently subscribed via Apple, Spotify, or a major podcast provider, you will continue to receive the free weekly show. We'll also be available on YouTube and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram. Question for the show? Email mailbag@shieldoftherepublic.com or leave a comment on the site! Eric on Trump turning on South Korea:https://thedispatch.com/article/south-korea-military-exercises-trump-asia/ Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Aug 17

Frank Kendall and the Weapons of Tomorrow

Eric and Eliot discuss the week's jackassery, including the administration's stripping former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall of his security clearance for innocuous comments about Trump's new Qatari-donated Air Force One. They then discuss the irresponsibility of Trump's using that aircraft to travel to a NATO summit being held adjacent to a war zone. They also cover the new diplomatic alignment among Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East, the changes in leadership in Iran, and the rival missile campaigns of Russia and Ukraine in their ongoing war. Frank Kendall then joins the show to discuss his new book, Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It or Not, and his determination not to be silenced or intimidated by the Trump administration. Reminder: Shield of the Republic will be going independent soon! Subscribe at shieldoftherepublic.com and follow @ShieldPod on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It or Not:https://a.co/d/0g3rRF6s Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Aug 10

America's Critical Infrastructure is Under Attack

Eric and Eliot begin with reflections on recent domestic political developments and the "horseshoe theory" uniting political extremes around isolationism and anti-Israeli sentiment. They then discuss the ongoing negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz and the difficulties the Iranian government and Trump administration have created for themselves. From there they move to the recent cyberattacks on American water systems and the seemingly blasé response by both the Trump administration and the larger public. The two also highlight Russia's ongoing hybrid war with Europe and the tightening links among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. They revisit the continuing degradation of Turkish democracy before wrapping up with thoughts on the recent migrant surge into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. Reminder: Shield of the Republic will be going independent soon! Subscribe at shieldoftherepublic.com and follow @ShieldPod on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Congressional Budget Office Analysis of the Trump-Class Battleship:https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2026-08/62550-battleships.pdf CSIS Report on Low Munition Stocks:https://www.csis.org/analysis/six-reasons-why-united-states-low-munitions IISS Report on Russia's Hybrid War Operations:https://www.iiss.org/research-paper/2025/08/the-scale-of-russian--sabotage-operations--against-europes-critical--infrastructure/ Garry Kasparov on the DSA:https://open.substack.com/pub/persuasion1/p/the-dsa-is-a-menace?r=24onkh&utm_ Kathy Gilsinan on the GOP's Groyper Problem:https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/08/01/heritage-foundation-young-republicans-groypers-hiring-01006937 Tucker Carlson's Manifesto:https://www.axios.com/2026/08/06/tucker-carlson-third-party-israel-trump Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Aug 3

The Iranian Doom Loop (w/ Robert Parkinson)

Eric begins with major show news before pivoting to the jackassery of the week with Eliot. They then analyze Trump's interactions with Bibi Netanyahu and Vladimir Zelensky at Lindsey Graham's funeral and discuss the ways in which the Iranian and Ukrainian wars are increasingly intertwined. The two discuss Iran's ongoing unwillingness to "take yes for an answer" as evidenced by their recent strikes across the region. Historian and Professor Robert Parkinson then joins the show to discuss his recent book Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence. Parkinson explains his focus on the twenty-seven colonial grievances listed in the Declaration, the crown's misjudgments in attempting to address colonial discontent, and Thomas Jefferson's additional two grievances that were edited out--among other topics. Greg Jaffe & Kate Kelly in the New York Times on Adm. Daryl Caudle:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/us/politics/caudle-navy-hegseth-parlatore-promotion.html Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independencehttps://a.co/d/0bPfR7hl Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Jul 27

Ukraine's Defense Shake Up

Eliot returns from his trip to western Canada to review the latest jackassery with Eric. The two discuss recent developments surrounding a potential U.S.-Saudi nuclear cooperation agreement and contextualize it against the history of U.S. non-proliferation and counter-proliferation efforts. They also reflect on their personal experiences with the late Senator Lindsey Graham and examine his legacy. From there they turn to the latest updates from Ukraine, including President Zelensky's dismissal of Defense Minister Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi. Finally, they consider the ongoing likelihood of escalation in Iran. Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Jul 20

The Anti-Strategic President

Eric welcomes back friend of the show Professor Hal Brands, the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. The two discuss Hal's recent work, beginning with his column in Bloomberg dissecting the key strategic errors that Trump has made in the ongoing war with Iran. Hal then breaks down his recent essay with Michael Beckley in Foreign Affairs, which examines global conflict through the lens of "heartland" and "rimland" coalitions. Finally, they turn to Hal's latest edited volume which brings together essays by a large group of scholars considering the many ways that AI may change the nature of international affairs, the conduct of war, and global order. Hal Brands' latest in Bloomberg:https://www.aei.org/op-eds/trumps-iran-blunder-shows-strategy-can-defeat-firepower/ Hal Brands & Michael Beckley's latest in Foreign Affairs:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/china/heartland-vs-rimland-beckley-brands The Geopolitics of AI: Power, Conflict, and the Future of Global Order:Free PDF via Johns Hopkins University Press Hard copy via Amazon Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Jul 13

NATO's Annual Circus Comes to Turkey

Eric and Eliot catch up for the first time in a month after returning from overseas. They break down the latest jackassery, from Graham Platner's campaign implosion to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gifting revolvers and live, gold-plated ammunition to the heads of state at the recent NATO summit. They assess the NATO summit more broadly and note the caveats to Trump's promise to provide Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missile defense interceptors. Eric unpacks his recent Bulwark piece on the conspiracy of silence at the gathering related to Turkey's democratic backsliding. They also discuss recent investigations into China's assistance to Russia's war effort, the state of the "ceasefire" with Iran, and Rahm Emanuel's speech in Tel Aviv. Finally, they trade observations from their travels to France and Eastern Europe. Eliot's latest in the Atlantic (gift link):https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/07/america-france-enduring-relationship/687844/?gift=KGDC3VdV8jaCufvP3bRsPg9Zn56KAT0A_Vk94nJcGVU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share Eric's latest in the Bulwark:https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-one-word-trump-wont-say-in-turkey-nato-summit-democracy-human-rights-europe-erdogan Nate Swanson on Iran overplaying its hand:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/iran/iran-won-war-may-lose-peace Howard Altman on the problems with the Ukraine Patriot licensing deal:https://www.twz.com/land/ukraine-built-patriot-missiles-wont-be-defending-the-countrys-skies-anytime-soon Michael Weiss, Roman Dobrokhotov, and Christo Grozev on China and Russia's targeting of Starlink:https://theins.press/en/inv/294635 Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.
Jun 22

Rising Antisemitism is a Dark Omen for Society (w/ Deborah Lipstadt)

Eliot reviews the week’s jackassery and offers his thoughts on Juneteenth and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He then welcomes Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, distinguished professor at Emory University and prolific author. She explains her background as a historian of the Holocaust, her work documenting Holocaust denial, and her experience being sued by British Holocaust denier David Irving. They discuss her work as Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism from 2022 to 2025, which included efforts to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords and creating the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism. They explore the political and ideological forces behind the current global rise in antisemitism before pivoting to the threat it poses to democracy and the state actors exploiting it to sow division in the United States. David Irving v. Penguin Books Ltd. and Deborah Lipstadt: hdot.orgINSS Report on China’s online campaign to sow division in America: https://www.inss.org.il/publication/china-usa-influence/George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0135Letter from the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island to President George Washington: https://www.gwirf.org/files/moses_seixas_letter.pdfShield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

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Reading reviews

Jun 22

Susanyb60

Dearest Commentators, I find your podcast fascinating and informative. I see many of these comments in reviews where people are agitated. All I can say is you must be doing something right. Godspeed! Keep up the great work on educating people like myself.
Instructive Example

Jul 27

Lizzzzzzxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Example of intelligence being no substitute for a strong and sturdy moral compass. Learn through listening, do not follow the example set by these podcasters. I wish them and their guests all the best health, with the longest possible lifespan. So that in time they can see the error of their clouded judgement and out-of-control biases, and have plenty of time to reflect on why they rationalized and supported abhorrent and life-negating policies. You will experience shame and embarrassment at a level that few people experience. I hope you all live to 100 years old.
Hey Elliot?

Jul 26

WilderLander

You crapped on Professor Robert Pape from University of Chicago, but Pape seems to be on it. Maybe you and Eric could have him on for a discussion so you guys can share your outlooks and learn from each other. It’d be a great episode.
On the Precipice

Feb 25

Intrepid Inquirer

SOTR is becoming one of my favorite podcasts because it is a substantive dive into international relations. In the latest episode, guest Frank Dikötter discusses his new book, Red Dawn Over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity. The conversation was compelling. I routinely learn something valuable about how our domestic lives are influenced by events seemingly distant and removed. The discussions are too short. It would be ideal to set aside time for "lessons learned" reflection. I would be interested to hear Frank's thoughts about potential parallels he sees between Stalin's influence on Mao's rise and current dynamics unfolding elsewhere.

Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. We probe beyond the hive mind of Washington conventional wisdom on national security and foreign affairs.