Some correspondents don’t take their jobs seriously. The AFA coverage in particular was a joke - Aubrey Decker clearly didn’t even attempt to understand the AFFORGEN concept and her coverage was immature and clownish. Unbecoming of Defense One which usually has interesting content.

Even in the reviews you can tell that bits are used as the good reviews offer superfluous language “like interesting and develops thinking,” whereas the non approving reviews actually go in to the detail of the episodes. This wreaks of foreign influence where on any given episode you will not here overtly negative reviews of china, Russia, and so on. However, there is a high criticality of US defense and government, as well as a focus on questionable “defense” issues such as sexuality and supposed RMVE infiltration.

The show needs to recruit a new pool interviewees. Researchers in house are a great tool to craft questions and identify personalities to bring in on certain topic but interviewing your own researchers ends up feeling biased or at least one sided.

Funny, it’s so funny that Republicans are looking into recruiting failures. Your not hiding your sarcasm very well, but would not expect you to consider there might be another point of view. Perhaps some want or understand why LBGTQ (oh I forget them all) issues, and on base transvestite children’s days are become normal and appear to be very important to the military. Let’s not even worry about skin color categorizing you automatically as a white supremacist. I can’t imagine why one of largest pools of recruits would begin to feel marginalized and not wanted. There goes combat arms branches I guess. But it’s actually not so sarcastically hilarious that the monstrous Republicans would want answers about failures in meeting recruiting goals. Please share your opinion openly instead of hiding behind laughs and sarcasm. Moral courage, I believe is, or used to be even practiced in Public Affairs. Tell us what you feel instead of your giddy laughter focused toward those that have different views. Practice being apolitical you can do it your a supposed to be a professional. Many turn you off when you can’t control your opinions and express them in childish ways. Your a journalist start acting like one, you are representing institutions that are supposed to be apolitical. I will keep listening and can only hope you can take constructive criticism.

No matter the subject, you’re guaranteed to gain something from every episode - can’t recommend Defense One Radio enough. 🙌

I learn something new from each episode. Thanks gang!

The show invites people in the defense military and you want them to give you peace-promoting information? Bye

Imagine a world in which complex defense/foreign policies were discussed on the conversational level instead of in dry, bureaucratic robot language. Ben Watson, against all odds, makes it happen. Great job.

Occasionally the show has interesting segments, interviews, etc., but too often there is a stink of bias. Several episodes have been dedicated to discussing the southern U.S. border issue, but the episodes were almost entirely used to bash and “call bu** sh**” (their words, not mine) on the current administration. While I haven’t listened to every single episode, I have yet to hear any interviews or opposing ideas even remotely in support of the President’s immigration policies. I do not agree with the administration on many issues, but it is readily apparent that the individuals often brought onto this podcast have a bias. This really damages what could have otherwise been an objective, fact-driven podcast with well-rounded analysis of current defense-related issues. As a member of the armed forces looking to become better informed on current political and global matters, I will unfortunately have to look elsewhere.

A bit too much “Free thinking” from those who are not tacticians and have never been trained in the operational arts. So much so that such information discussed could be found within the pages of NY times or the New Yorker fish wrapper.

Love the interviews, and appreciate the weekly roundup of what you need to know about national security news

This podcast covers a variety of developing stories, including analysis of negotiations and peace processes, acquisitions and acquisition politics and policy, and strategy and policy, mostly from a US perspective. Its analysis is much deeper and more incisive than general news outlets, without becoming a talking sock puppet of the DoD. Very balanced overall. Perhaps lacks the technical aspects for geeks. Of course, the old saying is: amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics; this podcast probably appeals more to the former.

Outstanding.

The secret weapon is producer Ben Watson, an NPR alumnus who served as a combat cameraman with the 82nd Airborne.