Security Dilemma is a podcast hosted by A.J. Manuzzi and John Allen Gay, with guest appearances from the rest of the JQAS team. Each week, they interview experts on U.S. national security, exploring the angles and avenues in the world of realism and restraint.
From April 2020 to February 2023, The John Quincy Adams Society ran recorded conversations with many national security experts in our Digital Discussion series. They are recorded as podcasts. You can access them here.
Latest Episode
127- From FISA to Flock: Post-9/11 Surveillance in America with Abigail Hall – Recorded August 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
Upcoming Episodes
Security Dilemma listeners can pitch us questions for upcoming episodes here.
- The U.S. in the Middle East with Daniel Zoughbie
- Can Realism Be Ethical? with John Hulsman and Anatol Lieven
126- How to Deliver on NATO 3.0 with Miranda Priebe – Recorded August 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
125 – The Conservative Case Against the Interventionist Right with Luke Nicastro – Recorded August 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
124 – America’s Counterproductive Middle East Presence with Jon Hoffman – Recorded July 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
123 – Special: Discussing John Quincy Adams’ Marcellus Essays – Recorded March 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
122 – Power Without Ideology? World Order After the Iran War with Danny Bessner – Recorded June 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
121 – Selling War: The Foreign Influence Lobby with Nick Cleveland-Stout – Recorded June 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
120- The New Cold War at Sea? with Lyle Goldstein – Recorded May 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
119- The Future of Secret Cyber Statecraft with Jon Lindsay – Recorded May 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
118 – Realism Roundtable with Jasen Castillo and John Schuessler – Recorded May 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
117 – The Donroe Doctrine with Fulton Armstrong – Recorded April 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
116 – Chasing Bandits: America’s Long War on Terror with Michael Neagle – Recorded April 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
115 – Iran Negotiations and Trump’s Middle East Strategy with Albert Wolf – Recorded April 15, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
114 – Trump, Iran, and the Future of America First with Curt Mills – Recorded April 6, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
113 – The Iran War’s Impact on US Military Readiness with Jennifer Kavanagh – Recorded March 26, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
112- Boots on the Ground in Iran? with John Byrnes – Recorded March 30, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
111 – New Supreme Leader and the Iranian Voices America Isn’t Hearing with Sina Toossi – Recorded March 12, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
110 – Is Ukraine Losing the War? with Michael Desch – Recorded March 5, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
109 – Special: Iran War Update with Michael Desch – Recorded March 5, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
108 – Arms Control After New START with Ariel Petrovics – Recorded February 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
107 – Assessing the Prospect of War with Iran with Rose Kelanic – Recorded February 6, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
106 – Material Support with Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery – Recorded January 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
105 – The Trump-Roosevelt Corollary with Daniel DePetris – Recorded January 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
104 – Special: “Beyond Vietnam” by Martin Luther King Jr. – Recorded January 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
103 – Venezuela Update with Chris Shell – Recorded January 9, 2026 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
102 – The 2025 National Security Strategy – Recorded December 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
101- Nuclear South Asia with Sahar Khan – Recorded November 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
100- What is an “America First” Nuclear Strategy? with Sumantra Maitra – Recorded November 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
99 – Trading with the Enemy with Mariya Grinberg – Recorded November 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
98- The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home with William Hartung and Ben Freeman – Recorded October 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
97 – Special: Why World War I Matters for Realists – Recorded October 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
96 – Losing a Taiwan War? with Lyle Goldstein – Recorded October 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
95 – First Among Equals with Emma Ashford – Recorded October 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
94 – How Have Allies Responded to U.S. Retrenchment? with Miranda Priebe – Recorded September 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
93 – Special: Discussing George Washington’s Farewell Address – Recorded September 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
92 – The Twelve-Day War and Careers in OSINT with Decker Eveleth – Recorded August 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
91 – A Veteran’s Journey from 9/11 to Restraint with John Byrnes – Recorded September 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
90 – The Middle East, Silicon Valley and the Revolving Door with Jonathan Guyer – Recorded August 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
89 – The Global Nuclear Supply Chain and Energy Security with Ted Jones – Recorded August 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
88 – Why Democracies Fight Dictators with Madison Schramm – Recorded August 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
87 – Special: Discussing John Quincy Adams’ “Monsters to Destroy” Speech – Recorded August 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
86 – What Would a Global Posture Review Look Like Under Restraint? with Dan Caldwell and Jennifer Kavanagh – Recorded July 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
85 – Regime Change and Spheres of Influence with Lindsey O’Rourke – Recorded July 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
84 – East Asia: Balancing or Bandwagoning? with Kyuri Park – Recorded June 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
83 – Israel-Iran War Update and the Politics of War with Iran with John Gay – Recorded June 20, 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
82 – Sarah Streyder on Why Restraint Matters for Military Families – Recorded June 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
81 – Iran War Expert John Gay on What’s Next After Israeli Strikes – Recorded June 13, 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
80 – Khurram Dastgir Khan on Conflict in South Asia and US-Pakistan Relations – Recorded June 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
79 – Michael Brenes on Great Power Rivalry’s Threat to Peace and Democracy – Recorded May 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
78 – Candace Rondeaux on the Wagner Group – Recorded May 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
77 – Daniel McCarthy on Liberalism and Empire – Recorded April 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
76 – Curt Mills on Trump’s Foreign Policy 100 Days In – Recorded April 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
75 – John Vick on the Middle East and Africa – Recorded April 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
74 – Sabreena Croteau on the Economic Drivers of Naval Force Structure – Recorded April 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
73 – Aude Darnal on The Global South in the Trump Era – Recorded April 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
72 – Is a Career in Political Risk Right for You? – Recorded March 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
71 – Spencer Ackerman on the Global War on Terror and Biden’s Legacy – Recorded February 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
70 – Sarang Shidore on the Global South and the U.S.-Philippines Alliance – Recorded February 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
69 – Skip Shelton: Practitioner’s Journey to Realism and Restraint – Recorded February 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube – iHeart Radio
68 – John Schuessler on Offshore Balancing and Presidential Wartime Deceit – Recorded February 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube
67 – Jeremy Shapiro on Competing GOP Foreign Policy Visions – Recorded January 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts – YouTube
66 – Rose Kelanic on Syria and Energy Security- Recorded January 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts –YouTube
65 – The Society Forecasts Foreign Policy in 2025 – Recorded January 2025 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
64 – Janet Abou-Elias and Lillian Mauldin on Arms Transfers and the “Imperial Boomerang”– Recorded November 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
63 – Dan Spokojny on Reforming American Diplomacy– Recorded November 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
62 – Jennifer Kavanagh on the Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East – Recorded October 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
61 – Kelly Grieco on the Future of Air Power and the Indo-Pacific- Recorded November 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
60 – Christopher Shell on the 2024 Election and Foreign Policy – Recorded November, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
58 – Peter Harris on Retrenchment, Taiwan and the Chagos Islands – Recorded September 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
56 – LIVE: Eugene Gholz and Michael Desch on Restraint – Recorded July 18th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
55 – Jake Johnston on Haiti – Recorded July 11, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
54 – Mike DiMino and Dan Caldwell Return: Ukraine and the Middle East – Recorded July 10th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
53 – Nathaniel Powell on West Africa – Recorded June 28th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
52 – Ali Wyne on Great Powers and Cold Wars – Recorded June 13th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
51 – James Acton on Nuclear Targeting and Escalation – Recorded June 6th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
50 – Julia Gledhill on the Defense Budget – Recorded May 31st, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
49 – Brandon Valeriano on Cyberwarfare and Sci-Fi Soft Power – Recorded May 15th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
48 – Josh Shifrinson on Ukraine, Thucydides and Realism – Recorded May 16th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
47 – Christopher McCallion on Grand Strategy – Recorded May 8th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
46 – Stephen Wertheim Returns: Restraint and Retrenchment – Recorded May 7th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
45 – Reid Smith on Restraint in U.S. Foreign Policy – Recorded April 18th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
44 – Brandan Buck on Old Right Opposition to Empire – Recorded April 8th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
43 – Osamah Khalil on A World Of Enemies – Recorded April 19th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
42 – John Byrnes and Tyler Koteskey on Veterans, Reservists and Warships – Recorded April 11th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
Bonus – John Allen Gay on Iran’s Retaliation and the National Interest – Recorded April 12th ~1pm ET – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
41 – Gregory Brew on Energy, Oil and the Red Sea – Recorded April 4th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
40 – Paul Pillar on Gaza and Israeli Politics – Recorded April 3rd, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
39 – Jon Hoffman on Gaza and Middle East Politics – Recorded March 26th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
38 – Dale Copeland on China and Commerce – Recorded March 13th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
37 – Murtaza Hussain on Pakistan and American Intervention – Recorded March 14th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
36 – James Siebens on the South China Sea and Armed Coercion – Recorded February 23rd, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
35 – Derek Davison on Middle East Autocracies and the War on Terror – Recorded February 20th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
34 – John Ramming Chappell on Arms Sales and Civilian Harm – Recorded February 16th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
33 – Jon Askonas on Technology, Ukraine and the Defense Industry – Recorded January 17th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
32 – Rep. Warren Davidson on Congress’s Role in Foreign Policy – Recorded February 7th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
31 – Aileen Teague on Mexico and National Security – Recorded January 26th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
30 – John Hulsman on American Realism – Recorded December 20th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
29 – John Allen Gay on the John Quincy Adams Society – Recorded January 11th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
28 – Yameen Huq on AI and Cyber Futures – Recorded January 5th, 2024 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
27 – Chris Preble on Grand Strategy and the End of Primacy – Recorded December 19th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
26 – Brian Blankenship on the Burden-Sharing Dilemma – Recorded December 12th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
25 – Matt Duss on Gaza and the Future of the Middle East – Recorded December 20th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
24 – David Hendrickson on Gaza, Alliances and Imperium – Recorded November 29th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
23 – Michael DiMino on Gaza, Syria and the Intelligence Community – Recorded December 1st, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
22 – Negar Mortazavi on Iran: Politics, Power and Proxies – Recorded November 20th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
21 – Dan Grazier on Planes, Tanks and Air-Ground Task Forces – Recorded November 14th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
20 – Eric Gomez on Taiwan’s Urgent Need for Asymmetric Defense – Recorded November 9th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
19 – John Quincy Adams and Slavery with Jeffrey A. Denman – Recorded October 12th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
18 – Doug Bandow on Reagan, Religion and the ROK – Recorded October 17th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
17 – Dr. Brian Finucane on Law and War from Gaza to Guadalajara – Recorded October 19th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
16 – Elizabeth Beavers on Advocacy and AUMFs – Recorded October 4th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
15 – Daniel DePetris on Forever Wars from Mexico to Somalia – Recorded September 28th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
14 – Dr. Jordan Cohen on Arms Sales and Alliance Politics – Recorded September 21st, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
13 – Matthew Petti on Middle East Spaghetti Logic – Recorded September 19th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
12 – Dr. Alex Thurston on West African Security & Stability – Recorded September 14th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
11 – Dr. Stephen Wertheim on Progressives and the National Interest – Recorded September 12th, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
10 – Dr. Paul Heer on China and George Kennan – Recorded August 22, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
9- Elizabeth Shackelford on Diplomacy and Africa – Recorded August 16, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
8 – Dan Caldwell on the GOP Primary’s Foreign Policy – Recorded August 24, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
7 – Dr. David Kang on China and the Asian Peace – Recorded August 10, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
6 – Dr. Sumantra Maitra on Realism and Conservative Foreign Policy – Recorded August 9, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
5 – Dr. Emma Ashford on Petrostates and Foreign Policy Debates – Recorded August 3, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
4 – Justin Logan on China, Cartels and Chilean Wine – Recorded July 28, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
3 – Dr. Van Jackson on China and Dissident Thinking – Recorded July 13, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
2 – Jason Beardsley on Special Operations and Restraint – Recorded May 16, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
1 – Dr. Stephen Walt on Alliances, Restraint and The Blob – Recorded May 26, 2023 – Spotify – Apple Podcasts
The John Quincy Adams Society ran recorded conversations with many national security experts in our Digital Discussion series. They are recorded as podcasts. You can access them here.
