Podcast
Threat Status
Hosted by The Washington Times · EN
An edgy and informative look at the biggest U.S. national security and geopolitical issues making headlines right now. Less about hot takes and more about depth, the Threat Status podcast is helmed by veteran Washington Times journalists Ben Wolfgang and Guy Taylor and features regular appearances by insiders with expertise on war, politics and global affairs.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Should Trump declare victory and end the Iran war?
5d ago00:39:24Tap to summarizeBen and Guy discuss the landmark U.S.-Saudi Arabia nuclear deal, the escalation of the Iran war, and the possibility that Russia and China are aiding Tehran in the conflict. Then, Rep. Pat Harrigan, North Carolina Republican, joins the show for a conversation about the state of the U.S. defense industrial base, the dangers of the Pentagon taking ownership stakes in defense companies, and whether President Trump should declare victory and end the Iran war. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Here's the core problem facing the defense industrial base
2w ago00:35:21Tap to summarizeBen and Guy discuss the latest on the U.S.-Iran war and the Pentagon's controversial strategy of taking direct equity stakes in defense and critical minerals companies. Then, Miles Arnone, the CEO of Re:Build Manufacturing, joins the show to explain exactly what went wrong with the American defense industrial base and how to fix it. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Understanding how modern drones actually work
3w ago00:36:50Tap to summarizeBen and Foreign Affairs Correspondent Vaughn Cockayne break down the apparent collapse of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, the high-stakes NATO summit in Turkey, and China's provocative ballistic missile test. Then, Ira Hughes, senior director of sales for Doodle Labs, joins the show to talk about drones, connectivity, secure data links, and whether the Pentagon's drone dominance initiative is moving too fast. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Why Iran believes it won the war
4w ago00:31:40Tap to summarizeBen breaks down the creation of a new "drone czar" position inside the Defense Department and the latest in the ongoing legal saga over journalists' access to the Pentagon. Then, Alex Vatanka, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, joins the show to discuss whether Iran has won the war against the U.S. and how exactly President Trump came to the mistaken belief that the Iranian regime would collapse. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →How the U.S. can fix shipbuilding and dominate autonomy
Jun 2600:28:39Tap to summarizeBen recaps the Threat Status IndoPac 2026 event at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, including portions of the fireside chats with Russell Vought, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, and Justin Fanelli, the chief technology officer at the Department of the Navy. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Inside the Army's advanced manufacturing revolution
Jun 1900:32:32Tap to summarizeBen and Guy break down the U.S.-Iran deal, President Trump's decision to invoke the Defense Production Act, and the fundamental changes taking place across the American defense industry. Then, Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan, the commanding general of U.S. Army Materiel Command, joins the show to discuss the Army's advanced manufacturing push and a behind-the-scenes battle over the Army's dining system. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →What if China beats the U.S. in a war?
Jun 1200:30:38Tap to summarizeBen and Guy break down the latest back-and-forth attacks between the U.S. and Iran, the rise of cutting-edge drone boats, and the possibility of American military intervention in Cuba. Then, Ralph DeFalco III, former deputy director of intelligence at the National Joint Operations and Intelligence Center, joins the show to talk about his new book, "The Counterfeit," set in an alternate future in which China defeats the U.S. in a Pacific conflict. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Why robots are at the center of U.S.-China competition
Jun 500:27:58Tap to summarizeBen breaks down whether the U.S.-Iran ceasefire still exists, the push to ban Chinese-made robots, and new allegations about a powerful CEO aiding the Iranian military. Then, Barry Hinckley, the president of Blue Ops, joins the show to talk about why the U.S. needs thousands of unmanned surface vessels in its fleet, how America can reignite its lagging shipbuilding industry, and whether the U.S. has lost a maritime edge compared to its rival, China. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Inside the Navy's push for tech dominance
May 2900:36:40Tap to summarizeBen and Guy break down the possibility of a major escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war, the latest on Iran, the idea of U.S. troops on the moon, and whether America is handcuffing itself in the AI race with China. Then, Mike Frank, the deputy chief technology officer at the U.S. Department of the Navy, joins the show to talk about the future of American naval power, the role of unmanned surface vessels, and much more. Plus, the "Threat of the Week."
Transcribe →Flying electric boats, SOF Week 2026 and Putin's China visit
May 2200:31:31Tap to summarizeGuy hosts the show while Ben joins from the Special Operations Forces convention in Tampa, Florida, where he's explores exciting new tech being considered by U.S. Army Green Berets, the Delta Force and the Navy SEALs. Ben interviews Sampriti Bhattacharyya of the advanced-tech maritime transport company Navier aboard one of its electric flying boats. Then we dive into the latest on the China-Russia-Iran-North Korea (CRINKS) alignment.
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