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.
Latest episodes
-
34 min
Has the U.S. lost air dominance in the Mideast?
Ben and Guy break down the possibility of new U.S. strikes against Iran and all of the fallout from Russian satellite Cosmos 2612's near-miss of a key U.S.-registered radar satelli…
-
38 min
Meet the U.S. Army command synchronizing firepower to deter Russia
Ben and Guy break down the AUSA convention in Washington and discuss the latest on the U.S.-Iran and Russia-Ukraine wars. Then, Brig. Gen. Steve Carpenter of Army Multi-Domain Comm…
-
34 min
Why AI data labeling matters for the U.S. military
Ben and Guy break down reports of behind-the-scenes tension between the Army and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office, the Trump administration's new AI task force, and the risi…
-
29 min
Here's how F-35 ejection seats are made
Ben and Guy break down Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's major speech at Quantico and the creation of the new Autonomous Warfare Command. And they discuss the withdrawal of U.S. for…
-
38 min
Inside the mission to the far side of the moon
Ben and Guy discuss all the developments from the United Nations General Assembly and President Trump's high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and they break down n…
-
32 min
Inside the race to build solid rocket motors
Ben and Guy break down the revelation that the U.S. has weapons in space, and they unpack other news from the Air, Space and Cyber Conference at National Harbor, Maryland. And they…
-
37 min
How 9/11 helped shape today's U.S.-China rivalry
Ben and Guy share memories of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and examine their sweeping impact on U.S. national security over the past 25 years. And they break down the high…
-
32 min
Russian hybrid warfare is surging
Guy hosts the show while Ben is on leave, with National Security Correspondent John Seward joining to unpack the sudden resignation of U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and the risi…
-
36 min
Why innovation is key to America's warfighting edge
Ben and Guy discuss the "economic D-Day" sanctions against Iran, whether the U.S. could be driving Beijing and Tehran closer together, CIA Director John Ratcliffe's surprise visit…
-
35 min
Why U.S. military bases want nuclear microreactors
Ben and Foreign Affairs Correspondent Vaughn Cockayne break down the latest on the U.S.-Iran war, shifting power dynamics in the Mideast, and why the Pentagon wants to funnel gover…
-
37 min
Will a Washington funding fight doom the Golden Dome?
Ben and Guy discuss the major developments from the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, the Pentagon's acquisition of a bauxite mine in Guyana, and how close Iran ca…
-
32 min
How AI is shifting the global intelligence landscape
Guy hosts the show while Ben is on leave, with national security reporter John Seward joining to discuss his trip to the Mojave Desert, where the U.S. Army tested a new advanced-te…
-
32 min
Inside the next generation of ground combat systems
Ben and Guy discuss the escalating U.S.-Iran war, President Trump's options for ending it, and the prospects for a much bigger, global conflict. Then, Scott Davis, the former progr…
-
39 min
Should Trump declare victory and end the Iran war?
Ben 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,…
-
35 min
Here's the core problem facing the defense industrial base
Ben 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…
-
37 min
Understanding how modern drones actually work
Ben 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 ba…
-
32 min
Why Iran believes it won the war
Ben 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, A…
-
29 min
How the U.S. can fix shipbuilding and dominate autonomy
Ben 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…
-
33 min
Inside the Army's advanced manufacturing revolution
Ben 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 ind…
-
31 min
What if China beats the U.S. in a war?
Ben 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 C…