Security Dilemma

Latest Episodes:

The Trillion Dollar War Machine with William Hartung and Ben Freeman Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

In this week's edition of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with William Hartung and Ben Freeman of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft about their new book The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home.

You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Trillion-Dollar-War-Machine-Bankrupts/dp/1645030636

Listener Questions:

We are opening up Security Dilemma to listener-submitted questions. Submit questions you'd like us to ask future guests ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠, or at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ouD8WAp0g_HhqLtGm4kOmqTGsJpDbaKT7CSUN3ogFrk/edit⁠⁠⁠. Please specify the episode pertaining to the question in your response. Upcoming recordings include:

AMA- John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi

JQAS Discusses the Marcellus Papers

Special: Why World War I Matters for Realists Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

On this special Armistice Day/Veterans Day episode of Security Dilemma, the Society's John Gay, Scott McCann, and Julie Thompson-Gomez discussed their experience as part of the Society's Strategic Leaders Fellowship study trip to World War I sites in France, as well as what lessons the First World War has for contemporary statecraft.

Listeners can learn more about the Strategic Leaders Fellowship and apply for the program when the application comes out later this year here: https://jqas.org/the-strategic-leaders-fellowship/.

Listener Questions:

AMA- John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi

JQAS Discusses the Marcellus Papers

Losing a Taiwan War? with Lyle Goldstein Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Lyle Goldstein of Defense Priorities and the Watson Institute at Brown University about his recent paper series "Target Taiwan," which argues that a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan could be costlier and less winnable for the United States than conventional wisdom assesses.

1. Prospects for a Chinese Invasion- https://www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/target-taiwan-prospects-for-a-chinese-invasion/

2. Challenges for a U.S. Intervention- https://www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/target-taiwan-challenges-for-a-us-intervention/

3. Limits of Allied Support- https://www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/target-taiwan-limits-of-allied-support/

4. One China and Cross-Strait Stability- https://www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/target-taiwan-one-china-and-cross-strait-stability/

Listener Questions:

We are opening up Security Dilemma to listener-submitted questions. Submit questions you'd like us to ask future guests ⁠⁠⁠here, or at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ouD8WAp0g_HhqLtGm4kOmqTGsJpDbaKT7CSUN3ogFrk/edit⁠⁠⁠. Please specify the episode pertaining to the question in your response. Upcoming recordings include:

What Is an America First Nuclear Strategy? with Sumantra Maitra
AMA- John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi

JQAS Discusses the Marcellus Papers

First Among Equals with Emma Ashford Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Emma Ashford, a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center's Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program, about her new bookFirst Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World. In this episode, we discussed the new book and why realism is necessary in an era of multipolarity.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: We are opening up Security Dilemma to listener-submitted questions. Submit questions you'd like us to ask future guests ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Please specify the episode pertaining to the question in your response. Upcoming episodes include:

Taiwan: A Military Analysis with Lyle Goldstein

The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us at Home with Ben Freeman and William Hartung

Does Economic Interdependence Prevent War? with Mariya Grinberg

AMA- John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi

JQAS Discusses the Marcellus Papers

How Have Allies Responded to U.S. Retrenchment? with Miranda Priebe Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and Adam Abdel-Qader spoke with Miranda Priebe, the Director of the Center for Analysis of U.S. Grand Strategy at RAND. Dr. Priebe's work has focused on grand strategy, the future of the international order, and the effects of U.S. forward presence. In this episode, we discussed the implications of a recent report from her team anticipating allies' responses to limited U.S. retrenchment.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: We are opening up Security Dilemma to listener-submitted questions. Submit questions you'd like us to ask future guests ⁠here⁠. Please specify the episode pertaining to the question in your response. Upcoming episodes include: AMA with A.J. and John and the Pentagon budget with the Quincy Institute's Ben Freeman and William Hartung.

Check out the report here: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA739-8.html

Listener Question Submission Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ouD8WAp0g_HhqLtGm4kOmqTGsJpDbaKT7CSUN3ogFrk/edit

Special: Discussing George Washington's Farewell Address Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Gay conducts a full reading of George Washington's Farewell Address, which raised concerns that listeners may find resonate today about foreign influence of U.S. foreign policy, alliance entrapment, and more. The reading is followed by a discussion with co-host A.J. Manuzzi about whether Washington's insights remain valuable in the 21st century. You can follow along and read the full speech for yourself here.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: We are opening up Security Dilemma to listener-submitted questions. Submit questions you'd like us to ask future guests ⁠here⁠. Please specify the episode pertaining to the question in your response. Upcoming episodes include: AMA with A.J. and John, U.S. alliances and retrenchment with the RAND Corporation's Miranda Priebe, and the Pentagon budget with the Quincy Institute's Ben Freeman and William Hartung.

The Twelve-Day War and Careers in OSINT with Decker Eveleth Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at the federally funded nonprofit research and analysis organization CNA. Decker specializes in open-source analysis of foreign nuclear postures, as well as ballistic and cruise missile forces in the Middle East and Asia. In this episode we discussed the state of Iran’s nuclear and missile programs in the aftermath of the Twelve-Day War.

LISTENER QUESTIONS: We are opening up Security Dilemma to listener-submitted questions. Submit questions you'd like us to ask future guests here. Please specify the episode pertaining to the question in your response. Upcoming episodes include: AMA with A.J. and John, a reading and discussion of George Washington's Farewell Address, U.S. alliances and retrenchment with the RAND Corporation's Miranda Priebe, and the Pentagon budget with the Quincy Institute's Ben Freeman and William Hartung.

LISTENER SURVEY: Please answer our two-question survey of Security Dilemma listeners. Respondents who provide their email address will be entered into a drawing. The first prize is a signed copy of John Mearsheimer's The Tragedy of Great Power Politics; there are also digital copies of our recent reading group book, Paul R. Pillar's Why America Misunderstands the World. Respond to the survey ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

A Veteran’s Journey from 9/11 to Restraint with John Byrnes Sep 11, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi spoke with John Byrnes, the Strategic Director of Concerned Veterans for America to discuss how his experiences being at Ground Zero on 9/11 and serving in America's post-9/11 wars shifted his perspective on U.S. foreign policy to a belief in realism and restraint. Mr. Byrnes joined the Marine Corps in 1991 out of high school and served four years, deployed to Somalia in 1993. He joined the New York National Guard, serving at Ground Zero after the September 11th terrorist attacks and was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan before retiring from the National Guard in 2018.

He also has a new article out in The American Conservative, in which he discusses his foreign policy evolution and the lessons policymakers should draw from our post-9/11 wars.

The Middle East, Silicon Valley, and the Revolving Door with Jonathan Guyer Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Jonathan Guyer of the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group. Jonathan is the Program Director of IGA's flagship Independent America program, which is focused on interrogating the conventional wisdom of US foreign policy and informing the public about America’s changing role in the world. He was previously a senior foreign policy writer at Vox and managing editor of The American Prospect. Our conversation today discussed U.S. Middle East policy, the rise of Silicon Valley-based defense firms, and the "revolving door" between industry and government.

The Global Nuclear Supply Chain and Energy Security with Ted Jones Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Ted Jones, the Senior Director for National Security and International Programs at the Nuclear Energy Institute. An expert on international energy markets and nuclear trade policy, he leads initiatives related to nuclear energy exports. In addition to his work on nuclear trade policy and promotion, Mr. Jones serves as liaison to stakeholders in the nuclear policy and national security communities. Mr. Jones previously served as policy director of the U.S.-India Business Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure there, he led a successful campaign to change U.S. law and international rules to admit India to the global commercial nuclear trade.

In this episode, we discussed the global nuclear supply chain, energy security, and careers with industry trade groups.

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