Sirens: A Bombshell production

Sirens welcomes the tremendous Dr. Mara Karlin as a guest to first determine which current buzzwords we'd ban but more importantly to assess this moment of US and allied relationships: what allies should be planning, how US chaos shakes up more than just NATO meetings, and signals to watch. For dumpster fires, we talk through what's new and what's unfortunate de ja vu as the Trump Administration pressures the Iranian regime amid increasingly violent protest crackdowns, as well as what the transition at the GAO means for oversight (yes, we do the sexy topics!). Finally: what delights and baffles you about the Jane Austen-verse?

Happy 2026 to all friends of Sirens! Loren, Radha, and Erin are truly astonished at the pace of news in their mid-winters nap and gab for an extended drill to cover new Hatch Act procedures, protests in Iran, the thwarted terrorist attack on NYE, the drastic decrease in financial crime fines in 2026, and Netanyahu's visit (also, Andy and Anderson's NYE, of course). While Venezuela could be an entire episode series unto itself, we augment with another dumpster fire: what exactly the daycare funding fraud allegations mean in Minnesota and how they may impact the entire theory of change of federalism. For Warning Signs, we offer what we're looking for and at ain 2026, and suggest some resolutions for American institutions in 2026.

Yes - it's a mouthful of acronyms! And yes, it's hard to focus on anything besides the new national security strategy, but Sirens manages to open with our favorite holiday reads, merry and bright and dark and twisty. For dumpster fires, we explore the tragic shooting of two WV National Guardsmen through the lens of the evacuation of several thousand Afghans in 2021 and the complex and often limited support system they met in the US. Also, we reluctantly return to counter drug strikes in the Caribbean and exactly what we should expect of the military when it comes to unlawful orders. Finally; what holiday movie would you pitch to Hallmark?

Were you left wanting more economist talk after last week's Sirens? Joint Loren and Radha for the full, uncut interview with the Optimist Economy's Kathryn Edwards helps us navigate where we are (or not) on the highway to recession and what the government should be doing about it.

Everyone's negotiating these days, with the Ukraine deal, recent AI deals, and the near final Schedule F (er Schedule Policy/Career) closing up (or not) as the year wraps up and the holiday party circuit in DC kicks off. In dumpster fires, we take a good hard look at the recent MBS visit to DC and just whose strategy this strategic partnership is operating under, as well as tying threads across recent news in the James Comey, Jeffrey Epstein, and Mark Kelly investigations. Optimist Economy's Kathryn Edwards helps us navigate where we are (or not) on the highway to recession and what the government should be doing about it. And to close: what is your favorite absurd holiday treat?

Are you equal parts terrified and fascinated by recent mentions of restarting nuclear testing? The ladies of bombshell are here to help! Join us for the full-length interview with PONI Director Heather Williams as we discuss nuclear testing and nuclear weapons, how it relates to the international world order.

Sirens starts with favorite bake-off challenges and runs the cocktail circuit with the latest Supreme Court validation that tariffs are taxes, what the latest elections mean (or don't, apparently), and the trend of general officer removals. We dig into the sexiest dumpster fires: acquisition reform and where the death of direct file fits in the flow of tax reform in US history. PONI Director Heather Williams joined for a delightfully disturbing warning signs on nuclear testing and getting nuclear weapons into public consciousness. And finally, importantly: when is too early to put up Christmas decorations?

Breaking Defense reporter and longtime Pentagon press corps member Valerie Insinna details the work of the media in DOD, what the department owes Americans in terms of transparency, and the implications of Hegseth's new press guidelines.

Now that the Louvre jewel thieves have been caught, Sirens asks, what museum would you plan a heist for? On the cocktail circuit, we're chatting Tomahawks, no, sanctions yes on Russia-Ukraine, the new Japanese PM, and Trump's Asia trip. In Dumpster Fires, there's thousands unleashed across the US as the shutdown continues; plus, there is some strange strange stuff going on in Southcom. In warning signs, Breaking Defense reporter Valerie Insinna joins us for a discussion of what makes the Pentagon press corps unique amid Hegseth's recent actions against the media. Finally, what inflatable protest creature are you?

If you're wondering what happens when as the foundations of separtion of power shift in real time, then this mini-episode is for you! Join the ladies of Bombshell for the fasinating, full length interview with Laura Dickinson of GWU Law School. We get an expert view on recent Supreme Court rulings, what executive power really means, and where we go from here.

Admit it; do you set google alerts for yourself, your partner's doppleganger, or pedandtic civ-mil terms? Sirens debates and drills through shutdown RIFs, the emerging hostage deal, and tariffs + hemlines predictions. In Dumpster Fires, we ask, IS there a new phase in Russian combat operations or are we just paying attention (with more or less the same question on recent increase in cyber attacks). In Warning Signs, GWU Law Professor Laura Dickinson joins for a fascinating discussion on separation of powers. Then help us remember our favorite Diane Keaton moments as we reminsce on a truly amazing career.

On this mini-episode, we talk with Erin Sikorsky about her new book “Climate Change on the Battlefield.” Listen in as we discuss how climate change affects military operations and military readiness, which countries are doing things right, and how the US could address systemic risks differently.

Sirens (should Sirens just be a book pod?) starts with the best question: if you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? On the cocktail party circuit, we had to discuss the Great Gathering of Gobsmacked GOFOs, plus how the US gave up AI norms at UNGA and changes to social security. Amid Dumpster Fires aplenty, we dig into chaotic reforms to H1B visa and the consequences to the economy and national security, as well as the nuclear change to senate nominations process. In Warning Signs, we welcome former US Chief Data Scientist Denice Ross for a wonderful discussion on the federal data system and democratic accountability. And Gong Show? We had no choice: Robert Redford. It's the fall that's gonna kill you.

Americans want a government that is agile, responsive, and able to deliver basic services while also solving complex challenges like climate change. Yet the climate community tends to over-focus on questions of climate policy design rather than questions of climate policy implementation — resulting in ambitious efforts like the Inflation Reduction Act that held great promise on paper but ran into roadblocks in the real world. In this live taping, host Loren DeJonge Schulman is joined by special guests Carol Browner, former U.S. EPA Administrator, Jordan Diamond, Executive Director of the Environmental Law Institute, and Nancy Metayer Bowen, Vice Mayor of Coral Springs, FL, to discuss why government capacity is the overlooked engine of climate progress — and explore how civic leaders, lawyers, and public innovators are tackling procedural bottlenecks, modernizing outdated systems, and strengthening the connective tissue between federal, state, and local actors to unlock faster and more durable climate outcomes.

On the Sirens cocktail circuit this week is (no surprise) renaming the Department of Defense, the deporting US industrial strategy (Korean workers), and two-steps-back, one-step forward White House announcements on AI skills while cutting education funds. Among the week's dumpster fires: does the US even have an appropriations process anymore? and, how to talk about what we're seeing in political violence? Finally, events in in Venezuela and Qatar raise questions on if the law of war is just law of personalist performances. Also: Katabasis!

Sirens starts the school year bright eyed in It's a Drill, highlighting new Deputy Secretary of Defense powers in requirements, the new Chief Design Officer at the White House, and whether those trade taxes are legal. In Dumpster Fires, we explore the redistricting arms race set off by Texas and how it fits into the evolution of democracy in the US, along with how it feels to own 10% of Intel (any takers for a share of State Capitalism?). In Warning Signs, we are delighted (horrified) to welcome Dr. Lindsay Cohn to dig into when and how state governors resist federal deployments of the National Guard in their state, and what this portends for the role of the guard in the future.

Sirens gives you a mini-episode close to our hearts: what are the do's and, very importantly, don'ts of running a great hiring process as a hiring manager. There's horror stories, yes, but also great advice for new leaders and old hands.

Sirens returns with an action packed episode. Loren, Erin, and Radha cover China's foray into green tech (plus grantmaking politcization and Pentagon reorganizations) in it's a drill. Closer to home, the ladies discuss how DC is (not) welcoming national guardsmen from a variety of states and talk the history and context of DC Home Rule, plus what is up with the new report from the Department of Energy on climate change. In warning signs, Dr. Elizabeth Saunders joins to share in the bafflement over the blitz of Russia, Ukraine and everyone else summits this week. The ladies close out with a gong show on TV (Buffy reboot!) they're excited to (re)start watching.

In this mini-episode, join Radha and Erin's full interview with amazing guest and expert Emily Bensen on all things tariffs (aka trade taxes). They talk through the theory of the case for setting these tariffs, review the successful and not-so-successful negotiations, and look at where the economy and the American people likely to see the impact of these tariffs in the weeks and months ahead

There's just too much going on in our sixty second It's a Drill exercise, but Radha, Erin, and Loren manage to highlight Taiwan dithering, NIH funding shenanigans, and small set of AI Action Plan details. In bigger, can't miss Dumpster Fires, they dive into what drove the shift in public reactions to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what it may mean, as well as what happens when a president fires the BLS commissioner on jobs day. Radha and Erin welcome our second guest, Emily Benson, for a long Warning Signs exploration of our favorite repeat topic, trade taxes, and the Trump Administration's theory of change. Finally - being meta - we chat our favorite podcasts.