Are concerns about autonomous weapons overblown? In our latest podcast episode, Nathan Wood (@woodnathang.bsky.social) argues that we must move past catch-all terms and focus on the distinct legal and ethical challenges of specific systems.

"Defense is a business; it’s not a religion." On our latest podcast episode, Eyck Freymann discusses the urgent need for Congress to provide forward guidance to defense producers. Subcontractors need assurance of future demand to keep production lines warm and ready.

Our latest podcast episode explores the "hard choices" required for Indo-Pacific stability. Guests Eyck Freymann and Harry Halem contend that the United States must bridge critical gaps in sealift and industrial capacity to maintain a credible posture into the 2030s.

How much does the specific administration in the White House matter for alliance resilience? @bencenemeth.bsky.social argues that leadership is a critical "situational factor," noting a sharp contrast in cooperation trends between recent presidencies. #Geopolitics #GrandStrategy #NATO

In 1956, the Suez Crisis revealed the limits of British power. Could a similar event hollow out the US alliance system today? Bence Nemeth — @bencenemeth.bsky.social — applies his "five factor theory of defense cooperation" to answer this critical question on our latest episode.

We are proud to present Volume 9, Issue 1 of the Texas National Security Review in its entirety. This issue features our bold new identity, but our mission remains the same: featuring work by the world’s best thinkers, addressing the world’s hardest problems. 🧵

How can the US avoid being coerced by a nuclear adversary? Tyler Bowen joins us to discuss the complexity of creating operational plans that achieve military success without triggering nuclear escalation. #DefenseStrategy #GlobalSecurity #Deterrence

Are we stuck in a cycle of "planning for failure"? In Mathew Burrows’ review of Elizabeth Saunders' (@profsaunders.bsky.social) "The Insiders’ Game," he draws a sharp parallel between the "insider" dynamics of today and the decision-making failures of the Vietnam era.

How can states use conventional military force effectively against a nuclear-armed adversary? By striking a balance between operational success and escalatory restraint. Tyler Bowen joins our podcast to discuss his recent TNSR article. tnsr.org/2025/01/conv... #NuclearDeterrence #NatSec

Honored to have very thoughtful reviews of my book, The Insiders' Game, from Mara Karlin and Mathew Burrow, in @tnsr.org. That picture of Trump et al. watching events in Venezuela from Mar-a-Lago is on the nose. @princetonupress.bsky.social press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

The recent operation in Venezuela highlights a critical shift in national security decision-making, and as Mara Karlin notes in her review of "The Insiders' Game," the decision-making table is more crowded than we think.

How do elites constrain presidential decision-making? Could a conflict with China break the "insider" hold on foreign policy? Mara Karlin and Mathew Burrows answer these questions in their reviews of Elizabeth Saunders’ (@profsaunders.bsky.social) "The Insiders’ Game." tnsr.org/roundtable/t...

Are those holiday gift cards already burning a hole in your pocket? Invest in something that lasts longer than the season. The TNSR winter issue, featuring our newly redesigned logo, is now available in print. Order your copy now from @utexaspress.bsky.social! utpress.utexas.edu/journals/tex...

According to Eyck Freymann and Harry Halem, the US doesn't need a "politically impossible" doubling of the defense budget to deter China. It needs to make hard choices. They argue that budgets must rigorously align with the reality of an air-naval conflict in the Pacific. tnsr.org/2025/12/the-...

According to Freymann and Halem, the margin of deterrence is shrinking, and to prevent conflict, we must address the crisis in capacity. Together, they argue that the US must urgently expand its industrial base to counter rapid conventional and nuclear buildups. The time for hard choices is now.

Looking back at the past year, we're grateful for the continued support of our audience. This includes our podcast listeners! Thank you for keeping "Horns of a Dilemma" at the top of the national security podcast charts! Subscribe or listen anytime at tnsr.org/horns-of-a-d...

In our new article by Eyck Freymann and Harry Halem, they argue that to keep China deterred, the US must look beyond "killer apps" and focus on the engine of military power: the industrial base.

When structures crumble, ideas fill the void. Our latest article by Shivshankar Menon suggests we are in a moment where scholars and thinkers can genuinely influence political definitions of interest. Chaos is an opportunity for creativity.

"If we use military force without strategy, then it's just violence." In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Marina Henke (@mephenke.bsky.social) argues that strategy is not just about efficiency—it is a moral requirement for legitimizing state action.

We often mistake the relative stability of the last 75 years for permanent reality. To understand the present, Shivshankar Menon argues we must shed post-WWII predispositions and accept "disorder" as the historical norm. Read more: tnsr.org/2025/12/a-ne... #WorldOrder #ForeignPolicy #Strategy

Every state has a grand strategy, whether they know it or not. The real challenge is designing one that works. In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Marina Henke (@mephenke.bsky.social) from @hertiesecurity.bsky.social discusses the critical link between strategic design and democratic accountability.

We often mistake the last 70 years for the standard of history. Shivshankar Menon, a former national security advisor to the Indian prime minister, claims that they were the exception in our latest Strategist article.

"I don't think it actually says what the United States really wants." Marina Henke (@mephenke.bsky.social) joins us to critique the new National Security Strategy. She pairs this analysis with her recent TNSR article on the vital, practical steps for designing strategy that actually works.

We sat down with Ambassador Kang to discuss the future of the US–Korea alliance. She contextualizes President Lee’s proposal to President Trump: a partnership where the US acts as "peacemaker" and South Korea as "pacemaker." #USKoreaAlliance #ForeignPolicy #NationalSecurity

It doesn't take a massive war to break an alliance system—just a crisis to shatter the illusion of power. @bencenemeth.bsky.social's article uses the 1956 Suez analogue to examine how a setback in the Indo-Pacific could force a brutal recalibration in allied capitals. #GrandStrategy #NatSec

In our latest podcast episode, Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha joins Sheena Chestnut Greitens (@sheenagreitens.bsky.social) to discuss the US–Korea alliance. They examine the $350 billion investment in US manufacturing and the strategic challenges posed by North Korea’s alignment with Russia.

Read the roundtable co-edited by Dr @rohanmukherjee.bsky.social and Dr @laurensukin.bsky.social in @tnsr.org on "Navigating the New Nuclear Map." Alongside their introductory essay, it features contributions from experts on the #nuclear politics of various regions. #PoliSky Read more: bit.ly/4qhYyZB

Is the US approaching a “Suez moment” in the Indo-Pacific? The military balance with China is narrowing, and a public exposure of capability shortfalls could shatter alliance confidence.

Can autonomous weapons make war less brutal? Instead of viewing autonomy solely as a risk, Nathan Wood (@woodnathang.bsky.social) posits that these systems—when used within the correct parameters—offer a pathway to more discriminate and legally compliant warfare. tnsr.org/2025/12/bomb...

The post-1945 era didn’t just change state warfare; it democratized violence. Carter Malkasian argues that innovations in weapons technology, like the assault rifle and RPG, shifted the balance of power to the individual in the Greater Middle East. Listen now: tnsr.org/2025/12/the-...

Critics argue that autonomous weapon systems violate the principle of distinction. In our latest article, Nathan G. Wood (@woodnathang.bsky.social) argues modern AWS may actually help make warfare less brutal. Read the full analysis. tnsr.org/2025/12/bomb...

Dr. Carter Malkasian joins Sheena Chestnut Greitens (@sheenagreitens.bsky.social) and Ryan Vest (@rgvest.bsky.social) to discuss war and state-building in the Middle East and South Asia.

Do autonomous weapon systems violate the laws of armed conflict? Our latest by Nathan G. Wood (@woodnathang.bsky.social) examines the legal realities of "bombs versus bots." Properly deployed, these systems may reduce civilian harm compared to traditional munitions. tnsr.org/2025/12/bomb...

"Tolerable risk" is the key to coercion in the nuclear age. 🗝️ Our new article by Tyler Bowen warns that without pre-identified boundaries, conventional success can quickly spiral into nuclear catastrophe. See why peacetime planning is the only way to thread the needle: tnsr.org/2025/11/thre...

Improvisation in a nuclear crisis is a recipe for disaster. In our latest article, Tyler Bowen argues that avoiding escalation requires preparation. Leaders must define "limited" conventional options—like specific geographic boundaries—long before the shooting starts.

"They may well live out their life and die in a Russian penal colony." In our latest podcast episode, Joshua Geltzer explains that the choice in the Griner and Whelan cases wasn't just about serving a sentence—it was about preventing indefinite detention by a system that might never let them go.

How do you coerce a nuclear adversary without triggering a catastrophe? Tyler Bowen from the U.S. Naval War College argues that it requires "threading a fine needle." The challenger needs a "Goldilocks" option: force that is strong enough to win but limited enough to avoid nuclear escalation.

Are recent shifts in the Middle East a sign of lasting stability? Carter Malkasian urges caution. In our latest article, he argues that the "conduct of war"—specifically the democratization of violence—will likely continue to undermine state authority.

Joshua Geltzer explains why the private-sector origins of AI make national security policy so difficult to craft. Listen to our full conversation with the former Deputy Assistant to the President. tnsr.org/2025/11/ai-p...

Why did war fail to build states in the Middle East the way it did in Europe? Carter Malkasian argues that war in the region became "an affair of peoples," driven by guerrilla tactics and political Islam, rather than state monopolies on force.

In our latest podcast episode, we host former Deputy Assistant to the President Joshua Geltzer for a wide-ranging discussion. We explore the tension between economic competitiveness and security in AI development, and later, shift to a conversation about the evolution of US hostage recovery policy.

How did warfare evolve in the "greater Middle East" during the Cold War? Carter Malkasian from the National War College argues this period saw a "democratization of violence"—guerrilla warfare & terrorism—that complicated state authority.

In their introduction to Vol. 9, Iss. 1, TNSR directors Adam Klein and Joseph Maguire detail our recent evolution and role in bridging the gap between academia and government.

Today, TNSR honors all US veterans for their service and sacrifice. We particularly recognize the veterans within our community of readers, authors, and contributors. Your experience and dedication profoundly enrich the vital discussions on national security and foreign policy. #VeteransDay

Our directors, the Clements Center's Joseph Maguire and the Strauss Center's Adam Klein, introduce our new design & vision for TNSR and its role in public life. They also preview the articles in our winter issue. Read their introduction: tnsr.org/2025/11/the-...

Are U.S. export controls on AI chips working? DeepSeek AI suggests maybe not. Jennifer Lind (@proflind.bsky.social) explains how China achieved a breakthrough they were not supposed to be able to accomplish.

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿! Today, we’re introducing the new face of the Texas National Security Review. Our new logo, fonts, and colors are designed to be bolder, clearer, and more accessible.

Are today's tech export controls against China just a repeat of the Cold War? Not quite. It was "Hard then Harder Now," argue @dartmouthartsci.bsky.social scholars Jennifer Lind – @proflind.bsky.social and Michael Mastanduno.

With Trump approving nuclear-powered (albeit not nuclear-armed) submarines for South Korea, this piece by @doyoung-lee.bsky.social seems even more relevant to policymakers. muse.jhu.edu/article/973856. Great that @tnsr.org is an open-access journal! I'm not sure if the path for ROK nuclear sub is

IUS Attendees! If you are at the IUS conference (civil-military relations and military sociology scholarship) in Reston, I'll be part of a "Meet the Editors" panel on behalf of Texas National Security Review @tnsr.org at 2:45 today (I'm an Assoc Ed, in charge is @sheenagreitens.bsky.social )