Author Archive

Ben Watson

Senior Multimedia Editor, Defense One

Ben Watson is an Army veteran who writes The D Brief daily newsletter and hosts the bimonthly Defense One Radio podcast. Since arriving in Washington in 2012, Ben has written and produced award-winning features on politics, international security, technology, and military history for NPR, The Atlantic and Defense One.
Threats

Today's D Brief: Explosions over Iran; What’s in the House aid bills; Army’s deepfakes; New ‘reusable’ rocket idea; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Aid votes coming?; Ukraine war casualty counts; A plan to restart F-35 deliveries; Navy to miss recruiting goal; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: 16 die in Russian attack; SecDef, China talk; Missile duels’ price tag; Army recruiting, on track at last; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

Today's D Brief: House edges toward aid vote; Ukraine’s eastern front erodes; Defense leaders on the Hill; GOP vs. ‘radical environmentalists’; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Iran attacks Israel; US helps down missiles; What if Ukraine loses?; Killer robots are here; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Japan’s plea to Congress; Iraq seeks US reboot; Houthi drones, downed; CYBERCOM’s elite force; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Russia destroys power plant; Ukraine’s pleas; China, US talk space safety; DOD & Starlink; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Russia’s GPS interference; Disappointing US drones; New spy satellites; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: State of Defense 2024; Anti-ISIS actions; Iranian lull; Red Sea skirmishes; And just a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

Today's D Brief: Navy axes briefings; Westpac exercises; Army in Austin; Austrian spy scandal; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Russian airbase struck?; Danes fire defense chief; Army’s cutting-edge brigades; DOD’s software snafu; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Featured eBooks
Asia-Pacific Outlook
Connect Everything: JADC2 & networks
Intel and Analytics
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Today's D Brief: Israel under pressure; Russia’s 'reconstituted' military; US strikes Houthis; NATO turns 75; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
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Today's D Brief: Navy programs, delayed; Downing drones in Syria; Israel attack in Damascus; Ukraine raises draft age; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Drones vs. factories; GE’s engine spinoff; USAFA’s diversity struggle; New job for Cold-War crane; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Kyiv’s drone ambitions; Russian airstrikes, tallied; WestPac patrol plans; First-ever ASD for tech; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Today's D Brief: Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy; ATACMS for Kyiv?; Manila vows response to Chinese water cannons; New USAF combat wings; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Patrick Tucker
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Today's D Brief: Secretive airstrip near Yemen; USAF chief Allvin, in conversation; Russia-North Korea cargo flights continue; Is this the end for towed howitzers?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Patrick Tucker
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Today's D Brief: Cross-border violence in Israel; Lukashenko’s wrinkle; Army’s drone platoons; Navy’s robot ships; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Patrick Tucker
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Today's D Brief: USCG help with Baltimore bridge collapse; Israeli military chief to the Pentagon; Netanyahu angry over UN ceasefire; USAF wishlist; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Lauren C. Williams
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Today's D Brief: Terrorism in Moscow; Iraqi PM gets WH invite; Houthis attack Chinese tanker; Shakeup at Boeing; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Lauren C. Williams