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

The D Brief: Europe’s wartime crossroads; F-35’s training gap; Army’s to-do list; Space Force seeks boot camp; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: Russia races for gains; House passes NDAA; Taiwan talks to Trump team; USAF preps for transition; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: Immigration hits record; Costs, consequences of deportation plan; Aviators’ battered brains; Army: too top-heavy?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: Israel strikes Syrian targets; Chinese warships surge near Taiwan; Trump Org’s new Saudi deal; Austin’s defense diplomacy; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: What’s next for Syria?; Defense-policy bill unveiled; New counter-UAV strategy; Some GOPers unsold on Hegseth; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Defense One Radio, Ep. 168: The decline of America’s commercial shipbuilding industry

We conclude our series of conversations about America's ailing shipbuilding sector.

  • Ben Watson
Threats

The D Brief: A ‘3rd nuclear age’; Seoul’s self-coup fallout; Romania’s election nullified over Russian meddling; Soldiers charged with smuggling people; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: Rebels take another Syrian city; China’s big hack; Next DepSecDef?; NatSec poll results; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Seoul’s six-hour self-coup; Trump’s SecArmy pick; Palantir’s 18 theses; Lockheed braces; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats

The D Brief: Seoul declares martial law; Biden rushes to arm Ukraine; Meet Aleppo’s conqueror; Last soldier to leave Kabul will get 4th star; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: Jihadists seize Aleppo; Taiwan leader visits Hawaii; More Chinese chip chokepoints; Shipbuilding woes, explored; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Jennifer Hlad
Featured eBooks
Space Trends
Future of the Army
The Future of the Air Force
Policy

Defense One Radio, Ep. 167: How U.S. Navy shipbuilding sank so low

It's a complex problem built up over decades. Our guests discuss the causes, effects, and possible solutions.

  • Ben Watson
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The D Brief: Ceasefire pact in Lebanon; US strike in Syria; New SecNav tapped; Space execs’ pleas to NATO; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: $7.3B request for sub work; New promotion hold; Musk’s conflicts of interest; Trump’s Africa policy; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
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The D Brief: Invasion gains pace; Plane crash in Lithuania; New Pacific missile sites?; DepSecDef candidates; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: Russia’s MIRV missile; Space Force’s naughty list; McConnell to Senate Approps; Worst telecom hack in US history; And a bit more.

  • Patrick Tucker and Ben Watson
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The D Brief: DOD’s Replicator program advances; Nuclear forensics in Idaho; Austin, Milley defend women in combat; Intel watchdogs resign; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Lauren C. Williams and Bradley Peniston
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The D Brief: More long-range missiles target Russia’s Kursk; Biden authorizes anti-personnel mines for Ukraine; SecDef Austin in the South China Sea; Satellite industry delays; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
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The D Brief: ATACMS use in Russia?; Undersea cable cut in the Baltic; US-Philippine defense pact; Shipyard reform for US subs; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Audrey Decker
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The D Brief: Biden green lights ATACMS for Kursk; SecDef Austin in Australia; Trump stands by Hegseth; Reed, Shaheen request Musk probe; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Audrey Decker