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: Russian strike leaves blackouts; SecDef heads to Asia; Earth’s hot streak; Olympians in uniform; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Chinese-Russian flight near Alaska; Warships chased from Azov?; B-2 tests cheap shipkiller; France’s big deployment; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Lauren C. Williams and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Harris’ record; Netanyahu in DC; Missile-making bottleneck; Rheinmetall rakes it in; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Secret Service chief resigns; Biden’s allied focus; B-52s to Romania; The wrong drone lessons?; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Europe’s defense ‘awakening’; Houthis hit Israel; Ukraine’s shell shortage; Farnborough preview; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Gaza pier, done; Can Hamas rebuild?; NATO’s hybrid-war defenses; ISIS’ Syria surge; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Navy’s big sub bet; Russia’s heavy casualties; Trump: Taiwan should pay us; USAF culture reboot? And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Red Sea combat; Ike comes home; Juntas unite; Zelenskyy’s wishlist; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: US winds down in Niger; NATO’s new needs; ICBM OKd; DOD postpones Georgian exercise; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: NATO-summit sneak peek; Aid for Ukraine; Russia’s staggering toll; The Composite Age; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Threats
The D Brief: Alerts across Europe; $4.5 billion for Patriot missiles; Thousands of US weapons to Israel; China taps private firms for cyber offense; Boeing’s new deal; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Lauren C. Williams and Audrey Decker
Threats
The D Brief: Taiwan leaders on China; Patriots to Ukraine?; Moscow’s Africa disinfo; Gaza pier inquest; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston