Shows
America’s FrontlinesAmerica's Frontlines Podcast 04 February 2026In this episode:
Colonel Denny and Skip examine the growing organized harassment and violence targeting ICE agents, and why defending those who enforce the law is essential to preserving America as a Constitutional Republic—not a nation ruled by mobs and intimidation
Colonel Denny and Skip expose a week of strategic warning signs—from America’s next-gen attack submarine slipping nearly a decade behind schedule, to China’s top generals falling in a sweeping purge, to a U.S. carrier armada moving toward Iran, and NATO’s Secretary General openly crediting President Trump with forcing Europe to finally pay up—rev...
2026-02-0447 minAmerica’s FrontlinesAmerica's Frontlines Podcast 19 November 2025In this episode:
Colonel Denny and Skip explore Trump’s warning about Nigeria’s escalating massacre of Christians, the possibility of U.S. airstrikes and troop deployment, and the major operational hurdles AFRICOM faces after losing regional basing in West Africa
In the news, Colonel Denny and Skip break down a dramatic week of global upheaval—from fresh U.S. military options on Venezuela and a historic end to the penny, to Iran seizing an oil tanker in the volatile Strait of Hormuz—revealing what it all means for America’s future
Colonel Denny gives us another dose of one lin...
2025-11-1955 min
Fed Gov TodayRewriting the Rules of War: Inside the Pentagon’s Bold Plan to Fix Defense Acquisition—For Real This TimeOn this episode of Fed Gov Today with Francis Rose, retired Major General Arnold Punaro joins Francis to unpack what could be the most sweeping overhaul of the defense acquisition system in decades. Following Secretary Pete Hegseth’s newly announced Acquisition Transformation Strategy, Punaro argues that achieving real results will require nothing short of retraining the entire acquisition workforce—military and civilian alike. He breaks down how the Department of Defense, Congress, and industry—the three sides of the “iron triangle”—are finally aligning to reform a system tha...
2025-11-1117 min
Balance of PowerUS Government Shutdown BeginsWatch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.The slow-rolling government shutdown that everyone saw coming is here. What’s harder to foresee is how Republicans and Democrats get out of it quickly.Parts of the federal government were slated to begin closing down this morning after lawmakers failed to agree on a spending bill last night. Unlike in past shutdowns, each side, at least for now, sees advantages in playing this brawl out.Republicans, after taking the blame for shutdowns in 2013 and 2018, are eager to turn the ta...
2025-10-0144 min
Balance of PowerBalance of Power: US Government Shutdown Begins (Podcast)Watch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.
Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Bloomberg's Tyler Kendall is in for Kailey. Joe and Tyler speak with:
Bloomberg Government Congress Reporter Jack Fitzpatrick.
Republican Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina.
Democratic Congressman Glenn Ivey of Maryland.
Republican Congresswoman Lisa McClain of Michigan.
Retired Two-Star Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro.
2025-10-0145 min
Micro Journeys: The Pulse of What’s NextMajor General Arnold Punaro on Vietnam, Capitol Hill, and the Future of DefenseIn this episode of Micro Journeys, host Daniel Marrujo sits down with Major General Arnold Punaro to explore his extraordinary career spanning the U.S. Marine Corps, Capitol Hill, and the private sector. From his service as a young platoon commander in Vietnam to leading reform efforts in Washington, Punaro shares candid stories of leadership, sacrifice, and national security.He opens up about lessons from combat, his time as staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and his role in shaping defense policy during pivotal moments in U.S. history. The conversation also dives into...
2025-09-1759 minBalance of PowerTrump Teases Pharma, Chips TariffsWatch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF.President Donald Trump said that US tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports would be announced “within the next week or so,” as the administration prepares to target key economic sectors in its effort to remake global trade. “We’ll be putting a initially small tariff on pharmaceuticals, but in one year — one and a half years, maximum — it’s going to go to 150% and then it’s going to go to 250% because we want pharmaceuticals made in our country,” Trump said Tuesday in an interview on...
2025-08-0540 minAmerica’s FrontlinesAmerica's Frontlines Podcast 16 July 2025In this episode
Colonel Denny comments about October 7, 2023, Hamas and how the world is acting today since it
Skip and the colonel discuss some of the key news stories that are impacting our daily lives
We get to hear some more of the colonel's one-liners
An in-depth conversation with retired General Arnold Punaro and the state of the world
Some more military history that you may or may not know
And of course some wisdom from Warrant Officer Roland Ashby regarding the Big Beautiful Big and how it is going to benefit the Coast Guard.
2025-07-161h 09
School of WarEp 212: Arnold Punaro on Fighting in Vietnam and WashingtonArnold Punaro, retired USMC Major General and author of If Confirmed: An Insider's View of the National Security Confirmation Process, joins the show to talk about his infantry service in Vietnam and his experiences serving in Washington DC.
▪️
Times
• 01:35 Introduction
• 05:40 5 weeks
• 10:51 Officer training
• 13:18 3/7
• 16:37 Jungle fighting
• 23:25 Wounded
• 31:32 Payback
• 36:35 Bad situation
• 40:10 Getting home
• 45:46 The Senate
• 49:28 Getting the facts
• 54:00 Service
Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast
Find a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack
2025-07-041h 00
Frontlines of Freedom ™Apr 19, 2025 Hr 1 - Military & National Security News, Gazans vs Hamas, Blue Angels Interview, Gen. Arnold PunaroNational security, military, veteran news.Comments by the Colonel: Gazans protesting Hamas are being ignored.Warrant Wisdom: Interview with Blue Angels maintainer at Sun 'n Fun Airshow.USMC Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (Ret.) discusses our nation’s big issues.
2025-04-1944 min
TD Cowen InsightsA Tale Of Three Budgets (FY25, Reconciliation & FY26)Recorded on 04/04/25 In this episode, Roman Schweizer, TD Cowen Washington Research Group's geopolitics & defense analyst, discusses the three defense spending packages (past – FY25, present – reconciliation, and future – FY26) with retired Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, CEO of The Punaro Group and long-time staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. We'll cover the reality of the FY25 Continuing Resolution, the possibility of $150B in the Senate's reconciliation plan, and the outlook for FY26, which could be released sometime later this month.
https://go.td.com/PodcastDisclosure Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW...
2025-04-0836 min
Campaign Trend PodcastHow To Get Confirmed By The Senate – Arnold PunaroHave a question, comment, idea or suggestion? Send us a text.Our guest today is Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Reserve Major General. For decades he served on Capitol Hill, including as the Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Today he runs the Punaro Group, consults for a broad array of Fortune 100 companies, and has been recognized by Defense News as one of the 100 most influential individuals in US Defense. He’s also the author of “If Confirmed: An Insider’s View of the National Security Confirmation Process.”In this episode General...
2025-02-1928 min
National Security Law TodayRevisiting the Intricacies of Senate Confirmations with Arnold PunaroWith the confirmations process well underway, we're taking a fresh look at how it all works. Revisiting a conversation from this past December, Elisa sits down with retired Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro, a veteran of Capitol Hill and author of If Confirmed: An Insider’s View of the National Security Process. Together, they explore the three phases of confirmation, the role of the Federal Vacancies Act, and the complexities of vetting nominees for positions like Secretary of Defense. Arnold L. Punaro is a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and CEO of The Punaro Gr...
2025-02-0528 minBalance of PowerHegseth Testifies on Capitol HillWatch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Retired Two-Star Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro, Former Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, as Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing takes place in the Senate Armed Services Committee. Bloomberg Politics Contributor Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and Republican Strategist Ashley Da...
2025-01-1439 min
National Security Law TodayIf Confirmed: Arnold Punaro on the Intricacies of Senate Confirmations (Part 2)(Part 2 of 2) The nominations and confirmations process is a cornerstone of American governance, but how does it actually work? Continuing our discussion on the confirmation process, Elisa sits down with retired Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro, a veteran of Capitol Hill and author of If Confirmed: An Insider’s View of the National Security Process. Together, they explore the three phases of confirmation, the role of the Federal Vacancies Act, and the complexities of vetting nominees for positions like Secretary of Defense. Arnold L. Punaro is a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and CEO of...
2024-12-1030 min
Defense & Aerospace ReportDEFAERO Daily Pod [Dec 09, 24] Reagan National Defense Forum Takeaways & Callan’s Week AheadOn today’s program, sponsored by HII, former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim and emeritus National Defense Industrial Association Chairman Arnold Punaro discuss key takeaways from the 11th Reagan National Defense forum; Building the Base podcast hosts former Navy Acquisition chief Hondo Geurts and Beacon Global Strategies’ Lauren Bedula discuss defense industrial themes at Reagan; and Byron Callan of the independent Washington research firm Capital Alpha Partners discusses defense implications of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria and what’s next for the region, the NDAA, Vivek Ramaswamy’s comments at Aspen next week and what they mean for the...
2024-12-0936 min
National Security Law TodayIf Confirmed: Arnold Punaro on the Intricacies of Senate Confirmations (Part 1)The nominations and confirmations process is a cornerstone of American governance, but how does it actually work? Continuing our discussion on the confirmation process, Elisa sits down with retired Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro, a veteran of Capitol Hill and author of If Confirmed: An Insider’s View of the National Security Process. Together, they explore the three phases of confirmation, the role of the Federal Vacancies Act, and the complexities of vetting nominees for positions like Secretary of Defense. Arnold L. Punaro is a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and CEO of The Pu...
2024-12-0327 minDefense & Aerospace ReportDEFAERO Strategy Series [Nov 06, 24] Bayer and Punaro on the Art of Transitioning PowerMichael Bayer, a former chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association, and Arnold Punaro, another former NDIA chairman and Senate Armed Services Committee staff director, join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss how to ensure a smooth transition from the Biden administration to a second Trump administration, how to get the mechanics right, budget process to keep government running, how Elon Musk could play an instrumental role in revamping government contracting processes to better and more quickly deliver needed capabilities at scale, and the prospect the incoming president may choose to sack senior military leaders and replace them...
2024-11-0747 minBalance of PowerTrump Safe After Assassination Attempt FoiledWatch Joe and Kailey LIVE every day on YouTube: http://bit.ly/3vTiACF. Bloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg's Laura Davison about the investigation into what the Federal Bureau of Investigation called an apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump. Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity at Maryville University and Former-Member of the Secret Service Brian Gant about questions...
2024-09-161h 00
The Lawfare PodcastChatter: Confirmations for National Security Positions, with Arnold PunaroAt the start of every presidential administration, the nominees for more than 1,000 civilian positions require Senate confirmation. A large number of those are in the Department of Defense, with confirmation responsibility going to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). And whether it's a new administration or not, the committee processes dozens of civilian nominations for typical turnover reasons and thousands of military promotions as part of regular order.Arnold Punaro, author of the new book If Confirmed, knows the Senate confirmation process as well as or better than anyone alive. For half a century, he has been...
2024-07-301h 20
The Lawfare Podcast: Patreon EditionChatter: Confirmations for National Security Positions, with Arnold PunaroAt the start of every presidential administration, the nominees for more than 1,000 civilian positions require Senate confirmation. A large number of those are in the Department of Defense, with confirmation responsibility going to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). And whether it's a new administration or not, the committee processes dozens of civilian nominations for typical turnover reasons and thousands of military promotions as part of regular order.Arnold Punaro, author of the new book If Confirmed, as well as or better than anyone alive. For half a century, he has been central to the confirmation proce...
2024-07-301h 20
ChatterConfirmations for National Security Positions with Arnold PunaroAt the start of every presidential administration, the nominees for more than 1,000 civilian positions require Senate confirmation. A large number of those are in the Department of Defense, with confirmation responsibility going to the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). And whether it's a new administration or not, the committee processes dozens of civilian nominations for typical turnover reasons and thousands of military promotions as part of regular order.Arnold Punaro, author of the new book If Confirmed, knows the Senate confirmation process as well as or better than anyone alive. For half a century, he has been...
2024-07-301h 20
ReaganismMilitary Confirmations and Congress’ Failures with ret. Major General Arnold PunaroOn this episode of Reaganism, Reagan Institute Director Roger Zakheim sits down with ret. Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro who serves as the Chairman of the Secretary of Defense’s Reserve Forces Policy Board. They discuss the breakdown of the military confirmation process in Congress and what to expect from future presidential administrations.
2024-07-2937 min
Fed Gov Today7/3/24: The survival path for political appointees on the road to confirmationNo matter who wins the presidential election this November, a new round of political appointees is likely to make its way to Capitol Hill to seek the approval of the Senate. Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (USMC ret.) will probably be involved in helping at least some of them prepare for confirmation. Arnold’s new book, "If Confirmed: An Insider’s View of the National Security Confirmation Process," is exactly what the title says it is. Arnold’s guided thousands of appointees through the confirmation process in his decades on the Hill, including a dozen Secret...
2024-07-0337 min
Cover Stories: Spies, Books & EntertainmentIf Confirmed - How to earn the consent of the Senate - with Arnold PunaroArnold Punaro spent 24 years as a U.S. Senate staffer including 14 years as the Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Since leaving government in 1997 he has advised the Senate, Department of Defense and other Executive Branch agencies on navigating the complex process of getting Senate approval for Presidentially appointed positions. We'll talk with him about why getting a nominee confirmed takes so long, what candidates can do to increase their chances of success and systemic improvements that the executive and legislative branch should take to help ensure that the best possible candidates get through the process more...
2024-05-2534 minCover Stories: Spies, Books & EntertainmentIf Confirmed - How to earn the consent of the Senate - with Arnold PunaroArnold Punaro spent 24 years as a U.S. Senate staffer including 14 years as the Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Since leaving government in 1997 he has advised the Senate, Department of Defense and other Executive Branch agencies on navigating the complex process of getting Senate approval for Presidentially appointed positions. We'll talk with him about why getting a nominee confirmed takes so long, what candidates can do to increase their chances of success and systemic improvements that the executive and legislative branch should take to help ensure that the best possible candidates get through the process more...
2024-05-2534 minBalance of PowerNo Border Deal For the HolidaysBloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz deliver insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy. On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Democratic Congressman Ami Bera of California about the work Congress has ahead of them when they return from the holidays. Bloomberg Politics Contributor Jeanne Sheehan Zaino and Republican Strategist Lester Munson about bipartisan opposition in the Senate to Nippon's takeover of US Steel. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Arnold Punaro about stalled US aid for Ukraine. ...
2023-12-1936 min
TD Cowen InsightsThe Four Horsemen: Global Conflict, Supply Chains, Spending Uncertainty & U.S ElectionsRecorded on 11/27/23
In this episode, TD Cowen Washington Research Group’s Roman Schweizer discusses the top geopolitical and defense issues in Washington with a reporter roundtable and has an in-depth discussion with retired USMC Major General Arnold Punaro of the Punaro Group.
For Disclosures, click here bit.ly/3cPHkNW
https://go.td.com/PodcastDisclosure Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
2023-12-0451 minBalance of PowerA Step Closer to a New SpeakerBloomberg Washington Correspondents Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz delivers insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy.On this edition, Joe and Kailey speak with: Bloomberg Politics Contributors Rick Davis and Jeanne Sheehan Zaino about the GOP conference selecting Rep. Steve Scalise to be their nominee for Speaker of the House and the likelihood Scalise can secure the majority of votes now needed to become Speaker. Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (Ret.), former Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division, about...
2023-10-111h 02Balance of PowerTuberville Holds FirmBloomberg Washington Correspondent Joe Mathieu delivers insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy.On this edition, Joe Mathieu and Kailey Leinz speak with: Bloomberg Politics Contributor Rick Davis and Lecturer at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University Lincoln Mitchell about a new ad highlighting President Biden's efforts to support Ukraine, some new polling data on Biden's favorability and Vice President Kamala Harris' role in reelection efforts. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA) about the potential of...
2023-09-0842 min
The Playbook PodcastJuly 28, 2023: Trump faces three new feloniesSpecial counsel Jack Smith introduced three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump — including a blockbuster claim that he asked an employee to delete security camera footage sought by investigators. Kyle Cheney joins Ryan Lizza to explain what it means for the case — and what indictments we can expect next. Plus, the Senate passed its annual NDAA defense bill yesterday — check out Playbook Deep Dive this morning where Ryan nerds out with Arnold Punaro, a retired general with the U.S. Marine Corps, on the politics and policy of the bill.
2023-07-2806 min
The Conversation with Dasha BurnsWhat Republicans, Democrats, and the Pentagon don’t want to hear about the NDAAThis week, the action in the Senate was all about the annual defense authorization – the NDAA. Usually, the argument about what goes into this enormous bill that governs everything the military can and can’t do is a word soup cooked-up by defense nerds. You may recall things like SDI, the GWOT, and closing GITMO. All controversial in their own day, and all eventually resolved through the historically bipartisan NDAA process. But this time around, many in Washington are beginning to wonder if a new set of acronyms is fatally imperiling our armed forces. Issues like D...
2023-07-2844 min
The Mike Church ShowThe Mike Church Show-RFK Jr Smacks Down Congressional Vaccine Mandate Nazis
Time
Red Pill Topics & Headlines
6:03am cst
Welcome to the Mike Church Show on www.crusadechannel.com Call the show 844-5CRUSADE
Did you miss yesterday’s LIVE Mike Church Show? Worry not, you can listen to all previously aired shows at the new CRUSADE MAX – https://podcasts.crusadechannel.com
HEADLINE RUNDOWN
Robert F Kennedy Jr Committee Hearing
COVID censorship
The Sound of Freedom
Kamala Harris claims Florida is teaching kids slavery was wonderful
NYC Mayor Eric Adams says NYC is officially at maximum capacity for illegal immigrants
Sen Tommy Tuberville put a hold on the DOD abortion access bill
...
2023-07-2119 minBalance of PowerThe Pentagon Hold UpBloomberg Washington Correspondent Joe Mathieu delivers insight and analysis on the latest headlines from the White House and Capitol Hill, including conversations with influential lawmakers and key figures in politics and policy.On this edition, Joe speaks with: Bloomberg News National Security Reporter Nick Wadhams on the the hold up of over 250 Pentagon nominations Former Major General Arnold Punaro, Author of the Ever Shrinking Fighting Force on the affect of over 250 Pentagon nominations going unfilled Bloomberg Politics Contributors Jeanne Sheehan Zaino & Rick Davis on SCOTUS, Dobbs one year later, 2024 candidates speak at Faith and Freedom Coalition ...
2023-06-2336 min
Blueprint for Wealth2023 Proposed Federal Budget + Interview with CEO of the Punaro Group and retired USMC General Major Arnold PunaroOn this segment of Blueprint for Wealth, Wayne Zell discusses the 2023 Proposed Federal Budget, followed by an interview with CEO of the Punaro Group, Major General (retired USMC) Arnold Punaro. "The Punaro Group is your trusted guide to the federal market place, offering advice, analysis and strategy backed by 40 years of unparalleled experience and proven performance, enabling you to seize opportunities and accelerate growth." To learn more, visit us at zelllaw.com To view the video version, go to https://youtu.be/4ILWqTaQpRw
2023-02-1434 minBlueprint for Wealth2023 Proposed Federal Budget + Interview with CEO of the Punaro Group and retired USMC General Major Arnold PunaroOn this segment of Blueprint for Wealth, Wayne Zell discusses the 2023 Proposed Federal Budget, followed by an interview with CEO of the Punaro Group, Major General (retired USMC) Arnold Punaro."The Punaro Group is your trusted guide to the federal market place, offering advice, analysis and strategy backed by 40 years of unparalleled experience and proven performance, enabling you to seize opportunities and accelerate growth."To learn more, visit us at zelllaw.comTo view the video version, go to https://youtu.be/4ILWqTaQpRw
2023-02-0834 min
Global ReconGRP 165-Chaos was the law of nature; Order was the dream of man: A conversation with a Marine Corps GeneralMy guest for this week's podcast is retired Marine Corps Major General Arnold Punaro. Punaro went on to serve for 34 years, finishing his career as the Commanding Officer of the 4th Marine Division and reaching the rank of Two Star General. He was shot during a firefight as a young Officer leading Marines against an enemy position in Vietnam.
After the war, he went to work for Senator Sam Nunn in National Security matters serving as his director of National Security Affairs and then as Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. His latest book, "The...
2022-08-171h 14
The Precision-Guided PodcastEpisode 25: Understanding The Ever Shrinking Fighting ForceJoin Alice, the Precision-Guided Podcast host, for a discussion with Major General Arnold Punaro, USMC (Ret), to discuss United States national defense priorities and budgeting concerns.
In this episode, we discuss Mr. Punaro’s eight ‘ticking timebombs’ of US national security, his recommendations to reorient defense activities to support relevant security concerns, and reflect on his time as a Security Studies Program student and instructor at Georgetown University.
Listeners can learn more about Mr. Purano at https://www.ndia.org/leadership-bios/arnold-punaro and find more about his most recent book, The Ever Shrinking Fighting Force, at htt...
2022-07-1050 min
The DefenseScoop PodcastNational Guard improving cyber readiness; Emerging technologies in support of national securityOn this week’s episode of The DefenseScoop Podcast, a new $1 billion innovation fund for NATO and feedback for the Army’s incremental buildout of its tactical communications network.
The Department of Defense has a new blueprint for artificial intelligence. Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), CEO of The Punaro Group and chair of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses how AI and other emerging technologies will help support DOD mission success.
A cyber exercise the National Guard has completed is tightening the Guard’s collaboration with U.S. Cyber Command. Lt. Col. Cameron Sprague, executive director for the Cyber Yankee exerci...
2022-07-0533 min
The Asia ChessboardCounting the Pieces: Defense Spending and the “Ever Shrinking Fighting Force”This week, Mike sits down with Major General Arnold L. Punaro (USMC ret.), Chief Executive Officer of the Punaro Group, to discuss his new book, The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force, which covers the history of U.S. defense spending and why the number of warfighters is declining despite budget increases. Mike and Maj. Gen. Punaro start off by analyzing the defense budget process and lay out three reasons why the U.S. military is not getting “enough bang for its buck,” to include the acquisition process, the cost of an all-volunteer force, and a massive overhead. Drawing from his experience work...
2022-05-2340 min
After WordsMark Esper, "A Sacred Oath"Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper spoke about his time serving in the Trump Administration. He was interviewed by National Defense Industrial Association chairman Arnold Punaro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2022-05-221h 01
The Daily Scoop PodcastNew acquisition leader at the Pentagon; TSP technology update; Making ZT work at DOLOn today’s episode of The Daily Scoop Podcast, the Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating another outage of its electronic health records system.
The Department of Defense’s new acquisition leader is finally in place. Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (USMC-ret.), CEO of The Punaro Group and chair of the National Defense Industrial Association, discusses the confirmation of Bill LaPlante and what it means for the Pentagon.
The Thrift Savings Plan is headed for a May 16 deadline. Kim Weaver, director of external affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, explains the next marker for the TSP’s technology upgrade.
At Cyb...
2022-04-2725 min
RealClear Defense presents Hot WashFreezing the Defense Budget? with Ret. Maj. Gen. Arnold PunaroAlthough the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act funding the military passed with bipartisan support, the appropriations bill has not. This puts the entire military and much of the intelligence community under a Continuing Resolution since October 1, freezing new spending, stalling dozens of major programs, and holding spending military-wide to 2021 levels. In a time of rising inflation, the effect is actually a major cut. Now, some members of Congress are proposing extending the Continuing Resolution for up to a year.What would that mean for defense? Is there a way through the impasse?To find out we...
2022-01-1423 min
The Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – The Guard & ReserveOn this episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro (USMC, Ret.) highlights the importance of the Guard and Reserve in our nation’s national security and military capabilities. Since 9/11, over 1 million members of the Guard and Reserve have been deployed both domestically and abroad. Tune in to learn more.
2021-10-2604 min
The AEI Events PodcastAmerica’s ever-shrinking fighting forceThe US defense budget is at its largest in decades, yet the Air Force’s combat-coded aircraft inventory, the Navy’s battle-force ship fleet, and the Army’s number of active-duty soldiers have all shrunk. Is this trend reversible?The Pentagon’s creeping bureaucracy is plagued by slow-moving acquisition processes, the rise of numerous powerful defense agencies, and climbing overhead costs. Feasible improvements exist, but as Maj. Gen. Arnold L. Punaro (ret.) warns in his latest book, “The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force” (Punaro Press, 2021), “Bad processes beat good people all the time.”Join AEI’s Mackenzie Eaglen as she host...
2021-08-2654 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Readiness & the COVID-19 VaccineOn this episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro, USMC (Ret.) discusses Defense Secretary Austin’s decision to require the COVID-19 vaccine for active duty military personnel. Tune in to learn more about the vaccine requirement, the importance of medical readiness, and General Punaro’s thoughts on the decision.
2021-08-1106 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – The Ever-Shrinking Fighting ForceOn this week’s Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro (Ret.) discusses his newly-released book, The Ever Shrinking Fighting Force. Focused on preserving America’s unmatched capabilities and global reach, The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force explores complex issues, such as the glacial pace and increasing costs of acquisitions, the spiraling growth of the defense agencies and DoD’s overhead, and the fully-burdened costs of the all-volunteer force. In today’s episode, Gen. Punaro discusses the major ”ticking time bombs” of national security – adverse factors impacting DoD’s ability to get the most bang for the buck. Tune in and check out www.ar...
2021-08-1108 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – The Office of the Secretary of DefenseOn this week’s episode of the Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro discusses the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), a topic covered in his new book, The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force. OSD is the Secretary of Defense’s support staff for managing the DoD, the world’s largest and most complex organization. Tune in to hear more!Purchase a copy of The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force today at Barnes & Noble (https://rb.gy/aqwhnc) or Amazon (https://rb.gy/zthfbv).
2021-08-1106 min
On DoDWhy the fighting force is 'ever shrinking' despite robust Defense budgetsOn this edition of On DoD, Jared Serbu speaks with Maj. Gen. (ret.) Arnold Punaro, who's just released a new book, The Ever-Shrinking Fighting Force.
Punaro, a former staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee who's advised Defense secretaries of both parties on reform issues, argues there are three main categories of cost growth that have steadily decreased the military's tooth-to-tail ratio over the last several decades, and offers several ideas for how to begin to move the balance in the other direction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee...
2021-07-3145 min
Coffee with ClosersGen. Arnold Punaro: We Have to be Better Prepared for Bio ThreatsRet. USMC Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro has been one of the defense industry’s most influential players for decades. He recently released his second book, The Ever Shrinking Fighting Force, which compiles decades of speeches, white papers, and presentations to offer solutions for the growing bureaucratic inefficiencies at the Department of Defense - which have become major threats to national security.
2021-07-2948 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective-- Pentagon UpdateOn this week’s episode, join General Punaro for an update on the White House, the Department of Defense, and the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) as they tackle the newly-released FY22 budget and the ongoing nominations and confirmations of Department of Defense personnel.
2021-06-2106 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Senator John WarnerOn this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro (Ret.) highlights the life and legacy of Senator John Warner. Warner, who passed away on May 25th at the age of 94, represented Virginia in the Senate for three decades and was an influential figure on the Armed Services Committee. Join Gen. Punaro as he discusses Senator Warner’s life-long commitment to a strong national defense and the way he always put the nation’s interests ahead of his personal interests – a lesson worthy of reminder today.
2021-06-0305 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Withdraw from AfghanistanOn this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro (Ret.) discusses President Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Drawing upon his own experience as an infantry platoon commander in Vietnam, General Punaro provides his perspective as the U.S. looks to end its 20-year involvement in the conflict. Tune in to hear more!
2021-05-2005 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Confirmation Process UpdateOn this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold Punaro (Ret) provides an update on the Biden administration’s confirmation process with a special focus on the Department of Defense. Tune in to learn more about the latest nominees, the confirmation timeline, and the different positions the Biden administration is working to fill.
2021-05-0606 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Biden’s First 100 DaysFriday, April 30th, marks President Biden’s first 100 days in office. On this week’s Punaro Perspective episode, Major General Arnold Punaro (Ret.) provides a review of the new administration’s accomplishments, priorities, and major policies, with a special focus on national security. Tune in to hear more!
2021-04-2907 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Global Threat AssessmentFor the first time in nearly half a decade, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held the Annual Threat Assessment, a public hearing in which the intelligence community provides a rare look into its top priorities. On this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro (Ret.) breaks down the important information discussed in last week’s hearing and highlights the top threats facing the U.S. today. Tune in to learn more!
2021-04-2106 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Budget SeasonOn this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, join Major General Arnold L. Punaro (Ret.) as he discusses the Biden administration’s newly released FY22 budget outline. Gen. Punaro provides the historical context and in-depth analysis necessary to understand the FY22 budget process and timeline. Tune in to learn more!
2021-04-1406 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Checking in on the Biden AdministrationOn this week’s Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold Punaro checks in on the Biden presidency as the administration nears its first 100 days in office. General Punaro discusses the successes, challenges, and likely trajectory of the Biden administration with a special focus on national security and defense matters. Tune in to learn more!
2021-04-0706 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Threats Posed by a Rising ChinaOn this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold Punaro discusses the economic, technological, and military challenges posed by a rising China. As the Department of Defense and the U.S. military pivot towards Great Power Competition, it is vital to understand the risk China poses to American dominance. General Punaro details these dangers and discusses how President Biden and Congress can respond in the face of an increasingly powerful China.
2021-03-3107 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Bipartisanship in National SecurityOn this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold Punaro discusses the long-standing tradition of bipartisanship in national security. From detailing past instances of bipartisanship to forecasting potential areas of cooperation for the 117th Congress, Gen. Punaro highlights the processes and importance of continuing this tradition. Tune in to learn more!
2021-03-2406 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Defense BudgetsAre you interested in better understanding the framework of the defense budget and the likely outcome for Fiscal Year 2022? Tune in to the latest Punaro Perspective, where Major General Arnold Punaro discuss the history of defense budgets during administration transitions, the origins of the defense budgeting process, and the likely debate and outcome of the FY22 top line.
2021-03-1706 min
The Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Congress’ Power of the PurseInterested in learning more about Congress' power of the purse? Tune in to this week's Punaro Perspective the better understand the budgeting and appropriations process, a timely topic given the renewed attention around earmarks and government spending.
2021-03-1006 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – DoD’s Role in COVID-19 ResponseIn this week’s installment of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold Punaro provides a look inside DoD’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic response. For many Americans, March 2020 was the time when COVID-19 drastically upended “normal” life. As we approach the one year mark, learn how the Pentagon and our service-members have been supporting our country throughout the pandemic.
2021-03-0306 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – The Confirmation Process (Part 2)For Presidentially-nominated and Senate confirmed (PAS) officials, the road to confirmation involves a substantial amount of paperwork. On this week’s episode of The Punaro Perspective, Major General Arnold L. Punaro details what he calls the basics of “blocking and tackling” of the nomination and confirmation process. Tune in to learn more!
2021-02-2206 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – George Shultz and Brent ScowcroftOn the third installment on The Punaro Perspective, Major General (Ret) Punaro discuss the lives and legacies of two great national security leaders: George Shultz and Brent Scowcroft. Shultz and Scowcroft set the gold standard for principled non-partisan leadership, and their approach and thoughtful views are ones that we could greatly benefit from today.
2021-02-1505 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Senate Confirmation Process (Part 1)In his second installment of The Punaro Perspective, Major General (Ret) Arnold Punaro dives into the Senate confirmation process. In addition to explaining how the process works, General Punaro discusses the increasingly lengthy amount of time it takes for a nominee to be confirmed by the Senate. He also provides his take on the recent confirmation hearing of Dr. Kath Hicks to serve as Deputy Secretary of Defense.
2021-02-0806 minThe Punaro PerspectiveThe Punaro Perspective – Civilian Control of the MilitaryIn the first installment of The Punaro Perspective, Major General (Ret) Arnold Punaro explains the importance of civilian control of the military and discusses the confirmation of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
2021-02-0106 minOn DoDNavy came late to the OTA game, but spending on IT, cyber now 'exploding'In August, the Navy announced it was increasing the ceiling value for its Information Warfare Research Project OTA to $500 million. That’s after IWRP exhausted its initial 100 million dollar ceiling in just a little over a year and a half. To talk about how that happened and some of the technology that’s come out of IWRP since the OTA was first signed in 2018, Jared talks with two guests with us from Naval Information Warfare Center-Atlantic: Kevin Charlow, the Deputy Executive Director and chairman of the IWRP Executive Steering Group, and Don Sallee is the NIWC-Atlantic Acquisition Services Manager.
Later in t...
2020-11-1944 minOn DoDNavy aims to unify its IT networks with NGEN-R contractOn this week's show, Capt. Ben McNeal, the program manager for Naval Enterprise Networks talks with Jared Serbu about how the Navy hopes to use its latest NGEN contract to consolidate its networks (there are still 140 of them).
Later, Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro (Ret.) talks about the Defense Business Board's latest study on how to restructure the Pentagon's organizational chart to drive meaningful business reform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2020-05-2140 min