Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Apr 04, ’25]

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend now with the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump’s tariffs on nations worldwide — driving markets to their worst day since 2020 — as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warns nations not to retaliate otherwise they will face higher tariffs; president’s decision to fire three National Security Council staffers and NSA Director Gen. Tim Haugh and his deputy at conservative activist Laura Loomer’s request; Republican lawmakers near reconciliation measure to cut cuts and government spending as well as give the Pentagon more money; House Speaker Mike Johnson weakens his own grip on power over whether lawmakers with young children can vote remotely backfires; Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, speaks for 25 straight hours to inspire Democrats; Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats revolt with ranking member Sen. Jean Shaheen, D-NH, overheard telling her Chairman Jim Risch, R-ID, she’s tired of Trump running the committee; days after his vice president lambasted Denmark’s stewardship of Greenland, Trump said he wouldn’t rule out force to take the island; as it pressures Ukraine, Washington hosted Russia’s sovereign wealth fund boss Kirill Dmitriev; Beijing tests a new amphibious capability as it stepped up wargames around Taiwan; and Israel takes more territory in Gaza as a new chief of defense staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir adopts a new strategy to take a hold territory but also play a direct role in humanitarian aid as Gazans protest Hamas and its brutality and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu continues efforts to subordinate the judiciary and security services.