Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable May 30, ’25]

On this week’s Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former Pentagon Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Cavas Ships podcast co-host Chris Servello join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the Senate’s take on the House’s massive reconciliation package; President Trump’s block on aerospace and chip exports to China and international students from studying in America, and whether the moves stem from president’s frustration with stalled trade talks with Beijing or decoupling the world’s two largest economies; Russia and Ukraine exchange massive strikes as Trump expresses frustration with Vladimir Putin but refuses to punish the Russian leader and continues to suggest he’ll walk away from ceasefire talks; allies ponder the the outlook for the transatlantic alliance as the NATO summit looms and Washington prepares to pull US forces from Europe; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual Shangri-La Dialogue; analysis of Israel’s continuing assault on Gaza, expansion of West Bank settlements, strikes on Houthi targets and Bibi Netanyahu’s renewed threat to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities even as America talks with Tehran; and the administration’s move to curb reporters’ access to the Pentagon.