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Security Dilemma
by The John Quincy Adams Society
U.S. foreign policy for the future. Security Dilemma brings you conversations with the experts, policymakers, and thinkers charting new paths forward from the wreckage of recent decades and toward a national security and defense policy guided by prudence and restraint. Cohosts John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi bring you the information you need to shape a wiser approach. Security Dilemma is a podcast of the John Quincy Adams Society, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing a new generation of foreign policy leaders.
Episodes
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BRICS: Reformist or Revolutionary? with Sarang Shidore
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Sarang Shidore, the Director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, about the BRICS Summit and his new brief, "Crying Wolf? The United States and BRICS in the Global...
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Kicking the Middle East Hornet's Nest with Daniel Zoughbie
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, JQA's John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi are joined by Dr. Daniel Zoughbie to discuss U.S. Middle East policy and his book Kicking the Hornet's Nest: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East from Truman to Trump. Dr. Zoughbie is a complex-systems scientist, a...
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The Early Unipolar Moment Roots of America’s Post-9/11 Foreign Policy with Emma Ashford
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, Dr. Emma Ashford of the Stimson Center joined the show to discuss how the 9/11 terror attacks turbocharged the worst impulses of U.S. foreign policy, but that the shift towards interventionism was already well underway in the 1990s. Dr. Ashford is a...
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From FISA to Flock: Post-9/11 Surveillance in America with Abigail Hall
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Dr. Abigail Hall. Dr. Hall is a Professor of Economics at the University of Tampa and a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute. She has co-authored several books including Tyranny Comes Home: The…
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How to Deliver on NATO 3.0 with Miranda Priebe
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi sat down with Dr. Miranda Priebe to discuss her new article in Orbis (https://orbisjournal.org/commentary/how-to-deliver-on-nato-3-0/) about the changes the Trump Administration needs to make if its NATO 3.0...
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The Conservative Case Against the Interventionist Right with Luke Nicastro
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi speak with Luke Nicastro of The American Conservative about foreign policy on the Hill, European security, the defense industrial base, and ending America's misadventures in Iran and Venezuela. Luke is a Senior Editor…
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America's Counterproductive Middle East Presence with Jon Hoffman
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with the Cato Institute's Jon Hoffman about his article (https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/06/24/washington-iran-hormuz-oil-bases-middle-east-restraint-war/) in Foreign Policy and why America's military presence in...
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Special: Discussing John Quincy Adams' Marcellus Essays
In this special episode of Security Dilemma, we discussed the Marcellus essays penned by a young John Quincy Adams, in which he argued the fledgling United States should maintain neutrality in the war between France and Great Britain. President George Washington sought to uncover the identity of...
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Power Without Ideology? World Order After the Iran War with Danny Bessner
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Danny Bessner about his new article in The Ideas Letter (https://www.theideasletter.org/essay/power-without-ideology/?) about why the emerging multipolar world order will be less characterized by ideological...
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Selling War: The Foreign Influence Lobby with Nick Cleveland-Stout
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi have a conversation with the Quincy Institute's Nick Cleveland-Stout about his research on the foreign influence lobby in Washington and how foreign and corporate influence distort American foreign policy. Nick is a research...
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New Cold War at Sea? with Lyle Goldstein
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, Dr. Lyle Goldstein returns to the show to discuss the Trump-Xi summit, Washington's China policy, and his new co-authored book on Russia-China maritime cooperation and its implications for U.S. grand strategy (The New Cold War at Sea: Maritime...
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The Future of Secret Cyber Statecraft with Jon Lindsay
This week on Security Dilemma, John Gay and guest co-host Adam Abdel-Qader spoke with Dr. Jon Lindsay about his new book, Age of Deception: Cybersecurity as Secret Statecraft (https://www.jstor.org/content/oa_book_monograph/10.7591/jj.24033720). Dr. Lindsay is an Associate Professor at the…
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Realism Roundtable with Jasen Castillo and John Schuessler
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi interviewed Dr. Jasen Castillo and Dr. John Schuessler, both Associate Professors and Co-Directors of the Albritton Center for Grand Strategy at Texas A&M University, about U.S. grand strategy and their current…
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The Donroe Doctrine with Fulton Armstrong
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Fulton Armstrong, a longtime analyst of Latin American affairs in government and academia. Fulton is a writer, analyst and adjunct professor at Syracuse University's Maxwell School Program in Washington…
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Chasing Bandits: America's Long War on Terror with Michael Neagle
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Dr. Michael Neagle about his book Chasing Bandits: America's Long War on Terror (https://uncpress.org/9781469691046/chasing-bandits/) and why America's 21st century "bandit wars" resemble previous bouts of...
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Iran Negotiations and Trump's Middle East Strategy with Albert Wolf
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Dr. Albert Wolf. Dr. Wolf is Research Fellow at Habib University in Karachi. His research focuses on security studies, with particular attention to the Middle East, the relationship between domestic…
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Trump, Iran, and the Future of America First with Curt Mills
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay invited Curt Mills, Executive Director of The American Conservative, back on the show to discuss the Iran War's reception in Trumpworld and on the Hill. Listener Questions: We are opening up SD to listener-submitted...
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The Iran War's Impact on US Military Readiness with Jennifer Kavanagh
On this episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay are joined again by Jennifer Kavanagh. Jennifer is a Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis at Defense Priorities. Her research focuses on U.S. military strategy, force structure and defense budgeting, the defense...
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Boots on the Ground in Iran? with John Byrnes
On this week's special, quick-hit edition of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with John Byrnes, Strategic Director of Concerned Veterans for America about the risk of American ground forces entering the war in Iran. Mr. Byrnes joined the Marine Corps in 1991 out of high...
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New Supreme Leader and the Iranian Voices America Isn’t Hearing with Sina Toossi
On this episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay are joined by Sina Toossi, a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy, as they have a conversation about the ongoing U.S.-Iran war and the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei. Sina has a...
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Is Ukraine Losing the War? with Michael Desch
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay were joined by Dr. Michael Desch, the Packey J. Dee Professor of International Relations at the University of Notre Dame and founding Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director of the O'Brien Notre Dame International...
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Special: Iran War Update with Michael Desch
In a special, quick hit edition of Security Dilemma, John Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Dr. Michael Desch, Professor of International Relations at the University of Notre Dame and the Director of the O'Brien Notre Dame International Security Center, about the early course of the American war…
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Arms Control After New START with Ariel Petrovics
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay discussed the state of arms control after the expiration of New START, nuclear proliferation cascades, and whether sanctions can prevent nuclear proliferation with Dr. Ariel Petrovics. Dr. Petrovics is a non-resident...
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Assessing the Prospect of War with Iran with Rose Kelanic
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, co-hosts A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Dr. Rose Kelanic, Director of the Middle East Program at Defense Priorities about how the Trump Administration is addressing Iran policy. Dr. Kelanic spent 10 years teaching political science at the…
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Material Support with Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Allen Gay are joined by Ashleigh Subramanian-Montgomery, the Senior Director for Policy and Advocacy of the Charity & Security Network, a resource and advocacy center for nonprofit organizations to protect their ability to carry…
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The Trump-Roosevelt Corollary with Dan DePetris
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Allen Gay are joined by Daniel DePetris, a fellow at Defense Priorities. They discussed the Trump Administration's Latin America policy in light of the operation that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and reports that the...
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Special: "Beyond Vietnam" by Martin Luther King Jr.
In this special Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay discuss the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize recipient's most famous foreign policy speech, "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence" (1967), in which Dr. King explains why he must speak out against…
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Venezuela Update with Chris Shell
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay were joined again by Chris Shell, a Fellow at the American Statecraft Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Dr. Shell researches how American communities view foreign policy issues, as well as issues…
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The 2025 National Security Strategy
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay offered their reactions to the Trump Administration's new 2025 National Security Strategy (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf). In this conversation, A.J. and John…
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Nuclear South Asia with Sahar Khan
In this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Sahar Khan, an independent national security analyst who focuses on nonproliferation, strategic stability, counterterrorism, and crisis management in Southern Asia. Previously, Dr. Khan was the Deputy Director and...
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What is an "America First" Nuclear Strategy? with Sumantra Maitra
In this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Dr. Sumantra Maitra about what an "America First" nuclear strategy might look like. Dr. Maitra is the Director of Research and Outreach at the American Ideas Institute and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Renewing...
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Trading with the Enemy with Mariya Grinberg
In this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Mariya Grinberg about her new book Trade in War: Economic Cooperation Across Enemy Lines (https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501782442/trade-in-war/), why states may trade with their adversaries during...
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The Trillion Dollar War Machine with William Hartung and Ben Freeman
In this week's edition of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with William Hartung and Ben Freeman of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft about their new book The Trillion Dollar War Machine: How Runaway Military Spending Drives America into Foreign Wars and Bankrupts Us...
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Special: Why World War I Matters for Realists
On this special Armistice Day/Veterans Day episode of Security Dilemma, the Society's John Gay, Scott McCann, and Julie Thompson-Gomez discussed their experience as part of the Society's Strategic Leaders Fellowship study trip to World War I sites in France, as well as what lessons the First…
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Losing a Taiwan War? with Lyle Goldstein
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Lyle Goldstein of Defense Priorities and the Watson Institute at Brown University about his recent paper series "Target Taiwan," which argues that a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan could be costlier and less winnable...
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First Among Equals with Emma Ashford
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Emma Ashford, a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center's Reimagining U.S. Grand Strategy program, about her new book First Among Equals: U.S. Foreign Policy in a Multipolar World. In this episode, we discussed the new...
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How Have Allies Responded to U.S. Retrenchment? with Miranda Priebe
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and Adam Abdel-Qader spoke with Miranda Priebe, the Director of the Center for Analysis of U.S. Grand Strategy at RAND. Dr. Priebe's work has focused on grand strategy, the future of the international order, and the effects of U.S. forward...
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Special: Discussing George Washington's Farewell Address
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Gay conducts a full reading of George Washington's Farewell Address, which raised concerns that listeners may find resonate today about foreign influence of U.S. foreign policy, alliance entrapment, and more. The reading is followed by a discussion...
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The Twelve-Day War and Careers in OSINT with Decker Eveleth
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at the federally funded nonprofit research and analysis organization CNA. Decker specializes in open-source analysis of foreign nuclear postures, as well as ballistic and...
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A Veteran’s Journey from 9/11 to Restraint with John Byrnes
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi spoke with John Byrnes, the Strategic Director of Concerned Veterans for America to discuss how his experiences being at Ground Zero on 9/11 and serving in America's post-9/11 wars shifted his perspective on U.S. foreign policy to a belief…
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The Middle East, Silicon Valley, and the Revolving Door with Jonathan Guyer
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and John Gay spoke with Jonathan Guyer of the Institute for Global Affairs at Eurasia Group. Jonathan is the Program Director of IGA's flagship Independent America program, which is focused on interrogating the conventional wisdom of US...
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The Global Nuclear Supply Chain and Energy Security with Ted Jones
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Ted Jones, the Senior Director for National Security and International Programs at the Nuclear Energy Institute. An expert on international energy markets and nuclear trade policy, he leads initiatives related…
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Why Democracies Fight Dictators with Madison Schramm
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Madison Schramm about why liberal democracies often initiate wars against dictatorships.Dr. Schramm is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto and a…
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Special: Discussing John Quincy Adams' "Monsters to Destroy" Speech
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Gay conducts a full reading of John Quincy Adams' July 4, 1821 "Monsters to Destroy" speech (which warned the United States against overreach abroad in the name of liberty), followed by a discussion with co-host A.J. Manuzzi about the enduring...
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What Would a Global Posture Review Look Like Under Restraint? with Dan Caldwell and Jennifer Kavanagh
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Dan Caldwell and Jennifer Kavanagh about their recent Defense Priorities explainer on U.S. defense posture under a grand strategy of restraint. Dan Caldwell is a former senior adviser to the Secretary of…
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Regime Change and Spheres of influence with Lindsey O'Rourke
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and Michelle Newby spoke with Dr. Lindsey O'Rourke, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Boston College and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. She’s the author of Covert Regime Change:...
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East Asia: Balancing or Bandwagoning? with Kyuri Park
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, A.J. Manuzzi and new guest co-host Michelle Newby, Programs Director at Defense Priorities and a 2024 JQAS Strategic Leaders Fellow, spoke with Kyuri Park. Dr. Park is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Security and Foreign Policy Initiative at the Global...
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Israel-Iran War Update and the Politics of War with Iran with John Gay
On this off-cycle episode of Security Dilemma, John Gay sat down with A.J. Manuzzi to discuss Iran's 6/20 missile attacks on Israel, why deeper U.S. involvement could lead to mission creep and shifting goals, and congressional efforts to block unauthorized U.S. entry into the war.
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Sarah Streyder on Why Restraint Matters for Military Families
On this week's episode of Security Dilemma, John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi spoke with Sarah Streyder, the Executive Director of the Secure Families Initiative, a national organization that mobilizes military families to advocate for a less militarized foreign policy. Sarah is the spouse of an...
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Iran War Expert John Gay on What's Next After Israeli Strikes
On this impromptu episode of Security Dilemma, the Society's Executive Director John Gay sat down with SD cohost A.J. Manuzzi to discuss Israel's June 12 strikes on Iranian nuclear and regime targets, and several potential decisions the Iranians could make to retaliate, as well as what it all…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
U.S. foreign policy for the future. Security Dilemma brings you conversations with the experts, policymakers, and thinkers charting new paths forward from the wreckage of recent decades and toward a national security and defense policy guided by prudence and restraint. Cohosts John Allen Gay and A.J. Manuzzi bring you the information you need to shape a wiser approach. Security Dilemma is a podcast of the John Quincy Adams Society, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing a new generation of foreign policy leaders.
HOSTED BY
The John Quincy Adams Society
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Security Dilemma have?
Security Dilemma currently has 175 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Security Dilemma about?
U.S. foreign policy for the future. Security Dilemma brings you conversations with the experts, policymakers, and thinkers charting new paths forward from the wreckage of recent decades and toward a national security and defense policy guided by prudence and restraint. Cohosts John Allen Gay and...
How often does Security Dilemma release new episodes?
Security Dilemma publishes regularly with 175 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Security Dilemma?
You can listen to Security Dilemma on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Security Dilemma?
Security Dilemma is created and hosted by The John Quincy Adams Society.
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