Midrats

Midrats

Navy Milbloggers Sal from "CDR Salamander" and EagleOne from "EagleSpeak" discuss leading issues and developments for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and related national security issues.

Episodes

Episode 768: China, Setting the Conditions: Guest Dean Cheng on Midrats

August 30, 2026 • 62 mins
At some point in the next decade, a historian is going to look at the first quarter of the 21st century from the perspective of the national security establishment and the blessings it had as it rose to global power status, and will publish the foundational reference book for those trying to understand that moment in time.Its primary rivals distracted and drained themselves in unnecessary quixotic quasi-imperial police actions, one...
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Episode 767: Battle Damage Repair for Arleigh Burke–Class Destroyers--with Brad Martin

August 23, 2026 • 62 mins
For me, it is funny but serious that the phrase I started saying in 2019 that we were going to keep building Arleigh Burke DDGs “until the crack of doom” has turned into prophecy. With the anticipated death of DDG(X) and FFG-62, the Burkes are about the only game in town. That fact naturally flows into a point we have raised here and on the Midrats Podcast for the last couple of decades: How are we going to conduct repa...
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Episode 766: Mid-August Maritime Melee

August 16, 2026 • 67 mins
What a great weekend for a good old fashioned Midrats Podcast Maritime Melee!Petty domestic political posturing has decided to broach a whole series of our favorite subjects for the last 17 years: carrier shortages, neglect of our auxiliaries in our Combat Logistics Force, leadership at sea, ships adrift…enough for a whole series of shows, but Mark and I promise to keep today’s show to an hour.

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Episode 765: Sea Power and The Hill, with Brent Sadler - on Midrats

August 9, 2026 • 64 mins
Panels, seminars, conferences, reports, speeches, and emotion do not build a navy. Even shipyards do not build a navy. In the American system of government, if you want a navy you have to go up to Capitol Hill and get Congress to fund it.Without money, everything else is just a PDF.What is the state of play in bringing the argument for sea power to Congress?

Returning to the Midrats Podcast just in time for the Senate’...
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    Episode 764: Shipbuilding, Merchant Shipping, Commerce, and the American Project - with Sal Mercogliano

    August 2, 2026 • 64 mins
    I can think of few 18-month periods where shipbuilding, the merchant marine, and the importance of a strong maritime sector in the U.S. has been a more active topic. Near the center of this conversation—or at least a few paragraphs in—is a long-time friend of the show, Dr. Sal Mercogliano—returning to the Midrats Podcast.Sal is the Chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice and Political Science at Campb...
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    Episode 763: NATO Summit Debrief with Jorge Benitez

    July 26, 2026 • 64 mins
    With increased defense spending becoming the new normal and growing uncertainty on the alliance’s eastern front as the Russo-Ukrainian War enters its fifth summer, the Ankara NATO summit was more than just a photo-op.Returning to the Midrats Podcast to discuss the major takeaways will be Jorge Benitez.

    Summary

    In this episode, Dr. George Benitez discusses the recent NATO summit, focusing on defense spending, all...
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    Episode 762: Midrats Mid-July Melee!!!

    July 12, 2026 • 65 mins
    Episode overview

    This episode covers a wide-ranging national security discussion, starting with a tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham and moving through major geopolitical flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and modern drone warfare.

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    Key topics
    • Tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham, his role in national security debates, and the pol...
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    Episode 761: Battle of Jutland at 110, with Simon Harley

    June 28, 2026 • 61 mins
    For almost two years, the war on the Continent had been raging. The Battle of Verdun has already happened, but the real bloodshed had not even started yet, with the Battle of the Somme only a month away.While the European land armies have been fighting on a scale not seen since Napoleon a century earlier, major conflicts at sea were rare in spite of the major belligerents having great and powerful fleets. Like two heavyweight boxer...
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    Episode 760: Rethinking Force Design on the Midrats Podcast with General Anthony Zinni, USMC (Ret.)

    June 14, 2026 • 58 mins
    It has been a bit more than six years since then Commandant of the Marine Corps, General David Berger, USMC, initiated what became known as Force Design 2030 (now just known as Force Design). What followed was a controversial change to the structure of the United States Marine Corps intended to address the challenge posed by the People's Republic of China in the western Pacific.

    Now more than halfway to the original 2030 tar...
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    Episode 759: Maritime Service Revival, with Brent Sadler

    June 7, 2026 • 32 mins
    In creating a maritime renaissance in the U.S., there is a lot of work, discussion, and money going toward not just buying more ships, but also expanding the industrial base and training skilled tradespeople to make that expansion possible. A cornerstone of this should be training more dedicated Merchant Mariners and employing their skills in a better way.

    Returning to Midrats is Brent D. Sadler to discuss this and related t...
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    Episode 758: Mid Month Free for All

    May 17, 2026 • 61 mins
    Blockades, 11-month deployments, the Vietnam War, shipbuilding plans, and some love for our friends from The Philippines…a full plate for a Midrats Free for All.

    Summary

    This episode covers the recent return of the USS Gerald Ford after a 326-day deployment, the significance of naval operations, shipbuilding plans, and geopolitical considerations in the Indo-Pacific region. The hosts analyze naval readiness, te...
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    Episode 757: May Maritime Melee

    May 3, 2026 • 59 mins
    Summary

    This episode explores the strategic maritime operations off the Straits of Hormuz, the impact of economic sanctions on Iran, and the future of naval amphibious forces. Experts discuss the nuances of naval blockade effectiveness, the importance of leadership in amphibious ships, and the broader geopolitical implications.

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    Episode 756: Latin American Policy, with Dr. Colin Dueck

    April 26, 2026 • 54 mins
    Summary

    This episode features Dr. Colin Dueck, with Mark and Sal, discussing the historical and strategic importance of U.S. policy towards Latin America, the evolution of the Monroe Doctrine, and current challenges and opportunities in the hemisphere. Discussion is centered on how U.S. foreign policy can shape the future of the region amid great power competition.

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    Episode 755: Mid-April Free for All

    April 19, 2026 • 62 mins
    Summary

    This episode features a lively free-for-all discussion covering recent naval operations, geopolitical tensions, naval maintenance issues, and international defense collaborations. The hosts share insights on maritime security, shipbuilding, and the strategic importance of alliances in the Indo-Pacific region.

    Key Topics
    • Naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz
    • US Navy maintenance and readiness issues
    • Internat...
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    Episode 754: European Navies' Lessons, with Alessio Patalano

    April 12, 2026 • 64 mins
    The last four years’ conflicts from the Strait of Hormuz through the Red Sea to the Black Sea have presented a raft of lessons to the navies of Europe. How are they positioned to address the lessons, and what moves are already taking place?

    Returning to the Midrats Podcast to discuss this and related topics is Alessio Patalano.

    Alessio is a Professor of War and Strategy in East Asia and senior fellow at the Cent...
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    Episode 753: The Case for Pacific Optimism, with Blake Herzinger

    March 29, 2026 • 56 mins
    Having trouble keeping up with the world around you? Head swirling with too much?

    You’re not alone. Good news…we’ll get you all caught up and set right.

    Returning to the Midrats Podcast is Blake Herzinger.

    Blake Herzinger is Microsoft’s Defense and National Security Policy Lead for Asia. Previously, he led policy strategy and advocacy at Citi across North and South Asia and Australia, a...
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    Episode 752: March NATSEC Free-for-All

    March 22, 2026 • 62 mins
    After a series of great guests, the Midrats Podcast returns this week with the ever popular, “Free-for-All” format!It’s just Mark and me for the full hour as we discuss the latest developments from the Iranian conflict and elsewhere.

    Summary

    Sal and Mark discuss the meticulous planning behind military operations, the nuances of Iran’s strategic posture, and the broader implications for global ...
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    Episode 751: Dmitry Gorenberg on Russia in year five of the war

    March 15, 2026 • 58 mins
    Here we find ourselves approaching the fifth spring of the Russo-Ukrainian War of 2022.As the rest of the world’s geopolitical landscape changes dramatically, Russia’s “friend group” shrinks, and Ukraine’s friends grow weary and distracted, where is the war moving and where could we expect Russia to adjust for another year of conflict?

    Returning to Midrats again to discuss this and related issue...
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    Episode 750: Springtime for the PRC with Dean Cheng

    March 8, 2026 • 58 mins
    The first quarter of 2026 still has three weeks to go, but the assumptions and friend group of the People’s Republic of China has changed dramatically.

    Recent changes in the assumptions concerning Venezuela, Iran, Japan, and other nations will impact the national security concerns of the West’s greatest challenger on the world stage.

    Returning to the Midrats Podcast today from 5-6 PM Eastern to discuss wil...
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    Episode 749: Operation Epic Fury Free for All

    March 1, 2026 • 59 mins
    Hard to think of a better time to have a Midrats Podcast Free-for-All.2026 continues to produce more content than we know what to do with, but we’ll give it our best.

    Show LinksSummary

    Join Sal and Mark as they analyz...
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