

Defense & Aerospace Report Podcast [Washington Roundtable Oct 03, ’25]
Oct 3, 2025
This roundtable features Michael Herson, a defense lobbyist; Dr. Dov Zakheim, a former Pentagon comptroller; Dr. Patrick Cronin, an Asia-Pacific security expert; and Jim Townsend, a transatlantic security consultant. They discuss the implications of the U.S. government shutdown on defense funding and military confirmations. The guests analyze Secretary Hegseth's controversial meeting on military culture, Russia's drone threats in Europe, and China's gray-zone warfare tactics, highlighting the complex dynamics shaping modern defense strategies.
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Shutdown As A Political Lever
- The shutdown is being used as a political lever to punish opponents and cut programs.
- Michael Herson warns this could freeze projects and trigger mass personnel actions to inflict pain on Democrats.
Use Shutdown Time To Negotiate
- Negotiate an off-ramp on ACA tax credits during the shutdown lull instead of immediate capitulation.
- Use the seven weeks to craft compromises and avoid hasty political losses, Michael Herson argues.
Targeted Funding Freezes As Leverage
- The administration is weaponizing budget controls—freezing infrastructure and grants—to pressure political foes.
- Herson describes targeted freezes affecting prominent Democrats' districts as deliberate leverage.