Sirens: A Bombshell production

Sirens, a new podcast from the ladies of Bombshell, dissects the institutions of American power. With their trademark wit and charm, join Loren DeJonge Schulman, Radha Iyengar Plumb, and Erin Simpson as they sound the alarm on technology, governance, and national security issues. (And maybe lure men to their deaths.)

Tariffs , Inflation, and International Relations 08/11/2025

Tariffs , Inflation, and International Relations In this mini-episode, join Radha and Erin's full interview with amazing guest and expert Emily Bensen on all things tariffs (aka trade taxes). They talk through the theory of the case for setting these tariffs, review the successful and not-so-successful negotiations, and look at where the economy and the American people likely to see the impact of these tariffs in the weeks and months ahead /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37760660

AI, BLS, and (Not) 90 Deals 08/06/2025

AI, BLS, and (Not) 90 Deals There's just too much going on in our sixty second It's a Drill exercise, but Radha, Erin, and Loren manage to highlight Taiwan dithering, NIH funding shenanigans, and small set of AI Action Plan details. In bigger, can't miss Dumpster Fires, they dive into what drove the shift in public reactions to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and what it may mean, as well as what happens when a president fires the BLS commissioner on jobs day. Radha and Erin welcome our second guest, Emily Benson, for a long Warning Signs exploration of our favorite repeat topic, trade taxes, and the Trump Administration's theory of change. Finally - being meta - we chat our favorite podcasts. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37703830

Appointees, Schedule Cs, and Deputies 08/02/2025

Appointees, Schedule Cs, and Deputies The ladies bring you a mini-episode answering a question you never thought to ask: what makes for a good political appointee? They discuss why we have political appointees, how they can be useful (or not), and how they can work with career personnell. Listen to hear the good, the bad, and the not so ugly. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37647160

Reductions, Retention, and Reimagining 07/29/2025

Reductions, Retention, and Reimagining In this mini-episode of Sirens, Radha and Loren continue the conversation with (first! special!) guest Cristin Dorgelo, former senior advisor at the Office of Management and budget, detailing the longer tail of of impacts the American people and the federal workforce can anticipate from the current chaos of RIFs, and how this might be a chance to reimagine the federal talent management process. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37596705

Assistant Secretaries, Abundance, And RIFs 07/23/2025

Assistant Secretaries, Abundance, And RIFs Sirens is back with episode four, and we’ve added our first guest and a virtual gong! Erin, Radha and Loren race through a drill on the NDAA, TSA security theatrics, the Fed Chair, and air conditioning (?!), followed by a true dumpster fire (the new Schedule G) and more of a dumpster framework (abundance: what is it actually?). Our first guest, former OMB senior advisor Cristin Dorgelo, goes deep on the context, process and consequences of Reductions in Force. And we disclose our favorite TikToks/Reels moments! /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37522980

Planes, Tanks, and Autonomous Vehicles 07/16/2025

Planes, Tanks, and Autonomous Vehicles Sirens is back with a mini-episode dissecting the Defense Department's budget request. Listen as Radha and Erin review the process and substance of DoD's behemoth budget - what's new, what's not, and what we're watching! And of course, because it's our valentine - how does this process compare to what usually happens. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37431950

Revolving Doors, RIP USAID, and Resistance. 07/09/2025

Revolving Doors, RIP USAID, and Resistance. Sirens is back with episode 3! On the cocktail circuit, the Erin, Radha and Loren chat the on and off again relationship with Ukraine munitions, Social Security Performance Data, and the ever-revolving door. Bigger picture in Warning Signs, they dive deep into the death of USAID (long live USAID?) and the crazy competition for AI talent. And Erin gives us an incredible lesson on the history and efficacy of political protest. The Gong Show closes with 4th of July traditions. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37347365

Tech Colonels, Posse Comitatus, Iran 06/25/2025

Tech Colonels, Posse Comitatus, Iran This is Sirens, a new podcast from the hosts of Bombshell. This week Loren, Erin, and Radha recast military movies with Muppets and kick off "it's a drill" - cocktail chatters on recent events like the commissioning of tech leaders and stalling of the big beautiful bill. Diving deeper with "Dumpster Fires," they talk concerns on domestic use of military forces and promise and perils of AI in public sector. With "Warning Signs" they dig into slow burn crises and long term hazards, with this week (no surprise) on Iran. How did we get here and is it a big deal? Closing out, a Gong Show round highlights favorite summer traditions! And of course, don't forget issues may lure men to their death (but in a good way way!). (edited) /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37147755

Cozy Mysteries, Delicious fantasy, and Nonfiction? 06/18/2025

Cozy Mysteries, Delicious fantasy, and Nonfiction? This is Sirens, a new podcast from the hosts of bombshell. This week Loren, Erin, and Radha are experimenting with shorter form content to dive deep on matters large and small in between thelonger shows. Our first one explores summer reading philosophy, and you'll come away with a dozen ideas for your beach library. Come for the cozy or delicious novels, stay for the new series you should try. There's also some nonfiction if that's you thing! /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/37049900

Bond markets, AI and DOGE2025 06/10/2025

Bond markets, AI and DOGE2025 This is Sirens, a new series, brought to you by the Ladies of Bombshell - Loren DeJonge Schulman, Radha Iyengar Plumb, and Erin Simpson. In this episode, our hosts talk about why they are launching a new podcast, reveal what horrible things they have discovered at the bottom of their work bags, and talk about issues that may lure men to their death (but in a good way!). They discuss what's stuck in their craw from the big beautiful bill to changes in foreign student rules to drama in the national security council. Then, they deep dive on key issues like why is there a race on AI, the complicated relationship between Silicon Valley and DC, and what we can learn from the governance approach in the first few months of the Trump Administration. And finally, pop culture. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/36942125

Look what you made me do 05/05/2025

Look what you made me do Loren, Erin, and Radha reunite for a special 90 minute episode to break down the biggest and messiest issues from the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. Come for the new (AI!) ice breakers, stay serious analysis (and gossipy intrigue) of tariffs-ahem-TRADE TAXES, a whole new world of foreign relations, and general government mayhem. And of course pop culture from spicy dragon books to Star Wars to our old favorite Thomas Cromwell. (An independent production) /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/36453415

Then One Foggy Christmas Eve 12/15/2020

Then One Foggy Christmas Eve In the tradition of British dramas, Erin, Loren, and Radha reunite for a special holiday episode. The ladies flip the script, answering a range of questions from the first ever Manniversary guest Kai Ryssdal. They then return to some of their greatest hits including transition process, civ-mil issues, and personnel policy replete with process details and holiday movie analogies. Stay through the end to hear pop culture recommendations and special appearances from many former guests with answers to their favorite Bombshell questions. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/17203946

One for the Road 11/17/2020

One for the Road For their 100th episode, Erin, Loren and Radha discuss new issues, like the escalating conflict at the Ethiopia-Eritrea border, old issues, like HVT targeting of al-Qaeda leadership, and, of course, continuing trade issues with China. They then turn to a discussion of all the White House mayhem (Ok, not all! No one has that kind of time), including lack of legal authority for Department of Homeland Security leadership to make decisions about DACA, the Defense Department “purge,” and the complicated, not-quite-yet-started transition of the Biden administration. The team ties a bow on this episode with a discussion of holiday movies and other pop culture … and that's a wrap! Links Cara Anna, “,” AP News, November 15, 2020 “,” BBC News, November 15, 2020 “Peter Mwai, “,” BBC News, November 11, 2020 David Porter, “,” AP News, November 14, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/16845647

Anticipation Is Making Me Late 11/03/2020

Anticipation Is Making Me Late Loren, Erin, and Radha are joined by their most frequent guest (Kori Schake) and a new guest (Katrina Mulligan) to discuss foreign policy issues we'll need to worry about regardless of the election outcome! After a lively discussion, the ladies go over foreign policy issues that have been over-discussed, under-discussed, and the processes that will always be their valentines. They wrap up with pop culture, self-care, and indulgences to help get you through election day and beyond! /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/16667081

Final Countdown 10/20/2020

Final Countdown Loren, Radha, and Erin reconvene to explore many of Bombshell's greatest hits - Brexit, troop levels in Afghanistan, and arms control. With a dash of ethnic conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh thrown in for flavor. The ladies then drop a Bombshell of their own: this fair podcast will be wrapping up in 2020. It's the final countdown! /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/16476335

Karma Puh-leeze 10/07/2020

Karma Puh-leeze Erin, Radha and Loren use COVID-19 as a frame to ask what this crazy time has brought to our attention, what it’s distracted is from, what it’s possibly helped, and how it’s shaped our own skills and interests. And shopping. Links “,” Reuters, October 01, 2020 “,” The Guardian, October 05, 2020 Todd Lopez, “,” US Department of Defense, September 29, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/16308641

When There are Nine 09/22/2020

When There are Nine This week, Mira Rapp-Hooper and Rebecca Lissner return to the show to discuss American grand strategy, female partnerships, and their fabulous new book, . The ladies then revisit the administration’s foreign policy in the Middle East - with notes on the UAE-Israel accord and Iran sanctions drama. Also, Tiktok! Soothing pop-culture ties a bow on it. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/16111283

I'm a Loser, Baby 09/09/2020

I'm a Loser, Baby Loren, Radha, and Erin invite Camille Stewart, non-resident fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center, to discuss all the cyber threats and how individual behavior uniquely connects with our ability to mitigate or respond to them. In keeping up foreign relations, we provide short updates on Alexei Navalny, Belarus, and Brexit alongside a brief farewell to Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. We'd like to remind you all that Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq are still a thing, and after all the takes have been shared on Trump's views on service members, we talk about the role of the press in this story. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/15944867

It's Fun to Stay in the JCPOA 08/25/2020

It's Fun to Stay in the JCPOA Radha, Erin, and Loren host Nina Jancowicz, disinformation fellow at the Wilson Center and author of , to talk about the ongoing protests in Belarus and what we should read into the alleged poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. In keeping up foreign relations, the ladies explore the latest U.S. attempt to use the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA or “Iran nuclear deal”) — an agreement the United States ghosted on — to reinstate sanctions on Iran, and in White House mayhem they assess how the recent Senate Select Committee on Intelligence report on the 2016 election. Plus, process is our Valentine, but process can be used for evil ends, as we learned about the 2018 process to pursue family separation as an official U.S. policy. Unsurprisingly, we need a lot of pop culture to handle all this news. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/15749825

Tik Tok Ya Don’t Stop 08/11/2020

Tik Tok Ya Don’t Stop This week Erin and Radha regroup while Loren takes a much-deserved vacation. They do a quick review on COVID-19 with the good (100 days no new cases in New Zealand), the bad (cases in Brazil, India, and the United States continue to grow), and the ugly (long-term economic consequences in the United States, India, and Brazil). They also dig into the recent explosion and protests in Lebanon and then go deep on the recent executive order impacting TikTok and WeChat. After reminding us that Afghanistan is still a thing, they talk about the lack of accurate and comprehensive briefings for POTUS and the mayhem that ensues, including quotes (and misquotes) by Robert O'brien (yes, he's the national security advisor!). To calm us all down, they then talk about pop culture from baseball movies (The Rookie, Bull Durham) to Arthurian legend-ish TV shows (Cursed). Links Abbie Cheeseman, “,” NBC News, August 09, 2020 Elian Peltier, “,” New York Times, August 05, 2020 Dennis Wagner and George Petras, “,” USA Today, August 06, 2020 Nick Perry, “,” ABC7NY, August 09, 2020 Derek Hawkins, Marisa Iati, and Jacqueline Dupree, “,” Washington Post, August 09, 2020 “,” BBC, August 09, 2020 “,” Times of India, August 09, 2020 Elaine Chen, “,” Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2020 Michael Crescione, “,” Healthline, August 06, 2020 Swati Bhat, “,” Reuters, August 09, 2020 Ryan Browne and Jamie Crawford, “,” CNN, August 09, 2020 Brad Heath, “,” Reuters, August 08, 2020 Jim Sciutto, “,” CNN, August 06, 2020 Justine Coleman, “,” The Hill, August 06, 2020 Philip Bump, “,” Washington Post, August 04, 2020 Geoffrey Gertz, “” Brookings, August 07, 2020 Robert Chesney, “,” Lawfare, August 07, 2020 Chaim Gartenberg, “” The Verge, August 08, 2020 “,” New York Times, August 06, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/15569960

Simple Joys of Maidenhood 07/28/2020

Simple Joys of Maidenhood This week the band is back together with Loren, Radha, and Erin once again all in the same time zone. They dive into Mike Pompeo's China speech, global COVID trends, and the world-famous Missile Technology Control Regime. Also, Congress approved the NDAA, and they have lots of thoughts on DHS "troops" engaging protesters in Portland. Stick around for pop-culture dissection of the Guinevere Deception! Links “,” US Department of State, July 23, 2020 Thomas Wright, “,” Atlantic, July 25, 2020 Richard Haass, “,” Washington Post, July 25, 2020 “,” Arms Control Association, July 2017 Aaron Mehta and Valerie Insinna, “,” Defense One, July 25, 2020 Amanda Macias, “,” CNBC, July 24, 2020 Rachel S. Cohen, “,” Air Force Magazine, July 23, 2020 Connor O’Brien, “,” Politico, July 23, 2020 Jacob Nagel and Mark Dubowitz, “,” Newsweek, July 26, 2020 Philip H. Gordon, “” War on the Rocks, July 21, 2020 Pablo Gutierrez and Sean Clarke, “” Guardian, July 28, 2020 Pablo Gutierrez and Ashley Kirk, “,” Guardian, June 25, 2020 “,” New York Times, July 23, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/15384986

People Try to Put Us Down 07/14/2020

People Try to Put Us Down With Radha and Erin on the road, Loren invites Ashely Feng of the Center for a New American Security, Kaleigh Thomas of CNAS, Kara Frederick of CNAS, Hijab Shah of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Meghan McGee of Georgetown University for a Bombshell takeover to discuss foreign policy issues with big generational shifts. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/15205745

Revenge of Cartography 06/16/2020

Revenge of Cartography In this episode of Bombshell, the ladies welcome Madelyn Creedon, former deputy administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, to discuss the state of arms control today. The crew also discusses other foreign relations goings on: North Korea won’t call South Korea on their cell phone, late at night, or otherwise; India-China drama continues; and there’s much ado in Venezuela. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan before November and you may have noticed something’s up in civil-military relations. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/14845751

China, All the Way to New York 06/02/2020

China, All the Way to New York In this week’s episode, while Loren cleans out her office, Radha and Erin dig into an array of China-related topics: Huawei! India! Hong Kong! And last, but certainly not least, the World Health Organization. The ladies then turn to White House/American mayhem and try to be analytical while lamenting ongoing violence against black Americans and the potential deployment of U.S. troops in American cities. And finally, an awkward transition to a discussion of pop-culture yields some gems. Links Huawei Scott Bade, “,” Tech Crunch, May 30, 2020 Emily Feng, “,” NPR, May 28, 2020 India Border Jeffrey Gettleman and Steven Lee Myers, “,” New York Times, May 30, 2020 Hong Kong Sergei Klebnikov, “,” Forbes, May 29, 2020 “,” BBC News, May 30, 2020 Kenneth Rapoza, “,” Forbes, May 29, 2020 Jack Caporal, “” CSIS, October 17, 2019 WHO Brianna Ehley and Alice Miranda Ollstein, “,” Politico, May 29, 2020 “,” BBC News, May 30, 2020 Protests in US Dan Lamothe, “,” Washington Post, May 30, 2020 Samuel Sinyangwe, , October 5, 2019 Jennifer Doleac, , May 31, 2020 Megan Ming Francis, , May 30, 2020 Audrey McNamara, “ ,” CBS News, May 30, 2020 “,” CNBC, May 30, 2020 George Floyd Kate Shellnutt, “,” Chrsitanity Today, May 28, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/14670053

I'm On A Boat 05/19/2020

I'm On A Boat This week Erin, Loren, and Radha regroup for a "what did I miss" session to discuss the events of the last few weeks. Starting with the bizarre coup that wasn't in Venezuela, the ladies go on to talk about the Iran not-so-snap-back sanctions — including the Babysitter's Club analogy that you’ll need in order to understand why everyone is so annoyed — and the potentially pending restart of the China trade war. They then turn to the dwindling number of inspector generals and remind everyone why process is their valentine. They close out this episode with a discussion of books that will help you to learn if you feel like, cope when you need help, and escape when you want to. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/14482760

Burning Out Our Fuse Up Here Alone 05/05/2020

Burning Out Our Fuse Up Here Alone Jung Pak, senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, joins Bombshell to discuss her fascinating and timely new book: . Radha, Erin, and Loren remind listeners that Afghanistan is still a thing even if the U.S. government would prefer it not to be. Also, did you know it’s possible to restart a trade war amid the pandemic? Or that the United States is a participant in the JCPOA? Neither did we. Plus, pop culture! /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/14292539

I Do My Hair Toss, Check My Emails 04/21/2020

I Do My Hair Toss, Check My Emails This week the ladies are back with a normal-ish episode, complete with special guest Nora Bensahel! She helps them dive deep on COVID-19 impacts on the defense budget. From there, they explore possible changes to the “global order,” Loren offers a tutorial on Hungary and Israel, and Radha schools us on trade issues. The ladies wrap up with a discussion of the most pressing issue of the day - haircuts. And issue a heartfelt socially distant hug to the Iyengar family. Links “,” BBC, April 17, 2020 Jessie Yeung, “” CNN, April 16, 2020 Thomas Y. Choi, Dale Rogers, Bindiya Vakil, “,” Harvard Business Review, March 27, 2020 David Barno and Nora Bensahel, “,” War on the Rocks, March 31, 2020 Thomas Wright, “,” Atlantic, April 04, 2020 Daniel W. Drezner, “,”Washington Post, March 30, 2020 Thomas Wright and Kurt M. Campbell, “,” Atlantic, April 13, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/14082272

The One Where We Talk About Our Feelings 04/07/2020

The One Where We Talk About Our Feelings This week Loren and Erin talk their way through all the coronavirus feelings: fear, hope, gratitude, some minor policy questions, and the pop culture that's giving us life. Stay home, be safe, wash your hands. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/13887548

This is Fine 03/24/2020

This is Fine Kathleen Hicks, director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and all-around superhero, joins Loren, Radha, and Erin for an all-COVID-19 episode, starting with potential contributions by the Department of Defense to addressing this crisis. The ladies explore different angles of the global pandemic, including how it's impacting other ongoing international events, the economy, and domestic politics. Thanks be they also spend a lot of time on pop culture to soothe the soul. /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/13679666

Don't Ask, Don't Get 03/10/2020

Don't Ask, Don't Get This week Erin, Loren, and Radha reunite after a midwinter break to talk pandemics. They then turn to the Afghanistan “peace” deal, Israeli elections (third time’s the charm?), and recent developments in Syria. As always, there’s plenty of White House mayhem with a new chief of staff, and vacancies as far as the eye can see in Pentagon civilian leadership. Thankfully, Hilary Mantel books and Love is Blind provide a pop culture escape to soothe (or at least distract) the soul. Links Coronavirus Matthew Herper, “,” Stat, March 6, 2020 “,” The Economist, February 2020 Afghanistan Diaa Hadid and Scott Neuman, “,” NPR Morning Edition, February 21, 2020 Shereen Qazi, “” Aljazeera, March 9, 2020 Kathy Gilsinan, “,” Atlantic, February 29, 2020 David E. Sanger, Eric Schmitt, and Thomas Gibbons-Neff, “,” New York Times, March 8, 2020 Susannah George, “,” Washington Post, March 7, 2020 Courtney Kube, Ken Dilanian, and Dan De Luce, “,” NBC New, March 6, 2020 Elizabeth Threlkeld, “,” Lawfare, March 8, 2020 Pop Culture Randy Shilts, , (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007) , PBS Syria Jen Kirby, “” Vox, March 6, 2020 “,” BBC, March 7, 2020 OSD Lara Seligman and Daniel Lippman, “,” Politico, March 6, 2020 /episode/index/show/bombshell/id/13487102

Sirens: A Bombshell production

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