June 07, 2019

Dr. John A. Gans, Jr., on "White House Warriors" and the National Security Council

Dr. John A. Gans, Jr., joins Jim Townsend and Carisa Nietsche to discuss his recent book "White House Warriors: How the National Security Council has Transformed the American Way of War." Dr. Gans discusses his experiences both researching and interacting with the NSC, its staff, and its wider impact as a ‘wartime’ NSC since 9/11. We conclude with a discussion about the concept of the NSC as an honest broker and whether it functions more effectively as an instrument of presidential administrations or as a mediator between the White House and other institutions that shape U.S. national security.

  • Podcast

    Transatlantic Security

    Can Europe (Ever) Defend Itself?

    Today’s Brussels Sprouts discussion follows on from our conversation last week on whether middle powers have the ability to chart a course more independent of the United State...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend & Franz-Stefan Gady

    • February 10, 2026
  • Podcast

    Transatlantic Security

    Carney's Challenge: Can Europe Take the Reins of NATO?

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made headlines at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos with his speech in which he declared that the international system is in the mi...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend

    • February 6, 2026
  • Podcast

    Transatlantic Security

    Transatlantic Tumult at Davos

    It has been a tumultuous month in the transatlantic alliance. This week, President Donald Trump’s demands to take control of Greenland reached a fever pitch. On Sunday, Presid...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend

    • January 23, 2026
  • Podcast

    Transatlantic Security

    Europe's Defense Dilemma

    Since the invasion of Ukraine, European states have taken major steps to rebuild their defense industrial bases, both to supply Ukraine and to rebuild their own militaries. Eu...

    By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend

    • January 16, 2026

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia