What is “National Security” Anyway?

Peter Rohde's book examines how the meaning and institutions of American national security were contested across the twentieth century, showing how advocates for defense and domestic welfare battled to shape policy. Rohde traces key debates, political campaigns, and institutional reforms—especially around the New Deal, World War II, and the 1947 National Security Act—that determined what counts as national security. The book highlights actors who promoted a broader conception tying citizens' economic and social well-being to national security, and those who narrowed the term to foreign policy and military concerns. Through archival research and narrative history, Rohde explains how language, persuasion campaigns, and bureaucratic interests reshaped public understanding and government priorities. The work argues that these historical choices still influence contemporary debates about threats like pandemics, opioids, and climate change.

Fear Itself is a seven-issue miniseries written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Laura Martin. The story revolves around the Serpent, an Asgardian being who sows doubt and fear among the superheroes of the Marvel Universe. The plot involves the Serpent's attempt to reclaim the throne of Asgard, which he believes was usurped by his brother Odin. The storyline features key characters such as Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man facing their worst nightmares and global panic on Earth.