School of War
The Free Press
In School of War, CBS News National Security Analyst and Free Press columnist Aaron MacLean sits down with secretaries of state, top military historians, war planners, and key political decision-makers to help understand the lessons of war.
Tune in as School of War takes you to the front lines.
Aaron MacLean is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor and legislative director to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Visit our Substack for episode transcripts
Follow along on Instagram
Tune in as School of War takes you to the front lines.
Aaron MacLean is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor and legislative director to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Visit our Substack for episode transcripts
Follow along on Instagram
Episodes
Mentioned books
33 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 50min
Ep 280: Mike Doran on the Iran War
Mike Doran, senior fellow and director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at the Hudson Institute, explains the Iran conflict as a race of exhaustion. He outlines Iran’s calibrated retaliation, limits of interceptors and counterstrikes, and three possible end states for the regime. He also details deep U.S.-Israel operational integration and what to watch next.
39 snips
Feb 28, 2026 • 32min
Ep 279: Mark Dubowitz on U.S.-Israel War with Iran
Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Iran policy expert, breaks down a sudden U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran. Discussions cover reported strikes on leadership, the campaign’s historical roots, Iran’s likely all-in retaliation, and how the U.S. and Israel divide roles targeting capabilities versus leadership. High-stakes coordination and the limits of airpower are explored.
22 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 51min
Ep 278: Yossi Cohen on The Mossad
Yossi Cohen, former Mossad director and national security advisor, led daring clandestine operations and wrote The Sword of Freedom. He discusses joining and recruiting for covert work. He talks HUMINT vs tech, planning high-risk strikes, operations in Iran, and the moral and strategic choices behind clandestine actions.
9 snips
Feb 23, 2026 • 50min
Ep 277: Behnam Ben Taleblu—Will There Be a War with Iran?
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at FDD and Iran specialist. He maps the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and why timing matters. He weighs limited strikes versus sustained campaigns. He explores Iranian retaliation paths, missile and maritime threats, hardened nuclear sites, and how ideology shapes Tehran’s choices.
Feb 20, 2026 • 49min
Ep 276: Charlie Laderman on Regime Change in Iran
Charlie Laderman, a historian of Cold War politics and professor at the University of Florida, offers a concise mini bio. He compares Reagan’s approach to 1980s Poland with options for Iran today. Short takes cover moral versus strategic support, differences between Gorbachev and Iran’s leadership, repression risks, émigré roles, and modern tools like communications and targeted aid.
28 snips
Feb 17, 2026 • 44min
Ep 275: Michael Baumgartner on Marco Rubio’s Speech and the Future of Europe
Michael Baumgartner, U.S. Representative and former diplomat with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, shares on-the-ground impressions from the Munich Security Conference. He discusses Europe's economic and energy dilemmas. He breaks down Marco Rubio’s stirring speech and its reception. He also covers NATO alignment, China’s shadow presence, Ukraine leverage, and strategic approaches to Iran.
35 snips
Feb 13, 2026 • 54min
Ep 274: Lawrence Freedman on Strategists and Ukraine
Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London and noted scholar of strategy, discusses essay writing and public scholarship. He reflects on influential figures like Michael Howard and Colin Gray. He distinguishes tactics from strategy, debates missile defenses and nuclear limits, and gives a concise update on Ukraine’s winter resilience and Russian setbacks.
19 snips
Feb 9, 2026 • 32min
Ep 273: Matthew Kroenig on China’s Nuclear Test
Matthew Kroenig, a Georgetown professor and Atlantic Council strategist specializing in nuclear weapons, walks through recent claims of Chinese yield-producing tests. He explains seismic monitoring, how tests can be hidden, the debate over U.S. testing, and the strategic challenge of deterring two peer nuclear powers. Short takes on New START, force sizing, and risks of a renewed arms race.
31 snips
Feb 6, 2026 • 39min
Ep 272: Beatrice Heuser on Why Leaders Make Bad Decisions
Beatrice Heuser, distinguished professor and author of Flawed Strategy, brings strategic studies and international relations expertise. She discusses how economic models shaped thinking, the difference between rationality and logic, mirror imaging rival motives, cultural and textual study over broad theory, and how denial and ignored intelligence produce catastrophic decisions.
15 snips
Feb 3, 2026 • 43min
Ep 271: Geoff Ball on the Future of America’s Infantry
Geoff Ball, a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer and Naval Academy instructor who runs The Connecting File, talks about how infantry companies might reorganize for drones, electronic warfare, and tailored task forces. He covers balancing technical specialists with core infantry skills. He discusses grassroots innovation like DIY spectrum boxes and the prospect of dedicated unmanned battalions.
