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Texas National Security Review
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A rigorous, policy-relevant journal on national & international security, brought to you by The University of Texas System | tnsr.org
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We are proud to present Volume 9, Issue 1 of the Texas National Security Review in its entirety.

This issue features our bold new identity, but our mission remains the same: featuring work by the world’s best thinkers, addressing the world’s hardest problems. 🧵
Is AI the future of precision targeting in warfare? Joshua Geltzer shares his insights on the evolving role of AI in military strategies and the potential for it to surpass human capabilities.

Listen to the full conversation: tnsr.org/2025/11/ai-p....

#AI #Technology #Deterrence #DefensePolicy
February 13, 2026 at 6:03 PM
In our latest podcast episode, @woodnathang.bsky.social challenges general objections to autonomous weapon systems. He argues that rather than debating autonomy in the abstract, we must examine specific systems and their operational realities to ensure compliance with the principle of distinction.
February 11, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Are concerns about autonomous weapons overblown? In our latest podcast episode, Nathan Wood (@woodnathang.bsky.social) argues that we must move past catch-all terms and focus on the distinct legal and ethical challenges of specific systems.
February 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM
"Defense is a business; it’s not a religion."

On our latest podcast episode, Eyck Freymann discusses the urgent need for Congress to provide forward guidance to defense producers. Subcontractors need assurance of future demand to keep production lines warm and ready.
February 6, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Our latest podcast episode explores the "hard choices" required for Indo-Pacific stability. Guests Eyck Freymann and Harry Halem contend that the United States must bridge critical gaps in sealift and industrial capacity to maintain a credible posture into the 2030s.
February 3, 2026 at 9:33 PM
How much does the specific administration in the White House matter for alliance resilience? @bencenemeth.bsky.social argues that leadership is a critical "situational factor," noting a sharp contrast in cooperation trends between recent presidencies. #Geopolitics #GrandStrategy #NATO
January 23, 2026 at 6:02 PM
In 1956, the Suez Crisis revealed the limits of British power. Could a similar event hollow out the US alliance system today? Bence Nemeth — @bencenemeth.bsky.social — applies his "five factor theory of defense cooperation" to answer this critical question on our latest episode.
January 20, 2026 at 6:04 PM
We are proud to present Volume 9, Issue 1 of the Texas National Security Review in its entirety.

This issue features our bold new identity, but our mission remains the same: featuring work by the world’s best thinkers, addressing the world’s hardest problems. 🧵
January 16, 2026 at 6:56 PM
How can the US avoid being coerced by a nuclear adversary?

Tyler Bowen joins us to discuss the complexity of creating operational plans that achieve military success without triggering nuclear escalation.

#DefenseStrategy #GlobalSecurity #Deterrence
January 9, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Are we stuck in a cycle of "planning for failure"?

In Mathew Burrows’ review of Elizabeth Saunders' (@profsaunders.bsky.social) "The Insiders’ Game," he draws a sharp parallel between the "insider" dynamics of today and the decision-making failures of the Vietnam era.
January 8, 2026 at 5:35 PM
How can states use conventional military force effectively against a nuclear-armed adversary? By striking a balance between operational success and escalatory restraint. Tyler Bowen joins our podcast to discuss his recent TNSR article.

tnsr.org/2025/01/conv...

#NuclearDeterrence #NatSec
January 7, 2026 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Texas National Security Review
Honored to have very thoughtful reviews of my book, The Insiders' Game, from Mara Karlin and Mathew Burrow, in @tnsr.org. That picture of Trump et al. watching events in Venezuela from Mar-a-Lago is on the nose. @princetonupress.bsky.social

press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
January 6, 2026 at 11:16 PM
The recent operation in Venezuela highlights a critical shift in national security decision-making, and as Mara Karlin notes in her review of "The Insiders' Game," the decision-making table is more crowded than we think.
January 6, 2026 at 10:43 PM
How do elites constrain presidential decision-making? Could a conflict with China break the "insider" hold on foreign policy? Mara Karlin and Mathew Burrows answer these questions in their reviews of Elizabeth Saunders’ (@profsaunders.bsky.social) "The Insiders’ Game."

tnsr.org/roundtable/t...
January 5, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Are those holiday gift cards already burning a hole in your pocket? Invest in something that lasts longer than the season.

The TNSR winter issue, featuring our newly redesigned logo, is now available in print. Order your copy now from @utexaspress.bsky.social!

utpress.utexas.edu/journals/tex...
December 30, 2025 at 6:01 PM
According to Eyck Freymann and Harry Halem, the US doesn't need a "politically impossible" doubling of the defense budget to deter China. It needs to make hard choices.

They argue that budgets must rigorously align with the reality of an air-naval conflict in the Pacific.

tnsr.org/2025/12/the-...
December 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
According to Freymann and Halem, the margin of deterrence is shrinking, and to prevent conflict, we must address the crisis in capacity.

Together, they argue that the US must urgently expand its industrial base to counter rapid conventional and nuclear buildups. The time for hard choices is now.
December 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Looking back at the past year, we're grateful for the continued support of our audience. This includes our podcast listeners!

Thank you for keeping "Horns of a Dilemma" at the top of the national security podcast charts! Subscribe or listen anytime at tnsr.org/horns-of-a-d...
December 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
In our new article by Eyck Freymann and Harry Halem, they argue that to keep China deterred, the US must look beyond "killer apps" and focus on the engine of military power: the industrial base.
December 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM
When structures crumble, ideas fill the void.

Our latest article by Shivshankar Menon suggests we are in a moment where scholars and thinkers can genuinely influence political definitions of interest. Chaos is an opportunity for creativity.
December 19, 2025 at 3:32 PM
"If we use military force without strategy, then it's just violence."

In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Marina Henke (@mephenke.bsky.social) argues that strategy is not just about efficiency—it is a moral requirement for legitimizing state action.
December 18, 2025 at 5:48 PM
We often mistake the relative stability of the last 75 years for permanent reality.

To understand the present, Shivshankar Menon argues we must shed post-WWII predispositions and accept "disorder" as the historical norm.

Read more: tnsr.org/2025/12/a-ne...

#WorldOrder #ForeignPolicy #Strategy
December 17, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Every state has a grand strategy, whether they know it or not. The real challenge is designing one that works.

In our latest podcast episode, Dr. Marina Henke (@mephenke.bsky.social) from @hertiesecurity.bsky.social discusses the critical link between strategic design and democratic accountability.
December 16, 2025 at 8:40 PM
We often mistake the last 70 years for the standard of history.

Shivshankar Menon, a former national security advisor to the Indian prime minister, claims that they were the exception in our latest Strategist article.
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
"I don't think it actually says what the United States really wants."

Marina Henke (@mephenke.bsky.social) joins us to critique the new National Security Strategy. She pairs this analysis with her recent TNSR article on the vital, practical steps for designing strategy that actually works.
December 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM