The Steady State Sentinel

The Autocrats' Worst Enemy: Why Despots Fear Mayors

A former U.S. Ambassador and Los Angeles Deputy Mayor on why local leaders are democracy's front line, how cities can resist authoritarianism, and what you can do to help

Cornucopia of Vectors of Theft: How China Is Stealing America's Economic Future

A former CIA officer on China’s espionage successes, America’s IP losses, and the growing threat to the U.S. economy. Host John Sipher sits down with his former CIA coll

The Intelligence You Don't See: A Career Analyst Warns about Systemic Weaponization of the Intelligence Community

A former CIA analyst and NSC director on the weaponization of the DNI, the decapitation of the NSC, and why dissent is no longer tolerated. Host Bree Fram, a retired Spa

The Iran You Don't See: The Regime, the People, and What America Gets Wrong

A 22-year veteran of the CIA and Iran specialist on why the regime survives, the MOU disaster, the lessons of Iraq, and the history and humanity of Iranians. Host Jim La

America's Nuclear Guardians: A Conversation on Security, Espionage, and Speaking Truth to Power

A former acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security on the damage being done to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and why

Breaking the Cockpit Barrier: One Pilot's Fight to Engineer Inclusion into the Military

A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel on height requirements that excluded 44% of women, the first maternity flight suit, and why "truth isn't afraid of transparency."

The Recruiter's Recruiter: Trust, Treason, and the Human Elements of Espionage with Jim Lawler

25-year CIA case officer and author Jim Lawler on the ten qualities of a top recruiter, the A.Q. Khan takedown, the Hanssen case, and why speaking truth to power matters

Phillips O'Brien on America's Strategic Collapse

The acclaimed military historian explains why conflict in Iran, Ukraine and the erosion of alliances point to a deeper crisis in American strategy and details the critica

The Making of a Public Servant: Lauren C. Anderson's Journey to the Senior Ranks of the FBI

Service, gut checks, the power of humanity in law enforcement, and why she said “yes” to The Steady State. In a format shift, host Peter Mina turns the microphone over t

The Uncrowned King: Ambassador Charles A. Ray on America’s Authoritarian Turn

A former U.S. Army officer, diplomat, and ambassador to Cambodia and Zimbabwe on oath, duty, service beyond party, the collapse of institutional guardrails, and why rebui

The Bob Mueller Standard: Justice, Integrity, and Public Service

Two former federal prosecutors on what the job is supposed to represent at its best, why Bob Mueller was the model, and the prosecutor’s unique duty to serve and protect

Inside the Situation Room: Larry Pfeiffer on the Politicization of Intelligence, Professional Integrity, and the Cost of Truth

A former CIA chief of staff and White House Situation Room senior director warns that politicized intelligence can weaken national security by chilling truth telling, hol

Common Sense for a Democracy in Crisis

The fight to repair public service, Congress, and democratic accountability In this episode of The Steady State Sentinel, John Sipher speaks with veteran intelligence an

Hunting Weapons of Mass Destruction (with Andy Weber)

This special joint episode of the Steady State Sentinel and Mission Implausible brings together two podcasts focused on separating fact from manipulation, defending democ

Afraid to Speak, Afraid for Democracy: New Poll Finds Widespread Concern About Authoritarianism

A top pollster and an award-winning journalist break down who is self‑censoring, why Gen Z sees democracy differently, and whether the U.S. can reverse its authoritarian

The War on the Press: How Trump Attacks the First Amendment

A veteran LA Times correspondent on Trump’s assault on the press, the White House Correspondents' Dinner security scare, and the fight for truth in a fractured media era.

The Most Powerful Intelligence Tool You’ve Never Heard Of: A Former CIA Lawyer Explains Section 702

A deep dive into FISA, modern surveillance authorities, and the growing tension between intelligence collection and civil liberties in the digital age. Former CIA Senior

Saving My Life's Work: Eric Rubin on the Dismantling of American Diplomacy

The Spoils System Returns, the Foreign Service Professional Association Is Crushed, and Why the Next President Will Be Handicapped In the latest episode of the Sentinel,

The Fragile Glue: Mark Zaid on Whistleblowers, Retaliation, and the Rule of Law

Government Transparency, Security Clearance Battles, and the Future of American Democracy Former CIA officer Jim Lawler and former FBI senior executive Lauren C. Anderso

The MAGA Crack-Up: David Corn on Iran, the FBI, and a Democracy Under Siege

Conspiracy Narratives, Media Challenges, and the Long Shadow of Russian Influence Former CIA officer John Sipher sits down for the latest Sentinel podcast with David Cor