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What podcasters are saying about Defense
Summary
In the past 30 days, 17 speakers on 11 finance podcasts discussed Defense in 21 views. Chorus has followed Defense since September 25, 2026: 22 views from 18 speakers on 12 shows.
Who talks about it most
- Neil Howe · 4
- Palmer Luckey · 2
- Bryant VanCronkhite · 1
- Connor Love · 1
- Erin Price-Wright · 1
- Craig Fuller · 1
- Vincent Deluard · 1
- Anastasia Amoroso · 1
- Heidi Crebo-Rediker · 1
- Jesper Koll · 1
The latest views
Newest first. Every quote is checked against the episode's transcript.
Bryant VanCronkhite · Allspring Global Investments
Defense and aerospace stocks offer opportunity over the next year.
VanCronkhite says the team is finding opportunities in defense and aerospace, and he expects those opportunities to pay off looking back a year from now. He notes that the healthcare sector also looks good. The view is based on the current macro environment and earnings season, which give room to put capital to work.
“we look back a year from now, seeing opportunity in defense stocks and aerospace.”at 35:38
CNBC Halftime Report: Tech Earnings Weigh on the AI Trade 10/29/26 ·
Connor Love · Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Private capital now funds defense systems ahead of government demand, shifting share toward neo-primes.
Historically, primes waited for requirements, then built systems that were often technologically dated, so soldiers got less valuable products. Now the government signals needs and private capital funds builders to develop systems in advance. Connor cites Castelion's hypersonic missile: the government now contracts and buys, but the last three years of development were funded by venture capital and entrepreneurs taking the risk. He expects neo-primes and new companies to take a large share of the defense market from incumbent primes.
“instead of sitting and waiting for the government to tell you what they want, the government signals and you see it, and you build in advance by using private capital, and that just has not happened in the history of defense.”at 19:51
a16z Podcast: The Startups Rebuilding American Industry | The AD50 ·
Erin Price-Wright · Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
Defense risk funding in H1 2026 exceeded all of last year, easing the valley-of-death funding gap.
Erin says that in just the first half of 2026, more risk dollars went into the defense ecosystem than in all of last year combined. That was many times what went in during any previous full year. She argues this matters because defense startups have long faced a 'valley of death,' where they needed a government contract to carry them through the capital-intensive build-out stage. She says that gap is starting to disappear as capital markets and risk capital support defense companies, and that the trend is spreading to energy, robotics and critical minerals.
“more risk dollars went into the defense ecosystem than all of last year combined... that's starting to disappear with the support of capital markets and risk capital, and that's certainly extending even beyond the defense ecosystem”at 43:50
a16z Podcast: The Startups Rebuilding American Industry | The AD50 ·
Palmer Luckey · Anduril Industries
The Pentagon's biggest gains lie in faster procurement and leaner development, with Ukraine showing the value of quickly dropping failing weapons.
Luckey says the Pentagon can change faster procurement and leaner development cycles, and that Ukraine has shown the value of rapidly buying what works and then stopping purchases of things that stop working. He calls giving units the decision to buy or stop buying the most important lesson from Ukraine. He frames the Pentagon's problem as one of execution rather than knowledge: the department knows what it needs to fix but finds the change painful, like dieting, so progress is slow.
“The things the Pentagon can change in terms of faster procurement, in terms of more lean development cycles or things that I think everyone's learning from Ukraine, like the ability to very rapidly procure the things that work and then critically stop buying things”at 13:37
Bloomberg Talks: Anduril Founder Palmer Luckey Talks Partnership With Qualcomm ·
Palmer Luckey · Anduril Industries
Even with a Democratic sweep, US defense spending probably won't change much; Democrats recognize the need for investment.
Asked whether a Democratic wave in the midterms would materially cut defense spending, Luckey says even with a blue wave the US is not necessarily going to see a huge change. He hedges that he is an engineer, not a politician, and could be wrong. His reasoning is that he talks to Republicans and Democrats, and the Democrats who control the defense budget understand that the world needs investment to replace legacy systems and that the threat is near term. He adds that allies such as Japan are openly discussing constitutional changes to host nuclear weapons, so 'everything is on the table' and most people across parties agree America must invest in new technology. He concludes the defense budget will go up and down, but he expects to be fine.
“I think that even with a blue wave, you're not necessarily going to see a huge change in defense spending. Look, I could be wrong.”at 15:02
Bloomberg Talks: Anduril Founder Palmer Luckey Talks Partnership With Qualcomm ·
Craig Fuller · FreightWaves
US defense spending is good for the economy and industrial base, since defense was never outsourced.
Craig argues US defense spending is very good for the US economy and industrial base, conditional on the printing press rules holding. He cites defense as one of the few sectors not outsourced, with about 65% of global defense spending American and allies at 75-80%. He says allies must buy American goods because of NATO.
“As long as those rules apply, then war... A war economy and US defense spending is a very good thing for The US economy, even US industrial base. Because guess what? One of the only sectors of the economy that we did not outsource was the defense.”at 26:07
Thoughtful Money: "No Signs Of The A.I. Party Slowing Down" | Craig Fuller ·
Vincent Deluard · StoneX
France cannot join Germany's defense spending surge because its public finances are broken.
Germany is expanding fiscally for defense for the first time in a while. France cannot follow because its fiscal position is broken. France already has a sizeable defense sector, and that was helped by Germany's defense industry being held back for historical reasons. That created demand for French defense firms such as Dassault, Thales and Safran. He does not see that tailwind continuing as Germany spends more.
“No. Because... I mean, we broke. So... And we already have a pretty sizable defense sector.”at 36:18
Monetary Matters: The Fed Put Is Dead: Why Stagflation & a Bear Market Are Next | Vincent Deluard | StoneX ·
Anastasia Amoroso · Partners Group
Defense trade is bullish long term, backed by multiyear US government contracts and reindustrialization.
Amoroso likes the defense trade, which has taken a back seat to midterm election worries. She cites US government commitments to multiyear contracts and a strong emphasis on reindustrializing and expanding the defense manufacturing base. She calls this bullish both near term and longer term.
“The fact that the US government is committing to multiyear contracts, and there's this huge emphasis on reindustrialization and expanding the manufacturing base of defense, that's really bullish, not just near term, but longer term.”at 41:56
CNBC Halftime Report: The Investment Committee Prepares for a Pivotal Week 10/26/26 ·
Heidi Crebo-Rediker · Council on Foreign Relations
Replenishing US munitions and the defense industrial base will be a huge fiscal burden going forward.
The Iran conflict is increasing the fiscal burden because the US is running through munitions and weapons that must be rebuilt substantially. Replenishing the domestic defense industrial base will be a huge fiscal burden moving forward.
“That also increases the fiscal burden of having to actually replenish our domestic defense industrial base because we're running through our, you know, our munitions, our weapons, and we have to... We need to rebuild those pretty substantially. That's gonna be a huge fiscal burden moving forward.”at 22:27
Bloomberg Surveillance: Market Uncertainty Ahead of the Midterms ·
Jesper Koll · Monex Group
Lifting Japan's arms export restriction is the most important step for its industrial competitiveness.
The voluntary constraint on Japan's dual-use and arms export industry was lifted in February this year. He calls this the single most important step for Japanese industrial competitiveness. Australia's decision to buy frigates, three of which will be built in Japan, is an early example. Adelaide will also gain technology transfer and shipbuilding capacity.
“the voluntary constraint that Japan had on its dual use and arms export industry was lifted in February this year. And that for Japanese industrial competitiveness is the single most important thing.”at 36:51
Top Traders Unplugged: GM108: Maybe Japan Is Finally Changing for Real ft. Jesper Koll ·
Rodney Stevens · NSJ Antimony Corp.
Military use will dominate antimony demand as geopolitical tensions push armies to secure supply.
Stevens acknowledges antimony demand is growing in solar, but he believes military use will remain the dominant source of demand. He cites rising geopolitical tensions, and says armies around the world now see antimony as necessary for their supplies. He argues that because the metal is consumed in munitions and flame retardants and is not recycled, militaries will need more of it, and military demand will likely increase.
“I still think the dominant demand is going to be for military use. There's geopolitical tensions sort of been strengthening around the world, armies around the world are seeing that they need this”at 3:31
The David Lin Report: China's Nov. 27 Deadline: America's Next Supply Shock? | Rodney Stevens ·
Edward Mills · Raymond James
A Democratic sweep could push Republicans to fund defense via a lame-duck reconciliation bill.
Raymond James wrote that the worse Republicans do on November 3, the more likely they are to use the lame duck session for a reconciliation bill to increase defense funding. A supplemental request has cleared its first House hurdle, and there is a push to raise it toward what Trump has proposed. The reconciliation bill that funded the defense budget last year covered special projects rather than regular defense needs, so a third reconciliation bill would be the chance to let non-primes compete. He calls it Republicans' last chance to lock in defense spending for the rest of Trump's term.
“The worse Republicans do on November 3, the more likely Republicans try to use this lame duck session to do a reconciliation to increase defense funding.”at 16:15
Bloomberg Surveillance: Bloomberg Surveillance TV: October 20th, 2026 ·
Doug Petno · JPMorganChase
Military struggles to procure new defense technologies through the existing procurement process.
Petno says the world's remilitarization in response to geopolitical events means weapons and equipment must reflect the changed character of war, relying heavily on defense tech and new technologies. US military officials contacted JPMorgan saying they were having trouble securing these technologies through procurement, which led JPMorgan to launch its initiative.
“And military officials had actually reached out to JPMorgan and said, we're having a hard time. We're having a hard time securing those types of technologies with the procurement process.”at 2:11
J.P. Morgan Making Sense: One Year In: Advancing Economic Security and Resiliency ·
Friedrich Merz · Federal Government of Germany
Europeans, not the US, now fund Ukraine's weapons; NATO defence spending rising toward 5% of GDP.
Merz argues Europe can defend itself without the US. Since the start of last year, a coalition of Europeans and non-European partners, but not the US, has paid for Ukraine's weapons and equipment, and he says this shows Europe can act on its own, though it is a big strain on budgets. At the Hague NATO summit, European members agreed to pay up to 3.5% of GDP on defence, and he says Germany is now spending up to 5% of GDP. He describes the European pillar of NATO as needing to become much stronger.
“Since the beginning of last year, the coalition of the willing combined out of Europeans and many non European partners, but not The US, are paying for Ukraine.”at 11:48
Bloomberg Talks: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Talks Security in Europe ·
Andreas Steno · Steno Research
Drone stocks have seen momentum reverse, so adding to them makes sense; a funding confirmation could spark June.
A Wall Street Journal report says some drone companies may receive funding in return for equity stakes, but the deal is not yet confirmed. Momentum, the most important factor in equity markets now, has reversed in several high-beta drone names. That makes adding to them sensible. If the packages are confirmed, as quantum packages were weeks ago, that could spark a spike in June.
“So I'm actually tempted to say that it makes sense to add to some of these drone names.”at 25:34
Real Vision: Is Inflation About to Derail the Rally? with Andreas Steno | Macro Mondays - Oct. 19, 2026 ·
Mikkel Rosenvold · Steno Research (Real Vision)
Military drones are a multi-year winner; a war-ending deal would hurt them but not break the case.
Military drones are still tied to the war, so if one or two wars end it should be negative for them. That is not enough to make it a bad case, in Rosenvold's view. He is very long, and believes it will be an incredible case for the coming years. His portfolio is skewed towards robotics and military drones.
“Not enough to make it a bad case in my opinion. I'm very, very long. I believe this is going be an incredible case for the coming years.”at 26:41
Real Vision: Is Inflation About to Derail the Rally? with Andreas Steno | Macro Mondays - Oct. 19, 2026 ·
Neil Howe · Hedgeye Risk Management
Trump's Golden Dome missile shield is an infeasible, unpriced line item meant to reassure, not a real defense.
Howe argues the Golden Dome is not feasible technology, has no end date for completion, and has no affordable price tag. He reads it as a political signal: a line item designed to make the public feel the government is in control rather than a credible defense program.
“We hear from our government. Well, we got a golden dome. ... This is no feasible technology, no end date, you know, when this could ever be built and and no affordable price tag. This is basically a line item just designed to say, don't worry, we're in charge.”at 9:09
Thoughtful Money: Surviving The Fourth Turning | Neil Howe ·
Neil Howe · Hedgeye Risk Management
Offensive missiles and drones beat defenses; new glide vehicles and drones will challenge military doctrine.
Howe argues the offense dominates the defense. Interceptors are much harder and more expensive to build than offensive missiles, and offensive systems are easier to evade interception. He cites hypersonic glide vehicles at Mach 10 to 20 that can maneuver and are hard to knock down, plus jet-powered drones used in Ukraine. He concludes that militaries will have to rethink doctrine, since taking down the arrows may not be enough and the archers may be hidden underground.
“dominates the defensive. It's much harder and more expensive to build interceptor missiles than another offensive missile.”at 39:57
Thoughtful Money: Surviving The Fourth Turning | Neil Howe ·
Neil Howe · Hedgeye Risk Management
US defense spending will ramp up sharply after the lame-duck Congress passes a new defense appropriations act.
Howe says defense spending is rising in almost every country, and that the US, which had been the exception in recent years, will follow. He expects the lame-duck Congress to pass a new National Defense Appropriation Act that will 'ramp defense spending way up.' He presents this as part of a global pattern of warming up for conflict, with wars between states and within them at a level not seen in thirty years.
“Defense spending is rising in almost every country around the world... The lame duck Congress is going to put through a new National Defense Appropriation Act, which is likely to ramp defense spending way up.”at 49:00
Thoughtful Money: Surviving The Fourth Turning | Neil Howe ·
Neil Howe · Hedgeye Risk Management
Defense is a fourth-turning theme his fund goes long, alongside nationalized industries.
Howe describes his fund's third bucket as long/short positioning on fourth-turning themes, naming defense and nationalized industries. He gives no detailed valuation or earnings case for defense. The support is the thematic link to a fourth turning, which he argues brings collective and national priorities.
“the third part is just going long short and forth turning like themes and this is things like defense, nationalized industries”at 1:25:02
Thoughtful Money: Surviving The Fourth Turning | Neil Howe ·
Maria Vassalou · Pictet Group
European militaries can't work together independently without a new integrated framework beyond NATO.
Maria says Europe is less strategic to the US because China has replaced Russia as the main competitor. She argues the US push for higher European defense spending is a wake-up call that could make Europe more self-sufficient and a stronger ally. Yet apart from France, European militaries are linked to NATO's central command, which the US controls. Europe can produce drones and other equipment, but its countries cannot coordinate as they stand without a new framework to integrate their militaries.
“they can't really work together as different countries as they stand now unless they build a new framework to integrate their military.”at 48:27
Masters in Business: Balancing Conviction and Risk: Masters in Business with Maria Vassalou ·
Michael Every · Rabobank
The Iran war exposed US shortages of interceptors and Pacific bunker fuel, weakening it for a sustained China fight.
The war against Iran has shown the US does not have enough interceptors. Bunker fuel for the US Pacific fleet is also short, and the US is short of several inputs it would need for a sustained war across the Pacific. China would have home advantage in any such conflict. Michael uses these shortages to explain why Washington would want to avoid the risk of a Taiwan clash, either by negotiating with Beijing or by making a Chinese move strategically unviable.
“the war against Iran has already exposed that we actually don't have enough interceptors... We don't have enough bunker fuel in Hawaii anymore for their Pacific fleet.”at 25:36
MacroVoices: MacroVoices #551 Michael Every: Decoding The Global Geopolitical Puzzle (Part 2) ·
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