Episode Summary:
In this opening episode of our three-part national security series, we go back to basics — defining what national security actually is, how it’s evolved over time, and what it’s supposed to protect us from. We walk through the full range of threats facing America in 2025 — from cyberattacks and domestic extremism to climate collapse and geopolitical instability — and show how the system meant to keep us safe is being radically reshaped.

National security is no longer just about tanks and troops. It’s about energy grids, supply chains, clean water, elections, and public health. And under Donald Trump’s leadership, the institutions that manage these threats are being dismantled — on purpose. From Project 2025 to loyalty tests, this isn’t just a shift in policy. It’s an authoritarian takeover of the system that protects us all.

In This Episode:

• What national security actually is — and how it’s evolved from Cold War defense to cyber, health, and climate resilience
• How America’s national security system is supposed to function
• The real threat landscape in 2025, from homegrown extremism to global cyber warfare
• Why Trump’s second-term vision rejects institutional competence and replaces it with personal loyalty
• How Project 2025 and Stephen Miller’s ideology are weaponizing national security from the inside

Why It Matters:
This episode sets the stage for the next two in our national security series. Before we meet the people Trump has placed in charge (Episode 23), or assess the fallout from their actions (Episode 24), we need to understand the foundations of national security itself.

Next Episode:
Episode 23: Trump’s National Security Team – Inexperienced, Ideological, and In Charge
We’ll meet the new cast of national security power players — from loyalists like Kash Patel and Stephen Miller to headline-grabbers like Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth and Steve Witkoff.

A favor to ask…
Surviving Trump is 100% reader and listener-supported. It’s just me behind the desk and the mic — researching, writing, and recording. I pay a professional to edit and produce every episode. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to help keep this blog and podcast going strong. Every contribution helps.

Support the show

Host: Bella Goode

Bella is a former Republican turned democracy advocate raised by middle class parents in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Pennsylvania with a masters of business administration from Wharton and a Masters Degree in Positive Psychology.

Career wise, Bella spent 20 years with American Express in New York and 20 years as an entrepreneur. She started and sold a fitness business that grew to 180 locations worldwide.

Community :

• Rate & Review on Apple Podcasts – Your feedback helps us reach more people. Click to review.
• Follow on YouTube - subscribe here:
• Follow my blog on Substack https://survivingtrumppodcast.substack.com/
• Join the conversation on Bluesky – Find me at @survivingtrump.bsky.social
• Share this episode – If you found this podcast valuable, send it to a friend and tag us on social media.
• Contact me at bellagoodepodcast@gmail.com
• Support the Show