Goat Rodeo #41 - Drone Dominance, Acquisition Theatre, and Nukes in the Sandbox
Thu Feb 05 2026
This Episode:
This week on Goat Rodeo, the crew kicks things off with a quick review of BattleLab Episode 2 before jumping into a geopolitics trifecta covering Iran, Greenland, and the expiration of New START and what it signals for global nuclear policy.
From there, the conversation shifts to defense modernization, including the new Drone Dominance program, Golden Dome, the role of DIU, and the Shield IDIQ. The team also discusses how these initiatives fit into the broader acquisition landscape and where real capability delivery can get lost in “acquisition theater.”
To close, the team does an update on the DHS shutdown, what it means for federal employees, and what a positive outcome might look like.
Our Podcast:
National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare.
Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo.
Listen on other platforms:
https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast
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This Episode: This week on Goat Rodeo, the crew kicks things off with a quick review of BattleLab Episode 2 before jumping into a geopolitics trifecta covering Iran, Greenland, and the expiration of New START and what it signals for global nuclear policy. From there, the conversation shifts to defense modernization, including the new Drone Dominance program, Golden Dome, the role of DIU, and the Shield IDIQ. The team also discusses how these initiatives fit into the broader acquisition landscape and where real capability delivery can get lost in “acquisition theater.” To close, the team does an update on the DHS shutdown, what it means for federal employees, and what a positive outcome might look like. Our Podcast: National security, defense tech, and geopolitics; serious topics, but that doesn’t mean we have to be boring about it. The Goat Rodeo Podcast brings you three military veterans turned defense insiders, breaking down the biggest stories shaping the future of warfare. Expect sharp insights, unfiltered debates, and the occasional defense industry hot take, because let’s be honest, this space can be a total goat rodeo. Listen on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/GoatRodeoPodcast