What does it actually take to protect the President of the United States?

In this episode of Byline with Ben Dennis, I sit down with Jeff James — a former Secret Service agent who spent more than two decades on protective detail — to discuss what it actually takes to protect the President of the United States.

From the day-to-day volume of threats, to protecting foreign leaders, to how intelligence informs national security decisions, Jeff shares insight into a role that is often misunderstood.

We also discuss how the U.S. tracks emerging threats — including weapons of mass destruction — and how decisions are made when information is incomplete or evolving.

Key topics:

-Life on a presidential protective detail

-Common misconceptions about the Secret Service

-How threats are identified and assessed

-Protecting visiting world leaders

-Intelligence and decision-making under pressure

-Challenges in preventing large-scale threats

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Before the public ever hears about a U.S. strike, decisions have already been made inside the Pentagon.

But the bigger question is: What happens next?

As tensions rise with Iran, most coverage focuses on what just occurred — missiles launched, statements issued, retaliation promised. Inside the Defense Department, though, officials are already assessing risk, modeling escalation, and preparing for what the next 24 to 72 hours could bring.

In this episode of Byline with Ben Dennis, I sit down with Todd Huntley to walk through what unfolds behind closed doors before a strike — and the critical decisions that follow immediately after.

We break down:

• How strike options are developed
• What intelligence and risk assessments shape military action
• How leaders prepare for potential escalation
• What signals policymakers watch in the hours after action
• And the key questions Americans should be asking right now

Because the real story isn’t just about what happened.
It’s about what that decision sets in motion.

If you want to understand not only today’s headline — but what may come next — this conversation helps you think ahead.

🎙️ Byline with Ben Dennis focuses on why stories matter — and what they may lead to next.

Subscribe for weekly conversations designed to make you smarter about what’s coming.

Who do you trust — and why?

Is trust built on facts?
On tone?
On whether someone reinforces what you already believe?

This week on Byline, I talk with Michael LaRosa, former press secretary to Dr. Jill Biden, about how trust is built, protected, and sometimes tested inside the White House.

We unpack how messaging decisions are made, how influence travels from Washington to everyday Americans, and what campaigns are really trying to measure when they speak.

Michael and I both grew up in rural Pennsylvania — which made for an honest conversation about how power in D.C. connects (or doesn’t) with people outside the Beltway.

No partisan decoder ring.
Just a deeper look at how communication works.

New episodes every week.

Politics feels louder. Angrier. More exhausting.

In this episode of Byline with Ben Dennis, I sit down with political communication expert Peter Loge to unpack why outrage motivates voters, why affordability dominates elections, and how leadership rhetoric can either calm a nation or escalate distrust.

We discuss:• Why anger drives political incentives• The racist AI depiction of the Obamas and leadership accountability• Immigration messaging and voter punishment• America’s global standing• And one simple strategy both parties should adopt before the midterms: fix stuff.

If politics feels broken, this conversation explains why — and what could change

⚠️ This is a featured segment from Monday’s full episode of Byline with Ben Dennis. For full context and the complete conversation, watch or listen to the entire interview.

In this excerpt, we examine the impact of racist political imagery — including depictions of former President Obama — and the broader question of leadership and responsibility in American politics.

Do presidents set the tone for how Americans treat one another?

We discuss:

• ​The ethical boundaries of political communication
• ​How racist imagery shapes public discourse
• ​Whether presidential rhetoric influences everyday behavior
• ​What accountability looks like in a polarized climate
• ​How Americans can engage more constructively — online and in person

This conversation focuses on facts, responsibility, and the real-world consequences of tone and leadership.

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#PoliticalCommunication #PresidentialLeadership #CivilDiscourse #RaceInAmerica #MediaEthics #BylineWithBenDennis

Is it AI? Is it legit?
Those are questions many of us ask while scrolling TikTok and Instagram—often after a video has already been shared thousands of times.

In this episode of Byline with Ben Dennis, I talk with Tracee Stanford of the News Literacy Project, who works with educators nationwide to help students learn what information can be trusted—and how to verify it for themselves.

We recorded this conversation during News Literacy Week, at a moment when AI-generated content is spreading faster and becoming harder to spot. Tracee draws on her background in local news and media literacy work in underserved communities to break down the real challenges students face online today.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How students are encountering misinformation

• Why media ethics still matter in an algorithm-driven world

• Practical ways educators and parents can help young people think critically about what they see online

Subscribe for free (yes, free) for new posts and episodes that question tomorrow’s headlines.

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode of Byline with Ben Dennis now.

Dive into the complexities of press freedom with Ben Dennis and legal expert Anna Diakun, an attorney with the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. Discover the challenges citizens and journalists face today, and the impact of social media algorithms on free speech.

The conversation covers a range of topics; delving into the First Amendment, the role of influencers, government accountability, and the challenges faced by journalists in the current media landscape.

#PressFreedom #Journalism #FreeSpeech

Join Ben Dennis for a conversation with Jesse Rodriguez, Vice President of Editorial and Booking at MS NOW, examining how news organizations are adapting to changes in how audiences consume information—and how editorial decisions shape what viewers ultimately see.

Rodriguez reflects on how his early newsroom experience in Miami informed his transition to network news, and how MS NOW is approaching coverage in a media environment increasingly influenced by digital platforms, social media, and algorithm-driven content. Ben and Jesse also discuss how audiences distinguish between traditional newscasts and more opinion-driven programming at a time when influencers and nontraditional sources often produce news-adjacent content.

The conversation explores what these shifts mean for journalism, audience trust, and the evolving relationship between national networks and local reporting.

Join Ben Dennis as he sits down with Jesse Rodriguez, Vice President of Editorial and Booking at MS NOW, to explore the evolving landscape of news media, the role of editorial decisions, and the impact of social media and AI on journalism. Discover how Jesse's initial newsroom experience in Miami inspired his approach to his first days in a network newsroom, how MS NOW is working to shape future news coverage and support local journalism. Ben also asks if networks like MS NOW can better discern which shows are largely editorial and which are more traditional newscasts in an age when non-traditional sources and influencers produce news adjacent content. Tune in for an insightful conversation that delves into the heart of media dynamics.

One U.S. Capitol Police Officer beaten during the January 6th riots recalls the moments a mob attacked him and his colleagues while protecting Congress. Five years later Winston Pingeon tells Ben how he looks toward a future without political violence, his journey finding peace and how he hopes people don't rewrite history.

Byline with Ben Dennis goes beyond the headlines to explore why they matter — and how they shape our lives. Journalist Ben Dennis talks with experts, community leaders, and everyday voices you might not hear elsewhere to ask the questions headlines leave behind. From politics and culture to stories shaping our neighborhoods, Byline makes sense of the world in a way that’s real, relatable, and eye-opening — no spin, no talking points, just honest conversations that make you think.