Common Ground

We’re taking a short break through October 2025 to prepare for an exciting next chapter of Common Ground . We’ll return in late October with fresh topics, expert guests, and possibly a new voice behind the mic. In the meantime, catch up on past episodes and stay subscribed so you don’t miss a beat. Thanks for being part of the Common Ground community — we’ll see you soon. This is a public episode....

Deepfakes aren’t just a future threat — they’re a current crisis. In this episode of Common Ground , Shane, Amandalynne, and Logan unpack how deepfakes are weaponized by foreign adversaries and scammers alike, from multimillion-dollar fraud to political disinformation. Whether it's voice cloning or AI-generated faces, the tools of deception are now cheap, fast, and frighteningly effective. “You us...

A DIA employee assigned to the Insider Threat Division was just arrested for… espionage. You read that right. In this episode, we dig into how a cleared intelligence officer became a traitor, what it says about our national security posture, and why ideological drift and psychological burnout may be creating a perfect storm for more insider threats. We revisit the lessons from our “Pink Slips and...

Hosts: Shane McNeil, Amandalynne Davis, Logan Topic: The Foreign Adversary Communications Transparency (FACT) Act Key Points: - What the FACT Act actually does—and why it matters. - The growing role of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in U.S. communications infrastructure. - Real-world cases of foreign propaganda being consumed unknowingly by U.S. personnel. - Psychological insight on generati...

Trust in American media is collapsing. In this episode of Common Ground , Shane, Amandalynne, and Logan unpack why only 31% of Americans trust the media—and why that number drops to just 8% among Republicans. But this isn’t just about partisan media bias or bad headlines. It’s about how the 24-hour news cycle turned information into entertainment, how foreign adversaries like Russia exploit our fr...

Planning a trip this summer? Before you grab your passport, listen to this episode of Common Ground where Logan, Shane, and Amandalynne break down what national security professionals know (that you probably don’t) about traveling smart in the digital age. From VPNs and travel routers to the safest way to use your credit card abroad, we’ll show you how to protect your data, devices, and digital fo...

In today’s digital world, your scroll isn’t just entertainment—it’s a battlefield. In this episode of Common Ground , we examine how China and Russia are leveraging social media and digital technology to manipulate perception, amplify division, and undermine American national security from the inside out. From coordinated disinformation campaigns and deepfakes to hijacked narratives and weaponized...

In this episode of Common Ground , we’re diving into a serious national security concern : the theft of American intellectual property and research by foreign adversaries. From advanced technology to cutting-edge academic discoveries, the Chinese Communist Party has been actively targeting U.S. universities and research labs to steal valuable intellectual property. Shane, Amandalynne, and Logan br...

In this special episode of Common Ground , Shane, Amandalynne, and Logan dive into the counterintelligence concerns surrounding the massive federal layoffs mandated by the current administration. With thousands of federal employees being let go across agencies, including the IRS, VA, and NASA, the hosts explore how these layoffs are creating a vulnerable pool of former employees—many of whom have...

TikTok isn’t just another social media app—it’s a national security threat, a psychological manipulation tool, and a digital addiction machine wrapped in one highly curated, highly addictive package. In this episode of Common Ground , Shane, Amandalynne, and Logan break down why both the left and the right should be able to agree that TikTok is a serious problem, even if they see the risks from di...

Episode Notes – Common Ground Teaser Episode Title: Welcome to Common Ground: Why This Podcast Matters Description: Welcome to Common Ground , the podcast where we push past political divides to focus on what truly matters—protecting America from foreign threats. In this teaser episode, hosts Shane McNeil and Amandalynne Davis introduce the podcast, discuss why national security is a unifying issu...