Fault Lines

Against the backdrop of the continued Russian invasion of Ukraine, Megan Stifel, NSI Visiting Fellow and Chief Strategy Officer at the Institute for Security and Technology, addresses the cyberattacks that have played a role in Russia’s efforts. How has Ukraine fended off the cyber attacks? Has collaboration between the U.S. and Ukraine been successful? We then pivot to last week’s news that the Department of Justice is ending the China Initiative. How frequent were the cases of false convictions and racial discrimination that drove the DoJ to end the initiative? Does ending the initiative change the work the DoJ is doing? Will the DoJ’s focus shift given the violence in Ukraine? These questions and more are addressed on this week’s episode of Fault Lines.Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Fault Lines, host Lester Munson discusses Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine with guests Scott Cullinane, Executive Director of the US-Europe Alliance, Martha Miller, former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, and Sarah Stewart, Executive Director of the Silverado Policy Accelerator.Our episode begins with an assessment of the situation in Ukraine, followed by a discussion on the response from the West to Russia's aggression, the sanctions placed by the Biden administration, and the implications the invasion could mean for European neighbors to Ukraine.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec.Note: This episode was recorded at 9:00am ET on February 25th, 2022. The National Security Institute acknowledges that the situation is rapidly changing and that some of the conversation held may no longer be accurate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Mario, Carmen, and Rob discuss the ever developing Russia-Ukraine crisis and China’s rocket debris that will be hitting the moon. Is President Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine because of legitimate strategic concerns, toxic masculinity or something else? Is NATO unified in their response to Russia? Why is it important to be aware of the amount of debris in space? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s no denying that China’s global standing has drastically changed - in their favor - in the past half century. How has Chinese diplomacy contributed to this change? Is the bullying that China attempts to use to achieve diplomatic goals effective in today’s world? Will China ever pivot away from their aggressive tactics and act with the degree of prestige expected of a global superpower?  This week’s episode of Fault Lines features a deep dive with Peter Martin, Defense Policy and Intelligence Reporter for Bloomberg Business, author of China’s Civilian Army: The Making of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy, and expert on all things Chinese diplomacy. Find Peter’s book here.Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Sarah, Scott, and Andy discuss the ongoing computer chip supply chain issues and North Korea’s launch of seven missiles last month. How are our European allies impacted by the ongoing computer chip crisis? Is Congress doing enough to alleviate the situation? What does it mean for North Korea to launch seven missiles in one month? How has the Biden administration handled the U.S. relationship with North Korea differently from the Trump Administration? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!   Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re joined by guest Anaise Kanimba, daughter of Paul Rusesabagina, the famed manager of a hotel in Rwanda where he protected hundreds of Rwandans – both Hutu and Tutsi – from the genocide that engulfed that country in 1994. How did Anaise’s father save lives in 1994? How has he dedicated his life to advocating for human rights? What is Anaise doing to now free her father from unfair imprisonment in Rwanda? These questions and more about Anaise and her father’s moving stories are addressed on this week’s episode of Fault Lines.Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe for more.Want to become more involved in the #FreeRusesabagina campaign? Get involved by visiting their website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Rob, Carmen, and Jamil discuss the massive underwater volcano eruption near Tonga and Russia’s dismantling of the hacker group known as REvil. They will also cast their predictions on whether or not Russia will invade Ukraine. Is the eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai a national security issue that Americans should care about? What does it mean for Russia to dismantle REvil? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!  Think a panelists got the right prediction or had the most persuasive argument on Russia’s actions with Ukraine? Be sure to send us a Tweet or e-mail us at [email protected]! Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI welcomes Morgan Viña and Lester Munson, two of NSI’s Fellows and co-authors on a recent NSI Paper, “Will the US Compete with China in Africa?”. What is China trying to accomplish in Africa? How do the Trump and Biden administration’s approaches to Africa differ, and what do they both have right – and wrong – in their Africa policy? Is there an opportunity for the U.S. to implement our foreign aid initiatives as a policy component? These questions and more are answered in this week’s episode of Fault Lines! Be sure to read Les and Morgan’s paper on our website here. If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to future episodes of Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Sarah, Megan, and Jamil discuss the presence of Russian troops in Kazakhstan and the developing relationship with Russia and China to counter the U.S. Does the current situation in Kazakhstan matter to the U.S.? Will Russia and China be able to set aside their different interests to collaborate? These questions and more answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI welcomes Fred Kagan, Senior Fellow and Director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, for a deep dive on the unfolding crisis on the Ukraine-Russia border as the potential of a Russian invasion increases. What makes the current buildup of Russian troops different than those of the past? What other actions is Putin likely to take in coming months? Are direct conversations between President Biden and Putin the most effective means to address the crisis? These questions and more are answered on this week’s episode of Fault Lines!  If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to future episodes of Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Fault Lines, Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI’s Founder and Executive Director, and Lauren Zabierek, NSI Visiting Fellow and Executive Director of the Cyber Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, take opposite sides in a debate on mandatory cyber-reporting. Is it needed? If put into place, will it be effective? How does this hot topic relate to the larger issue of cyber infrastructure in the U.S.? These questions and more are addressed in this special, debate episode of Fault Lines! Like what you heard here? In 2022, NSI will be launching a new debate-style podcast, featuring off-the-cuff takes on the biggest questions in national security. Tweet at us at @masonnatsec with your thoughts, including who you think the winner was, and be sure to subscribe to Fault Lines to be the first to know when the series launches! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tune into Fault Lines for a very special Festivus edition as some of Fault Line's favorite panelists return. Matthew F., Robert, Martha, Andrea, Jamil, Andy, Carmen, Matthew H., and Les will review the previous year and cast their predictions for 2022. What is the most important national security story of 2021? What is the biggest national security surprise of 2021? Theses questions and more answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Les, Sarah, Matthew, and Jamil will be discussing President Biden’s conversation with President Vladimir Putin’s regarding the build-up of Russian military on Ukraine’s border and the ongoing negotiations with Iran to revive the nuclear deal. Will the threat of tough sanctions deter President Putin from moving into Ukraine? Will the new nuclear deal be more favorable towards Iran? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!  Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI welcomes Captain Corey Ray, US Navy, Faculty and Former Chair of the Department of Strategy & Policy, National War College to discuss sports diplomacy. Will the Olympics diplomatic boycott be effective? What makes for an effective boycott? How are sports and politics directly intertwined? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!If you like what you hear, be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to future episodes of Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Carmen, Matthew, and Rob will be discussing President Vladimir Putin’s predatory behavior against Ukraine and the hypersonic missiles recently launched by China and Russia. Will there be a Russian invasion of Ukraine? Is this a vulnerable time for President Putin? What does it mean to the US now that both China and Russia have launched hypersonic missiles? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Fault Lines, Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI’s Founder and Executive Director, and Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and Executive Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, debate on a very timely topic – whether to deter an invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. must defend Ukraine. Jamil argues the proposition that yes, the U.S. must defend Ukraine in order to deter an invasion of Taiwan while Dmitri takes the opposite position.If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for more! NSI and the Silverado Policy Accelerator will be kicking off a new podcast series filled with timely, no holds barred debates just like this one. To get the latest updates about when you can expect this series to be released, or to contribute ideas about future episodes, make sure to subscribe to Fault Lines and follow or tweet at us on Twitter at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI welcomes retired U.S. Army Colonel Chris Kolenda for an in-depth discussion on his recently published book, "Zero-Sum Victory: What We're Getting Wrong About War", and the larger issue of how the U.S. military measures success. What is a zero-sum victory? How do we define sustainability of an insurgency? What are the flaws with how the U.S. military currently measures success?Chris concludes the podcast by describing his Fallen Hero Honor Ride, a bike ride spanning 1,700 miles to visit the gravesites of the six paratroopers from his unit who were killed in action in Afghanistan. Chris is fundraising to create scholarship endowments in the names of each of the six fallen soldiers; these scholarships will support education, trade, and developmental expenses for paratroopers, family members, and descendants of the unit (TF SABER and 1-91 CAV, 173rd Airborne) and veterans, as well as disadvantaged youth from the Milwaukee area.Click here for more on Chris’ project.If you would like to donate to Chris’ project, please visit its GoFundMe. Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Les, Sarah, Megan, and Jamil take a big risk in discussing the summit between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping before the summit actually began. What is going on inside of China as President Xi sets himself up for a third term in power? Should Biden adopt a no first use nuclear policy? How should we consider our relationship with China in regards to trade? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!  Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Gina Bennett, senior adviser at the National Counterterrorism Center, member of the CIA’s Senior Analytics Service, and author of the National Security Mom book series. What was it like being the first in the intelligence community to warn of Osama bin Laden? What is the role of gender in national security? How do national security efforts parallel our home lives? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Jamil, Carmen, and Rob tackle last week’s coup in Sudan which saw the military put the civilian prime minister under house arrest and the Russian government’s latest hacking of American companies. What does the coup mean for U.S. interests? How about for Russia and China, which have their own interests in the country? When it comes to the Russians, is it time for us to start some American offensive cyber operations? Is the Biden Administration’s cyber policy working? These questions and more are answered in this week’s episode of Fault Lines. Bonus topic: is Pyongyangization happening in China?Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review and rating! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Michael Krepon, author of recently published “Winning and Losing the Nuclear Peace: The Rise, Demise, and Revival of Arms Control”, for a discussion on his book and nuclear arms control with guest host David Lasseter, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. How can the U.S. ensure nuclear peace is maintained globally? How should the nuclear capabilities of North Korea and China be addressed? What role do domestic politics play in nuclear policy? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines!Purchase Michael’s book, “Winning and Losing the Nuclear Peace: The Rise, Demise, and Revival of Arms Control”, here or wherever you prefer to get your books. Like what we’re doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Jamil, Sarah, and Matthew break down tensions brewing over Taiwan and the looming supply chain crisis. Will tensions over Taiwan ever go away? Would – and should – the United States come to Taiwan’s aid in the event of aggressions by China? What’s actually going on with the supply chain crisis the United States is seeing unfold? These questions and more are answered in this week’s episode of Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Jamil N. Jaffer, the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute, as we reflect on the past four years of NSI. How did NSI begin? What can work in the non-partisan realm teach us? Where will the efforts of the National Security Institute be in the next four years? These questions and more are answered on this week’s episode of Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special 100th episode of Fault Lines, Jamil Jaffer, Carmen Medina, Lester Munson and Sarah Stewart look forward to what the future of national security may hold. What type of challenges will China pose to the United States? Should the U.S. come to Taiwan’s aid if China were to invade? Is political polarization the biggest challenge policymakers will face in the next five years? These questions and more are answered on Fault Lines’ 100th episode! Our panelists reference The Age of America First: Washington’s Flawed New Foreign Policy Consensus in their discussion. Read it here.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Dr. Christopher Ford, author of the recent NSI paper "Principled Conservatism in America’s Foreign Affairs and National Security Policy", and former U.S. Rep. Jane Harman, Distinguished Fellow and President Emerita at the Wilson Center, and author of the book, "Insanity Defense: Why Our Failure to Confront Hard National Security Problems Makes Us Less Safe," to discuss the intersection between different views of national security. How do we get Americans back to a point of embracing free trade? What is the best function of multilateral institutions? What could a bipartisan national security policy look like? These questions and more are covered in this week’s episode of Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec.Next week is our 100th episode of Fault Lines! Keep an eye on social media and our website for some fun ways to engage with our podcast team before we record the extra special episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Jamil, Sarah, and Matthew turn their focus on Biden's China policy. How is President Biden faring so far? Are China’s environmental sins becoming leverage for relief on other issues, including the crackdowns in Xinjiang and Hong Kong? What should we make of the AUKUS pact and China's reaction? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Congressman Seth Moulton, U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, to recount his recent trip to Afghanistan and the growing concerns around Afghan refugees. What should Congress be doing about Afghanistan? How can we, as individuals, help with rescue efforts? Should we be concerned about terror groups using Afghanistan as a launch site? These questions and more are covered in this week’s episode of Fault Lines. If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are entering the third week after the Taliban took Kabul, and Loren, Jamil, Rob, and Les discuss implications of the withdrawal. What lessons have we learned in the last three weeks? Twenty years on, what lessons and reflections do we have of 9/11? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Ryan Browne, former CNN correspondent at the Pentagon, to continue NSI’s discussion on Afghanistan. What does the future hold for individuals on the ground in Afghanistan following the withdrawal? Will we continue to see efforts from “Digital Dunkirk”-style groups? What kind of internal struggles may the Taliban experience as they begin attempting to function as a government? These questions and more are covered in this week’s episode of Fault Lines. If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec.Note: This episode was recorded at 1:00pm ET on August 30th, 2021. The National Security Institute acknowledges that the situation is rapidly changing and that some of the conversation held may no longer be accurate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All eyes are on Afghanistan, and Les, Jamil, Mike, and special guest Ryan Browne discuss the events that have unfolded in the last week on the ground. Has enough been done to get Americans and our allies out of a war zone? Should we extend our presence past August 31st? How well did the Biden administration handle the withdrawal? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec.Note: This episode was recorded at 1:00pm ET on August 23rd, 2021. The National Security Institute acknowledges that the situation is rapidly changing and that some of the conversation held may no longer be accurate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Caleb McCarry, former Cuba Transition Coordinator during the Bush administration, a senior official at the Development Finance Corporation in the Trump administration, and a Senior Adviser to both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. What does it mean for U.S. interests when there is such turmoil in Haiti? What, if anything, should the U.S. be doing differently as a neighbor to Haiti? How has the Biden administration responded to the ongoing protests in Cuba? Host Lester Munson and Caleb McCarry answer questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special episode of Fault Lines, host Jamil N. Jaffer discusses the national security implications of the fall of Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban with Jennifer Cafarella, NSI Visiting Fellow and Research Director at the Institute for the Study of War; Matthew Heiman, NSI Senior Fellow and Director of Strategy and Chairman, Cyber & Privacy Working Group at the Regulatory Transparency Project; and Mike Nelson, NSI Visiting Fellow and Professor of Military Science at George Mason University, and former Deputy Director of the Commander’s Action Group at United States Central Command for General Joseph Votel.Our episode begins with a brief summary of the situation in Afghanistan, followed by analysis of the Biden administration's actions thus far, the counterterrorism perspective, and what Taliban rule may mean for U.S. national security. If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec.Note: This episode was recorded at 3:30pm ET on August 17th, 2021. The National Security Institute acknowledges that the situation is rapidly changing and that some of the conversation held may no longer be accurate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Olympics came to a close this past week, and all eyes are on Beijing in 2022. Loren, Jamil, Rob, and Les discuss the political highlights of the Tokyo games and what it would take for the U.S. to take a stand in 2022. What lessons have we learned in Tokyo? Should we be linking international sporting events like the Olympics to global politics? Has Russia skirted their ban by being able to have their athletes participate under the name “Russian Olympic Committee”? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Dr. Christopher Ford, NSI Advisory Board member and Former Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation. Dr. Ford recently wrote a paper for NSI titled Principled Conservatism in America’s Foreign Affairs and National Security Policy. What are the core tenets of principled conservatism in national security and foreign policy? What does a principled conservative approach to China look like? Dr. Ford and host Jamil Jaffer answer these questions and more on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Dr. Ford’s full paper can be found here.If you like what we're doing, be sure to like, rate, and subscribe to Fault Lines. If you have ideas for future episodes, be sure to email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @MasonNatSec. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cuba is currently experiencing its largest anti-government demonstrations since 1994, fueled by disdain for the authoritarian government, widespread poverty, and mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Les, Mike, Grant, and first time guests Fred Turner, former Chief of Staff to Bob Menendez, and Carrie Filipetti, Executive Director of the Vandenberg Coalition, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cuba and Venezuela, and the Deputy Special Representative for Venezuela at the U.S. State Department, discuss protests and unrest in Cuba and the most recent string of cyberattacks. Is the Biden Administration doing enough to show support for Cuba? How can social media be used creatively against authoritarian regimes? What impact could the Microsoft Exchange hack have on U.S.-China relations? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Dmitri Alperovitch, NSI Advisory Board member, Executive Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, and Co-Founder of CrowdStrike.  How should America respond to Chinese aggression in cyberspace? Does cyber insurance exacerbate cyber ransomware attacks? What should we be worried about next?  Dmitri and host Lester Munson, answer these questions and many more on this week’s episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Haiti is thrown into chaos after an assassination, John Kerry is in Russia talking about the Climate, and the Afghanistan withdrawal is going more rapidly than anyone anticipated. Les, Rob, Jamil, Grant and returning guest Amira Valliani discuss how the United States should approach each these precarious situations. How should America think about stabilization efforts in Haiti? Is Climate Change national security? Has the train and equip mission in Afghanistan failed? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Dan Currell, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Deputy Under Secretary and Senior Advisor at the Department of Education. Dan recently wrote a backgrounder for NSI titled China’s Influence in U.S. Higher Education as well as a number of opinion pieces for NSI’s blog The SCIF. How is China censoring speech in the United States? How big is China's influence in U.S. Higher Education? What even is a Confucius Institute?   Dan and host Lester Munson, answer these questions and many more on this week’s episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran "elected" a hardliner President and the United States bombed Iran backed militias in Iraq and Syria. Les, Mike, Jodi, and first time guest Martha Miller, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush discuss how these events will impact the larger effort to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons and how President Biden has done in democracy promotion around the world. Does the President of Iran really matter? What is the best strategy to bring Iran to the negotiating table? Can President Biden stand up for democracy in Europe, Central America, and Hong Kong? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Zach Graves, NSI Visiting Fellow, Head of Policy at the Lincoln Network, and author of the latest NSI Law and Policy Paper Understanding the Techlash: Implications for U.S. Innovation Policy.  What is the Techlash? What should we make of the recent bills introduced on these issues? What does Section 230 have to do with any of this?  Zach and host Les Munson, answer these questions and many more on this week’s episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden travels to Europe on his first foreign trip as President, but, before he left, he released a memo raising corruption to a national security concern.  Les, Jamil, Loren, and Rob discuss what we can expect Biden will take away from european adventure and what a corruption focused foreign policy looks like.  Can Biden get Europe to live up to their NATO commitments? What can be done about Russia? Is the fight against corruption just a talking point? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr to discuss the national security work the FCC is doing.  What is the FCC's role in pushing back against the threat posed by China? What is the FCC doing on O-Ran? How will competition with China impact technology policy in the next five years?  Commissioner Carr and guest host Megan Brown, answer these questions and many more on this week’s episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belarus forced a RyanAir flight to land in Minsk in order to take opposition journalist Roman Protasevich into custody. Les, Jodi, Mike, and first time guest Scott Cullinane, NSI Visiting Fellow and Executive Director of the US-Europe Alliance, discuss how the United States should respond to Belarus and the next steps in the fight against COVID-19. Are sanctions enough to get Belarusian President Lukashenko to back down? How connected are Russia and Belarus? What can the United States to do finish the fight against COVID-19? All these questions and more answered on this week's Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Sada Cumber, NSI Advisory Board Member first-ever Special Envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. What role does soft power play in the Middle East? What can America do to protect Muslims in Myanmar and China? Why are Saudi Arabia and Iran meeting secretly? Sada and Fault Lines Host Les Munson, answer these questions and many more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The violence in Israel continues unabated. Fault Lines welcomes Simone Ledeen, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, and Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, to discuss the causes of this latest flare up, how other actors in the region are responding, and what role of the United States should play with Fault Lines Host Les Munson. Following those interviews, Grant moderates a conversation with Simone, Les, and returning guest Rob Walker about the Northern Triangle, corruption, and foreign aid. Should aid be tied to good governance? How can policymakers work towards long-term goals in the region? What role should limiting the drug trade play in the discussion? All these questions and more answered on this week’s Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Ambassador Cindy Courville, first Ambassador to the African Union, for a conversation about some key issues happening on the continent. How should policymakers frame their thinking about African Affairs? How should America be involved in Northern Mozambique? What role should America play in preventing human rights atrocities in Ethiopia? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Armenian Remembrance Day, President Biden acknowledged the genocide of Armenians at the hands of Ottoman authorities beginning in 1915.  Jodi, Jamil, Les, Grant, and first time guest Max Hoffman, Director of National Security and International Policy at the Center for American Progress, discuss the impact of this acknowledgement on U.S.-Turkish relations and the ten year anniversary of the beginning of the conflicts in Syria and Libya. Are U.S.-Turkish relations broken beyond repair? Is Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's hold on power stable? After ten years, what is the path forward in Syria and Libya? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines.In this week's under the radar segment, Grant talks about the potential for a Global Minimum Tax, Les focuses on China's space program, Jodi highlights the mice swarming in Australia, Max discusses Turkey and energy politics, and Jamil honors the memory of NSI Visiting Fellow Courtney Hall. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Dr. Lenora Gant, NSI Advisory Board member and Distinguished Fellow and former Senior National Intelligence Officer within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. How does a diverse workforce increase America’s national security? What role do historically black colleges and universities play in preparing the next generation of national security leaders? What can be done at a personal level to make an impact? Lenora and Fault Lines Host Les Munson, answer these questions and many more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden announced increased sanctions on Russia for their involvement in the SolarWinds hack and a withdrawal date for American troops in Afghanistan. Les, Loren, Jamil, and returning guest Rob Walker discuss whether the Biden administration is pushing back hard enough against Russia and leaving Afghanistan too soon. Will sanctions change Putin’s calculus? Does President Biden owe former President Trump an apology? Is Afghanistan going to become a haven for terrorists after America leaves? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines welcomes Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of the book Isolationism: A History of America's Efforts to Shield Itself from the World.  What are the driving factors of American Isolationism throughout history? What lessons should President Biden learn from previous presidents? What is American Exceptionalism? Dr. Kupchan and host Les, answer these questions and many more on this week’s episode of Fault Lines! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.