Fault Lines

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Jess interview Vibhav Altekar Co-Founder and Vice President of Software at Saronic Technologies, a defense technology company dedicated to advancing naval warfare through cutting-edge technological solutions. How has the geopolitical atmosphere changed the maritime domain? What are the reasons for the recent influx of investment into the defense sector? What are the opportunities for defense technologies moving forward?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Stay tuned for more of the Fault Lines crew and our special episodes recorded live at RNDF! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter:@morganlroach@NotTVJessJonesA Special Thanks to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & institute!Follow them: @ReaganInstituteRead the 2024 Reagan National Defense Survey Here: https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/ Like what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6Ulz4AXgJes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded after the Reagan National Defense Forum, Martha and Les interview Amb. Robert O’Brien, the co-founder and chairman of American Global Strategies and a former National Security Advisor for the Trump Administration. Before becoming National Security Advisor, he was appointed special envoy for Hostage affairs.What is President Trump’s “peace through strength” approach? Should America be concerned about the instability of our allies and partners? With more NATO members meeting their spending requirements, do you see a shift in how Trump interacts with NATO? How should the US prioritize its strategy to disrupt the growing Axis of Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Stay tuned for more of the Fault Lines crew and our special episodes recorded live at RNDF! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter:@marthamillerdc@lestermunson@robertcobrienRead Amb. O’Brien’s Foreign Affairs Article Here: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-peace-strength-trump-obrien A Special Thanks to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & institute!Follow them: @ReaganInstituteRead the 2024 Reagan National Defense Survey Here: https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/ Like what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/pdwySlM0TdU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Martha interview Representative Jim Himes (D-CT-4) who serves as Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services. Prior to serving in Congress, Himes ran the New York City branch of The Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing urban poverty challenges. Himes holds a Master of Philosophy in Latin American Studies from the University of Oxford, which he obtained after he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. He also received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.How has U.S. global leadership changed throughout the past three presidential administrations? How does the United States’ position in key global partnerships change in the near future? How should the incoming Trump Administration balance and prioritize intelligence tasking needs in the era of competing threats?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF on The Future of U.S. Global Leadership this week on Fault Lines! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter:@morganlroach@marthamillerdc@jahimesLike what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/4E44k41LkJ8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Les interview Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the Defense Modernization Caucus to discuss opportunities for strengthening national security through emergent technologies. What spurred the creation of the Defense Modernization Caucus? Are we going fast enough in our defense modernization? What can the incoming administration do to make the most impact on our defense modernization?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF on The Future of U.S. Global Leadership this week on Fault Lines! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow today’s experts on Twitter:@morganlroach@lestermunson@SenKevinCramerLike what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/K1UC5ZsutWQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and Les interview Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-02) who serves as Chairman of the House Select Committee on China. In his role as Chairman, he leads the Committee’s work addressing strategic competition between the U.S. and China, including tackling issues such as China’s trade practices and intellectual property theft, human rights abuses, and other national security concerns.What are the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. defense industrial base? Is the U.S. making appropriate investments in emerging technologies and adopting them quickly enough? Does the American public understand the urgency of the threat of China?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Stay tuned for more of the Fault Lines crew and our special episodes recorded live at RNDF! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter:@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/omO5IziMKJM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss the short-lived attempt by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law on South Korea. Yoon ordered martial law Tuesday evening without warning in a speech where he vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces. Mass protests quickly formed outside South Korea’s National Assembly where members voted to block martial law. Yoon’s Cabinet then lifted the martial law and opposition parties have put forward an impeachment motion against Yoon, with a vote expected to occur later this week.What does this attempt mean for democracy and democratic norms globally?  Why did President Yoon try to implement martial law? Why was the U.S. caught off guard?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn38321180et https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-martial-law-north-korea-emergency-b310df4fece42c27051f58b8951f346f https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/03/world/south-korea-martial-law?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20241203&instance_id=141182&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=85184605&segment_id=184702&user_id=656d1e51a8895843517d206c45ff8da5 https://www.ft.com/content/a13a7978-6fbe-4f44-9c78-1fc066d8a88b https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-yoon-martial-law-25a2a7c957e77a19f771b6b7c56a2173 https://apnews.com/article/korea-martial-law-yoon-president-9adbff7c7df6a2fa22b1fbf955a495fa https://apnews.com/video/south-korea-yoon-suk-yeol-protests-and-demonstrations-north-korea-government-01e70dab69524a3d97854c0c5e196e79 Follow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@lestermunson@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/zCN4clfwRIA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Martha, Morgan, and Jeffrey discuss the recent fall of the Syrian city of Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, to Al-Qaeda-linked rebel forces, reawakening the long-dormant civil war that began during the Arab Spring in 2011. Syrian and allied Russian forces have responded by launching a series of airstrikes on Aleppo and Idlib, where the rebel forces have been based. Who exactly are the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)?  Is this development in Syria good for the United States and our allies? Why is this happening now?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/syria-hts-assad-aleppo-fighting-2be43ee530b7932b123a0f26b158ac22 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce313jn453zo https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/russia-syrian-regime-strike-rebel-held-territory-as-anti-assad-forces-advance-ed84d6aehttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/01/syria-rebels-assad-aleppo-russia-iran/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/world/middleeast/syria-rebels-bashar-al-assad.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb&ngrp=mnp&pvid=EF641E37-7C9E-49F2-9147-F47D2A13030B Follow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@lestermunson@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/FpZLI9d6ArU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, Amy, and Matt discuss Salt Typhoon, a hacking group closely linked to China’s Ministry of State Security, that infiltrated U.S. telecommunications networks as part of a sophisticated cyber-espionage campaign. On Friday, telecom executives were summoned to the White House where U.S. national security and intel officials told industry leaders they needed to help prevent Chinese agents from accessing their networks.What was the scope of China’s most recent cyber campaign?  What has been the Biden Administration’s approach to Chinese hacking operations and what might be incoming President Trump’s strategy? How should the U.S. respond to adversarial states and groups like Salt Typhoon?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion! https://cyberscoop.com/china-apt-eset-target-typhoon-mirrorface/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/library-congress-email-system-hacked-earlier-year-foreign-adversary.amphttps://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/11/23/politics/chinese-cyber-espionage-telecom-execs https://cybermagazine.com/articles/examining-the-worst-telco-cyber-attack-in-us-history https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/us/politics/chinese-hack-telecom-white-house.htmlFollow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@amykmitchell@NotTVJessJones@WMattHaydenLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ZdOI7S99kt8?feature=shared Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Martha, Jeffrey, and first-time guest, Algene Sajery, discuss the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and deceased Hamas terrorist Mohammed Deif for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The decision by the ICC to issue these warrants has divided the international community drawing condemnation from the Israeli government for the ICC's anti-semitism and the United States questioning the ICC’s jurisdiction over Israel which is not party to the ICC.How do these charges impact Israel’s diplomatic isolation? Do these warrants diminish the ICC’s reputation further? How will the incoming Trump administration respond to the ICC?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/icc-issues-arrest-warrants-israels-netanyahu-gallant-hamas-leader-2024-11-21/https://apnews.com/article/icc-israel-hamas-warrants-netanyahu-palestinian-arrest-73c854d072e0a1a41b19b2cb2cdd07fa https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-arrest-warrant-international-criminal-court-war-crimes-8668a2683972297c5a22ea30164a1445https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11/21/world/israel-netanyahu-hamas-gaza https://www.foxnews.com/world/icc-rejects-israel-appeals-issues-arrest-warrants-benjamin-netanyahu-yoav-gallant https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-gaza-netanyahu-11-2024-intl/index.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@marthamillerdc@AlgeneSajeryLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/v5zxOK0HKRs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Jess, Andy, and Jeffrey discuss the sentencing of 45 pro-democracy activists to four to ten-year prison sentences by the Hong Kong government under the Beijing-induced national security law. This is the largest usage of the law since it was enacted in 2020 to suppress a once-thriving pro-democracy movement. This sentencing comes amidst a three-day Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit hosted in Hong Kong where Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng touted Hong Kong as an international finance hub. Are these sentences and the national security law a blueprint for Taiwan if they were to be forcibly reunified with China? What should the United States do in light of these sentences? How can world leaders balance between financial incentives and protecting human rights?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/hong-kong-activists-sentencing-unofficial-primary-1ed13be76fa4918d83f7d3e498f2f543 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/hong-kong-47-democracy-activists-sentenced-national-security-rcna180290 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3287105/beijings-economic-tsar-set-speak-top-hong-kong-finance-summit Follow our experts on Twitter: @NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc@AndyKeiserLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here:  https://youtu.be/4fgQ1NKWmrc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Matt, Jeffrey, and first-time guest, Marc Raimondi, discuss President Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia. This comes amidst Russia reinforcing its forces with thousands of North Korean troops with the goal of reclaiming territory lost to Ukraine’s Kursk offensive. How have the redlines by the Biden Administration impacted the war in Ukraine? How should Ukraine leverage this new capability? What does this decision mean for the incoming Trump Administration?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/biden-ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-52d424158182de2044ecc8bfcf011f9c https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/us/politics/biden-ukraine-russia-atacms-missiles.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-long-range-weapons-russia-united-states-biden/33205585.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/world/europe/trump-ukraine-russia-peace.html https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine-russia-war-zelenskyy-diplomacy-trump/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @NotTVJessJones@WMattHayden@WashingtonFlackLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/-ajFxeCc9Zk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, Martha, and Matt discuss this week’s COP29, an annual climate summit where world leaders, policymakers, business executives, and others meet to discuss global emissions reduction goals, and how to finance climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, especially in the developing world. This year’s summit was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, and notable heads of state not in attendance included those from the U.S., France, Russia, India, and China among others.What’s in store for the future of COP? How does U.S. domestic attitudes impact the future of addressing climate challenges? Should we worry about China’s green diplomacy efforts?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2lknel1xpohttps://www.euronews.com/green/2024/11/08/a-total-waste-of-time-the-world-leaders-shunning-cop29-over-political-spats-and-lost-confi https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/climate/cop29-baku-azerbaijan.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/climate/trump-climate-cop-negotiations.htmlhttps://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/11/trump-cop-china-climate/680611/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @marthamillerdc@morganlroach@NotTVJessJones@WMattHaydenLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/kB4aC9Kh-Kc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Martha, Morgan, and Jess discuss president-elect Donald Trump’s picks for national security and foreign policy positions in the coming administration. The least surprising of which have been Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) being floated as a strong contender for Secretary of State, Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL-6) being announced as Trump’s National Security Advisor, and Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) being announced as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. However, in a surprise pick, Pete Hegseth, a Veteran and Fox News Weekend commentator has been announced as Secretary of Defense sending shockwaves throughout the beltway. How will president-elect Trump’s cabinet picks impact his foreign policy? How do our adversaries and allies view these picks? Will these picks impact the War in Ukraine?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.politico.com/interactives/2024/trump-cabinet-picks-2025-tracker/ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/12/trump-transition-personnel-announcements-takeaway-00188936 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trumps-picks-so-far-heres-who-advising-new-president https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-cabinet-whos-been-picked-whos-running-2024-11-12/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4985802-trump-cabinet-nominees-second-term/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @marthamillerdc@morganlroach@lestermunson@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/EBsxyK8orjs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Morgan, Bishop, and Jeffrey discuss the collapse of Germany’s ruling coalition, the Traffic Light coalition, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party, fired Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the Free Democratic Party over disagreements in economic policy causing them to withdraw. This has led Germany to have a minority government with Chancellor Scholz saying he would hold a vote of confidence in January, which could pave the way for new elections as early as March.What impacts does President-Elect Trump's return and his economic policies have on German politics? With economic recession and now political instability in Germany, will we see a further rise of the Far-Right? What are the broader implications for the U.S.?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/german-government-crisis-leaves-europe-headless-ahead-of-trumps-return-80cfbfc2 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/world/europe/germany-coalition-collapse-explained.html https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/11/07/how-the-german-governments-collapse-impacts-the-eu https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-governing-coalition-collapses/live-70692143 https://www.politico.eu/europe-poll-of-polls/germany/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @marthamillerdc@morganlroach@BishopGarrisonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Km07LmbHn-4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Martha, Les, and Amy discuss the results of the 2024 presidential election and its implications for U.S. national security. Early Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump became President-elect of the United States winning over 270 electoral votes. Alongside winning the presidency, the Republican party won a majority in the Senate and the House is still too close to call.Did foreign policy failures during the Biden administration contribute to the former President’s re-election? How will our adversaries and allies react to a second Trump administration? Where will the focus of the second Trump administration be in foreign policy?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://foreignpolicy.com/projects/2024-us-president-election-live-updates-harris-trump/ https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/06/opinion/donald-trump-2024-election.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb&ngrp=mnp&pvid=A9E8BB32-1699-438A-BD40-F936DFE4E2CF https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-vs-harris-us-voters-head-polls-turbulent-campaign-concludes-2024-11-05/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@morganlroach@amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/SiH-B0ItRmo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Les, Jess, and Jeffrey dive into the issue of election interference by malign actors on the eve of the 2024 Presidential election. Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, recently assured voters that “election infrastructure has never been more secure.” Yet, U.S. officials have flagged two fake videos circulating online and publicly identified by the FBI as part of a Russia-backed malign influence campaign aimed at sowing doubt about election security.What are the implications of increasing attempts by foreign malign actors attempting to influence our elections? Are we effectively countering these attempts at influencing or undermining our electoral system?  And perhaps most importantly, is the CISA’s message of a secure election reaching the American people?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/2-more-russian-disinformation-videos-targeting-u-s-election-circulating-online/ https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4967613-fbi-condemns-fake-election-security-videos/amp/ https://apnews.com/article/fbi-russia-georgia-fraud-disinformation-eebea4ab200682ccd3e97fb9f164e6ca https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-01/the-us-cyber-chief-trying-to-get-americans-to-trust-the-election?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTczMDY3NTAzNSwiZXhwIjoxNzMxMjc5ODM1LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTTTlOU1FEV1JHRzAwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiI1NjZENkIwRkY1NzQ0Qjk4QjI4QTM2QjkyOTg5QjgyRSJ9.8lvkesmpjuUKfsm5kmjL4I0a9yXcLMA--MSSK1PNU2Q https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-11-01/us-election-security-officials-brace-to-protect-ballots-peopleFollow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/4yBl8CA7xik Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Martha, Morgan, and Jeffrey discuss recent Chinese diplomatic maneuvering.  Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resolve a long-standing border dispute that has led to violent clashes and it set to meet with new Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba before Ishiba meets with the U.S. President. Alongside these meetings, China has lodged its increasing discontent with the growing partnership between North Korea and Russia. What do these diplomatic maneuvers mean, and are they a break from the norm? How does the United States’ presidential election impact the framing of these moves?  Is there a potential wedge between Russia and China?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/world/asia/modi-xi-putin-brics.html https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/10/131421bdb5e4-urgent-japan-pm-ishiba-arranging-1st-summit-with-chinas-xi-in-nov.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/us/politics/russia-north-korea-troops-china.html https://apnews.com/article/india-china-ladakh-pact-modi-xi-border-dispute-3c071f1a9bedfe453547027a84ebcf9b https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/India-China-complete-Himalayan-troop-pullback-New-Delhi-says https://www.voanews.com/a/china-calls-for-stable-japan-relations-after-ishiba-election-victory/7802773.html https://www.brookings.edu/articles/has-india-made-friends-with-china-after-the-modi-xi-agreement/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/nELaxxTDV2c Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, Bishop, and Jeffrey discuss Georgia’s recent parliamentary election that saw the pro-Russian ruling party Georgian Dream come out on top and keep its majority. However, Georgia’s pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili stated that she did not recognize the results of the election, that the country fell victim to a “Russian special operation,” and protests have seized Tbilsi, the capital.  A partial recount was announced yesterday.What do we make of allegations of Russian interference in Georgia’s election? What does this election and Georgia’s bid for EU membership signify for geopolitics?  What can Western countries do in response to this election?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/georgia-russia-election-european-union-8f040cb30e1d9c9e778383cbcbb7b2c1 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/georgia-conducts-partial-vote-recount-after-reports-polling-irregularities-2024-10-29/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/world/europe/republic-of-georgia-election.html https://www.politico.eu/article/georgia-polling-election-showdown-dream-party-votes-europe-candidates/ https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/10/28/georgia-election-results-georgian-dream-dispute-eu-russia-protests/ https://www.rferl.org/amp/georgia-election-protests-russia-eu/33176435.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @NotTVJessJones@morganlroach@BishopGarrisonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ZzvEpJJRMzY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran in response to Iran's October 1st launch of over 200 ballistic missiles targeting Israel. The targets of Israel’s retaliatory strike included Russian-supplied air defenses and military infrastructure, including a secretive military base that has been linked to Tehran’s nuclear weapons program and another base tied to its ballistic missile program.Did the Biden Administration exert any influence on Israeli targeting decisions? What does the restrained messaging from both sides in the aftermath mean? Will these strikes make Iran more dependent on its weakening proxies?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attack-satellite-photos-gaza-lebanon-wars-0c6ee6a8544268612cb7d49727d8449dhttps://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-on-iran-expose-gap-in-prowess-between-two-arch-foes-aded7cf8?st=cZQewc&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-security-council-expected-meet-monday-over-israels-strike-iran-diplomats-say-2024-10-27/ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/satellite-photos-show-israel-hit-iran-missile-fuel-mixing-facilities-researchers-2024-10-26/ https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-war-attack-retaliation-analysis-80a619146abd4f8aee2a7776a8f134d1 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/9YiRhMP1mZA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Martha, Jeffrey, and Andy discuss reports that there’s evidence North Korea has dispatched 3,000 troops to Russia in a potential escalation of the nearly 3-year-old war with Ukraine. They also discuss a Wall Street Journal exclusive report that Russia through its intermediary Iran gave targeting information to Houthi rebels in Yemen who have been targeting and disrupting commercial shipping in transit in the Red Sea. Is the presence of North Korean troops in Russia an indicator of things going well for Russia? Is the Biden Administration handling the global situation well? Does the international rules-based order lack strong leadership?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/24/putin-russia-north-korea-troops/ https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-provided-targeting-data-for-houthi-assault-on-global-shipping-eabc2c2b?mod=hp_lead_pos1 https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-north-korea-war-735ab717dcf92a718adcb68bfbddc653 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@AndyKeiserLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/xf_LuHyrGio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Martha, Jess, and Les discuss the ongoing 16th annual BRICS summit hosted in Kazan, Russia. The three-day summit welcomes its newest members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates as well as the UN Secretary-General. The Kremlin touted the summit as “the largest foreign policy event ever held” by Russia.How concerned should the United States and our allies and partners be about BRICS’ influence? What is the incentive for countries to join BRICS? Do these countries, as well as the UN Secretary-General, attending the BRICS summit give Russian President Vladimir Putin legitimacy?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/xi-modi-discuss-ukraine-war-with-putin-brics-considers-expansion-2024-10-23/ https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-brics-summit-china-india-d672be9b1ec2ffd0fba608e8a6aca790 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/21/world/europe/russia-china-brics.html https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/22/russias-brics-summit-whats-on-the-agenda-and-why-does-it-matter https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/21/europe/putin-russia-iran-china-brics-hnk-intl/index.html https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3ylwg4eqo https://www.economist.com/international/2024/10/20/putins-plan-to-defeat-the-dollar Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc @NotTVJessJones@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6jHUtX8QYWs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, Amy, and Jeffrey discuss two pivotal elections that took place Sunday in Moldova. The first was the Presidential election, where current pro-western President Maia Sandu won the first round but did not win an outright majority, setting the stage for a run-off election with a pro-Russian candidate. The second vote was on a referendum enshrining EU accession into the Moldovan constitution, which passed by a razor-thin margin.What do elections in Moldova mean for geopolitics? Do Moldovans worry that they may become another Ukraine? Were the outcomes of these votes a surprise given Russian efforts to influence them?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/moldova-elections-eu-referendum-russia-325cb2c13beb1d76565a6e2aadef971a https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/20/world/europe/moldova-election-russia-eu.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/how-russia-targeting-moldovas-path-eu https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russia-poses-long-term-threats-moldova%E2%80%99s-european-integration-beyond-october-elections https://www.politico.com/news/2024/10/19/moldova-election-protection-biden-russia-00184429 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/CtxMNEG4urw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Les, Jess, and Bishop discuss the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces killed Sinwar during a strike in Gaza, Israel’s government confirmed Thursday night. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu did not indicate that Sinwar’s killing signaled the climax of Israel’s assault on Gaza, as he vowed to bring hostages home. However, many hope it opens the door to peace.What are the impacts of Sinwar’s death on the War in Gaza and potential peace talks? How will Palestinians respond to Sinwar’s death? Will there be wider regional implications due to Sinwar’s death?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/10/17/world/israel-lebanon-iran-gaza-news?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&tgrp=cpy&pvid=5DDFF1AD-803D-42D5-BA43-F761AA03A69B https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-killed-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar-gaza/ https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-lebanon-hezbollah-news-10-17-2024-d12ca71945313e601cf10876072f4182 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones@BishopGarrisonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/5ydVzFvg0ro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss Israel’s response, or lack thereof, to Iran’s missile attack earlier this October. The Biden Administration believes it has won assurances from Israel that it will not hit Iranian nuclear or oil sites as it looks to strike back against Iran. However, the Biden Administration recently demanded that Israel take steps in the next month to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face potential restrictions on U.S. military aid.Are these demands political posturing for domestic audiences by the White House? Does the United States have any influence over Israeli actions?  Is it ethical to politicize critical national security issues?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-oil-nuclear-sites-biden-f5dd702de7d990dd1d00f665e1484deehttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/15/world/middleeast/oil-prices-israel-iran-attacks.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb&ngrp=mnp&pvid=56EB71F1-82A2-4CD1-BEDA-A0531A9D115Bhttps://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-gives-israel-30-days-improve-gazas-humanitarian-situation-or-risk-aid-reports-2024-10-15/https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/15/letter-to-congressional-leadership-providing-an-update-on-developments-in-the-middle-east-and-the-u-s-governments-response/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/PbFTsCDxjaA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Jeffrey, Martha, and Morgan discuss increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula as North Korea has accused South Korea of flying drones and dropping anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang.  North Korea threatened to respond with force and says its front-line army units are ready to launch strikes on South Korea if the drone flights continue.Are these claims saber-rattling or a true escalation? Why are South Korean leaflets getting Kim Jong Un so mad?  Is the timing of Kim’s fiery rhetoric and the upcoming U.S. presidential election a coincidence?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-south-drones-attack-threat-border-d1b2e42665fba63dbf4cf2f36a96f5f5https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/11/asia/north-korea-south-drones-pyongyang/index.html https://apnews.com/article/north-south-korea-drones-c923535e6f414674593d74ff935adf41 https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-roads-destroy-tensions-drones-072433677101dc38e30bb65f908ec631 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3282158/kim-jong-uns-sister-warns-south-korea-horrible-disaster Follow our experts on Twitter: @NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/g0tECKdDrIY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Matt, Amy, and Jeffrey discuss the historic handover of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Backed by the White House, the United Kingdom agreed to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands after 13 rounds of negotiations over the former African colony. Importantly, the UK will retain control of the UK-US Diego Garcia military base for an initial period of 99 years. However, critics argue this move is a victory for Chinese interests in the Indo-Pacific.What are the impacts of this handover on U.S. interests in the region? Will this handover set a precedent in the use of lawfare by our adversaries? How will future administrations handle the soft and hard power changes as a result of this handover?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.politico.eu/article/republicans-us-washington-chagos-islands-deal-china-security/ https://www.newsweek.com/diego-garcia-news-uk-mauritius-chagos-islands-agreement-us-base-indian-ocean-1963650 https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/10/09/uk-chagos-islands-mauritius-diego-garcia-last-colony/ https://breakingdefense.com/2024/10/despite-hold-on-diego-garcia-uks-move-to-return-chago-islands-sparks-security-concerns/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@WMattHayden @amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/pxap170DOdQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Martha, Morgan, and Les discuss MI5’s latest threat report, in which the UK’s spy chief outlined that Britain is facing a “staggering rise” in attempts at assassination, sabotage, and other crimes on UK soil by Russia and Iran, as the two states recruit criminals to “do their dirty work,” amid a rise in terrorist threats to the European continent by a resurgent ISIS and Al-Qaeda. How can the United States and our allies respond to these kinetic and active threats? What have been the failures of successive presidential administrations to address these threats? Is the global war on terror truly over?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/uk-intelligence-mi5-threats-russia-iran-936d7c24d303ffea41f6b1cef7c7b814https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-mi5-spy-chief-details-security-threats-facing-uk-2024-10-08/ https://www.reuters.com/world/man-convicted-hostile-reconnaissance-london-based-tv-channel-critical-iran-2023-12-20/ https://apnews.com/article/germany-russia-spying-military-officer-305ee23eb4677f3215c9e3560945a0d9 https://apnews.com/article/sweden-iran-israel-criminal-gangs-proxy-d50a17efab629a585e281854d3e11407 https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-berlin-fire-diehl-behind-arson-attack-on-factory/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Vm_v73sEmek Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Martha, and Morgan discuss last week’s assault by the Chinese Coast Guard assault on 10 Vietnamese fishermen near the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. Three of the fishermen suffered broken limbs and the rest sustained other injuries, their fishing gear was damaged, and about 4 tons of their catch were sized by the Chinese.  How does this incident impact the United States’ role in the region? What are the economic ramifications of Chinese aggression? Will China change its behavior in the face of growing ties between Indo-Pacific nations in response to its aggressive actions?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/china-vietnam-paracel-south-china-sea-d86889dd2fda73499602951ef3056d32 https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/02/asia/vietnam-protest-china-attack-fishermen-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-accuses-china-assaulting-vietnamese-fishermen-south-china-sea-2024-10-04/ https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3926061/allies-partners-conduct-operations-in-south-china-sea/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/10/03/south-china-sea-underwater-cables/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/WT6v-ZEmBqc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Martha, Morgan, and Les discuss Japan’s new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, a 67-year-old Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) backbencher, who has grand ideas for Japanese foreign policy including establishing an Asian NATO to deter China, joint management of U.S. bases in Japan, and the United States sharing their nuclear deterrence with Japan. What does Ishiba and his foreign policy ideas mean for U.S.-Japan relations? Are any of Ishiba’s security ideas achievable? How do U.S. partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific perceive our security assurances?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.hudson.org/politics-government/shigeru-ishiba-japans-new-security-era-future-japans-foreign-policy https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/09/29/japans-prime-minister-ishiba-00181546 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/japans-newly-elected-prime-minister-shigeru-ishiba-forms-cabinet-with-emphasis-on-defense https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/incoming-japan-pm-ishibas-asian-nato-idea-test-us-diplomacy-2024-09-27/ https://apnews.com/article/japan-ishiba-us-south-korea-australia-china-73a66e7b2fce8c3847622acf314357e1 https://www.usip.org/publications/2024/08/how-fumio-kishida-shaped-japans-foreign-policy Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/nkjGUhSO_Xo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Morgan, Jeffrey, and Bishop discuss Tuesday’s missile strikes by Iran against Israel where at least 180 missiles were fired into Israel in what is said to be a retaliation for a series of devastating blows Israel has landed in recent weeks against Hezbollah and other Iranian proxy forces in the Middle East. What happens next? What is the Biden administration’s policy in this conflict? Is Iran an effective actor?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-10-01/israel-s-devastation-of-hezbollah-puts-iran-in-a-corner https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4909053-iran-preparing-missile-attack/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cg4qx62kkxxt?post=asset%3A4edfbeb0-ff7e-4b9c-a412-4f16fb69d23d#post https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3923320/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-irans-missile-strikes-a/ https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-02-2024-7d93f71b7894177b4f9c303671ee55de Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@BishopGarrison@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/NNyS-CkzoKA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, leaving behind a weakened leadership structure dismantled by successive Israeli attacks. Hezbollah’s acting leader, Naim Kassem, has vowed to continue fighting Israel, asserting that these strikes have not diminished their military capabilities.What impact have these strikes had on Hezbollah’s ability to operate effectively? Has Iranian influence waned as a result? How might the upcoming U.S. election affect its influence on key actors in the region?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-hezbollah-beirut-nasrallah-israel-airstrike-dahiyeh-7ebf675d75e4d49c7b307864cdbc7dc1 https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-09-30-2024-83ea5f243688f309754ec74850de4238 https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-misjudged-israels-weakness-and-irans-might-b169e552?mod=world_lead_pos2 https://newlinesmag.com/argument/end-of-an-era-what-hassan-nasrallahs-assassination-spells-for-the-middle-east/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/29/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-hamas-war-news-gaza/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@morganlroach@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/yQNMe_GaKfw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Martha, Les, and Jeffrey discuss the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and High Level Week, where world leaders come together to debate global challenges. As intractable conflict persists, including Russia’s war on Ukraine to the conflict in the Middle East is the UN equipped to handle today's issues? With despots committing atrocities with impunity, is the UN morally hollow? How can the United States improve the UN to help tackle the larger security issues we face today?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/what-is-unga-what-will-world-leaders-talk-about-2024-09-11/ https://www.un.org/en/high-level-week-2024 https://apnews.com/article/un-guterres-summit-future-global-challenges-climate-a7aff1ff5176aafa3cc562021bbf5004 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/24/us/politics/biden-unga-speech.html https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/netanyahu-address-israel-bogged-war-barrels-114067999 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/A7L7JCrqYiU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Matt, and John discuss recent Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon following up on their recent operation that included exploding pagers, radios, and some solar panels. These strikes aim to ensure the safety and return of over 60,000 Israelis to their homes in northern Israel which were forced to evacuate due to Hezbollah rocket attacks - but others speculate this might lead to a wider conflict.Does the United States have a strategy to respond to Iranian provocations? Are there differing visions between the U.S. and Israel in the conflict's aims? Will Iran intervene and expand the conflict into a regional war? What does this pivot mean for the hostages in Gaza?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/the-vast-hezbollah-arsenal-awaiting-israel-in-lebanon-99ce396c https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-lebanonrefugees-displaced-9d4d53e808ce5f67e234789f65d1ad71 https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-09-24-2024-640a0046aceea1b5cfb395a54ff36bcehttps://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-violence-war-hezbollah-63a15fa390a94acf46ef886cc5fb88dbhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/24/israel-lebanon-war-border-hezbollah/ https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/24/world/gaza-israel-hamas-hezbollah Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@WMattHayden@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/2vM-BA60Osk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 363: Ayatollah's Algorithm for U.S. ElectionsToday, Jess, Martha, Les, and Morgan discuss Iranian efforts to influence the upcoming presidential election, including Iran’s hack of the Trump campaign and its attempts to share these documents with individuals tied to the Biden campaign. The Biden Administration has moved aggressively in recent weeks to call out this and other operations in hopes of alerting Americans to foreign efforts to influence their views amidst a presidential election.What is Iran’s level of sophistication when it comes to cyber-attacks? With the deepening ties between Russia and Iran, has Russia shared its best practices on election interference with Iran? Is the U.S. government’s transparency regarding election-related attacks beneficial?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/18/fbi-says-iran-sent-hacked-trump-info-to-biden-campaign-00179951 https://apnews.com/article/iran-fbi-hacking-trump-election-interference-2020-3631e1832a8edb549d53126585503f32 https://www.npr.org/2024/08/23/g-s1-19350/meta-iran-hacking-election-trump-harris-biden https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-harris-election-russia-hack-ad5886379e67710e79d83938e52360cc https://apnews.com/article/iran-russia-china-election-disinformation-hacking-ee65e29b866852b146e75c9f3312a1ae Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/3qn3biqYdC0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss this week's detonations of pagers, handheld radios, and solar panels alongside military strikes by Israel against Hezbollah that have rocked Lebanon and thrown ongoing ceasefire talks into disarray. Hezbollah has vowed retribution for these attacks and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed frustration that these attacks threaten to derail efforts to broker a cease-fire deal in Gaza.What are the implications of these attacks on wider supply chain security? How did these attacks impact Hezbollah psychologically, and will it have any impact on the ground? Will Iran retaliate against Israel due to these attacks?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/19/hezbollah-pager-attack-supply-chain/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/19/israel-lebanon-attack-explosions-hezbollah/ https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-exploding-devices-hezbollah-mideast-ab2436cf5bae5e2fe2dddb293671a0ac https://www.foxnews.com/world/israel-strikes-hezbollah-targets-lebanon-after-two-rounds-device-explosions https://apnews.com/article/gaza-blinken-middle-east-pagers-israel-4d4234bfdac2e49d3bc7c70cfb82a585 https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-yemen-houthis-lebanon-hezbollah-2bf649b0127edfdc65d08e6b68aa3695 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/UqWKXVtDDJY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Les, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss last Sunday’s marking of the third anniversary of the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also known as AUKUS. They discussed its inception and evolution over three years to accomplish its two pillars of providing Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines; and collaborative development of advanced capabilities in six technological areas such as AI and quantum computing. After three years, what has gone well with AUKUS? What are the regulatory challenges to accomplishing Pillar II? How do our other allies in the Indo-Pacific feel about the impacts of AUKUS?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/on-the-third-aukus-anniversary-a-toast-to-itar-reform-and-a-call-to-keep-going/ https://breakingdefense.com/2024/09/aukus-other-agreements-likely-having-galvanizing-effect-in-beijing-aussie-ambasador/ https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/AUKUS-needs-more-than-submarines-to-make-its-bold-vision-a-reality https://www.csis.org/analysis/aukus-pillar-two-advancing-capabilities-united-states-united-kingdom-and-australia Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/lzqw6_aBGY8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss U.S. President Joe Biden’s upcoming trip to Angola, fulfilling an earlier promise that would make him the first U.S. head of state to visit sub-Saharan Africa since Barack Obama in 2015. Keen to counter China's massive investments in Africa, the U.S. has been supporting a project that links the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola's Lobito port by rail to bypass road congestion on the copper and cobalt route.What impact, or lack thereof, does the election have on this trip? Is the United States pulling a play out of China’s playbook with the Lobito Corridor project? How can the U.S. offer a better deal than China in Africa?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-make-first-africa-visit-with-angola-trip-coming-weeks-sources-say-2024-09-13/ https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/lobito-corridor-connecting-democratic-republic-congo-and-zambia-global-markets-angola_en https://www.usip.org/blog/2024/06/what-africas-lobito-corridor https://afripoli.org/lobito-corridor-a-reality-check https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/09/joint-statement-from-the-united-states-and-the-european-union-on-support-for-angola-zambia-and-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congos-commitment-to-further-develop-the-lobito-corridor-and-the/ https://www.semafor.com/article/11/30/2023/bidens-plans-to-counter-china-run-through-angola Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/3aWZOgauO7k Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the upcoming meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden. They are expected to discuss whether to allow the UK to sell Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine to strike military targets deep inside Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that “if Ukraine did fire Western missiles deep into Russia, it would mean that Russia was at war with NATO.” Russia also expelled six British diplomats from Moscow accusing them of espionage. Is this more saber-rattling from Russia, or a genuine redline? What is the impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election on allowing long-range weapons to be used against Russia? Is the United States slow-rolling equipment to Ukraine or in step with European allies?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108698/secretary-of-state-blinken-in-kyiv-ukraine https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/us/politics/biden-ukraine-weapons.html https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/09/12/europe/putin-warns-nato-missiles-hnk-latam-intlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/13/russia-putin-uk-missiles-diplomats/ https://www.foxnews.com/world/putin-says-he-backs-harris-over-trump-adds-hes-ready-talks-ukraine Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/cKs2XB0H3W8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Amy, Matt, and Jeffrey reflect on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th attacks that began the Global War on Terror and changed the course of American history. They discuss how these attacks still shape our national security and foreign policy and how, now over two decades removed from the attacks, newer generations reflect and remember this pivotal event.Does the changing landscape of how we obtain and learn world events impact how we view world events? Do average Americans understand the threat we still face from global terror? How do we convey the necessity of leaning forward in the world to ensure our national security where both political parties espouse retrenchment?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/sept-11-anniversary-ceremony-children-reading-names-ed7dcd42524dca1c5098b6b3364aca91 https://www.npr.org/2024/09/10/g-s1-21925/biden-harris-trump-911-ground-zero-world-trade-center-pentagon-shanksville-flight-93 https://www.911memorial.org/connect/commemoration/23rd-anniversary-commemoration Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@WMattHayden@amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/SGwdkxV7GvU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Jamil, Les, and Jess discuss reports that the Biden administration and the Government of Iraq have reached an understanding on plans for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq. The leaks suggest that we would see hundreds depart by September 2025, with the remaining departing by the end of 2026.Is this withdrawal plan a sound foreign policy decision or an appeal to domestic politics? What are the regional implications of this potential withdrawal amidst the war against Hamas in Gaza and the looming threat of Iran? How will our allies and adversaries respond to this withdrawal?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/us-iraq-deal-would-see-hundreds-troops-withdraw-first-year-sources-say-2024-09-06/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/08/21/biden-iraq-isis-war-end-danger-president/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/2gVD9cvbtXs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which is held every three years, this time in Beijing. All African nations, except the Kingdom of Eswatini due to its recognition of Taiwan, participated in the forum. China is the African continent’s biggest trading partner and arms supplier. How does the United States’ and China’s messaging impact the effectiveness of relations with Africa? How can the United States improve its engagement with Africa? How do China’s exploitive loan program and purchase of mainly commodities impact its relations with African nations?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/04/world/asia/china-africa-summit.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb&ngrp=mnn&pvid=F23603F0-AF7C-46B3-BAB5-2379E201F463 https://www.reuters.com/world/china-deepen-industrial-agricultural-trade-investment-ties-with-africa-2024-09-05/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx6d654556o https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/china/china-africa-summit-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-africa-summit-us-xi-jinping-rcna169673 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3277371/china-vows-work-africa-nuclear-tech-satellites-and-space Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/JKD3atG4XpY Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Morgan discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, from Ukrainian forces going on the offensive in Russia and capturing 450+ square miles of Russian territory to the recent crash of a Western-provided F-16 jet and Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Mongolia, where he was not arrested despite his outstanding ICC arrest warrant.How does Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive impact the wider war? What are the implications of Mongolia failing to uphold its ICC obligations? How might the F-16’s recent crash impact future aid efforts?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/03/world/ukraine-russia-missile-strike-poltavahttps://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-russia-arrest-icc-member-mongolia-prosecution-eu-ukraine/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/31/world/europe/ukraine-f16-pilot-crash.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-territory-seized-putin-kursk-rcna169280 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@morganlroach@marthamillerdcLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/CV0JG1wuFuM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss two pivotal elections - the French Parliamentary and the Iranian Presidential Election.  French President Emmanuel Macron, after his party was trounced in the European Parliamentary elections, called for a snap election. In which after the first round of voting on Sunday saw Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally party take first place with all eyes on the run-off on Sunday, July 9th.  In Iran, elections were held in the wake of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.  After the first round of voting, two candidates remain for the Presidency - with ostensible “reformer” Masoud Pezeshkian leading over Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator for Iran who is viewed as the more hawkish of the two, and with another round of voting to follow. How does the French election impact support for Ukraine and the wider EU? What are the implications of Iranian elections on regional stability? How should the next President prepare for the outcome of these elections?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-macron-193233ade08821a71731980d8a17eb4a https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-macron-f07061a929ed8eaad0e714e948159cab https://www.politico.eu/article/france-legislative-election-marine-le-pen-emmanuel-macron-national-rally-jordan-bardella/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-presidential-election-pakeshkian-jalili/ https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/06/29/irans-supreme-leader-is-terrified-of-people-power https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/30/world/middleeast/iran-election-president-voters.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jafferLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/NicQDXSPF_M Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Matt discuss the recent violent protests in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi over a tax bill that would increase taxes on bread, fuel, and other necessities, which was aimed at alleviating the country’s massive debt burden. Protestors stormed the nation’s parliament building, setting parts ablaze, and clashes with police and military forces have left more than 300 injured and 22 dead. Kenyan President William Ruto has now abandoned the bill but vows to quash the continuing unrest “at whatever cost.” With Kenya being recently announced as a U.S. major Non-NATO ally, how do these protests impact U.S.-Kenyan relations? What are the implications of these protests on the stability of the region and our ongoing counter-terrorism efforts? What does this unrest mean for the recently deployed Kenyan police mission to violence-stricken Haiti?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gg30gm0x2o https://apnews.com/article/kenya-finance-bill-taxes-protests-396382bdac0fc18dfec7cd3003ece35b https://apnews.com/article/kenya-protests-finance-bill-33a20092285f1d663264f7b0d513e1da https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/africa/kenya-protests-tax-parliament.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/27/world/africa/kenya-protests-taxes-president-ruto.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc @WMattHaydenLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/RzPb1EQY27w Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Bishop, and Amy discuss Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's plea deal with the Department of Justice in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of espionage, in exchange for a sentence of five years in prison, which - due to time served in the U.K. - means he is a free man. Assange also refused to set foot on the mainland United States, appearing instead in Saipan (an American territory). Is this plea deal justice served? How does Assange’s case impact future accountability for classified leaks? Should Americans who are concerned about free speech be focusing on Assange or the imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.wsj.com/politics/julian-assange-plea-deal-c392069c https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/25/julian-assange-plea-deal-updates/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/us/politics/assange-plea-deal-press-freedom.html https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/24/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-will-plead-guilty-deal-us-and-be-freed-prison.html https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/06/julian-assange-plea-deal-pointless-prosecution/678787/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@BishopGarrison@NotTVJessJones@amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/eld5_Exe9Pg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss two ongoing stories – increased border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which have raised fears in the region that the escalating tensions could turn into all-out war, as well as the Houthis ongoing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. Should Israel and the United States be worried about escalation with Hezbollah? How would the group rate the Biden Administration’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East? Has the U.S. effectively responded to the Houthi threat in the Red Sea?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/23/israel-iron-dome-hezbollah-war-lebanon https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4735840-israeli-defense-minister-gallant-us/ https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-iraq-syria-hezbollah-fighters-iran-1e3359917f252862f4ed3d4b3df1d43e https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-israel-hamas-war-3c1756a60efb061960b6eda1bc580834 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ship-attack-houthi-red-sea-uss-eisenhower-rcna158406 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/jI9l_svw32g Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to North Korea where he met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, the first time President Putin has been to North Korea in over 20 years. At the end of the visit, Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense agreement marking the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.What does this agreement mean for possible technology sharing between Russia and North Korea? How does this agreement impact regional security on the Korean peninsula? Will this agreement dampen Russia and China’s no-limits partnership?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/world/asia/china-russia-north-korea.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/20/russia-china-iran-north-korea-alignment/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-putin-pyongyang-axis-means-a95799c9?st=4b5epti79ncjynr&reflink=article_whatsapp_share https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-jong-un-putin-military-assistance-war-d9bb8aee7eb1a692b932337578fb3e30 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/56HlPDDyYDc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, and Amy discuss the two-day peace summit in Switzerland dedicated to forging an end to the war in Ukraine with over 90 countries attending, including Vice President Kamala Harris on behalf of the U.S. The summit concluded with a communique reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, among other things.  Notably absent from the summit were Russia and China. Of those who did attend, several countries including India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates did not sign the communique.Without Russia’s participation, does this summit mean anything? Are there implications of countries not re-affirming core principles, like sovereignty, for the international system? What does this summit and its communique mean for further aid to Ukraine?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/16/europe/ukraine-peace-summit-switzerland-intl/index.html https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-switzerland-war-conference-burgenstock-568cafee5fbe9c3b19b79b041583a5d6 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/swiss-conference-ukraine-rcna157400 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@amykmitchell@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Afe172_1h90 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, and Bishop discuss the arrival of a Russian flotilla, including a nuclear-powered submarine to the port of Havana, Cuba. This Russian show of force comes weeks after President Biden authorized Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided weapons for strikes within Russian territory.  Amidst the arrival of Russian ships, a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine made a “routine port visit” to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.What do we make of the timing of Russia’s visit to Cuba? Was the U.S. sub arriving at Guantanamo Bay an intentional show of force? What is in store for future U.S.-Cuban relations?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/12/americas/russian-navy-cuba-intl/index.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/06/06/americas/cuba-russian-ships-submarine-visit-intl-latam/index.html https://apnews.com/article/russia-cuba-us-submarine-ukraine-bac0519f4fdbe30a5ef210447d50a671 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@BishopGarrison@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/3jBT4DTpqx4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, and Bishop discuss the outcome of the European Union’s parliamentary elections where 720 seats were up for grabs. After four days of voting, the centrist European People’s Party (EPP) was the biggest single winner with 186 seats. However, far-right parties are also set to win 150 seats many of which came from France, Italy, and Germany.What are the implications of this election for the U.S.’ trans-Atlantic policy? How does this election impact Europe's support of Ukraine? Do the gains by the far-right in the European parliament foreshadow national election wins?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/10/european-parliament-election-results-takeaways/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/10/eu-parliament-election-results-france-germany/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/11/world/europe/giorgia-meloni-italy-g7.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/european-union-vote-delivers-shift-to-right-in-blow-to-french-and-german-governments-8f1c0f23 https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/10/europe/european-elections-explainer-intl/index.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@BishopGarrison@NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/APanvWqyDdI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.