Fault Lines

Today, Les, John, and Morgan discuss the recent deal brokered by Russia and China with the Houthi rebels in Yemen for the safe passage of their ships through the Red Sea amidst their continuous attacks on commercial shipping in the region.How effective have U.S. and allied strikes against the Houthis been at deterring attacks on shipping? What are the implications of the Houthi attacks on the freedom of navigation? What role does the UN Security Council play in this conflict?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/news/articles/2024-03-21/china-russia-reach-agreement-with-yemen-s-houthis-on-red-sea-ships https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/03/21/houthis-reportedly-strike-deal-with-russia-china-for-safe-passage/?sh=40c9d48c4a6b https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2024/03/houthis-granting-china-russia-safe-passage-red-sea-centcom-says/395143/ https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-china-struck-deal-yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-safety/ https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/houthi-attacks-egypt-red-sea-economy/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/bVGQdo84tVA  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, John, Bishop, and Morgan discuss Turkey’s upcoming local elections on March 31st, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) seek to regain the key cities lost in 2019 of Istanbul and Ankara. If the AKP regains control, President Erdogan has pledged further constitutional reform. How will these local elections impact Turkish foreign policy? What is the Biden Administration’s role in working with transactional powers such as Turkey? What are the impacts of conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and the war in Gaza on these local 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://foreignpolicy.com/2024/03/13/turkey-erdogan-elections-istanbul-ankara-local-akp/https://nationalinterest.org/feature/will-us-turkey-relations-survive-wars-gaza-and-ukraine-210040https://www.timesofisrael.com/erdogan-says-turkey-firmly-backs-terror-group-hamas-compares-netanyahu-to-hitler/ https://www.politico.eu/article/turkey-president-erdogan-upcoming-local-election-last/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @BishopGarrison@morganlroach@NotTVJessJones@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/1bnn5y9P9Ig Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, John, and Morgan discuss this weekend’s announcement by Niger’s junta that it was suspending military cooperation with Washington and ordering U.S. troops to leave the country.  This comes upon the heels of a coup last summer in Niger, the resulting restrictions on U.S. aid to the country, and recent stories that U.S. and Western intelligence show that Niger is exploring a deal to allow Iran access to its uranium reserves.What did last week’s visit to Niger by U.S. officials seek to accomplish? How can the United States refresh its approach to foreign policy with African states? Do the events in Niger indicate a diminishing influence of the United States 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://www.wsj.com/world/africa/niger-once-key-u-s-counterterrorism-ally-ends-military-ties-7db66dbe https://apnews.com/article/niger-junta-us-military-base-b70bfba835a567d5f3439a32c9c82836https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/world/africa/niger-orders-american-troops-out.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/niger-says-announces-end-to-military-cooperation-with-us/7530719.htmlhttps://www.voanews.com/a/iran-says-it-is-willing-to-help-niger-overcome-sanctions/7455787.html https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/west-african-ecowas-bloc-mulls-new-strategy-towards-junta-states-2024-02-24/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@NotTVJessJones@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, watch today's episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVN5gzkIKiw  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss this week’s Financial Times report that broke the news that the Biden Administration held secret talks with Iran this year to convince Tehran to use its influence to end Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. They also discuss Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s calls for Israel to hold new elections. Were Senator Schumer’s comments driven by the upcoming election? Can the United States truly have productive negotiations with Iran? Is the United States undermining a democratically elected government in Israel?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/schumer-netanyahu-israel-palestinians-elections-1ebf21e4c9c0f6f42478bb26e1db7a9b https://www.ft.com/content/89b01990-7657-45ea-baaa-1f214b40f1cbhttps://www.nbc4i.com/news/washington-dc/schumer-calls-for-new-elections-in-israel-criticizes-netanyahu/ https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2024/03/14/u-s-grants-iran-sanctions-waiver-worth-10-billion Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/UNPYQE2Hg0g Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Polish President Andrzej Duda’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., where he met with President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders to lobby for U.S. support for Ukraine. President Duda also sent a message to his NATO allies by suggesting that NATO members should raise defense spending to 3% of GDP, above the 2% requirement that only a third of the alliance meet.Will President Duda’s pressure campaign sway the minds of U.S. policymakers on Ukraine aid? Will Duda’s aspirations for a more robust NATO defense posture actually deter Russian aggression? Has the West lost momentum when it comes to Ukraine aid?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/poland-us-ukraine-biden-white-house-66b04d8c3917be6fe5b9ea5e016f7f5b https://apnews.com/article/poland-nato-defense-duda-tusk-us-visit-f6d25e41709e9757f7d40ce33add74dehttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-11/poland-s-president-will-ask-biden-to-send-more-us-troops-to-protect-europe https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/biden-poland-nato-duda-tusk.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/top-polish-leaders-visit-white-house-hoping-spur-108035014https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/europe/orban-trump-ukraine-intl/index.htmlhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-and-ukraine-dont-listen-to-mainstream-media-predictions-on-second-term-0a7589cd Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/lnx3TgXMtps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the deteriorating situation in Haiti where criminal gangs have burned police stations, closed the main international airports, and raided the country’s two biggest prisons releasing thousands of prisoners, while acting Prime Minister and President of Haiti, Ariel Henry, remains in Puerto Rico after being unable to return to Haiti after recent trip to Kenya to build support for a peacekeeping mission. Should the United States intervene directly in Haiti to restore order? Who will eventually come to power in Haiti? How will the situation in Haiti impact U.S. policy in the Western Hemisphere?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/americas/the-ex-convict-aiming-to-take-power-in-haiti-f97e36e2https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/chaos-in-haiti-leaves-u-s-with-few-options-1a73b744https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/09/haiti-corpses-gangs/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/blinken-talks-kenyan-president-about-haiti-crisis-says-state-dept-2024-03-09/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/10/haiti-crisis-gangs-attack-police-stations-as-caribbean-leaders-call-for-emergency-meetinghttps://apnews.com/article/blinken-haiti-jamaica-prime-minister-gangs-ff6b76b6ba9a9d7b8f95fbf95a1d462c Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/zCICTzne2_s Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss President Biden’s State of the Union address, where contrary to some expectations, President Biden delivered a fiery speech beginning with references to FDR’s 1941 State of the Union speech given as war raged across Europe, and then touching upon the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war. What were the Fault Lines team’s reactions to the State of the Union speech? Did President Biden beat the team’s expectations?  Did the President’s speech change the minds of Congress or American voters on 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://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-biden-gaza-ukraine-israel-1a42ff9d4ef3e0f2753e43ac8d39fc18https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/biden-state-of-the-union-address-2024/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/state-union-key-takeaways-biden-address-rcna140768https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/03/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery-2/Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6F4-nyC6a6o Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Israeli War Cabinet member and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz's visit to Washington, DC. Gantz met with Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza. What does this trip mean for the unity of the Israeli War Cabinet? Does Gantz's meeting with Vice President Harris indicate a shift in the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza? How do the domestic political situations of the United States and Israel impact the conflict? 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.axios.com/2024/03/05/israel-gaza-aid-benny-gantz-white-househttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2902527/benny-gantz-confronts-reports-hes-in-us-against-benjamin-netanyahus-wishes/#google_vignettehttps://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-790212https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-aides-to-gantz-gaza-aid-convoy-disaster-shows-need-for-viable-post-war-plans/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/IWyeASqPySw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Morgan, and Jamil discuss Guyana’s recent diplomatic overtures towards Cuba amidst the ongoing Crisis between Guyana and Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region. These overtures include the Guyanese President Irfaan Ali calling for the dismantling of sanctions against Cuba, to the University systems of both countries agreeing to collaborate, among many others. Are these diplomatic overtures a play to counter Venezuela with their ally Cuba, or is this an attempt by Guyana to cozy up to Venezuela? Is the threat of Venezuela invading Guyana real, or just domestic messaging? Should the Biden Administration be playing a more active role 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://newsroom.gy/2024/03/01/president-ali-calls-for-dismantling-of-u-s-embargo-against-cuba/ https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/articulo/guyanas-media-publishes-support-international-community-cuba-un https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/articulo/universities-guyana-and-cuba-agree-cooperate https://havanatimes.org/features/cubas-curious-silence-on-the-essequibo-conflict/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/world/americas/venezuela-guyana.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/1JeH1XK60zM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Morgan, and Bishop discuss the recent announcement by the Biden Administration that the Department of Commerce will begin an inquiry into the national security risks posed by connected vehicles from or containing technology from countries of concern, including the People’s Republic of China. Is industrial policy under the guise of National Security the right approach to address this issue? Should the United States be concerned about China’s position as the largest producer of Electric Vehicles? Is this inquiry a way to implement protectionist policies against foreign automakers? 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-electric-vehicles-privacy-personal-data-biden-844f2406512b94212ee1a92a61e5a33ahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/29/us-investigation-chinese-vehicles/https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/citing-national-security-concerns-biden-harris-administration-announceshttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/29/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-action-to-address-risks-of-autos-from-china-and-other-countries-of-concern/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/qNPYKhuCQxc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the recent debates shaking up the European continent from French President Emmanuel Macron raising the possibility of Western troop deployment to Ukraine to German officials questioning the need of whether to acquire their own nuclear weapons. Should the United States be concerned by President Macron’s comments? Would a deployment of Western troops to Ukraine be a redline for Russia? Can Europe act effectively without U.S. 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.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68417223https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/macrons-ukraine-troop-talk-shakes-up-nato-allies-2024-02-27/https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/germans-debatethe-once-unthinkable-do-we-need-nuclear-weapons-13fa7e68?mod=hp_lead_pos11https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/cia-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/s9_CHhy1NP8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the recent comments made by Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski over the weekend on the held-up supplemental aid to Ukraine and the ramifications that failing to act may have on the United States’ other allies. Is the United States an unreliable ally? Are U.S. allies right to start hedging? Should U.S. leadership be doing more to sell Ukraine assistance to the American public? Should Congress be skeptical of giving Ukraine more aid when much of Europe isn't living up to its 2 percent NATO pledge? 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/news/articles/2024-02-23/poland-s-sikorski-warns-us-to-aid-ukraine-or-face-profound-consequences https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/polands-foreign-minister-discusses-the-war-in-ukraine https://thehill.com/policy/international/4488444-polish-fm-to-speaker-johnson-on-ukraine-the-credibility-of-your-country-is-at-stake/ https://news.sky.com/video/polish-foreign-minister-corrects-the-record-for-russia-in-un-security-council-meeting-13080530 Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/qaGoiAYxKFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the upcoming two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what the future could hold for the Ukrainian country after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plea for continued U.S. assistance in the war effort during an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier.What is the future for Ukraine in these uncertain times? What should the U.S. strategy be towards Ukraine? How can the U.S. and European allies define a Ukrainian victory? What should the Biden administration being doing to bolster support for Ukraine among Congress and the American public?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.arabnews.com/node/2465106/worldhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/22/ukraine-war-pentagon-lessons-learned/https://www.foxnews.com/media/ukrainian-president-zelenskyy-sits-down-fox-anchor-bret-baier-war-nears-two-year-mark Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/1vRePAW7qOk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy 300!! Today, Jess, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, who is before Britain’s High Court attempting to block his extradition to the United States, where he faces 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over the solicitation and publication of a huge trove of classified U.S. documents nearly 15 years ago.  How damaging was the Wikileaks to U.S. national security? Should Julian Assange be extradited to the United States to stand trial? How should we address the prevalent issue of U.S. intelligence leaks? 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/2024/02/20/uk/julian-assange-extradition-appeal-ruling-review-intl-gbr/index.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/20/world/europe/assange-us-extradition-uk-court-case.htmlhttps://apnews.com/article/julian-assange-wikileaks-extradition-court-hearing-25a5f66df1e8d94d0db1e9d6bb323ea4Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss recent developments out of the Middle East including Saturday’s first-ever U.S. self-defense strike against a Houthi underwater drone in the Red Sea, the attempted comms takeover of an El Al flight over the Horn of Africa by unknown actors, and an alleged backing-off of proxy attacks by the Iranian government in parts of the region.Are the Biden Administration’s efforts at deterrence working? Will the IRGC's ostensible tamp down on proxy attacks be sustained? Do underwater drones indicate an increased level of sophistication from the Houthis? 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.axios.com/2024/02/19/us-houthi-strike-underwater-drone-red-seahttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-military-strikes-houthi-unmanned-underwater-vessel-red-sea/ https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-787572https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/18/iran-proxies-middle-east/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss recent developments out of Russia including Friday morning’s announcement that imprisoned Russian opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, has died in custody, and Chairman Mike Turner of the House Intelligence Committee vaguely warning of a serious national security threat, which has now been confirmed by the White House as Russia pursuing a nuclear armed anti-satellite system. Will the threat of nuclear weapons in space and the potential murder of a Russian opposition leader get Congress to act? Was Chairman Turner’s announcement intentional to sway his colleagues ahead of the vote on the Senate Ukraine aid bill? 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/russia-anti-satellite-weapon-threat-technology-2880f9c55122dcafe87188bc92dd6cdehttps://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/14/house-intel-national-security-threat-russia-space-power-00141473 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/us/politics/intelligence-russia-nuclear.html https://warontherocks.com/2022/09/getting-serious-about-the-threat-of-high-altitude-nuclear-detonations/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68315943 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/jailed-russian-opposition-leader-navalny-dead-prison-service-2024-02-16/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss last Thursday’s general election in Pakistan. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan won 93 of the 134 simple majority seats required to form a government. This led to rival parties, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PLM-N) party to form a coalition, returning former prime minister Shewaz Sharif to office. What does this election mean for U.S. interests? How has the U.S. relationship with Pakistan changed following the withdrawal from Afghanistan? What role does China play in Pakistan? 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.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/13/pakistan-election-pti-joins-religious-parties-ppp-backs-rival-pmlnhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68271462https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-13/sharif-s-party-to-pick-pakistan-pm-as-bhutto-supports-alliancehttps://www.cfr.org/blog/imran-khan-denied-perhaps-not-forever-pakistans-other-parties-form-weak-coalition-governmenthttps://www.economist.com/asia/2024/02/12/pakistans-voters-tell-the-generals-where-to-put-it Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss recent comments from former President Donald Trump criticizing NATO countries and their NATO commitments, as well Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin on topics ranging from the war in Ukraine to the cause of World War Two. Should our NATO allies be spending more on their defense budgets? Should the U.S. uphold NATO’s Article 5 if our allies don’t spend the required amount on defense?  Why did Tucker Carlson interview Vladimir Putin? Get the answer 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/world-us-canada-68266447https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/02/trump-rally-nato/677426/https://www.newsweek.com/poland-angrily-responds-putins-claims-about-hitler-world-war-ii-1868707 https://thehill.com/homenews/media/4458802-five-things-to-know-tucker-carlson-vladimir-putin-interview/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*This episode was recorded before President Zelensky dismissed Gen. Zaluzhnyi and appointed Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi to lead Ukraine’s military.*Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss recent developments in the war in Ukraine with Ukrainian President Zelensky publicly confirming on Sunday that he is considering dismissing Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, head of Ukraine’s military, and David Ignatuis’ recent Washington Post article highlighting the impact of technology in the Ukraine conflict and the changing rules of war.Would President Zelensky’s potential dismissal of Gen. Zaluzhnyi make a difference on the ground? How does U.S. support factor into the current stalemate of the war?  How does support from other global repressors, like Iran and China, aid Russia? Get the answer to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4448543-zelensky-ukraines-military-chief-dismissal/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/02/06/russia-ukraine-drone-war-technology-stalemate/ https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/russias-adaptation-advantagehttps://www.wired.com/story/robots-are-fighting-robots-in-russias-war-in-ukraine/Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss recent shake-ups in West Africa. From Senegal postponing this month’s presidential election indefinitely, to Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso leaving the regional bloc ECOWAS, and the DoD backing away due to Congressional pressure from a planned training of troops from West African nations with coup governments and records of human rights abuses. Does the U.S. have a comprehensive foreign policy in Africa? Is Congress restricting the United States’ ability to compete with Russia in the region?  What role does France play in these shake-ups? Get the answer 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/national-security/2024/01/26/pentagon-military-training-human-rights/ https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240206-senegal-s-democratic-record-on-the-line-as-presidential-vote-delay-sparks-political-crisishttps://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240202-with-ecowas-exit-mali-burkina-faso-and-niger-leave-democratic-transition-in-limbohttps://www.theafricareport.com/336073/moussa-mara-leaving-ecowas-is-going-against-the-march-of-history/Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss the over 80 strikes against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force and several other Iranian proxy militia groups in response to the recent deaths of three Americans and the wounding of over 30 more servicemembers in Jordan. Will these strikes deter further attacks by Iranian proxies? Is the United States at war with Iran? Does the Biden administration need a new Authorization for Use of Military Force? Get the answer to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://bbc.com/news/world-68189567https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-begins-middle-east-airstrikes-response-deaths-three-soldiers https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-condemns-u-s-strikes-as-washington-signals-further-action-17129ceb?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalinkhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/02/03/politics/strikes-us-uk-houthi-yemen?Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaiIn0nGgdE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss Wednesday’s Special Episode - NSI on the Ground: The New Hampshire Primary- where a group of New Hampshire voters shared their thoughts and opinions on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America!Were New Hampshire voter’s views on U.S. engagement in the world different than Iowans? Were the Fault Lines crew surprised by any of the views the interviewees had on foreign policy issues? Does America need to focus on getting a win to remain actively engaged in the world? Get the answer to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fault-lines-special-episode-nsi-on-the-ground-the/id1481982630?i=1000643687825 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0omD3Lf6nM https://www.cnn.com/election/2024/primaries-and-caucuses/exit-polls/new-hampshire/republican-primary/0 https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/primary-results/voter-analysis https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, on this special episode of Fault Lines, NSI’s Founder and Executive Director Jamil Jaffer interviewed New Hampshire voters on their thoughts on the national security issues and debates shaking up America.Do national security issues matter when voting?  Should the U.S. continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russia? Are we falling behind China technologically? What is the greatest external threat to the United States? Listen to what voters had to say about these issues and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our interviews!https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/primary-results/voter-analysis https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Morgan, and Les discuss Sunday’s drone attack in Jordan by Iranian-backed militias that killed 3 U.S. servicemembers and wounded over 30 more. President Biden has vowed to respond to this attack, which was the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.Was this attack only a matter of time? How should the U.S. respond to this lethal attack? How can the Biden administration effectively deter future attacks? Get the answer 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/2024/01/28/politics/us-troops-drone-attack-jordan?cid=ios_apphttps://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/three-u-s-troops-killed-in-drone-attack-in-jordan-b45ddb6bhttps://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/28/us-service-members-killed-drone-attack-jordanhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-attack-on-u-s-service-members-in-northeastern-jordan-near-the-syria-border/Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Morgan, and John discuss the potential collapse of the bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures and Ukraine and Israel aid after former President Donald Trump called on Republicans to reject any deal unless given everything regarding immigration.Was this deal destined to fail? What are the geostrategic implications of failure to fund aid to Ukraine? Who is ultimately to blame for the collapse of the deal? Get the answer to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconnell-border-bill-trump-campaign-1863916https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bipartisan-border-deal-trump-senate-republicans_n_65b284c6e4b0166fc7711d79https://www.newsweek.com/maga-cant-sink-border-deal-negotiator-1864128https://www.npr.org/2024/01/25/1226883552/bipartisan-border-deal-at-risk-of-collapse-under-pressure-from-trumphttps://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-trump-a8601ec6629ddc5b769028ca99ad9879 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss Tuesday's Turkish parliament vote to approve Sweden’s membership bid to NATO, lifting a major hurdle to Sweden’s entry into the military alliance. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who previously linked his country’s support of Sweden to Turkey’s desire to buy fighter jets from the U.S., must still sign the protocol into law. Once signed, Hungary becomes the only NATO ally to have not ratified Sweden’s accession.Will Congress allow the sale of F-16s to Turkey? How does the 2024 U.S. presidential election impact the NATO alliance? Will NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War provoke a response from Russia? Get the answer 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/turkey-sweden-nato-kurdish-militants-quran-ff81aa2d36160428d766579963f97fcehttps://apnews.com/article/orban-invites-swedish-leader-discuss-nato-membership-32d50b876dccded5c7c2f60ca7cf204bhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/europe/turkey-vote-sweden-nato-intl?cid=ios_apphttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/19/sweden-young-people-national-service-civic-duty-nato-war Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss last Friday’s Special Episode - NSI on the Ground in Iowa - where average Iowans gave their thoughts and opinions on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America!Were the Fault Lines crew surprised at Iowan opinions on U.S. engagement in the world? Do we think that Friday’s conversations show U.S. policymakers need to more clearly show why national security issues matter? Did the interviews leave us feeling optimistic about American engagement with national security issues? Get the answer to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fault-lines-special-episode-nsi-on-the-ground-the/id1481982630?i=1000642248705 https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/primary-results/voter-analysishttps://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, on this special episode of Fault Lines, NSI’s Founder and Executive Director Jamil Jaffer interviewed Iowan voters on their thoughts on the national security issues and debates shaking up America.Do national security issues matter when voting? Should the U.S. continue to support Ukraine in its war with Russia? How should the U.S. deal with Iran? Listen to what voters had to say about these issues and more in this special episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our interviews!https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/primary-results/voter-analysis https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss the escalating situation in the Red Sea where the U.S. and allied forces have continued their campaign of strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, while two U.S. Navy SEALs have gone missing while interdicting a ship in the Gulf of Aden meant to deliver weapons to the Houthis, and China and Russia voted for a UN Security Council resolution calling for the immediate end to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.What are we accomplishing with our current approach? Can the U.S. walk the fine line of responding without escalation? Should we change our approach with the Houthi Rebels and other Iranian-backed groups? Get the answer to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines!Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-carries-new-airstrike-houthis-yemen/story?id=106414037 https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3dhttps://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/01/iran-strikes-inside-pakistan-following-irgc-missile-attacks-iraq-syriahttps://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/military/us-seizes-iranian-weapons-houthis-yemen/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-calls-an-end-attacks-civilian-vessels-red-sea-2024-01-14/?taid=65a3eec108e2720001fef900&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitterhttps://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/two-navy-seals-are-missing-after-mission-off-coast-of-somalia/ https://apnews.com/article/un-yemen-houthis-shipping-red-sea-resolution-attacks-f26262fe055c8a1e39dee0c3c0d6f7f6 Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les discuss the developing situation in Guyana where on Tuesday, Venezuela’s dictator Nicholas Maduro ordered the creation of a new state dubbed “Guyana Esequiba” in the wake of the recent referendum in which Venezuelan voters overwhelmingly approved the annexation of the oil-rich land from its neighbor. How does this impact the stability of the region? What role, if any, does the United States have in this developing crisis? Or is this just a domestic political tactic to ensure the survival of the Maduro regime? Get the answer 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/guyana-us-military-aid-venezuela-essequibo-cdb2b1ac1e469c7324d1be8f18c507c6 https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-conduct-flight-operations-guyana-concerns-mount-over-border-spat-2023-12-07/https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/06/americas/venezuelas-president-orders-creation-of-new-state-and-map-including-land-from-guyana/index.htmlhttps://www.state.gov/secretary-blinkens-call-with-guyanese-president-ali/ https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-12-08/nicolas-maduro-stirs-up-guyana-conflict-in-an-attempt-to-corner-maria-corina-machado.htmlFollow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les assess the current situation in the Middle East. Recent U.S. strikes in Iraq, an ultimatum against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, and attacks from Hezbollah against Israel amid its conflict in Gaza has caused increased worry over a widening conflict in the region.Is this worry of a widening conflict justified? What role does China play in these Middle Eastern developments how do they benefit? Is the Biden Administration getting in its own way when it comes to effective policy in the region?  Get the answer 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/2024/jan/09/hezbollah-drone-strike-hits-key-israeli-command-centre-safed https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/07/us/politics/iran-us-israel-conflict.html?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AM%20JAN%208%20Punchbowl%20News%20AM&utm_term=Punchbowl%20AM%20and%20Active%20Subscribers%20from%20Memberful%20Combined https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/04/war-gaza-widen-biden-getting-ready-00133949 Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, and Les discuss U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s recent hospitalization and the breakdown of communication that had President Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and Secretary Austin’s own Deputy Kathleen Hicks, who was on vacation, out of the loop. Sec. Austin’s absence occurred as the U.S. and its allies gave an ultimatum to Houthi rebels, as well as conducted a successful airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad.Is the Secretary of Defense out of the Biden Administration’s decision-making loop? Why were key administration and Pentagon officials left in the dark over the Secretary’s hospitalization? Who ultimately should be held responsible for this breakdown?  Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/07/politics/austin-hospitalization-leaders-not-informed/index.html https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-biden-859cc79631d6c96dbdff161faf8e4f96 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/top-military-officials-were-initially-unaware-austins-hospitalization-media-2024-01-07/ https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/06/pentagon-took-3-days-to-inform-white-houses-nsc-of-austins-hospitalization-00134176https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3633506/statement-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-on-medical-care/ 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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Morgan, and Jamil discuss the recent U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq that killed commander Abu Taqwa of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iran backed militia group. This airstrike happened during a busy week for Middle East, with the continuation of the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza, Houthi forces’ attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, and the recent ISIS bombing in Iran that killed 80 people. U.S. strikes in Iraq are a rare. While the U.S. states that the airstrike was necessary and proportional in the wake of recent attacks against U.S. forces stated in the Middle East, the Iraqi government argues that the strike is a breech of trust and sovereignty. Is the U.S. airstrike a sign of a strengthened deterrence policy by the Biden Administration? Does the U.S. maintain credible deterrence in the region? What does the airstrike mean for the stability in the Middle East? How does this strike alter current U.S. policies and agreements with Iraq?Check out the sources that helped shaped our experts discussion!https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/04/us-strike-baghdad/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-strike-kills-iran-backed-militia-leader-in-iraq-71256676https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/world/middleeast/us-drone-strike-baghdad-iraq.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/three-iran-backed-militia-fighters-killed-baghdad-drone-strike-sources-2024-01-04/https://www.axios.com/2024/01/04/isis-iran-explosions-responsibility-kermanFollow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Andy, and Bishop discuss the recent attacks against shipping vessels in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen by Houthi forces. The Red Sea plays a critical role in global trade and they discuss the implications of increasing attacks for the global economy and escalation of conflict in the Middle East. They also discuss potential U.S. responses to these attacks in light of Iran’s recent deployment of a warship to the region.How do these attacks effect global trade? Is this an attempt at escalating conflict throughout the globe? What is Iran’s role? How does Iran’s recent deployment of a warship change the calculus for U.S. forces?Check out the sources that helped shaped our experts discussion!https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/maersk-pauses-red-sea-sailings-after-houthi-attack-container-ship-2023-12-31/https://jinsa.org/to-deter-houthi-strikes-in-red-sea-us-must-turn-from-defense-to-offense/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-01/iran-dispatches-warship-to-red-sea-after-us-sinks-houthi-boatshttps://www.voanews.com/amp/no-sign-houthis-will-halt-red-sea-attacks-says-us/7418725.htmlFollow our experts on Twitter: @BishopGarrison@AndyKeiser@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jamil and John interview Trae Stephens, Co-Founder and Chairman of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company focused on autonomous systems. Trae is also a Partner at Founders Fund, a venture capital firm that was the first institutional investor in SpaceX and Palantir Technologies, as well as an early investor in Facebook. What is the relationship between tech innovation and American national security?  How well does the Department of Defense integrate new technologies and companies into the defense industrial base?  Where does America stand today in tech innovation compared to rivals such as China?Join us after the holidays, on January 3rd, when the Fault Lines team returns to get you quickly up to speed three times a week on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America!Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Les and Jess interview Shannon Clark, Senior Vice President, Federal, R+D, at Palantir Technologies, who also previously served as the Director for Counterterrorism on the National Security Council at the White House under President Obama and as an intelligence analyst in the Department of Defense.How has the adoption of AI and other emerging technologies impacted the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel? What challenges does the U.S. national security enterprise have when adopting these emerging technologies and scaling them? How does the U.S.-China tech competition impact public-private sector cooperation?Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF Understanding The Future of Tech Innovation and National Security! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter:@notTVJessJones@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Les and Jess interview Mara Rudman, a Member of the 2022 National Defense Commission, who also currently serves as a James Schlesinger Distinguished Professor at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.Can the U.S. be a global leader handling all the world’s hotspots or should we only focus on China? How can we sell the benefits of global engagement to everyday Americans? How does the United States feed the mis/disinformation produced by global repressors?Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF Understanding The Future of Tech Innovation and National Security! 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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and Les interview Secretary Leon Panetta, who previously served as the 23rd Secretary of Defense and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Secretary Panetta is currently the Chairman of the Panetta Institute and an NSI Advisory Board member!How has American engagement with the world changed over the last decade? Does the U.S. defense and policy-making communities have an accurate assessment of China’s power? Should we be surprised by the increased collaboration of global repressors and what can we do about it?Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF on Confronting the New Alliance of Global Repressors this week on Fault Lines! 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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and John interview Ambassador Eric Edelman, who serves as Vice Chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy. Previously, Edelman served as Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Ambassador to Turkey and Finland, and lastly, and most importantly, as Jess’ professor at Johns Hopkins SAIS.How do policymakers and defense experts feel about the current state of geopolitics? Should the U.S. have anticipated the growing relationships between global repressors? What may 2024 have in store for the U.S. and our allies?Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF on Confronting the New Alliance of Global Repressors this week on Fault Lines! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Les and John interviewed Matthew Pottinger. Pottinger is the current Chairman for the China Program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD). Previously, Pottinger served in the White House for four years, in senior roles within the National Security Council, including serving as Deputy National Security Advisor from 2019-2021. Pottinger is credited with playing a key role in changing how the United States approaches China and raised awareness of the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to influence and interfere with U.S. institutions, including academia, the tech sector, and Wall Street. Are global repressors, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, really an “axis” of rogue regimes? How far does their collaboration go? Does the U.S. and its allies have the capacity to deal with these rogue regimes as well as managing the hot spots around the globe? Can, and should, the U.S. decouple from China? If so, how far can this de-coupling go? Stay tuned for more of this Special Series at RNDF on Confronting the New Alliance of Global Repressors this week on Fault Lines! These are discussions you don’t want to miss! Follow our experts on Twitter:  @lestermunson @JohnCLipsey Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the upcoming Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF). This forum brings together the top U.S. defense and national security leaders from across the country to discuss and debate how the U.S. can lead the world in an era of increasingly complex challenges and opportunities. During RNDF, NSI and the Fault Lines crew will be recording live, conducting a series of interviews with bipartisan national security and technology leaders to discuss the growing collaboration between global repressor states such as China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, as well as the critical importance of emerging technology and innovation to American national security.Stay tuned for Fault Lines: RNDF Global Repressors Series going live next week! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the failed coup that took place in Sierra Leone on Sunday, November 26. The coup attempt comes after a contentious election in June in which President Julius Maada Bio was reelected for a second term and on the heels of increased tensions in the West African region, highlighted by the eight military takeovers since 2020, including most recently in Niger and Gabon.Should the U.S. be worried about the high number of coups?  How must and should the Biden Administration readjust foreign assistance in the region in light of these developments?  Are there larger forces in play and are outside actors like Russia’s Wagner Group or China fostering regional instability?https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/28/world/africa/sierra-leone-arrests-attempted-coup.htmlhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67541285 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/nov/26/sierra-leone-curfew-army-barracks-attack https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sierra-leone-information-minister-says-weekend-attack-was-failed-coup-2023-11-28/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/28/sierra-leone-attacks-were-a-failed-coup-attempt-officials-sayhttps://www.cnn.com/2023/11/27/africa/sierra-leone-military-barracks-foiled-attack-ignites-fears-over-coup-attempt/index.htmlhttps://www.africanews.com/2023/11/28/coup-attempt-in-sierra-leone-authorities/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jes, Les, and Jamil discuss the Argentinian presidential elections where the self-styled “anarcho-capitalist” candidate Javier Milei rode a wave of voter anger – including over skyrocketing inflation and national poverty rate of 40% - to claim victory. Milei has proposed dollarizing the economy, ditching the central bank, shrinking the federal government, and downgrading ties with Brazil and China. Can President-Elect Milei achieve his promises without strong allies across government? What does the election of Milei mean for democratic norms in Latin America? Can Argentina distance truly themselves from China?https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-67509691https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/21/argentina-milei-election-latin-america/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-11-25/milei-s-softer-tone-shows-how-much-argentina-needs-chinahttps://apnews.com/article/milei-argentina-president-privatization-1a87d02035511982ab620104b9feb255https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/trump-tells-argentinas-president-elect-javier-milei-he-plans-to-visit-buenos-aireshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/25/argentina-milei-libertarian-agenda-history/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunsonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss the recent Washington Post story in which anonymous Defense Department officials express frustration with what they consider an incoherent strategy by the Biden Administration for countering attacks by Iranian proxies on US forces in Iraq and Syria.  “There’s no clear definition of what we are trying to deter,” said one defense official.  In an oped over the weekend, President Biden attempted to outline his foreign policy in the wake of the War in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas War without once mentioning Iran. What should U.S. deterrence policy look like? Is our current strategy effective at preventing a wider conflict? and How do we ensure U.S. personnel are safe overseas?Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/19/iranian-proxy-attacks-us-troops/https://www.foxnews.com/politics/iranian-proxies-continue-targeting-us-troops-syria-iraq-total-since-pentagonhttps://thehill.com/opinion/international/4314271-the-u-s-is-finally-hitting-back-at-irans-murderous-proxies/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/esper-us-military-strikes-against-iranian-proxies-syria https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/11/18/joe-biden-gaza-hamas-putin/Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss the meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at APEC 2023 in San Francisco, the first face-to-face meeting in over a year and Xi’s first visit to the U.S. in six years. The talks aimed to normalize relations at a time when the relationship between the U.S. in China has been fraught with tension. Topics discussed during the summit included re-establishing military-to-military communications, stopping fentanyl precursors from being shipped to the US, and sending us more pandas! Shortly after the summit, though, President Biden (accurately) referred to President Xi as a dictator and many issues, including Chinese threats to Taiwan and IP theft and US export controls.Was this summit all talk, or will we see a real reset? Is China’s effort to force the US to support reunification likely to make things more tense?  Should we take a harder line with China diplomatically?Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/16/1213401317/did-biden-and-chinas-xi-hit-a-reset-not-quite-but-they-did-agree-on-a-few-thingshttps://thehill.com/policy/international/4313668-xi-gets-standing-ovation-at-banquet-with-us-executives/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/16/us/politics/biden-xi-china-power-balance.htmlhttps://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/16/biden-xi-dictator-00127548Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Morgan discuss the third U.S. air strike in Syria, which occurred late on Sunday. These strikes come after at least 40 attacks against U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces in recent weeks. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III told reporters, "These attacks must stop, and if they don't stop, then we won't hesitate to do what's necessary, again, to protect the troops." Austin said the latest air strikes in targeted facilities used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and related groups.Will the U.S. continue or ramp up strikes against Iranian-back proxies? Will these strikes effectively deter attacks on U.S. and coalition personnel? Is the Biden Administration overly concerned with potentially escalating the conflict?Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/11/12/us-airstrikes-iran-syria/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us-hints-more-strikes-unless-iran-linked-groups-halt-attacks-2023-11-13/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@notTVJessJones@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 275: Beijing-Biden Bay Area ShowdownToday, Les, Morgan and Andy discuss the APEC Summit that will be taking place in San Francisco, CA. The big news is that there will be a face-to-face meeting between President Biden, and China’s President Xi Jinping. However, China has been aggressive in the South China Sea, flying within 10 feet of American pilots, distracting American pilots with lasers, and conducting aggressive cyber-attacks against the U.S, and yet the Biden administration is advocating for stronger US-China military-military (mil-mil) relationship. Are better mil-mil communications a ‘win’ for the Biden Administration? What are the Biden Administration’s achievements with negotiating with China ahead of the APEC Summit? What will the Biden Administration be able to achieve with President Biden’s and President Xi’s face-to-face meeting?Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.wsj.com/world/china/what-it-took-to-get-biden-and-xi-to-the-table-b7a899c9https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/10/us/politics/biden-xi-meeting.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/business/economy/xi-jinping-american-business-leaders-dinner.htmlFollow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@AndyKeiserLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, Morgan, and special guest John Lipsey all sit down together - in person! - to discuss America’s stolen pandas and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation’s (DFC) recent loan of $550 million to Sri Lanka to support the construction of a deep-water shipping terminal. This loan is a recent example of DFC’s efforts to support the building of global infrastructure, while also supporting U.S. foreign policy. What’s the difference between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and America’s DFC lending? Can the US DFC compete with China’s BRI globally? Should we have let China take back our pandas?Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/giant-pandas-depart-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute-for-chinahttps://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/dfc-makes-more-91-billion-financial-commitments-fiscal-year-2023https://www.csis.org/analysis/mission-creep-development-finance-corporationhttps://fortune.com/2023/11/08/us-dfc-china-belt-and-road-553m-investment-sri-lanka-colombo-port/Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroach@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Ukrainian President Zelenksy's decision to rule out holding presidential elections next year even though his 5-year term ends in March 2024. With millions displaced internally or abroad, hundreds of thousands of soldiers fighting on the frontlines, and the country under constant threat of Russian attacks, the possibility of administering a free, safe, and secure election seems nearly impossible.Is it possible to administer an election without U.S. aid to Ukraine? Will the absence of democratic elections in Ukraine erode already decreasing support in Congress to provide more aid? Will Zelensky foes use his decision to attack him and Ukraine's commitment to democracy?Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://thehill.com/policy/international/4296123-ukraine-russia-war-volodymyr-zelensky-not-the-right-time-elections/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-birthday-grenade-b1b82e4f84eb5a39286d1500cf49fcd1https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/11/07/exp-zelensky-ukraine-elections-110704aseg1-cnni-world.cnnhttps://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/05/world/europe/ukraine-zelensky-elections-war.htmlhttps://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy-and-society/elections-in-times-of-war-6980/Follow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 272: Democratic Fault Lines on IsraelToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the Biden Administration’s current policies in the region, and how the Israel-Hamas war may affect President Biden’s campaign in 2024. The group also discusses recent comments made by former President Barack Obama and Democratic strategist David Axelrod on the Biden Presidency and its Middle East policies.Where does the current Democratic party stand on support for Israel? How might the Biden Administration’s support for Israel’s war against Hamas evolve as public and international support wanes? Who would even run for the Democratic nomination against President Biden?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!  Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/barack-obama-argues-all-of-us-are-complicit-in-israel-hamas-conflict-urges-acknowledgement-of-whole-truth/ar-AA1jqa5ghttps://news.yahoo.com/former-obama-strategist-wonders-biden-174227003.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/05/israel-war-hamas-gaza-live-news-palestine/#link-YH6Y4KSRIRGUXN2E2CRBK7K5BAhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/11/05/israel-war-hamas-gaza-live-news-palestine/#link-YH6Y4KSRIRGUXN2E2CRBK7K5BAhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/11/05/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-newshttps://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67324897https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/blinken-seeks-to-balance-aid-for-palestinian-civilians-against-israeli-self-defense-b2c442ecFollow our experts on Twitter: @notTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer @lestermunsonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.