Fault Lines
345 episodes - English - Latest episode: 1 day ago - ★★★★★ - 37 ratingsFault Lines, the National Security Institute’s flagship podcast, gets you quickly up to speed, three-times-a-week, on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America.
Our regular cast of foreign policy experts includes NSI Executive Director Jamil Jaffer, NSI Senior Fellow Lester Munson, and NSI Deputy Executive Director Jessica Jones.
Tune in to learn more about the issues dominating headlines and the news stories you may have missed.
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Episodes
Episode 328: Fools Gold - China’s Olympic Cheating
April 26, 2024 16:43 - 13 minutes - 9.7 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the New York Times’ report uncovering that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs on the eve of the 2021 Olympic Games. The report also revealed that the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency covered up these results. This report resurfaced the many Olympic scandals that have plagued China. Will this scandal damage China’s international reputation? Will this scandal convince the general publ...
Episode 327: Secretary Blinken Enters the Dragon’s Den
April 24, 2024 14:32 - 9 minutes - 4.57 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China where he will be meeting with senior Chinese officials. On the agenda - potential sanctions against Chinese financial institutions if China continues to support Russia’s build-up of its defense industrial base, including by providing significant quantities of machine tools, microelectronics, drone and turbojet engines, and technology for cruise missiles. Will the threat of sanctions against C...
Episode 326: The Largest Democracy Goes to the Polls!
April 22, 2024 15:31 - 9 minutes - 4.28 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, and Morgan discuss the ongoing Indian general election which began last week and goes through June 1, with over 950 million votes and a million polling places. The ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seeks to expand its controlling majority from 350 seats to over 400 seats in the Parliament and allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi to obtain an unprecedented 3rd term. What role will this election play in U.S.-India relations? Will concerns of democratic back...
Episode 325: One for One, is Everyone Done?
April 19, 2024 14:33 - 10 minutes - 5.03 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss Israel’s response to the over 300 drones and missiles launched against them by Iran earlier this week. Last night Israel struck the airbases near the Iranian city of Isfahan, near where Iran’s nuclear programme is located. The IAEA confirmed that there was no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites. Will this strike lead to further escalation? What was the message sent by Israel by the targets they picked to strike? Has Iran’s status decreased regionall...
Episode 324: Speaker Johnson's Aid Package Gambit
April 17, 2024 15:20 - 8 minutes - 3.92 MBToday, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss House Speaker Mike Johnson’s new strategy to pass the long-awaited aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific and his attempts to rebuff members of his own party who seek to oust him through a motion to vacate. What will the resulting aid package look like? What will the reputational impact for the United States be if the House fails to pass one or more of the aid bills? With an outstanding motion for Speaker Johnson to vacate the chair, wil...
Episode 323: Tehran Strikes Out
April 15, 2024 14:58 - 11 minutes - 5.07 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss Iran’s massive drone and missile attack against Israel which occurred over the weekend. Israel, in a coordinated air defense operation with the U.S. and others, was able to intercept 99% of Iran’s missiles and drones. Israel’s war cabinet met yesterday to formulate a response, while the Biden Administration said the U.S. would not participate in a counter-strike. Did Iran intend this attack merely as theatre or as the opening salvo of a larger es...
Episode 322: Capitol Hill Shakeup Over Spy Powers
April 12, 2024 15:44 - 10 minutes - 4.82 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss another ongoing fight within Congress - the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a vital national security program that allows the U.S. to gather intelligence on foreign adversaries and terrorists. Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump called on House Republicans to "Kill FISA,” leading to 19 GOP House members joining Democrats in blocking FISA legislation from moving forward. Why is Section 702 ...
Episode 321: Will Johnson Be Ukraine’s Savior?
April 10, 2024 15:09 - 10 minutes - 4.82 MBToday, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the ongoing conflicts within the U.S. House of Representatives over the $95 billion supplemental aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson faces threats from Republican rabble-rousers to oust him if he brings Ukraine aid to vote on the House floor. There is also speculation whether House Democrats will support the White House supplemental given the ongoing war in Gaza. How do these shakeups impact U.S. reputatio...
Episode 320: Mexican - Diplomatic - Standoff
April 08, 2024 15:40 - 7 minutes - 3.64 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss Ecuador’s recent decision to send police officers into the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who has been convicted on corruption and bribery charges. The raid has been with met international condemnation and Mexico has severed diplomatic ties with Ecuador. Why did Mexico grant political asylum to Jorge Glas? Are there any long-term implications for Ecuador’s violation of the Vienna Convention? Was Ecu...
Episode 319: Secretary Yellen Take 2
April 05, 2024 14:59 - 10 minutes - 5 MBToday, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s second trip to China, where she will advocate for fair treatment of American workers and businesses, press Chinese counterparts on unfair trade practices, and warn of the consequences of Chinese industrial overcapacity. This trip follows a domestic tour by Secretary Yellen to key swing states selling President Biden’s economic and industrial policies to the American Public. What is the Biden administration’s strateg...
Episode 318: Havana - or Moscow - Syndrome
April 03, 2024 15:37 - 8 minutes - 3.94 MBToday, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss a recent joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Insider, and Der Spiegel on Havana syndrome – a mysterious illness causing a variety of debilitating symptoms often seen in American diplomats and intelligence officials – that points the finger at Russia. This report contracts the U.S. Intelligence Community’s formal assessment from a year ago that found it was “very unlikely” that symptoms were caused by enemy operatives. How credible is this joint invest...
Episode 317: The Four Horsemen Visit Sudan
April 01, 2024 15:20 - 10 minutes - 4.94 MBToday, Jamil, Les, Bishop, and Martha discuss the civil war in Sudan which is entering its second year with a UN report stating that Sudan needs 'immediate action' on hunger to avert widespread death due to famine. Amidst the hunger and conflict, Sudan has seen the outbreak of several deadly diseases including a Cholera outbreak which has impacted thousands. How can the United States help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Sudan? Does Iran and Russia’s backing opposing sides of the civil w...
Episode 316: West Philippine Sea Clashes
March 29, 2024 15:45 - 9 minutes - 4.52 MBToday, Jamil, Les, Bishop, and Andy discuss the recent confrontation between two Chinese Coast Guard ships and a Philippine Navy vessel near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands that resulted in injuries to several Philippine sailors after the use of high-pressure water cannons. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to counter what he called “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks” by China’s coast guard and said that the Philippines would not be “c...
Episode 315: The U.S. Breaks with Israel?
March 27, 2024 14:27 - 11 minutes - 5.08 MBToday, Jess, Les, Morgan, and John discuss the recent passing of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The United States angered Israel by abstaining from the vote, the fifth attempt to pass the resolution, which it previously vetoed leading to Israel canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation. Is the Biden administration truly breaking with Israel in policy? Will the U.N. Security Council resolution impact the situation on the ground in Gaza?...
Episode 314: Terror Strikes the Heart of Moscow
March 25, 2024 15:59 - 9 minutes - 4.51 MBToday, Jess, Les, Morgan, and John discuss last week’s terror attack in Moscow at the Crocus City complex, which killed more than 130 people. ISIS-K, an Afghanistan-based offshoot of ISIS, claimed responsibility for the deadliest terror attack in Russia in decades, and Russia formally charged four men on Sunday for committing terrorism. What does this terror attack do to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strongman image? Does ongoing the war in Ukraine leave Russia more vulnerable to terro...
Episode 313: China Has Its Trade and Houthi Terror Too
March 22, 2024 20:44 - 9 minutes - 4.37 MBToday, 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 th...
Episode 312: Local Elections - Geopolitical Impact
March 20, 2024 14:52 - 8 minutes - 4 MBToday, 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?...
Episode 311: Is Niger Giving America the Boot?
March 18, 2024 15:42 - 11 minutes - 5.48 MBToday, 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. offici...
Episode 310: Appeasement at Home and Abroad?
March 15, 2024 14:53 - 9 minutes - 4.54 MBToday, 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 Uni...
Episode 309: President Duda in Washington
March 13, 2024 15:47 - 10 minutes - 4.86 MBToday, 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 ...
Episode 308: Haiti on the Brink
March 11, 2024 14:10 - 9 minutes - 4.25 MBToday, 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...
Episode 307: Fault Lines on the State of the Union
March 08, 2024 16:35 - 10 minutes - 5.01 MBToday, 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...
Episode 306: Benny in the Dog House
March 06, 2024 16:19 - 7 minutes - 3.54 MBToday, 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 ...
Episode 305: Guyana and Cuba - a Diplomatic Dance?
March 04, 2024 16:30 - 7 minutes - 3.66 MBToday, 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...
Episode 304: Protecting Americans - From Chinese EV’s?
March 01, 2024 16:35 - 12 minutes - 5.51 MBToday, 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 E...
Episode 303: The Talk of Europe - Troops and Nukes?
February 28, 2024 16:15 - 8 minutes - 4.09 MBToday, 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 t...
Episode 302: Hard Truths from Poland
February 26, 2024 15:51 - 8 minutes - 3.71 MBToday, 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 o...
Episode 301: Ukraine’s Ongoing Struggle: Reflections on Two Years of Conflict
February 23, 2024 16:39 - 8 minutes - 3.69 MBToday, 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 th...
Episode 300: The End of the Line for Julian Assange?
February 22, 2024 00:29 - 8 minutes - 4.11 MBHappy 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...
Episode 299: Subs, Planes, and Proxies: Iran on the Move
February 19, 2024 15:36 - 8 minutes - 3.98 MBToday, 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 ...
Episode 298: Will Russian Nukes in Space get Congress to Act?
February 16, 2024 15:52 - 10 minutes - 4.85 MBToday, 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...
Episode 297: Pakistan Elections - A Coalition of the Minorities
February 14, 2024 16:04 - 7 minutes - 3.64 MBToday, 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...
Episode 296: Last Week’s Backpfeifengesicht
February 12, 2024 16:43 - 7 minutes - 3.45 MBToday, 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 int...
Episode 295: Ukraine and the Future of Warfare
February 09, 2024 15:49 - 8 minutes - 4.07 MB*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 confli...
Episode 294: Zut Alors! What is up in West Africa?
February 07, 2024 17:28 - 9 minutes - 13.5 MBToday, 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...
Episode 293: The U.S. Strikes Back, Kinda
February 05, 2024 16:38 - 7 minutes - 3.65 MBToday, 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 ques...
Episode 292: What do New Hampshire Voters Think About National Security?
February 02, 2024 16:18 - 10 minutes - 4.99 MBToday, 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...
Fault Lines Special Episode - NSI on the Ground: The New Hampshire Primary
January 31, 2024 16:42 - 24 minutes - 11.3 MBToday, 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 i...
Episode 291: Americans Murdered by Iran-Backed Drones in Jordan
January 29, 2024 16:00 - 7 minutes - 3.5 MBToday, 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...
Episode 290: The Border Deal Kerfuffle
January 26, 2024 16:14 - 9 minutes - 4.35 MBToday, 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 epis...
Episode 289: One Down, One to Go - Sweden’s Membership into NATO
January 24, 2024 16:34 - 10 minutes - 4.63 MBToday, 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-...
Episode 288: What do Americans Think About National Security?
January 22, 2024 16:22 - 9 minutes - 4.31 MBToday, 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...
Fault Lines Special Episode - NSI on the Ground: The Iowa Caucus
January 19, 2024 17:18 - 14 minutes - 6.59 MBToday, 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 sha...
Episode 287: Walking the Fine Line on the Red Sea
January 17, 2024 16:31 - 9 minutes - 4.19 MBToday, 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 ap...
Episode 286: A Conflict Brewing in Our Backyard?
January 12, 2024 15:45 - 7 minutes - 3.47 MBToday, 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 polit...
Episode 285: The Middle East - A Lingering Specter of Escalation?
January 10, 2024 16:26 - 9 minutes - 4.49 MBToday, 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 com...
Episode 284: Need to Know? Or Need to Share? Secretary of Defense Austin’s Hospitalization.
January 08, 2024 15:58 - 8 minutes - 4 MBToday, 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. I...
Episode 283: Baghdad Drone Strike: Is the Biden Administration Getting Tough on Iran Proxies?
January 05, 2024 17:17 - 8 minutes - 4.07 MBToday, 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 ...
Episode 282: Turbulent Tides: The Houthi Threat in the Red Sea
January 03, 2024 16:22 - 8 minutes - 3.87 MBToday, 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 a...
RNDF Special Series: Trae Stephens – Understanding The Future of Tech Innovation and National Security
December 15, 2023 16:31 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MBRecorded 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...