Fault Lines
371 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days 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 261: Spooky, Suspicious, and… Russian Sabotage?
October 13, 2023 14:35 - 8 minutes - 3.93 MBToday, Jessica, Morgan, and Andy discuss the recent suspicious damage to a Finnish gas pipeline and telecommunications cable, both of which run under the Baltic Sea. On Thursday, Finland's intelligence services said that a “state actor” could be responsible for the pipeline damage but didn't speculate on who might be involved. Is Putin responsible for the possible sabotage of the undersea pipeline and cable? What do we think NATO’s response will be, if any, if it is confirmed Russia was...
Episode 260: Iran's Role in the Israel-Hamas War
October 11, 2023 15:35 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MBToday, Morgan, Les, NSI Senior Fellow Andy Keiser, and NSI Fellow Martha Miller discuss the latest on the Israel-Hamas war, as well as Iran's role in the conflict. How should the U.S. provide assistance to Israel? Should Congress combine aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan? How have Russia and Iran colluded to increase their sphere of influence? 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 ou...
Episode 259: Beginnings of the Israel-Hamas War
October 09, 2023 15:16 - 7 minutes - 3.56 MBToday, Morgan, Les, NSI Senior Fellow Andrew Borene, and NSI Fellow Martha Miller discuss recent developments on the Hamas attack on Israel. Will Congress begin funding for Israel when aid to Ukraine has been stalled? Did President Biden's desperation for an Iran nuclear deal influence this attack? What are the next steps for the United States? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines! Want to learn more about this...
Episode 258: McCarthy's Historic Oust
October 06, 2023 15:02 - 9 minutes - 4.51 MBToday, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss former speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy's removal and what this means for Congress and the U.S. moving forward, in particular, for future U.S. support for Ukraine. Who will be the next speaker of the House? Should world leaders be worried or is this just U.S. politics? Has the Biden Administration been doing enough to garner public support for Ukraine? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault ...
Episode 257: U.S. Prescribes a Fentanyl Intervention
October 04, 2023 15:43 - 7 minutes - 3.59 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss China and Mexico's role in the American fentanyl epidemic and how to stop it. How big is the fentanyl problem? Is the U.S. government doing enough to combat this issue? Is this a border problem or a China-accountability problem? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 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: ...
Episode 256: Poland Heads to the Polls
October 02, 2023 15:06 - 9 minutes - 4.26 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the upcoming elections in Poland and recent anti-government demonstrations. Are U.S. policymakers and the Biden administration recognizing the importance of this election? Do these demonstrations send a larger message to the EU? Is this problematic for NATO? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines! Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts ...
Episode 255: African Stability Flies the Coup
September 29, 2023 15:13 - 9 minutes - 4.18 MBToday, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss France's exit from Niger, recent coups in the Sahel, and the Wagner Group's presence in the region. Does France's exit provide an opportunity for the U.S. to step in and provide support? Should we be rethinking our institutional approach to Africa? How should the U.S. respond to the Wagner group? 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 the...
Episode 254: Choppy Waters in the South China Sea
September 27, 2023 14:47 - 7 minutes - 3.55 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the disputed South China Sea, where the Philippines has recently removed a floating barrier that China had installed to prevent Philippine fishing boats from using the area. How should the U.S. best defend our interests and those of our allies in the South China Sea? Will a greater U.S. presence provoke conflict? Should the U.S. be looking more regionally? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest epis...
Episode 253: Haiti Revisited: Blinken Pledges to Help UN Peacekeeping Mission
September 25, 2023 15:51 - 8 minutes - 3.91 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the U.S.’ pledge to assist a UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti that aims to counter gang violence and provide humanitarian relief with Kenya’s leadership. Is this mission a good idea? Why should the U.S. get involved? How will the U.S. maintain oversight on this UN peacekeeping mission? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines! Want to learn more about this topic? Check ou...
Episode 252: Biden's Not-So-Secret Iran Nuclear Deal
September 22, 2023 15:57 - 10 minutes - 4.75 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the recent Iran-U.S. prisoner swap and the 'mutual agreement' between the two nations. Is this secretly a new Iran nuclear deal? Does this put the Biden Administration in legal trouble? Is this agreement good for U.S. foreign policy without Congressional oversight? 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 exper...
Episode 251: Sikh and Destroy: Canada Calls Out India Over Assassination
September 20, 2023 15:17 - 8 minutes - 4.07 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, and Morgan discuss the recent assassination of Canadian citizen and Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Trudeau's allegations, and India's response. How does America's strategic competition with China impact its relationship with India after these allegations? How will the United States balance these interests with its relationship with Canada? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines! Want to learn mor...
Episode 250: UNGA in the Big Apple
September 18, 2023 17:51 - 7 minutes - 10.4 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, Morgan, and Les get together in-person (!) to discuss the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City. What tensions are likely to arise at UNGA? Should the Biden administration be concerned about France and the UK's absences? Can the U.S. use UNGA as a platform to promote multilateralism? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines! Want to learn more about this topic? Check out the...
Episode 249: Breaking Barriers: DOD & the AI Revolution
September 13, 2023 15:34 - 22 minutes - 10.2 MBIn this episode, join NSI’s Jamil Jaffer and the Department of Defense’s Jennifer Hay, Director of the Defense Digital Service in the Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Office of the DOD, and Visiting Fellow at NSI, to discuss how the DOD is grappling with the AI revolution. How have the DOD and NSC’s perceptions of AI changed over time? How does the DOD think about trust, safety, and security in regards to big data and AI? Where is the DOD at on AI policy? Thanks for joining Fault Lin...
Episode 248: Breaking Barriers: Will Hurd Sounds Off on AI
September 06, 2023 15:15 - 23 minutes - 10.6 MBIn this episode, join Lester and Will Hurd, candidate for the Republican nomination for President, former U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd District, and former Board Member for OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to discuss what Congress has done in the wake of AI and what that means for Americans. How have the private and public sectors reacted to AI? How do we control AI? How should the U.S. think about its competition with China with respect to AI? Tune into Fault Lines all summer...
Episode 247: Breaking Barriers: The AI Race to 2030
August 30, 2023 16:01 - 20 minutes - 9.58 MBIn this episode, join Jessica and Ylli Bajraktari, President and CEO of the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) and former Executive Director of the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, to discuss the implications of AI in warfare and what that means for U.S. national security in the near future. What could happen if the U.S. falls behind in tech competition? How will AI change warfare in the next five to ten years? How should the U.S. think about countries with d...
Episode 246: Breaking Barriers: AI: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
August 23, 2023 16:01 - 23 minutes - 10.7 MBIn this episode, Morgan and Dr. Gary Marcus, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neural Science at NYU, CEO of Geometric Intelligence, and the Founder and Executive Chairman of Robust AI, discuss how Dr. Marcus got involved in artificial intelligence from a young age and the multifaceted risks and opportunities AI poses. How does AI relate to natural intelligence and cognitive science? Where is AI headed - in a positive or negative direction? What are the biggest dangers and risks that AI ...
Episode 245: Breaking Barriers: We MITRE Be Ready For AI Security
August 16, 2023 15:53 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MBIn this episode, Lester and Dr. Charles Clancy, SVP and Chief Futurist of MITRE, as well as head of MITRE Labs, discuss the ideal regulatory framework for AI, what Congress should be doing to enforce AI regulation, and how AI is being used to enhance cybersecurity capabilities. How can we balance the regulatory side and innovation side of AI at both the federal level and state level? What has been AI’s impact in cyber warfare? How can we close the workforce gaps in AI and cybersecurity? Tu...
Episode 244: Breaking Barriers: Is AI a NatSec Threat or Opportunity for the DoD?
August 09, 2023 15:56 - 21 minutes - 9.7 MBIn this episode, Jamil and Michèle Flournoy discuss how the Department of Defense should weigh the threats and opportunities associated with artificial intelligence, what the future of autonomous weapons looks like, and how we can win the tech race with China. Is AI a net threat or a net opportunity for the U.S.? Is the Department of Defense AI ready? Should we be more concerned about China or killer robots? Tune into Fault Lines all summer to hear from more AI experts as part of, Breaking...
Episode 243: Breaking Barriers: NSC and the AI Machine
August 02, 2023 15:50 - 25 minutes - 11.9 MBToday, on Breaking Barriers: Understanding the AI Revolution, Jess speaks with NSC Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology, Ms. Anne Neuberger. In this episode, Jess and Ms. Neuberger outline the Biden Administration’s AI efforts, including the White House's recent announcement of a pledge made by leading private sector companies on mitigating AI's risks and an upcoming EO. How does DNSA Neuberger see the U.S. government working with the international community t...
Episode 242: Breaking Barriers: The Evolution of the Defense Industry
July 26, 2023 15:56 - 22 minutes - 10.3 MBToday, on Breaking Barriers: Understanding the AI Revolution, Morgan Viña speaks with Sue Gordon, the former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. In this episode, Morgan and Ms. Gordon help break down how AI impacts U.S. interests and the current capabilities of AI in the defense sector. What does the future of the IC and the defense sector look like with the emergence of AI? What defense capabilities are enhanced by the incorporation of AI? How is artificial intelligence imp...
Episode 241: Breaking Barriers: Deep Fakes - Pandora’s Box?
July 19, 2023 15:19 - 25 minutes - 11.5 MBToday, for our special summer series, Breaking Barriers: Understanding the AI Revolution, Les is joined by deepfake technology expert Professor Hany Farid, who teaches at the University of California, Berkeley. Les and Professor Farid discuss the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence images, the possibility of multilateral regulation, and the need for social media companies to work cooperatively to flag AI-generated content. Where does the liability fall when using other people’s ima...
Episode 240: Breaking Barriers: Exploring the Basics and Benefits of AI Part II
July 14, 2023 15:48 - 17 minutes - 7.83 MBToday on, Breaking Barriers: Understanding the AI Revolution, is part II of Jamil's conversation with Dr. Stephen Wolfram, founder of Mathematica and Wolfram Research and all-around AI expert on the complexities of AI and potential regulation. Dr. Wolfram talks about AI free will, the moral complexities of AI’s decision making, and how AI can streamline supply chains. Should we be worried about AI developing its own free will? How much decision-making power can we leave to AI on its own, if...
Episode 239: Breaking Barriers: Exploring the Basics and The Benefits of AI
July 12, 2023 15:38 - 25 minutes - 11.8 MBToday, to kick off our special summer series, Breaking Barriers: Understanding the AI Revolution, Jamil is joined by Dr. Stephen Wolfram, founder of Mathematica and Wolfram Research, creator of the Wolfram Language, author of, What is Chat GPT Doing… and Why Does it Work?, and all-around AI expert to dissect the complexities of artificial intelligence. Dr. Wolfram explains the origins of AI, how computational systems operate, and the ways that large language models are able to generate livel...
Episode 238: Beijing’s Exploits South of the River
June 30, 2023 15:36 - 8 minutes - 3.81 MBToday, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss China’s growing influence in Latin America after Guatemalan Presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo advocated for expanding relations with China. This statement, combined with Brazil considering substituting the dollar for the yen and Honduras revoking its recognition of Taiwan, shows that states in the global south are trending away from the US What should the US do to counter China’s growing influence? Following the Chinese spy base in Cuba, does the ...
Episode 237: All Wagner, All the Time
June 28, 2023 15:41 - 8 minutes - 3.91 MBEpisode 237: All Wagner, All the Time Today, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss the future of the Wagner group in Africa after Wagner Group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, attempted a coup in Russia over the weekend. Libya, Sudan, Mali, and the Central African Republic, all rely on Wagner forces to fight back insurgents. With few alternatives to protect governments in these countries, an absence of the Wagner group would be destabilizing. What is the future of the Wagner group? Will the Wagner Gro...
Episode 236: Russia, Russia, Russia!
June 26, 2023 15:25 - 8 minutes - 4.11 MBToday, Les, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the Wagner Group’s uprising in Russia over the weekend. Wagner group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ordered the mercenary troops to march towards Moscow on Saturday before Belarusian leader, Aleksandr Lukashenko stepped in to negotiate a diplomatic end to the mutiny. Who could succeed Putin if he were to fall from power? How should Ukraine leverage this moment of weakness in Russia to enhance their counteroffensive? And has Chinese President, Xi Jinping, r...
Episode 235: Modi Comes to Dinner
June 23, 2023 15:54 - 9 minutes - 4.25 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, and Morgan discuss Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and Thursday night’s state dinner at the White House. President Biden and PM Modi reached several strategic cooperation and defense agreements during PM Modi’s visit. Both India and the U.S. share China as a pressing security threat, so a strong partnership in the region could be indispensable to both moving forward. What does the Fault Lines crew think of this budding relationship? Is it the “partnership of...
Episode 234: Tony’s China Conundrum
June 21, 2023 20:24 - 10 minutes - 4.6 MBToday, Jess, Jamil, Les, and our now official co-host Morgan Viña discuss Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s long-awaited meeting with President Xi in China. Secretary Blinken’s visit comes at a time when the U.S.-China relationship has been strained due to China’s support of Russia, the deployment of spy balloons, and repeated provocations in the South China Sea. What score does the Fault Lines crew give Secretary Blinken on his China visit? Was Blinken’s visit timely? How, and will, the...
Episode 233: China & the Palestinian Authority: An Alliance of Convenience, Necessity, or Boredom?
June 16, 2023 15:47 - 8 minutes - 3.94 MBToday, Jamil, Les, and Morgan, discuss China’s strategic cooperation agreement with the Palestinian Authority. China has forged a number of strategic relationships in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, and now, the Palestinian Authority. In light of China’s strategic efforts in the this region, some worry, the U.S. is too focused on China, leaving behind its leadership role in the other parts of the globe. Should the U.S. be alarmed by this strategic cooperation agreem...
Episode 232: UNESC...nO: Does the U.S. Need a Seat at the Table?
June 14, 2023 16:06 - 8 minutes - 3.79 MBToday, Jess, Les, and Morgan, debate the Biden Administration’s decision to rejoin UNESCO. There have been concerns for a decade over mismanagement. This prompted the U.S. to leave under the Trump Administration. The Biden Administration recently announced that the U.S. will return to UNESCO as well as pay $600 million in back dues. Is the $600 million of taxpayer dollars in back dues worth the benefits we receive from the organization? Is membership to UNESCO like a participation trophy a...
Episode 231: We Will Always Have Havana
June 12, 2023 15:44 - 9 minutes - 4.16 MBToday, for a Fault Lines first, there are four incredible hosts! Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the Biden Administration’s handling of the Chinese spy base in Cuba. While the Administration initially denied the reports from the Wall Street Journal it has now come full circle to acknowledge the existence of Chinese spy bases around the world. What letter grade should the Biden Administration received in its handling of this situation? What message does this flip flopping send domestica...
Episode 230: LIV, Laugh, Love
June 09, 2023 15:52 - 9 minutes - 4.39 MBToday, Jess, Les, and special guest host and NSI Senior Fellow, Morgan Vina, discuss the shocking merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which is backed by a Saudi wealth fund. The PGA tour has recently faced backlash, including a possible DOJ antitrust investigation, following this deal. Some argue this merger is a key step in Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2023 plan to create a “vibrant society.” What does the Fault Lines crew think of this merger? Is it sportswashing or part of Saudi’s ...
Episode 229: Alien Pilots: The Truth is Out There
June 07, 2023 17:42 - 8 minutes - 3.95 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss Air Force veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, David Grusch’s claims of the US government secretly recovering alien spacecraft accompanied by “pilot” remains for decades as part of a top-secret UFO retrieval program. What does the Fault Lines crew think of the possibility of UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena)? How credible are David Grusch’s claims? Are there alien life forms surveilling Earth? Hear our experts d...
Episode 228: Top Gun China Policy
June 05, 2023 15:50 - 10 minutes - 4.7 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss rising tensions between the U.S. and China due to recent encounters between Chinese and US aircraft over the SCS, and in the Taiwan Strait between a US destroyer and a Canadian ship that were intercepted by a Chinese destroyer. Furthermore, at the Shangri-La dialogue over the weekend in Singapore, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shook hands with Chinese Defense Minister, Li Shangfu, but they did not have a meeting. What does the Fault Lines crew think...
Episode 227: Hey Siri: Is AI Taking Over?
June 02, 2023 15:48 - 8 minutes - 3.83 MBToday, Jamil, Jess, and NSI Senior Fellow Andy Keiser discuss the dangers and benefits of AI in a national security context and questions whether government regulation is needed. This conversation was prompted after a joint statement where AI experts concluded that “artificial intelligence may lead to human extinction and reducing the risks associated with the technology should be a global priority.” Should (and will) the U.S. government take action to limit the proliferation of U.S.- or al...
Episode 226: Uganda Loses Its Mind
May 31, 2023 15:50 - 8 minutes - 4.07 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss Uganda’s passage of one of the world's toughest anti-gay laws that calls for life imprisonment for anyone convicted of homosexuality. The legislation received widespread condemnation from many Western governments and human rights activists. How should the international community push back? Should the US cut off aid to Uganda? If not, what can be done to influence Uganda’s - and potentially other countries' similar - laws? Hear our experts debate these is...
Episode 225: China Attempts Guam Tip-Over
May 26, 2023 15:34 - 7 minutes - 7.28 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss this week’s announcement by Microsoft and the U.S. government that they detected a Chinese cyber hack by hacking group, Volt Typhoon, directed at critical infrastructure systems, including telecommunications gear, located in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. Is China hacking Guam a prelude to a Taiwan invasion? Should the U.S. ramp up its response against China? Is the U.S. prepared to deter enemy action in the cyber domain? Hear our experts deb...
Episode 224: Let’s Make A Deal: Saudi Edition
May 24, 2023 19:05 - 9 minutes - 4.26 MBEpisode 224: Let’s Make A Deal: Saudi Edition Today, Les, Jess, and special guest host and NSI Senior Fellow, Morgan Vina, discuss NSA Jake Sullivan’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince MBS last week to discuss, among many things, about the possibility of Saudi-Israeli normalization. MBS does not want to take any more incremental steps toward warming relations with Israel, but instead, wants to work towards US deliverables like advanced weapons systems and US-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation ag...
Episode 223: Gaga at G7
May 22, 2023 16:15 - 8 minutes - 4.05 MBToday, Les, Jess, and special guest host and NSI Senior Fellow, Morgan Vina, discuss the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan last week. During the meeting, the Biden Administration agreed to not oppose the transfer of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine and to help train Ukrainian pilots. President Biden also called for “de-risking” the US-China economic relationship rather than “de-coupling” the world’s two biggest economies. What does the Fault Lines crew think of Biden’s timing and stance on F-16s for Uk...
Episode 222: Harvard in Bangkok?
May 19, 2023 15:47 - 8 minutes - 3.94 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss how the progressive Move Forward Party in Thailand, led by 42-year-old Harvard-and-MIT-educated business executive Pita Limjaroenrat, gained over 150 seats in the lower house of Thailand’s bicameral parliament. How will the political landscape of Thailand continue to change? How will Thailand balance its relationship with the U.S. and its willingness to also work with China? Should the U.S. be pushing back more aggressively against human rights violations...
Episode 221: The Khan Kerfuffle
May 17, 2023 16:03 - 8 minutes - 3.94 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest by almost 100 paramilitary forces on charges of corruption. The Pakistani Supreme Court subsequently declared Mr. Khan’s arrest unlawful but said he should remain for now at a police guest house under court supervision. He was then granted bail and released from police custody. Does the Fault Lines crew think a coup will emerge – as Pakistan has suffered four coups in its first fifty years of independ...
Episode 220: Turkey Votes
May 15, 2023 15:46 - 9 minutes - 4.45 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss yesterday’s vote in Turkey, which will result in a runoff vote on May 28 between President Erdogan and his chief rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, as neither candidate received over 50% of the vote. If Kilicdaroglu wins, which would end Erdogan’s 20-year rule, he indicated that he will seek better ties with the United States and the West. Do we expect that bilateral relations will improve if Kilicdaroglu wins? If Erdogan prevails again, how should President Bide...
Episode 219: South Africa Gets in Warm Water
May 12, 2023 15:19 - 9 minutes - 4.46 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss yesterday’s announcement from the US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that the South African government had provided arms and ammunition to Russia in its over a year-long war against Ukraine. Should the White House be making this announcement instead of the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa? Why is the South African government supporting Russia? Should the U.S. government impose sanctions on South Africa? Hear our experts debate these issues and...
Episode 218: The Biden Doctrine: Let’s Go Backwards Pt. 2
May 10, 2023 16:01 - 10 minutes - 5.03 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil, in a Fault Lines-first, resume their debate from Monday about the Biden Doctrine that stemmed from a Fareed Zakaria’s Washington Post op-ed, which laid out concerns about NSA Jake Sullivan's ongoing statements that claim, in order to remain competitive with China and protect US national security and economic interests, the US Government needs to take a more active role in promoting and growing a handful of critical industries here in the US. What are some concer...
Episode 217: The Biden Doctrine: Let’s Go Backwards
May 08, 2023 15:48 - 10 minutes - 4.62 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss an op-ed by Fareed Zakaria that appeared in the Washington Post this weekend. Zakaria dives into his concerns centered on the "Biden Doctrine," and the use of industrial policy to further U.S. government goals. What does the Fault Lines crew think of the doctrine? Is America trying to emulate China’s economic model and if so, why? How can America both continue to innovate while making sure national security needs are being met? Hear our experts debate ...
Episode 216: The Kremlin’s Dodged Drones
May 05, 2023 15:46 - 9 minutes - 4.27 MBToday, Les, Jess, and special guest host and NSI Senior Fellow Morgan Viña discuss the alleged intercepted drone attacks that occurred over the Kremlin. Russia accused Ukraine of trying to assassinate President Putin, though Putin was not in the Kremlin at the time of the explosions, and Kyiv has denied any involvement. Yesterday, Russia blamed the U.S. for the attack on the Kremlin and said that Washington has “direct involvement” in the war in Ukraine. What does the Fault Lines crew think...
Episode 215: Haiti Somehow Gets Worse
May 03, 2023 15:46 - 7 minutes - 3.42 MBToday, Les, Jamil, and special guest host and NSI Senior Fellow Morgan Viña discuss how a dozen gang members were lynched by ordinary Haitians who were fed up with the gangland violence that has engulfed their country. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an international peacekeeping force, saying that the violence is comparable to countries in armed conflict. Why is President Biden ignoring Haiti? Who should take the lead in forming an international peacekeeping force? Wi...
Episode 214: Sudan Crisis: Americans Remain At Risk
May 01, 2023 15:45 - 7 minutes - 3.65 MBToday, Les, Jamil, and special guest host and NSI Senior Fellow Morgan Viña discuss how ten-thousand Americans citizens and green card holders—many of them dual-U.S. and Sudanese nationals—are currently stuck in the middle of Sudan’s growing civil war with limited routes for escape. What should the U.S. government be doing now about Americans still stranded in Sudan? Why have the Europeans and international orgs, like the U.N., been more effective than the U.S. at getting their people out? ...
Episode 213: Is Nuclear Diplomacy as Easy as American Pie? 🥧
April 28, 2023 16:17 - 9 minutes - 4.16 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss this week’s meeting between President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, during which President Biden promised to include South Korea more substantially in strategic planning in the event of a nuclear conflict with North Korea. What are the consequences of abandoning the notion of a “denuclearized” Korean peninsula? How much of this announcement was about China? How will the regime in Pyongyang respond? Hear our experts debate these issues a...
Episode 212: Hanging Chad
April 26, 2023 15:36 - 8 minutes - 3.75 MBToday, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss reports stemming from recent intelligence leaks which point to the threats Chad, an important security partner to the U.S., is facing. Documents describe efforts by Russia’s Wagner Group to recruit rebels from Chad and establish a training site for fighters in the neighboring Central African Republic as part of an evolving plot to topple the Chadian government. How widespread and dangerous is the Wagner Group’s presence on the African continent? How can t...