Fault Lines

Latest Episodes:

Episode 422: Trump’s Address: Foreign Policy, Tariffs, and Tough Talk Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Today, Martha, Morgan, and Jess break down President Trump’s March 4th national address, which was largely focused on domestic issues, with foreign policy and national security taking a backseat. When those topics did come up—more than an hour in—Trump doubled down on tariffs, floated taking over Greenland and reclaiming the Panama Canal, and took aim at U.S. foreign assistance.

What do Trump’s policies mean for U.S. allies and adversaries? Will his supporters tolerate the economic pain of tariffs? And as China pushes back against U.S. pressure, is a trade war—or worse—on the horizon?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@marthamillerdc

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/3YHMqqkGZ6o

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 421: Deal or No Deal? Trump, Zelensky, and Ukraine’s Future Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Jess break down the tense Oval Office meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—and why it went so badly. With major disagreements over Russia’s role and the terms of a ceasefire, Zelensky quickly turned to European allies, sparking talk of a “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine without U.S. leadership.

Can Zelensky and Trump find a way to move forward, or has this meeting widened the divide? As Europe signals a greater role in Ukraine’s defense, will they deliver more than rhetoric? And is Trump’s approach placating Russia—or pressuring Zelensky into a deal he doesn’t want?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

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@lestermunson

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/SPXlhkpfne8

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 420: Ukraine’s Deal with the U.S.: Substance or Symbolism? Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

Today, Jess, Lester, Morgan, and Amy break down the latest developments in Ukraine after a busy week in Washington with a rotating cast of world leaders. With French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in D.C. emphasizing the importance of American support to ward off Russian aggression in Europe, the Trump administration is hosting Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy today to discuss a deal granting U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals—one that potentially offers little in the way of security guarantees for Kyiv.

Is a potential critical minerals agreement a step toward a ceasefire, or just political theater? Are Russia and the U.S. positioning themselves for a settlement while leaving Ukraine out of the equation? And is Washington aligning with Russia on recent UN votes a sign of shifting U.S. priorities?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

@amykmitchell

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Ln9165W7PSw

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 419: Undersea Sabotage: The Shadow War on Global Infrastructure Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Today, Martha, Les, Morgan, and Andrew dive into the growing threat to undersea cables—critical infrastructure carrying 95% of global internet traffic. From Taiwan detaining a Chinese-crewed vessel suspected of sabotage to Chinese and Russian-linked ships damaging cables in the Baltic Sea, these incidents highlight a dangerous pattern of grey-zone warfare.

Are China and Russia testing Western response thresholds? How prepared is the U.S. to respond to these attacks? And what steps should the Trump administration take to deter future sabotage and protect critical infrastructure?

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/taiwan-undersea-cable-penghu-islands-china-14bfd6ddad184d77ae45068fee9b37d2

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/25/asia/taiwan-detains-ship-undersea-cable-intl-hnk/index.html

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@marthamillerdc

@AndrewBorene

@morganlroach

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/PJVPqdtUVDE

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 418: Germany’s Elections and Europe’s New Political Reality Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Today, Martha, Les, Morgan, and Jess break down the results of Germany’s federal elections and the seismic shift in the country’s political landscape. While the CDU secured about 29%, the far-right AfD doubled its support, making the Bundestag more fractured than ever—potentially complicating defense spending and transatlantic cooperation.

What does the rise of AfD mean for Germany’s role in NATO and its relationship with the U.S.? As CDU leader Friedrich Merz signals a move toward greater independence from Washington, is Germany preparing to stand on its own? And with European leaders questioning U.S. commitment, is this election a sign of a larger shift in the U.S.-EU dynamic?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@marthamillerdc

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

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And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/kf1mrYI05mc

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 417: McConnell’s Legacy: Strength, Strategy, and the State of the Senate Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Today, Les, Jess, and Algene discuss the retirement of Senator Mitch McConnell after 42 years in Congress—marking the end of an era for Republican leadership and a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy. As one of the longest-serving and most influential Senate leaders in history, McConnell championed alliances, engagement abroad, and the "peace through strength" doctrine.

What does his departure mean for U.S. national security strategy? How will his absence shape the Senate’s role in foreign policy? And how did McConnell’s tenure impact the Senate as an institution?

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@NotTVJessJones

@AlgeneSajery

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/YQggnAywLc8

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 416: DeepSeek, TikTok, and the U.S.-China Tech Battle Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

Today, Jess, Les, Amy, and Andrew discuss the rising concerns over DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot positioning itself as a competitor to OpenAI, Gemini, and other U.S.-developed platforms. The U.S. has banned DeepSeek from federal systems, and South Korea recently announced it will block new downloads, with both countries underscoring data privacy and national security concerns.

Is China pulling ahead in AI development? What are the concerns regarding DeepSeek and other Chinese-developed apps like TikTok? What might the Trump Administration responses mean for larger U.S.-China relations?

Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/business/south-korea-deepseek-china-ai.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/us-lawmakers-move-ban-deepseek-government-devices-chinese-surveillance-rcna190965

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/01/how-deepseek-changed-future-aiand-what-means-national-security/402594/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@AndrewBorene

@NotTVJessJones

@amykmitchell

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Vrj2TbV468E

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 415: Ukraine Negotiations Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Today, Les, Amy, Andrew, and Jess break down the latest push for peace in Ukraine as negotiations unfold in Saudi Arabia. With President Trump advocating for talks, uncertainty looms over who is involved—Ukraine’s role remains unclear, and European allies are scrambling to protect their interests with an emergency summit in Paris.

Are these talks the first step toward ending the war, or is the West handing Putin a victory? Could European troops on the ground shift the balance? And what message does this send to U.S. allies about standing up to aggression?

Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/politics/ukraine-zelensky-trump-russia.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/world/europe/vance-europe-putin-russia.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/16/us-russia-ukraine-war-talks-saudi-arabia/

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-ukraine-slowing-advance-reasons-9debf4e1

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@AndrewBorene

@NotTVJessJones

@amykmitchell

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/HN6S35rIiQM

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 414: Trump, Modi, and the Power of Partnership Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Today, Jess, Bishop, and Algene unpack Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington and his high-profile meetings with both President Trump and Elon Musk. With defense cooperation, tariffs, energy imports, and tech visas on the table, the visit signals growing ties between the U.S. and India—wrapped in a public display of political friendship.

Will this “bromance” lead to deeper defense collaboration and secure supply chains? Can India help the U.S. maintain its edge in AI and counter China’s influence? And does Musk’s meeting with Modi blur the lines between business and government?

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/trump-india-modi-visit-washington-tariffs-83d5f6af65f923dc4feb3f38338c888d

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj91d3jkpvlo

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23ndleveymo

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@marthamillerdc

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ndk73b3GO28

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 413: Trump’s Ultimatum: Hostages, Aid, and Middle East Power Plays Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

Today, Martha, Les, Morgan, and Jess unpack the latest developments in the Middle East and King Abdullah of Jordan’s visit to Washington, D.C. With Trump’s Saturday deadline for the release of Israeli hostages looming, tensions are rising as the Arab League prepares to meet and as Egypt and Jordan weigh their response to Trump’s push for them to take in displaced Palestinians.

What impact will Trump’s threat to withhold aid from Egypt and Jordan have? Is his strategy giving Arab states flexibility or forcing their hand? And as Middle East dynamics shift, what role can U.S. allies play in addressing the humanitarian crisis?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/11/trump-abdullah-gaza-plan-00203602

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/11/politics/trump-jordan-king-abdullah-gaza-plan/index.html

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-wants-jordans-help-with-gaza-its-king-is-looking-for-a-way-to-say-no-0958ad69?mod=world_lead_story

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/11/israel-war-gaza-ceasefire-jordan-egypt-news-hamas/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@lestermunson

@marthamillerdc

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

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