Fault Lines

Latest Episodes:

Episode 402: Confirmations and Controversies: Breaking Down Trump’s Nominees Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Today, Morgan, Les, Martha, and Jess discuss this week’s national security nomination hearings, happening less than a week before Donald Trump is sworn in as president. This week, Pete Hegseth, nominee Secretary of Defense, Marco Rubio for Secretary of State; and John Ratcliffe for CIA Director, are all under the spotlight. Are Trump’s choices a sign of a cultural shift in the Pentagon, what are the national security implications and how does the Senate’s performance in vetting nominees stack up?

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

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@NotTVJessJones

@marthamillerdc

@morganlroach

@lestermunson

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Episode 401: Trump, Greenland, and the Panama Canal: Rhetoric or Real Talk? Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Today, Jess, Martha, Morgan, and Amy delve into President-elect Trump’s recent comments on the strategic importance of Greenland and the Panama Canal to U.S. national security. His refusal to rule out the use of military force to secure these regions has raised eyebrows, ignited debate, and brought renewed attention to key geopolitical areas where the U.S. faces increasing competition from Russia and China.

What do Trump’s remarks signal for U.S. security priorities, particularly as Russia and China expand their influence in the Arctic and Latin America? How can the U.S. deepen its relationship with Greenland, especially as it pursues independence? What steps can the U.S. take to mitigate China’s growing leverage over the Panama Canal and its presence 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.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/12/trump-greenland-panama-canal-expansion/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/09/greenland-prime-minister-mute-egede-calm-unity-trump-comments-denmark

https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-5253910/donald-trump-greenland-panama-canal-canada

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/right-to-be-concerned-about-chinas-influence-over-the-panama-canal/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@NotTVJessJones

@marthamillerdc

@morganlroach

@amykmitchell

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Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/JdGjrAhpWH8

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

Episode 400: Nine Years Later - Trudeau’s Resignation and Canada’s Future Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

Today, Martha, Les, Jess, and Bishop discuss the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after nine years in office, leaving him as a caretaker PM until a new leader is selected. This leadership change raises questions about Canada’s future role on the global stage and its evolving relationship with the United States.

Will Trudeau’s successor be ready to navigate challenges like Trump’s potential tariffs on Canadian imports, the housing and affordability crisis, and Canada’s role as a leading energy exporter to the U.S.? Will this shift bring Canada closer to becoming “America’s 51st state”? Why is this happening now?

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

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

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/justin-trudeau-canadian-prime-minister-why-he-resigned-1235227842/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-trudeaus-resignation-compounds-economic-uncertainty-ahead-of-possible/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-resignation-election-call/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@NotTVJessJones

@marthamillerdc

@lestermunson

@BishopGarrison

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/mynaxu6iGeA

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

Episode 399: Yesterday’s Shocks, Tomorrow’s Stakes Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

Today, Martha, Les, Jess, Matt, and Morgan reflect on the most significant foreign policy event of 2024 and explore its potential impact on global affairs in 2025. From emerging power struggles to unexpected alliances, they share bold predictions that could shake up the international stage next year.

What region or issue will dominate headlines in 2025? What’s their biggest wish for U.S. foreign policy moving forward? And which books, articles, or podcasts do they recommend for making sense of the complex year ahead?

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

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@NotTVJessJones

@marthamillerdc

@lestermunson

@WMattHayden

@morganlroach

Like what we're doing here?

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/fjRBdnRvjy0

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

RNDF Special Series: Sharon Weinberger - The Future of U.S. Global Leadership Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and Martha interview Sharon Weinberger, the national security and foreign policy editor at The Wall Street Journal. She is an expert on the national security space, military science, and technology. She has published three books on military technology and weapons research, including her latest book, “The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency That Changed the World.”

Why did you choose to focus on U.S. national security? How can the U.S. strengthen its defense industrial space? Why do you think more people are drawn to the national security space? Given the worldwide risks journalists face, how does your team consider these risks to journalist’s safety?

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

This marks the final episode of our special series. Tune in on January 10, 2025, when the regular programming of Fault Lines returns!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@NotTVJessJones

@marthamillerdc

@weinbergersa

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/02R2PZZ7YqA

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

RNDF Special Series: Michèle Flournoy The Future of U.S. Global Leadership Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Martha and Les interview Michèle Flournoy, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of WestExec Advisors, and a Co-Founder, former Chief Executive Officer, and now Chair of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). Prior to her role at CNAS, she served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy during the Obama administration where she was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations.

Should we be considered about political instability impacting our allied partners? How can we ensure the U.S. remains the leader in the emerging tech space? How do we explain the value of America’s non-defense engagement in the Indo-Pacific to the American public?

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

Stay tuned for more of the Fault Lines crew and our special episodes recorded live at RNDF! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@marthamillerdc

@lestermunson

A Special Thanks to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & institute!

Follow them: @ReaganInstitute

Read the 2024 Reagan National Defense Survey Here: https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/

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RNDF Special Series: Vibhav Altekar - The Future of U.S. Global Leadership Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Jess interview Vibhav Altekar Co-Founder and Vice President of Software at Saronic Technologies, a defense technology company dedicated to advancing naval warfare through cutting-edge technological solutions.

How has the geopolitical atmosphere changed the maritime domain? What are the reasons for the recent influx of investment into the defense sector? What are the opportunities for defense technologies moving forward?

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

Stay tuned for more of the Fault Lines crew and our special episodes recorded live at RNDF! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@morganlroach

@NotTVJessJones

A Special Thanks to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & institute!

Follow them: @ReaganInstitute

Read the 2024 Reagan National Defense Survey Here: https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6Ulz4AXgJes

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

RNDF Special Series: Amb. Robert O’Brien - The Future of U.S. Global Leadership Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

Recorded after the Reagan National Defense Forum, Martha and Les interview Amb. Robert O’Brien, the co-founder and chairman of American Global Strategies and a former National Security Advisor for the Trump Administration. Before becoming National Security Advisor, he was appointed special envoy for Hostage affairs.

What is President Trump’s “peace through strength” approach? Should America be concerned about the instability of our allies and partners? With more NATO members meeting their spending requirements, do you see a shift in how Trump interacts with NATO? How should the US prioritize its strategy to disrupt the growing Axis of Iran, China, Russia, and North Korea?

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

Stay tuned for more of the Fault Lines crew and our special episodes recorded live at RNDF! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@marthamillerdc

@lestermunson

@robertcobrien

Read Amb. O’Brien’s Foreign Affairs Article Here: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/return-peace-strength-trump-obrien

A Special Thanks to The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & institute!

Follow them: @ReaganInstitute

Read the 2024 Reagan National Defense Survey Here: https://www.reaganfoundation.org/reagan-institute/centers/peace-through-strength/reagan-national-defense-survey/

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/pdwySlM0TdU

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

RNDF Special Series: Representative Jim Himes (D-CT-4) - The Future of U.S. Global Leadership Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Martha interview Representative Jim Himes (D-CT-4) who serves as Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services. Prior to serving in Congress, Himes ran the New York City branch of The Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing urban poverty challenges. Himes holds a Master of Philosophy in Latin American Studies from the University of Oxford, which he obtained after he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. He also received his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.

How has U.S. global leadership changed throughout the past three presidential administrations? How does the United States’ position in key global partnerships change in the near future? How should the incoming Trump Administration balance and prioritize intelligence tasking needs in the era of competing threats?

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

Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF on The Future of U.S. Global Leadership this week on Fault Lines! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@morganlroach

@marthamillerdc

@jahimes

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/4E44k41LkJ8

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

RNDF Special Series: Senator Cramer - The Future of U.S. Global Leadership Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Les interview Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Armed Services Committee and co-chair of the Defense Modernization Caucus to discuss opportunities for strengthening national security through emergent technologies.

What spurred the creation of the Defense Modernization Caucus? Are we going fast enough in our defense modernization? What can the incoming administration do to make the most impact on our defense modernization?

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

Stay tuned for more of the Special Series at RNDF on The Future of U.S. Global Leadership this week on Fault Lines! These are discussions you don’t want to miss!

Follow today’s experts on Twitter:

@morganlroach

@lestermunson

@SenKevinCramer

Like what we're doing here?

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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/K1UC5ZsutWQ

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