Fault Lines

Latest Episodes:

Episode 169: Big Trouble in Big Brazil Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the recent storming and occupation of Brazilian government buildings in the capital of Brasilia by thousands of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The Brazilian insurrection immediately drew comparisons to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol two years ago.

Is there a connection between the violence in Brazil and what happened in the U.S. two years ago? What are the differences and similarities between Jan. 6 and the Brazilian insurrection? Should we even see Brazil through the lens of U.S. politics?

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:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/08/world/americas/brazil-election-protests-bolsonaro.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-storm-brazils-congress-support-former-brazilian-president-j-rcna64816

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

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Episode 168: The Diplomatic Race to Africa Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the China’s new Foreign Minister’s first international trip: a weeklong tour of countries across the African continent. The new foreign minister is following in the footsteps of his predecessors, who have for more than three decades started each year with a trip to Africa. This is big news as the U.S. is currently battling China for influence in Africa – among many other regions across the globe.

Does China view the continent differently than the U.S. does? Did China beat the U.S. to identify and take advantage of strategic opportunities in Africa? And are current U.S. initiatives and commitments enough to counter Chinese influence in the region?

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:

https://apnews.com/article/politics-china-africa-qin-gang-ethiopia-1132767663ac4a8f8951f07cba5a77de

https://www.politico.com//news/2022/12/12/biden-africa-summit-china-00073508

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 167: The Return of the MBS? Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Today, Les, Jamil, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss the Biden administration’s recent pivot away from retaliating against Saudi Arabia for oil-production cuts to focusing on increased regional security cooperation with Riyadh.

Does the Biden administration’s pivot put the U.S. in a better position with the Saudis? How do the Senate and House differ in their approach to Saudi Arabia? How can the U.S. improve relations with Saudi Arabia while balancing defense, energy, and human rights issues?

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:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-saudi-tensions-ease-as-concerns-about-iran-grow-11672927633

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/gregory-gause-kingdom-and-power-us-saudi-relationship

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

@morganlroach

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 166: 11 Degrees of Kevin McCarthy Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

Episode 166: 11 Degrees of Kevin McCarthy

Today, Les, Jamil, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss the current deadlock in the House of Representatives that is preventing Rep. Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker. This is the first time in 164 years such a battle for leadership has played out in Congress.

How does this current House leadership battle affect national security? What should Kevin McCarthy’s next steps be, and will he be the next Speaker of the House? Is this a disaster, or is this democracy in action?

Hear our experts debate these issues and more in 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.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-deadlock-puts-house-gray-zone-national-security-issues-rcna64531

https://thehill.com/policy/international/3801194-state-dept-says-speaker-fight-likely-to-compound-national-security-concerns/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

@morganlroach

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 165: The Taliban’s Ban on Women Working for NGOs Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

Fault Lines is back! Happy New Year!

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss a recent headline you may of missed during the Winter break. Following the Taliban’s ban of female students from attending universities, the ruling force in Afghanistan recently issued a ban on women working at NGOs in the country. With aid programs supporting more than 28 million people in Afghanistan, this extreme measure has caused outrage.

What should NGOs, the UN, and the U.S. do in response to these reactionary decisions? Should they cease NGO operations and humanitarian aid? Should their responses be different?

Hear our experts debate this issues and the potential U.S. response in 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://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/30/taliban-western-aid-misogyny-women-rights/?utm_source=PostUp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20Brief%20OC&utm_term=63265&tpcc=Morning%20Brief%20OC

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/26/top-un-ngo-officials-to-meet-over-taliban-ban-on-women-staff

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 164: 2022 Holiday Edition Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

Tune in for Fault Lines’ special annual holiday episode, where some of our favorite panelists return to reflect on the most pressing national security issues of 2022, and what they expected will unfold in 2023. Join Jessica Jones, Jamil Jaffer, Morgan Viña, Martha Miller, Matthew Ferraro, Andy Keiser, and Matthew Heiman as they highlight their Hits and Misses of 2022, as well as take their Fault Lines Final Exam!

What do our panelists think will happen to the Iranian regime? What do they think will be the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war? How do they think the Biden Administration is performing so far, and what do they expect of the Administration in 2023?

Find out if our experts passed their final exam, and hear our experts debate and reflect on 2022 and 2023 national security issues!

Be sure to join Fault Lines again after the New Year as we resume our regular three-times-a-week schedule on Monday, January 2.

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Episode 163: PATRIOTism - More Missiles for Ukraine; But is There an Endgame? Dec 14, 2022

Show notes

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the recent headline that the United States is nearing a decision to send PATRIOT air defense missile systems to Ukraine to help counter the barrage of Russian missiles and Iranian-made drones that have been hitting civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine for months.

How aggressive should the U.S. be in supplying both offensive and defensive weapons to Ukraine? Will the PATRIOT systems be enough to support the Ukrainians to intercept attacks? Should the Biden Administration ramp up the delivery of U.S. provisions of military capabilities to Ukraine?

Hear our experts debate these issues and more in 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.cnn.com/2022/12/13/politics/us-patriot-missile-defense-system-ukraine/index.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brittney-griner-back-us-release-russia-prisoner-swap-viktor-bout/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 162: Can the U.S. Depoliticize Detained Americans? Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner’s release from a Russian prison and return to America. Griner was traded for the release of notorious arms merchant Victor Bout. The freedom of Griner has been contrasted by some to former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan’s continued detention in Russia.

Did Vladimir Putin intentionally give the Biden Administration a difficult choice in this prisoner exchange? Does the U.S. need a regularized process of freeing prisoners? Are prisoner releases overly politicized, or should they be even more politicized?

Hear our experts debate these issues and more in 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://apnews.com/article/brittney-griner-freed-viktor-bout-swap-us-russia-ee51f5c14f35dc4d4cf21224a8e44eaa

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brittney-griner-back-us-release-russia-prisoner-swap-viktor-bout/

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 161: Reagan National Defense Forum Pt. 4 - Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

Today, in our next "live from RNDF" series, NSI Deputy Executive Director Jessica Jones talks with former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky.

How does Amb. Dobriansky see the growing Russia-Chinese partnership impacting geopolitics in the future? How does she view current levels of U.S. support for Ukraine? What does she see being the biggest national security challenge of the upcoming year?

Find out Ambassador Dobriansky’s expert insights on these questions and many more on this latest episode of Fault Lines!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

Episode 160: Reagan National Defense Forum Pt. 3 - Ellen Lord Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

Today, in the third installment of our special interview series recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, NSI Deputy Executive Director Jessica Jones talks with former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S), Ellen Lord!

How does her former role as Secretary of Defense for A&S inform her view of national security and foreign policy challenges? What technologies will help diversify and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base in the future? How can the DoD better leverage rapid innovation developments coming from industry?

Find out Ellen Lord’s expert insights on these questions and many more on this latest episode of Fault Lines!

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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