Fault Lines

Latest Episodes:

Fault Lines Episode 561: More Than Medals: The Politics of the Winter Games Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

Today, Les, Jamil, Jess, and Morgan unpack the geopolitical undercurrents of the Winter Olympics. The spotlight has fallen on athletes like Alysa Liu, competing for the United States, and Eileen Gu, who chose to represent China after reportedly receiving a lucrative offer from Beijing. Meanwhile, the U.S. men’s hockey team’s victory over favored Canada, America’s medal race with Norway, and even off-ice political theatrics have fueled debate about nationalism, identity, and how leaders frame athletic dominance.

Do medal counts and hockey championships shape national narratives in ways that affect how countries see themselves and each other? Do the Winter Olympics play into Trump’s view of the world? In an era where global competition extends from military power to medal counts, how much geopolitical weight should we really assign to the Games?

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

@lestermunson

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Vp69UEMjtMk

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

Fault Lines Episode 560: The Board of Peace: A New Model for Gaza? Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Today, Jess, Morgan, Matt, and Jamil examine the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, hosted in Washington yesterday. The Board was created to focus on the reconstruction of Gaza and the coordination of post-conflict stabilization efforts. The first meeting brought together officials from dozens of countries, alongside political and business leaders, and included a sweeping promise of $10 billion in U.S. funding.

How does the Board of Peace impact regional stability and post-conflict governance in the Middle East? What does its existence signal for the future role of international organizations like the United Nations? What does the Board’s current membership say about the priorities and vision behind the initiative?

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

@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

@WMattHayden

@jamil_n_jaffer

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

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

Fault Lines Episode 559: Nigeria: Security Support or Strategic Signal? Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Today, Morgan, Andy, and Algene discuss the deployment of 100 U.S. troops to Nigeria, with another 100 on the way. The forces are tasked with training, intelligence sharing, and logistical support for Nigerian troops battling extremist violence in the north, but will not participate in combat operations. The move follows President Trump’s sharp criticism of the Nigerian government, including claims that it has failed to protect Christians from what he has called a “genocide.”

What is really driving instability in Nigeria and is Washington framing the conflict correctly? Will a limited U.S. security presence help address the root causes of violence, or risk reinforcing a misleading narrative? And as reports surface of Nigerians being recruited under false pretenses and sent to fight in Ukraine, what does that tell us about the pressures facing Nigeria’s youth and the consequences of prolonged instability?

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

@morganlroach

@andykeiser

@AlgeneSajery

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

Fault Lines Episode 558: Olympic Curling Scandal and Rubio Speech: This Week in Europe Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Jess break down Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s speech at the Munich Security Conference, where he closed to a standing ovation. The remarks come at a delicate moment, with European leaders still unsettled by disputes over Greenland and tariffs. Rubio’s tone contrasted sharply with Vice President Vance’s harsher message at last year’s conference, suggesting a stylistic shift even if the administration’s broader approach remains the same.

Was Rubio extending a true olive branch, or delivering the same message in a more diplomatic wrapper? As transatlantic ties evolve, how will Europe navigate expectations about responsibility and defense? If Washington and its partners fail to get back on the same page, can they hope to compete effectively with China?

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

@lestermunson

@jamil_n_jaffer

@morganlroach

@NotTVJessJones

Like what we're doing here?

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We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/KuPBfpbKQaM?si=lp48EgPXzb0GoS_d

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

Fault Lines Episode 557: Fueling the Regime: Oil, Sanctions, and Security in Cuba Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Today, Jess, Morgan, Les, and Matt examine whether real change could finally be coming to Cuba. The United States has declared a national emergency with respect to Cuba and threatened tariffs on countries supplying the island with oil. This follows Washington’s move to cut off Venezuelan oil, leaving the island increasingly isolated as its economy buckles under decades of mismanagement. At the same time, Russia and China continue to use Cuba as a platform for intelligence and influence just miles from American shores.

Does this moment present a genuine strategic opportunity to reshape the balance of power in the Caribbean? What are national security risks posed by Russian and Chinese activity on and around the island? What would meaningful change in Cuba actually look like?

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

@NotTVJessJones

@lestermunson

@morganlroach

@WMattHayden

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

Fault Lines Episode 556: Netanyahu in Washington: The Iran Calculus Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Today, Morgan, Les, Andrew, and Amy unpack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he is set to meet with President Trump to discuss the ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran. Netanyahu intends to ensure Israeli security interests are addressed and to share intelligence as Washington continues talks with Tehran. While the Trump administration pursues diplomacy, it has also deployed U.S. carriers to the region, signaling that negotiations are backed by force.

The administration has made clear its core demands are full denuclearization and an end to the regime’s violent repression of protesters. But with Iran weakened, boxed in, and facing deep internal unrest, would its regime rather endure U.S. pressure than accept terms that could threaten their grip on power? As both leaders weigh the risks of escalation today, can they shape an outcome that prevents a nuclear Iran without triggering a broader regional conflict?

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

@lestermunson

@morganlroach

@amykmitchell

@AndrewBorene

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

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

Fault Lines Episode 555: Japan's New Mandate Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

Today, Les, Jamil, and Jess break down Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s sweeping victory in a snap election, a historic result that gives the Liberal Democratic Party a two-thirds majority in the lower house for the first time since World War II. The outcome dramatically strengthens Takaichi’s political mandate and opens the door to significant shifts in Japan’s national security policy. With a strong working relationship with Washington, the moment may be ripe for deeper U.S.–Japan coordination and a stronger coalition to counter China’s growing military power, including its rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.

While Takaichi now has the authority to act on national security issues, economic concerns are what drove voters to the polls. Can she deliver economic results while advancing a more assertive defense agenda? And as China pushes regional red lines, how will Japan balance domestic pressures with the strategic realities ahead?

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

@lestermunson

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/BAf34HsixlI

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

Fault Lines Episode 554: A New New START? Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Today Jess, Les, Morgan, and Matt unpack the expiration of New START, the 2010 arms control treaty long described as the last remaining guardrail on U.S. and Russian nuclear forces. Washington and Moscow together hold roughly 85% of the world’s nuclear weapons but Russia has proven an inconsistent arms control partner, raising questions of what, if anything, comes next.

Is negotiating a new agreement worthwhile if Russia and China show little interest in being constrained? What would a credible next framework need to include? And absent a formal treaty, what informal mechanism can realistically prevent a new arms race?

@morganlroach

@lestermunson

@NotTVJessJones

@WMattHayden

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/SzqhtbLQ1EQ

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

Fault Lines Episode 553: Backyard Reset: Panama, Colombia, and Washington’s Regional Reboot Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

Today, Morgan, Jamil, Les, and Andy survey a busy week in the Western Hemisphere, as the Trump administration sharpens its focus closer to home. President Gustavo Petro’s visit to the White House signaled a thaw in U.S.–Colombia relations, with renewed counternarcotics cooperation and discussions around exporting Venezuelan natural gas to Colombia. Meanwhile, Panama’s Supreme Court annulled a contract allowing a Hong Kong–based company to operate ports at the Panama Canal, prompting sharp warnings from Beijing and aligning closely with Washington’s push to limit China’s influence in the region.

Are these signs that the U.S. is finally reasserting itself in the Western Hemisphere? Is the message landing with China and Russia as Washington draws firmer lines around the Panama Canal, Venezuela, and regional security? And after years of U.S. neglect that allowed Beijing to become a top trading partner for many Latin American countries, can renewed attention actually push adversaries out and deliver lasting influence?

Check out these sources that shaped our Fellows’ discussion:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-calls-panama-court-ruling-ck-hutchison-port-contracts-shameful-pathetic-2026-02-03/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-meet-colombian-president-gustavo-petro-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-rcna257101

@morganlroach

@jamil_n_jaffer

@lestermunson

@andykeiser

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/m8I6GmEM9pI

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

Fault Lines Episode 552: Sudan, Regional Rivals, and U.S. Interests Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Matt turn to Sudan, where a brutal civil war has entered its third year and now stands as one of the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophes. As fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continues to displace millions and drive staggering civilian casualties, regional powers are deepening their involvement. With Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, and others backing opposing sides, the conflict is increasingly shaped by proxy warfare and emerging military technologies.

What does this escalating proxy fight mean for U.S. interests? As Washington pulls back traditional aid tools and shifts its foreign policy posture toward trade and economic leverage, does the U.S. still have influence in a conflict this severe? How should policymakers think about Sudan’s strategic geography, especially as China and Russia look for openings to expand their footprint? And in a war where outside actors fuel the violence but Sudanese leaders bear responsibility, what role, if any, should the United States play?

Check out these sources that shaped our Fellows’ discussion:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/general/sudan-humanitarian-situation-is-worst-crisis-of-2025/ar-AA1SIQ00?ocid=BingNewsVerp

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/sudans-war-torn-capital-sees-commercial-flight-land-129749973

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/world/africa/egypt-sudan-drones.html

@morganlroach

@jamil_n_jaffer

@NotTVJessJones

@WMattHayden

Like what we're doing here?

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.

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

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/V-2AvosoABM