Fault Lines

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the failed coup that took place in Sierra Leone on Sunday, November 26. The coup attempt comes after a contentious election in June in which President Julius Maada Bio was reelected for a second term and on the heels of increased tensions in the West African region, highlighted by the eight military takeovers since 2020, including most recently in Niger...

Today, Jes, Les, and Jamil discuss the Argentinian presidential elections where the self-styled “anarcho-capitalist” candidate Javier Milei rode a wave of voter anger – including over skyrocketing inflation and national poverty rate of 40% - to claim victory. Milei has proposed dollarizing the economy, ditching the central bank, shrinking the federal government, and downgrading ties with Brazil an...

Today, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss the recent Washington Post story in which anonymous Defense Department officials express frustration with what they consider an incoherent strategy by the Biden Administration for countering attacks by Iranian proxies on US forces in Iraq and Syria.  “There’s no clear definition of what we are trying to deter,” said one defense official.  In an oped...

Today, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss the meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at APEC 2023 in San Francisco, the first face-to-face meeting in over a year and Xi’s first visit to the U.S. in six years.  The talks aimed to normalize relations at a time when the relationship between the U.S. in China has been fraught with tension. Topics discussed during the summit...

Today, Les, Jess, and Morgan discuss the third U.S. air strike in Syria, which occurred late on Sunday. These strikes come after at least 40 attacks against U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed forces in recent weeks. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III told reporters, "These attacks must stop, and if they don't stop, then we won't hesitate to do what's necessary, agai...

Episode 275: Beijing-Biden Bay Area Showdown Today, Les, Morgan and Andy discuss the APEC Summit that will be taking place in San Francisco, CA. The big news is that there will be a face-to-face meeting between President Biden, and China’s President Xi Jinping. However, China has been aggressive in the South China Sea, flying within 10 feet of American pilots, distracting American pilots with lase...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, Morgan, and special guest John Lipsey all sit down together - in person! - to discuss America’s stolen pandas and the U.S. Development Finance Corporation’s (DFC) recent loan of $550 million to Sri Lanka to support the construction of a deep-water shipping terminal. This loan is a recent example of DFC’s efforts to support the building of global infrastructure, while...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Ukrainian President Zelenksy's decision to rule out holding presidential elections next year even though his 5-year term ends in March 2024. With millions displaced internally or abroad, hundreds of thousands of soldiers fighting on the frontlines, and the country under constant threat of Russian attacks, the possibility of administering a free, safe, an...

Episode 272: Democratic Fault Lines on Israel Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, the Biden Administration’s current policies in the region, and how the Israel-Hamas war may affect President Biden’s campaign in 2024. The group also discusses recent comments made by former President Barack Obama and Democratic strategist David Axelrod on the Biden Presidency a...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Russia’s withdrawal from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), the global treaty banning nuclear weapons tests. Moscow says its de-ratification of the CTBT is merely designed to bring Russia into line with the U.S., which signed but never ratified the treaty, while others worry Russia is seeking to intimidate and evoke fear. All the while Chi...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil and Morgan discuss the Biden Administration giving Uganda, Gabon, Niger, and the Central African Republic the boot from a special US-Africa trade program - the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) - due to Niger and Gabon’s dictatorial takeovers and CAR and Uganda’s violations of human rights.  AGOA is set to expire in 2025, and the geopolitical landscap...

Today, Les, Morgan and Martha discuss the Biden Admin’s approach to China all the while the world is seemingly ablaze. China has been behaving recklessly in the South China Sea, fentanyl is pouring out of China into the US, and pending on all of this is the meeting between President Biden and President Xi at the APEC Summit in San Francisco.  How should President Biden approach this meeting w...

Episode 268: Naming and Shaming our Nearest and Dearest Today, Morgan, Martha, Jamil and Andy discuss the challenges that NATO member Turkey and Major non-NATO ally Qatar present as they play both sides between the West and our adversaries and enemies in the context of the Israel-Hamas war. What was seemingly a unifying moment for the West, Turkey and Qatar said all the wrong things about the 10/7...

Episode 267: Five Eyes: Are They Actually Watching…? Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil and Morgan discuss the recent broadcast of an unprecedented public gathering of the intelligence chiefs from the Five Eyes countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The conversation focused on China’s aggressive intelligence gathering efforts and its theft of IP property, a...

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the former 3-time Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif’s return from his self-imposed exile, and lo’ and behold, even though he's banned from holding public office, his lawyers are confident he can be elected as the country's next Prime Minister. This comes as Pakistan is in its worst economic crisis ever, the previous Prime Minister is also facing corruptio...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the serious implications from disinformation and misinformation that came after the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital in the Gaza. What was originally reported as an Israeli Defense Force airstrike, turned out to actually be a misfired rocket by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. However, the blame had already been cast on Israel and riots and protests again...

Episode 263: Biden’s Middle-East Diplomacy Put to the Test Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss President Biden’s visit to Israel. The group also assesses Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s “shuttle-diplomacy,” laying the groundwork for President Biden’s visit, and just how important this visit is for the administration’s Middle-East policy goals.    What will President Biden be...

Episode 262: Israel-Hamas War: What’s Next?   Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the Israel-Hamas war heating up as the Israeli Defense Forces gear up for a potential ground invasion of Gaza. Estimates of civilian casualties are in the thousands. All the while, Hezbollah threatens Israel from the north, and two U.S. carrier strike groups have been moved to the east-Mediterranean to d...

Today, 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...

Today, 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 m...

Today, 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 an...

Today, 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 U...

Today, 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...

Today, 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 e...

Today, 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 1...