Fault Lines

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss another ongoing fight within Congress - the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a vital national security program that allows the U.S. to gather intelligence on foreign adversaries and terrorists.  Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump called on House Republicans to "Kill FISA,” leading to 19 GOP H...

Today, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the ongoing conflicts within the U.S. House of Representatives over the $95 billion supplemental aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.  Embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson faces threats from Republican rabble-rousers to oust him if he brings Ukraine aid to vote on the House floor.  There is also speculation whether House Democrats will support...

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss Ecuador’s recent decision to send police officers into the Mexican Embassy in Quito to arrest former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who has been convicted on corruption and bribery charges. The raid has been with met international condemnation and Mexico has severed diplomatic ties with Ecuador. Why did Mexico grant political asylum to Jorge Glas?...

Today, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s second trip to China, where she will advocate for fair treatment of American workers and businesses, press Chinese counterparts on unfair trade practices, and warn of the consequences of Chinese industrial overcapacity. This trip follows a domestic tour by Secretary Yellen to key swing states selling President Biden’s econ...

Today, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss a recent joint investigation by 60 Minutes, The Insider, and Der Spiegel on Havana syndrome – a mysterious illness causing a variety of debilitating symptoms often seen in American diplomats and intelligence officials – that points the finger at Russia. This report contracts the U.S. Intelligence Community’s formal assessment from a year ago that found it...

Today, Jamil, Les, Bishop, and Martha discuss the civil war in Sudan which is entering its second year with a UN report stating that Sudan needs 'immediate action' on hunger to avert widespread death due to famine. Amidst the hunger and conflict, Sudan has seen the outbreak of several deadly diseases including a Cholera outbreak which has impacted thousands.  How can the United States help re...

Today, Jamil, Les, Bishop, and Andy discuss the recent confrontation between two Chinese Coast Guard ships and a Philippine Navy vessel near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands that resulted in injuries to several Philippine sailors after the use of high-pressure water cannons. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to counter what he called “illegal, coercive, aggress...

Today, Jess, Les, Morgan, and John discuss the recent passing of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The United States angered Israel by abstaining from the vote, the fifth attempt to pass the resolution, which it previously vetoed leading to Israel canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation.  Is the Biden administration truly breaking with Isr...

Today, Jess, Les, Morgan, and John discuss last week’s terror attack in Moscow at the Crocus City complex, which killed more than 130 people. ISIS-K, an Afghanistan-based offshoot of ISIS, claimed responsibility for the deadliest terror attack in Russia in decades, and Russia formally charged four men on Sunday for committing terrorism. What does this terror attack do to Russian President Vladimir...

Today, Les, John, and Morgan discuss the recent deal brokered by Russia and China with the Houthi rebels in Yemen for the safe passage of their ships through the Red Sea amidst their continuous attacks on commercial shipping in the region. How effective have U.S. and allied strikes against the Houthis been at deterring attacks on shipping? What are the implications of the Houthi attacks on the fre...

Today, Jess, John, Bishop, and Morgan discuss Turkey’s upcoming local elections on March 31st, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) seek to regain the key cities lost in 2019 of Istanbul and Ankara. If the AKP regains control, President Erdogan has pledged further constitutional reform.  How will these local elections impact Turkish foreign...

Today, Les, Jess, John, and Morgan discuss this weekend’s announcement by Niger’s junta that it was suspending military cooperation with Washington and ordering U.S. troops to leave the country.  This comes upon the heels of a coup last summer in Niger, the resulting restrictions on U.S. aid to the country, and recent stories that U.S. and Western intelligence show that Niger is exploring a d...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss this week’s Financial Times report that broke the news that the Biden Administration held secret talks with Iran this year to convince Tehran to use its influence to end Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. They also discuss Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s calls for Israel to hold new elections.  Were Senator Schumer’s comments driven by t...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Polish President Andrzej Duda’s recent visit to Washington, D.C., where he met with President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders to lobby for U.S. support for Ukraine. President Duda also sent a message to his NATO allies by suggesting that NATO members should raise defense spending to 3% of GDP, above the 2% requirement that only a third of the allianc...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the deteriorating situation in Haiti where criminal gangs have burned police stations, closed the main international airports, and raided the country’s two biggest prisons releasing thousands of prisoners, while acting Prime Minister and President of Haiti, Ariel Henry, remains in Puerto Rico after being unable to return to Haiti after recent trip to Ken...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss President Biden’s State of the Union address, where contrary to some expectations, President Biden delivered a fiery speech beginning with references to FDR’s 1941 State of the Union speech given as war raged across Europe, and then touching upon the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war.  What were the Fault Lines team’s reactions to the Stat...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss Israeli War Cabinet member and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz's visit to Washington, DC. Gantz met with Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza.  What does this trip mean for the unity of the Israeli War Cabinet? Does Gantz's meeting with Vice President Harris indicate a shift...

Today, Les, Morgan, and Jamil discuss Guyana’s recent diplomatic overtures towards Cuba amidst the ongoing Crisis between Guyana and Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region.  These overtures include the Guyanese President Irfaan Ali calling for the dismantling of sanctions against Cuba, to the University systems of both countries agreeing to collaborate, among many others.  Are thes...

Today, Les, Morgan, and Bishop discuss the recent announcement by the Biden Administration that the Department of Commerce will begin an inquiry into the national security risks posed by connected vehicles from or containing technology from countries of concern, including the People’s Republic of China.  Is industrial policy under the guise of National Security the right approach to address t...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the recent debates shaking up the European continent from French President Emmanuel Macron raising the possibility of Western troop deployment to Ukraine to German officials questioning the need of whether to acquire their own nuclear weapons.  Should the United States be concerned by President Macron’s comments? Would a deployment of Western troops...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the recent comments made by Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski over the weekend on the held-up supplemental aid to Ukraine and the ramifications that failing to act may have on the United States’ other allies.  Is the United States an unreliable ally? Are U.S. allies right to start hedging? Should U.S. leadership be doing more to sell Ukraine as...

Today, Les, Jess, Jamil, and Morgan discuss the upcoming two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what the future could hold for the Ukrainian country after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plea for continued U.S. assistance in the war effort during an interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier. What is the future for Ukraine in these uncertain times? What should the U.S. strategy be t...

Happy 300!!  Today, Jess, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, who is before Britain’s High Court attempting to block his extradition to the United States, where he faces 17 charges of espionage and one charge of computer misuse over the solicitation and publication of a huge trove of classified U.S. documents nearly 15 years ago.   How damaging w...

Today, Jess, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss recent developments out of the Middle East including Saturday’s first-ever U.S. self-defense strike against a Houthi underwater drone in the Red Sea, the attempted comms takeover of an El Al flight over the Horn of Africa by unknown actors, and an alleged backing-off of proxy attacks by the Iranian government in parts of the region. Are the Biden Adminis...

Today, Jess, Morgan, Jamil, and Les discuss recent developments out of Russia including Friday morning’s announcement that imprisoned Russian opposition politician, Alexei Navalny, has died in custody, and Chairman Mike Turner of the House Intelligence Committee vaguely warning of a serious national security threat, which has now been confirmed by the White House as Russia pursuing a nuclear armed...