Fault Lines

Yesterday was Election Day in America. In this episode Les, Jess, and Jamil debate foreign interference in American elections. Earlier this week, powerful Russian businessman and close Putin ally, Yevgeny Prigozhin, admitted that Russia interfered in previous U.S. elections and that it will interfere in American elections going forward. How concerned should Americans be about foreign interference...

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s badly timed visit to Beijing. While it is no secret that Germany’s economy is heavily dependent on China, Chancellor Scholz has been the only G7 leader to make the trip to China since COVID-19. Critics argue that Chancellor Scholz’s visit ignores President Xi Jinping’s increasingly authoritarian tactics. Is this visit indicat...

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil debate what the U.S. response should be to Russia threatening to suspend support for grain exports through the Black Sea. Luckily, with the help of Turkey and the UN, Russia decided to restart its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative (which allows for exports of food and fertilizer through the Black Sea). However, this raises the question of what the U.S...

Fault Lines is back!!  Join us for our second episode after our break with a regular cast of characters to get you quickly up to speed three-times-a-week on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America. Citizens have been protesting across Iran for nearly seven weeks, defying a deadly crackdown by security forces. Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss these protests in li...

Fault Lines is back and revamped! Join us for our first episode in our new format, which gets you quickly up to speed three-times-a-week on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America. Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil talk about the upcoming COP27 in Egypt. President Biden will be attending, and all eyes will be on Sharm El-Sheikh as this is the first major public interaction si...

This week, we take a deep dive into the Islamic Republic of Iran. What are Iran’s regional and internal ambitions? What is the political history of Iran and how does this explain its actions and intentions? Do human rights exist in Iran? Should the U.S. resurrect the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)?   Richard Goldberg is a Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies...

This week marks one year since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan following its two-decade commitment to fighting terrorism in the country. One year on, we have a country ruled by the Taliban, thousands of Americans and allies stranded within its borders, and a rapidly deteriorating economic, humanitarian and regional security situation on the ground. How many American people and allies...

This week, we discuss what life is like in North Korea for the average citizen and how the authoritarian government keeps order and control over the lives of ordinary North Koreans.    Do human rights even exist in North Korea? What motivates the North Korean government to perpetuate repression? What is the difference between operations and analysis at the Central Intelligence Agenc...

This week, we discuss what organizations like the International Republican Institute are doing to help curb the malicious actions of states who repress their people.    What are the roles of interests and values in the context of America's foreign policy? What can democratic countries do to counter authoritarian regimes? What is the role of the U.S. Congress in shaping foreign policy, an...

This week, we take a deep dive into the “hot spots” in the world for religious persecution including Nigeria, Burma and Saudi Arabia.   Ambassador Samuel Brownback served as the Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom at the U.S. State Department under the Trump Administration. Prior to his service as Ambassador, he served as a Congressman, Senator and Governor of the great st...

This week, we discuss the tragic war crimes occurring against the Ukrainian people since Russia invaded the country. As we learn this week, this is a common trend when it comes to Russia, and this is not the first time they have repressed and abused their neighbors. How is this unprovoked war impacting the Ukrainian people on the ground? What is the international community doing to bring those who...

Illicit finance poses one of the key national security challenges facing the crypto industry. How do U.S. regulators and policymakers work with stakeholders to implement solutions that may be at odds with crypto’s underlying ethos of decentralization? Is crypto the driving factor behind increased ransomware activity or just a symptom? What lessons can the United States take from other go...

This week, to kick off our summer series on global repression, “Breaking Chains: Fighting the New Global Repressors,” we are taking a deep dive into the surveillance state in the People’s Republic of China, namely, the Xinjiang Province. What technology does the PRC have at its disposal? How has this technology furthered repression of the Uyghur minority group?  Geoffrey Cain, author of ...

This week, Sri Lanka is set to choose a new president in the midst of a massive unrest and a catastrophic economic crisis. What does this mean for U.S. security interest in the region? How can Sri Lanka’s partners best assist in this situation? With Sri Lanka's economy shattered, food and fuel dangerously scarce, and massive international debts, is there any hope for Asia’s oldest democracy? &nbsp...

This week, Les, Jane, Scott, and Sarah discuss President Biden’s articulation of the US policy in the event China invades Taiwan, the creation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and the first Russian soldier convicted of war crimes. Was it truly a mistake on President Biden’s part when he says that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China were to invade? Will China engage in military acti...

Live from Western Ukraine, join NSI for a very important conversation with Fox News Correspondent Mike Tobin. Mike has been reporting on the war from Western Ukraine and has himself been impacted by Russian atrocities. How is this war different from other combat zones? How have Ukrainians strengthened their resolve to push back against Russia? These questions and more answered on the latest episod...

Energy has played a featured role in Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. What role has it historically played in the strategic calculations of nations? Can Europe eliminate dependence on Russia for gas? How has the U.S. shale revolution and the development liquified natural gas (LNG) reverberated globally? Are we truly able to transition away from hydrocarbons? Which new energy technologies will...

This week, Les, Matt, Rob, and Carmen discuss Finland and Sweden’s willingness to join NATO, the $40B assistance for Ukraine, and China’s intellectual property theft. Did President Putin misjudge NATO’s strength? Will the $40B assistance for Ukraine lead to a reordering of our domestic politics on national security issues? What does the intellectual property theft from Chinese government...

America and the EU have avoided a direct military role in Ukraine. Instead, they have used economic measure to punish Russia. As we look at the sanctions in place, are there further actions America can take to limit Russia’s ability to finance their war? How can America and the EU make their sanctions more impactful? Why is it important for America to take an active role in reconstr...

This week, Les, Sarah, Charles, and Heather discuss House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi’s visit with Ukraine’s President Zelensky, the $33B in aid that President Biden is requesting, and the new intelligence sharing agreement between New Zealand and Japan. What does it mean for Speaker Pelosi to visit President Zelensky? Will the $33B in aid sustain Ukraine? What does the agreement between New Zealan...

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, attention quickly turned to India to determine whether it would condemn the attack and support western sanctions. This week, we are joined by Jeff Smith, a research fellow at Heritage’s Asian Studies Center with a focus on South Asia, for a deep dive on U.S.-India relationship in light of the war in Ukraine and China’s growing threat.    How did In...

This week, Les, Scott, Andy, and Carmen discuss the possible use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the draconian lockdowns happening in Shanghai. Would the U.S. become more involved in Ukraine if Russia use a tactical nuclear weapon? Is Biden’s administration usage of strategic ambiguity different from previous administrations? How do the lockdowns in Shanghai impact Xi’s upcoming elec...

Public Diplomacy has played a critical role in telling the truth and countering propaganda in today's global environment. As we look at Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, what can America learn from President Zelensky's amazing leadership? How can America balance its different means of communication through radio and social media? What can the State Department do to ensure the truth is being to...

This week, Les, Sarah, Harold, and Matthew discuss the most recent atrocities revealed in Ukraine, the warning from Biden’s administration on a potential cyber war, and the leaked agreement between Solomon Islands and China. Will the recent uncovered atrocities force China to take a stance against Russia’s invasion? How can the U.S. increase its cyber posture as a nation? Why is the Solomon Island...

In recent years, the far-fetched spaceship battles of sci-fi have become a much more likely reality. This week, we're joined by Collin Lee, Director, Frontiers at General Dynamics Mission Systems and VSI Visiting Fellow for a deep dive on the militarization of space. How do space and national security intersect? How has the US prepared for when space inevitably becomes a battlefield? Are we in a n...