Fault Lines

Episode 540: The Holiday Special - Unwrapping 2025 Today, Jessica, Jamil, Morgan, Lester, Les, Lipsey, Matthew, and Marc take stock of a consequential year in U.S. national security. From President Trump’s push to brand himself as a “peace president”—highlighted by multiple diplomatic agreements and the Gaza peace plan—to moments of hard power, including U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear...

Episode 539: Live from RNDF: Ambassador Yui As part of our crossover series of Fault Lines and CTRL+F , “Modern Deterrence: Allies, Innovation, and the Future of Defense,” recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and Jamil sit down with Ambassador Yui, Taiwan’s Representative to the United States. With more than 35 years of diplomatic experience—including senior leadership roles in...

As part of our crossover series of Fault Lines and CTRL+F, “Modern Deterrence: Allies, Innovation, and the Future of Defense,” recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and Jamil sit down with Washington Harbour Partners Founder and Chief Investment Officer Mina Faltas - with a surprise appearance from NSI Advisory Board Member and Silverado Policy Accelerator co-founder Dmitri Alpe...

As part of our crossover series of Fault Lines and CTRL+F , “Modern Deterrence: Allies, Innovation, and the Future of Defense,” recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jamil and Jess sit down with Congressman Don Bacon, retired Air Force Brigadier General and chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation.  How should Congress pri...

As part of our crossover series of Fault Lines and CTRL+F, “Modern Deterrence: Allies, Innovation, and the Future of Defense,” recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jess and Morgan sit down with Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor. Drawing on insights from his decades of service and his work shaping the U.S. military’s future force, McMaster helps us underst...

As part of our crossover series of Fault Lines and CTRL+F , “Modern Deterrence: Allies, Innovation, and the Future of Defense,” recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Morgan and Jess speak with Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major. They discuss how startups and nontraditionals are reshaping the defense technology landscape, the strategic importance of next-generation rocket propulsion, an...

As part of our crossover series of Fault Lines and CTRL+F , “Modern Deterrence: Allies, Innovation, and the Future of Defense,” recorded live at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Jamil, Morgan, and Jess discuss the Trump Administration’s newly released National Security Strategy. They break down the major pillars of the strategy, from the administration’s call for “peace through strength” and its...

Today, Jess, Jamil, Les, and Amy dig into the latest round of U.S.-Russia peace talks after Vladimir Putin spent nearly five hours behind closed doors with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. No breakthrough occurred, but the stakes keep rising: Putin says Russia is “ready” for a conflict with Europe, Ukraine is grappling with corruption scandals and the resignation of Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Sud...

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Jess discuss rising tensions around Venezuela, where the U.S. has surged military assets into the region after months of striking drug-running vessels, and President Trump is set to meet with his cabinet tonight to decide next steps. Reports suggest an ultimatum may have been delivered to Nicolás Maduro over the weekend. One early U.S. strike is now under bipartisan...

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Jess unpack new revelations about the 28-point Ukraine peace proposal. Over the weekend several senators went to the press and announced that Secretary of State Rubio had told them the plan was drafted originally by Russians. The White House attempted to walk that back, saying it was a U.S. plan that incorporated Russian ideas, but the concessions it outlines for Ukr...

Today, Jess, Jamil, Les, and Morgan break down the Trump Administration’s new  28-point peace plan for Ukraine — a proposal that would cap Ukraine’s military size, cede territory to Russia, redirect frozen Russian assets toward reconstruction, and ban future NATO membership. Moscow’s envoy praised the plan, Kyiv says it plans on discussing it with the White House, and European allies and some...

Today, Morgan, Jamil, Matt, and Jess unpack Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s high-profile visit to Washington, his first since the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and a landmark $1 trillion investment announcement alongside a U.S. agreement to sell the Kingdom F-35 fighter jets. The visit, including a business summit at the Kennedy Center, underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing economic and strateg...

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Jess break from the usual policy deep-dives for a special episode: a review of A House of Dynamite , the new 90-minute Netflix thriller that imagines a nuclear missile headed straight for the United States. The film unfolds through three overlapping vantage points—a Navy captain running the White House Situation Room, a deputy national security advisor suddenly thrus...

Today, Jess, Les, Matt, and Algene discuss Iraq’s parliamentary elections, where Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s coalition claimed victory, though history suggests the post-election power struggles are just beginning. With half of Iraq’s population under 25, voter turnout strong, and political violence relatively low, this election could mark a step forward for Iraqi democracy. What do t...

Today, Morgan, Jamil, Les, and Jess discuss the Trump administration’s deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Caribbean as part of its intensified campaign against Latin American drug cartels. The move dramatically expands U.S. presence in the U.S. Southern Command’s area of operations—with destroyers, F-35 fighters, and Reaper drones joining the effort—and has drawn a fi...

Today, Les, Jamil, and Jess discuss the Trump administration’s successful effort to delay a major vote at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the UN body that oversees global shipping regulations. The proposal would have taxed vessels based on carbon emissions, with revenues funneled to the UN. The U.S. opposed the measure, warning it would raise shipping fuel costs and threaten to wors...

Today, Jess, Morgan, and Andy unpack a potentially dramatic diplomatic turn in Syria-US relations. The United Nations has lifted sanctions on President Ahmed al-Sharaa—reportedly at Washington’s urging—clearing the way for his historic visit to the White House next week. Once a commander in the al-Nusra Front, al-Sharaa now leads a Syrian government pivoting from isolation to engagement, as the Tr...

Today, Morgan, Les, Amy, and Andy discuss the recent political violence in Tanzania, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan claimed victory with 98% of the vote in an election widely condemned as neither free nor fair. Opposition candidates were arrested, protests have been violently suppressed, and Tundu Lissu, leader of the banned Chadema party, faces treason charges for calling for election reform...

Today, Les, Jamil, Morgan, and Andrew discuss President Trump’s latest statement that U.S. troops may be sent to Nigeria to confront what he described as terrorists targeting Christians. The post sparked immediate controversy, with some analysts noting the Administration may be conflating two distinct conflicts: sectarian violence between Fulani herders and Christian farmers, and the extremist ins...

Today, Les, Martha, Morgan, and Jess discuss the alarming developments in Mali, where an Al Qaeda affiliate may soon control the country outright. With the U.S. ordering Americans to evacuate and fuel imports blockaded across the country, the situation in Bamako is rapidly deteriorating. Could this be the moment Al Qaeda transitions from insurgency to governance — collecting taxes, enforcing rule,...

Today, Morgan, Martha, Sarah, and Jess discuss the latest developments in the U.S.–Japan relationship following President Trump’s meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The two leaders announced a wide-ranging set of agreements, including deals on F-35 fighter jets, missile systems, and a Memorandum of Understanding to finance new shipbuilding and critical mineral projects. With C...

Today, Martha, Les, Morgan, and Jess discuss the latest from President Trump’s Asia tour — with stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea ahead of this week’s high-profile U.S.–China meeting at APEC. With a new framework reportedly in place between Trump and Xi, including quarterly check-ins, Chinese purchases of U.S. agricultural goods, cooperation on critical minerals, and a fentanyl agreement,...

Today, Jess, Martha, Les, and Matt break down the newest wave of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil exports — measures designed to cut off Russia’s funding for war in Ukraine. The package includes new secondary sanctions aimed at major buyers like India and China. India is signaling a possible rethink of its Russian oil purchases, Europe is weighing the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukrai...

Today, Les, Martha, Andy, and Jess discuss Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s White House visit and a pair of major announcements: a reinvigorated AUKUS partnership and a new U.S.–Australia critical minerals deal. While both moves signal deepening strategic and economic ties, the real test will be delivery, building nuclear-powered submarines, securing rare earth supply chains, and reduc...

Today, Morgan, Jamil, Martha, and Jess unpack the growing tension between Washington and Bogotá after President Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of running a drug manufacturing regime and threatened to slash aid and impose tariffs. The escalation follows Colombia’s inclusion last month on the U.S. list of countries failing to cooperate with anti-narcotics efforts—and a U.S. strike o...