Fault Lines

Today, Les, Jess, and Algene discuss the retirement of Senator Mitch McConnell after 42 years in Congress—marking the end of an era for Republican leadership and a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy. As one of the longest-serving and most influential Senate leaders in history, McConnell championed alliances, engagement abroad, and the "peace through strength" doctrine.What does his departure mean for U.S. national security strategy? How will his absence shape the Senate’s role in foreign policy? And how did McConnell’s tenure impact the Senate as an institution?Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones @AlgeneSajeryLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/YQggnAywLc8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Les, Amy, and Andrew discuss the rising concerns over DeepSeek, a Chinese AI chatbot positioning itself as a competitor to OpenAI, Gemini, and other U.S.-developed platforms. The U.S. has banned DeepSeek from federal systems, and South Korea recently announced it will block new downloads, with both countries underscoring data privacy and national security concerns.Is China pulling ahead in AI development? What are the concerns regarding DeepSeek and other Chinese-developed apps like TikTok? What might the Trump Administration responses mean for larger U.S.-China relations?Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/business/south-korea-deepseek-china-ai.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/us-lawmakers-move-ban-deepseek-government-devices-chinese-surveillance-rcna190965https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2025/01/how-deepseek-changed-future-aiand-what-means-national-security/402594/Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@AndrewBorene@NotTVJessJones @amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here:  https://youtu.be/Vrj2TbV468E Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Amy, Andrew, and Jess break down the latest push for peace in Ukraine as negotiations unfold in Saudi Arabia. With President Trump advocating for talks, uncertainty looms over who is involved—Ukraine’s role remains unclear, and European allies are scrambling to protect their interests with an emergency summit in Paris.Are these talks the first step toward ending the war, or is the West handing Putin a victory? Could European troops on the ground shift the balance? And what message does this send to U.S. allies about standing up to aggression?Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/us/politics/ukraine-zelensky-trump-russia.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/world/europe/vance-europe-putin-russia.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/16/us-russia-ukraine-war-talks-saudi-arabia/ https://www.wsj.com/world/russia-ukraine-slowing-advance-reasons-9debf4e1 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@AndrewBorene@NotTVJessJones @amykmitchellLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here:  https://youtu.be/HN6S35rIiQM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Bishop, and Algene unpack Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington and his high-profile meetings with both President Trump and Elon Musk. With defense cooperation, tariffs, energy imports, and tech visas on the table, the visit signals growing ties between the U.S. and India—wrapped in a public display of political friendship.Will this “bromance” lead to deeper defense collaboration and secure supply chains? Can India help the U.S. maintain its edge in AI and counter China’s influence? And does Musk’s meeting with Modi blur the lines between business and government?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/trump-india-modi-visit-washington-tariffs-83d5f6af65f923dc4feb3f38338c888d https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj91d3jkpvlo https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c23ndleveymo Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones @morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here:  https://youtu.be/ndk73b3GO28 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Les, Morgan, and Jess unpack the latest developments in the Middle East and King Abdullah of Jordan’s visit to Washington, D.C. With Trump’s Saturday deadline for the release of Israeli hostages looming, tensions are rising as the Arab League prepares to meet and as Egypt and Jordan weigh their response to Trump’s push for them to take in displaced Palestinians.What impact will Trump’s threat to withhold aid from Egypt and Jordan have? Is his strategy giving Arab states flexibility or forcing their hand? And as Middle East dynamics shift, what role can U.S. allies play in addressing the humanitarian crisis?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/11/trump-abdullah-gaza-plan-00203602 https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/11/politics/trump-jordan-king-abdullah-gaza-plan/index.html https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/trump-wants-jordans-help-with-gaza-its-king-is-looking-for-a-way-to-say-no-0958ad69?mod=world_lead_story https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/11/israel-war-gaza-ceasefire-jordan-egypt-news-hamas/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones @morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here:  https://youtu.be/grrJd5Vvf2E Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Martha, Bishop, and Jeffery discuss the latest developments in Sudan, where over 200,000 people have died in the ongoing conflict between government forces and the RSF. While Sudanese forces have secured Khartoum and are discussing the political future, the fight is far from over, as RSF forces still hold Darfur.With Russia backing Sudan’s military and Iran creeping in, the battle for Port Sudan and Red Sea access has become another front in the global power struggle. Can the U.S. rally its partners to counter Russian and Chinese influence? How does Washington’s delayed response and foreign policy uncertainty impact its credibility? And with USAID in turmoil, what will happen to the humanitarian crisis on the ground?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1159871https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/sudan-form-new-government-after-regaining-khartoum-say-military-sources-2025-02-09/https://au.int/en/articles/sudan-suspended-african-union Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@marthamillerdc@BishopGarrisonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/c_VoVL9b4S4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Morgan, and Jess break down Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for Gaza—relocating Palestinians while the U.S. oversees reconstruction. With pushback from Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and mixed reactions in Israel, the plan raises critical questions about feasibility, diplomacy, and regional security.Who, if anyone, is willing to take responsibility for Gaza? Could this plan derail Saudi-Israel normalization? And what does this mean for the broader regional threat from Iran—has the U.S. lost focus on the bigger strategic picture?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1887543148781461806/photo/1 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-defense-minister-orders-army-prepare-gaza-residents-departure-media-2025-02-06/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/02/06/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-egypt-trump-displacement/cd5ab7c2-e46e-11ef-ab83-bb30e4340014_story.html https://apnews.com/article/israel-trump-gaza-netanyahu-169d497ac07760ccb9724bef5982338a Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/W3o3kbH5zmw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Martha, Les, and Morgan discuss upheaval at USAID as the agency faces sweeping changes under the Trump Administration. With the freezing of nearly all foreign assistance, most USAID employees reportedly placed on leave, and international staff ordered to return to the U.S., the future of U.S. foreign assistance is in question.What role does USAID play in advancing U.S. interests abroad? How will the freeze on aid programs affect critical initiatives like PEPFAR and global healthcare? What are the long-term consequences of these far reaching changes on U.S. foreign policy, American businesses, and global influence?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://apnews.com/article/trump-usaid-layoffs-7e0a159d8a419c4c9388ab02e8259f23 https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/usaid-trump-musk.htmlhttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/usaid-elon-musk-donald-trump-b2692144.htmlFollow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/SlUrvRS4BSc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 409: Tariff Turmoil: Trump’s Trade War and Its Global FalloutToday, Morgan, Martha, and Jess discuss President Trump’s latest move to impose sweeping tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), citing illegal migration and fentanyl as justification. The plan includes 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China, which has prompted retaliatory measures from U.S. trading partners.What are the unintended consequences for American taxpayers? If the U.S. retreats from the global economic stage, who steps in to fill the void? And with past tariffs failing to bring manufacturing back, will this strategy hurt the very voters who elected Trump?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70kn4676p4o https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/02/02/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/us/politics/trump-tariffs-ieepa.html https://www.reuters.com/business/trump-stretches-trade-law-boundaries-with-canada-mexico-china-tariffs-2025-02-02/ Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!Follow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach@marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones Like what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/iLb6rTb54is Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Martha, Matt, Bishop, and Andrew break down the latest Russia-Ukraine developments, the growing pressure on Putin, and the rising costs of war. They examine the strength of the Western alliance, the effect of sanctions against Russia, the Nord Stream 2 fallout, and whether boosting U.S. energy production could curb Europe’s reliance on Russian oil. As modern warfare evolves, hybrid conflict, drone strikes, and Wagner’s war crimes are reshaping security far beyond Ukraine.Will Russia’s mounting losses force Putin to negotiate? How strong is the U.S. and European alliance as the war drags on? Could energy shifts change the geopolitical balance? And is modern conflict entering a dangerous new phase?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/2000262/putin-russia-revolthttps://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/01/29/ukrainian-drones-flew-500-miles-and-in-a-single-strike-damaged-5-of-russias-oil-refining-capacity/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg84r5g8d0oFollow our experts on Twitter: @marthamillerdc@WMattHayden@AndrewBorene@BishopGarrisonLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/jsytDeH8kj0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.