Fault Lines

Today, Les, Jess, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Senior Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss the political turmoil and public health crises happening in Haiti. Haiti has zero elected representatives running the Haitian government, armed gangs are wreaking havoc on the population, and cholera is reemerging as a severe public health threat. What are the real drivers of instability in Haiti? Should the United States and/or the international community intervene in the affairs of Haiti? Would an international peacekeeping force be successful in stabilizing the country or would it provoke even more violence? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/21/haiti-democracy-crisis/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/10/haiti-no-elected-officials-anarchy-failed-state  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroach Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement that Britain would send Ukraine one dozen Challenger 2 main battle tanks. The move may pressure other allies, like the United States and Germany which have—at least thus far—refused to provide such high powered weaponry.Should the U.S. ramp up its delivery of more substantive military capabilities? Has the U.S.’s $60 billion in military aid been enough? Do these announcements risk potential escalation with the Russians, or do they enhance deterrence?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64274755  https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/18/politics/us-ukraine-tanks/index.html/  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and special guest host NSI Senior Fellow and Senior Principal at Navigators Global Andy Keiser discuss the recent announcement that China’s population declined for the first time since 1961, when the country was wracked by famine as a direct result of horrendous economic planning. China also announced that its economy grew at only 3% last year, the lowest growth rate in history.How will these deep changes to China’s population and economy affect the Chinese Communist Party’s national security policy? Can Xi Jinping stay in power when the economic success of the past four decades that has sustained the Communist Party is at risk? Should the United States change its estimation of China as a peer competitor?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/chinas-population-shrinks-first-time-since-1961-2023-01-17/ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/18/world/asia/china-population-shrinking.html  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@AndyKeiserLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the recent storming and occupation of Brazilian government buildings in the capital of Brasilia by thousands of supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro. The Brazilian insurrection immediately drew comparisons to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol two years ago. Is there a connection between the violence in Brazil and what happened in the U.S. two years ago? What are the differences and similarities between Jan. 6 and the Brazilian insurrection? Should we even see Brazil through the lens of U.S. politics? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/08/world/americas/brazil-election-protests-bolsonaro.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/protesters-storm-brazils-congress-support-former-brazilian-president-j-rcna64816   Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the China’s new Foreign Minister’s first international trip: a weeklong tour of countries across the African continent. The new foreign minister is following in the footsteps of his predecessors, who have for more than three decades started each year with a trip to Africa. This is big news as the U.S. is currently battling China for influence in Africa – among many other regions across the globe.Does China view the continent differently than the U.S. does?  Did China beat the U.S. to identify and take advantage of strategic opportunities in Africa? And are current U.S. initiatives and commitments enough to counter Chinese influence in the region?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://apnews.com/article/politics-china-africa-qin-gang-ethiopia-1132767663ac4a8f8951f07cba5a77de  https://www.politico.com//news/2022/12/12/biden-africa-summit-china-00073508  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jamil, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss the Biden administration’s recent pivot away from retaliating against Saudi Arabia for oil-production cuts to focusing on increased regional security cooperation with Riyadh. Does the Biden administration’s pivot put the U.S. in a better position with the Saudis? How do the Senate and House differ in their approach to Saudi Arabia? How can the U.S. improve relations with Saudi Arabia while balancing defense, energy, and human rights issues?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-saudi-tensions-ease-as-concerns-about-iran-grow-11672927633 https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/gregory-gause-kingdom-and-power-us-saudi-relationship  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroach Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 166: 11 Degrees of Kevin McCarthyToday, Les, Jamil, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss the current deadlock in the House of Representatives that is preventing Rep. Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker. This is the first time in 164 years such a battle for leadership has played out in Congress. How does this current House leadership battle affect national security? What should Kevin McCarthy’s next steps be, and will he be the next Speaker of the House? Is this a disaster, or is this democracy in action?   Hear our experts debate these issues and more in our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-deadlock-puts-house-gray-zone-national-security-issues-rcna64531 https://thehill.com/policy/international/3801194-state-dept-says-speaker-fight-likely-to-compound-national-security-concerns/ Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroach Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines is back! Happy New Year! Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss a recent headline you may of missed during the Winter break. Following the Taliban’s ban of female students from attending universities, the ruling force in Afghanistan recently issued a ban on women working at NGOs in the country. With aid programs supporting more than 28 million people in Afghanistan, this extreme measure has caused outrage. What should NGOs, the UN, and the U.S. do in response to these reactionary decisions? Should they cease NGO operations and humanitarian aid? Should their responses be different?Hear our experts debate this issues and the potential U.S. response in our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/12/30/taliban-western-aid-misogyny-women-rights/?utm_source=PostUp&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Morning%20Brief%20OC&utm_term=63265&tpcc=Morning%20Brief%20OChttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/12/26/top-un-ngo-officials-to-meet-over-taliban-ban-on-women-staff Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tune in for Fault Lines’ special annual holiday episode, where some of our favorite panelists return to reflect on the most pressing national security issues of 2022, and what they expected will unfold in 2023. Join Jessica Jones, Jamil Jaffer, Morgan Viña, Martha Miller, Matthew Ferraro, Andy Keiser, and Matthew Heiman as they highlight their Hits and Misses of 2022, as well as take their Fault Lines Final Exam!What do our panelists think will happen to the Iranian regime? What do they think will be the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war? How do they think the Biden Administration is performing so far, and what do they expect of the Administration in 2023?  Find out if our experts passed their final exam, and hear our experts debate and reflect on 2022 and 2023 national security issues! Be sure to join Fault Lines again after the New Year as we resume our regular three-times-a-week schedule on Monday, January 2.Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the recent headline that the United States is nearing a decision to send PATRIOT air defense missile systems to Ukraine to help counter the barrage of Russian missiles and Iranian-made drones that have been hitting civilian targets and critical infrastructure in Ukraine for months. How aggressive should the U.S. be in supplying both offensive and defensive weapons to Ukraine? Will the PATRIOT systems be enough to support the Ukrainians to intercept attacks? Should the Biden Administration ramp up the delivery of U.S. provisions of military capabilities to Ukraine? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/13/politics/us-patriot-missile-defense-system-ukraine/index.html https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/brittney-griner-back-us-release-russia-prisoner-swap-viktor-bout/  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.