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 State of the Union speech? Did President Biden beat the team’s expectations?  Did the President’s speech change the minds of Congress or American voters on aid to Ukraine?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/state-of-union-biden-gaza-ukraine-israel-1a42ff9d4ef3e0f2753e43ac8d39fc18https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/biden-state-of-the-union-address-2024/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/state-union-key-takeaways-biden-address-rcna140768https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/03/07/remarks-of-president-joe-biden-state-of-the-union-address-as-prepared-for-delivery-2/Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@morganlroach@NotTVJessJonesLike 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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6F4-nyC6a6o Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 in the Biden administration's handling of the war in Gaza? How do the domestic political situations of the United States and Israel impact the conflict? 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.axios.com/2024/03/05/israel-gaza-aid-benny-gantz-white-househttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2902527/benny-gantz-confronts-reports-hes-in-us-against-benjamin-netanyahus-wishes/#google_vignettehttps://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-790212https://www.timesofisrael.com/biden-aides-to-gantz-gaza-aid-convoy-disaster-shows-need-for-viable-post-war-plans/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@morganlroach@NotTVJessJonesLike 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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/IWyeASqPySw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 these diplomatic overtures a play to counter Venezuela with their ally Cuba, or is this an attempt by Guyana to cozy up to Venezuela? Is the threat of Venezuela invading Guyana real, or just domestic messaging? Should the Biden Administration be playing a more active role in the region? 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://newsroom.gy/2024/03/01/president-ali-calls-for-dismantling-of-u-s-embargo-against-cuba/ https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/articulo/guyanas-media-publishes-support-international-community-cuba-un https://misiones.cubaminrex.cu/en/articulo/universities-guyana-and-cuba-agree-cooperate https://havanatimes.org/features/cubas-curious-silence-on-the-essequibo-conflict/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/world/americas/venezuela-guyana.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/1JeH1XK60zM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 this issue? Should the United States be concerned about China’s position as the largest producer of Electric Vehicles? Is this inquiry a way to implement protectionist policies against foreign automakers? 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/china-electric-vehicles-privacy-personal-data-biden-844f2406512b94212ee1a92a61e5a33ahttps://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/29/us-investigation-chinese-vehicles/https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2024/02/citing-national-security-concerns-biden-harris-administration-announceshttps://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/02/29/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-action-to-address-risks-of-autos-from-china-and-other-countries-of-concern/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@morganlroach@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/qNPYKhuCQxc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 to Ukraine be a redline for Russia? Can Europe act effectively without U.S. leadership? 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.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68417223https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/macrons-ukraine-troop-talk-shakes-up-nato-allies-2024-02-27/https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/germans-debatethe-once-unthinkable-do-we-need-nuclear-weapons-13fa7e68?mod=hp_lead_pos11https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/25/world/europe/cia-ukraine-intelligence-russia-war.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/s9_CHhy1NP8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 assistance to the American public? Should Congress be skeptical of giving Ukraine more aid when much of Europe isn't living up to its 2 percent NATO pledge? 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.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-23/poland-s-sikorski-warns-us-to-aid-ukraine-or-face-profound-consequences https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/polands-foreign-minister-discusses-the-war-in-ukraine https://thehill.com/policy/international/4488444-polish-fm-to-speaker-johnson-on-ukraine-the-credibility-of-your-country-is-at-stake/ https://news.sky.com/video/polish-foreign-minister-corrects-the-record-for-russia-in-un-security-council-meeting-13080530 Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/qaGoiAYxKFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 towards Ukraine? How can the U.S. and European allies define a Ukrainian victory? What should the Biden administration being doing to bolster support for Ukraine among Congress and the American public?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.arabnews.com/node/2465106/worldhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/22/ukraine-war-pentagon-lessons-learned/https://www.foxnews.com/media/ukrainian-president-zelenskyy-sits-down-fox-anchor-bret-baier-war-nears-two-year-mark Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@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, watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/1vRePAW7qOk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 was the Wikileaks to U.S. national security? Should Julian Assange be extradited to the United States to stand trial? How should we address the prevalent issue of U.S. intelligence leaks? 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.cnn.com/2024/02/20/uk/julian-assange-extradition-appeal-ruling-review-intl-gbr/index.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/20/world/europe/assange-us-extradition-uk-court-case.htmlhttps://apnews.com/article/julian-assange-wikileaks-extradition-court-hearing-25a5f66df1e8d94d0db1e9d6bb323ea4Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Administration’s efforts at deterrence working? Will the IRGC's ostensible tamp down on proxy attacks be sustained? Do underwater drones indicate an increased level of sophistication from the Houthis? 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.axios.com/2024/02/19/us-houthi-strike-underwater-drone-red-seahttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-military-strikes-houthi-unmanned-underwater-vessel-red-sea/ https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-787572https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/18/iran-proxies-middle-east/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 anti-satellite system. Will the threat of nuclear weapons in space and the potential murder of a Russian opposition leader get Congress to act? Was Chairman Turner’s announcement intentional to sway his colleagues ahead of the vote on the Senate Ukraine aid bill? 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/russia-anti-satellite-weapon-threat-technology-2880f9c55122dcafe87188bc92dd6cdehttps://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/14/house-intel-national-security-threat-russia-space-power-00141473 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/us/politics/intelligence-russia-nuclear.html https://warontherocks.com/2022/09/getting-serious-about-the-threat-of-high-altitude-nuclear-detonations/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68315943 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/jailed-russian-opposition-leader-navalny-dead-prison-service-2024-02-16/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @jamil_n_jaffer@notTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroachLike what we're doing here?  Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.  And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.