Fault Lines

Today, Jess, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss U.S. President Joe Biden’s upcoming trip to Angola, fulfilling an earlier promise that would make him the first U.S. head of state to visit sub-Saharan Africa since Barack Obama in 2015. Keen to counter China's massive investments in Africa, the U.S. has been supporting a project that links the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola's Lobito port by rail to bypass road congestion on the copper and cobalt route.What impact, or lack thereof, does the election have on this trip? Is the United States pulling a play out of China’s playbook with the Lobito Corridor project? How can the U.S. offer a better deal than China in Africa?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.reuters.com/world/biden-make-first-africa-visit-with-angola-trip-coming-weeks-sources-say-2024-09-13/ https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/lobito-corridor-connecting-democratic-republic-congo-and-zambia-global-markets-angola_en https://www.usip.org/blog/2024/06/what-africas-lobito-corridor https://afripoli.org/lobito-corridor-a-reality-check https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/09/09/joint-statement-from-the-united-states-and-the-european-union-on-support-for-angola-zambia-and-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congos-commitment-to-further-develop-the-lobito-corridor-and-the/ https://www.semafor.com/article/11/30/2023/bidens-plans-to-counter-china-run-through-angola Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer@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/3aWZOgauO7k

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss the upcoming meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden. They are expected to discuss whether to allow the UK to sell Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine to strike military targets deep inside Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that “if Ukraine did fire Western missiles deep into Russia, it would mean that Russia was at war with NATO.” Russia also expelled six British diplomats from Moscow accusing them of espionage. Is this more saber-rattling from Russia, or a genuine redline? What is the impact of the upcoming U.S. presidential election on allowing long-range weapons to be used against Russia? Is the United States slow-rolling equipment to Ukraine or in step with European allies?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.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108698/secretary-of-state-blinken-in-kyiv-ukraine https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/us/politics/biden-ukraine-weapons.html https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/09/12/europe/putin-warns-nato-missiles-hnk-latam-intlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/09/13/russia-putin-uk-missiles-diplomats/ https://www.foxnews.com/world/putin-says-he-backs-harris-over-trump-adds-hes-ready-talks-ukraine Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jaffer@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/cKs2XB0H3W8

Today, Les, Jess, Amy, Matt, and Jeffrey reflect on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11th attacks that began the Global War on Terror and changed the course of American history. They discuss how these attacks still shape our national security and foreign policy and how, now over two decades removed from the attacks, newer generations reflect and remember this pivotal event.Does the changing landscape of how we obtain and learn world events impact how we view world events? Do average Americans understand the threat we still face from global terror? How do we convey the necessity of leaning forward in the world to ensure our national security where both political parties espouse retrenchment?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/sept-11-anniversary-ceremony-children-reading-names-ed7dcd42524dca1c5098b6b3364aca91 https://www.npr.org/2024/09/10/g-s1-21925/biden-harris-trump-911-ground-zero-world-trade-center-pentagon-shanksville-flight-93 https://www.911memorial.org/connect/commemoration/23rd-anniversary-commemoration Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@WMattHayden@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/SGwdkxV7GvU

Today, Les, Jess, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which is held every three years, this time in Beijing. All African nations, except the Kingdom of Eswatini due to its recognition of Taiwan, participated in the forum. China is the African continent’s biggest trading partner and arms supplier. How does the United States’ and China’s messaging impact the effectiveness of relations with Africa? How can the United States improve its engagement with Africa? How do China’s exploitive loan program and purchase of mainly commodities impact its relations with African nations?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.nytimes.com/2024/09/04/world/asia/china-africa-summit.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb&ngrp=mnn&pvid=F23603F0-AF7C-46B3-BAB5-2379E201F463 https://www.reuters.com/world/china-deepen-industrial-agricultural-trade-investment-ties-with-africa-2024-09-05/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdx6d654556o https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/03/china/china-africa-summit-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/china-africa-summit-us-xi-jinping-rcna169673 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3277371/china-vows-work-africa-nuclear-tech-satellites-and-space Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdcLike 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/JKD3atG4XpY

Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Morgan discuss the latest developments in the war in Ukraine, from Ukrainian forces going on the offensive in Russia and capturing 450+ square miles of Russian territory to the recent crash of a Western-provided F-16 jet and Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Mongolia, where he was not arrested despite his outstanding ICC arrest warrant.How does Ukraine’s Kursk Offensive impact the wider war? What are the implications of Mongolia failing to uphold its ICC obligations? How might the F-16’s recent crash impact future aid efforts?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.nytimes.com/live/2024/09/03/world/ukraine-russia-missile-strike-poltavahttps://www.politico.eu/article/vladimir-putin-russia-arrest-icc-member-mongolia-prosecution-eu-ukraine/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/31/world/europe/ukraine-f16-pilot-crash.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-territory-seized-putin-kursk-rcna169280 Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@morganlroach@marthamillerdcLike 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/CV0JG1wuFuM

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss two pivotal elections - the French Parliamentary and the Iranian Presidential Election.  French President Emmanuel Macron, after his party was trounced in the European Parliamentary elections, called for a snap election. In which after the first round of voting on Sunday saw Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally party take first place with all eyes on the run-off on Sunday, July 9th.  In Iran, elections were held in the wake of the death of President Ebrahim Raisi.  After the first round of voting, two candidates remain for the Presidency - with ostensible “reformer” Masoud Pezeshkian leading over Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator for Iran who is viewed as the more hawkish of the two, and with another round of voting to follow. How does the French election impact support for Ukraine and the wider EU? What are the implications of Iranian elections on regional stability? How should the next President prepare for the outcome of these elections?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/france-election-far-right-macron-193233ade08821a71731980d8a17eb4a https://apnews.com/article/france-election-far-right-macron-f07061a929ed8eaad0e714e948159cab https://www.politico.eu/article/france-legislative-election-marine-le-pen-emmanuel-macron-national-rally-jordan-bardella/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-presidential-election-pakeshkian-jalili/ https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/06/29/irans-supreme-leader-is-terrified-of-people-power https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/30/world/middleeast/iran-election-president-voters.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@jamil_n_jafferLike 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/NicQDXSPF_M

Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Matt discuss the recent violent protests in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi over a tax bill that would increase taxes on bread, fuel, and other necessities, which was aimed at alleviating the country’s massive debt burden. Protestors stormed the nation’s parliament building, setting parts ablaze, and clashes with police and military forces have left more than 300 injured and 22 dead. Kenyan President William Ruto has now abandoned the bill but vows to quash the continuing unrest “at whatever cost.” With Kenya being recently announced as a U.S. major Non-NATO ally, how do these protests impact U.S.-Kenyan relations? What are the implications of these protests on the stability of the region and our ongoing counter-terrorism efforts? What does this unrest mean for the recently deployed Kenyan police mission to violence-stricken Haiti?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/articles/c3gg30gm0x2o https://apnews.com/article/kenya-finance-bill-taxes-protests-396382bdac0fc18dfec7cd3003ece35b https://apnews.com/article/kenya-protests-finance-bill-33a20092285f1d663264f7b0d513e1da https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/africa/kenya-protests-tax-parliament.html https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/27/world/africa/kenya-protests-taxes-president-ruto.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@NotTVJessJones@marthamillerdc @WMattHaydenLike 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/RzPb1EQY27w

Today, Les, Jess, Bishop, and Amy discuss Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's plea deal with the Department of Justice in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of espionage, in exchange for a sentence of five years in prison, which - due to time served in the U.K. - means he is a free man. Assange also refused to set foot on the mainland United States, appearing instead in Saipan (an American territory). Is this plea deal justice served? How does Assange’s case impact future accountability for classified leaks? Should Americans who are concerned about free speech be focusing on Assange or the imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich?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.wsj.com/politics/julian-assange-plea-deal-c392069c https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/25/julian-assange-plea-deal-updates/ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/us/politics/assange-plea-deal-press-freedom.html https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/24/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-will-plead-guilty-deal-us-and-be-freed-prison.html https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/06/julian-assange-plea-deal-pointless-prosecution/678787/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@BishopGarrison@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/eld5_Exe9Pg