Fault Lines

Today, Morgan, Les, Amy, and Jess unpack the dramatic firings at the National Security Council, following far-right influencer Laura Loomer’s unexpected meeting with President Trump. In just 24 hours, two rounds of senior NSC officials—including the Commander and Deputy of U.S. Cyber Command—were dismissed, with a third round reportedly imminent. What triggered the purge? A mix of internal power struggles, loyalty tests, and fallout from last week’s Signal Gate scandal.Is the Trump administration sidelining expertise in favor of ideological alignment? With trust in National Security Advisor Mike Waltz shaken and figures like Pete Hegseth gaining influence, is a broader battle underway between traditional GOP Reaganites and those who are more skeptical of U.S. alliances. And who stands to benefit from this internal unraveling at the heart of U.S. foreign policy?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: https://jinsa.org/jinsa_report/path-to-snapback-april-2025/ https://www.axios.com/2025/04/02/trump-iran-talks-bomb-threats https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/03/31/there-will-be-a-bombing-trump-threatens-to-attack-iran-if-no-nuclear-deal-reached/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @NotTVJessJones @morganlroach@amykmitchell@lestermunsonLike 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/n8jDdjPvV64

Today, Jess, Martha, Morgan, and Amy break down President Trump’s long-awaited “Liberation Day” and the sweeping tariffs that come with it. While the exact details are still emerging, proposals range from a universal 20% tariff on imports to targeted reciprocal tariffs designed to match the duties other nations impose on U.S. goods. The announcement has already triggered domestic backlash and international warnings of retaliation, setting the stage for a potential economic showdown.Will these tariffs revive U.S. manufacturing or simply drive up costs for American consumers? How will Congress respond if businesses and voters push back? And what does President Trump’s “Mar-a-Lago Accord” signal about the future of U.S. economic policy?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/31/senate-vote-canada-tariffs-susan-collins-00262363 https://www.reuters.com/world/china-japan-south-korea-will-jointly-respond-us-tariffs-chinese-state-media-says-2025-03-31/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/04/01/eu-trump-tariffs-retaliation-big-tech/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/trump-tariffs-nato-allies.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/2025/03/30/business/china-reciprocal-tariffs-us-trade-war-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html Follow our experts on Twitter: @marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones @morganlroach@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/QvyChZ3iEiY 

Today, Martha, Morgan, Amy, and Jess unpack rising tensions in the Arctic following Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Greenland and the fallout in Denmark, among the U.S.’s most reliable allies. This visit was a step too far for many in Denmark: Danish public opinion of the U.S. has plummeted, with over 40% now viewing the U.S. as a threat. Danish officials are now publicly questioning American intentions. As Russia reactivates Arctic bases and China eyes Greenland’s resources, why is the U.S. alienating key allies instead of building strategic cooperation? What does the Trump administration actually want from the Danes, and how does this approach help U.S. national security strategy?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6370788279112 https://www.npr.org/2025/03/30/nx-s1-5344942/trump-military-force-not-off-the-table-for-greenland#:~:text=Since%201945%2C%20the%20American%20military,with%20some%20200%20soldiers%20today https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/03/28/greenland-us-bases-history-vance/ https://www.americansecurityproject.org/russian-arctic-military-bases/ https://thedefensepost.com/2023/12/06/russia-arctic-military-presence/ Follow our experts on Twitter: @marthamillerdc@NotTVJessJones @morganlroach@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/qtOcQ_eMLa0 

Today, Les, Morgan, Martha, and Jess break down the sudden withdrawal of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. A key Trump loyalist and early cabinet pick, Stefanik had already sat through confirmation hearings and staffed up at the UN—but with a razor-thin Republican House majority at risk, the administration pulled the plug.What does this move signal about internal GOP priorities and Trump’s personnel strategy? How will the lack of a confirmed U.S. ambassador impact America’s ability to lead at the UN—especially as China and Russia assert more influence? And with Stefanik’s political future uncertain, what’s next for one of Trump’s most visible allies?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: https://apnews.com/article/elise-stefanik-united-nations-ambassador-trump-96ef705d7498f080f9f399416b647f99https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/27/politics/stefanik-ambassador-nomination-white-house?cid=ios_app https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/27/elise-stefanik-united-nations-trump/ 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/-CgV43Ybcpc

Today, Les, Jeffrey, and Jess unpack the fallout from the Atlantic's bombshell report on leaked Signal messages between top national security officials. The controversy erupted when Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added to the "Houthi PC small group" chat by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, exposing sensitive national security discussions taking place over unsecured personal devices—including while one official was in Russia. The revelations raise serious concerns about negligence, security breaches, and the erosion of institutional discipline.What does this leak reveal about decision-making at the highest levels? Will U.S. allies lose trust in Washington’s ability to protect intelligence? And with no sign of accountability or investigation, does this signal a larger breakdown in how national security is handled?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/signal-group-chat-attack-plans-hegseth-goldberg/682176/?gift=0MX4QOJ8hj9Td0f7h7prWQ6KNbodYHBJ3UBWR7do19A&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pete-hegseth-sued-over-signal-text-debacle_n_67e2f9b5e4b074f0c26efadc?nurhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-envoy-steve-witkoff-signal-text-group-chat-russia-putin/# Follow our experts on Twitter: @lestermunson@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/6xqrFup-Z7Q 

Today, Jess, Martha, Les, and Morgan unpack the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu —Turkey’s leading opposition figure and the likely challenger to President Erdoğan in 2028. His arrest sparked mass protests across the country and violent clashes, raising alarms over Turkey’s seemingly accelerating democratic backslide.With Turkey’s geopolitical importance, including its strategic role in NATO —will democratic erosion be overlooked for political convenience? Or as Erdoğan tightens his grip, will the Trump Administration speak out for democracy?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussion: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/23/world/middleeast/turkey-ekrem-imamoglu-istanbul.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleSharehttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/world/middleeast/turkey-erdogan-democracy-istanbul-mayor-detention.htmlhttps://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/21/middleeast/turkey-protests-erdogan-mayor-intl-latam/index.htmlFollow 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/Gw4pYhWeBp8