Fault Lines

Epizode

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  Fault Lines Episode 626: Space, Deterrence, and the New Frontier of U.S. Defense 16.09.2026 14min

  Today, Jamil, Les, John, and Matt dig into the Pentagon's confirmation that the United States has deployed weapons on orbit, marking a possible escalation in the militarization of space. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prohibits weapons of mass destruction and military installations on celestial bodies, but places no ban on conventional weapons — leaving the current U.S. posture in a legal gray zone that no binding international agreement has yet addressed. Russia and China have both developed capabilities to threaten American satellites, and space has quietly become one of the most contested domains in modern great power competition.Is the U.S. moving fast enough to maintain its technological edge, or is the pace of investment falling short of the threat? What does meaningful deterrence actually look like in a domain where the rules of engagement are still being written? How dependent is American military and civilian infrastructure on space assets that adversaries are actively targeting?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@JohnCLipsey@jamil_n_jaffer@WMattHaydenLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/GbUs3d6-SOE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 625: Pacing The Killer Robots — AI's Week of Reckoning 14.09.2026 20min

  Today, John, Jamil, Les, and Jess dig into a week defined by alarm bells from the people building artificial intelligence. Reports of model development mishaps over recent weeks, including the OpenAI-Hugging Face incident where a swarm of AI agents escaped their sandbox, was seemingly enough for a coordinated campaign around the latest resignation from an AI lab to spark a week-long media frenzy. CEO Dario Amodei responded by publishing a widely-read blog warning that AI is advancing dramatically faster than anticipated and calling for pacing and slowing down model development. He flagged recursive self-improvement as a threshold moment that could outrun human understanding, and proposed a three-step framework involving third-party lab oversight, industry-led safety standards, and global coordination to slow development. The week also saw political leaders debating everything from non-intervention, to guardrails on catastrophic risk, calls for comprehensive regulations, and even a full pause and a ban on superintelligence.Are leading AI executives genuinely sounding an alarm, getting ahead of a political stampede, or strategically using government to protect their investments? Can major AI labs coordinate voluntarily on safety standards without triggering antitrust concerns or cementing monopoly power? How does competition with China influence this debate and what does all this mean for open-weight models? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@JohnCLipsey@jamil_n_jafferLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/x_K3C-98iss Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 624: The Global War on Terror, 25 Years After 9/11 11.09.2026 23min

  Today, Les, Amy, Jess, and John mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by taking stock of where America stands in the long struggle that followed. Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force within days of the attacks, launching two decades of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond — and the United States has not suffered a major attack on the homeland since. But that security has come at enormous cost in lives and treasure, and the national unity that defined the days after 9/11 has given way to deep partisan fracture, strategic fatigue, and a growing skepticism about America's role in the world.Has the global war on terror, measured against its original aims, been a success? What lessons should a younger generation — one with no memory of that morning — take from the last 25 years? How did the righteous resolve of 9/11 erode into the isolationism and pessimism that shapes our politics today? And what will it take to rebuild the confidence and sense of purpose that America needs to remain a force for order in the world?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@JohnCLipsey@amykmitchellLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/fG31htTjPLg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 623: Graham's Gambit: Russia, Iran, and the Politics That Killed the Bill 09.09.2026 14min

  Today, Jess, Les, and John examine the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, a sweeping sanctions bill that passed the Senate over the summer but has since stalled in the House. The legislation would expand pressure on Russia's shadow fleet and grant the president authority to impose tariffs on the top five importers of Russian fuel, while also extending longstanding sanctions on Iran. Despite bipartisan momentum at its peak, the bill collapsed when Democrats reversed course, unwilling to hand the Trump administration broader tariff powers — even if it meant abandoning a policy designed to protect Ukraine.Why did Democrats walk away from a bill that delivered nearly everything they had been demanding on Russia policy? Is the Trump administration actually willing to squeeze Russian energy markets, or is there simply no appetite to risk higher prices at home? What would a serious pressure campaign on Russia look like — from tightening the oil price cap to cracking down on the dark fleet?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/mYDaYVk9bQU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 622: The Barrel Gap & The Oil Deal— How Oil Has Taken Center Stage In The World’s Major Conflicts and How Long Before Prices Finally Skyrocket 02.09.2026 52min

  Today, John, Les, and special guest Clayton Seigle, Managing Director of Energy Practice at Beacon Global Strategies, take stock of the most significant oil supply disruption in recorded history — and why prices haven't fully reflected it, yet.Since the outbreak of war with Iran six months ago, flows through the Strait of Hormuz have swung wildly, forcing emergency draws on the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and triggering sweeping demand cuts by Chinese refiners. The crisis has also exposed the hard limits of energy diversification: while Saudi Arabia could redirect exports through pre-built bypass pipelines, countries like Iraq and Qatar have few alternatives to Hormuz.How long can the market absorb the disruption before prices rise sharply? How low is President Trump willing to let the Strategic Petroleum Reserve fall? To what extent has President Trump's been able to shape market expectations to actually suppress the price of oil, and is that sustainable?  The conversation also examines Ukrainian strikes on Russian refining capacity and the massive oil deal President Trump announced with Venezuela.Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@ClaySeigleLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/APb5XJZrE1M Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 621: Iran After the Strikes: Cut the BS 21.08.2026 58min

  Today, John, Les, and Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, co-lead of the Air and Missile Defense Program and Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, take stock of where the U.S.-Iran conflict stands after weeks of strikes, counterstrikes, and an ambiguous MOU that collapsed into a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Over forty days of military action, Iran has lost its navy, air force, air defense systems, and significant missile production capacity — yet the fight has shifted to a grinding contest for the Strait, where U.S. forces are sustaining a blockade and an escort operation while Iranian strikes on regional shipping and Arab infrastructure continue. The toll on American readiness is mounting, from degraded munitions stockpiles to a fleet that could be in extremis for a potential Pacific contingency by 2028 or 2029.How much longer can the U.S. Navy realistically sustain its current force posture in the region before readiness damage becomes irreversible? What would a deliberate military escalation target at this stage — and can the U.S. defend regional energy and water infrastructure that has proven difficult to protect? Is the economic constriction strategy enough to bring Iran to terms, or is a harder confrontation inevitable?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@markcmontgomeryLike what we're doing here?Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/aRuYxJE2COI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 620: From Aid to Trade in Africa 14.08.2026 44min

  Today, Les and John sit down with Tibor Nagy, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and former Ambassador to Ethiopia and Guinea, to examine a fundamental shift in how Washington is approaching Sub-Saharan Africa. The Trump administration has broken from decades of aid-and-democracy-driven policy, positioning trade, investment, and strategic partnerships at the center of its Africa agenda — but ambitious intentions have run headlong into a hollowed-out diplomatic infrastructure, ambassador vacancies, and the chaotic dismantling of USAID.What does the collapse of the Sahel and the catastrophic conflict in Sudan reveal about the limits of drive-by diplomacy? Can the administration's business-first model deliver the jobs that Africa's exploding youth population desperately needs, or will poor implementation undermine the strategy before it takes root? With Gulf states, Turkey, and China all vying for influence across the continent, how should Washington prioritize its limited bandwidth — and where does competing with Beijing actually make sense?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@TiborPNagyJrLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 619: The Latin American Pendulum 07.08.2026 57min

  Today, Les, John, and special guest Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez—former Panamanian Deputy Secretary of State—assess the Trump administration's renewed push for dominance in the Western Hemisphere and what it means for a region already in political upheaval. The so-called "Donroe Doctrine" has reactivated a hemispheric hierarchy dormant since the Cold War, with Washington deploying military pressure, sanctions, and diplomatic muscle from Panama to Venezuela to Cuba. Against this backdrop, Latin America itself is experiencing a historic rightward swing, driven by public disillusionment with governments that failed to deliver on crime, economic stability, and public safety.Is the United States rebuilding a hierarchy built for coercion, or one that can actually last? How influential are the political experiments in Argentina and El Salvador in driving the region's political momentum, and what does Trump add to that equation? Does Secretary Rubio's credibility in the region give Washington the leverage it needs to realign Latin American governments towards its goals? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@RuizHernandezCLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ct8LHVdm8Uw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 618: Trade War Evolution: U.S.-China Economic Strategy, Then, Now, and Next 31.07.2026 49min

  Today, John, Les, and Special Guest Peter Harrell—former Senior Director for International Economics at the NEC & NSC—trace the arc of U.S. trade and economic policy toward China from the engagement era of the late 1990s through future administrations. For decades, Washington operated on the theory that integrating China into the global economy through the WTO would create market opportunities and encourage political liberalization — a paradigm that persisted through Clinton, Bush, and Obama even as warning signs accumulated. The shift came gradually, driven by Chinese malign tactics, Xi Jinping's consolidation of power, and a business community that eventually saw more risk than opportunity in the relationship.What tools — tariffs, export controls, industrial policy — have actually moved the needle on economic security, and which are more political theater than strategy? Did Trump's first-term tariffs reshape trade flows in any meaningful way, or did transshipment through states such as Vietnam and Mexico simply obscure continued Chinese dominance? How should policymakers think about the trade deficit as a strategic variable, and what would it actually take to address it? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@petereharrellLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Metg6cjphQo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 617: The China Colossus: Understanding Beijing's New Mercantilist Economic Model 24.07.2026 54min

  Today, John, Les, and Special Guest Dinny McMahon—Head of China Markets Research at Trivium—trace the rise and slow-motion collapse of China's old economic model, and the technology and export-led manufacturing behemoth replacing it. For decades, China's economy ran on a simple engine: a high-debt construction and investment boom with real estate at the core and as the primary store of middle-class wealth. As Xi consolidated political power and began deflating the property bubble, he charted a new economic model featuring export driven growth and a high-tech industrial policy fueled by hyper competition—sparking today’s high stakes clash with the U.S. and Europe.Can Xi's new economic model actually replace the prosperity that the property collapse destroyed? Why has Beijing continued to suppress consumption and what would it take for Chinese households to start spending? How should Washington be responding to a system that exploits global markets as we try to re-shore industry, de-risk supply chains, and compete for the frontiers of advanced technology? Are the flying cars we were promised finally here?! Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@DinnyMcMahonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 616: Anaconda or Armistice: The Squeeze on Tehran 17.07.2026 52min

  Today, Les, John, and special guest Richard Goldberg assess where the Iran conflict stands and where it is headed. The Strait of Hormuz is once again a flashpoint, with U.S. naval forces blockading traffic while escorting commercial shipping — a posture that has helped push down gas prices but left Tehran cut off from economic relief. Iran's missile manufacturing capacity has taken serious damage, its proxies are diminished, and the regional coalition willing to push back against Tehran is growing.Can the United States sustain a low-level kinetic pressure campaign without either failing to keep the Strait sufficiently open or pushing Iran into a corner that forces escalation? Is Washington executing a deliberate anaconda strategy, or risk managing its way into an open-ended conflict with no defined endgame? With the Iranian economy in freefall and the regime's popular legitimacy threadbare, are U.S. operations actually forestalling the one card that could matter most — an uprising by the Iranian people themselves?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@rich_goldbergLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/_jgKTU6RVhQ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 615: Good Vibes and Guns: NATO's Next Chapter 10.07.2026 44min

  Today, Les, John, and special guest Retired General Doug Lute, assess the NATO summit held this week in Ankara, where 32 allied leaders gathered against a backdrop of persistent tensions over burden-sharing, Greenland, and the future of the transatlantic relationship. The summit's communiqué delivered a strong, direct reaffirmation of collective defense, and allied progress on defense spending gave Trump enough reason to leave in relatively good spirits. Yet beneath the surface, fundamental questions about NATO's structure, Europe's growing strategic autonomy, and Washington's reliability remain unresolved.Is the Ankara summit a true turning point for the alliance, or a fragile moment of unity held together by personalities and political convenience? Who deserves credit for moving the needle on European defense spending — Trump, Obama, or the threat environment itself? As the U.S. share of global economic power shrinks relative to China and other emerging poles, does NATO's current structure still serve American national security interests? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@johnclipsey@lutedougLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/0QWL4s-vhPI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 614: Drones and Diplomacy 01.07.2026 15min

  Today, Jess, Les, John, and Andrew cover a busy news cycle spanning the skies over Moscow to the streets of America. Ukrainian drones — produced domestically and flying hundreds of miles — are hammering Russian energy infrastructure and forcing Putin to publicly acknowledge fuel shortages across the country for the first time, as air defenses are redeployed from Crimea to protect the capital. Can Ukraine's drone campaign sustain enough pressure to meaningfully shift the strategic calculus for Putin? What does Russia's fuel crisis reveal about the durability of its war machine? ⁨Can the U.S. men’s soccer teams advance to the round of 16 by defeating World War instigators Bosnia and Herzegovina?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@nottvjessjones@lestermunson@johnclipsey@andrewboreneLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/-SZp5rCIkAc Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 613: After the Earthquake — Venezuela and the Limits of American Soft Power 29.06.2026 13min

  Today, Les, John, Andrew, and Andy examine the devastating earthquake that has killed more than 1,500 people in Venezuela, a number expected to climb, and what the U.S. response reveals about American humanitarian leadership in the Trump era. Washington has committed $150 million in aid flowing through UN agencies and NGOs, with DART teams and fire and rescue units from across the country, including Los Angeles and Fairfax County, already on the ground.But the response raises harder questions than it answers. With USAID largely dismantled, who actually leads American disaster response now, and what does that mean for U.S. soft power on the world stage? Now that the U.S. has removed Maduro and installed a friendly government in Caracas, the response carries an unavoidable optic: is Washington showing up for Venezuela because lives are at stake, or because this is now its ally? And if the U.S. is only willing to show up for countries already in its corner, what does that say about the credibility of American humanitarian commitments when the next crisis hits in less friendly territory?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@andykeiser@johnclipsey@andrewboreneLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/2_k_PBIlp48 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 612: Engines of Alliance: A Defense Deal for Turkey? 26.06.2026 19min

  Today, Jess, Algene, John, and Andrew discuss reports that the Trump administration is considering major defense sales to Turkey, despite bipartisan opposition in Congress. Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russia's S-400 air defense system, but as alliance leaders gather in Turkey next month for the NATO Summit, supporters cite its strategic importance to the alliance and recent efforts to distance itself from Moscow.Does Turkey's recent westward drift justify relaxing the restrictions imposed after the S-400 purchase? What are real security risks if Russian-made air defense systems and F-35 engines end up in the same arsenal? Can the administration move forward with major defense sales to Turkey on its own, or does Congress have the authority to block the deal?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@nottvjessjones@algenesajery@johnclipsey@andrewboreneLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/f3ux1hHjHFE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 611: El Tigre and Rainbow Face: Picks for Latin America and the Wizards 24.06.2026 19min

  Today, Jess, Les, Algene, and John dig into two closely contested elections that could reshape Latin American politics. In Colombia, right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella holds a narrow lead in the presidential runoff, and in Peru, Keiko Fujimori also maintains a razor-thin advantage over leftist Roberto Sánchez as electoral authorities continue reviewing disputed ballots. The team examines what these elections say about security, anti-incumbent sentiment, and the region's broader political trajectory. Plus, John provides an update on the NBA Draft and what it could mean for the Washington Wizards - and the world.Is Latin America's rightward shift a reaction to failed incumbents or a true ideological realignment? How does the Trump administration's Monroe Doctrine revival affect the sovereignty and democratic health of these nations?  Will the Wizards’ draft of a star player mean a new era of DC sports?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@nottvjessjones@lestermunson@algenesajery@johnclipseyLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/cYQ23Sbe7HU Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 610: Murky Waters and Muddied Deals 22.06.2026 19min

  Today, Les, John, Andrew, Matt, and Amy dig into the ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations playing out in Switzerland, where a publicly snubbed Vice President and a shifting cast of regional brokers — Qatar and Pakistan prominent among them — signal just how little control Washington holds over the process. The Strait of Hormuz remains a pressure point, with the southern half open only under U.S. military escort and proxy attacks continuing even as diplomats talk. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer's resignation in the UK and a contentious Colombian election add to an already turbulent international backdrop.Does the current negotiating posture amount to the U.S. practically begging Iran for a deal, and what does that say about American leverage? With the MOU still existing in multiple competing versions and Iran pressing for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon as a condition, what would a deal the President can actually enforce even look like? If last July's strikes on Iran's nuclear program were meant to be decisive, why does the situation feel like it hasn't moved at all? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@amykmitchell@andrewborene@JohnCLipsey@wmatthaydenLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/WzLCd6MsFHk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 609: MOU: Hormuz Confuz 17.06.2026 20min

  Today, Les, Amy, John, and Andrew dig into the alleged 14-point memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. The deal's broad outlines would have Iran maintain the status quo of its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief and unblocking the Strait of Hormuz, with a 300-billion-dollar economic development commitment and a 60-day window to negotiate a final agreement. Critics see it as an economic lifeline for a weakened regime — not a genuine constraint on Iranian ambitions or its network of proxies.Can the IRGC be trusted to honor its commitments, or is this a foil to buy time? How does this MOU compare to the JCPOA, and does the changed regional landscape, including Arab mediation and a diminished Iranian military, alter the calculus? Does the deal represent a national security win, or is it a politically convenient off-ramp that trades away American leverage for optics?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@amykmitchell@andrewborene@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/MHxgZ8L3rOI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 608: Deal or No Deal: The Upcoming U.S.-Iran Nuclear Agreement 15.06.2026 16min

  Today, Les, Jamil, Jess, and John break down the emerging agreement between Washington and Tehran, set to be signed Friday in Geneva under Pakistani auspices. The framework would open 60 days of formal negotiations, with the U.S. lifting its naval blockade in exchange for limitations on Iranian uranium enrichment — though the full text of the MOU has yet to be released. Trump personally called New York Times reporter David Sanger to declare the deal superior to Obama's JCPOA, while praising Xi and Putin for holding the blockade line and publicly pressuring Netanyahu to ease off.Can an agreement that reportedly allows limited enrichment after an initial freeze actually improve on the JCPOA's fatal flaw? With JD Vance heading to the signing and figures like Rubio potentially skeptical, how united is the administration behind this deal? Will Iran follow through on opening the Strait of Hormuz when it refused to do so in previous negotiations? And does American willingness to strike Iranian nuclear facilities change the strategic calculus enough to make this deal stick? Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@lestermunson@jamil_n_jaffer@nottvjessjones@JohnCLipseyLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/xzs49CVDZy0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fault Lines Episode 607: FISA and FIFA 12.06.2026 19min

  Today, Jess, John, Les, and Amy examine the fate of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) as it tumbles towards its’ first lapse since 2008. Both chambers have stalled on reauthorization amid disputes over acting DNI Bill Pulte's nomination and a broader debate over whether existing reforms are sufficient to prevent the authority from being turned against American citizens.Are the reforms currently on the books enough to protect civil liberties while preserving the counterterrorism capabilities that 702 provides? Is this standoff really about surveillance reform, or is it a proxy fight over personnel and political trust? What do our hosts make of Team USA’s chances in the group stage of the World Cup?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.@nottvjessjones@johnclipsey@lestermunson@amykmitchellBe sure to check out NSI Founder and Executive Director Jamil Jaffer’s coauthored Op-Ed discussing Section 702 here: https://rollcall.com/2026/06/11/turning-down-the-lights-on-us-surveillance-authorities-at-a-time-of-peril/ Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube; watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/LR_imrA7nfM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.