Vandenberg Flash Focus
Move beyond the headlines with fast & focused expert analysis on breaking news and big stories in foreign policy & national security. We help you understand the context and policy implications of the stories you see every day from around the world. In each episode, we sit down with an expert to break down a developing global news story—what's happening, why it matters, and how the United States should respond. For more information on the Vandenberg Coalition, visit our website: www.vandenbergcoalition.org.
Mon, March 03, 2025
Ep. 38 | Americans Reject The TikTok Trojan Horse and Big Brother ByteDance
In early February, The Vandenberg Coalition worked with award-winning polling company J.L. Partners to survey a representative sample of registered voters to measure TikTok’s usage amongst Americans and respondents’ familiarity with the app, TikTok’s ownership, and how Americans perceive TikTok’s impact on national security and American politics. The American public’s views are clear: on every metric, from effect on our children, to surveillance, to misinformation, election interference, and political polarization, the American public say “no” to CCP control of TikTok. James Johnson, Co-Founder of J.L. Partners, joins Flash Focus to discuss the poll results, current polling trends on tariffs, Ukraine, and Israel, and J.L. Partners’ polling approach. You can read the toplines from the poll here and find coverage of the poll’s findings in the New York Post here . You can also find Jonathan Haidt’s recent report, “TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale,” here .
Fri, February 21, 2025
A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia
In this special episode, we mark the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022 by revisiting the Vandenberg Coalition and the McCain Institute’s November 2024 report, “ A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia .” The report features insights from top conservative thought leaders on how the United States should confront the Russian threat. The authors importantly remind us that Russia remains one of the U.S. and its democratic allies’ most destructive adversaries, and assert that U.S. leadership and robust involvement — not isolationism and withdrawal — are essential to countering Russia and protecting American interests. You can read the Vandenberg Coalition and McCain Institute’s report here . (0:00) Introduction (2:12) Threat to Democratic Values by Peter Berkowitz (7:34) Threats to the U.S. Homeland by Brian Cavanaugh (14:20) The China-Russia Relationship by Dean Cheng (24:07) Strengthen U.S. Geo-Economic Strategy by Matthew Zweig (35:50) Bolster U.S. Military by Mark Montgomery (43:32) Secure Ukraine by Rebeccah Heinrichs (49:14) Continue the Freedom Agenda by Daniel Runde (55:50) The Path Forward by Stephen Biegun
Mon, January 27, 2025
Ep. 37 | Solving the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for the New Administration
The policies of the Biden administration not only failed to extinguish the foreign policy fires consuming the Middle East; they actively accelerated them. Recognizing the urgent need for a revamped Middle East strategy, the Vandenberg Coalition convened a working group of experts to proposed policy solutions to more effectively advance U.S. interests and regional stability. One of group’s experts, Gabe Scheinmann—Executive Director of the Alexander Hamilton Society and a member of the Vandenberg Governance Board— joins Flash Focus to discuss the threat landscape and share some of the report’s conclusions. You can read the Vandenberg Coalition report here .
Thu, January 16, 2025
Ep. 36 | The Unholy Alliance Between UNRWA, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad
Despite the high-minded and noble ideas upon which they were founded, multilateral institutions like the United Nations have been hijacked by actors adversarial to the United States, such as China, Russia, Iran, and terrorist organizations. No better example of this concerning trend exists than in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). As documented in a new UN Watch report, UNRWA leadership has met with, and in some cases pledged loyalty and cooperation to, U.S.- and UN-designated terrorist groups including Hamas. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, about UN Watch’s work, the report’s findings, and ways to ensure accountability for corrupted international organizations. You can read UN Watch’s comprehensive report here , and watch Hillel Neuer’s “Where Are Your Jews” speech here . You can also read Carrie Filipetti’s November 2024 article about UNRWA here .
Wed, December 18, 2024
Ep. 35 | Adiós, Assad: The U.S. Reaction to Events in Syria
In a stunning turn of events, a collection of rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an entity designated by the United States and numerous countries as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad, marking the end of the 50-year brutal rule of the Assad family over Syria. The astonishing speed at which Assad’s regime fell leaves many questions to be answered about what happened. How did Assad fall so quickly? Who are the rebel groups responsible for Assad’s demise, and what is their future in Syria? How are regional actors responding to these developments? And what should America’s role be in this conflict? Rich Outzen, Vandenberg Advisory Board Member and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and David Adesnik, vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), join Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to offer their own distinct insights on what to make of the current situation.
Tue, December 10, 2024
Ep. 34 | The Financial Fight: An Economic Strategy to Defeat the CCP
For decades, the repressive Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has weaponized its position in the global economy to build geoeconomic leverage, fund its military modernization, fuel its global illicit activities, and wage economic warfare on the United States. Americans can no longer afford the costs of an unfettered CCP. What actions can the incoming administration and Congress take to counter the CCP economic threat? The China Economic & Strategy Initiative’s (CESI) recent report, “Defeating the CCP: A Running Start,” details a robust economic strategy to address this critical issue. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti is joined by Dan Blumenthal, Vice Chairman of CESI and senior fellow and the director of Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), to discuss some of the report’s recommendations. In November, the Vandenberg Coalition partnered with the China Economic & Strategy Initiative (CESI) for the public launch of their remarkable new report, “Defeating the CCP: A Running Start.” You can watch the event and read the report .
Thu, November 21, 2024
Ep. 33 | Picking Putin's Pockets: How to Fix America's Sanctions Towards Russia
Russia remains one of America’s most destructive adversaries, as displayed by its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and ongoing efforts to wage non-kinetic warfare against the world’s democracies. With President Trump set to take office in two months, the Vandenberg Coalition and the McCain Institute have assembled a report featuring proposals from national security leaders with prior government experience on how his administration can confront the Russian threat. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Matt Zweig, Senior Director of Policy at FDD Action, about his recommendations for a new approach for revitalizing sanctions policy toward Russia. You can read the Vandenberg Coalition and McCain Institute’s report here .
Mon, November 18, 2024
Ep. 32 | What to Expect When You’re Expecting Trump: Foreign Policy in the 119th Congress
Republican control of the White House and majorities in both branches have set the stage to implement President Trump’s foreign policy agenda. What can we expect from the confirmations process and national security committees, and which of President Trump’s foreign policy priorities are likely to garner bipartisan support? In this episode of Flash Focus, join Vandenberg Senior Director for Policy Ana Quintana as she speaks with Michael Allen, Vandenberg Advisory Board Member and Managing Director and Partner of Beacon Global Strategies, and Lester Munson, Co-Head of the International Practice at BGR Group, on what to expect from this new Congress.
Fri, October 11, 2024
Ep. 31 | Anatomy of a Hurricane Response
Brian Cavanaugh, former Senior Director for Resilience Policy on the National Security Council (NSC), current Senior Vice President at American Global Strategies, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member joins Flash Focus. In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Brian and Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti discuss the protocol guiding hurricane emergency response efforts. Helene and Milton have rocked the southeastern U.S., decimating communities, leaving millions without power, and resulting in the death of over 200 Americans and reportedly over a 1,000 remain missing. For many Americans, these storms have evoked imagery from other recent catastrophic hurricanes in U.S. history, such as Hurricane Katrina In this episode, Brian highlights what resilience policy is, how disaster response is coordinated at the local, state, and federal levels, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund, ways that Americans can support impacted communities, and more. If you would like to support those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we suggest donating to one of these efforts, among others: American Red Cross - You can make a financial donation or schedule a blood donation by visiting redcross.org. You can also text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a donation. United Way - You can donate directly through the United Way's website at www.unitedway.org/hurricane-helene to support various disaster relief efforts. United Way has several state-specific funds available. North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund - Governor Roy Cooper is encouraging donations to this relief fund that will support nonprofits providing essential items like food, water, and cleaning supplies. Learn more at nc.gov/donate . Florida Disaster Fund - Governor Ron DeSantis has activated the fund to support response and recovery efforts in Florida. Contributions can be made at volunteerflorida.org .
Sun, October 06, 2024
Ep. 30 | One Year Since October 7th: Antisemitism in America
Bonnie Glick, Advisory Board Member of the Vandenberg Coalition, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and former Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti for the final of three special Flash Focus episodes reflecting on the year since the October 7th attack. Bonnie specifically explores the impact on the Jewish community, notably how October 7th has fueled a surge of antisemitism in the United States. The world’s longest hatred, antisemitism has most recently infiltrated college campuses and communities across the nation and has inspired a worrying number of protests and targeted crimes against American Jews, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, education, and proactive measures to combat antisemitism. In this episode, Bonnie identifies the historic, foreign, and domestic roots of this rise in Jew hatred, the inextricable link between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, the importance of resisting a victim mentality, the actions that both the government and communities can take to combat antisemitism, and more.
Sun, October 06, 2024
Ep. 29 | One Year Since October 7th: Iran’s Destabilization Campaign
Gabriel Noronha, Executive Director of POLARIS National Security, Fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), and former Special Advisor for the Iran Action Group, joins for the second of three Flash Focus episodes dedicated to the aftermath of the October 7th attack one year later. Alongside Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti, he discusses the continued threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran to American and Israeli interests. October 7th served as a grave reminder of Iran’s presence as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, notably through funding terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, brutalizing its own people, taking Americans hostage, and pursuing a nuclear weapons program. In this episode, Gabriel examines recent events in Lebanon and ramifications for Iran’s relationship with proxies in the Middle East, Iran’s October 1st attack and Israel’s response options, Iran’s role in the Axis of Aggression with China and Russia, and more.
Sun, October 06, 2024
Ep. 28 | One Year Since October 7th: Lessons for Israeli and American Security
Elliott Abrams, Chairman of the Vandenberg Coalition, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and former Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti for the first of three special Flash Focus episodes marking the one-year anniversary of Hamas' brutal terrorist attack against Israel on October 7th. In this episode, Elliott reflects on lessons that American policymakers should glean from October 7th and following events, the evolving dynamics between Israel and its regional partners and adversaries, how Israel and the U.S. should respond to Iran’s October 1st attack, and the future of the Gaza Strip following the conflict's conclusion.
Wed, September 11, 2024
Ep. 27 | Recess is Over: Keeping the CCP out of the Classroom
Michele Perez Exner, Director of Federal Affairs for Parents Defending Education, joins us for another special “China Week” edition of Flash Focus. Michele joined Vandenberg’s Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has infiltrated the American education system to manipulate Americans’ thinking and spread pro CCP propaganda. In recent years, the CCP has leveraged providing grants in order to access schools to shape curriculum, undermine American values and steal sensitive information. A concerned parent herself, Michele discusses the implications of the CCP’s growing influence in American schools and shares tangible ways parents and policy makers can protect our kids.
Mon, September 09, 2024
Ep. 26 | Theft and Espionage: Defending Against the CCP’s Economic Warfare
Brian Cavanaugh, former Senior Director for Resilience Policy on the National Security Council (NSC), current Senior Vice President at American Global Strategies, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member joins for a special “China Week” edition of Flash Focus . Brian joined Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss a central aspect of China’s economic warfare against the United States—intellectual property theft. Costing the U.S. economy between $225 and $600 billion each year, Beijing’s intellectual property theft is key to their plans to supplant the United States. Through cyber espionage, insider threats, forced technology transfers, and acquisitions targeting American businesses, China is seeking to develop an unfair trade advantage and jeopardize U.S. national security. In this episode, Brian walks us through how federal and state governments are tackling these challenges and what more can be done.
Fri, August 30, 2024
Ep. 25 | Cracking Kursk: Dissecting Ukraine’s Surprise Offensive
Mick Mulroy, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, co-founder of the Lobo Institute, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member joins Flash Focus to discuss Ukraine’s recent surprise offensive into Kursk. Ukraine’s sudden incursion into Russia has injected dynamism into a war previously considered a stalemate, sparking renewed discussions on Ukraine’s potential to achieve a victory as well as America’s role in the conflict. On this episode, Mick provides explains the current state of play Ukraine’s calculus behind launching the surprise offensive into Russia, and what this all means for the future of Putin’s war against Ukraine.
Tue, August 20, 2024
Ep. 24 | American Strength: Exploring the NDS Commission’s Findings
In our latest episode of Vandenberg Flash Focus, we discuss the newly released report from the National Defense Strategy Commission, which was mandated by Congress to assess the Biden administration’s National Defense Strategy. Vandenberg Advisory Board member Roger Zakheim, who currently serves as the Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, has twice served as a member of the National Defense Strategy Commission. In this episode, he lays out the details of its findings, the limitations of American defense, and why American leadership should matter to everyday citizens.
Tue, August 06, 2024
Ep. 24 | Maritime Strategy for a 21st Century Navy
In this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Senior Research Fellow with the Heritage Foundation, Brent Sadler , and Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute, Dr. Jerry Hendrix , to discuss how to craft a maritime strategy for an era of great power competition. This episode discusses how naval power is indispensable to America’s national security and how a how a future administration can return us to United States naval dominance.
Tue, July 30, 2024
Ep. 23 | “For Us This is Life:” Venezuela’s Future After Fraud
In this episode of Flash Focus Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti is joined by the Chairman of the Vandenberg Coalition, Elliott Abrams, who currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and was the U.S.'s former Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela, as well as Miguel Pizarro, Commissioner to the United Nations for the Venezuelan interim government and a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly representing Petare. This past Sunday, millions of Venezuelans came out to vote in presidential elections after years of the Maduro regime's dictatorship. Exit polls indicated opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won with around 70% of the vote to Maduro's 30%. And yet the Maduro regime quickly declared victory in what has been one of their most flagrant examples of fraud to date. Elliott and Miguel dive into what happened, what the path forward looks like for the Venezuelan opposition, and what the U.S. and likeminded countries should do next.
Thu, July 18, 2024
Ep. 22 | Brewing Conflict at Second Thomas Shoal
Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, lecturer at Princeton University, and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board joins Flash Focus to discuss recent actions by Chinese Coast Guard forces that forcibly intercepted a resupply mission to a Filipino ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal, which put the South China Sea region back into focus. The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, obligates U.S. defense of the island, which raises questions of further escalating tensions between the United States and China. Zack understands this incident amid China’s broader strategy in the South China Sea and its general campaign to supplant American power and joins Flash Focus to break it all down. Jump to: 00:02:06 Context of the conflict at Second Thomas Shoal 00:05:45 Discrepancy between China's approach to Vietnam & the Philippines 00:10:06 American response to China's breach of international law 00:15:06 China's "dress rehearsal" for Taiwan 00:19:32 American response to China's action at Second Thomas Shoal 00:22:51 Strategic merit in multilateralizing the response to China
Fri, July 12, 2024
Ep. 21 | Protecting the Future of NATO
Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, Vice Chair of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy & Security, former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, and Vandenberg Coalition Governance Board member joins Flash Focus to discuss this week’s NATO summit in Washington, D.C. marking the 75th anniversary of the transatlantic Alliance. Against the backdrop of a protracted war waged by Russia against Ukraine, a looming conflict along the Alliance’s eastern flank, and questions around Ukraine’s future membership, the NATO summit arrived at a critical time in global geopolitics. Ambassador Dobrianksy situates this year’s summit outcomes in the context of the future of the alliance and American leadership within it. Jump to: 00:02:16 Developments & shortcomings from the NATO summit 00:08:23 Ukraine’s future in NATO 00:10:57 The case for NATO to skeptical Americans 00:13:08 Addressing the China threat 00:16:34 Legacy of NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg 00:20:58 The future of NATO & American leadership of the Alliance
Mon, July 01, 2024
Ep. 20 | Convergence of Dictatorships: Putin and Kim’s Burgeoning Alliance
Dr. Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a distinguished university professor of government at Georgetown University, and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the recent meeting between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, a summit that designated a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ between Russia and North Korea, marking the most significant and far-reaching agreement between the two nations in the post-Cold War era. Victor joins Flash Focus to situate this recent meeting in the context of Kim Jong Un’s nuclear arsenal and future plans for military buildup, Russian-North Korean coordination in evading the international sanctions regime, North Korea’s support of Russia in the war against Ukraine, and the nations’ joint campaign to undermine American leadership and Western stability. Jump to: 00:02:15 The history of the Russian-North Korean and its modern objectives 00:04:00 Key elements of the new Putin-Kim strategic alliance 00:7:29 Implications for North Korean involvement in the war in Ukraine 00:10:12 Dynamics among the Russia-China-North Korea-Iran axis 00:15:13 Recommendations for a Western diplomatic & military response 00:22:41 Differing approach between a Biden 2.0 & Trump 2.0
Tue, June 18, 2024
Ep. 19 | Border in Disarray
Emilio Gonzalez , former Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President George W. Bush and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the record-breaking surge of illegal immigration under President Biden, an overwhelmed American immigration system, broken border security, and the straining of resources across government agencies and cities nationwide. Furthermore, the influx of special illegal aliens (SIAs) poses an increasing danger to U.S. homeland security. Jump to: 00:02:24 Deteriorating border security under the Biden Administration 00:06:02 Impact of illegal crossings on Americans' lives 00:10:43 Motivation for Biden's recent executive order 00:14:46 Areas of reform for border security 00:20:23 Demographic shift of those arriving illegally at U.S. southern border 00:29:47 Increasing threat to national security
Fri, June 14, 2024
Special Episode: Lost Decade with Richard Fontaine & Robert Blackwill
Vandenberg is joined by authors Richard Fontaine and Robert Blackwill to discuss their new book, Lost Decade: The US Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power moderated by Vandenberg Director of Strategic Partnerships Sydney Novak. U.S. policymakers often discuss a need to “pivot to Asia,” but what does that mean exactly? Lost Decade authors Richard Fontaine and Amb. Robert Blackwill tell the story of Washington’s strategic reorientation towards the Indo-Pacific and simultaneous rise of China’s power and assertiveness. What were the impulses behind the pivot? What challenges has this posed for America’s role in the world? How has this strategy faltered over the last three presidential administrations? The authors will discuss these questions and more while they stress that the United States has little margin for error when it comes to preserving American security and prosperity.
Thu, June 06, 2024
Special Episode: 80 Years Later: Lessons from D-Day for Today's World
Garrett Exner, an adjunct fellow at Hudson Institute, executive director of the Public Interest Fellowship , board member of Veterans on Duty, and Marine Corps veteran joins Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss the significance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history in which Allied troops landed in Normandy to liberate Europe. In this special episode, Garrett discusses his time in the military, the inspiration for his enlistment, the enduring legacy and significance of D-Day, and the state of the U.S. military today. Jump to: 00:01:58 Historical significance of D-Day 00:03:57 Heroic action of U.S. soldiers on D-Day 00:012:05 The making of heroes in American history 00:15:44 Garrett's reflections as an officer in the U.S. military 00:17:41 The Public Interest Fellowship's WWII trip 00:20:46 Beaches of Normandy today 00:23:38 The personal significance of D-Day for Garrett
Tue, June 04, 2024
Ep. 18 | Turning Point? Mexico’s Elections and the U.S.-Mexico Relationship
Connor Pfeiffer , Director of Congressional Relations at FDD Action and senior advisor and former executive director of the Forum for American Leadership joins Flash Focus to discuss Mexico's elections this past weekend, the significance of Claudia Sheinbaum's presidential election victory for politics in Mexico, the future of U.S.-Mexican cooperation on matters like the migration crisis, countering illicit fentanyl, bilateral trade, and Mexico’s growing economic ties with China. Jump to: 00:02:17 Claudia Sheinbaum's landslide victory and AMLO's influence 00:04:33 Potential for U.S.-Mexico partnership under Sheinbaum 00:08:18 Unprecedented violence during this electoral cycle 00:12:06 Chinese influence in Mexico 00:15:26 China's role in the fentanyl and migration crises 00:20:16 USMCA negotiations under Trump vs. Biden 00:24:05 Future areas of U.S.-Mexico cooperation
Fri, May 31, 2024
Ep. 17 | High Stakes in Africa
Ambassador J. Peter Pham , distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, served as the U.S.'s first-ever U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel Region during the Trump administration, and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the recent coups across the Sahel regions, where in countries Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have seen their elected governments fall and replaced by military juntas, while expelling U.S. military forces. We will also discuss Kenyan President William Ruto's recent state visit to the United States, the first visit of an African leader since 2008, a meeting which led to Biden declaring Kenya a major non-NATO ally, a designation shared by countries like Israel and Qatar. Jump to: 00:01:59 Recent coups in the Sahel region of Africa 00:05:39 Why Africa is the epicenter of global terrorism 00:08:05 Broader U.S. objectives in Africa 00:12:46 Significance of Kenya's designation as major non-NATO ally 00:15:55 Areas for U.S. strategic improvement in Africa 00:17:51 Potential for U.S.-Africa partnership under a Trump Administration
Thu, May 23, 2024
Ep. 16 | Xi & Putin: Power Play in Eurasia
Dr. Matthew Kroenig , Vice President and Senior Director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and a member of the Vandenberg Coalition advisory board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the recent summit between Russia’s President Putin and China’s President Xi in which the two autocrats signed a joint statement on a “new era” of partnership. Matt outlines the history and significance of the Sino-Russian alliance, the modern defense coordination between the two nations, and the implications of Xi and Putin’s joint campaign to supplant the U.S.-led global security architecture. Jump to: 00:02:10 Shared Sino-Russian strategy to undermine the American-led system 00:04:43 Defining characteristics of the “new era” of partnership 00:06:35 Implications of the coalescence of geopolitical blocs 00:08:17 The new global arms race 00:10:08 Linkage of global theaters & interconnectedness of U.S. adversaries 00:11:29 China’s provision of “material support” to Russia in Ukraine 00:12:57 Xi’ lessons learned from Ukraine in looking toward Taiwan
Tue, May 21, 2024
Ep. 15 | Tehran’s Turmoil & Israel Under ICC Fire
Bonnie Glick , Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Senior Adviser with the Project on Prosperity and Development at CSIS, and Advisory Board member of the Vandenberg Coalition, joins Flash Focus to discuss the Middle East’s most recent developments—the crash of a helicopter carrying Iran’s President and Foreign Minister on board and the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. These events have thrown an already unstable region into further turmoil. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, also known as the “Butcher of Tehran,” was considered a top contender to succeed the 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On the same day his death was confirmed by Iranian media, the International Criminal Court, or ICC, unveiled unprecedented arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. Jump to: 00:02:09 Infamous legacy of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi 00:03:31 State of domestic Iranian politics 00:06:10 Iran’s succession plans following Raisi’s death 00:08:35 Consequences of Biden’s policy in the Middle East 00:11:13 False moral equivalence from the ICC 00:15:37 Possible American response to the ICC’s warrants 00:17:12 Implications of the ICC arrest warrants on Israel’s war in Gaza
Fri, May 10, 2024
Ep. 14 | Biden’s Betrayal of Israel
Secretary Robert Wilkie joins Flash Focus to discuss the Biden Administration's unprecedented move to threaten an arms embargo of Israel, a vital U.S. partner in the Middle East currently embroiled in war. In order to defeat Hamas in Gaza, it is imperative that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) eliminate Hamas's final brigade in Rafah. Efforts by the United States to delay or obstruct such an operation, including the Biden Administration’s most recent pause on sending critical armaments, will only bolster Hamas and prolong the suffering of civilians. Ironically, the Administration has halted the delivery of precision-guided munitions (PGMs) crucial for the IDF to accurately target Hamas terrorists while minimizing civilian casualties. Furthermore, publicly rejecting a partner's self-defense endeavors, President Biden risks emboldening U.S. adversaries and further destabilizing the region. Secretary Wilkie, Distinguished Fellow at the America First Policy Institute, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and member of the Vandenberg Coalition's advisory board, assesses the consequences of such steps by the U.S. Administration, especially as Israel begins its major combat operation against Hamas’s last standing brigade in Rafah. Secretary Wilkie will speak on how withholding military armaments from Israel is indeed counterproductive, likely only to strengthen Hamas, embolden Iran and its proxy groups, and prolong the suffering of civilians in Gaza. Jump to: 00:02:16 Biden's weapons pause & its implications for the IDF 00:08:48 History of governmental withholding of foreign military sales 00:13:56 Exacerbation of civilian suffering in Gaza 00:17:48 U.S. policy emboldening Hamas & destabilizing the region 00:22:13 Impact of diminishing U.S. support for Israel 00:23:58 Policy predictions of a second Trump presidency
Thu, May 02, 2024
Ep. 13 | Poison Ivy
On this episode, we are joined by Carine Hajjar —an opinion and editorial writer at The Boston Globe —to discuss her recent coverage of American college campuses embroiled in anti-Israeli protests and encampments. A recent graduate of Harvard, Carine returned to her alma mater, along with the campuses of NYU, Columbia, and MIT, to gain an understanding of the chaos as it unfolds. She joins us to discuss the wave of anti-Israeli and anti-American sentiment and assess the degradation of higher education more generally. Jump to: 00:02:00 Contrasting campus environments at Harvard, MIT, & Columbia 00:05:30 Oppressor vs. oppressed ideological framework of the protestors 00:08:29 Implications of faculty support for the anti-Israel cause 00:11:02 Fixation on social justice in higher education 00:14:05 Broader implications of encampments at Ivies
Fri, April 19, 2024
Special Episode: Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy
Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) joins TVC Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss his role on the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense, and his role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs at a time of global uncertainty in the strength of American leadership aboard. This special episode is part of the Vandenberg Coalition's Future of Conservative Foreign Policy series, where we discuss the challenges facing the United States and how conservative policymakers should approach the world stage.
Fri, April 12, 2024
Ep. 12 | Mr. Kishida Goes to Washington
Zack Cooper joins Flash Focus to discuss Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to Washington this week. What are the top-takeaways and how should policymakers think about our relationship with the country that is arguably our most important ally? Japan is central to America's alliance network in the Indo-Pacific and the Administration sees a willing security partner in Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During the Prime Minister’s state visit in Washington this week, the United States and Japan unveiled plans for military cooperation and coordinated command structure, ranging from missiles to moon landings. Kishida also addressed a joint session of Congress, urging Congress to uphold U.S. commitments and leadership globally, while offering assurances that Japan is today a strong partner “standing shoulder-to-shoulder” with America. Zack Cooper is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies American strategy and alliances in the Indo-Pacific. He has previously served on the staff of the National Security Council and in the Department of Defense. He is a member of the Vandenberg Coalition's advisory board. Jump to: 00:01:16 The new U.S.-Japan defense collaboration & command structure 00:04:02 Prime Minister Kishida’s call for U.S. global leadership 00:06:28 Differences between Kishida and former PM Abe on foreign policy 00:09:53 Japan’s strategy in the shifting Indo-Pacific security environment 00:12:08 Japanese-Filipino coordination in the South China Sea 00:14:40 Significance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in American strategy
Thu, March 28, 2024
Special Episode: We Win, They Lose with Matthew Kroenig & Dan Negrea
Vandenberg is joined by authors Matthew Kroenig & Dan Negrea to discuss their new book, We Win, They Lose: Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War . Many argue that today's Republican Party is divided, but this book argues that the outline of a GOP foreign policy consensus is emerging just beneath the surface. We call this emerging Republican foreign policy doctrine the Trump-Reagan fusion. Trump and Reagan were the most influential Republican presidents of the past several decades, and any viable GOP foreign policy must build on their legacies. We Win, They Lose explains why the Trump-Reagan fusion is superior to progressive alternatives and how it can guide the GOP, the United States, and the American people to greater levels of peace, prosperity, and freedom.
Mon, March 18, 2024
Ep. 11 | Breaking Down Haiti's Continued Chaos
Juan Cruz and Ana Quintana join Flash Focus guest host Carrie Filipetti to dissect the unfolding crisis in the Caribbean island nation. For months, unrest has been growing and violence has escalated in the streets. Meanwhile, Haiti's prime minister is trapped in Puerto Rico, Kenya has promised to send a security force to the island, and the United States has promised financial support. Juan Cruz is a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and has previously served in government for 30 years, including on the National Security Council. Ana Quintana is the Vandenberg Coalition's Senior Policy Director. She was formerly the Staff Director for Western Hemisphere for House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX). Jump to: 00:01:33 Background—what is going on in Haiti? 00:03:30 Haiti's chaos goes back a long time 00:03:55 Who is leading Haiti and why is the prime minister stuck in Puerto Rico? 00:05:40 What is the United States' national interest in Haiti? Why does it matter to us? 00:08:11 Difficulties of a foreign military presence in Haiti & the Biden administration's support for a Kenyan-led security force 00:10:24 U.S. UN Ambassador: "the U.S. is committed to providing the mission to Haiti what it needs to succeed"—are we? 00:12:15 There is no clear plan from the Biden administration 00:13:52 What should the United States and other interested parties be doing differently?
Fri, February 23, 2024
Ep. 10 | Two Years at War: Ukraine from the Battlefield to the Debate in Congress
Richard Fontaine joins Flash Focus to discuss the war in Ukraine on the eve of the second anniversary of Russia's invasion (Feb. 24th). Since 2022, Ukraine has held the line against Russia and maintained its independence, but not without great cost. Congress is now debating whether or not to approve another aid package to the embattled country. Richard is the CEO of the Center for a New American Security and has previously served in government at the U.S. Department of State, the National Security Council, and on the staff of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He recently returned from Ukraine, where he traveled widely, including to cities close to the front lines. Jump to: 00:01:10 The state of the war two years in 00:03:28 What has Ukraine accomplished so far? 00:06:22 Ukrainians paying close attention to the debate in Washington 00:09:27 Prospects for Congress passing another aid package 00:12:30 The view from Europe: strategic ramifications of the war & American aid 00:14:49 European aid to Ukraine now exceeds American aid to Ukraine 00:17:40 What are America's strategic goals vis-a-vis the war? How do those goals relate to Ukraine's objectives?
Wed, February 14, 2024
Ep. 9 | On the Ground in Ukraine
As Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, the U.S. Congress is debating whether to continue providing military aid to Kyiv. Lost in the noise, however, is what is actually happening on the ground. Flash Focus welcomes Heather Nauert , former spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, to discuss her recent visit to the war-torn country and conditions for people on the ground that Americans don't always see on the nightly news. Jump to: 00:01:13 "A 1300 mile road trip through a war zone" 00:02:22 What do Americans miss about the situation on the ground in Ukraine? 00:05:10 Conditions near the front line and in other parts of the country 00:06:50 Children going to school in bomb shelters 00:09:40 Debate in Congress on supplemental funding for military aid 00:12:13 Securing America's border while helping allies & friends abroad
Wed, February 14, 2024
Ep. 9 | On the Ground in Ukraine
As Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine approaches its second anniversary, the U.S. Congress is debating whether to continue providing military aid to Kyiv. Lost in the noise, however, is what is actually happening on the ground. Flash Focus welcomes Heather Nauert , former spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, to discuss her recent visit to the war-torn country and the conditions for people on the ground that Americans don't always see on the nightly news. While there have been several expert trips to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion almost two years ago, few have had the opportunity to travel so far east and see so many different cities, including Odesa , Kherson , Kryvyi - Rih , Dnipro , Kharkiv , Kyiv, and Lviv. Jump to: 00:01:18 "A 1300 mile road trip through a war zone" 00:02:27 What do Americans miss about the situation on the ground in Ukraine? 00:05:22 Conditions near the front line and in other parts of the country 00:07:00 Children going to school in bomb shelters 00:09:56 Debate in Congress on supplemental funding for military aid 00:12:30 Securing America's border while helping allies & friends abroad
Fri, January 19, 2024
Ep. 8 | Elections in Taiwan: Democracy & Diplomacy Deep Dive
On Saturday (1/13), voters in Taiwan elected incumbent vice president Lai Ching-te to serve as president, the first time an incumbent party has won a third successive presidential election. What was the PRC's reaction and what does Lai's election mean for cross-strait relations and the U.S.-Taiwan relationship? Flash Focus welcomes Russell Hsiao , executive director of the Global Taiwan Institute, and Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Riley Walters to discuss Taiwanese democracy in action and the diplomatic ramifications for the Indo-Pacific. Mentioned in the Episode: Taiwan's Election Matters to America Jump to: 00:01:05 Elections recap—who ran & who won? 00:04:40 Reaction from the PRC & China's democratic neighbors 00:07:42 Lai's foreign policy & the future of U.S.-Taiwan relations 00:12:32 Foreign policy in Taiwan's politics—consensus on key questions & debate over cross-strait relations 00:17:44 Xi Jinping's intentions towards Taiwan
Fri, January 12, 2024
Ep. 7 | Breaking the Red Sea Blockade: U.S. & U.K. Strike Houthis in Yemen
For weeks, Iran-backed Houthi terrorists have attacked civilian shipping as well as U.S. & allied warships in an attempt to blockade the southern approach to the Suez Canal through the Red Sea. Last night (Jan. 11) after weeks of defensive convoy operations by a multinational naval coalition, the U.S. and U.K. launched missile and airstrikes to take out Houthi missile and drone launching sites ashore. Captain John Konrad joins us to discuss the ramifications for global shipping of the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and the U.S.-led response through Operation Prosperity Guardian. Jump to: 00:00:59 The Houthi blockade and the situation in the Red Sea 00:05:45 Global ramifications of blockading the Red Sea & Suez Canal route 00:11:22 Operation Prosperity Guardian & U.S.-led coalition efforts to protect shipping 00:18:20 Recent U.S./U.K. airstrikes against Houthi missile launching sites ashore 00:20:53 What should policymakers expect in the future when it comes to threats to free navigation & commerce?
Thu, December 21, 2023
Ep. 6 | All Roads Lead to Iran: The Israel-Hamas War in Regional Context
Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis—across the Middle East, chaos and violence can be traced back to the Islamic Republic of Iran through its terrorist proxy groups. Vandenberg Coalition founder & chairman Elliott Abrams joins us to discuss the state of the Israel-Hamas War and how it relates to the broader Middle East. 00:01:00 Update on the situation in Israel & Gaza 00:02:35 The ground war and what to expect going forward 00:03:40 Israel determined to eliminate Hamas and wary of the threat from Hezbollah in the north 00:05:43 How is this war affecting Israel's relationships with its neighbors & the Middle East? 00:07:23 Houthi attacks on Red Sea Houthis and the connection to Iran 00:08:17 The Obama-Biden Iran playbook and its consequences 00:09:45 The importance of making Iran pay a price for funding terrorism 00:11:10 The value of returning to a 'maximum pressure' policy towards Iran
Fri, December 15, 2023
Special Episode: Rep. Ashley Hinson on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy
The Vandenberg Coalition's Executive Director, Carrie Filipetti, sat down with Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA) to discuss her role on the House Select Committee on the CCP, securing the national defense at a time of fiscal uncertainty, the importance of American leadership, and more. This special episode is part of the Vandenberg Coalition's Future of Conservative Foreign Policy series, where we discuss the challenges facing the United States and how conservative policymakers should approach the world stage.
Thu, December 07, 2023
Ep. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya's Security Mission in Haiti
We are joined by Vandenberg's Ana Quintana & former U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Amb. J. Peter Pham , to discuss the collapse of governance in Haiti and why Kenya has taken the lead of the UN-sanctioned multinational security force being sent to the island country. 00:01:25 Situation in Haiti and why the UN approved an outside intervention 00:05:08 Why is Kenya the lead country of the multinational security force? Kenya's history with peacekeeping missions 00:10:45 Haiti's collapse, the migration crisis, and what this operation means for the Caribbean 00:15:30 The China angle & geopolitical implications 00:19:19 Why does this matter for the United States? What should U.S. policymakers be paying attention to?
Thu, November 30, 2023
Ep. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya's Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti
We sit down with Vandenberg Coalition Senior Policy Director, Ana Quintana , and former U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Amb. J. Peter Pham , to discuss the deteriorating political & humanitarian situation in Haiti, how it affects America and the Western Hemisphere, and the UN-backed plan to send Kenyan peacekeepers to the island nation.
Fri, November 17, 2023
Ep. 4 | The Future of U.S. Aid to Ukraine
We sit down with the Hudson Institute's Luke Coffey to discuss the current state of the war in Ukraine, the fight brewing in Congress over additional U.S. military aid, and the course of the war as it enters its second year. Mentioned in the Episode : The Fourteen Facts About U.S. Aid to Ukraine The Decisive Moment for Ukraine: A Conversation with Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Vandenberg Coalition Website Follow us on X/Twitter
Wed, October 25, 2023
Ep. 3 | Elections in Venezuela
Vandenberg's own Carrie Filipetti joins Flash Focus to unpack this week's opposition presidential primary in Venezuela, how the Maduro regime maintains its grip on power, and how political change in Venezuela would affect U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere.
Thu, October 19, 2023
Ep. 2 | Biden Visits Jerusalem & Israel Update
We sit down with Richard Goldberg —a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies & Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member—to discuss President Biden's trip to Israel yesterday, the IDF's ongoing campaign against Hamas, and the still-unfolding ramifications of Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on Israel almost two weeks ago. This episode was recorded on Thursday, October 19th.
Sat, October 07, 2023
Ep. 1 | Israel Under Attack
We sit down with Joe Truzman from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to discuss the ongoing Hamas attack on Israel, Israel's likely responses, and implications for the United States. Early on the morning of Saturday, October 7th, Hamas launched a massive attack from Gaza into Israel on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. Fighting is ongoing, but this attack is unprecedented in both scale and in the scope of the strategic surprise Hamas achieved over Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is “at war”. The Israel Defense Forces are counterattacking against Hamas forces and mobilizing reservists across the country. Additional Resources: Iran and its Network of 19 Terrorist Organizations on Israel's Borders | Joe Truzman The Hamas Attack Changes Everything | Elliott Abrams
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