Vandenberg Flash Focus

Ep. 59 | China's Weaponization of Trade

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:15:00 -0400

In recent years, China has increasingly used economic bullying in attempts to obtain concessions from other governments and the private sector. In a new book, China’s Weaponization of Trade: Resistance Through Collective Resilience, Vandenberg Advisory Board member Victor Cha, along with his coauthors Ellen Kim and Andy Lim, discusses China’s economic coercion and outlines a strategy for how countries led by the United States can more effectively counter China's coercive efforts. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to break down how the United States can better identify and counter China’s malign practices.

https://cup.columbia.edu/book/chinas-weaponization-of-trade/9780231564205/

(0:58) The Origins of the Book

(2:35) Defining China’s Economic Coercion

(5:46) CCP Ideology and Economic Coercion

(8:41) U.S. “Blind Spots”

(11:35) Lithuania and Norway as Case Studies

(18:28) Collective Resilience

(24:04) Forging a Coalition for Collective Resilience (G7+2)

(28:57) Does the G7 Have the Requisite Political Will?

(34:05) The Long-Term Goal of Collective Resilience

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 58 | Tumult Surrounding Tehran

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:45:00 -0400

Iran is in the headlines once again, for two important reasons. First, large numbers of brave Iranians continue to take to the streets in the face of significant repression by the brutal regime. And second, the United States is slowly but steadily amassing an impressive amount of firepower and pointing it straight at the Islamic Republic. Zineb Riboua, Research Fellow at the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at Hudson Institute, joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to unpack the latest developments.

https://www.city-journal.org/article/israel-us-west-decolonization-third-world

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/the-crisis-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran

https://x.com/zriboua

https://substack.com/@zinebriboua

https://vandenbergcoalition.org/americans-first-polling/

https://www.commentary.org/articles/tod-lindberg/age-of-trump-power-purpose/

(1:25) State of the Protests in Iran

(5:43) Is the Regime Afraid of Collapsing?

(8:00) U.S. Military Assets in the Gulf

(17:31) The Future of Conservative Grand Strategy and American Power

(21:50) The Third-Worldist Logic

(29:35) The Limits of Ideology

(35:47) What Comes Next in Iran?

(41:01) Saudi Arabia and Israel

(42:29) Looking Ahead for 2026

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 57 | Takaichi’s Triumph

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Last Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party secured a sweeping two-thirds majority in Japan’s Lower House following snap elections. The decisive win comes at a critical juncture for Japan as it redefines its role in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions with China, a deepening partnership with the United States, and growing domestic support for strengthening the country’s military and defense capabilities. Ken Weinstein, Japan Chair at Hudson Institute, joins Flash Focus to unpack the election results, examine Takaichi’s rapid ascent and widespread appeal, and explore the implications for U.S.–Japan relations and the broader Indo-Pacific landscape.

(1:50) Election Results

(7:02) The Election’s Impact on a Free and Open Indo-Pacific

(12:29) Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi

(16:37) Takaichi and the China Challenge

(18:58) The Ramifications of Takaichi’s Comments on a Taiwan Contingency

(24:12) Article 9

(27:06) Next Steps for Washington and Tokyo

(32:41) Japan’s Importance to the United States

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 56 | The PLA Purge

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Last week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping placed his most senior general, Zhang Youxia, under investigation, deepening what has become one of the most sweeping purges in the history of the People’s Liberation Army. Xi has now removed nearly the entire top tier of PLA leadership, raising important questions about the message he is sending to domestic and international audiences, what it means for a potential Taiwan contingency, and how it should inform the American approach to the Indo-Pacific. Jackie Deal—co-founder of the American Academy for Strategic Education, President of the Long Term Strategy Group, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member—joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to unpack what these purges mean.

China in the Homeland: https://vandenbergcoalition.org/china-in-the-homeland/

VFF with David Shedd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X0Evj6KdHc

(1:40) Purges Overview

(7:12) History of Purges in China

(12:30) Were Chinese Nuclear Secrets Leaked?

(14:56) What To Watch Next

(17:14) Takeaways for China’s Partners

(21:40) Are We Adequately Countering China?

(26:58) Deterring and Defeating China

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 55 | China's Great Heist

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0400

According to The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets—a new book by David Shedd and Andrew Badger—one critical but often overlooked explanation for China’s meteoric rise has been the scale, scope, and pace of its unprecedented state-sponsored espionage campaign. This effort has been specifically designed to strip the United States of our economic, technological, and military edge, and we have not been doing nearly enough to stop it. David Shedd, a Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member and former deputy director and acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to discuss China’s campaign to steal America’s secrets and what we can do to put a stop to it.

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-great-heist-david-r-sheddandrew-badger?variant=43738689273890

(1:17) Writing the Book

(2:33) China’s Pursuit of Modernity and U.S. Responses

(8:33) Chinese Espionage as Part of Made in China 2025

(14:47) Chinese Spycraft Tactics

(20:07) “Capture, Cage, and Kill”

(25:25) What Can China Do With U.S. Data?

(30:12) Is “A Decent Peace” with China Possible?

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 54 | Leveraging “The American Edge” for the Defense Industrial Base

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 09:15:00 -0400

In the last year, China’s defense industrial base produced fighter jets faster than the United States, doubled its inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles, doubled its nuclear warhead inventory, and became five to six times faster than the United States at acquiring weapons systems. While we rest comfortably on peacetime footing, China has positioned its defense industrial base to be on wartime footing. But though alarm bells are ringing, there is still some good news. This not the first time in American history our defense industrial base has lagged behind that of our adversaries, and just as we did in the past, there is a way we can close the gap. In this episode, we sit down with Vandenberg Advisory Board member Dr. Seth Jones to discuss his new book The American Edge and his recommendations for how to kick our defense industrial base into gear. The book is a thorough account of every phase of defense industrial policy from World War II up to its current state, and how we can leverage the edge that has made us a defense production powerhouse in the past.

https://www.amazon.com/American-Edge-Military-Sources-Dominance/dp/0197764606

(0:45) The State of our Current Defense Industrial Base

(3:30) How the Chinese Defense Industrial Base Is Able to Do What It Does

(5:54) The Lessons of History in Defense Investment

(9:37) Keeping Up on Acquisitions

(12:22) Public and Private Collaboration

(15:54) The Chinese Ability to Produce Quality Weapons

(18:26) Lessons from the War in Ukraine

(22:01) What to Look for in the FY27 NDAA

(25:41) Why The American Edge Gives us Hope

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 53 | Time to Go, Maduro

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 13:30:00 -0400

The United States has continued to pressure the Maduro regime with F-18 flyovers, the seizure of oil tankers, and new sanctions on Venezuelan entities associated with the Maduro regime, alongside continued strikes on drug boats. Simultaneously, the Venezuelan opposition has continued gaining momentum. Notably, Maria Carina Machado, the head of the Venezuelan opposition, had a miraculous exit from Venezuela to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. Former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela James Story joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss these recent updates, what a post-Maduro Venezuela would look like, and more.

Our October 24 episode with Ryan Berg: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/101b0c5e-fe2c-4f84-b5bb-861f9a392aa1/

Democratic Transition Framework for Venezuela: https://2017-2021.state.gov/democratic-transition-framework-for-venezuela/

(1:32) How Did We Get Here in Venezuela?

(3:05) U.S. Interests in Venezuela

(5:09) President Trump’s Decision to Sanction Colombian President Gustavo Petro

(7:54) Striking Drug Boats

(10:42) Seizing Oil Tankers

(13:48) Trump 1.0 vs Trump 2.0 in the Western Hemisphere

(16:07) Venezuela vs. Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan

(19:47) Establishing the Red Lines for Maduro’s Departure

(23:12) María Corina Machado’s Departure and Return

(26:08) Opportunities for the United States With a Free and Democratic Venezuela

(30:20) Is This Going to Work? If So, When?

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 52 | A Playbook for Winning the Cyber War

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0400

The United States faces serious cyber vulnerabilities from its principal adversaries—China, Russia, and Iran. In her report “A Playbook for Winning the Cyber War,” Emily Harding, a Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program as well as Vice President of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, issues a stark warning: “The United States has been losing a war it did not know it was fighting—and it has been losing for the last 20 years.” How can America turn the tide, leverage its strengths, and close its cyber gaps? Emily Harding joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to discuss her groundbreaking report and outline how the United States can secure victory in the cyber domain.

https://www.csis.org/programs/intelligence-national-security-and-technology-program/playbook-winning-cyber-war

(1:47) Why the United States is Losing

(3:50) The Capabilities of our Adversaries

(8:20) Cyber Wargames

(13:25) Redefining War and Retaliation

(16:29) Attribution and Action

(19:53) Defense as a “No Fail Mission”

(22:54) Octopus Offense

(26:36) Priorities for Policymakers

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 51 | Gaza Ceasefire and Palestinian Statehood

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

A few weeks ago, President Trump secured the release of all 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza and reached a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This ceasefire is a tenuous one; Hamas has refused to release the bodies of deceased hostages and has violated agreed-upon boundaries, sparking limited clashes with Israeli forces. Nonetheless, the ceasefire has paved the way for renewed discussions on Gaza’s future, the precarious status of the West Bank, and broader questions of Palestinian statehood. Elliott Abrams, Chairman of The Vandenberg Coalition and Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Flash Focus to discuss the ceasefire, his landmark piece in Mosaic entitled “There Never Will Be a Palestinian State. So What’s Next?”, the outlook for Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, and more.

https://ideas.tikvah.org/mosaic/essays/there-won-t-be-a-palestinian-state-in-the-west-bank-it-s-time-to-reconsider-the-j

https://www.impact-se.org/

(1:18) Assessing Phase One

(3:22) The (Failed) European Approach

(5:18) Why Will There Never Be A Palestinian State?

(8:47) A Jordanian-Palestinian Confederation

(13:57) Deradicalizing Gaza

(17:57) International Stabilization Force

(22:13) Ending “Something for Nothing”

(25:34) Gaza’s Near-Term Future

You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 50 | Strikes in the Caribbean

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Right now, all eyes remain on the Caribbean, where President Trump’s buildup of military forces has raised significant questions about American intentions and objectives in Latin America. Is the United States simply conducting counternarcotics operations, or are we embarking on regime change or pressure in the region? Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Vandenberg Advisory Board member, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss these recent developments and more.

The Woman Who Took on a Dictator—and Won a Nobel Peace Prize

“Democracy: Use It or Lose It”

(1:08) Why Does Venezuela Matter for the United States?

(3:13) Venezuelan Cartels

(7:10) The Caribbean Buildup

(10:31) President Trump’s Main Objective

(12:50) Message to Mexican Cartels and Sheinbaum

(16:33) Maduro’s Behavior

(20:33) U.S. Personnel Covering Venezuela

(24:00) Venezuelan Opposition & María Corina Machado

You can watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 49 | The Soft Power Battleground

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:30:00 -0400

The United States has plenty of work ahead of us if we want to win the global soft power battleground in the fight against China, Russia, and Iran. With good reason, the Trump administration has strongly criticized the implementation of American soft power under the previous administration. Its response has been to cut billions in foreign aid, but while breaking some eggs is necessary, preparing the ingredients and cooking the omelet is equally vital to ensure that the execution of U.S. soft power matches the enlightened principles upon which it was conceived following World War II. Dan Twining, President of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and Vandenberg Advisory Board Member, joins Flash Focus to discuss how the United States can capitalize on this current moment to reorient U.S. soft power effectively and efficiently within the current geopolitical context.

You can watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

Dan Twining’s “Democracy Assistance Isn’t Regime Change”

(1:51) What Does Soft Power Mean?

(2:41) Soft Power in the Cold War

(4:23) The Present Strength of American Soft Power

(6:58) Why Does Soft Power Matter?

(9:34) Misconceptions About Democracy Assistance

(13:39) The Trump Administration’s Cuts

(15:57) The Development Finance Organization and Millennium Challenge Corporation

(17:40) Supporting Dissidents

(21:07) Democracy Programs in Action

(23:24) Why Should Americans Care About Soft Power?

(27:06) Recommendations to Make Soft Power More Effective

Special Episode: The Future of Conservative Foreign Policy Feat. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL)

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The Vandenberg Coalition's Executive Director Carrie Filipetti sat down with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to talk about the national security challenges facing the United States. From how we can work with our allies to push back against the Chinese Communist Party to pursuing “peace through sanctions” to deal with Vladimir Putin, Senator Scott sounds the alarm on how our adversaries are threatening the American way of life and discusses how we should respond. Throughout the conversation, he outlines how U.S. allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific can work together economically and on defensive capabilities—while making sure Americans come first—shares his support for Israel and the Venezuelan people, and more.

You can watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

Ep. 48 | The Super Bowl of Foreign Policy Speeches

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

President Trump is slated to speak at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next week. Though many say it is unlikely that UNGA will reap anything substantial and positive for the United States, the conference will serve as one of the first opportunities for President Trump to outline to the rest of the world his foreign policy vision and approach for the next four years. Amanda Rothschild, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior National Security Speechwriter at the White House and former Senior Policy Director at The Vandenberg Coalition, joins to share what she expects from the president’s speech, why the speech is important, and how we should think about it within the context of the president’s foreign policy agenda.

“From Reagan to Trump, a Speechwriter’s Legacy Lives On in Washington”

President Trump’s 2017 Speech to the UN

President Trump’s 2018 Speech to the UN

You can also watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

(1:54) Why Does This Speech Matter?

(3:46) What President Trump May Highlight

(5:20) Palestinian Statehood

(6:32) The Interplay Between Domestic and Foreign Policy

(8:08) The Speechwriting Process

(12:29) Legacy of Past Speechwriters

(14:33) The UNGA Experience

(17:30) The President’s Interactions at UNGA

Ep. 47 | The Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights at Five Years

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400

After the Reagan administration, the issue of human rights has come to be captured and dominated by the left, with it now being seen as largely synonymous with progressive policy preferences rather than the fundamental rights that align with our founding principles. Some on the right are now highly skeptical of whether human rights as an issue can be salvaged. Yet this month marks the fifth anniversary of an important document that thoughtfully regrounds human rights within our nation’s founding principles and national interests: The Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights. Peter Berkowitz, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tad and Dianne Taube Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and Vandenberg Advisory Board member, joins to discuss the legacy of this critical report at this milestone anniversary, as well as the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy today more broadly.

(3:19) The Creation of the Commission on Unalienable Rights

(6:57) Tension Between Universal Principles and National Sovereignty

(15:05) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and U.S. Engagement With Multilateral Bodies

(21:30) Critics of Human Rights Policy

(26:39) Nahdlatul Ulama

(32:31) The Report’s Long-Term Legacy

Ep. 46 | TikTok: China’s Digital Fentanyl

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

While many are familiar with the national security case for forcing ByteDance to divest or banning TikTok altogether, its assault on America’s children is just as alarming. TikTok holds unprecedented control over the content consumed by our children, exposing them to dangerous or even illegal content, including anti-American propaganda, antisemitism, pornography, and drugs. TikTok is not just a national security issue; it is a question about how technology will impact the future of our society. Clare Morell, Fellow and Director of the Technology and Human Flourish Project at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and author of The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, and Bethany Mandel, co-host of the Mom Wars podcast and newsletter and co-author of Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, join Flash Focus to discuss the risks that TikTok pose to America’s children and how to fight back.

Watch episode live on YouTube.

(2:11) When Did You Realize How Bad TikTok Is for America’s Children?

(5:44) TikTok vs. Instagram

(6:48) TikTok and Digital Fentanyl

(8:22) TikTok’s Harmful Content

(10:50) Antisemitism on TikTok

(12:25) Policy Considerations

(16:00) Would a TikTok Sale Mitigate Its Harm on Children?

(18:58) Managing Children’s Relationships With TikTok and Social Media

(25:50) How to Push Back Against TikTok’s Grip on America’s Children

Ep. 45 | Global Swing States and the New Great Power Competition

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:45:00 -0400

With the future of the global order hinging on the outcome of today’s great power competition, a group of multi-aligned states has emerged with a growing ability to influence the outcome of this competition. Effectively engaging these 'global swing states' will be essential if the United States is to succeed in preserving an international order that favors American interests and principles. Richard Fontaine, Vandenberg Advisory Board member, CEO of Center for a New American Security (CNAS), and co-author of the new report “Global Swing States and the New Great Power Competition,” joins Flash Focus to explore how the United States can engage with these swing states to sustain a U.S.-centric global order and push back against the “Axis of Upheaval.”

(2:13) What Is a “Global Swing State?”

(4:47) The “Axis of Upheaval,” Global Swing States, and the Dynamics of Great Power Competition

(9:20) How Do the Swing States Think of Themselves?

(11:38) The Case for the Current International Order

(20:23) Does the International Order Resonate with the Swing States?

(22:29) Global Swing States in 2012 vs. 2025

(25:40) Easiest and Hardest Swing States to Engage

(29:04) The Case Against Foreign Policy Solutionism and the Swing States

Ep. 44 | The Right’s 1939 Project

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:00:00 -0400

A small but loud faction of the New Right has attempted to hijack the conservative movement to normalize age-old hatreds, conspiracies about U.S. national security, and historical revisionism. Rather than addressing the legitimate concerns felt by many Americans who serve as their audience and lead to us to embrace the better angels of our nature, this faction seeks to shackle Americans to their current lot in life and fill them with rage, a sense of victimhood, and a target for their blame: the globalists, the elites, the Jews, and the United States. Rebeccah Heinrichs, Vandenberg Advisory Board member, Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute, and author of the landmark article The Right’s 1939 Project, joins Flash Focus to discuss the concerning growth of this movement, its origins, and how we can push back against these narratives.

(2:47) The 1939 Project And Its Members

(6:41) Historical Revisionism On The Right

(11:23) Defending The West Versus Wokism

(14:45) Platforming

(17:40) The Nastiness Of The 1939 Project

(20:30) Co-Opting MAGA

(24:02) Acknowledging Valid Criticisms While Refuting Conspiracies

(29:01) Restoring American Pride

Ep. 43 | A United Nations for the United States

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:30:00 -0400

The United Nations has sparked significant debate within the foreign policy community. Though the founding ideals of the UN, as championed nearly 80 years ago by our namesake Senator Arthur Vandenberg, still merit strong support, the organization has increasingly been exploited by America’s adversaries to obstruct its mission and undermine U.S. interests. As former National Security Advisor and member of Congress Mike Waltz testifies in front of Congress to be the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, the time is ripe to revisit how the United Nations can better serve American priorities. Brett Schaefer, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and author of the United Nations Organizations Assessment Project, joins Flash Focus to provide an overview of the UN system and offer recommendations for how it can be reformed.

(2:42) Overview of the United Nations

(6:12) Top Three Issues for the U.S. Government

(10:22) Curtailing Chinese Influence in the UN System

(15:25) Which UN Organizations Are Most Important?

(18:14) Are There Alternatives To The UN?

(19:55) UN Human Rights Council

(24:00) Tools To Get UN Reforms Accomplished

(29:50) The Administration’s Approach

(32:30) How Did We Get To This Point?

(36:10) Impact Of Adopting These Reforms

Ep. 42 | After Rising Lion and Spiderweb: U.S. Vulnerabilities and CCP Sabotage

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0400

Ukraine through Operation Spiderweb and Israel through Operation Rising Lion surreptitiously smuggled drones behind enemy lines and successfully neutralized critical Russian and Iranian assets. As we continue to watch the aftermath of these operations, Operations Rising Lion and Spiderweb raise urgent questions for the United States; namely, how vulnerable are we to technologically driven attacks here? And how exactly is our leading adversary, China, interpreting some of the more innovative new operations in these conflicts? Jacqueline Deal, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Co-Founder of the American Academy for Strategic Education, and Michael Sobolik, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute, join Flash Focus to explore U.S. vulnerabilities in light of these events and measures we can take to strengthen them.

The Vandenberg Coalition has published a number of policy products related to CCP domestic influence campaigns, including a February 2025 poll of U.S. attitudes towards TikTok and a podcast episodedissecting it, a primer on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, and a brief of Amici Curiae commissioned in support of the U.S. government in Tiktok Inc., et al. v. Merrick B. Garland (No. 24-656).

The Final Struggle: Inside China's Global Strategy by Ian Easton https://www.amazon.com/Final-Struggle-Inside-Chinas-Strategy/dp/1788692756

Document 9 https://www.chinafile.com/document-9-chinafile-translation

(2:44) Initial Reactions to Operations Rising Lion and Spiderweb

(9:27) Concerns About Law Enforcement Using CCP-Linked Drones

(15:10) Securing Supply Chains and Industrial Policy

(18:55) What It Means When the CCP Uses Our Data

(24:36) CCP Farm Land Grabs

(29:22) TikTok and Information Warfare

(38:15) TikTok and Political Sabotage

(39:50) Recommendations for Strengthening Our Vulnerabilities Now

Ep. 41 | Trump’s Magical Mystery Middle East Tour

Fri, 23 May 2025 09:00:00 -0400

President Trump’s eventful trip to the Middle East marked the first major international visit of his second term, featuring stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Framing the visit as a break from the legacy of the so-called “nation-builders” he has long derided, President Trump returned to Washington boasting flashy investment deals and hinting at policy shifts that have the potential to shake up the region. Elizabeth Dent, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, joins Flash Focus to recap the trip’s events, unpack the deals that were struck, and discuss what Trump’s visit reveals about his strategic vision and motivations for Middle East foreign policy and beyond.

Special Episode: 80 Years Since V-E Day

Thu, 08 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

80 years ago today, Nazi forces issued an unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers, marking the official end of World War II in Europe. Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) serves as a great reminder of what happens when Americans, with our full might and allies along side us, stand up to tyrants seeking to revise the world order. How can we best commemorate those who gave everything to secure our cherished freedoms? And how can we live up to their example today? Thomas Spoehr, Executive Director for Operations at American Battle Monuments Commission in Paris and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to reflect on the enduring legacy of V-E Day at this milestone anniversary.

Ep. 40 | Taiwan on the Line

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait following China’s latest round of large-scale military exercises, questions surrounding Taiwan’s defense readiness and deterrence in the region are once again front and center. Beijing claims these drills are a “severe warning” and a message of "forceful containment against Taiwan independence,” but do they signal serious preparation for conflict, or are they just saber-rattling? And how prepared are Taiwan and the United States for such a conflict? Joe Wang, Senior Advisor at the Special Competitive Studies Project, joins Flash Focus to explain what these maneuvers reveal about China’s strategic intent, assess Taiwan’s current military and non-military preparedness, and explore what steps the United States and allies in the Indo-Pacific can take in the immediate to enhance Taiwan’s deterrence.

Ep. 39 | Iran’s Puppets Playing Pirates

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Emboldened by its patron, Iran, Houthi drone and missile attacks have disrupted international shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. In response, the Trump administration has launched a series of “decisive and powerful” airstrikes against the Houthis, with President Trump declaring that any future Houthi attack will be treated as an attack by Iran itself. Real Admiral Mark Montgomery, Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and one of the newest members of The Vandenberg Coalition’s Advisory Board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the current situation, the path that led to this point, and the importance of addressing the Houthi threat.

You can find The Vandenberg Coalition’s report on the Middle East, which offers policy recommendations on the Houthis, here.

Ep. 38 | Americans Reject The TikTok Trojan Horse and Big Brother ByteDance

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

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.

A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 37 | Solving the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for the New Administration

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 36 | The Unholy Alliance Between UNRWA, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 35 | Adiós, Assad: The U.S. Reaction to Events in Syria

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 34 | The Financial Fight: An Economic Strategy to Defeat the CCP

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 33 | Picking Putin's Pockets: How to Fix America's Sanctions Towards Russia

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 07:45:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 32 | What to Expect When You’re Expecting Trump: Foreign Policy in the 119th Congress

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:30:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 31 | Anatomy of a Hurricane Response

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 30 | One Year Since October 7th: Antisemitism in America

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 29 | One Year Since October 7th: Iran’s Destabilization Campaign

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 28 | One Year Since October 7th: Lessons for Israeli and American Security

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 27 | Recess is Over: Keeping the CCP out of the Classroom

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 11:02:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 26 | Theft and Espionage: Defending Against the CCP’s Economic Warfare

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 25 | Cracking Kursk: Dissecting Ukraine’s Surprise Offensive

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 08:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 24 | American Strength: Exploring the NDS Commission’s Findings

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 23 | “For Us This is Life:” Venezuela’s Future After Fraud

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 22 | Brewing Conflict at Second Thomas Shoal

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 21 | Protecting the Future of NATO

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 20 | Convergence of Dictatorships: Putin and Kim’s Burgeoning Alliance

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 19 | Border in Disarray

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Special Episode: Lost Decade with Richard Fontaine & Robert Blackwill

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Special Episode: 80 Years Later: Lessons from D-Day for Today’s World

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 18 | Turning Point? Mexico’s Elections and the U.S.-Mexico Relationship

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 17 | High Stakes in Africa

Fri, 31 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 16 | Xi & Putin: Power Play in Eurasia

Thu, 23 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 15 | Tehran’s Turmoil & Israel Under ICC Fire

Tue, 21 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 14 | Biden’s Betrayal of Israel

Fri, 10 May 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 13 | Poison Ivy

Thu, 02 May 2024 12:00:00 -0400

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

Special Episode: Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 12 | Mr. Kishida Goes to Washington

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Special Episode: We Win, They Lose with Matthew Kroenig & Dan Negrea

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 11 | Breaking Down Haiti’s Continued Chaos

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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?

Ep. 10 | Two Years at War: Ukraine from the Battlefield to the Debate in Congress

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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?

Ep. 9 | On the Ground in Ukraine

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 8 | Elections in Taiwan: Democracy & Diplomacy Deep Dive

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 7 | Breaking the Red Sea Blockade: U.S. & U.K. Strike Houthis in Yemen

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0400

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?

Ep. 6 | All Roads Lead to Iran: The Israel-Hamas War in Regional Context

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

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

Special Episode: Rep. Ashley Hinson on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 06:30:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya’s Security Mission in Haiti

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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?

Ep. 4 | The Future of U.S. Aid to Ukraine

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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

Ep. 3 | Elections in Venezuela

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 2 | Biden Visits Jerusalem & Israel Update

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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.

Ep. 1 | Israel Under Attack

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

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