Fault Lines National Security Institute

Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Matt discuss the recent violent protests in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi over a tax bill that would increase taxes on bread, fuel, and other necessities, which was aimed at alleviating the country’s massive debt burden. Protestors stormed the nation’s parliament building, setting parts ablaze, and clashes with police and military forces have left more than 300 injured and 22 dead. Kenyan President William Ruto has now abandoned the bill but vows to quash the continuing unrest “at whatever cost.” 
With Kenya being recently announced as a U.S. major Non-NATO ally, how do these protests impact U.S.-Kenyan relations? What are the implications of these protests on the stability of the region and our ongoing counter-terrorism efforts? What does this unrest mean for the recently deployed Kenyan police mission to violence-stricken Haiti?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gg30gm0x2o 
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-finance-bill-taxes-protests-396382bdac0fc18dfec7cd3003ece35b 
https://apnews.com/article/kenya-protests-finance-bill-33a20092285f1d663264f7b0d513e1da 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/world/africa/kenya-protests-tax-parliament.html 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/27/world/africa/kenya-protests-taxes-president-ruto.html 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@marthamillerdc 
@WMattHayden
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And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/RzPb1EQY27w

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Today, Les, Jess, Bishop, and Amy discuss Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's plea deal with the Department of Justice in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of espionage, in exchange for a sentence of five years in prison, which - due to time served in the U.K. - means he is a free man. Assange also refused to set foot on the mainland United States, appearing instead in Saipan (an American territory). 
Is this plea deal justice served? How does Assange’s case impact future accountability for classified leaks? Should Americans who are concerned about free speech be focusing on Assange or the imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.wsj.com/politics/julian-assange-plea-deal-c392069c 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/06/25/julian-assange-plea-deal-updates/ 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/25/us/politics/assange-plea-deal-press-freedom.html 
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/06/24/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-will-plead-guilty-deal-us-and-be-freed-prison.html 
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2024/06/julian-assange-plea-deal-pointless-prosecution/678787/ 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@BishopGarrison
@NotTVJessJones
@amykmitchell
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Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/eld5_Exe9Pg


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Today, Jess, Les, Martha, and Jeffrey discuss two ongoing stories – increased border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, which have raised fears in the region that the escalating tensions could turn into all-out war, as well as the Houthis ongoing attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. 
Should Israel and the United States be worried about escalation with Hezbollah? How would the group rate the Biden Administration’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East? Has the U.S. effectively responded to the Houthi threat in the Red Sea?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/23/israel-iron-dome-hezbollah-war-lebanon 
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4735840-israeli-defense-minister-gallant-us/ 
https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-iraq-syria-hezbollah-fighters-iran-1e3359917f252862f4ed3d4b3df1d43e 
https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-israel-hamas-war-3c1756a60efb061960b6eda1bc580834 
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ship-attack-houthi-red-sea-uss-eisenhower-rcna158406 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@marthamillerdc
@NotTVJessJones
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/jI9l_svw32g

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Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Jeffrey discuss Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to North Korea where he met with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, the first time President Putin has been to North Korea in over 20 years. At the end of the visit, Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense agreement marking the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.
What does this agreement mean for possible technology sharing between Russia and North Korea? How does this agreement impact regional security on the Korean peninsula? Will this agreement dampen Russia and China’s no-limits partnership?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/20/world/asia/china-russia-north-korea.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/06/20/russia-china-iran-north-korea-alignment/ 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-the-putin-pyongyang-axis-means-a95799c9?st=4b5epti79ncjynr&reflink=article_whatsapp_share 
https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-jong-un-putin-military-assistance-war-d9bb8aee7eb1a692b932337578fb3e30 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@jamil_n_jaffer
@NotTVJessJones
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/56HlPDDyYDc

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Today, Jess, Les, and Amy discuss the two-day peace summit in Switzerland dedicated to forging an end to the war in Ukraine with over 90 countries attending, including Vice President Kamala Harris on behalf of the U.S. The summit concluded with a communique reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity, among other things.  Notably absent from the summit were Russia and China. Of those who did attend, several countries including India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates did not sign the communique.
Without Russia’s participation, does this summit mean anything? Are there implications of countries not re-affirming core principles, like sovereignty, for the international system? What does this summit and its communique mean for further aid to Ukraine?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/16/europe/ukraine-peace-summit-switzerland-intl/index.html 
https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-switzerland-war-conference-burgenstock-568cafee5fbe9c3b19b79b041583a5d6 
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/swiss-conference-ukraine-rcna157400 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@amykmitchell
@NotTVJessJones
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/Afe172_1h90

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Today, Jess, Les, and Bishop discuss the arrival of a Russian flotilla, including a nuclear-powered submarine to the port of Havana, Cuba. This Russian show of force comes weeks after President Biden authorized Ukraine’s use of U.S.-provided weapons for strikes within Russian territory.  Amidst the arrival of Russian ships, a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine made a “routine port visit” to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
What do we make of the timing of Russia’s visit to Cuba? Was the U.S. sub arriving at Guantanamo Bay an intentional show of force? What is in store for future U.S.-Cuban relations?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/12/americas/russian-navy-cuba-intl/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/06/americas/cuba-russian-ships-submarine-visit-intl-latam/index.html 
https://apnews.com/article/russia-cuba-us-submarine-ukraine-bac0519f4fdbe30a5ef210447d50a671 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@BishopGarrison
@NotTVJessJones
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/3jBT4DTpqx4

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.