Today, Les, Martha, and Morgan discuss the intensifying controversy over food aid delivery in Gaza. With hunger surging and global criticism mounting, attention has turned to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—a special-purpose entity backed by Israel and the U.S. to deliver aid without empowering Hamas. While Israel has announced daily 10-hour ceasefires to allow more deliveries, many international observers, including the UN and several allied governments, argue the system is failing. Accusations that aid isn’t reaching Palestinian civilians are fueling tension between Israel and its closest partners.

Is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation a workable solution—or a flawed model for crisis response? Will mounting criticism from allies like the UK shift U.S. policy on aid delivery? And with hostage talks stalled and the humanitarian situation worsening, what role can—or should—the U.S. play now?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

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Today, Morgan, Martha, Les, and Matt break down Trump’s AI Action Plan, unveiled Wednesday with significant fanfare and the backing of top tech leaders. The plan includes three executive orders and outlines 90 federal actions across three pillars: accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and asserting global leadership in diplomacy and security.

Why does AI matter so much now—and why does Trump want his name on it? As Secretary of State Rubio put it, “winning the AI race is non-negotiable.” With economic, military, and geopolitical stakes this high, Trump’s market-driven, industry-friendly strategy marks a clear departure from the Biden administration’s safety-first regulatory approach. Is this the edge the U.S. needs to stay ahead of China—or a gamble with long-term consequences?

Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussions:

https://www.ai.gov/action-plan

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

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Today, Martha, Les, Morgan, and Matt discuss the Trump administration’s announcement that the U.S. will withdraw from UNESCO by the end of 2026. This marks the third such exit in recent history—first under President Reagan in 1984, again under Trump’s first administration, and now once more over concerns of anti-Israel bias and support for “divisive" causes.

The decision raises broader questions: Are global institutions like UNESCO advancing U.S. interests—or have they become vehicles for adversarial influence? Is complete withdrawal the best strategy, or is there a more effective way to protect American values while staying at the table?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

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Today, Les, Morgan, Bishop, Amy, and Marc break down the latest high-stakes prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Venezuela. Ten Americans held by the Maduro regime were released in exchange for more than 200 Venezuelans via the CECOT Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador.

Is this a foreign policy win for the Trump administration—or a dangerous precedent that raises the price on the heads of Americans abroad? Could this deal mark the beginning of a U.S.-Venezuela thaw, or will Maduro use it for political gain? And what are the human rights and national security implications of using large-scale deportations as diplomatic leverage?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

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@lestermunson

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Today, Morgan, Jess, and Andy unpack a turn in U.S. policy toward Ukraine. Earlier this month, President Trump paused military and intelligence aid, only to reverse course days later after internal review. Now, he’s unveiled a new approach: U.S.-made weapons, including Patriot missiles, will be purchased by European allies and sent to Ukraine—bypassing direct U.S. taxpayer funding, replenishing NATO stockpiles and boosting U.S. defense firms. In a sharp policy shift, the administration is now considering sending offensive weapons and has issued a 50-day ultimatum to Moscow: accept a ceasefire or face full tariffs and sweeping secondary sanctions.

Is this a smart reset that shares the burden while keeping pressure on Putin? Does the shift toward offensive weapons contradict Trump's “no more wars” stance? And how will Moscow—and Trump’s own MAGA base—respond as the rhetoric hardens and the weapons shipments grow?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

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@NotTVJessJones

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Today, Jess, Morgan, and Matt turn their attention to Sudan, where a civil war that began in 2023 has killed more than 150,000 people and displaced 14 million, driving the country to widespread collapse. With foreign powers backing both sides of the conflict—from Iran and Egypt to the UAE and remnants of Russia’s Wagner Group—the war has become a flashpoint for global power competition and humanitarian catastrophe.

What national security interests does the U.S. have in Sudan—and what are the consequences when Washington steps back? What changes do we see to America's broader approach to Africa? And could President Trump’s ties in the Gulf position him as a broker for peace?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussions:

https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/15/sudan-civil-war-catastrophe-washington/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/15/sudan-paramilitary-forces-kill-almost-300-in-village-raids-say-lawyers

https://www.foxnews.com/world/peacemaker-trump-can-end-africas-biggest-war-says-former-white-house-advisor

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@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

@WMattHayden

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Today, Martha and Les bring you a very special episode of Fault Lines, recorded live at Max’s Steakhouse in Prague with an international group of fans, listeners, and a cameo from NSI Founder and Executive Director, Jamil Jaffer. From Czech locals to Americans abroad, the team fielded sharp questions about the future of NATO-style alliances in Asia, the direction of U.S. sanctions policy, and Russia’s financing of war through African gold. The live audience also raised timely questions about press freedom, the future of global conflict, and what comes next for U.S. policy in the Middle East, Russia, and beyond.

Will the Quad or AUKUS ever evolve into a true multilateral security framework? Can U.S. pressure on Russia—through both sanctions and global alliances—actually shift the tide in Ukraine? And does the growing web of cyberattacks and shadow alliances already mean we’re in a new kind of global conflict?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this very special episode of Fault Lines.

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@marthamillerdc

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Episode 475: Ceasefire Shattered – The Houthis Strike Again

Today, Morgan, Bishop, Jessica, and Algene discuss the return of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, just weeks after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. The Iran-backed group has ramped up strikes on commercial ships, most recently hitting a Liberian-flagged cargo vessel with a rocket-propelled grenade and kidnapping several crew members. It’s the second ship sunk in a week – part of a broader campaign targeting nearly 70 merchant vessels since late 2023.

Is the ceasefire dead, and can the U.S. restore deterrence at sea? Are the Houthis expanding Iran’s influence under the cover of the Gaza conflict? And what does this mean for global trade and regional stability?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussions:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3071vp2d8yo?utm_source=semafor

Follow our experts on Twitter:

@morganlroach

@NotTVJessJones

@BishopGarrison

@AlgeneSajery

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