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

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

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