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Iran
Russia
China
United States
Ukraine
Trump Administration
NATO
Israel
Donald Trump
National Security
Tariffs
President Trump
Venezuela
Middle East
European Union
Greenland
U.S. Foreign Policy
Hamas
Gaza
Sudan

Fault Lines, the National Security Institute’s flagship podcast, gets you quickly up to speed, three-times-a-week, on the national security and foreign policy debates shaking up America.

Our regular cast of foreign policy experts includes NSI Founder and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Advisory Board Member Lester Munson, and NSI Senior Fellows Morgan Viña, and Jessica Jones.

Tune in to l... more

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Artwork for Fault Lines

Latest Episodes

Today, Les and John sit down with Tibor Nagy, former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs and former Ambassador to Ethiopia and Guinea, to examine a fundamental shift in how Washington is approaching Sub-Saharan Africa. The Trump administ... more

Today, Les, John, and special guest Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez—former Panamanian Deputy Secretary of State—assess the Trump administration's renewed push for dominance in the Western Hemisphere and what it means for a region already in political upheaval.... more

YouTube

Today, John, Les, and Special Guest Peter Harrell—former Senior Director for International Economics at the NEC & NSC—trace the arc of U.S. trade and economic policy toward China from the engagement era of the late 1990s through future administration... more

YouTube

Today, John, Les, and Special Guest Dinny McMahon—Head of China Markets Research at Trivium—trace the rise and slow-motion collapse of China's old economic model, and the technology and export-led manufacturing behemoth replacing it. For decades, Chi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez
Former Deputy Secretary of State of Panama; former Panamanian Ambassador to the United Nations
Center for Strategic and International Studies; Inter-American Dialogue
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 619: The Latin American Pendulum
Peter Harrell
Senior Director for International Economics at the NEC and NSC under the Biden administration; visiting scholar at Georgetown's Institute of International Economic Law; non-resident fellow at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Georgetown University; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 618: Trade War Evolution: U.S.-China Economic Strategy, Then, Now, and Next
Dinny McMahon
Head of China Markets Research at Trivium
Trivium
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 617: The China Colossus: Understanding Beijing's New Mercantilist Economic Model
Rich Goldberg
FDD Senior Advisor and Iran issue expert
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 616: Anaconda or Armistice: The Squeeze on Tehran
Andy Kaiser
NSI senior fellow
National Security Institute
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 613: After the Earthquake — Venezuela and the Limits of American Soft Power
Andrew Borene
NSI senior fellow
National Security Institute
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 613: After the Earthquake — Venezuela and the Limits of American Soft Power
Andrew Boreen
NSI Senior Fellow
National Security Institute
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 603: Trump’s AI Exec Order: The Next Phase of the AI Arms Race?
Scott Besson
Political communications spokesperson featured as a guest to discuss the MOU and narrative strategy
Previously described as press secretary in coverage
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 601: Losing the Plot in Iran?
Marc Raimondi
Guest discussing security implications and trade-offs
ESPN journalist (context inferred)
Episode: Fault Lines Episode 594: The Beijing Summit's Fine Print

Hosts

Jessica Jones
Host of the flagship NSI podcast, Senior Fellow; frequent contributor to the NSI show and Fault Lines.
Lester Munson
Advisory Board Member; co-hosting discussions and framing topics.
Morgan Viña
Host and NSI Senior Fellow; provides analysis and questions.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 63 ratings
  • Great but get rid of Algene

    Solid Podcast that I’ve been listening to for years but what in the world was the justification or reason to bring in Algene Sajery. She contributed nothing, waters it down with boilerplate pandering and is clearly some pity hire. Otherwise good.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Crf15
    United States2 months ago
  • Love it!

    The revamp is amazing. It is snappy, informative, entertaining and the hosts all have a great dynamic! A must listen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gwco123
    United States4 years ago
  • Love the revamp

    Short, spicy, and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NUSU HN
    United States4 years ago
  • Great

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DaniDani
    4 years ago
  • Great

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dani
    4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans value timely coverage of global events and practical policy implications for decision-makers.
Some listeners critique coverage as partisan or overly opinionated, suggesting a need for more balanced viewpoints on certain episodes.
High-caliber guests and clear, concise analysis are repeatedly praised by listeners.
The show's format and momentum are frequently cited as a strength, with guests and hosts delivering sharp, informed perspectives.
Guests consistently bring expert insight and lively debate that covers hard geopolitics with accessible explanations.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Fault Lines Episode 619: The Latin American Pendulum
Q: What are regional champions that could help achieve tolerable security in the region, and how do you assess Panama's role in that framework?
Panama is highlighted as a practical example of sovereignty-preserving engagement and a reliable partner for security and migration coordination, illustrating how smaller states can influence regional outcomes without eroding independence.
Fault Lines Episode 619: The Latin American Pendulum
Q: How do you see the balance between security concerns and economic development shaping Latin American politics, especially in places like Colombia and El Salvador?
He notes that voters gravitate toward strong security and clear governance; economic reforms and pragmatic diplomacy can coexist with hardline security postures, influencing electoral outcomes across the region.
Fault Lines Episode 617: The China Colossus: Understanding Beijing's New Mercantilist Economic Model
Q: How does the governance structure influence this shift?
Xi Jinping's consolidation of power and centralized leadership is shaping policy direction, particularly in regulating finance, controlling the shadow banking system, and steering strategic industries with top-down support and targeting local government incentives to back domestic champions.
Fault Lines Episode 617: The China Colossus: Understanding Beijing's New Mercantilist Economic Model
Q: What is the core economic shift happening in China right now?
China is transitioning from a debt-fueled, property-led growth model to a productivity- and innovation-driven model, emphasizing industrial upgrading, high-value manufacturing, and efficiency gains to sustain growth while gradually building toward a consumption-based economy.
Fault Lines Episode 618: Trade War Evolution: U.S.-China Economic Strategy, Then, Now, and Next
Q: How did Biden's approach differ from Trump's on China trade policy?
Biden emphasized a defensive and offensive competitive strategy, relying on targeted tariffs in select sectors rather than broad engagement, and focused on critical supply chains and strategic sectors rather than attempting to reform China via engagement alone.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Fault Lines

What is Fault Lines about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A brisk, policy-forward show focused on national security and foreign policy debates shaping U.S. strategy. Conversations run across geopolitics, diplomacy, and defense, with frequent panels of NSI senior fellows, advisory board members, and episode guests offering sharp analysis and real-world implications for policymakers, executives, and academics. Regulars drive concise, debate-driven discussions on topics like Iran, China, energy security, space, and regional conflicts, often pairing data-driven frameworks with practical, how-it-works insights. Noteworthy is the hosting ensemble from NSI, a track record of high-caliber guests, and a style that balances rigorous analysis with accessible, timely commentary that's useful for decision-make... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Fault Lines?

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1. Shield of the Republic
2. NatSec Matters
3. The Lawfare Podcast
4. The Peter Zeihan Podcast Series
5. The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer

How many episodes of Fault Lines are there?

Fault Lines launched 7 years ago and published 632 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Fault Lines?

Recent guests on Fault Lines include:

1. Carlos Ruiz-Hernandez
2. Peter Harrell
3. Dinny McMahon
4. Rich Goldberg
5. Andy Kaiser
6. Andrew Borene
7. Andrew Boreen
8. Scott Besson

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