Vandenberg Flash Focus
The Vandenberg Coalition
Move beyond the headlines with fast & focused expert analysis on breaking news and big stories in foreign policy & national security. We help you understand the context and policy implications of the stories you see every day from around the world. In each episode, we sit down with an expert to break down a developing global news story—what's happening, why it matters, and how the United States should respond. For more information on the Vandenberg Coalition, visit our website: www.vandenbergcoalition.org.
Ep. 38 | Americans Reject The TikTok Trojan Horse and Big Brother ByteDance
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 pol
Mar 3, • 25:50
A Conservative Strategy for Countering Russia
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 adv
Feb 21, • 1:08:45
Ep. 37 | Solving the Middle East: Policy Recommendations for the New Administration
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
Jan 27, • 34:16
Ep. 36 | The Unholy Alliance Between UNRWA, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad
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
Jan 16, • 41:01
Ep. 35 | Adiós, Assad: The U.S. Reaction to Events in Syria
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
Dec 18, 2024 • 57:13
Ep. 34 | The Financial Fight: An Economic Strategy to Defeat the CCP
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 th
Dec 10, 2024 • 23:25
Ep. 33 | Picking Putin's Pockets: How to Fix America's Sanctions Towards Russia
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 F
Nov 21, 2024 • 28:25
Ep. 32 | What to Expect When You’re Expecting Trump: Foreign Policy in the 119th Congress
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 Di
Nov 18, 2024 • 25:28
Ep. 31 | Anatomy of a Hurricane Response
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 wit
Oct 11, 2024 • 34:49
Ep. 29 | One Year Since October 7th: Iran’s Destabilization Campaign
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
Oct 6, 2024 • 34:43
Ep. 30 | One Year Since October 7th: Antisemitism in America
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
Oct 6, 2024 • 31:08
Ep. 28 | One Year Since October 7th: Lessons for Israeli and American Security
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 evolvi
Oct 6, 2024 • 43:07
Ep. 27 | Recess is Over: Keeping the CCP out of the Classroom
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
Sep 11, 2024 • 23:30
Ep. 26 | Theft and Espionage: Defending Against the CCP’s Economic Warfare
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 eac
Sep 9, 2024 • 29:21
Ep. 25 | Cracking Kursk: Dissecting Ukraine’s Surprise Offensive
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 curren
Aug 30, 2024 • 20:03
Ep. 24 | American Strength: Exploring the NDS Commission’s Findings
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 o
Aug 20, 2024 • 24:04
Ep. 24 | Maritime Strategy for a 21st Century Navy
In this episode of “How to Win,” we are joined by Senior Research Fellow with the Heritage Foundation, Brent Sadler, and Senior Fellow with the Sagamore Institute, Dr. Jerry Hendrix, to discuss how to craft a maritime strategy for an era of great power competition. This episode discusses how naval power is indispensable to America’s national security and how a how a future administration can return us to United States naval dominance.
Aug 6, 2024 • 49:40
Ep. 23 | “For Us This is Life:” Venezuela’s Future After Fraud
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 Ve
Jul 30, 2024 • 40:21
Ep. 22 | Brewing Conflict at Second Thomas Shoal
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 fu
Jul 18, 2024 • 26:24
Ep. 21 | Protecting the Future of NATO
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 U
Jul 12, 2024 • 24:39
Ep. 20 | Convergence of Dictatorships: Putin and Kim’s Burgeoning Alliance
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
Jul 1, 2024 • 26:10
Ep. 19 | Border in Disarray
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
Jun 18, 2024 • 33:16
Special Episode: Lost Decade with Richard Fontaine & Robert Blackwill
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 C
Jun 14, 2024 • 56:52
Special Episode: 80 Years Later: Lessons from D-Day for Today’s World
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
Jun 6, 2024 • 27:59
Ep. 18 | Turning Point? Mexico’s Elections and the U.S.-Mexico Relationship
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:
Jun 4, 2024 • 26:59
Ep. 17 | High Stakes in Africa
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 Presi
May 31, 2024 • 20:12
Ep. 16 | Xi & Putin: Power Play in Eurasia
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,
May 23, 2024 • 15:17
Ep. 15 | Tehran’s Turmoil & Israel Under ICC Fire
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 f
May 21, 2024 • 22:01
Ep. 14 | Biden’s Betrayal of Israel
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 onl
May 10, 2024 • 28:26
Ep. 13 | Poison Ivy
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 educa
May 2, 2024 • 17:27
Special Episode: Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy
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 St
Apr 19, 2024 • 1:03:33
Ep. 12 | Mr. Kishida Goes to Washington
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
Apr 12, 2024 • 18:56
Special Episode: We Win, They Lose with Matthew Kroenig & Dan Negrea
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
Mar 28, 2024 • 55:19
Ep. 11 | Breaking Down Haiti’s Continued Chaos
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
Mar 18, 2024 • 20:17
Ep. 10 | Two Years at War: Ukraine from the Battlefield to the Debate in Congress
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 Securit
Feb 23, 2024 • 23:16
Ep. 9 | On the Ground in Ukraine
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 conditions for people on the ground that Americans don't always see on the nightly news.Jump to:00:01:13 "A 1300 mile
Feb 14, 2024 • 13:46
Ep. 9 | On the Ground in Ukraine
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 seve
Feb 14, 2024 • 14:04
Ep. 8 | Elections in Taiwan: Democracy & Diplomacy Deep Dive
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 dip
Jan 19, 2024 • 20:21
Ep. 7 | Breaking the Red Sea Blockade: U.S. & U.K. Strike Houthis in Yemen
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
Jan 12, 2024 • 29:08
Ep. 6 | All Roads Lead to Iran: The Israel-Hamas War in Regional Context
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 & Gaza00:02:35 The ground war and what to expect going forward00:03:40 Israel determined to eliminate Hamas and wary of the threat from He
Dec 21, 2023 • 13:51
Special Episode: Rep. Ashley Hinson on the Future of Conservative Foreign Policy
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.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 t
Dec 15, 2023 • 48:57
Ep. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya’s Security Mission in Haiti
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 intervention00:05:08 Why is Kenya the lead country of the multinational security force? Kenya's history with peacekeeping missions00:10:45 Hai
Dec 7, 2023 • 22:45
Ep. 5 | Crisis in the Caribbean: Kenya's Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti
We sit down with Vandenberg Coalition Senior Policy Director, Ana Quintana, and former U.S. Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Amb. J. Peter Pham, to discuss the deteriorating political & humanitarian situation in Haiti, how it affects America and the Western Hemisphere, and the UN-backed plan to send Kenyan peacekeepers to the island nation.
Nov 30, 2023 • 16:28
Ep. 4 | The Future of U.S. Aid to Ukraine
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 UkraineThe Decisive Moment for Ukraine: A Conversation with Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of UkraineVandenberg Coalition WebsiteFollow us on X/Twitter
Nov 17, 2023 • 23:42
Ep. 3 | Elections in Venezuela
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.
Oct 25, 2023 • 16:36
Ep. 2 | Biden Visits Jerusalem & Israel Update
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.
Oct 19, 2023 • 20:28