Vandenberg Flash Focus

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.

Vandenberg Flash Focus is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 0 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Vandenberg Flash Focus, a news show with 0 episodes published.

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  Episode #70

  Ep. 70 | Chairman Xi in DC

  Sep 30, 202631 min

  Last week, President Trump welcomed Chairman Xi Jinping to Washington for their second of four meetings this calendar year. It was heavy on pageantry but low on substance, leaving significant questions about the future of the U.S.-China rivalry, especially regarding technological competition, China’s malign influence operations, and Americans currently being detained by the Chinese Communist Party. Sunny Cheung, Fellow for China Studies at The Jamestown Foundation, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to recap the summit and its implications. (1:09) Summit Takeaways (4:08) Who Looks Stronger, America or China? (6:24) America vs. China on AI (9:28) Tech CEOs at the Summit (12:54) The Trump Administration’s Taiwan Approach (16:52) Pro-Democracy Movement in China (20:47) China’s Arbitrary Detention of U.S. Citizens (23:32) Xi’s Offer To Take American Students (27:09) Championing Western Principles Against China You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

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  Episode #68

  Ep. 68 | Getting the U.S. Alliance System Right

  Aug 21, 202638 min

  The U.S. alliance system has been a frequent topic of debate over the years- who our allies should be, what they should bring to the table, and whether they are actually helping advance American security, economic, and ideological interests. But in recent years, the intensity of this debate has ratcheted up significantly, as has the consequences of what happens if we get it wrong. To help us analyze how we got here and where we should go, Vandenberg Advisory Board Member Colin Dueck, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a professor at George Mason University, joins us to discuss his new report, “ Reassessing the U.S. Alliance System .” 1:07: The Inspiration Behind the Report 2:51: “The Three Waves of U.S. Liberal Internationalism” 6:37: Is the Pursuit of Stability the Right Approach? 12:40: The Contours of the Next Global Order 16:04: How President Trump’s Approach is Different 22:34: The Path Forward on Countering China 26:25: How to Work with Our Allies on China 32:07: Countries to Watch Over the Next 30 Years Watch on YouTube .

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  Episode #67

  Ep. 67 | Reconnaissance on Communist Cuba

  Jul 1, 202642 min

  Before launching Operation Epic Fury against Iran, the focus of many within the national security world was whether President Trump would take action against the regime in Cuba. Months later, Cuba remains a dictatorship 90 miles from our shores that partners with our adversaries to harm Americans. John Suarez, Executive Director of the Center for a Free Cuba, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to unpack the long-standing threat Cuba poses to Americans and policy options for confronting it. (1:15) A Career Surrounding Cuba (4:25) Cuba’s Recent Economic Reforms (6:25) Ramiro Valdés Menéndez (8:22) Other Notorious Regime Players (12:10) No Meaningful Progress on Political Freedoms (13:33) Conditions for Political Prisoners (14:45) Humanitarian Conditions in Cuba (18:12) How the Cuba Regime Amplifies Adversarial Influence (27:06) Absolute Resolve’s Impact on Cuba (28:46) Why Is Cuba Politicized in America? (30:37) Why Does Cuban Freedom Matter for America? (34:16) Assuaging American Skepticism (38:34) Will the Regime Fall? You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube .

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  Episode #66

  Ep. 66 | Can We Make AI Safer?

  Jun 24, 202646 min

  While it is critical that the United States maintains our advantage over China in the development and deployment of critical technologies—including and especially artificial intelligence—there are fears that many in the national security establishment have not yet grappled with the risks and consequences of going full speed ahead. Hamza Chaudhry, AI and National Security Lead at the Future of Life Institute, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss balancing AI innovation with mitigating the risks involved. (1:11) AI State of Play (4:02) Stakeholders and Their AI Goals (8:12) Four Layers of AI Defense Integration (10:30) Obstacles for Integrating AI (13:30) Benefits of Integration (15:09) Mitigating Convergence Risks (18:40) Export Controls on AI Models (22:52) Are We Taking Risks Seriously Enough? (26:00) Consequences for Human Flourishing (28:32) Is China Having These Conversations? (33:43) Safety Mechanisms (39:08) Who Is Responsible for Establishing Guardrails? (42:39) Should We Be Optimistic or Pessimistic About Guardrails? You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube .

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  Episode #65

  Ep. 65 | Ukraine Can Stand Up

  Jun 2, 202636 min

  Lately, most conversations within the conservative national security circles regarding Europe have focused on whether our European allies and partners are adequately fulfilling their defense obligations. However, we cannot forget that Ukraine is still fighting desperately for its own survival against Russia, which remains the most significant direct threat to Europe. Meaghan Mobbs, President of the R. T. Weatherman Foundation and Director of the Center for American Safety and Security at Independent Women, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to provide an update on the Ukraine War and discuss how Ukraine fits into an America first foreign policy framework. (1:48) R. T. Weatherman Foundation (7:44) Russia-Ukraine Status Update (10:44) Ukraine As A Model Partner (12:26) Russian Attacks Against Civilian Infrastructure and the West (16:35) Peace Negotiations (19:50) How Operation Epic Fury Impacts Russia Policy (22:04) Directly Supporting Ukraine (25:22) Realistic End Game (31:11) The Ukrainian Spirit You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube .

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