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National Security Digest

by JINSA

The National Security Digest, hosted by JINSA Senior Policy Analyst Erielle Davidson, is a biweekly podcast devoted to the discussion of major national security issues facing the United States. Each episode features a run-down of the latest news in the national security space and an in-depth interview with a well-known expert. This show is for both seasoned natsec folks and newcomers alike.

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Episodes

  1. Accountability in Afghanistan and Determining What Went Wrong

    Adam Kredo of The Washington Free Beacon joins Erielle to discuss the official end of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, the possible consequences for U.S. security interests, and whether those responsible for the roughshod nature of the withdrawal will be held accountable. Follow us on...

  2. U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Fall of Kabul

    Vance Serchuk of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) joins Erielle to discuss the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, the magnitude of the consequences, and what the Biden Administration must prioritize in the coming days. Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host…

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  3. A Legal Analysis of the Ben & Jerry’s Debacle

    International lawyer Eugene Kontorovich of George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School joins Erielle to discuss Ben & Jerry’s recent decision to stop selling ice cream products in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem, as well as the possible opening of a U.S. consulate to the Palestinian...

  4. Tackling the Rise of Antisemitism

    In this week’s episode, Ellie Cohanim, former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. State Department, joins Erielle to discuss her prior work at the State Department, as well as the recent rise in antisemitism in the United States. How have the Abraham Accords…

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  5. Moscow Takes Center Stage in the Middle East’s Great Power Competition

    What role does the Middle East play in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s quest for Russia to be recognized once again as a superpower? Does Putin care about stability in the region? Is President Joe Biden confronting the growing Moscow-Damascus-Tehran axis effectively? Anna Borschevksaya of the...

  6. Fourth Time Is a Charm: Assessing the Israeli Election Results

    One of the more bizarre political coalitions has formed in the wake of Israel’s fourth election in recent years. Lahav Harkov, Senior Contributing Editor at The Jerusalem Post, joins Erielle to discuss the presumptively incoming government, the likelihood of Netanyahu being able to undercut the…

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  7. Israel-Gaza War: Assessing the Legality of the Recent Conflict

    The international community continues to erroneously accuse Israel of war crimes in the recent conflict with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, evincing a serious misunderstanding of international law in both the media and policy realm. Despite Israel’s demonstrated and historical...

  8. The Taylor Force Act and Regulating Aid to the Palestinians

    The Palestinian Authority (PA) continues to run a “pay for slay” program, where terrorism against Israelis is incentivized and funded by the governing faction of the Fatah. This episode discusses the importance of the Taylor Force Act, passed by Congress in 2018, in thwarting the use of U.S. aid...

  9. A Failing State: What’s Next for Lebanon?

    As Iranian-backed Hezbollah increases its hold on Lebanon, questions are emerging as to what an effective U.S. policy towards Lebanon might look like (or if a policy is truly needed, at all). Is there a substantive difference in actuality between state institutions in Lebanon and Iranian-backed...

  10. When a Week Seems Like a Year: Parsing the Middle East’s Very Busy Week with John Hannah

    JINSA’s newest Senior Fellow John Hannah joins host Erielle Davidson to break down an eventful week in the Middle East, from a potential coup to oust the Jordanian king to the latest Iran deal negotiations in Vienna. Mr. Hannah discusses why recent events in Jordan should remain on the U.S. radar...

  11. Iranian Escalation, Drone Technology, and Everything In Between: A Chat with The Jerusalem Post’s Seth Frantzman

    Seth Frantzman, Senior Middle East Correspondent and Middle East affairs analyst at The Jerusalem Post, joins host Erielle Davidson, Senior Policy Analyst at JINSA, to discuss the latest escalations by the Iranian regime—including a series of recent proxy attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq—and…

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  12. Israel, the U.S., and the United Nations

    International organizations are becoming popular again under the Biden Administration. Since assuming office in January, President Biden has rejoined the WHO and has signaled interest in rejoining the UN Human Rights Council and UNESCO. When it comes to UN initiatives, what should the United…

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  13. The United States, Israel, and the International Criminal Court

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently made several controversial decisions regarding investigations into alleged Israeli and U.S. war crimes. • How does a case land in the ICC? • What are the bases of jurisdiction? • What is the relationship between the authorization to investigate…

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  14. Crisis in Yemen: Analysis of an Ongoing Civil War

    There’s an ongoing crisis in Yemen, financed and fueled by Iran. The Houthi movement, formed around Yemen’s Zaidi Shia Muslim minority, has seen an opening to try to take control of the country amidst the disorganized Hadi government. Why did the Trump Administration designate the Houthis to be a...

  15. Vaccinating in Israel: A Genuine Success Story

    Professor Eugene Kontorovich of George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School joins host Erielle Davidson to discuss Israel’s COVID-19 vaccination program and what has made it so successful. Professor Kontorovich discusses the international treaties that govern Israel’s current vaccine distribution...

  16. After the Abraham Accords: Relocating Israel to CENTCOM’s AOR

    The recent Abraham Accords have solidified a growing anti-Iran coalition in the Middle East, and the latest decision to move Israel to CENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility reflects and reinforces this changing dynamic within the region. Jonathan Ruhe, Director of Foreign Policy at JINSA’s Gemunder...

  17. The State of Human Rights in Iran

    The current state of human rights in Iran is horrendous and often fails to receive enough attention from the international community. In this episode, Erielle speaks with investigative journalist and founder of The Foreign Desk Lisa Daftari about the struggles various minority groups face in…

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  18. Sanctions, Sanctions, Sanctions

    What makes for a good sanctions regime? Is regime change a reasonable policy goal for a sanctions regime? Does COVID-19 change the calculus for economic sanctions? What changes to the U.S. sanctions regime, if any, might we expect during the transition from the Trump Administration to the Biden...

  19. After the Abraham Accords: What to Expect under a Biden Administration

    President Trump’s relationship with Israel has been remarkably warm and has helped to fuel a new approach to Middle East policy, one that culminated in the recent Abraham Accords. But with the incoming Biden administration, questions loom as to how much continuity we might expect. Will...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The National Security Digest, hosted by JINSA Senior Policy Analyst Erielle Davidson, is a biweekly podcast devoted to the discussion of major national security issues facing the United States. Each episode features a run-down of the latest news in the national security space and an in-depth interview with a well-known expert. This show is for both seasoned natsec folks and newcomers alike.

HOSTED BY

JINSA

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does National Security Digest have?

National Security Digest currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is National Security Digest about?

The National Security Digest, hosted by JINSA Senior Policy Analyst Erielle Davidson, is a biweekly podcast devoted to the discussion of major national security issues facing the United States. Each episode features a run-down of the latest news in the national security space and an in-depth...

How often does National Security Digest release new episodes?

National Security Digest has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to National Security Digest?

You can listen to National Security Digest on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts National Security Digest?

National Security Digest is created and hosted by JINSA.
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