Vandenberg Flash Focus

Last week, the whole world watched President Donald Trump travel to Beijing to meet with Chairman Xi Jinping for a high stakes summit. With conflict in the Middle East and simmering trade tensions, the backdrop for the meeting was intense. Underscoring those stressors is China’s increasing hostility toward religious leaders and advocates for free societies, support for America’s adversaries, and malign influence in the American homeland. Joining us to unpack President Trump’s most important trip yet is Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member and Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute Michael Sobolik. We discuss the goals for the meeting, the outcomes for everything from trade to Taiwan, and the work that remains. (1:31) The Lead Up(5:16) The Pursuit of the Deal and Outcomes(10:03) The Taiwan Factor(18:22) Is There a China Strategy Behind the Iran War?(25:52) The Line Between Competition and Cooperation(30:19) The Next Steps Mentioned Resources:Vandenberg Flash Focus Episode 61 | “Seeing My Father Again:” The Story of Pastor Ezra Jin MingriThe Dispatch | “Is There a China Strategy Behind the Iran War?” (Michael Sobolik and Grant Rumley)Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/49PrYMU41So

Many Americans are thinking about U.S. action against Iran at least in part based on how it is affecting prices at the gas pump, especially after threats by the Islamic Republic have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. Our campaign against Iran has revealed a critical lesson for U.S. grand strategy: that the United States must achieve energy dominance to ensure affordable, reliable energy at home while also leveraging energy as a strategic asset during geopolitical crises like this one. Richard Goldberg, Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, former member of the White House National Energy Dominance Council, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, joins Flash Focus to discuss energy as it relates to Iran and U.S. grand strategy more broadly.(1:24) Assessing Epic Fury(7:37) Understanding Energy Prices(17:46) Alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz (22:56) Energy and National Security(30:05) Energy Dominance(32:05) The National Energy Dominance Council(34:21) Adversaries and Partners(40:45) Looking AheadYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

While conversations surrounding the Venezuelan economy understandably center around oil, another critical resource is often overlooked: gold. For years, Venezuelan terrorist groups and regime insiders have exploited the country’s vast gold deposits to finance their illicit activities and evade sanctions. As the American appetite to engage with Venezuela’s oil and gold sectors grows, understanding the extent to which the regime profits from the gold industry—and the severe human rights abuses tied to it—is increasingly important. Cristina Burelli, founder of both SOS Orinoco and the V5 Initiative, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss gold in Venezuela.(0:54) SOS Orinoco & V5 Initiative(3:56) Gold and Critical Minerals in Venezuela(7:28) Who Runs Gold Mining in Venezuela?(12:20) Terrorism & Illegal Gold Mining(15:36) Delcy Rodriguez & Illegal Gold Mining(19:39) U.S. General Licenses for Gold(24:20) What Guidelines Can We Push For?(26:16) The Future of U.S.-Venezuelan Commercial RelationsYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

April 28, 2026, marks the fifth anniversary of The Vandenberg Coalition’s founding. Over the last five years, conservative foreign policy has seen meaningful successes, faced notable setbacks, and confronted new challenges and opportunities that will shape its future direction. Elliott Abrams, Chairman of The Vandenberg Coalition and Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, and Secretary Robert Wilkie, 10th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the newest member of The Vandenberg Coalition’s Governance Board, join Executive Director Carrie Filipetti on this special edition of Flash Focus to reflect on the state of conservative foreign policy.You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.(1:06) Conservative Foreign Policy Origin Stories(8:08) Conservative Moral Courage in Foreign Policy(15:59) What is America’s Proper Role in the World?(20:26) The Future of Alliances(26:44) The Future of the U.S.-Israel Relationship for Conservatives(36:00) Freedom and Democracy(44:56) Reasons for Concern and Optimism

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri is the founder of Zion Church, one of the largest independent churches in China. Frightened by his influence and belief in something greater than the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the CCP imprisoned Pastor Jin on October 10, 2025, as part of one of the largest crackdowns on Christian churches in the history of the People’s Republic of China. Grace Jin Drexel—Pastor Jin’s daughter—joins Flash Focus to share her father’s story, discuss why President Trump’s upcoming summit with Xi Jinping is a prime opportunity to advocate for Pastor Jin’s release, and why it is important for the United States to continue standing up for those who face repression.https://www.lukealliance.org/25-letter-writing-campaign(0:34) Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri & Grace Jin Drexel(2:02) His Church’s Community Work(7:20) Pastor Jin’s Detainment(10:47) Hope For The Trump-Xi Summit(12:48) The Lack of Human Rights in China(17:37) Actions Listeners Can Take(22:10) Final ThoughtsYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

For the first time since 1972, the United States left Earth’s orbit en route to the Moon as part of the Artemis II Mission. While the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft did not step foot on the Moon during this mission, the astronauts set a record by venturing farther from Earth than any human in history. In this episode, Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member Kari Bingen joins to discuss how this inspirational moment serves as both an example of American ingenuity and a reminder of how space has become increasingly important for modern warfare and national security.(1:53) Artemis II's Goals(4:00) The Era of Space Exploration from Kennedy to Today(6:14) President Trump's Executive on American Space Superiority(8:18) Defining Terms In Space Policy(11:18) Space Treaties and Protocols(13:45) "Extending the Battlefield to Space"(18:27) Space Debris(23:00) America's Adversaries in Space: China(25:39) America's Adversaries in Space: Russia(26:59) How the Private Sector Affects Competitive Advantage in Space(32:09) What Winning and Leadership in Space Look LikeMentioned Article: "Extending the Battlefield to Space" (Kari Bingen, CSIS, September 16, 2025Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ugBUumIrxqQ

In recent years, China has increasingly used economic bullying in attempts to obtain concessions from other governments and the private sector. In a new book, China’s Weaponization of Trade: Resistance Through Collective Resilience, Vandenberg Advisory Board member Victor Cha, along with his coauthors Ellen Kim and Andy Lim, discusses China’s economic coercion and outlines a strategy for how countries led by the United States can more effectively counter China's coercive efforts. Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to break down how the United States can better identify and counter China’s malign practices.https://cup.columbia.edu/book/chinas-weaponization-of-trade/9780231564205/ (0:58) The Origins of the Book(2:35) Defining China’s Economic Coercion(5:46) CCP Ideology and Economic Coercion(8:41) U.S. “Blind Spots”(11:35) Lithuania and Norway as Case Studies(18:28) Collective Resilience(24:04) Forging a Coalition for Collective Resilience (G7+2)(28:57) Does the G7 Have the Requisite Political Will?(34:05) The Long-Term Goal of Collective ResilienceYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Iran is in the headlines once again, for two important reasons. First, large numbers of brave Iranians continue to take to the streets in the face of significant repression by the brutal regime. And second, the United States is slowly but steadily amassing an impressive amount of firepower and pointing it straight at the Islamic Republic. Zineb Riboua, Research Fellow at the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East at Hudson Institute, joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to unpack the latest developments.https://www.city-journal.org/article/israel-us-west-decolonization-third-world https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/the-crisis-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran https://x.com/zriboua https://substack.com/@zinebriboua https://vandenbergcoalition.org/americans-first-polling/ https://www.commentary.org/articles/tod-lindberg/age-of-trump-power-purpose/(1:25) State of the Protests in Iran(5:43) Is the Regime Afraid of Collapsing?(8:00) U.S. Military Assets in the Gulf(17:31) The Future of Conservative Grand Strategy and American Power(21:50) The Third-Worldist Logic(29:35) The Limits of Ideology(35:47) What Comes Next in Iran?(41:01) Saudi Arabia and Israel(42:29) Looking Ahead for 2026You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Last Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party secured a sweeping two-thirds majority in Japan’s Lower House following snap elections. The decisive win comes at a critical juncture for Japan as it redefines its role in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions with China, a deepening partnership with the United States, and growing domestic support for strengthening the country’s military and defense capabilities. Ken Weinstein, Japan Chair at Hudson Institute, joins Flash Focus to unpack the election results, examine Takaichi’s rapid ascent and widespread appeal, and explore the implications for U.S.–Japan relations and the broader Indo-Pacific landscape.(1:50) Election Results(7:02) The Election’s Impact on a Free and Open Indo-Pacific(12:29) Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi(16:37) Takaichi and the China Challenge(18:58) The Ramifications of Takaichi’s Comments on a Taiwan Contingency (24:12) Article 9(27:06) Next Steps for Washington and Tokyo(32:41) Japan’s Importance to the United StatesYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Last week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping placed his most senior general, Zhang Youxia, under investigation, deepening what has become one of the most sweeping purges in the history of the People’s Liberation Army. Xi has now removed nearly the entire top tier of PLA leadership, raising important questions about the message he is sending to domestic and international audiences, what it means for a potential Taiwan contingency, and how it should inform the American approach to the Indo-Pacific. Jackie Deal—co-founder of the American Academy for Strategic Education, President of the Long Term Strategy Group, and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member—joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to unpack what these purges mean.China in the Homeland: https://vandenbergcoalition.org/china-in-the-homeland/ VFF with David Shedd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X0Evj6KdHc (1:40) Purges Overview(7:12) History of Purges in China(12:30) Were Chinese Nuclear Secrets Leaked?(14:56) What To Watch Next(17:14) Takeaways for China’s Partners(21:40) Are We Adequately Countering China?(26:58) Deterring and Defeating China You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

According to The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets—a new book by David Shedd and Andrew Badger—one critical but often overlooked explanation for China’s meteoric rise has been the scale, scope, and pace of its unprecedented state-sponsored espionage campaign. This effort has been specifically designed to strip the United States of our economic, technological, and military edge, and we have not been doing nearly enough to stop it. David Shedd, a Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member and former deputy director and acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to discuss China’s campaign to steal America’s secrets and what we can do to put a stop to it.https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-great-heist-david-r-sheddandrew-badger?variant=43738689273890 (1:17) Writing the Book(2:33) China’s Pursuit of Modernity and U.S. Responses(8:33) Chinese Espionage as Part of Made in China 2025(14:47) Chinese Spycraft Tactics(20:07) “Capture, Cage, and Kill”(25:25) What Can China Do With U.S. Data?(30:12) Is “A Decent Peace” with China Possible?You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

In the last year, China’s defense industrial base produced fighter jets faster than the United States, doubled its inventory of ballistic and cruise missiles, doubled its nuclear warhead inventory, and became five to six times faster than the United States at acquiring weapons systems. While we rest comfortably on peacetime footing, China has positioned its defense industrial base to be on wartime footing. But though alarm bells are ringing, there is still some good news. This not the first time in American history our defense industrial base has lagged behind that of our adversaries, and just as we did in the past, there is a way we can close the gap. In this episode, we sit down with Vandenberg Advisory Board member Dr. Seth Jones to discuss his new book The American Edge and his recommendations for how to kick our defense industrial base into gear. The book is a thorough account of every phase of defense industrial policy from World War II up to its current state, and how we can leverage the edge that has made us a defense production powerhouse in the past.https://www.amazon.com/American-Edge-Military-Sources-Dominance/dp/0197764606(0:45) The State of our Current Defense Industrial Base(3:30) How the Chinese Defense Industrial Base Is Able to Do What It Does(5:54) The Lessons of History in Defense Investment(9:37) Keeping Up on Acquisitions(12:22) Public and Private Collaboration(15:54) The Chinese Ability to Produce Quality Weapons(18:26) Lessons from the War in Ukraine(22:01) What to Look for in the FY27 NDAA(25:41) Why The American Edge Gives us HopeYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

The United States has continued to pressure the Maduro regime with F-18 flyovers, the seizure of oil tankers, and new sanctions on Venezuelan entities associated with the Maduro regime, alongside continued strikes on drug boats. Simultaneously, the Venezuelan opposition has continued gaining momentum. Notably, Maria Carina Machado, the head of the Venezuelan opposition, had a miraculous exit from Venezuela to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway. Former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela James Story joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss these recent updates, what a post-Maduro Venezuela would look like, and more. Our October 24 episode with Ryan Berg: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/101b0c5e-fe2c-4f84-b5bb-861f9a392aa1/ Democratic Transition Framework for Venezuela: https://2017-2021.state.gov/democratic-transition-framework-for-venezuela/ (1:32) How Did We Get Here in Venezuela?(3:05) U.S. Interests in Venezuela(5:09) President Trump’s Decision to Sanction Colombian President Gustavo Petro(7:54) Striking Drug Boats(10:42) Seizing Oil Tankers(13:48) Trump 1.0 vs Trump 2.0 in the Western Hemisphere(16:07) Venezuela vs. Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan(19:47) Establishing the Red Lines for Maduro’s Departure(23:12) María Corina Machado’s Departure and Return(26:08) Opportunities for the United States With a Free and Democratic Venezuela(30:20) Is This Going to Work? If So, When?You can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

The United States faces serious cyber vulnerabilities from its principal adversaries—China, Russia, and Iran. In her report “A Playbook for Winning the Cyber War,” Emily Harding, a Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Director of the Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program as well as Vice President of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, issues a stark warning: “The United States has been losing a war it did not know it was fighting—and it has been losing for the last 20 years.” How can America turn the tide, leverage its strengths, and close its cyber gaps? Emily Harding joins Vandenberg Senior Policy Director Corban Teague to discuss her groundbreaking report and outline how the United States can secure victory in the cyber domain.https://www.csis.org/programs/intelligence-national-security-and-technology-program/playbook-winning-cyber-war (1:47) Why the United States is Losing(3:50) The Capabilities of our Adversaries(8:20) Cyber Wargames(13:25) Redefining War and Retaliation(16:29) Attribution and Action(19:53) Defense as a “No Fail Mission”(22:54) Octopus Offense(26:36) Priorities for PolicymakersYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

A few weeks ago, President Trump secured the release of all 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza and reached a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. This ceasefire is a tenuous one; Hamas has refused to release the bodies of deceased hostages and has violated agreed-upon boundaries, sparking limited clashes with Israeli forces. Nonetheless, the ceasefire has paved the way for renewed discussions on Gaza’s future, the precarious status of the West Bank, and broader questions of Palestinian statehood. Elliott Abrams, Chairman of The Vandenberg Coalition and Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Flash Focus to discuss the ceasefire, his landmark piece in Mosaic entitled “There Never Will Be a Palestinian State. So What’s Next?”, the outlook for Judea, Samaria, and Gaza, and more.https://ideas.tikvah.org/mosaic/essays/there-won-t-be-a-palestinian-state-in-the-west-bank-it-s-time-to-reconsider-the-j https://www.impact-se.org/  (1:18) Assessing Phase One(3:22) The (Failed) European Approach(5:18) Why Will There Never Be A Palestinian State?(8:47) A Jordanian-Palestinian Confederation(13:57) Deradicalizing Gaza(17:57) International Stabilization Force (22:13) Ending “Something for Nothing”(25:34) Gaza’s Near-Term FutureYou can watch this episode as a video on YouTube.

Right now, all eyes remain on the Caribbean, where President Trump’s buildup of military forces has raised significant questions about American intentions and objectives in Latin America. Is the United States simply conducting counternarcotics operations, or are we embarking on regime change or pressure in the region? Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program and Head of the Future of Venezuela Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Vandenberg Advisory Board member, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to discuss these recent developments and more. The Woman Who Took on a Dictator—and Won a Nobel Peace Prize“Democracy: Use It or Lose It”(1:08) Why Does Venezuela Matter for the United States?(3:13) Venezuelan Cartels(7:10) The Caribbean Buildup(10:31) President Trump’s Main Objective(12:50) Message to Mexican Cartels and Sheinbaum(16:33) Maduro’s Behavior(20:33) U.S. Personnel Covering Venezuela (24:00) Venezuelan Opposition & María Corina MachadoYou can watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

The United States has plenty of work ahead of us if we want to win the global soft power battleground in the fight against China, Russia, and Iran. With good reason, the Trump administration has strongly criticized the implementation of American soft power under the previous administration. Its response has been to cut billions in foreign aid, but while breaking some eggs is necessary, preparing the ingredients and cooking the omelet is equally vital to ensure that the execution of U.S. soft power matches the enlightened principles upon which it was conceived following World War II. Dan Twining, President of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and Vandenberg Advisory Board Member, joins Flash Focus to discuss how the United States can capitalize on this current moment to reorient U.S. soft power effectively and efficiently within the current geopolitical context. You can watch this podcast as a video on YouTube. Dan Twining’s “Democracy Assistance Isn’t Regime Change” (1:51) What Does Soft Power Mean?(2:41) Soft Power in the Cold War(4:23) The Present Strength of American Soft Power(6:58) Why Does Soft Power Matter?(9:34) Misconceptions About Democracy Assistance (13:39) The Trump Administration’s Cuts(15:57) The Development Finance Organization and Millennium Challenge Corporation (17:40) Supporting Dissidents(21:07) Democracy Programs in Action(23:24) Why Should Americans Care About Soft Power?(27:06) Recommendations to Make Soft Power More Effective

The Vandenberg Coalition's Executive Director Carrie Filipetti sat down with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to talk about the national security challenges facing the United States. From how we can work with our allies to push back against the Chinese Communist Party to pursuing “peace through sanctions” to deal with Vladimir Putin, Senator Scott sounds the alarm on how our adversaries are threatening the American way of life and discusses how we should respond. Throughout the conversation, he outlines how U.S. allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific can work together economically and on defensive capabilities—while making sure Americans come first—shares his support for Israel and the Venezuelan people, and more.You can watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

President Trump is slated to speak at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next week. Though many say it is unlikely that UNGA will reap anything substantial and positive for the United States, the conference will serve as one of the first opportunities for President Trump to outline to the rest of the world his foreign policy vision and approach for the next four years. Amanda Rothschild, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior National Security Speechwriter at the White House and former Senior Policy Director at The Vandenberg Coalition, joins to share what she expects from the president’s speech, why the speech is important, and how we should think about it within the context of the president’s foreign policy agenda.“From Reagan to Trump, a Speechwriter’s Legacy Lives On in Washington”President Trump’s 2017 Speech to the UNPresident Trump’s 2018 Speech to the UNYou can also watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.(1:54) Why Does This Speech Matter?(3:46) What President Trump May Highlight (5:20) Palestinian Statehood(6:32) The Interplay Between Domestic and Foreign Policy(8:08) The Speechwriting Process(12:29) Legacy of Past Speechwriters(14:33) The UNGA Experience(17:30) The President’s Interactions at UNGA

After the Reagan administration, the issue of human rights has come to be captured and dominated by the left, with it now being seen as largely synonymous with progressive policy preferences rather than the fundamental rights that align with our founding principles. Some on the right are now highly skeptical of whether human rights as an issue can be salvaged. Yet this month marks the fifth anniversary of an important document that thoughtfully regrounds human rights within our nation’s founding principles and national interests: The Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights. Peter Berkowitz, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tad and Dianne Taube Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and Vandenberg Advisory Board member, joins to discuss the legacy of this critical report at this milestone anniversary, as well as the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy today more broadly.(3:19) The Creation of the Commission on Unalienable Rights(6:57) Tension Between Universal Principles and National Sovereignty(15:05) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and U.S. Engagement With Multilateral Bodies(21:30) Critics of Human Rights Policy(26:39) Nahdlatul Ulama(32:31) The Report’s Long-Term Legacy

While many are familiar with the national security case for forcing ByteDance to divest or banning TikTok altogether, its assault on America’s children is just as alarming. TikTok holds unprecedented control over the content consumed by our children, exposing them to dangerous or even illegal content, including anti-American propaganda, antisemitism, pornography, and drugs. TikTok is not just a national security issue; it is a question about how technology will impact the future of our society. Clare Morell, Fellow and Director of the Technology and Human Flourish Project at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and author of The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, and Bethany Mandel, co-host of the Mom Wars podcast and newsletter and co-author of Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, join Flash Focus to discuss the risks that TikTok pose to America’s children and how to fight back. Watch episode live on YouTube.(2:11) When Did You Realize How Bad TikTok Is for America’s Children? (5:44) TikTok vs. Instagram(6:48) TikTok and Digital Fentanyl(8:22) TikTok’s Harmful Content(10:50) Antisemitism on TikTok(12:25) Policy Considerations(16:00) Would a TikTok Sale Mitigate Its Harm on Children? (18:58) Managing Children’s Relationships With TikTok and Social Media(25:50) How to Push Back Against TikTok’s Grip on America’s Children

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

Ukraine through Operation Spiderweb and Israel through Operation Rising Lion surreptitiously smuggled drones behind enemy lines and successfully neutralized critical Russian and Iranian assets. As we continue to watch the aftermath of these operations, Operations Rising Lion and Spiderweb raise urgent questions for the United States; namely, how vulnerable are we to technologically driven attacks here? And how exactly is our leading adversary, China, interpreting some of the more innovative new operations in these conflicts? Jacqueline Deal, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Co-Founder of the American Academy for Strategic Education, and Michael Sobolik, Vandenberg Advisory Board member and Senior Fellow at Hudson Institute, join Flash Focus to explore U.S. vulnerabilities in light of these events and measures we can take to strengthen them.  The Vandenberg Coalition has published a number of policy products related to CCP domestic influence campaigns, including a February 2025 poll of U.S. attitudes towards TikTok and a podcast episodedissecting it, a primer on the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, and a brief of Amici Curiae commissioned in support of the U.S. government in Tiktok Inc., et al. v. Merrick B. Garland (No. 24-656).The Final Struggle: Inside China's Global Strategy by Ian Easton https://www.amazon.com/Final-Struggle-Inside-Chinas-Strategy/dp/1788692756 Document 9 https://www.chinafile.com/document-9-chinafile-translation(2:44) Initial Reactions to Operations Rising Lion and Spiderweb(9:27) Concerns About Law Enforcement Using CCP-Linked Drones (15:10) Securing Supply Chains and Industrial Policy(18:55) What It Means When the CCP Uses Our Data(24:36) CCP Farm Land Grabs(29:22) TikTok and Information Warfare(38:15) TikTok and Political Sabotage(39:50) Recommendations for Strengthening Our Vulnerabilities Now

President Trump’s eventful trip to the Middle East marked the first major international visit of his second term, featuring stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Framing the visit as a break from the legacy of the so-called “nation-builders” he has long derided, President Trump returned to Washington boasting flashy investment deals and hinting at policy shifts that have the potential to shake up the region. Elizabeth Dent, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, joins Flash Focus to recap the trip’s events, unpack the deals that were struck, and discuss what Trump’s visit reveals about his strategic vision and motivations for Middle East foreign policy and beyond.

80 years ago today, Nazi forces issued an unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers, marking the official end of World War II in Europe. Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) serves as a great reminder of what happens when Americans, with our full might and allies along side us, stand up to tyrants seeking to revise the world order. How can we best commemorate those who gave everything to secure our cherished freedoms? And how can we live up to their example today? Thomas Spoehr, Executive Director for Operations at American Battle Monuments Commission in Paris and Vandenberg Coalition Advisory Board member, joins Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to reflect on the enduring legacy of V-E Day at this milestone anniversary. 

As tensions rise in the Taiwan Strait following China’s latest round of large-scale military exercises, questions surrounding Taiwan’s defense readiness and deterrence in the region are once again front and center. Beijing claims these drills are a “severe warning” and a message of "forceful containment against Taiwan independence,” but do they signal serious preparation for conflict, or are they just saber-rattling? And how prepared are Taiwan and the United States for such a conflict? Joe Wang, Senior Advisor at the Special Competitive Studies Project, joins Flash Focus to explain what these maneuvers reveal about China’s strategic intent, assess Taiwan’s current military and non-military preparedness, and explore what steps the United States and allies in the Indo-Pacific can take in the immediate to enhance Taiwan’s deterrence. 

Emboldened by its patron, Iran, Houthi drone and missile attacks have disrupted international shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023. In response, the Trump administration has launched a series of “decisive and powerful” airstrikes against the Houthis, with President Trump declaring that any future Houthi attack will be treated as an attack by Iran itself. Real Admiral Mark Montgomery, Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, and one of the newest members of The Vandenberg Coalition’s Advisory Board, joins Flash Focus to discuss the current situation, the path that led to this point, and the importance of addressing the Houthi threat. You can find The Vandenberg Coalition’s report on the Middle East, which offers policy recommendations on the Houthis, here. 

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 political polarization, the American public say “no” to CCP control of TikTok. James Johnson, Co-Founder of J.L. Partners, joins Flash Focus to discuss the poll results, current polling trends on tariffs, Ukraine, and Israel, and J.L. Partners’ polling approach. You can read the toplines from the poll here and find coverage of the poll’s findings in the New York Post here.You can also find Jonathan Haidt’s recent report, “TikTok Is Harming Children at an Industrial Scale,” here.

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 adversaries, and assert that U.S. leadership and robust involvement — not isolationism and withdrawal — are essential to countering Russia and protecting American interests.You can read the Vandenberg Coalition and McCain Institute’s report here.(0:00) Introduction(2:12) Threat to Democratic Values by Peter Berkowitz (7:34) Threats to the U.S. Homeland by Brian Cavanaugh(14:20) The China-Russia Relationship by Dean Cheng(24:07) Strengthen U.S. Geo-Economic Strategy by Matthew Zweig (35:50) Bolster U.S. Military by Mark Montgomery (43:32) Secure Ukraine by Rebeccah Heinrichs(49:14) Continue the Freedom Agenda by Daniel Runde(55:50) The Path Forward by Stephen Biegun

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 Governance Board— joins Flash Focus to discuss the threat landscape and share some of the report’s conclusions. You can read the Vandenberg Coalition report here.

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 terrorist groups including Hamas. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, about UN Watch’s work, the report’s findings, and ways to ensure accountability for corrupted international organizations. You can read UN Watch’s comprehensive report here, and watch Hillel Neuer’s “Where Are Your Jews” speech here. You can also read Carrie Filipetti’s November 2024 article about UNRWA here. 

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’s demise, and what is their future in Syria? How are regional actors responding to these developments? And what should America’s role be in this conflict? Rich Outzen, Vandenberg Advisory Board Member and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, and David Adesnik, vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), join Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti to offer their own distinct insights on what to make of the current situation.

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 the CCP: A Running Start,” details a robust economic strategy to address this critical issue. In this episode of Flash Focus, Vandenberg Coalition Executive Director Carrie Filipetti is joined by Dan Blumenthal, Vice Chairman of CESI and senior fellow and the director of Asian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), to discuss some of the report’s recommendations.In November, the Vandenberg Coalition partnered with the China Economic & Strategy Initiative (CESI) for the public launch of their remarkable new report, “Defeating the CCP: A Running Start.” You can watch the event and read the report.

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 Focus, Vandenberg Executive Director Carrie Filipetti speaks with Matt Zweig, Senior Director of Policy at FDD Action, about his recommendations for a new approach for revitalizing sanctions policy toward Russia. You can read the Vandenberg Coalition and McCain Institute’s report here.

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 Director and Partner of Beacon Global Strategies, and Lester Munson, Co-Head of the International Practice at BGR Group, on what to expect from this new Congress.

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 without power, and resulting in the death of over 200 Americans and reportedly over a 1,000 remain missing. For many Americans, these storms have evoked imagery from other recent catastrophic hurricanes in U.S. history, such as Hurricane Katrina In this episode, Brian highlights what resilience policy is, how disaster response is coordinated at the local, state, and federal levels, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster relief fund, ways that Americans can support impacted communities, and more. If you would like to support those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we suggest donating to one of these efforts, among others:American Red Cross - You can make a financial donation or schedule a blood donation by visiting redcross.org. You can also text the word HURRICANES to 90999 to make a donation.United Way - You can donate directly through the United Way's website at www.unitedway.org/hurricane-helene to support various disaster relief efforts. United Way has several state-specific funds available. North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund - Governor Roy Cooper is encouraging donations to this relief fund that will support nonprofits providing essential items like food, water, and cleaning supplies. Learn more at nc.gov/donate. Florida Disaster Fund - Governor Ron DeSantis has activated the fund to support response and recovery efforts in Florida. Contributions can be made at volunteerflorida.org. 

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 surge of antisemitism in the United States. The world’s longest hatred, antisemitism has most recently infiltrated college campuses and communities across the nation and has inspired a worrying number of protests and targeted crimes against American Jews, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, education, and proactive measures to combat antisemitism. In this episode, Bonnie identifies the historic, foreign, and domestic roots of this rise in Jew hatred, the inextricable link between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, the importance of resisting a victim mentality, the actions that both the government and communities can take to combat antisemitism, and more.

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 served as a grave reminder of Iran’s presence as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, notably through funding terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, brutalizing its own people, taking Americans hostage, and pursuing a nuclear weapons program. In this episode, Gabriel examines recent events in Lebanon and ramifications for Iran’s relationship with proxies in the Middle East, Iran’s October 1st attack and Israel’s response options, Iran’s role in the Axis of Aggression with China and Russia, and more.

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 evolving dynamics between Israel and its regional partners and adversaries, how Israel and the U.S. should respond to Iran’s October 1st attack, and the future of the Gaza Strip following the conflict's conclusion.

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 values and steal sensitive information. A concerned parent herself, Michele discusses the implications of the CCP’s growing influence in American schools and shares tangible ways parents and policy makers can protect our kids.

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 each year, Beijing’s intellectual property theft is key to their plans to supplant the United States. Through cyber espionage, insider threats, forced technology transfers, and acquisitions targeting American businesses, China is seeking to develop an unfair trade advantage and jeopardize U.S. national security. In this episode, Brian walks us through how federal and state governments are tackling these challenges and what more can be done. 

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 current state of play Ukraine’s calculus behind launching the surprise offensive into Russia, and what this all means for the future of Putin’s war against Ukraine.

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 of its findings, the limitations of American defense, and why American leadership should matter to everyday citizens.

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 Venezuelans came out to vote in presidential elections after years of the Maduro regime's dictatorship. Exit polls indicated opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez won with around 70% of the vote to Maduro's 30%. And yet the Maduro regime quickly declared victory in what has been one of their most flagrant examples of fraud to date. Elliott and Miguel dive into what happened, what the path forward looks like for the Venezuelan opposition, and what the U.S. and likeminded countries should do next.

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 further escalating tensions between the United States and China. Zack understands this incident amid China’s broader strategy in the South China Sea and its general campaign to supplant American power and joins Flash Focus to break it all down. Jump to:00:02:06 Context of the conflict at Second Thomas Shoal00:05:45 Discrepancy between China's approach to Vietnam & the Philippines 00:10:06 American response to China's breach of international law 00:15:06 China's "dress rehearsal" for Taiwan00:19:32 American response to China's action at Second Thomas Shoal00:22:51 Strategic merit in multilateralizing the response to China

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 Ukraine’s future membership, the NATO summit arrived at a critical time in global geopolitics. Ambassador Dobrianksy situates this year’s summit outcomes in the context of the future of the alliance and American leadership within it. Jump to:00:02:16 Developments & shortcomings from the NATO summit00:08:23 Ukraine’s future in NATO00:10:57 The case for NATO to skeptical Americans 00:13:08 Addressing the China threat 00:16:34 Legacy of NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg 00:20:58 The future of NATO & American leadership of the 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-reaching agreement between the two nations in the post-Cold War era. Victor joins Flash Focus to situate this recent meeting in the context of Kim Jong Un’s nuclear arsenal and future plans for military buildup, Russian-North Korean coordination in evading the international sanctions regime, North Korea’s support of Russia in the war against Ukraine, and the nations’ joint campaign to undermine American leadership and Western stability.Jump to:00:02:15 The history of the Russian-North Korean and its modern objectives00:04:00 Key elements of the new Putin-Kim strategic alliance00:7:29 Implications for North Korean involvement in the war in Ukraine00:10:12 Dynamics among the Russia-China-North Korea-Iran axis 00:15:13 Recommendations for a Western diplomatic & military response 00:22:41 Differing approach between a Biden 2.0 & Trump 2.0 

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 influx of special illegal aliens (SIAs) poses an increasing danger to U.S. homeland security.Jump to:00:02:24 Deteriorating border security under the Biden Administration00:06:02 Impact of illegal crossings on Americans' lives00:10:43 Motivation for Biden's recent executive order00:14:46 Areas of reform for border security00:20:23 Demographic shift of those arriving illegally at U.S. southern border00:29:47 Increasing threat to national security