Vandenberg Flash Focus

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.