Vandenberg Flash Focus

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.

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 Mingri The 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 Ahead You 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 Relations You 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 Thoughts You 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 Like Mentioned Article: "Extending the Battlefield to Space" (Kari Bingen, CSIS, September 16, 2025 Watch 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 Resilience You 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 2026 You 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 States You 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 Hope You 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 Policymakers You 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 Future You 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 Machado You 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 UN President Trump’s 2018 Speech to the UN You 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