NSI Live

Cracks in the Network: Cybersecurity Failures, SALT Typhoon, and U.S. Cyber Leadership

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 17:42:13 GMT

The National Security Institute (NSI) and the Center for the National Interest (CFTNI) hosted an important discussion on cybersecurity challenges in telecom networks, with a particular focus on the SALT Typhoon threat actor and its broader implications for U.S. national security.

As cyber-enabled threats continue to evolve, state-sponsored actors like SALT Typhoon are increasingly targeting critical communications infrastructure, posing significant risks to both national defense and economic security. This timely conversation brought together industry leaders, and cybersecurity experts to examine how the United States can public-private collaboration to mitigate threats and build a more secure and resilient telecom ecosystem.

The event will begin with opening remarks from Congressman Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, followed by a panel discussion with key voices from the cybersecurity and policy communities.

Keynote:

Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT, 4), Ranking Member, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Panelists:

Edward G. Amoroso, Founder and CEO, TAG Infosphere
Kelli Andrews, Senior Director for Cybersecurity and Lawful Access Policy, Microsoft
Jamil Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, NSI
Rich Mason, President and Chief Security Officer, Critical Infrastructure, LLC

Moderator:

Paul Saunders, President, Center for the National Interest

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Transatlantic Resilience: Defending Critical Infrastructure in the Face of Russian Aggression

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:30:23 GMT

NSI and the Embassies of Estonia, Denmark, and Norway hosted an important discussion on transatlantic security challenges featuring senior diplomatic leaders. His Excellency Kristjan Prikk, Ambassador of Estonia to the United States; Ambassador Stig P. Piras, Deputy Chief of Mission of Denmark to the United States; and Ambassador Bård Ivar Svendsen, Deputy Chief of Mission of Norway to the United States provided insights on protecting the rules-based international order, countering hybrid threats, and supporting nations defending their sovereignty. As geopolitical tensions rose, exacerbated by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conversation explored recent examples of hybrid warfare tactics used by authoritarian regimes and the strategic steps needed to bolster transatlantic resilience.

The event began with opening remarks from NSI Senior Fellow Andrew Borene, followed by a keynote statement from Ambassador Kristjan Prikk, who provided Estonia’s perspective on the evolving security landscape. A panel discussion followed, featuring Ambassador Prikk, Ambassador Stig P. Piras, and Ambassador Bård Ivar Svendsen, moderated by Martha Miller, NSI Deputy Executive Director.

Guest Speakers:

Ambassador Kristjan Prikk, Ambassador of Estonia to the United States
Ambassador Stig P. Piras, Deputy Chief of Mission of Denmark to the United States
Ambassador Bård Ivar Svendsen, Deputy Chief of Mission of Norway to the United States

Moderator: Martha Miller, NSI Deputy Executive Director

Host: Andrew Borene, NSI Senior Fellow

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Live Coffee & Conflict Podcast Recording with Dmitri Alperovitch

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 02:16:17 GMT

NSI hosted a live podcast recording of the first episode of Coffee and Conflict! This new podcast is hosted by Joshua Huminski, Senior Vice President for National Security and Intelligence Programs at the Center for the Study of the Presidency & Congress and NSI Senior Fellow. Each episode of Coffee and Conflict features Joshua interviewing leading authors about their books on national security, foreign policy, and intelligence.

The first episode of Coffee and Conflict featured Dmitri Alperovitch, Chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, discussing his new book, World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century. Dmitri shared insights on what the U.S. needs to do to deter war with China and maintain America’s position as the world’s leading superpower.

You can purchase a copy of World on the Brink here: https://worldonthebrink.com/

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Shifting Sands: Navigating Russia and Iran's Growing Collaboration and Its Impact on the Middle East

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 16:37:41 GMT

NSI hosted an event diving into the geopolitical, economic, and strategic implications of the growing partnership between Russia and Iran, which has led to increased cooperation, including military coordination, such as military transfers and defense technology exchanges, economic partnership, to even Russia providing cover for Iranian violations of international law in multilateral institutions.

This event explored the motivations and goals driving Russia and Iran to grow closer, how the ongoing war in Ukraine and in the Middle East impacts their partnership, and the challenges – as well as opportunities – that their relationship presents for U.S. interests in the region.

Panelists:

Dr. Mark Katz – Professor Emeritus of Government and Politics, George Mason University, Schar School of Policy and Government
Martha Miller – Senior Fellow, National Security Institute
Dr. Ray Takeyh – Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle East Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
Behnam Ben Taleblu – Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Moderator:

Andrew Borene – Former Senior Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

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AI and National Security: Safeguarding Tomorrow

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:06:33 GMT

The NSI Cyber and Tech Center hosted an event exploring generative AI and its vast implications for U.S. national security. We explored the opportunities and challenges AI poses for our national security and defense community – including the military, intelligence agencies, and other security stakeholders. It also analyzed how the U.S. can continue to promote AI innovation and defend against AI threats.

Speakers:

Paul Lekas, Head of Global Public Policy, Software & Information Industry Association
Katrina M. Mulligan, National Security Policy and Partnerships, OpenAI
Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, National Security Institute (moderator)

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Monroe Doctrine: An Evolving Legacy

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:58:55 GMT

NSI celebrated the bicentennial of the Monroe Doctrine, where we explored its historical roots, its evolving legacy, and its potential relevance to the modern geopolitical landscape.

The Monroe Doctrine, which sought to halt foreign interference in the Western Hemisphere, has reemerged within the policymaking community as the United States seeks to develop an approach to respond to challengers from outside the Western Hemisphere – in particular, from China and its growing presence in the region. This event examined policies that promote and maintain U.S. economic and national security, as well as uphold wider regional security and stability.

The event will began with keynote remarks by Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and was followed by a panel discussion with:

Dr. Colin Dueck, Professor, George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government
Ana Quintana-Lovett, former Staff Director, Western Hemisphere, the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Liza Tobin, Senior Director of Research and Analysis of Economy, Special Competitive Studies Project
Lester Munson, NSI Senior Fellow and former Staff Director, Senate Committee Foreign Relations

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Unlocking AI's Potential: How Can AI Protect Critical Infrastructure and Defend the National

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:52:28 GMT

NSI’s Cyber and Tech Center hosted a fireside chat featuring Representative Jay Obernolte (CA-23) and Royal Hansen, Google’s Vice President of Privacy, Safety, and Security Engineering, on March 5 from 12:15 to 1:15pm ET on Capitol Hill. Rep. Obernolte was recently announced as the Chairman of the new bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, which is tasked with ensuring America continues to lead the world in AI innovation while considering how to protect the nation against current and emerging threats. Royal is Google’s Vice President of Privacy, Safety and Security Engineering, where he leads the central engineering function that builds and scales the foundational technology that keeps billions of people safe online.

Rep. Obernolte, and Royal discussed how AI can help defend the nation, including enable cyber defenders to better protect U.S. critical infrastructure from foreign cyber threats and cyber criminals. They will also address how to mitigate potential security risks associated with AI and how the U.S. can fully harness this new technology to empower our nation’s cyber defenders.

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Innovation Race: U.S. Public and Private Efforts to Outpace China

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 20:35:35 GMT

NSI hosted an event to foster discussion around policy positions and recommendations found in its latest publication, Addressing the National Security Threat of Chinese Technology Innovation. This panel of experts expanded upon the policy solutions found in NSI’s latest paper and explain how the U.S. and our allies can lead in free-market innovation and what Congress can do to support and promote U.S. technological leadership. The panel discussion featured national security policy and industry experts and will take place in-person on Capitol Hill on November 2nd, 2023.

Panelists:

Carl Holshouser, Senior Vice President & Corporate Secretary, TechNet
Robert Strayer, Executive Vice President of Policy Information Technology Industry Council
Liza Tobin, Senior Director for Economy Special Competitive Studies Project
Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder & Executive Director, National Security Institute, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

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On the Road to Global Repression: China's Economic Tools of Exploitation

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:39:05 GMT

As part of NSI’s ongoing series, “A Spotlight on China’s Global Repression,” we are excited to host a discussion examining how China uses economic tools, such as the Belt-and-Road Initiative, foreign direct investment, and debt diplomacy, to further the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive goals. Experts will outline the dangers these pose inside and outside China and how the U.S. can counter these global threats.

Participants:

Matthew P. Goodman, Senior Vice President for Economics, Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Honorable Nazak Nakakhtar, Former Assistant Secretary for Industry & Analysis, Department of Commerce
The Honorable Randall G. Schriver, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific
Lester Munson (moderator), Former Staff Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

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Surveillance State: China's Digital Tools of Repression

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 16:30:09 GMT

As part of NSI’s ongoing series, “A Spotlight on China’s Global Repression,” we are excited to host a discussion examining how China uses digital tools, such as social media platforms like WeChat and TikTok and its social credit system, to further the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive goals. Experts will outline the dangers these tactics pose inside and outside China and how the U.S. can counter these global threats.

Participants:

Geoffrey Cain, NSI Fellow, Senior Fellow, Lincoln Network
Lindsay Gorman, Senior Fellow, Emerging Technologies, Alliance for Securing Democracy, German Marshall Fund
Yaqiu Wang, Senior China Researcher, Human Rights Watch
Suzanne Wilson Heckenberg, NSI Advisory Board member, President of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (moderator)

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Crypto and National Security: How to Validate American Innovation and Verify U.S. National Security

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:33:09 GMT

NSI held our inaugural cryptocurrency and blockchain technology event, “Crypto and National Security: How to Validate American Innovation and Verify U.S. National Security.” This event featured a panel of experts discussing critical U.S. national security policy opportunities and challenges related to crypto innovation and adoption.

“Crypto and National Security” kicked off NSI’s year-long policy programming initiative focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology – an emerging and important area of policy and innovation. NSI will host a range of conversations throughout 2022 that bring leading experts together to discuss and analyze issues such as crypto’s implications for:

U.S. leadership in tech and financial markets;
Illicit finance and sanctions policy;
Privacy and human rights at home and abroad; and
Other key national security objectives.

Participants:

Jerry Brito, Executive Director, Coin Center
Sheila Warren, Chief Executive Officer, Crypto Council for Innovation
Juan Zarate, Global Co-Managing Partner & Chief Strategy Officer, K2 Integrity, and NSI Advisory Board Member
Moderator: Laura Shin, Author of The Cryptopians and host of Unchained podcast

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Tomorrow's Battlefield: How the U.S. Can Win the Tech Competition with China

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 21:33:04 GMT

As geopolitical competition moves into the digital age, the United States and China find themselves locked in a battle for technological and innovation dominance. As China seeks to decrease their reliance on Western tech – including through Chinese industry’s theft of stolen U.S. technology and state financing by the CCP – how can the U.S. and American industry continue to lead in the years to come?

Join NSI for this important discussion featuring Anja Manuel, co-founder and Principal at Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, and Nick Schifrin, Foreign Affairs Correspondent at PBS, which not only answered this question but dove into evolving U.S.-China relations and the implications of an ever transforming digital economy.

As a special added treat, Nick Schifrin, having just returned from Ukraine, will also share his experiences on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and will discussthe relationship between Russia and China with Anja Manuel.

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Front and Center: Nat Sec Women in Media

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 14:39:09 GMT

NSI hosted Sarah Isgur, political commentator – including at The Dispatch and podcast host of Advisory Opinions – and former spokesperson for the Department of Justice, Lauren Claffey Tomlinson, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security and now President of Claffey Communications, and Heather Molino, who has over two decades of Capitol Hill and communications experience, as well as a decade in broadcast journalism. Tal Kopan, Senior Political reporter and Washington correspondent for the SF Chronicle, moderated the event.

These four powerful women in media drew from their extensive and diverse backgrounds to share their stories on how they get to where they are and what lessons they have for those interested in joining the national security and media ranks.

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The Department of Justice’s Role in Combatting Nation State Threats

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:26:21 GMT

NSI was honored to host Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division at the Department of Justice, to discuss how DoJ views the new range of threats emanating from nation-state actors, including from China, Iran, and others.

AAG Olsen kicked off the event with remarks, which was then be followed by a fireside chat with John Lipsey, Director of Policy at NSI, to further discuss how to counter espionage, trade-secrets theft, and cybercrime cases – all of which pose significant dangers to U.S. economic and national security interests, as well as on American innovation.

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2022 Winter Olympics: Disrupting the Games

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:15:36 GMT

Enes Kanter Freedom from the Boston Celtics, Joey Siu, an outspoken Hong Kong activist and Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-08) joined us for a critical examination of China’s human rights violations happening in the Winter Olympics’ backyard. Josh Rogin from the Washington Post moderated the discussion, which highlighted how everyone can become an ally of the Uyghur community and pressure China now and beyond the Olympic games.

All panelists have been outspoken critics of China’s genocide of the Uyghur community and the Chinese Communist Party’s repressive regime. Enes Kanter Freedom has publicly called on American Olympians to boycott this year’s Winter Games and has repeatedly pressured prominent corporation, Nike, to speak out on the genocide. Joey Siu, an exiled Hong Kong activist, led the push for the Biden Administration to announce a diplomatic boycott, which she argued was the first step in holding China accountable at the Winter Games. Rep. Mike Gallagher has been busy in Congress and a year ago, led the international effort with nine other countries to pressure the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move the Winter Games from Beijing. When Chinese Olympian, Peng Shuai, went missing, Rep. Gallagher also introduced legislation that would sanction senior members of the IOC for being complicit, and called on the Biden Administration to take a stand as well. Josh Rogin has written numerous op-eds for the Washington Post that highlight the ongoing human rights atrocities China has been committing. Most recently his articles focus on the controversy of the Winter Games, and what athletes and lawmakers can do to protest.

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Tech 2020/21: Allies, Enemies, and the Homefront Part 3: The National Security Implications of Antitrust

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:59:22 GMT

On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, as part of NSI’s Tech Innovation and American National Security project, NSI hosted the third panel of a four-part series examining the national security implications of antitrust challenges at home and abroad. This third event took a look at how U.S. adversaries are addressing antitrust questions related to the tech industry as well as the implications of such efforts for our national security.

Our panel features Maureen Ohlhausen, Matt Perault, and Alex Petros, and was moderated by NSI Founder and Executive Director, Jamil N. Jaffer.

Adversarial nation-state governments, such as China’s, are known to bolster their own economy through government financing of certain private sector industries, including companies in the tech industry, in order to effectuate national goals, including national security related goals. In particular, while China has encouraged rapid growth in its domestic tech sector in a bid to challenge its biggest economic competitor—the United States—it has at times, placed a heavy regulatory hand on both foreign and domestic tech companies, including using the levers of antitrust policy at home. China’s antitrust challenges are seen by many to have little to do with protecting competition; rather, Beijing’s antitrust and other policies appear to punish companies and executives that don’t adhere to the party line. This panel will look at the ways in which China and other adversarial nations both encourage and discourage foreign and domestic tech competition and how such nations choose its antitrust targets.

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Tech 2020/21: Allies, Enemies, and the Homefront Part 2: The National Security Implications of Antitrust

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 21:32:03 GMT

On Thursday, September 23, from 12:30 – 1:30 PM ET, as part of NSI’s Tech Innovation and American National Security project, NSI hosted the second panel of a four-part series examining the national security implications of antitrust challenges at home and abroad. This second event took a look at how U.S.-allied governments are addressing antitrust questions related to the tech industry as well as the implications of such efforts for American and allied national security.

Our panel features Dr. Roslyn Layton, Professor Jan Rybnicek, and Dr. Hal Singer, and was moderated by NSI Founder and Executive Director, Jamil N. Jaffer.

European governments, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Ireland, are increasingly raising antitrust challenges against U.S. tech companies causing friction between our nations and potentially undermining our collective national security posture, particularly relative to key nation-state competitors like China. This event examined how European nation-states, in exercising their own regulatory authorities to regulate, dissolve, and monitor companies, are moving forward with laws targeting American companies, as well as how these new regulations potentially impact these companies as well as their impact on American and allied national security. The panel also explored the critical role that U.S. and U.S. allied joint bodies, as well as tech industry, can play in promoting a democratic value-based global digital ecosystem to counter digital authoritarianism and the importance for allied national security of maintaining relative unity amongst the allies on innovation policy.

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Tech 2020/21: Allies, Enemies, and the Homefront Part 1: The National Security Implications of Antitrust

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 15:18:11 GMT

On Thursday, August 26th, from 12 – 1 PM ET, as part of NSI’s Tech Innovation and American National Security project, NSI hosted the first of a four-part series examining the national security implications of antitrust challenges at home and abroad. This first event will provide an introduction of domestic and international antitrust laws, examine the role of the U.S. tech industry in promoting U.S. national security and economic interests, including providing historical frameworks leading up to the current call by U.S. lawmakers to introduce antitrust lawsuits to protect consumers here in the United States.

Panelists include:

Ashley Baker, Director of Public Policy, Committee for Justice

Mike Davis, Founder and President, Internet Accountability Project (IAP)

Glenn Gerstell, Senior Adviser (Non-resident), International Security Program, Center for Strategic & International Studies

Professor Joshua Wright, Executive Director of the Global Antitrust Institute

Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute (moderator)

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China 2020/21: Doing Business with China: How to Protect U.S. Interests

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 14:16:30 GMT

The National Security Institute hosted the next event in its China's Rise 2020/21 series, featuring Patrick Jenevein, CEO of Pointe Bello, and Jessie Liu, former U.S. Attorney for D.C., as they discuss U.S.-China business relations.

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NatSec Nightcap with Gen. David H. Petraeus

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 21:27:02 GMT

Gen. Petraeus (Ret.) joined us to share his insight on U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and lessons learned from our presence in the Middle East, China and the future of Great Power Competition, the recent Biden-Putin Summit, and the implications of the pandemic on the U.S. economy from a national security perspective.

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NSI 2020: Fabricating the Future: The Importance of Semiconductors to U.S. National Security

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 20:21:52 GMT

The National Security Institute was excited to host our event in NSI’s Technology Innovation and American National Security Project, Fabricating the Future: The Importance of Semiconductors to U.S. National Security.

On Wednesday, June 16, from 2 – 3 PM ET NSI hosted a panel featuring how the U.S. can build a robust and resilient supply chain featuring: Ritu Favre, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Semiconductor and Electronics at NI [National Instruments], John Neuffer, President and CEO of the Semiconductor Industry Association, and Sarah Stewart, Executive Director of the Silverado Policy Accelerator.

Semiconductors are the bedrock of nearly all modern industrial activities and the building blocks of advanced technologies; they are used in everything from cell phones and cars to military equipment and weapons. This past year, the demand for electronics soared, leaving the world in the midst of a global semiconductor shortage and illuminating supply chain security issues, including U.S. dependence on foreign foundries. Watch our panel for a timely and important discussion as experts weigh in what the U.S. government and the private sector can do to address semiconductor supply chain insecurity.

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Getting Out of Gitmo: Dangerous or Smart?

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 14:41:26 GMT

The Biden Administration has announced its intent to close the Guantanamo Bay detainee facility. Should this happen? If it does, what should be done with the remaining detainees, who three successive Administrations have concluded are too dangerous to release. What is the appropriate role for Congress in this decision? Join us as leading experts weigh in on this vital national security question.

The National Security Institute and the Federalist Society will co-host this event featuring a three-person panel consisting of:

Karen Greenberg, Director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law
David Rivkin, Partner at BakerHostetler
Stephen Vladeck, Charles Alan Wright Chair in Federal Courts at the University of Texas School of Law

The panel will be moderated by Jamil Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University.

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Artificial Intelligence and the Fight for the Future

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 13:39:59 GMT

The National Security Institute was excited to host NSI’s Technology Innovation and American National Security Project, Artificial Intelligence and the Fight for the Future.

On Wednesday, May 26, from 2 – 3 PM ET, NSI hosted a fireside chat featuring National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Gilman Louie who discussed critical technology issues facing the our nation, with cybersecurity reporter Chris Bing of Reuters moderating the session.

American innovation in artificial intelligence is a national security imperative and Commissioners Clyburn and Louie addressed how the U.S. government can invest in human capital to ethically and responsibly develop AI tools to best counter and compete with our adversaries and strategic partners. They took a hard look at how AI changes the national security environment and how the United States can best leverage itself in a new technological frontier.

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Silencing the Radio: Freedom of the Press in Russia

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 13:38:52 GMT

On Thursday, June 3, 2021 NSI held a fireside chat featuring Jamie Fly, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to discuss Russia’s aggressive actions to prevent RFE/RL from operating freely and what steps RFE/RL is taking in response to make sure that unbiased news can still reach their Russian audience.

Russian officials recently informed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) about the launch of enforcement proceedings against the company for unpaid fines related to Russia’s crackdown on independent journalists. A free and vibrant press is vital to expose corruption, hold the powerful to account, and inform the populace.

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NatSec Nightcap with Josh Rogin

Thu, 13 May 2021 14:53:20 GMT

Josh Rogin joined us to share his insight on all things U.S. and China, including why he thinks China is America’s hardest foreign policy problem. Josh also talked with NSI Director and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer about his new book, “Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the Twenty-First Century,” which explores the conflict over China policy in the Trump White House and the state of our two countries’ interdependence.

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NatSec Nightcap with Mike Waltz

Sat, 24 Apr 2021 15:02:24 GMT

Congressman Mike Waltz, U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6th Congressional District, who shared his insight on critical national security issues ranging from China’s growing threat as a military, economic, and space power to its complicated ties to Wall Street and its treatment of the Uyghurs. Rep. Waltz also explored other important issues with NSI Director and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer, such as U.S efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the impact of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan for peace and stability in the region.

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NSI 2020: Is Conflict with China Inevitable?

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 18:28:01 GMT

As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to rise, geopolitical competition remains the focal point of U.S. foreign and defense policy. Join us for a timely conversation with Admiral James Stavridis and Elliot Ackerman, authors of 2034: A Novel About the Next World War, as they discuss with NSI Advisory Board member, Carmen Medina the political, economic, and military ramifications of the future conflict.

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Sources of Conflict in Mozambique and the Path Forward

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:11:52 GMT

A surge of insurgent activity from ISIS Mozambique has the potential to deepen famine conditions in the country, hurt investment in a burgeoning natural gas sector, and destabilize the region. The United States has sent in special forces to help support the military in Mozambique and the terrorist designation has drawn increasing interest from national security leaders on Capitol Hill. In order to better understand the conflict and determine whether and how the United States should get involved, we've brought together a group of experts who have worked on this issues in both the Obama and Trump administrations and in Congress to discuss.

Speakers include:

Lester Munson, NSI Senior Fellow and former Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (@lestermunson)

Morgan Viña, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Chief of Staff to Ambassador Nikki Haley

Nicole Wilett, Chief of Staff at Open Society Foundations and former Director of African Affairs at the National Security Council

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The Cyberspace Solarium Commission: A Year After The Report

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 20:29:30 GMT

It has been a little over a year since the release of the blockbuster Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report. A significant number of the Commission's over 50 legislative proposals were adopted in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020. We've brought together an esteemed group of NSI's emerging technologies and cybersecurity experts to discuss the impact of the Commission, the implementation of its recommendations, and what there is left to do to protect Americans in cyberspace.

Featured Experts Include:

Matt Hayden, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience Policy
JC Herz, NSI Visiting Fellow and COO of Ion Channel
Kiersten Todt, NSI Visiting Fellow, Managing Director of the Cyber Readiness Institute, and CEO of Liberty Group Ventures
and Moderator Megan Brown, NSI Senior Fellow, Co-Director of NSI's Emerging Technologies and Cybersecurity working group, and Partner at Wiley Rein LLP

Be sure to subscribe to NSI Live to get all of these conversations and more!

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NSI 2020: Technology Innovation and American National Security — Should the U.S. Have an Industrial Policy for Rare Earths?

Thu, 01 Apr 2021 20:16:08 GMT

On February 24, President Biden signed an executive order focused on protecting America's supply chains with a specific section on rare earth elements. In early March, the House Armed Services Committee stood up a taskforce focused on examining and identifying vulnerabilities and threats facing the defense industrial base which includes the threat posed by China over access to rare earth elements. America’s national security and technological leadership is directly tied to our access to rare earth elements.

NSI Founder and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer held a fireside chat with Jeff Green, President and Founder of J. A. Green and Company, to discuss what America can do to secure our rare earth supply chain and what the government can do to bolster U.S. production.

Tune in to find our about:

The impact of President Biden's Executive Order on America’s Supply Chains
How Congress can take steps to incentivize private sector investment in rare earth elements
How the Defense Production Act can be used to protect the defense industrial base from Chinese capture

Be sure to subscribe to NSI Live to get all of these conversations and more!

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NatSec Nightcap with Leon Panetta

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 12:49:16 GMT

Join us for a conversation with Secretary Panetta, who will share insight from his storied career in national security and intelligence, and cover topics such as Great Power Competition and global flashpoints, threats and opportunities presented by cyber space, and the importance of public service.

Featuring:

Secretary Leon Panetta, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former Director of the CIA
Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, National Security Institute

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NSI 2020: China's Rise - Competition in Cyberspace

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:31:42 GMT

The National Security Institute was excited to host the latest event in our China’s Rise: Confronting China’s Challenge to the World Order project on Wednesday, March 3 at 1 PM.

As near-peer competition intensifies, China continues to develop its technological capabilities to gain influence and project power in the Indo-Pacific region and across the globe. Join Fox News National Security Correspondent, Jennifer Griffin, and Vice Admiral T.J. White (ret.), former Commander of the United States Fleet Cyber Command, United States Tenth Fleet, to discuss China’s military modernization and how the United States can adapt its strategy to deter and defend against China’s cyber capabilities that threaten the international- rules-based order.

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Attack on the Capitol: Responding to Domestic Terrorism

Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:09:22 GMT

As part of NSI's response to the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, we are hosting a series of podcast conversations on different aspects of the attack. We wrap up this mini-series with an episode focused on how law enforcement should work to combat domestic terrorism, whether new legal tools are necessary, and the threat moving forward.

Speakers included:

Matt Olsen, NSI Advisory Board member and former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center
Olivia Troye, former Homeland Security, Counterterrorism and White House Coronavirus Task Force Advisor to Vice President Pence
Rob Walker, NSI Visiting Fellow and Executive Director, Homeland Security Experts Group

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Attack on the Capitol: America's Standing in the World

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 20:55:54 GMT

As part of NSI's response to the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, we are hosting a series of podcast conversations on different aspects of the attack. This episode features a discussion of the impact of the events on January 6th on America's image, soft power, and standing in the world.

Speakers included:

Dmitri Alperovitch, NSI Advisory Board member and Co-Founder and Chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator
Stewart Baker, NSI Advisory Board member and first Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy
Carmen Medina, NSI Advisory Board member and former Deputy Director for Intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency
Lester Munson, NSI Senior Fellow and former Staff Director of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NatSec Nightcap with Arthur Sinodinos

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 15:15:57 GMT

Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos, joined NSI's NatSec Nightcap series for a discussion about the future of the Australia, New Zealand, and U.S. Security Treaty – now celebrating its 70th anniversary – and its importance to security in the Pacific, as well as economic policies that will strengthen both AUS and US interests.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI - Silverado Debate: Cyber Offense Vs. Cyber Defense

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 12:39:16 GMT

The National Security Institute and Silverado Policy Accelerator co-hosted a debate on Cyber Offense vs. Cyber Defense: How to Best Protect Against Cyber Exploits on Thursday, January 21 at 1 PM – 2PM ET.

The United States faces a number of emerging threats as countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea seek to utilize cyberspace for their geopolitical goals. A debate rages amongst cyber experts as to whether (and how aggressively) the United States and its allies ought to use offensive tactics in its conflicts with its adversaries, or whether we ought stick to principally defensive maneuvers.

NSI and Silverado debated the motion:

“The best form of defense in cyber is defense.”

Ciaran Martin and Heather Adkins will argue for the motion and Jamil N. Jaffer and Dmitri Alperovitch will argue against it.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Attack on the Capitol: Social Media, Disinformation, and Incitement

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:09:07 GMT

As part of NSI's response to the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, we are hosting a series of podcast conversations on different aspects of the attack. Our first episode focuses on the role social media played leading up to, during, and after the attack.

Speakers included:

Lisa Kaplan, NSI Visiting Fellow and Founder and CEO of Alethea Group
Klon Kitchen, NSI Visiting Fellow and Director of the Center for Technology Policy at the Heritage Foundation
Harold Moss, NSI Visiting Fellow and CEO of Grey Elk Enterprises

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NatSec Nightcap with Rosemary Banks

Mon, 11 Jan 2021 23:00:27 GMT

New Zealand Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Rosemary Banks, joined NSI's NatSec Nightcap series for a discussion about bilateral relations as an important ally to the United States – including how to counter China together – and how the new administration may strengthen the Five Eyes alliance.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SolarWinds Hack

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 18:47:37 GMT

As part of NSI's project focused on Technology Innovation and American National Security, NSI pulled together a panel of our experts to discuss the recent hack of the Department of Treasury and Department of Commerce, and what the government can do to defend against attacks like this in the future. Speakers included:

Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Founder and Executive Director;
Sam Kaplan, NSI Visiting Fellow and former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Cyber, Infrastructure, and Resilience Policy;
Katie Moussouris, NSI Visiting Fellow and founder and CEO of Luta Security; and,
Dave Weinstein, NSI Visiting Fellow and former CTO and CISO of the State of New Jersey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Conversation with Chairwoman Dr. Robin Cleveland from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 17:55:29 GMT

In this special episode, hear from Commission Chairwoman Dr. Robin Cleveland as she talked with NSI Senior Fellow Lester Munson about the Commission’s Annual Report and highlights China’s successful efforts to export its repressive style of governance across the world and the threats posed by China’s growing global investments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NatSec Nightcap with Elliott Abrams

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 19:28:27 GMT

Elliott Abrams, Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela at the U.S. Department of State, former Deputy National Security Advisor, joined NSI's NatSec Nightcap series for a discussion about foreign policy, diplomacy, and the growing relationship between Tehran and Caracas among a variety of other topics.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese Economic Power and Statecraft: How Should the U.S. Respond?

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 13:39:38 GMT

The National Security Institute was excited to host the latest event in our China’s Rise: Confronting China’s Challenge to the World Order project.

Over the last decade, China has emerged as a global economic superpower, dominating the export market and building frameworks like the Belt and Road Initiative to expand its influence. This event will examine how the incoming presidential administration and new Congress should counter China’s economic statecraft and what must be done to protect U.S. national security interests, as well as how the U.S. should work with like-minded partners and allies to strengthen our own position in the world order.

On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, NSI hosted a conversation featuring Kylie Atwood, National Security Correspondent, CNN, Ryan Hass, Former National Security Council Director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, and Ambassador Kurt Tong, Former U.S. Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Their conversation was followed by a Q&A session.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI Experts React to Congress's China Commission Annual Report

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 21:35:45 GMT

In this special edition podcast, tune in to hear from NSI experts regarding the Commission’s Annual Report, which examines China's alternative norms and standards; its growing power projection; and other important developments in 2020.

NSI experts provide their perspectives on the Report’s findings and recommendations, including the threats China's model of governance poses to the United States and its manipulation of international standards bodies. They also share their insights for how the new Biden administration and new Congress may move forward. Hear from:

Megan Ammirati, NSI Visiting Fellow and China Analyst, TextOre
Megan Brown, NSI Senior Fellow and Partner, Wiley Rein LLP
Giovanna Cinelli, NSI Visiting Fellow and Partner, Morgan Lewis
Lori Gordon, NSI Visiting Fellow and Civil Systems Protection Lead, Aerospace Corporation
Jamil Jaffer, NSI Founder and Executive Director
Andy Keiser, NSI Fellow and former Senior Advisor, House Intelligence Committee
Gentry Lane, NSI Visiting Fellow and CEO and Founder, ANOVA Intelligence
Andrea Limbago, NSI Senior Fellow and Vice President of Research and Analysis, Interos
Katie Moussouris, NSI Visiting Fellow and Founder and CEO, Luta Security
Lester Munson, NSI Senior Fellow and former Staff Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI 2020 – Preserving U.S. Leadership: Protecting America While Promoting Innovation

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 13:51:17 GMT

The National Security Institute was excited to host the latest event in our Technology Innovation and American National Security: Preserving U.S. Leadership in a New Decade project.

America’s economic prosperity and military superiority relies on our technology superiority, but the same companies and public institutions that are driving U.S. innovation are also being targeted by foreign nation-states for intellectual property theft at a massive scale. Chairman Pai will address how the US government can both protect the innovation that is the engine of American economic growth and the pillar of American national security, while also remaining economically engaged and politically competitive.

On Thursday November 19 at 1 PM, NSI hosted a fireside chat featuring Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, and Emily Chang, Anchor and Executive Director of Bloomberg Technology, to discuss these and other issues facing the Federal Communications Commission. Their conversation was followed by an Q&A session with NSI Founder and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer and FCC Chief of Staff Matthew Berry.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NatSec Nightcap with Paul Wolfowitz

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 20:07:31 GMT

Ambassador Paul Wolfowitz, former Deputy Secretary of Defense and President of the World Bank, joined NSI's NatSec Nightcap series for a discussion about what national security challenges the next presidential administration faces among a variety of other topics.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fault Lines Live: Foreign Policy in the Next Administration

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:23:17 GMT

This week, Americans are headed to the polls but foreign policy hasn’t played a big part in the campaign conversation. Les, Jamil, Jodi, and special guest Bishop Garrison, NSI Visiting Fellow and Director of National Security Outreach at Human Rights First come together in front of a live audience to discuss the foreign policies of the candidates and what national security issues will be facing the next administration. What could we expect from a Biden Administration? Will a second term of President Trump change foreign policy for good? How does all of this impact America’s competition with China long-term? All these questions and more answered in this week’s Fault Lines.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taking Treasury to War: Two Decades of Using Financial Measures as National Security Statecraft

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:19:47 GMT

The National Security Institute, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the Center for a New American Security, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies are excited to present Revisiting Treasury’s War: The History and Future of the Treasury Department’s Role in National Security.

This two-event series brings together two decades of the Treasury Department’s national security leadership to discuss the role the Department, and particular, Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI), plays in strengthening the U.S. national security strategy. The series will include participants from all the major components of TFI, including the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (OIA), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes (TFFC).

This panel covered the use of financial tools to achieve national security and foreign policy objectives in the aftermath of September 11 through the current era given that sanctions and other such tools are an increasingly prominent—if not the primary—tool of effectuating foreign policy and national security goals, and what lessons might be learned from two decades of such work.

Featuring:

Daniel Glaser, Former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes;
Jennifer Fowler, Former Acting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes
Juan Zarate, NSI Advisory Board member and Former Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes; and
Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Founder and Executive Director (Moderator)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI 2020: Confronting China’s Challenge to the World Order

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:16:14 GMT

On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, NSI hosted the launch of NSI 2020: China’s Rise – Confronting China’s Challenge to the World Order with Michèle Flournoy former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Ali Velshi, host, “Velshi”, MSNBC.

In the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States was the world’s only superpower. At the time, in light of the failure of the world’s most powerful Communist regime and the preeminence of the Western powers, many predicted the end of competition amongst major states. Yet, over the past twenty years, as the United States and its allies have focused on battling radical Islamist terrorists around the world, China has focused on strengthening its economic power and enhancing its military might. Today, the United States’ role as the leader of the world is under threat.

This event featured a fireside chat with Ms. Flournoy and Mr. Velshi. They discussed the return of great power conflict and how the United States should respond to the challenge posed by an ascendent China.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI 2020: Tackling the Techlash

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:12:44 GMT

On Thursday, August 13, 2020, NSI hosted Tackling the Techlash. In recent years, U.S. technology companies have been facing an increasingly hostile public reaction here in the U.S. and abroad. These concerns, expressed most prominently in the United States by political leaders at the state and federal level and in Europe by national and EU legislators are based on perceived threats to privacy created by these companies, their role in creating a new economic reality that may displace jobs, and other significant concerns. As a result, some of America’s most innovative companies are party to a mounting number of lawsuits and claims of antitrust abuses. At the same time, the U.S. government’s relationship with these technology giants remains fraught in the aftermath of the Snowden revelations a half-decade ago and the companies’ alignment with particular advocacy groups. Despite these trends, Americans are engaging with these companies more than ever. In turn, these tech companies continue to grow, innovate, and drive the U.S. economy which fuels American national security.

Our panel of experts addressed how the U.S. government can address legitimate public concerns without impairing US innovation, economic growth, and national security.

Our panel featured:

Aaron Hughes, NSI Advisory Board member and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy
Randal Milch, former General Counsel of Verizon and Co-Chair of the NYU Center for Cybersecurity
Samantha Ravich, Commissioner on the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and former Deputy National Security Advisor for Vice President Cheney

and was moderated by:

Ron Gula, NSI Advisory Board Member and President of Gula Tech Adventures

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI 2020: Technology, Innovation, and American National Security Launch Event

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:09:03 GMT

On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, NSI hosted the launch of NSI 2020: Technology, Innovation, and American National Security – Preserving American Leadership in a New Decade featuring Representative Jim Langevin (RI-02) interviewed by David Sanger, National Security Correspondent and Senior Writer, The New York Times.

Throughout much of the 20th century, the United States led the world in technological innovation, with the new systems and industries arising from this leadership driving sustained economic growth and underpinning US global military capabilities. Today, however, America’s preeminent role in driving innovation—and leading the world—is being threatened, if not wholly undermined. NSI 2020 will explore what the U.S. should do to ensure its global economic and political leadership, including how the U.S. government and private sector might work together to respond to national security threats and economic competition while promoting innovation.

Our kickoff event featured a fireside chat with Representative Jim Langevin (RI-02) and David Sanger, National Security Correspondent and Senior Writer at The New York Times. They discussed the future of U.S. cyber strategy as outlined by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission’s recent report and how the U.S. government can respond to the recent Techlash without impairing US innovation, economic growth, and national security.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phishing for Truth – Securing the Election from Cyber Attacks

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:06:14 GMT

The International Law Journal and National Security Law Journal, in partnership with NSI, presented a Fall 2020 virtual symposium – Running Interference: Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.

This panel was focused on the recent Senate Intelligence Committee Report and addressed Russia’s infiltration of the U.S. election process, investigations into particular destabilization techniques, the DNC hack, international legal ramifications, and lessons learned. This panel occured on Friday, October 23rd, and featured:

Andy Keiser – NSI Fellow and Former Senior Advisor on the House Intelligence Committee
Megan Stifel, NSI Visiting Fellow and Executive Director, Americas, at the Global Cyber Alliance
Prof. Josephine Wolff, Assistant Professor of cybersecurity policy at the Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

moderated by

Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Founder and Executive Director

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trolls & Polls – Dangers and Risks of Misinformation

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:02:32 GMT

The International Law Journal and National Security Law Journal, in partnership with NSI, held a Fall 2020 virtual symposium – Running Interference: Protecting the Integrity of American Elections

This panel focused on the role of fake news and disinformation in the 2016 election and whether we can expect similar issues leading up to November. Panelists discussed main sources of fake news, the susceptibility of the 2020 election to fake news and disinformation, and potential legal issues to be aware of when confronting this issue. This panel took place on Friday, October 16th from 12:00-1:00 pm, and featured:

The Honorable Susan M. Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Nikolas Guggenberger, Clinical Lecturer in Law at Yale University
Lisa Kaplan, NSI Visiting Fellow and founder of Alethea Group

moderated by

Jamil N. Jaffer, NSI Founder and Executive Director

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NatSec Nightcap with Bonnie Jenkins

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 14:27:01 GMT

Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, former Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs at the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation at the Department of State, joined NSI Founder and Executive Director Jamil N. Jaffer for a conversation around nonproliferation issues and diversity in national security.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI 2020: Geopolitical Competition in the Indo-Pacific

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 13:49:35 GMT

On Tuesday August 25, 2020, NSI hosted a fireside chat between Randall Schriver, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, and Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, China Reporter at Axios. They discussed how the U.S. can work with like-minded allies in the region to deter growing Chinese aggression and influence and face China’s long-term challenges to the international rules-based order.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NatSec Nightcap with Dr. Heather Wilson

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 13:41:11 GMT

On October 1, 2020, Dr. Heather Wilson, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, sat down with NSI Senior Fellow Lester Munson for a conversation around Space policy, the 5G spectrum, and diversity in national security.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NSI Live Trailer

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 15:41:45 GMT

Each year, NSI hosts dozens of events in person and online with policymakers, business leaders, and experts focused on the hardest national security questions facing America and its allies. Along with NSI's events, this podcast will serve as a home for breaking news and special podcast series. Tune in for incisive analysis, enlightening commentary, and actionable recommendations for taking on the threats of today and tomorrow.

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