National Security Digest

Aug 31 2021 42 mins 26
National Security Digest Podcast artwork

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

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Accountability in Afghanistan and Determining What Went Wrong

Aug 31 2021 35 mins  
Adam Kredo of The Washington Free Beacon joins Erielle to discuss the official end of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan, the possible consequences for U.S. security interests, and whether those responsible for the roughshod nature of the withdrawal will be held accountable.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA

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

Aug 18 2021 48 mins  
Vance Serchuk of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) joins Erielle to discuss the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan, the magnitude of the consequences, and what the Biden Administration must prioritize in the coming days.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle Davidson, a senior policy analyst at JINSA on Twitter @politicalelle. For more, ple

A Legal Analysis of the Ben & Jerry’s Debacle

Jul 27 2021 29 mins  
International lawyer Eugene Kontorovich of George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School joins Erielle to discuss Ben & Jerry’s recent decision to stop selling ice cream products in the West Bank and parts of Jerusalem, as well as the possible opening of a U.S. consulate to the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem.Follow us on Twitter @jinsadc. And follow our host Erielle D

Tackling the Rise of Antisemitism

Jul 07 2021 37 mins  
In this week’s episode, Ellie Cohanim, former Deputy Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. State Department, joins Erielle to discuss her prior work at the State Department, as well as the recent rise in antisemitism in the United States. How have the Abraham Accords played a role in tackling antisemitism abroad? Conversely, what did the recent Gaza war be

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

Jun 24 2021 39 mins  
What role does the Middle East play in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s quest for Russia to be recognized once again as a superpower? Does Putin care about stability in the region? Is President Joe Biden confronting the growing Moscow-Damascus-Tehran axis effectively? Anna Borschevksaya of the Washington Institute joins Erielle to discuss the growing Middle East great power com

Fourth Time Is a Charm: Assessing the Israeli Election Results

Jun 10 2021 36 mins  
One of the more bizarre political coalitions has formed in the wake of Israel’s fourth election in recent years. Lahav Harkov, Senior Contributing Editor at The Jerusalem Post, joins Erielle to discuss the presumptively incoming government, the likelihood of Netanyahu being able to undercut the new coalition, and what the new government might mean for Israel’s relationship with

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

May 30 2021 51 mins  
The international community continues to erroneously accuse Israel of war crimes in the recent conflict with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza, evincing a serious misunderstanding of international law in both the media and policy realm. Despite Israel’s demonstrated and historical compliance with the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)—and Hamas’ repeated and flagrant

The Taylor Force Act and Regulating Aid to the Palestinians

May 14 2021 50 mins  
The Palestinian Authority (PA) continues to run a “pay for slay” program, where terrorism against Israelis is incentivized and funded by the governing faction of the Fatah. This episode discusses the importance of the Taylor Force Act, passed by Congress in 2018, in thwarting the use of U.S. aid until the PA ceases its support for terror. Stuart Force, the father of U.S. Army C

A Failing State: What’s Next for Lebanon?

Apr 28 2021 65 mins  
As Iranian-backed Hezbollah increases its hold on Lebanon, questions are emerging as to what an effective U.S. policy towards Lebanon might look like (or if a policy is truly needed, at all). Is there a substantive difference in actuality between state institutions in Lebanon and Iranian-backed Hezbollah? What role do the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) play in enabling Hezbollah’s c

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

Apr 14 2021 57 mins  
JINSA’s newest Senior Fellow John Hannah joins host Erielle Davidson to break down an eventful week in the Middle East, from a potential coup to oust the Jordanian king to the latest Iran deal negotiations in Vienna. Mr. Hannah discusses why recent events in Jordan should remain on the U.S. radar and what internal dynamics within Jordan might have contributed to the alleged coup.