The SCIF

Fault Lines Episode 606: North Korea: Juche or Joining the Authoritarian Bloc?

Today, Les, John, and Andy take stock of a North Korea that has used Western distraction to significantly expand its strategic position…

NSI Experts Weigh In: Looking Towards 2024

As we head into 2024, the world remains an unstable, dangerous place. While it might be impossible to predict exactly what will happen in…

No More Workforce Studies: Try Real Accountability

By Lenora Peters Gant, PhD, NSI Advisory Board Member & Distinguished Fellow

NSI Experts in the News — All Things National Security

In a world that is always changing, NSI experts offer insight on critical stories in the news. Please continue reading for their take on…

Fault Lines Episode 600: Full Circle to Tehran

Today, Les, Algene, Andy, and John mark Fault Lines’ 600th episode by returning to one of the show’s defining subjects — Iran — as a…

Twenty Years Later, Does the DNI Work?

By Ronald Marks, NSI Faculty

Fault Lines Episode 602: Reframing Asian Alliances: Hegseth at Shangri-La

Today, John, Amy, Algene, and Andy break down Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, where he outlined the…

Fault Lines Episode 616: Anaconda or Armistice: The Squeeze on Tehran

Today, Les, John, and special guest Richard Goldberg assess where the Iran conflict stands and where it is headed. The Strait of Hormuz is…

Fault Lines Episode 610: Murky Waters and Muddied Deals

Today, Les, John, Andrew, Matt, and Amy dig into the ongoing U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations playing out in Switzerland, where a publicly…

NSI Experts in the News — All Things National Security

In a world that is always changing, NSI experts offer insight on critical stories in the news. Please continue reading for their take on…

2026 National Cyber Innovation Forum: The Security Leaders Roundtable Pt. 2

Today on CTRL+F, we continue into part 2 of the third session from the 2026 National Cyber Innovation Forum. Senior Fellow at the Center…

Fault Lines Episode 97 —  Rescue, Recovery, and Refugees: Afghanistan with Congressman Seth Moulton

NSI Experts in the News — All Things National Security

In a world that is always changing, NSI experts offer insight on critical stories in the news. Please continue reading for their take on…

Episode 484: Unconfirmed and Unprepared?

Today, Les, Jess, Matt, and Bishop break down the Senate stalemate on key nominations across the Trump Administration. With important…

Fault Lines Episode 614: Drones and Diplomacy

Today, Jess, Les, John, and Andrew cover a busy news cycle spanning the skies over Moscow to the streets of America. Ukrainian drones —…

Fault Lines Episode 615: Good Vibes and Guns: NATO’s Next Chapter

Today, Les, John, and special guest Retired General Doug Lute, assess the NATO summit held this week in Ankara, where 32 allied leaders…

Fault Lines Episode 611: El Tigre and Rainbow Face: Picks for Latin America and the Wizards

Today, Jess, Les, Algene, and John dig into two closely contested elections that could reshape Latin American politics. In Colombia…

Fault Lines Episode 608: Deal or No Deal: The Upcoming U.S.-Iran Nuclear Agreement

Today, Les, Jamil, Jess, and John break down the emerging agreement between Washington and Tehran, set to be signed Friday in Geneva under…

Fault Lines Episode 603: Trump’s AI Exec Order: The Next Phase of the AI Arms Race?

Today, John, Andy, Andrew, and Matt break down the new AI Executive Order, which dropped yesterday after weeks of interagency debate and a…

Fault Lines Episode 599: Epic Fury, No Exit Strategy?

Today, Les, Jess, and Morgan break down the latest developments in Iran as diplomatic and political pressure mounts on multiple fronts…

Episode 489: Exporting Risk? Trump Greenlights Chip Sales to China

Today, Jess, Martha, and Les examine the Trump Administration’s surprise pivot to allow Nvidia and AMD to resume sales of select AI chips…

Fault Lines Episode 601: Losing the Plot in Iran?

Today, Les, Algene, and John dig into the murky details of a reported Memorandum of Understanding between U.S. and Iran — a document that…

Fault Lines Episode 605: Iran Hits Israel: 100 Days and Escalating

Today, Jess, Jamil, and John break down the latest from the Iran conflict, now nearly 100 days old with no clear end in sight. This weekend…

Fault Lines Episode 613: After the Earthquake — Venezuela and the Limits of American Soft Power

Today, Les, John, Andrew, and Andy examine the devastating earthquake that has killed more than 1,500 people in Venezuela, a number…

The Hormuz Paradox: “If Only We Had Known” Is Not a Strategy

By Sada Cumber, NSI Advisory Board member and The SCIF Standing Author