As President Trump returns to the White House, he has no more important task than defense of the homeland and ensuring “peace through strength.” This is because U.S. national security is threatened by the deepening entente among the dictators in Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, Pyongyang — an Axis of Aggressors increasingly friendly a Star Wars cantina of terrorist groups.

National security requires a military machine that can deter enemies who are rational, and defeat those who are not. How can this be achieved — and what exactly should be the president’s top and immediate national security priorities?

Host Cliff May asks his FDD colleagues RADM (Ret) Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman.

A few facts central to any discussion of a deal between Israel and Hamas:

1. On Oct. 6, 2023. Gaza was not occupied. No Israelis lived there. No Israeli soldiers patrolled there.
2. Gaza was not an open-air prison. It had schools, malls, libraries, hospitals, restaurants, sandy beaches.
3. Hamas initiated a war on Oct. 7, 2023 by staging the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
4. Hamas could have brought a halt to this war at any time by releasing the hostages and laying down their weapons. They refused to do so.

Hamas deserves the blame for every death, on both sides, over the past 468 days.

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for a ceasefire and the return of hostages – over time – in exchange for Israel halting its offensive and releasing hundreds of convicted terrorists from prison.

Host Cliff May asks his FDD colleagues Jonathan Schanzer and Richard Goldberg some of the many questions that arise.

“Artificial intelligence is the future… Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.” — Vladimir Putin

The Russian president-for-life and neo-tzar waging a terrible war of conquest against Ukraine is evil but he’s not stupid, certainly not when it comes to artificial intelligence.

Americans don’t want to rule the world. But neither do most of us want the world to be ruled from Moscow, Tehran, or Beijing. So, we have to get smart. We have to run an arms race — or maybe a brains race. What will that require?

Host Cliff May asks his FDD colleagues Matt Pottinger and RADM (Ret) Mark Montgomery.

Just hours into the New Year, we were reminded that the Jihad against the West is not over. It’s not even taking a winter break.

A man inspired by the Islamic State drove a pickup truck into a crowd in the French Quarter of New Orleans, murdering at least 15 people and injuring dozens more. Hours later in New York City, demonstrators chanted: “There is only one solution – intifada revolution!” and “No war on Iran!”

Meanwhile, Iran’s ruler, Ali Khamenei must be pondering whether Hezbollah and Hamas, two of his proxy terrorist militias that have been decimated by Israel, can be built back better.

Also on his mind: What it means that Syria, once his satrapy, is now under Turkey’s influence.

Host Cliff May is joined by his FDD colleague Behnam Ben Taleblu to discuss these and related issues.

What does regime change in Syria change?

The overthrow of longtime, mass-murdering dictator Bashar al-Assad is a good thing. But those who did the overthrowing? Not good.

The most important rebel group involved in this revolution is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, better known as HTS. It has roots in both al Qaeda and the Islamic State (also known as ISIS). Its leader’s nom de guerre is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. He and HTS have been officially designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.

The fall of Assad weakens Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both had backed Assad, and both had derived benefits from Assad in exchange.

And the fall of Assad strengthens Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

To discuss all of this and more, host Cliff May is joined by Jonathan Schanzer, Reuel Marc Gerecht, and Michael Doran.

NOTE: We hope you enjoy the soothing sounds of Reuel's Ring Doorbell chimes.

It seems a favorite pastime of leaders in Washington is telling us — Americans — what we believe and what we want. Such assertions by politicians are sometimes true, but they inevitably reflect the policy the politician is attempting to promulgate.   So what do Americans actually believe when it comes to key defense and foreign policy issues? We don’t have to guess, thanks to the Reagan National Defense Survey. The Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Roger Zakheim, joins guest host Bradley Bowman to share the latest survey’s findings.

Another day, another blood libel against the Jewish state. What’s new but certainly not surprising is that Amnesty International (a lavishly well-funded organization and one that has long been viciously anti-Israel) has published a report accusing Israelis of genocide in Gaza. What evidence do they have? They don’t need evidence. Why bother when they knew from the get-go what their verdict would be.

To discuss the Amnesty report, host Cliff May is joined by FDD’s David Adesnik. 

David is also a Syria expert. He offers his take on the fast-breaking and complicated developments unfolding there.

Last week, President Biden finally (belatedly) allowed Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied long-range missiles to strike military targets in Russia. This made Vladimir Putin very angry.

Some argue that we should be careful not to anger or provoke Putin and that if he issues threats, then we had better back down. But such weakness only emboldens Putin and his axis of aggressors in Tehran, Beijing, and Pyongyang who are helping him wage his illegal war in Ukraine.

In exchange for Russian weapons that can be used to target commercial shipping and U.S. Navy vessels, Tehran-backed Houthi rebels helped Putin recruit hundreds of Yemenis to fight in Ukraine; North Korea has provided Putin some 10,000 soldiers; and China’s communist rulers in Beijing are also supporting Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.

Despite a bleak reality, FDD’s Mark Montgomery says in a new essay for a report published by the Vandenberg Coalition and the McCain Institute that “there is much the incoming administration can do to improve U.S. military capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defeat potential threats.”

He joins host Cliff May to discuss.

The two most recent attacks on Israel did not take place in the Middle East. The first was in Turtle Bay at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The second was in The Hague where the International Criminal Court is located — and about 40 miles from Amsterdam where Israeli soccer fans were violently assaulted earlier this month. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The action comes as Israel continues to fight a war on seven other fronts against Tehran-backed enemies.

Host Cliff May discusses with his FDD colleagues Orde Kittrie and Rich Goldberg.

President Trump – now also President-elect Trump – has named the team he wants to advise him on foreign policy and national security. How will they fare in facing challenges like the Islamic Republic of Iran's war on Israel (and America), Russia's war against Ukraine, and the threat from China’s Communist rulers?

Host Cliff May is joined by his FDD colleague Richard Goldberg to discuss.