Vandenberg Flash Focus

Ep. 65 | Ukraine Can Stand Up

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 [https://youtu.be/y7riLo5TzCk].

Ep. 64 | Mr. Trump Goes to China

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 [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmJjgTI5S65c&data=05%7C02%7CThor%40vandenbergcoalition.org%7C4b0bbc68b35f4a1fbf4a08deb72d18b8%7C363b319e52ef4f64b30dc8003c19c300%7C0%7C0%7C639149601473324404%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=wnjjFaZOGdwY4XDyT9LVwOjFuaehOFZVW9KMeDxAMD8%3D&reserved=0] | “Seeing My Father Again:” The Story of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri * The Dispatch [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthedispatch.com%2Farticle%2Fchina-iran-war-great-power-competition%2F&data=05%7C02%7CThor%40vandenbergcoalition.org%7C4b0bbc68b35f4a1fbf4a08deb72d18b8%7C363b319e52ef4f64b30dc8003c19c300%7C0%7C0%7C639149601473361789%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=n8I3EZ2j6j97bTZGFBslxCKxNXqBGGDrRG7M4i%2Fc7r8%3D&reserved=0] | “Is There a China Strategy Behind the Iran War?” (Michael Sobolik and Grant Rumley) Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/49PrYMU41So

Ep. 63 | Energy (Dominance) is Power

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 [https://youtu.be/znqU8eFSXgk].

Ep. 62 | Cash for Gold, for Delcy

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 [https://youtu.be/uUvzHVFgzzw].

Special Episode: The Vandenberg Coalition at Five Years

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 [https://youtu.be/thI6docLpas]. (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