Second to None? Evaluating a Second Island Chain Strategy

Chris, Melanie, and Zack debate the merits of Jennifer Kavanagh's proposed Second Island Chain strategy for Asia. They discuss U.S. objectives in the region and whether commitments to allies and partners are important to those aims. Chris also highlights the Trump administration's illegal questioning of civilian employees' past votes, Melanie warns about continued defense budget uncertainty, and Zack laments the administration's wayward embrace of Russia.

• Jennifer Kavanagh, "A Second Island Chain Strategy for Asia," Defense Priorities, September 10, 2026.

• Stephen Wertheim, X post, September 11, 2026.

• Antoni Slodkowski, Gram Slattery, and Andrius Sytas, "Pentagon tells Europeans to cool their rhetoric on Russia, sources say," Reuters, October 31, 2026.

• The Iran War, Eight Months On: Reassessing Costs, Consequences, and US Interests • Stimson Center

• 2026 Outrider Nuclear Media Summit

• Face Off: Nuclear Anarchy?

• Kathianne Boniello, "State Department Allegedly Quizzed Those Up for Promotion If They Voted for Trump," Mediaite (via YahooNews), October 22, 2026.

• Noah Robertson, Inside the Breakdown of Trump's $1.5 Trillion Pentagon Plan, Washington Post, October 29, 2026.