Articles, Interviews, Speeches
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of the Ben Franklin Fellowship.
JUNTO Project Event:
Africa and Trump Administration Foreign Policy
The Ben Franklin Fellowship, in partnership with the Hudson Institute, hosted a high-level discussion on the future of U.S. policy toward Africa under a second Trump Administration. Featuring former ambassadors and expert analysts, this timely event offered critical insights into a strategically vital continent amid shifting global dynamics.
The panel explored America’s evolving approach to security, economic engagement, and great-power competition in Africa—while reaffirming BFF’s commitment to a pragmatic, national interest–driven foreign policy.
Organized by BFF Co-Founder and Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Matthew Boyse, the “Africa and Trump Administration Foreign Policy” panel discussion featured a robust exchange of ideas among these distinguished experts:
Ambassador Tibor Nagy, former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia and Guinea
Ambassador Troy Fitrell, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea
Moderator: Joshua Meservey, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Articles
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Empowering Consular Officers to Deny Visas for National Security Reasons
By Civis Legatus, a Consular Professional
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Refocusing American Diplomacy on Reindustrialization and Technical Expertise
Adam Hay
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Peak Oil and Energy Dominance – The IEA Gets it Wrong
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Every Veteran’s Odyssey
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Unskilled J1 Programs are Unauthorized, Exploitative, and Promote Illegal Immigration
By Civis Legatus, a Consular Professional
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State Department Overseas Schools Continue to Promote Woke Ideology
Special Report - October 17, 2025
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Half of 2016 Student Visa Holders Still in U.S.
A Veteran Visa Adjudicator
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Advancing Meritocracy in the Era of DEIA
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The American Human Rights Tradition
The BFF Working Group on Human Rights
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The Heartbeat Returns: Trump’s Bold Rescue of the Capital – Thank You
Luana Saghieh, D.C. resident
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Mission First Means Management First
By: A Son of the Commonwealth (and a veteran Foreign Service Officer)
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The H-1B Invasion: Why the U.S. Must Act to Protect American Jobs, Security, and Prosperity
Mahvash Siddiqui
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America First Cyber Foreign Policy
The BFF Working Group on Cybersecurity Reports: By Richard Saunders and Alexander Rodriguez
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The Overlooked Global Stakes of President Trump’s Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal
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France is no U.S. partner in the Middle East
Russell A. Berman and Kiron K. Skinner
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A Welcome Step Forward: The Department of Labor’s Office of Immigration Policy and the Promise of Coordinated Reform
By Epictetus, A Veteran Consular Officer
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The DEI Diplomat Super-Heroes No One Asked For
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Marco Rubio's Quest To Make the State Department Great Again
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My wife lost her job in the Doge cuts. I still think they were justified.
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The Carnegie Endowment for the Permanent State
James Carden
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America Must Secure Its Influence in the Western Hemisphere
Scott Winton
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Why We Fight: Why the Border Matters
Brendan Heavey
JUNTO Project Event:
AI, Statecraft & the Future of Diplomacy
The Ben Franklin Fellowship (BFF) proudly launched its JUNTO AI, Statecraft & the Future of Diplomacy Speaker Series on July 23 with a high-level panel on one of the most urgent issues facing American diplomacy today: artificial intelligence and the escalating U.S.–China tech rivalry.
Videos
Former Diplomat Responds to Another Anti-Trump Letter from Colleagues
Restoring Integrity And Security To The Visa Process
Simon Hankinson and Jessica Vaughan
Town Hall: Cross Section of the Religious Freedom Movement, IRF Summit 2025
Vice President Vance Speaks at Munich Leaders Conference
Flashback: 2020 Interview with Simon Hankinson, U.S. Consul General in Marseille
Vice President Vance Speaks at Munich Security Conference
Explaining the Demise of USAID
Tammy Bruce
Trump Administration Engages Hamas
Democracy in Poland
Former USAID Official Speaks Out Against Decades-Long Agency Corruption
Anti-Semitism Over the Years
Trump Border and Deportation Policies
Sanctuary City Laws & Immigrations Policies in Washington State
Re-Engaging Russia: When War Ends, Is There a Future for US-Russia Relations?
Marco Rubio Asked Point Blank: 'Do You Trust Putin?
Secretary Marco Rubio