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He is passionate about the country and wants to improve the lives of all people, making them safer and more prosperous. While some may perceive him as tough, particularly regarding certain tweets, it's important to understand that he needs to defend himself when attacked. His sole aim is the country's well-being. The world of politics can be mean and unpredictable, requiring toughness and resilience. The fashion industry prepared him for this, as he had to navigate Milan, Paris, and New York alone, necessitating strength and independence.

Speaker 1 stated they have not spoken about tariffs with the person in question, and suggests reading "The Art of the Deal." They believe the person is a negotiator who lays out tough terms, which sometimes works. Speaker 1 says we need to prioritize national security, resiliency, and diversified supply chains. They state tariffs are a tool that, if properly used, could help resolve these issues. Speaker 0 asks if tariffs are a legitimate negotiating tool, and Speaker 1 confirms they are.

Speaker 0 and Speaker 1 discuss the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy and its global impact. - Unpredictability as a negotiation asset: Speaker 0 notes that Trump’s rhetoric is out of the norm and concerning, citing statements about Greenland, Iran, Venezuela, and Gaza. Speaker 1 counters that Trump starts with a very tough position and then moderates it as a negotiation tactic, arguing that unpredictability has value but erodes credibility because “what he says this week will not be what he might do next week or the week after.” - Gaza, Venezuela, and Iran as case studies: Gaza is described as having no peace, only ongoing uncertainty. In Venezuela, Speaker 0 sees a new regime leader working with the old regime, making regime change unlikely; Speaker 1 cautions that Rodriguez would have to dismantle the army and paramilitaries to improve Venezuela, implying changes may be blocked by corruption and drug trafficking networks. In Iran, despite expectations of a strike, Trump did not strike, which Speaker 1 attributes to calculated restraint and the need to avoid provoking Iranian retaliation; Speaker 0 asks why, and Speaker 1 emphasizes the complexity and the risk of escalation. - Domestic and diplomatic capacity under Trump: Speaker 1 argues the administration relies on nontraditional figures (e.g., Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff) rather than professional diplomats, contributing to a lack of sustained policy execution. He notes the Pentagon, State Department, and National Security Council have been stripped of expertise, with many positions unfilled. He describes diplomacy as being conducted by envoy, with trusted associates who lack deep diplomatic experience. - Global power shifts and alliances: Speaker 1 says unpredictability can undermine US credibility; however, there is a real shift as the US appears to retreat from international engagement. He asserts that Russia and China have lost clients due to various internal and regional dynamics, while the US withdrawal from international organizations has allowed China to gain influence, including within the UN. He predicts that the US could become weaker in the long run relative to its previous position, even if economically stronger domestically. - Regional dynamics and potential alliances: The conversation touches on the theoretical possibility of an Islamic or Middle Eastern NATO-like alliance, led by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with potential Turkish involvement. Speaker 1 argues that such an alliance would not resemble NATO but that regional powers are likely to form bilateral and regional arrangements to counterbalance major powers like the US, Russia, and China. In the Middle East, Israel is cast as an influential actor shaping regional alignments, with Gulf states wary of Iranian retaliation and crisis spillover. - The Iran crisis and military posture: Speaker 1 explains why Gulf states and Israel did not want an immediate strike on Iran due to the risk of massive retaliation and limited US regional presence at the time. He notes the Abraham Lincoln and George H.W. Bush carrier groups' movements suggest potential future force projection, but states that any strike would likely be small if undertaken given current hardware positioning. He suggests the crisis will continue, with Iran’s internal repression and external deterrence shaping the dynamics. He also points to the 2000 missiles and the IRGC’s scale as factors in regional calculations. - Reflection on impact and timing: The discussion notes the potential for longer-term consequences in US credibility and global influence once Trumpism passes, with the possibility of the US reemerging weaker on the world stage despite possible internal economic strength. Speaker 0 closes with appreciation for the discussion; Speaker 1 agrees.

I reject the idea that President Trump started a trade war. For decades, countries like China and Mexico have harmed American workers and the economy through practices like intellectual property theft and illegal immigration. The mainstream media ignored these issues for years and now pretends to care about American consumers, particularly regarding tariffs. Many corporate media outlets are influenced by a globalist agenda, but Trump represents a shift towards using America's economic power to achieve real wins, including in immigration. The Chinese Communist Party has long exploited American workers, and the narrative that the trade war began with Trump is misleading. The focus on American workers and consumers is often performative.

The president's strategy drove recent events. He and the speaker discussed it at length on Sunday. The president may have goaded China into a bad position, leading them to be perceived as bad actors. The U.S. is willing to cooperate with allies and trading partners who did not retaliate. The message was simple: don't retaliate, and things will turn out well.

Richard Wolff and Glenn discuss Trump’s political project, the trajectory of US capitalism, and how Europe is adjusting to a perceived decline of Western hegemon. - Trump’s politics are, in Wolff’s view, more traditional Republican strategy than a wholesale break with the past. The core priority remains to “make money for the top one to 5%” of people—corporate executives and the employer class that the US census identifies as about 3% of the population. The first-term flagship was the 2017 tax cuts for corporations and wealthier individuals; in the second term, the “big beautiful tax bill” of April likewise serves the core financial base before other issues like immigration or tariffs. - Trump’s more radical or theatrical moves—anti-immigrant campaigns, ICE enforcement, heightened rhetoric toward immigrants, and provocative international actions—are political theater intended to mobilize the traditional Republican coalition and reassure the business constituency. This theater targets the mass voting blocs, while the core funders provide the money to sustain the spectacle. - The domestic political dynamic: while a sizable segment of his base remains supportive, there is growing election-time anxiety within the business coalition and among some voters who are unsettled by his handling of events, including the Epstein scandal. Still, his base numbers hover around 30–35%, giving him a platform to push ahead, though the broader economic critique remains largely taboo in US politics across parties. - The fundamental economic problem: US decline as a structural issue is not debated openly by Trump’s circle or rival parties; the decline persists as China continues to outpace the US in growth. Even with tariffs, China redirected exports to other markets, maintaining a large overall export footprint and signaling the limits of unilateral US pressure. - The “tribute economy” concept: Trump’s international approach can be read as trying to convert other countries into tributaries—using tariffs, coercive measures, and diplomacy to extract relative gains from others while protecting US interests. This aligns with a broader narrative Wolff attributes to a waning hegemon resorting to coercive leverage rather than genuine economic strategy. - Andrew Jackson frame vs. reality: Trump’s use of a Jacksonian nationalist rhetoric is a superficial political device, not a deep historical redefinition. The honest historical view is that Trump adopts a veneer of Jacksonianism to justify a broader, conventional Republican agenda oriented toward the business class, while the world has changed in ways that the Jacksonian frame cannot fully accommodate. - The European reaction: Europe faces a difficult, shrinking trajectory. Wolff argues Europeans are increasingly likely to become an adjunct to the United States, with growth constrained by dependence on outside high-tech powerhouses (the US and China), shrinking industry from auto to other sectors, and rising social strain as welfare states come under pressure. - European policy implications: leaders may resort to increased militarization and a stronger anti-Russia stance to justify repression and social control at home, even as Russia’s actual military threat is overstated as a rationale. Wolff foresees growing social fragmentation, a potential class split between ruling elites and the working/middle classes, and the risk that external threats become a justification for expanding state power and military spending. - A longer arc: Wolff suggests that the current European and American trajectories reflect a broader decline of liberal hegemonies post-World War II. The solution would not be to return to a full Cold War-style confrontation but to acknowledge new multipolar realities, diversify alliances, and address domestic social needs rather than pursuing an ever-expanding militarized security paradigm. - The Minneapolis example and domestic politics: events like the ICE deployment in Minneapolis reveal a troubling trend toward heavy-handed, performative state power that could backfire politically for Trump, especially as more Republicans question Epstein-related narratives and other scandal-driven headlines intensify. - In Europe, the declining empire dynamic suggests a potential return to earlier anti-establishment currents, but leaders face the dilemma of maintaining welfare states while contending with reduced imperial leverage. The conversation anticipates rising social tensions unless new economic strategies and political alignments emerge that recognize changing power structures.

President Trump knows how to pick talent, evidenced by the erudite and fluid speakers in his cabinet. When selecting cabinet members, Trump, according to the speaker who was on the transition team, reviewed three TV clips of each candidate. This was because he was conscious of how these individuals would sell his program to the public.

John Mearsheimer and Glenn discuss the trajectory of the United States’ foreign policy under Donald Trump, focusing on the shift from an anticipated pivot to Asia and a reduction of “forever wars” to the current Iran confrontation and its global implications. - Initial optimism about Trump: Glenn notes a widespread belief that Trump could break with established narratives, recognize the post–Cold War power distribution, pivot to the Western Hemisphere and East Asia, end the “forever wars,” and move away from Europe and the Middle East. Mearsheimer agrees there was early optimism on Judging Freedom that Trump would reduce militarized policy and possibly shut down the Ukraine–Russia war, unlike other presidents. - Drift into Iran and the current quagmire: The conversation then centers on how Trump’s approach to Iran evolved. Mearsheimer argues Trump often vacillates between claims of victory and deep desperation, and he characterizes Trump’s current stance as demanding “unconditional surrender” from Iran, with a 15-point plan that looks like capitulation. He describes Trump as sometimes declaring a “great victory” and other times recognizing the need for an exit strategy but being unable to find one. - The escalation ladder and strategic danger: A core point is that the United States and its allies initially sought a quick, decisive victory using shock and awe to topple the regime, but the effort has become a protracted war in which Iran holds many cards. Iran can threaten the global economy and Gulf state stability, undermine oil infrastructure, and harm Israel. The lack of a credible exit ramp for Trump, combined with the risk of escalation, creates catastrophic potential for the world economy and energy security. - Economic and strategic leverage for Iran: The discussion emphasizes that Iran can disrupt global markets via the Strait of Hormuz, potentially shut down the Red Sea with Houthis participation, and target Gulf desalination and energy infrastructure. The U.S. should maintain oil flow to avoid devastating economic consequences; sanctions on Iran and Russia were strategically relaxed to keep oil moving. The longer the war drags on, the more leverage Iran gains, especially as Trump’s options to harm Iran’s energy sector shrink due to the global economy’s needs. - Exit possibilities and the limits of escalation: Glenn asks how Trump might avoid the iceberg of economic catastrophe. Mearsheimer contends that a deal on Iran’s terms would entail acknowledging Iranian victory and a humiliating US defeat, which is politically challenging—especially given Israeli opposition and the lobby. The Iranians have incentive to string out negotiations, knowing they could extract concessions as time passes and as U.S. desperation grows. - Ground forces and military options: The possibility of a U.S. ground invasion is deemed impractical. Mearsheimer highlights that Desert Storm and the 2003 invasion involved hundreds of thousands of troops; proposed plans for “a few thousand” light infantry would be unable to secure strategic objectives or prevent Iranian counterattacks across the Gulf, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf, with Iran capable of inflicting significant damage on bases and ships. The discussion stresses that even small-scale operations could provoke heavy Iranian defense and strategic backlash. - European and NATO dynamics: The Europeans are portrayed as reluctant to sign onto a risky campaign in support of U.S. objectives, and the episode warns that a broader economic crisis could alter European alignment. The potential breaching of NATO unity and the risk of diminished transatlantic trust are underscored, with Trump’s stance framed as blaming Europeans for strategic failures. - Israel and the lobby: The influence of the Israel lobby and its potential consequences if the war deteriorates are discussed. Mearsheimer notes the danger of rising antisemitism if the war goes catastrophically wrong and Israel’s role in pressuring continued conflict. He also observes that a future shift in U.S. strategy could, in extreme circumstances, diverge from traditional Israeli priorities if the global economy is at stake. - Deep state and decision-making: The final exchange centers on the role of expertise and institutions. Mearsheimer argues that Trump’s distrust of the deep state and reliance on a small circle (Kushner, Whitkoff, Lindsey Graham, media figures) deprived him of necessary strategic deliberation. He contends that a robust deep-state apparatus provides essential expertise for complex wars, offering a counterpoint to Trump’s preferred approach. He contends the deep state was not fully consulted, and that reliance on a limited network contributed to the strategic miscalculations. - Concluding tone: Both acknowledge the grave, uncertain state of affairs and the high risk of escalation and miscalculation. They express a desire for an optimistic resolution but emphasize that the current trajectory is precarious, with signs pointing toward a dangerous escalation that could have wide-ranging geopolitical and economic consequences. They close with a note of concern about the potential for rash actions and the importance of considering responsible exits and credible diplomatic channels.

Check out these insane tariffs that Canada imposed on the US last year: 250% for milk, 291% for butter, and over 200% for whey and cheese. Meanwhile, we charged them far less for the same goods. Since Trump announced tariffs, everyone suddenly became an economics expert. I don't know how tariffs will affect the economy, and neither does anyone else. But I do know tariffs led Apple to build a new factory and hire 20,000 Americans. Honda is building Civics here instead of Mexico. Taiwan Semiconductor is investing $100 billion to build five chip factories in the US. Tariffs pressure China, Mexico, and Canada to stop the flow of fentanyl. Tariffs are one tactic in an economic strategy. Are we willing to tolerate short-term disruption for long-term gain? Macroeconomics are complicated and take time to play out. Are you listening to people who want the President to fail, even if it hurts America?

The media often portrays Trump in a lighthearted manner, but he has a keen understanding of important issues. His interest in Greenland stems from the melting Arctic ice, which opens up a critical shipping lane. By negotiating with Canada and Greenland, the U.S. could gain strategic control over this route, similar to the Panama Canal. This is crucial as China and Russia are aggressively militarizing, and the U.S. must not allow them to dominate the northern passage. Trump's approach, while unconventional, effectively draws attention to this significant issue, allowing for broader public awareness and support. His ability to highlight such strategic matters is noteworthy.

The transcript centers on a dramatic framing of Trump’s Davos appearance and a strategic reorientation of U.S. and Western policy away from the post-World War II rules-based order. The speakers argue that Trump’s actions signal the end of the Bretton Woods-era system and the unipolar order, unsettling globalists who want to cling to the old framework. The main points: - Davos as a turning point: Trump walked into the World Economic Forum and framed the room as “friends and maybe a few enemies,” telling European elites he no longer trusts them to defend American interests. He challenged their energy policies as suicidal and criticized Europe for not leveraging its own energy resources, despite North Sea oil and gas; he referenced Europe’s rising electricity prices (claiming a 139% increase) and highlighted wind power versus oil reserves. - The Greenland signal and a broader realignment: While Greenland is noted as a significant detail, the larger story is Trump recentering U.S. strategy toward the Western Hemisphere. This includes stabilizing the hemisphere, deterring mass migration, crushing transnational criminal networks, and preventing hostile powers from owning key assets near U.S. borders. The plan is described as a Monroe Doctrine-like approach, or a Donroe Doctrine, focusing on the Western Hemisphere rather than Brussels’ priorities. - Europe and NATO exposed: Trump’s rhetoric targeted European elites and NATO members, pushing back against what the speakers describe as the old order that expects U.S. protection without reciprocal responsibility. The claim is that the United States is moving toward a national-interest-based posture, rethinking involvement in the UN and NATO, and deciding who is in or out of major security arrangements. - Canada’s contrast at Davos: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney presented a polite globalist counterpoint—calling for a rupture in the rules-based order and a coalition of middle powers to resist superpowers. The speakers contrast this with Trump’s inward, transactional approach and point to Canada’s perceived ingratitude toward the United States. - Domestic and regional actions: The show notes concrete steps, including Argentina’s open support for Malay’s government, the designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, and a large Western Hemisphere military meeting (34 countries) to plan actions against cartels and transnational criminal networks. There is emphasis on the United States acting decisively in the region and the broader implications for national security. - Alberta and Canadian diplomacy: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (referred to as Scott Benson) comments in Davos about Alberta as a potential natural partner for the United States, illustrating a shift in how Washington is evaluating regional partnerships. The contrast with Carney’s call for a rules-based order underscores the political climate. - Money and minerals emphasis: The speaker pivots to the financial implications of a shifted world order, arguing that money is moving into mining stocks as the U.S. seeks to secure domestic supply chains. The narrative highlights a surge in gold and silver prices and a pivot to mining equities as a strategic investment response to geopolitical shifts. - Vanguard Mining and specific metals: The sponsor Vanguard Mining is presented as exposing a diversified portfolio across five metals—gold, copper, uranium, lithium, and molybdenum—with direct exposure to projects in British Columbia, Argentina, and Paraguay. China’s dominance over these critical minerals is outlined: China’s control of lithium refining (60–70% of world capacity), copper refining and consumption (roughly 58% of refined copper), and molybdenum production (42–45% of global output), plus new export restrictions on moly powders. The company’s portfolio, including a focus on the Pokitos-1 lithium project in Argentina, is highlighted as strategically significant for Western supply chains. The ticker UUUFF is mentioned for Vanguard Mining, with availability on major U.S. exchanges. Overall, the transcript asserts a geopolitical and economic shift away from the existing global order toward a more transactional, hemisphere-centered American strategy, with mining and critical minerals playing a key role in national security and economic policy.

President Trump wanted a conditions-based withdrawal from Afghanistan. During negotiations with the Taliban, Trump told the Taliban leader through a translator that if they harmed a single American, he would kill them. Trump then handed the Taliban leader a satellite photo of his home. According to the speaker, after this incident, no Americans were killed in Afghanistan for 18 months. The speaker equates this to strength, suggesting that under President Trump, other countries would fear harming American interests abroad due to the potential consequences.

First speaker: Iran doesn’t really need to attack American ships or force the strait to open because it could actually be advantageous for the strait to remain closed. There are floating oil reserves and cargo ships in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea that Iran could rely on. In fact, Iran has a substantial stockpile: 160,000,000 barrels of Iranian crude already floating at sea, outside the Persian Gulf, past the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. That amount could fuel a country like Germany for over two months, and most of it is headed to Chinese independent refiners. Exports remain high, and the blockade is real, even if the timing is late. Do you agree that Iran is prepped for this day? Second speaker: I do agree. I think this is not harming the Iranians as much as it is harming the United States and the rest of the world. First speaker: What is Trump’s thought process? He has spoken with secretary Besant and other advisers, so he’s already sought advice. What alternative could work in Trump’s favor? Second speaker: Whenever the first round of negotiations ended, the president believed that his style of brinksmanship would produce immediate capitulation and agreement by the Iranians. The Iranians have never negotiated like that. Even the first treaty in the late 2000s took a long time to negotiate, not one and done. This administration wants short-term gains, and that isn’t possible with the Iranians. In the short term, the Iranians are in the driver’s seat. Negotiating and diplomacy are very difficult work; you don’t bully your way through. There is no unconditional surrender. There is none of that except in the president’s mind, unfortunately.

President Trump's strategy was to hit back very hard. The media predicted civilization would melt down. However, half the countries in the world decided to lower trade barriers and make a deal with the president. They needed access to US markets and determined it was in their best interest. These countries came to the table because of President Trump's actions. Some may not want to admit it, but it is the truth. Deal-making is an art, and President Trump has mastered it.

Initially skeptical of Trump, the speaker eventually rated his presidency positively, acknowledging his accomplishments. They praised his avoidance of worsening situations, particularly in wars, which they considered a significant achievement. Another speaker commended Trump's willingness to negotiate and do business, highlighting his meetings with Kim Jong Un, Putin, and Xi Jinping without personal criticism. They attributed this approach to the "art of the deal." The first speaker argued that Trump derangement syndrome prevented people from recognizing the administration's good work and building upon it. They mentioned the success of the border wall, issuing long-term debt at low rates, and a structural piece in the Middle East, criticizing the tendency to dismiss messages based on the messenger. They urged listeners to look past who is speaking and truly listen to the words being said.

In a discussion about the Iran confrontation and its wider implications, Glenn and John Mearsheimer analyze the sequence of events and underlying dynamics behind President Donald Trump’s statements and policy shifts. - Trump’s two Monday tweets frame the episode: an initial threat to “wipe Iran off the face of the earth” to force concession, followed by a reversal to announce a ceasefire based on Iran’s 10-point plan. Mersheimer emphasizes that this sequence reveals Trump’s desperation to end the war and to secure a ceasefire quickly, then to shift to negotiations with Iran’s plan as the basis. - The framework of the negotiations is contrasted with the US’s prior maximalist aims. The United States had demanded four core goals: regime change, Iran’s nuclear enrichment cessation, elimination of long-range missiles, and cessation of support for groups like the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas. Mersheimer notes none of these have been realized, while Iran reportedly gains leverage through control of the Strait of Hormuz. - The Iranian 10-point plan is presented as a basis for negotiations that would, in effect, concede the big US demands. Trump’s evening tweet signaling acceptance of the 10-point plan is read as a defeat for the US position and a shift toward Iranian maximalism on its own terms. The claim is that the ceasefire, if it occurs, would involve concessions that Iran had already proposed. - The feasibility of a ceasefire is questioned. Iran’s open Strait of Hormuz depends on Israel halting attacks in Lebanon (on Hezbollah), which has not happened. Therefore, a true ceasefire is not in place, and the Israelis’ actions are seen as undermining any potential halt to hostilities. - The broader strategic picture is outlined. Iran’s leverage includes allied groups (Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas) and the ability to close chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz or the Bab el-Mandab strait via the Houthis. The discussion notes Iran’s large missile/drone arsenal and potential to threaten American bases, though Mersheimer stresses that sanctions and the prolonged war have devastated Iran’s economy, which complicates assessments of its strength. - The role of external powers and economies is highlighted. Mersheimer argues that the global economy—especially oil and fertilizers—drives the push to end the conflict. He suggests China and Pakistan, with Russian input, pressured Iran to negotiate, given the global economic risks of a prolonged war. He also notes that the New York Times reported that all 13 US bases in the Gulf were damaged or destroyed, undermining U.S. presence there. - Domestic political concerns are discussed. Trump’s ability to declare victory while acknowledging defeat creates a political hazard. Vance is presented as a potentially capable negotiator who could press for a ceasefire, but there is concern about internal political blowback if he concedes too much. - Israel’s position is considered crucial. Netanyahu’s government is described as having promoted the war, and the war’s outcome is said to damage U.S.-Israel relations. There is speculation that Israel may consider drastic options, including nuclear consideration against Iran, given the perceived failure of conventional means. - The Ukraine war and its relation to the Iran conflict are explored. If Iran’s war ends or is perceived as winding down, European capacity and willingness to support Ukraine become central questions. The U.S. may shift blame to Europe for Ukraine’s defeat if Russia advances, while withholding weapons to Ukraine to avoid further strain on U.S. stockpiles. - The discussion on rationality in international relations emphasizes that states act rationally when their decisions align with a plausible theory of international politics and a sound decision-making process. Mersheimer argues Europe’s behavior toward the U.S. is not irrational, though he criticizes its liberal-theory basis (NATO expansion) as potentially misguided but not irrational. He contrasts this with Trump’s Iran attack in February 2029, which he deems irrational due to a lack of a plausible theory of victory. - The multipolar world dynamic is reinforced. The war’s outcomes are viewed as weakening U.S. ability to project power, diminishing transatlantic cohesion, and boosting Russia and China’s relative position. The loss of Gulf bases and diminished American influence are expected to push Europe toward greater strategic autonomy, with NATO potentially becoming less meaningful by 2029, depending on future leadership. - Final notes include concerns about the political risk for Vance as a negotiator, the likelihood of a difficult peace process, and the possibility that misperceptions and propaganda—analyzed through historical parallels like the Vietnam War and Walter Lippmann’s ideas—have locked leaders into an “evil enemy” narrative that complicates peacemaking. Overall, the conversation portrays Trump’s messaging as a sign of desperation to end a costly conflict, the ceasefire as a fragile construct dependent on Iranian terms, Iran’s expanding leverage in the region, the fragility of U.S.-Israel and transatlantic bonds, and a shifting global order moving toward multipolarity with lasting economic and strategic consequences.

The speaker believes people are reacting hysterically to Trump's trade policies because they were taught that free trade is good, and tariffs are bad. Trump's perspective is that while free trade may improve GDP, it devastated parts of the US, costing people not just jobs, but their towns. The US is in the best position to negotiate trade because exports only comprise 11% of its GDP. If countries are rational, Canada and Mexico would concede to US demands, as 25% of their GDP comes from exports to the US. Europe is not much better, so they should also lower barriers. The wild card is politicians fearing job loss if they give in. The speaker acknowledges market pain but notes those who lost jobs are cheering. Trump is doing what he said he would do, fulfilling his promises.

Jeffrey Sachs and Glenn discuss the chaotic state of U.S.–Iran diplomacy and broader U.S. foreign-policy dysfunction as of mid-April. Sachs argues the events are not linear or transparent: a ceasefire seems announced, but then Israel escalates in Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and U.S. officials debate the format and basis of negotiations without consistency. He notes that the United States previously demanded a maximal list and Iran countered, but those details fell away and no clear path emerged. In his view, there is no “deeper cleverness” behind the moves; rather, a chaos in the process. Sachs emphasizes that one partner in the conflict, Israel, does not want a ceasefire or negotiations and aims for Iran’s destruction, which helps explain the abrupt shifts around ceasefires and mediation. He points to the U.S. “blockade” and the inconsistent signals from Trump and his aides, including the claim that Iran was “begging for further negotiations,” which Sachs sees as inconsistent with the earlier hard demands. He suggests the episode is not a rational statecraft process but a one-person show centered on Donald Trump, with advisers around him either skeptical or insufficiently influential. Sachs cites NYT reporting (as an inside-account example) that Netanyahu and Mossad pitched war to Trump, with Vance and other senior officials doubtful or opposed, yet Trump pressed ahead. He describes this as a potentially individualized decision-making process rather than a formal, institutional policy debate, implying a de-institutionalized approach dominated by a few insiders and Trump’s impulses. He also contends that Trump’s approach—bluster, bombing threats, and attempts to “bully” through negotiations—has not been historically effective and may reflect a delusional or incompetent leadership style. Sachs notes Trump’s publicly erratic posts and rhetoric, including provocative statements about civilizations, which he reads as signs of mental instability or at least a departure from normal presidential conduct. He contrasts this with Iran’s demeanor, which he says appears polite publicly, though Iran is not simply yielding to U.S. demands. Beyond Iran, Sachs broadens the critique to U.S. strategic thinking: the United States has failed to anticipate multipolar realities, leading to miscalculations with China, Russia, and Iran. He argues that sanctions and choke points have not produced expected outcomes and that both China and Russia have responded in ways that contradicted U.S. expectations. He attributes much of the problem to a “deinstitutionalization” of U.S. decision-making: incompetent or poorly chosen personnel, a perceived corruption of political power, and leadership that operates more as a personal show than as an organized, collective process. Sachs contends that the underlying backdrop is a decline in U.S. relative power and a failure to adapt to a multipolar world, which, coupled with internal political polarization and an ailing administrative system, drives the current instability. He suggests the trade policy and sanctions experiences during the Trump and Biden periods illustrate a pattern of amateurish, impractical decision-making in high-stakes geopolitics. The conversation ends with a reflection on how the current U.S. apparatus—especially in security and foreign policy—appears increasingly improvisational, with governance processes sidelined in favor of personal prerogatives and reactive moves.

US Business Leaders are begging to meet with the president because he is a negotiator making good deals for the American worker. The president discussed the need for steel and aluminum tariffs in his speech in Pennsylvania. According to someone backstage at the speech, the tariffs are the greatest thing to happen for the Pittsburgh community in sixty years. The president is delivering on his promises to bolster the steel and aluminum industries and protect those jobs. If not for this president, that steel plant in Pittsburgh would have closed and the president saved that company, those jobs, and that community.