Machthaber: Donald Trump
Summary
This Politico Berlin Playbook episode, hosted by Gordon Rapinski, explores Donald Trump’s second term through a speculative 2026 lens, detailing "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran and aggressive trade policies. It analyzes how Trump dismantles traditional alliances, forcing NATO allies to increase spending while pursuing unilateral deals with autocrats like Putin and Xi. The narrative highlights the shift from a rules-based order to a transactional world where strength dictates reality, leaving Europe to navigate strategic independence.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The 2026 Crisis and Trump's Return
Sponsor Message: StreetEasy
NATO Transformation: From Values to Transactional Payments
Hemispheric Dominance: Greenland, Canada, and the Gulf of Mexico
Ukraine War: Marginalizing Allies and Meeting Putin
Operation Epic Fury: The 2026 War on Iran
Failed Peace: Ukraine Ceasefire and Iran Aftermath
Domestic Authoritarianism: Deportations and Venezuela
The New World Order: Trump, Putin, and Xi
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Builder and Succession
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