Anne Applebaum on the Grifters and Ideologues Reshaping US Foreign Policy
Summary
Anne Applebaum argues that Trump’s foreign policy is a revolutionary shift driven by ideological grift, replacing traditional diplomacy with self-serving deals that undermine global stability. She details how the administration’s focus on personal gain and civilizational identity has weakened alliances, particularly in Europe, while amateurish negotiations with Russia and Iran prolong the Ukraine war. Applebaum emphasizes that this approach threatens American security by emboldening adversaries and eroding the international order that has historically protected US interests.
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest Anne Applebaum
The 'revolution' in US foreign policy and institutional decay
Ambitions to remake the world and weaken Europe
Hostility toward the EU and tech industry influence
Assault on institutions and the rise of grifters
Diplomatic failures and lack of expertise in negotiations
Kushner and Witkoff's impact on the Ukraine war
Is the US still part of the free world?
Why Ukraine is still fighting and European solidarity
The three aspects of the current war in Ukraine
Explaining the stakes of the war to Americans
Global economic and security consequences of the war
Should the US use military force to protect Ukraine?
US policy in Venezuela and the oil deal controversy
The Greenland dispute and trust in NATO
Host takeaways and the civilizational worldview
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