Nick Cohen interviews Andrew Gawthorpe about the current geopolitical situation, particularly focusing on America's disastrous war with Iran and its broader implications.

Andy Gawthorpe is the author of the highly-regarded newsletter "America Explained" and teaches at Leiden University in The Netherlands. He describes the current mess caused by Trump and his fellow incompetents, such as defence minister Pete Hegseth, as "America's Suez moment", suggesting it could mark the beginning of American empire decline. Nick and Andy discuss how Trump's foreign policy lacks strategic rationale, the rise of militarism on the American right, and the potential dangers of Trump's ability to command military power - as "Commander-in-Chief" - even as his domestic political position weakens. They also discuss the impact on the U.S.-Israel relationship, with both agreeing that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's approach has undermined the alliance and international support for Israel, especially liberals who have been deeply antagonised by its catastrophic war on the Palestinian people, that increasing numbers of critics are characterising as genocide. Nick and Andy also discuss concerns about America's military becoming a tool for Trump's personal agenda.

The UK and the rest of Europe face the most toxic version of the United States. On one hand, the U.S. is now deeply isolationist and not only seeks to abandon Europe to the wiles of the fascist regime of Vladamir Putin while it also actively helps the Kremlin in its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. Meanwhile, the MAGA White House is seeking to overturn liberal and democratic governments in Europe and to replace them with MAGA-friendly acolytes in Europe's far-right parties. Only this week, U.S. vice-president J.D. Vance visited Hungary to help bolster the election chances of beleaguered authoritarian autocrat Viktor Orbán, who has impoverished Hungary democratically, morally and economically, while turning it from one of the richest countries in the EU to one of the poorest.

Andrew Gawthorpe @andygawt explains an increasingly unstable and reckless U.S. to his baffled readers in his Substack column America Explained.

Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond.

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Nick Cohen and Adrian Wooldridge discuss Adrian's book "Centrists of the World Unite: The Lost Genius of Liberalism." They discuss how liberal institutions and ideologies have become corrupted across multiple domains - from "Woke" identitarianism on the left to neoliberal capitalism and global managerialism. Adrian identifies three main liberal overreaches: left liberals pushing extreme social policies, neoliberals promoting unfettered markets, and globalists supporting unmanaged immigration and multinational institutions.

They discuss how these failures created conditions for authoritarian populism, with examples like Trump and Brexit, though Adrian argues these represent bad solutions to real problems rather than legitimate alternatives. They also talk about how tech companies pose a civilisational threat to liberal values by manipulating preferences and fracturing attention, and concluded with optimism about liberalism's historical pattern of revival after apparent deaths, suggesting current incremental adjustments by politicians like Sir Keir Starmer could lead to a new liberal renaissance.

Adrian Wooldridge @adwooldridge is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion and an author. His book Centrists of the world, unite! The lost genius of liberalism" has just been published. Adrian's book lays out a centrist agenda for today’s problems. It reminds us of the dynamism and fixed principles that have shaped the successes of liberalism and warns us against splitting into sub-groups that fail to grapple with the common good.

Nick Cohen's @NickCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond.

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Nick Cohen talks to leading U.S. commentator and conservative dissident Charlie Sykes about the continuing collapse of the U.S. Republic under the corruption, authoritarianism and incompetence of the Trump-MAGA regime. Nick asks Charlie the question increasing numbers of people are asking, "Can Democrats save the U.S. from becoming a despotic regime permanently controlled by Trump's MAGA cult?"

Trump is desperately trying to get his so-called "Save America Act" passed through Congress and the Senate ahead of the midterm elections in November. The Act is widely seen as a brazen attempt by an unstable and rapidly ageing man to rig future elections to the Republicans' advantage by putting major obstacles in the way of voters' ability to vote.

Meanwhile, the media, civic society and important institutions are under relentless assault by Trump and his MAGA minions. Trump's illegal tariffs are helping to impoverish many Americans - and billions more around the world - while his illegal and increasingly catastrophic war threatens to plunge the global economy into chaos and recession. His sinister support for Vladimir Putin not only threatens Ukraine but the security of the rest if Europe.

Nick asks Charlie Sykes, "Can the Democrats finally get their act together and end Trump's increasingly toxic tyranny before it's too late?"

Charlie Sykes @SykesCharlie is a leading highly respected United States conservative political commentator who was formerly editor-in-chief and founder of the highly influential website The Bulwark. Charlie has been a leading Never Trump Conservative since Trump stood for the presidency in 2015. Charlie's Substack - To the contrary is a must read, and his regular podcast - also called To the contrary - a must listen. He has also been a columnist and author for the progressive channel MSNBC.

Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.