The United States has plenty of work ahead of us if we want to win the global soft power battleground in the fight against China, Russia, and Iran. With good reason, the Trump administration has strongly criticized the implementation of American soft power under the previous administration. Its response has been to cut billions in foreign aid, but while breaking some eggs is necessary, preparing the ingredients and cooking the omelet is equally vital to ensure that the execution of U.S. soft power matches the enlightened principles upon which it was conceived following World War II. Dan Twining, President of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and Vandenberg Advisory Board Member, joins Flash Focus to discuss how the United States can capitalize on this current moment to reorient U.S. soft power effectively and efficiently within the current geopolitical context.

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Dan Twining’s “Democracy Assistance Isn’t Regime Change”

(1:51) What Does Soft Power Mean?

(2:41) Soft Power in the Cold War

(4:23) The Present Strength of American Soft Power

(6:58) Why Does Soft Power Matter?

(9:34) Misconceptions About Democracy Assistance

(13:39) The Trump Administration’s Cuts

(15:57) The Development Finance Organization and Millennium Challenge Corporation

(17:40) Supporting Dissidents

(21:07) Democracy Programs in Action

(23:24) Why Should Americans Care About Soft Power?

(27:06) Recommendations to Make Soft Power More Effective

The Vandenberg Coalition's Executive Director Carrie Filipetti sat down with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) to talk about the national security challenges facing the United States. From how we can work with our allies to push back against the Chinese Communist Party to pursuing “peace through sanctions” to deal with Vladimir Putin, Senator Scott sounds the alarm on how our adversaries are threatening the American way of life and discusses how we should respond. Throughout the conversation, he outlines how U.S. allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific can work together economically and on defensive capabilities—while making sure Americans come first—shares his support for Israel and the Venezuelan people, and more.

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President Trump is slated to speak at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next week. Though many say it is unlikely that UNGA will reap anything substantial and positive for the United States, the conference will serve as one of the first opportunities for President Trump to outline to the rest of the world his foreign policy vision and approach for the next four years. Amanda Rothschild, former Special Assistant to the President and Senior National Security Speechwriter at the White House and former Senior Policy Director at The Vandenberg Coalition, joins to share what she expects from the president’s speech, why the speech is important, and how we should think about it within the context of the president’s foreign policy agenda.

“From Reagan to Trump, a Speechwriter’s Legacy Lives On in Washington”

President Trump’s 2017 Speech to the UN

President Trump’s 2018 Speech to the UN

You can also watch this podcast as a video on YouTube.

(1:54) Why Does This Speech Matter?

(3:46) What President Trump May Highlight

(5:20) Palestinian Statehood

(6:32) The Interplay Between Domestic and Foreign Policy

(8:08) The Speechwriting Process

(12:29) Legacy of Past Speechwriters

(14:33) The UNGA Experience

(17:30) The President’s Interactions at UNGA