Values, Realism, and American Leadership

In this episode, Ron is joined by Hagar Chemali (Fmr. spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the UN) to break down the Trump administration’s 2025 National Security Strategy—and why it reads like multiple agendas stitched together.

They dig into the document’s big shift toward the Western Hemisphere, what “partnership without shared values” really implies, and how the administration’s internal split—isolationists vs. internationalists—creates real risk when the U.S. can’t speak with one voice.

The conversation moves to China and Taiwan, where the NSS repeats long-standing policy while the administration’s actions suggest a tougher, more transactional posture. Then they hit the blind spots: Hong Kong and Jimmy Lai, the chilling signal sent by a collapse of opposition space, and what it means when human rights drops out of the national security frame.

Finally: Islamist extremism and antisemitic violence, including the Bondi Beach shooting and a foiled bombing plot in Southern California—and why ignoring incitement doesn’t make it disappear.

DONATE FOR UKRAINE

To support equipment requests for our frontline communicators and psyop-ers in Ukraine, you can use this link: paypal.me/MollyKMcKew

POLITICOLOGY+

Not yet a Politicology+ member? Don’t miss all the extra episodes on the private, ad-free version of this podcast. Upgrade now at politicology.com/plus.

CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICOLOGY

politicology.com/donate

SPONSORS & PROMO CODES https://bit.ly/44uAGZ8

Get 15% off OneSkin with the code RON at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod

Send your questions and ideas to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(703) 239-3068‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https:/x.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/HagarChemali

Related Reading:

The Atlantic - The Longest Suicide Note in American History - The Atlantic

NYT - Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai’s Conviction Was Years in the Making - The New York Times

NYT - Heng Guan Documented China’s Detention of Uyghurs. The U.S. Wants to Deport Him. - The New York Times

Kharon -Hypersonic Secret: ‘China’s MIT’ Worked with U.S. while Developing Weapons to Use Against It | Kharon

WP - Bondi Beach gunmen appear inspired by Islamic State, authorities say - The Washington Post

Compact Magazine - The Lost Generation | Compact

NY Times - Opinion | Does Discrimination Explain the Rightward Shift of Young Men? - The New York Times

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices