The Washington Roundtable discusses Donald Trump’s use of force in Venezuela, his desire to take over Greenland, and the historical echoes of the Administration’s new imperialist projects. The panel also considers Trump’s brand of “narcissistic unilateralism” and the increased risks of global conflict when foreign policy is based on one man’s whims. “Donald Trump wants to write his name into history,” the staff writer Susan B. Glasser says. “He wants every single person in the world to have to exchange their map for one of the United States that looks different, that looks bigger, and that everybody for all eternity will say, ‘Donald Trump did this.’ ”

This week’s reading:

“Why Donald Trump Wants Greenland (and Everything Else),” by Susan B. Glasser
“Minneapolis Grieves, Again,” by E. Tammy Kim
“Mr. Mamdani’s (New) Neighborhood,” by Molly Fischer
“The Aggressive Ambitions of Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine,’ ” by Robin Wright
“What Will Become of Venezuela’s Political Prisoners?,” by Stephania Taladrid
“J. D. Vance’s Notable Absence on Venezuela,” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells
“The Dramatic Arraignment of Nicolás Maduro,” by Cristian Farias
“The Former Trump Skeptics Getting Behind His War in Venezuela,” by Isaac Chotiner
“Jack Smith’s Closing Argument,” by Ruth Marcus
“Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Big Breakup,” by Charles Bethea

The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.

Tune in to The Political Scene wherever you get your podcasts.

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Le billet de Sophia Aram du mardi 06 janvier 2026

Dans la bouche de Sofia Aram

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