

Are We Headed for Global Chaos? ft. Ian Bremmer | Shane Smith Has Questions
Sep 18, 2025
Ian Bremmer, the President and founder of Eurasia Group, dives deep into the rapidly changing global landscape. He highlights the impact of drone warfare, noting how cheap swarms can reshape security threats. As tensions rise between global powers like the U.S., China, and Russia, Bremmer discusses the challenges of diplomacy and the fractured state of globalization. He also touches on the tech race, emphasizing the U.S. lead in AI while warning about China's advancements in clean energy. Climate risks loom, yet a cleaner future is within reach if politics align.
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Trump's Personal Diplomacy Fell Short
- Trump sought personal deals with authoritarian leaders but largely failed to secure durable results.
- Ian Bremmer argues those failures explain Trump's frustration at the Xi-Putin-Kim meeting.
Ceasefire Announcement Became Public Humiliation
- Bremmer recounts Trump brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and then being publicly disavowed by Modi.
- Modi's ego and a U.S. preemptive announcement undermined the bilateral understanding.
China Exploits U.S. Unpredictability
- China is building alternative institutions to exploit U.S. unpredictability without directly replacing American power.
- Bremmer says many countries now hedge toward China because U.S. commitments feel less reliable.