What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead The Trump-Putin Summit
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Aug 19, 2025 The discussion opens with a look at Americans' decreasing mobility and the implications for inequality. They delve into the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, exploring shifting perceptions of crime and safety. Listeners learn about a surprising drop in alcohol consumption among U.S. adults to its lowest in decades. The analysis of the Trump-Putin summit highlights significant geopolitical shifts and critiques media narratives that miss crucial developments in U.S.-Russian relations, as well as emerging alliances in Central Asia.
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Signs Of Potential Economic Immobility
- Low moving and hiring rates may signal structural immobility or a temporary blip depending on broader trends.
- Walter Mead warns we need more evidence but notes AI and housing rules could make this long-term.
Build And Reform To Fix Housing
- Increase remote work and reform zoning and building codes to expand national housing supply.
- Build more starter homes so young families can afford sustainable lifestyles, Mead advises.
Guard Deployment As Political Theater
- Trump used National Guard deployment as a political issue to exploit perceived cracks in opposing coalitions.
- Mead calls much of the media framing around crime and guardsmanship 'faux news' driven by politics.