Politics Weekly America Is Donald Trump too weak to be a strongman?
10 snips
Aug 14, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Susan Glasser, a Staff writer at The New Yorker and host of the Political Scene podcast, dives into the week’s developments concerning Donald Trump’s ‘strongman’ image. She analyzes Trump’s upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. Glasser sheds light on the concerning militarization of American politics and the erosion of democracy in D.C., questioning the implications of these shifts. Through her insights, she illustrates the precarious balance between power and democratic values in contemporary America.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump's Personal Pull Toward Putin
- Donald Trump craves a public, personal rapport with Vladimir Putin and seeks validation from him.
- That craving leads Trump to pursue meetings that often require concessions from the U.S. side without reciprocal Russian concessions.
Deadlines Without Consequences
- Trump set deadlines for Russia but often fails to enforce them or meet his own benchmarks.
- Putin gained diplomatic recognition and access without offering any concessions, which Glasser calls remarkable.
Willingness To Redraw Ukrainian Lines
- Trump signals willingness to accept land changes and swaps in Ukraine that European allies and Zelensky oppose.
- That posture indicates alignment with Kremlin demands and risks undercutting longstanding allied policy.