Autocracy in America The Negotiator
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Sep 12, 2025 
Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor to President Biden, shares his insights on the fragile state of democracies worldwide. He discusses the need for cooperation among political rivals to combat authoritarianism. They dive into the complexities of U.S. foreign policy towards Russia and the importance of supporting Ukraine. Sullivan emphasizes balancing international aid with domestic interests and warns against American isolationism. Together, they explore the challenges facing Biden's reelection and the necessity of unity in defending democratic values.
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Putin's Appetite Grew Over Decades
- Vladimir Putin steadily grew more aggressive and dangerous over the last quarter century according to Jake Sullivan.
- U.S. policy from the late 1990s through the 2010s failed to reverse that trend.
2012 Warning Memo On Putin
- As State Department director of policy planning, Jake Sullivan wrote a 2012 memo warning of a dark turn when Putin returned to power.
- Secretary Clinton forwarded a similar memo to the White House describing Putin as likely to be aggressive.
Intelligence Made The Invasion Plausible
- The U.S. saw large Russian force buildups in spring 2021 and tried summits to warn Putin of consequences.
- Intelligence convinced the White House by fall 2021 that an invasion was likely despite those warnings.