Trump's Art of the Deal for Peace in the Middle East

86 snips

Oct 14, 2025

The discussion kicks off with the release of hostages linked to Trump's Israel-Gaza deal, sparking debate on its potential for lasting peace. The hosts evaluate Trump's foreign policy success versus his chaotic domestic record. They dive into the implications of new tariffs on China and the broader economic consequences. Amidst a looming government shutdown, they examine Congress's waning power and the judiciary's role in curbing executive authority. Finally, they reflect on the Democratic Party's struggle with candidate quality and the future of political leadership.

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INSIGHT

Hostage Deal Marks A Fragile Diplomatic Win

The hostage release and Gaza ceasefire were brokered with heavy U.S. involvement and credit given to Donald Trump.
This moment could be a step toward peace but carries large uncertainties and costs from two years of war.

INSIGHT

U.S. Indispensability In The Middle East Is Problematic

The U.S. has long acted as the indispensable Middle East power, brokering deals with carrots and sticks.
The panel questions why the U.S. must remain indispensable and suggests regional actors should take more responsibility.

INSIGHT

Trump's Dealmaking Cuts Dependence — With Risks

Trump's approach sometimes reduces U.S. centrality by selling arms and encouraging regional actors to handle disputes.
That approach can lessen dependence on Washington but risks unpredictability from personalized diplomacy.

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This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch celebrate the release of over 2,000 hostages, political prisoners, and detainees, while considering whether President Donald Trump's Israel–Gaza deal represents a genuine step toward lasting peace in the Middle East. They discuss whether Trump's foreign policy approach is consistent, examining his recent strikes in Venezuela, and whether his record abroad compares favorably to his chaotic record at home.

The conversation then turns to Trump's new China tariffs, which rattled markets and underscored his erratic approach to trade policy, followed by yet another round of bailouts for struggling farmers. The editors also examine Congress' indifference amid another government shutdown and the growing sense that lawmakers have ceded their role entirely to the executive branch. They discuss a federal judge's weekend ruling that limits Trump's ability to deploy National Guard troops into U.S. cities, and what it signals about the courts' willingness to check his power. Finally, they assess the Democrats' persistent candidate-quality problem, from Virginia to California, and how it reveals a party struggling to find competent leadership. A listener asks whether a libertarian could offer a meaningful alternative in New York City's next mayoral race.

0:00—Trump brokers peace in the Middle East

13:32—Is Trump's foreign policy more successful than his domestic record?

18:03—Tariff threats escalate trade war with China

25:04—Government shutdown leads to federal layoffs

34:44—Is the judiciary the only check on Trump's authority?

43:02—Listener question on Libertarian Party in NYC

47:27—The Democratic Party's candidate-quality problems

55:36—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in This Podcast

"All 20 Surviving Hostages Freed," by Liz Wolfe

"What If the U.S. Cuts Off Aid to Israel?" By Matt Welch

"The U.S. Military Is Helping Arab Dictatorships Run Psyops," by Matthew Petti

"New York's Libertarian and Green Parties Petition Supreme Court Over New York's Restrictive Ballot Access Laws," by Brian Doherty

Producer: Paul Alexander
Video Editor: Ian Keyser

The post Trump's Art of the Deal for Peace in the Middle East appeared first on Reason.com.