To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Ben Wittes: Five Alarm Fires
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Aug 19, 2025 Ben Wittes, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution and Editor-in-Chief of Lawfare, delves into the precarious state of U.S. foreign policy post-Trump's summit with Putin. He shares a humorous yet surreal anecdote of chalking a Ukrainian flag outside the Russian embassy, highlighting the absurdity of police reactions. The discussion critiques the implications of diplomacy with dictators and the troubling state of the Department of Justice amidst political turmoil, alongside a focus on the growing militarization of law enforcement in Washington, D.C.
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Chalking A Ukrainian Flag And Secret Service Run-In
- Ben Wittes tried to chalk a Ukrainian flag outside the Russian embassy and was confronted by multiple Secret Service vehicles and inquiries.
- The Secret Service deemed sidewalk chalk defacement under a DC ordinance and prevented him from finishing the flag.
Summit Gave Legitimacy, Not Gains
- Ben Wittes argues there was no reason for Trump to meet Putin and that the meeting produced no concessions from Russia.
- He warns the summit symbolically prostrated America while achieving nothing for Ukraine.
Alaska Trip Carried Deep Symbolism
- Wittes highlights Alaska's Russian-imperial symbolism and why hosting Putin there amplified the insult.
- He says Russians and Ukrainians read Alaska's history as a powerful message of reclaiming prestige.
