Walter Russell Mead discusses Putin endorsing Biden, Putin dissing Tucker Carlson, Trump dissing NATO, and Biden's challenges in the Middle East. The hosts also explore the theory that Trump's unpredictability kept Russia and Iran quieter, and discuss Biden's frustrations with Netanyahu and Israeli military operations. The podcast concludes with recommendations for exploring Russian literature.
Putin sees Biden as a potential cause of poor leadership and division in the United States, aiming to drive a wedge between Europe and the US.
The disappointment expressed by Putin towards Tucker Carlson's interview highlights the difference between American media figures and Russian ultra-nationalist writers in terms of intellectual depth and substance.
Deep dives
Putin's Comments on Biden and Trump
Vladimir Putin stated that Joe Biden would be a better US president for Russia than Donald Trump, emphasizing Biden's experience and predictability. Putin's goal is to drive a wedge between Europe and the United States, and he sees Trump as a means to achieve this. However, Biden would be a wonderful foil for Putin, as he offers a gentile failure in coordinating with Europeans on an anti-Russian strategy. Putin ultimately wants to see poor leadership and a divided United States.
Putin's Disappointment with Tucker Carlson
Putin expressed disappointment with Tucker Carlson's interview, expecting aggressive questioning that would allow him to respond sharply. Putin's criticism suggests that he wanted to present his perspective and challenge his interviewer. This highlights the stark difference between some American media figures, like Carlson, who tend to engage in superficial and headline rhetoric, and Russian ultra-nationalist writers who offer a more intellectually grounded worldview.
Trump's NATO Comments and Potential Two-Tiered Alliance
Donald Trump claimed that he would encourage Russia to do whatever they want to countries that hadn't paid their NATO dues. Trump's allies have discussed the possibility of a two-tiered NATO alliance, where Article 5 would only apply to nations that meet defense spending commitments. The viability of NATO depends on European countries contributing their fair share of defense spending, as failure to do so will jeopardize the alliance's effectiveness. The Biden administration's challenge is to convince European nations to meet their obligations and prevent NATO from collapsing.
This week, Walter and Jeremy talk Putin endorsing Biden, Putin dissing Tucker Carlson, Trump dissing NATO, and Biden stumbling in the Middle East.
Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/what-really-matters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet column here, and check out more from Tablet here.