Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

#1735 Trump's Making Friends of Enemies and Enemies of Neighbors (Foreign and Domestic Wars)

Sep 7, 2025
Guest
Trump
Guest
Katrina vanden Heuvel
Guest
Brandon Johnson
Join Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a champion for progressive change, and Katrina Vanden Heuvel, an expert on U.S.-Russia relations, as they delve into the chaotic political landscape influenced by Trump's provocative policies. They discuss the troubling militarization of law enforcement, the implications of aggressive immigration strategies, and the challenges posed by Trump's geopolitics towards Venezuela and Ukraine. Their insights reveal the urgent need for local resistance and democratic engagement in the face of rising authoritarianism.
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INSIGHT

Alaska Summit Shifted Ukraine's Ground Reality

  • Trump and Putin's Alaska meeting signaled pre-agreements limiting contestation over Russian-held Ukrainian territory.
  • The summit implied the U.S. may tacitly accept Russia's hold on Crimea and parts of Donbass.
INSIGHT

Ukrainians Want Peace Without Capitulation

  • Ukrainians overwhelmingly want peace but refuse to cede millions of people to Russian occupation.
  • Reducing the war to great-power competition ignores Ukrainian agency and humanitarian costs.
INSIGHT

Election Changes Became A Presidential Priority

  • Trump openly echoed Putin's lines on mail-in ballots and pledged executive action to end them.
  • That vocal alignment signals purposeful efforts to reshape U.S. election infrastructure.
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