The DSR Network FTA: What're We Getting in Return for All of Trump's Gifts to Russia?
Dec 27, 2025
John Sipher, a former intelligence officer and national security commentator, joins the hosts to dissect the troubling dynamics between Trump and Putin. He explains how Trump's actions undermine trust in intelligence-sharing with Ukraine and disrupt global alliances like the Five Eyes. The conversation dives into Trump's persistent favoritism toward Russia and its geopolitical implications. They also explore the risks of a power-only foreign policy and question whether appeasing Putin will ever yield any benefits for the U.S.
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Publicly Cutting Intelligence Harms Trust
- John Sipher warns that publicly stopping intelligence sharing with allies undermines decades of trust and damages critical channels of cooperation.
- He says allies will hesitate to share sensitive human intelligence if they fear the U.S. will publicly withdraw support.
Actions Matter More Than Motives
- John Sipher highlights Trump's consistent favoring of Vladimir Putin as inexplicable and uniquely persistent across policy shifts.
- Rosa Brooks argues motive doesn't matter because Trump's actions materially help Russia and harm U.S. allies.
Seismic Recalibration Of Global Relations
- David Rothkopf describes the U.S. reorientation toward Russia as a seismic reversal that upends established alliances and norms.
- He warns this recalibration risks destabilizing global order and could have consequences comparable to major historical shifts.