Angela Merkel on Dealing with Strongmen and Demi Moore on Aging
Dec 7, 2024
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Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, discusses her new memoir and shares insights on handling Trump and navigating autocratic leaders like Putin. She delves into key global crises and the importance of diplomacy. Meanwhile, Demi Moore opens up about her latest film, 'The Substance,' tackling society's obsession with youth and beauty standards. She reflects on her journey of self-acceptance and the impact of her ex-husband's dementia diagnosis, blending personal experiences with broader societal issues.
Angela Merkel emphasizes the need for strategic clarity and fearlessness when negotiating with unpredictable leaders like Donald Trump.
Demi Moore highlights the societal pressures surrounding aging, advocating for self-acceptance and authenticity over unattainable beauty standards.
Deep dives
Angela Merkel's Insights on Trump
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel discusses her experiences with Donald Trump, emphasizing his penchant for unconventional behavior and emotional manipulation in politics. She notes that Trump's negotiation style often involved treating discussions as zero-sum games, where one party's victory necessitated another's loss. Merkel advises that successful negotiations with him require a clear strategy and the absence of fear, revealing her approach to maintaining Germany's interests while engaging with him. She also highlights the challenges of negotiating with someone who shows fascination for autocrats, suggesting that such influences challenge democratic values.
Merkel's Perspective on Putin
Merkel shares her reflections on Vladimir Putin, highlighting how intimidation is employed as a diplomatic tactic in her negotiations with him. She recalls moments when Putin blatantly lied about military actions in Crimea, marking a turning point in their relationship where caution and skepticism became essential. Merkel underscores the importance of reliable security guarantees for Ukraine in any future peace discussions and criticizes negotiations that exclude legitimate governments, as was seen in Afghanistan. Her experiences illustrate the complexities of dealing with powerful leaders who exercise manipulation and deceit in political dialogues.
The Syrian Civil War's Human Impact
The podcast reflects on the ongoing Syrian civil war, highlighting a recent resurgence of rebel forces and its ramifications for civilians caught in the conflict. The discussion portrays the lives of Syrian refugees, emphasizing the dire humanitarian crises they face, including displacement and the loss of family members. A poignant narrative features the story of a young boy, Mohammed, who has taken on adult responsibilities to support his family after their perilous escape from war. This intimate portrayal emphasizes the resilience and hopes of children displaced by conflict, further drawing attention to the prolonged nature of their suffering.
Demi Moore on Aging and Self-Acceptance
Actress Demi Moore discusses her roles in Hollywood, focusing on her recent film, 'The Substance,' which confronts societal pressures regarding aging and beauty. She conveys her journey towards self-acceptance, sharing insights into the toxic comparisons women face and how they can lead to self-doubt. Through her character's struggles, Moore emphasizes the importance of valuing oneself irrespective of age, illustrating how Hollywood often perpetuates unattainable beauty standards. Her candid reflections resonate with many women, advocating for a shift away from chasing perfection towards celebrating one's own authenticity.
In his first trip abroad as President-elect, Donald Trump attended the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Dispensing with protocol, world leaders like Emmanuel Macron are eager to meet with him to take the measure of the man they know as a deliberate disruptor to the world stage. One leader who know him very well is former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She joined Christiane in Washington to discuss her new memoir "Freedom," how she handled Trump’s unconventional style, his fascination with dictators, and Putin's fear tactics. As rebel forces in Syria continue to seize key territories, Christiane digs into the archives, when she visited with Syrian refugees in Jordan, highlighting the ongoing human cost of this 13-year conflict. Sitting down with Christiane in New York, award-winning actress and Hollywood star Demi Moore discusses beauty standards and self-acceptance. She talks about her role in The Substance, a film exploring the dark side of chasing youth, our society's obsession with aging, and opens up about family, and supporting her ex-husband Bruce Willis through his dementia diagnosis. Finally, filmmaker Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes-winning film "All We Imagine As Light," a poignant exploration of love and patriarchy in modern India.