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America First
Jan 11, 2025
H.W. Brands, a historian and author of "America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War," delves into America's historical isolationism before World War II. He highlights the influential debate between Roosevelt and Lindbergh, discussing Lindbergh's arguments for staying out of foreign conflicts. Brands examines how public sentiment shaped foreign policy and reflects on today's political divides. He also makes connections to Trump's America First approach, exploring how past debates influence current foreign policy discussions.
28:12
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast explores America's historical inclination towards isolationism prior to World War II, highlighting the debate surrounding foreign entanglements and public sentiment.
- It discusses the implications of Trump's 'America First' policy, challenging international commitments and echoing past arguments for prioritizing national interests over global involvement.
Deep dives
The Tradition of American Isolationism
The discussion revolves around America's historical context of avoiding foreign entanglements, particularly prior to World War II. For over a century, from the 1790s to the 1910s, the U.S. successfully refrained from involvement in European conflicts. During the 1930s, public sentiment increasingly favored isolationism, leading to congressional neutrality laws designed to keep the U.S. from being drawn into another war. This cautious stance was influenced by the prevailing belief that previous interventions had not yielded positive outcomes for the nation.
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