Peter Harrell, a former Senior Director of the National Security Council under President Biden and expert in sanctions, joins the discussion. They dive into Trump's risky diplomacy with Colombia over military flights and the implications for U.S. foreign relations. The conversation shifts to Project Stargate, exploring the U.S.-China tech rivalry in AI development, especially after DeepSeek's surprising advancements. They analyze the stakes of AI competition and the future of U.S. foreign aid policies under shifting political landscapes.
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Trump's Tariff Threat
President Trump threatened Colombia with tariffs after they refused a migrant flight.
Colombia initially resisted but conceded after Trump's threats.
insights INSIGHT
Foreign Policy by Social Media
The incident highlights the return of foreign policy conducted via social media.
It also reveals a potential lack of coordination within the Trump administration.
insights INSIGHT
Trump's Tariff Preference
Trump prefers tariffs due to a perceived ability to reshore industries and a belief that sanctions overuse weakens the U.S. dollar.
He views tariffs as offering economic leverage without pushing countries away from the dollar.
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How American Business Built the Arsenal of Victory in World War II
Arthur Herman
In 'Freedom's Forge', Arthur Herman delves into the untold story of America's industrial mobilization during World War II. The book highlights the significant contributions of American business leaders and the industrial sector in producing the vast array of military equipment and supplies that were essential for the Allied victory. Herman's narrative focuses on key figures such as William S. Knudsen and Henry J. Kaiser, who spearheaded this massive industrial effort.
This week, Scott was joined by his colleagues Kevin and Eugenia—in what is sadly her last episode before leaving Lawfare—as well as special guest Peter Harrell for a deep dive into the week’s national security news, including:
“Tariff or Takeoff.” The Trump administration got into what is arguably its first major international spat this week when Colombia’s refusal to accept a U.S. military flight returning migrants to that country led President Trump to threaten an array of punitive measures, from visa cut-offs to sanctions and tariffs. After Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down, the White House was quick to claim victory. But how sustainable is Trump’s strategy? And is it really the route to restoring respect for the United States that the White House claims it is?
“Talk to Me When They Get To ‘Project: The Fifth Element.’” Last week, the Trump administration announced Project Stargate—an initiative not to revive ‘90s sci-fi classics, but to instead make a massive investment in the U.S. development of artificial intelligence and related technologies. But a few days later, an announcement by Chinese AI platform DeepSeek indicating it had reached comparable results at a lower cost triggered a sudden decline in the value of AI-related stocks. What do these developments tell us about the competitive dynamics surrounding AI? And how should the United States be navigating them?
“A Friend in Need is a Friend Shit Out of Luck.” The Trump administration has issued an across-the-board freeze of U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days as it reviews them for consistency with the administration’s vision of “America First” foreign policy. But what ramifications will this pause really have for U.S. foreign policy and beyond?
For object lessons, Kevin plugged the Seattle University School of Law’s Technology, Innovation Law, and Ethics Program. Eugenia got back to her roots in recommending the indie RPG video game Wildermyth, which follows a troupe of fantasy heroes from modest origins through their sunset years. Scott out-nerded Eugenia by recommending a pen-and-paper indie RPG, the physically gorgeous Thousand Year Old Vampire. And Peter kept it professional by recommending Arthur Herman’s book “Freedom’s Forge”as a case study on U.S. industrial policy that may have lessons for our current historical moment.
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