What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead Mr. Modi Goes to China
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Sep 2, 2025 Explore U.S. Navy's strategic operations in Latin America and their effects on relations with Venezuela. Delve into American perceptions regarding the Gaza famine and the moral dilemmas of wartime actions. Analyze the legal clash over presidential power and the Federal Reserve’s independence. Discuss the recent summit with Modi, Jinping, and Putin, highlighting India’s diplomatic maneuvers amid U.S.-China tensions. Enjoy a light-hearted look at historical Federal Reserve Chairs and listener engagement.
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Symbolic Military Moves Over Structured Policy
- Walter says the Trump administration shows lots of noisy, understructured initiatives that look active but lack coherent interagency planning.
- Sending warships to combat drugs may signal attention to public concerns more than deliver meaningful results.
Polls As Advocacy, Not Truth
- Walter warns polls are overused as argumentative tools and less reliable as sampling gets harder.
- He still believes broad public opinion largely blames Hamas for Gaza's humanitarian crisis despite sympathetic impulses.
Let The Courts Decide Fed Disputes
- Walter urges reliance on courts to adjudicate disputes over presidential power and Fed independence.
- He implies observers should watch legal processes rather than jump to political conclusions.