Political Gabfest Humvees on the National Mall
52 snips
Aug 15, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Jamelle Bouie, a New York Times columnist and former Slate writer, joins Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson to dissect the recent Trump-Putin summit and its implications for U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine. They critique the deployment of National Guard troops in D.C. as a response to urban crime, weighing the political ramifications. The trio also dives into the complexities of college admissions and the impact of new presidential directives on diversity and race in education.
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Improvisation Undermines U.S. Leverage
- Trump's approach to Putin is improvisational and lacks consistent leverage strategies.
- That inconsistency makes meaningful pressure or durable deals with Putin unlikely.
Summit As Legitimacy For Putin
- A photo op with Trump may itself be a major strategic win for Putin.
- Putin gains legitimacy by appearing welcomed back into the community of nations.
Personal Affinity Shapes Policy Choices
- Trump treats Putin more as a peer than an adversary and resists raising confrontations.
- That orientation makes addressing cyberattacks and other abuses unlikely in summit talks.
