Susan Rice, former US Ambassador to the UN, offers a sharp critique of the Trump administration's "ass backwards" foreign policy, dissecting the perils of isolationism and the strategic void left by policy reversals driven by "spite." She highlights how adversaries exploit social media to sow division and warns the tech industry of impending congressional action. This episode provides a critical look at the intersection of foreign policy, technology, and national security.
Key takeaways
Isolationist and self-serving foreign policy approaches undermine global stability and American interests, often leading to a weaker national position.
Policy reversals enacted "out of spite" without a coherent replacement strategy leave nations vulnerable and diminish past achievements.
Adversaries are effectively using social media to sow division and undermine democratic institutions; countering this requires urgent and strategic responses.
The normalization of inflammatory presidential communication, particularly via social media, can corrode political discourse and international relations.
The tech industry is on the verge of significant legislative action from Congress, necessitating greater accountability and proactive engagement with policymakers.
Susan Rice, the former US ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor under President Obama, talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about the "ass backwards" way President Trump has approached foreign policy and her new book, Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For. Rice explains the problem with isolationism and selfishness as policies, and says the current administration rolled back many of her achievements "out of spite," without a plan to replace them. She also discusses how Russia and other adversaries have wielded social media to sow division, why she will not abide the normalization of Trump's presidential tweets, and why the tech industry is "five minutes from midnight" with the US Congress.
Read a full transcript of this interview here.
Featuring:
Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice), former US ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor; author of Tough Love: My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For
Hosts:
Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large
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Isolationist and self-serving foreign policy approaches undermine global stability and American interests, often leading to a weaker national position.
What's takeaway #2 from this episode?
Policy reversals enacted "out of spite" without a coherent replacement strategy leave nations vulnerable and diminish past achievements.
What's takeaway #3 from this episode?
Adversaries are effectively using social media to sow division and undermine democratic institutions; countering this requires urgent and strategic responses.
What's takeaway #4 from this episode?
The normalization of inflammatory presidential communication, particularly via social media, can corrode political discourse and international relations.
What's takeaway #5 from this episode?
The tech industry is on the verge of significant legislative action from Congress, necessitating greater accountability and proactive engagement with policymakers.
