Nick Cohen talks with U.S commentator and author Claire Berlinski about the increasingly dangerous and insane presidency of Donald Trump which Claire sees as a pattern of national sabotage rather than mere incompetence, impulsiveness, or corruption, highlighting the destructive impact of his policies on US global power and alliances.

The last week has shocked the U.S's one-time allies with his reckless threats against Denmark and Greenland, his abandonment of NATO, the filthy gang of tyrants and international gangsters he's corralled into his absurd and corrupt "Board of Peace", the stupid and offensive insults he's levelled against the allied war dead and his ridiculous and insane rants.

They explore recent events and developments in both the United States and Europe, including Trump's isolationist approach, Britain's response to US actions, and the implications of Trump's statements and actions on American power and credibility. Claire expresses deep concern about the dangers posed by Trump's presidency, particularly regarding nuclear weapons, and explored the potential for Europe to assert its power by reducing its economic and military dependence on the U.S.

Claire says, "This isn't just one madman. This is a significant segment of the American public and they don't show much sign of understanding what they've done. Having seen that this can happen, how does anyone put the faith in the United States that was granted to the United States, almost unthinkingly by many nations to the point that Britain completely united its defence and security with American institutions?

Claire adds "I can't explain how an entire political party could be hostage to this madman in the way that they are, even to the point that they are forfeiting their own children's security and futures."

Clairs says, "It's overwhelmingly obvious that this is. An existential danger to every living human being. Donald Trump has the power to launch as many as 4,000 nuclear weapons unilaterally. He requires no one's permission, and if he gives the order, should do it. His, his subordinates are, are, the law says they have to execute it."

Claire Berlinski @Claire Berlinski is an American author and commentator based in Paris. Claire's regular Substack column The Cosmopolitan Globalist - is a must read for anyone looking for keen analysis of insight into the continuing Trump Trauma in the U.S. - a crisis which has serious implications for all of us and the current world order. Claire also co-hosts a podcast - Critical Conditions - with Dan Perry

Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond.

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Nick Cohen talks to influential leading US commentator Charlie Sykes who has a grim warning for the West about Trump and the far-right revolutionaries now in charge of the White House

America's dark revolution threatens the world

"We're not dealing with something that's going to be fixed by a midterm election. We are dealing with a fundamentally revolutionary time - a revolutionary age in which America has gone from being a reliable ally and a role model to being a genuine threat to being a genuine threat to western values, to western democracy and frankly to the western economies as well."

Trump's ICE - the real and current threat faced by all Americans

Charlie talks to Nick about the recent fatal shooting by an ICE agent in cold blood of mother of three Renee Good this week. Trump has awarded ICE a huge $170 billion budget - far beyond what most of the world's militaries could hope to expect. Charlie says, "This was police murder in the same city in which George Floyd was murdered by police, and, and I don't think that this is going to go away anytime soon ...

Is this going to be the pivot point? Is this going to be a turning point? And it often turns out not to be, but in this particular case, this was not just a one off. This is the inevitable result of this deliberate policy of fear."

Trump intends to demoralise his political enemies

Charlie believes Trump and his acolytes are determined on permeating a feeling of hopelessness in their political opponents, adding, "It is painful and a lot of Americans are really struggling with that right now. And of course, that's what authoritarians want. They want people to be completely demoralised, to be completely depressed. You know, pessimism is a great weapon. But I'll be honest with you, we struggle with that every single day and this week feels."

Charlie Sykes @SykesCharlie is a leading highly respected United States conservative political commentator who was formerly editor-in-chief and founder of the highly influential website The Bulwark. Charlie has been a leading Never Trump Conservative since Trump stood for the presidency in 2015. Charlie's Substack - To the contrary is a must read, and his regular podcast - also called To the contrary - a must listen. He has also been a columnist and author for the progressive channel MSNBC.

Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 latest Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.