18 Comments

A Nazi Germany triumphant on the European continent or in Eurasia with the defeat of the Soviet Union would have been an eventual direct threat to the U.S. as FDR realized. A Russian triumph over Ukraine, even a partial triumph, would be a direct threat to the Baltic states, Poland, Romania and other border states, it would weaken NATO, and it would represent a serious challenge to U.S. security as Russia and China would solidify their relationship, and perhaps target Taiwan. As Mark Twain said, history does not precisely repeat itself, but it often rhymes.

It’s interesting to note that FDR never forgave his adversary Lindbergh and would not let him directly participate in WW II, but his adversary in the 1940 election, Wendell Wilkie, who vociferously opposed FDR’s New Deal, but was not an isolationist, received some important diplomatic and intelligence assignments from Roosevelt during the war before he died.

Expand full comment

I just wrote last week that Trump is not really an isolationist, but a unilateralist. I think the "hemisphericist" label might add to our understanding of Trump. I'll be watching to see how well the label fits him.

Expand full comment

I gave up after five minutes because it sounds like someone is cracking walnuts. I think I really would’ve enjoyed that episode.

Expand full comment

It's his mic rubbing on the zipper of the pullover.

Expand full comment

ah! that explains the clothing change at 8m to a sweatshirt, no zipper!

Expand full comment

If you wait 3 more minutes, problem is solved.

Expand full comment

Thanks! I will give it a go!

Expand full comment

I actually enjoyed your remark because I was like, "Oh, no! He endured a whole five minutes of the zipper-mic battle, but gave up just before it got magically solved." Sorry, in times like these, I find humor wherever I can.

Expand full comment

Most people figure out by kindergarten that a “Me First” attitude gets “Me Last” results.

We should stop socially promoting conservatives.

Expand full comment

Interesting but unlistenable due to the background noise.

Expand full comment

They break at 8minute mark and Prof Brands has changed shirts. Someone mentioned they thought it was his zipper from the first sweater rubbing against the mic. Problem is resolved at that point, so you may have given up too soon.

Expand full comment

Another great conversation. Thank you.

Expand full comment

At the end, Prof.BrNds, I believe it was, said in contrasting Lindbergh and Musk, that Lindbergh did not need to concern himself with making money, because he inherited money. I would like to assert that Musk came from money too, but still concerns himself with that. He seems pathologically insatiable with wanting always more of it.

Expand full comment

Great conversation. I would love to have a time machine and see what they say about the current times in our country 50 years from now. We've been through rough times before as a country. We'll go through them again. The question is just what kind of shape things will be in and that's not even taking into account all the environmental problems we have! My current wish is that ior some of the senior leadership in this country step aside and let the next generation have a go at it.

Expand full comment

In the House, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer did just that. Two years ago, they stepped down and passed the baton to the next generation. It's too bad no one else in DC is following their example.

Expand full comment

What is the background noise? It's very distracting.

Expand full comment

Must have been some sort of technical issue that needed fixing because it's evident they go to "commercial break" right around the 8m mark there's a blip and Professor Marks, who started with a light gray type sweater, is now wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, and the crinkling sound has disappeared.

Expand full comment

Someone else said that the zipper on his sweater was rubbing up against the microphone. I guess that explains why he changed his sweater.

Expand full comment