What Actually Mattered This Week: Gutting USAID
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WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERED THIS WEEK
This week, nearly all 10,000 global staffers of United State Agency for International Development (USAID) were told they would be placed on administrative leave.
The move comes after President Trump, Elon Musk, Marco Rubio, and other key Republican leaders publicly rallied against the United States giving too much to “charity.”
But foreign aid is so much more than that. It secures America’s economic and security risks around the world.
While saving a couple bucks up front might be nice, the total withdrawal of USAID will create a power vacuum waiting to be filled by America’s adversaries.
Taking over Gaza seems nearly as stupid as a twenty-year war in Afghanistan
(Also, I can’t see Americans supporting United States troops removing Palestinians).
United States State Department on Wednesday: government vessels “can now transit the Panama Canal without charge fees.”
Panama’s President Mulino on Thursday: “I completely reject that statement.”
Must be 50% off then?
The imminent threat of tariffs made Canadians more upset at the United States than I’ve ever seen in my lifetime. The only other time I’ve ever seen them boo the US national anthem was during the Iraq War.
I’ve never seen a country work so hard to undermine its own alliances.
I expect the politics of this are going to be toxic for a long time.
That must be some damn strong whiskey…
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TRUTHS, DAMNED TRUTHS, AND STATISTICS
THE GZERO WORLD WE’RE JUST LIVING IN
THE GRAPHIC TRUTH
领英推荐
YOUR GZERO WORLD
Post-Donald Trump’s return to the White House, European leaders are reassessing their reliance on the United States for security and economic stability. In the latest episode of GZERO World,?I sit down with Finnish President?Alexander Stubb?on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. We discuss the evolving role of Europe in an era of shifting alliances, economic uncertainty, and rising geopolitical risks. In other words, Europe's role in a Trump 2.0 era. Stubb expresses cautious optimism about Trump’s approach to Russia and Ukraine but underscores the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its defense and technological leadership.
Stubb also acknowledges that Europe is facing a moment of reckoning. Leaders like Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte calling for increased defense spending and reduced reliance on U.S. security guarantees. Stubb agrees that Europe must strengthen its strategic position but remains wary of the region’s economic competitiveness, particularly in technology, where the US holds a clear advantage.
For a longer, wider-ranging version of my interview check out the GZERO World podcast.
MY QUICK TAKE
At an incredibly divisive time in Canada, trump’s trade war has managed to unify Canadians.
Why would he do this? Let’s take a look:
DIG DEEPER: GZERO DAILY BY IAN BREMMER
The first weeks of Trump’s second term have been marked by optimism about his ability to get a deal with China. Frankly, I understand where it’s coming from.
In my latest column, I break down why.
Do you like what you’ve seen??Sign up for GZERO Daily by Ian Bremmer
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BECAUSE THE INTERNET
WHAT TO READ THIS WEEK
Keir Giles' "Who Will Defend Europe?" is a gripping look at Europe's big security issues, sounding the alarm on the continent's defense gaps. Giles lays out the facts and makes a strong case for why Europe needs to act fast to tackle the growing threat from Russia.
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DEEP THOUGHTS
“We cannot always assure the future of our friends; we have a better chance of assuring our own future if we remember who our friends are.” - Henry Kissinger
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Thanks for reading!?Please subscribe to GZERO Daily for coverage of global politics. And make sure to read my latest book?The Power of Crisis?for a roadmap of this decade's great crises and how they might help us build a better world.
I am president of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and foreign affairs columnist at TIME. I currently teach at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and previously was a professor at New York University. You can follow me on?X, Bluesky, Threads, TikTok,? Instagram, and Facebook.
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5 天前Agreed. I wonder where all the Christian nationalist are the the question of helping the sick and the poor. I am guessing we will hear about DEI and other nonsense. This could be called throwing the baby out with the bath water. In there defense, Trump and the misfits perpetually lie on just about every subject.
Independent Oil Geopolitics Consultant
1 周This demonstrates how the US economy is indeed struggling.
Strategic Advisor and Organizational Consultant
1 周Ian, this is one of the most valuable ten minutes that I’ve spent in a while. Your calm, deeply informed, brilliantly expressed assessment of the USAID situation and its consequences is must listening for anyone at all interested in America’s place in the world—and succinctly explains how support of other countries is in reality support of America’s interests. If these kind of messages could be delivered and understood by those who have bought into the America First cliche, then perhaps our politics could take a turn for the better.
Data Center Manager at AT&T - All content, including images and video, is mine alone and not approved by AT&T.
2 周That is fine. Let our adversaries fund sex education for Pakistan.?
Founder at Getting There IE
2 周Wow. A busy week. Excellent coverage. Love the conclusion for Panama- must be 50% so