Background Briefing: June 14, 2023
Blinken Sets Out to Try to Repair Dangerously Frayed Relations Between the World’s Leading Military Powers
We begin with Secretary of State Blinken heading to China in a few days to try to repair dangerously frayed relations between the world’s leading military powers and meet with his Chinese counterpart and possibly Xi Jinping. Joining us is Lyle Goldstein, a Professor at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University where he researches the costs of great power competition with both China and Russia in association with the Costs of War Project. He also serves as Director of Asia Engagement at the Washington think-tank Defense Priorities, which advocates for realism and restraint in U.S. defense policy. Fluent in both Chinese and Russian languages, he has written or edited seven books on Chinese strategy and is currently working on a book that examines the nature of China-Russia relations in the 21st century.
With Florida Trump Country, Can the Democrats Reverse GOP Gains?
Then we get an assessment of the likely jury pool for the Trump prosecution having a majority of Republicans and Trump supporters since the swing state of Florida has turned Red with the Democrats hoping a new generation of young activist leaders like Congressman Maxwell Frost will revive the party and reverse the GOP gains. Joining us is Laura Rodriguez, vice president for Government Affairs at The Center for American Progress. Previously, she was a senior adviser to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida, advising him on Latino policy, outreach, and media. She was also the chief of staff for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and was deputy assistant secretary for House Affairs at the State Department Legislative Affairs Bureau during the Obama Administration.
Comparisons Between Berlusconi and Trump and the Media Mogul Turned Italian Leader’s Close Relationship With Putin
Then finally, with today’s funeral of Silvio Berlusconi in Milan, we look into comparisons between the populist scandal-plagued Italian leader and Trump as well as the close friendship the media mogul turned political leader had with Putin. Joining us is Alexander Stille, who is a San Paulo Professor of International Journalism at Columbia University. He is the author of Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic, The Sack of Rome: How a Beautiful European Country with a Fabled History and a Storied Culture was taken over by a Man Named Silvio Berlusconi and his latest book is The Sullivanians: Sex, Psychotherapy and the Wild Life of an American Commune. We discuss his article at The New Republic, “How Silvio Berlusconi Wrecked Italy—and, Sort of, America.”