Russia's Election Results, Trump's Campaign Rhetoric, Harris On The Trail

According to Gen. H.R. McMaster, the United States views the world through a self-centered lens, assuming that its policy decisions are the main driving force behind global events. Because of this distorted perspective, the US has lost influence on the global stage at a time when authoritarian aggression is on the rise. In Battlegrounds, McMaster, who was US national security adviser in 2017-18, contends that American leaders must learn to see the world through the eyes of the US's adversaries in order to defend against foreign threats and compete in the modern global landscape.

In this guide, we’ll explore McMaster’s criticism of the assumptions driving US foreign policy, his assessment of the threats America faces, and the steps he believes the US must take. We’ll compare McMaster’s views with those of other experts on diplomacy, while placing his assessments in their larger context and updating some of his information based on events since the book’s publication.

In Blowout, journalist and MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow aims to expose the corruption and exploitation underlying the oil and gas industry. Pointing the finger primarily at Russian politicians like Vladimir Putin and American energy magnates like former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, Maddow contends that over the past 40 years, the industry has wreaked havoc on the environment, developing economies in the third world, and international relations, especially in Eastern Europe. Ultimately, she argues that only full transparency and strict environmental regulation can protect the planet from devastating accidents and corporate greed.

In this guide, we’ll discuss her evidence for how a handful of companies and politicians have exploited oil and gas reserves worldwide, both for profit and to serve dangerous political ends. We’ll also elaborate on how oil and gas have damaged the environment (perhaps permanently), how American energy policy continued to evolve under the Trump and Biden presidencies, and how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 further destabilized the international energy market.

In The White Man’s Burden, economist, NYU professor, and Brookings Institution senior fellow William Easterly argues that the global humanitarian aid system is fundamentally flawed. His main critique is that the international aid system prioritizes top-down, centralized, and tightly directed aid distribution—all controlled by people in rich countries (primarily the United States and those in Western Europe), far away from the developing world that they're meant to be serving. Because the aid community is so disconnected, it creates big plans and sweeping missions that are overly ambitious and completely unsuited for the reality on the ground, it overlooks local needs and concerns, and it rarely holds itself accountable for its failures.

In this guide, we’ve updated some of Easterly’s statistics, supplemented his ideas with more recent examples, and incorporated alternative and opposing viewpoints from leading experts in the fields of economics, political theory, and business.

In Confidence Man, New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman explores the remarkable public life and career of real estate developer, reality TV star, and former President of the United States Donald Trump.

Haberman's book explores the people, experiences, and environments that shaped the singular personality that would define his presidency, focusing on his prowess as a consummate showman and salesman and his deep-seated desires for fame, attention, dominance, power, and leverage over others.

In this guide, we’ll explore:

• Trump’s career as a real estate developer and public symbol of capitalist success
• His second act as a right-wing firebrand and promoter of conspiracy theories
• His victory in the 2016 presidential election
• His presidency and attempts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election

Throughout this guide, we’ll supplement Haberman’s account with commentary from outside sources to both support her critical portrayal of Trump’s life and career, as well as to bring in perspectives that offer a more favorable view of the 45th president.

A Warning is an inside look at the chaotic Trump administration by a senior Trump administration official writing anonymously. It’s a follow-up to the author’s September 5, 2018, New York Times op-ed piece describing internal efforts to control Trump’s impulses. This is no longer working, “Anonymous” writes. The book depicts an impulsive and corrupt president, who puts his self-interest above the country’s interest, in the process undermining the foundations of democracy and putting national security at grave risk.

“Anonymous” describes the increasingly futile efforts of a handful of principled White House officials to stave off disastrous, often illegal actions. The author warns that the “guard rails” have come off—the principled staffers have mostly been driven away and Trump is uncontrollable. If he wins another four years, he may sink the ship of democracy.

In this riveting episode of "The Ben Shapiro Show", Ben Shapiro takes listeners on a global journey, examining the media's response to Argentine libertarian politician Javier Milei's electoral success, while drawing parallels with conservative leaders in the U.S. like Donald Trump. Shapiro delves into Milei's bold economic reform proposals aimed at rectifying Argentina's hyperinflation and government corruption, highlighting both domestic challenges and international critiques. With a sharp eye on the repercussions of Milei’s potential failure, Shapiro weighs the impact on global perceptions of capitalism and draws connections to U.S. economic concerns.

As the conversation shifts back to American soil, Shapiro unpacks the current political landscape, forecasting the 2024 Presidential election with insights on President Biden's wavering approval ratings, potential showdowns, and the sensitive debate over his ability to lead. With candid analysis, Shapiro scrutinizes the bias he perceives in media coverage, from the portrayal of conservative figures to Middle Eastern conflict reporting, challenging narratives that he argues aim to undermine credibility. Whether it's defending Israel's humanitarian actions or critiquing media interpretations of Trump, Shapiro leaves no stone unturned. The episode not only serves as a commentary on political and media dynamics but also includes Shapiro's promotion of products and content that resonate with his audience's lifestyle and personal interests.

In this thought-provoking installment of the PBD Podcast, conservative titan Larry Elder joins host Patrick Bet-David alongside regulars Vincent Oshana, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Joe Scarborough, to dissect the complex world of American politics from the perspective of a seasoned media personality and former California gubernatorial candidate. Known for his sharp insights and engaging discourse, Elder unpacks his unique political journey, venturing from his influential presence in conservative media to the political battlefields of California, a state he views as a challenging ground for policy and political shifts.

The conversation brims with Elder's candid critique of California under Democratic leadership, his reflections on the state's future, and his personal experiences within the justice system. In this diverse dialogue, the notable conservative voice delves into the changing dynamics within the Republican Party and his own internal struggles, while also engaging with bigger philosophical questions about systemic racism and family values. Listeners are privy to intimate insights as Elder shares his regrets and hopes, the relationships that have shaped his life, and his mentorship of the next generation, weaving a narrative that captures the heart of conservative advocacy and American political dialogue as seen through his eyes.

Dive into the political fray with The Daily's Michael Barbaro and Nate Cohn as they dissect President Biden's precarious prospects in the swing states critical for the 2024 presidential election in this insightful episode. Amid a backdrop of declining popularity, the episode explores the intricacies of fluctuating demographics and strategic campaign maneuvers, noting that while the paths to President Biden's reelection exist, they are narrower than expected. Cohn's expertise illuminates the challenges and potential strategies for Biden in energizing his core supporters and winning back the moderates.

With an eye on historical precedents from past elections, particularly, George W. Bush's 2004 campaign strategy, the conversation delves into the dichotomy of satisfying the core base while reaching out to the white moderates who have drifted away. Meanwhile, Barbaro and Cohn also highlight Trump's evolving approach to wooing Latino voters and speculate on the unpredictable nature of a potential political realignment in America. Moreover, shifting focus to the international stage, they consider how current events, such as the Israeli strike in Gaza, might reverberate through U.S. policy and impact domestic opinions on Biden's administration.

In this thought-provoking installment of the PBD Podcast, conservative titan Larry Elder joins host Patrick Bet-David alongside regulars Vincent Oshana, Tom Ellsworth, Adam Sosnick, and Joe Scarborough, to dissect the complex world of American politics from the perspective of a seasoned media personality and former California gubernatorial candidate. Known for his sharp insights and engaging discourse, Elder unpacks his unique political journey, venturing from his influential presence in conservative media to the political battlefields of California, a state he views as a challenging ground for policy and political shifts.

The conversation brims with Elder's candid critique of California under Democratic leadership, his reflections on the state's future, and his personal experiences within the justice system. In this diverse dialogue, the notable conservative voice delves into the changing dynamics within the Republican Party and his own internal struggles, while also engaging with bigger philosophical questions about systemic racism and family values. Listeners are privy to intimate insights as Elder shares his regrets and hopes, the relationships that have shaped his life, and his mentorship of the next generation, weaving a narrative that captures the heart of conservative advocacy and American political dialogue as seen through his eyes.

Dive into the political fray with The Daily's Michael Barbaro and Nate Cohn as they dissect President Biden's precarious prospects in the swing states critical for the 2024 presidential election in this insightful episode. Amid a backdrop of declining popularity, the episode explores the intricacies of fluctuating demographics and strategic campaign maneuvers, noting that while the paths to President Biden's reelection exist, they are narrower than expected. Cohn's expertise illuminates the challenges and potential strategies for Biden in energizing his core supporters and winning back the moderates.

With an eye on historical precedents from past elections, particularly, George W. Bush's 2004 campaign strategy, the conversation delves into the dichotomy of satisfying the core base while reaching out to the white moderates who have drifted away. Meanwhile, Barbaro and Cohn also highlight Trump's evolving approach to wooing Latino voters and speculate on the unpredictable nature of a potential political realignment in America. Moreover, shifting focus to the international stage, they consider how current events, such as the Israeli strike in Gaza, might reverberate through U.S. policy and impact domestic opinions on Biden's administration.