The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg Black Box ‘Realism’ | Interview: Elliott Abrams
24 snips
Feb 11, 2026 
Elliott Abrams, a longtime Middle East specialist and former U.S. national security official, joins to tour Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, India, and more. They debate Trump-era unpredictability, the limits of realism in foreign policy, democracy promotion versus realpolitik, and how alliances and reputations shift when leaders act personally and ad-hoc.
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Venezuela Needs A Transition Plan
- Elliot Abrams praises the Maduro seizure but worries Trump lacks a plan to transition Venezuela to democracy.
- Abrams calls for negotiated steps like prisoner release, amnesty, and media access to secure a one-year transition.
Oil And Cuba As Motives
- Jonah Goldberg and Elliot Abrams debate motives for Trump's Venezuela action, suggesting oil or weakening Cuba as likely drivers.
- Abrams finds cutting Cuban oil ties a plausible strategic goal to topple regional authoritarian regimes.
Unpredictability Undermines Alliances
- Abrams sees limited long-term reputational damage from Venezuela but warns Trump's unpredictability harms alliances.
- He stresses allies will adjust defense policies because a future president might also be unreliable.
