Alternate Shots with Richard Haass and John Ellis Episode 15
9 snips
Feb 1, 2026 They wrestle with the muddled US approach to unrest in Iran and whether coercive force or economic pressure makes sense. They debate a centrist path on immigration and the professionalization of enforcement. They warn about a brain drain of STEM PhDs from government and its threat to U.S. competitiveness. They also call out a controversial Hall of Fame snub and question the future of a rival golf league.
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Allies Want Limits On U.S. Action
- Regional allies like Saudi Arabia and Israel prefer U.S. restraint, fearing direct retaliation and economic disruption.
- Haass notes coercive diplomacy risks leaving the onus on the U.S. to escalate if Iran refuses to yield.
China's Calculus On U.S. Distraction
- China sees some benefit if the U.S. is distracted outside the Indo-Pacific but also worries about oil disruptions.
- Haass doubts China will seize the moment to act on Taiwan given internal purges and nuclear build-up distractions.
Rhetoric-Action Gap With Little Political Penalty
- The administration suffered little domestic political cost despite failing to protect Iranian protesters it publicly supported.
- Haass finds an unusual gap between forceful rhetoric and limited action that didn't produce major political backlash.
