Deadline: White House "A child play with fireworks"
Jan 20, 2026
In this discussion, journalist Anne Applebaum, former ambassador Michael McFaul, legal expert Ian Bassin, and ex-DHS official Jason Hauser analyze President Trump's erratic communications regarding Greenland. Applebaum highlights his alarming detachment from diplomacy, while McFaul warns of European responses to perceived U.S. instability. The panel also delves into immigration enforcement tactics under DHS, critiquing their impact on communities and calling for reform, as well as examining constitutional checks on presidential power.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Greenland Talk Is Personal Vanity, Not Strategy
- Michael McFaul argues Trump's Greenland interest is personal vanity, not national security.
- McFaul says annexation talk reflects a desire for legacy-building rather than any legitimate defense need.
Allies Plan For Contingencies, Including Military Options
- Anne Applebaum reports Europeans are planning contingency responses, from sanctions to financial measures.
- She says they are even modeling military scenarios because Trump's motives make traditional diplomacy ineffective.
Canada Models Resistance To Hypothetical U.S. Invasion
- Nicolle Wallace cites Bloomberg reporting that Canada modeled responses to a hypothetical U.S. invasion of Greenland.
- Those plans include irregular, hit-and-run tactics and IED-style resistance.
