The Long Game with Jake Sullivan and Jon Finer Geopolitics of the Olympics & Iran's Deal Dilemma
Feb 5, 2026
Discussion of how the Winter Games intersect with international power and the fairness controversies around Russian athletes. A look at U.S.-Iran diplomacy framed by a Red Team/Blue Team role-play from Iran’s viewpoint. Examination of timing, military posturing, and internal Iranian debate over whether to strike a deal or resist.
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Olympics As Geopolitical Stage
- The 2026 Winter Olympics are heavily shaped by geopolitics, notably the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and U.S.-China competition.
- Neutral-status athletes and country-specific bans turn the Games into symbolic soft-power contests, not just sports events.
Personal Olympic Origin Story
- Jon Finer described his lifelong memory of the 1980 U.S.-Soviet hockey game with his dad in Vermont as his first sports memory.
- He ties that childhood moment to a continuing personal passion for Olympic hockey and Winter Games.
Domestic Enforcement Undermines Soft Power
- The Trump administration sending ICE to accompany the U.S. Olympic team provokes diplomatic friction and undermines U.S. soft power.
- Such moves risk creating international political friction during a high-visibility global event.