Foreign Policy Live Looking Back at 2025
11 snips
Dec 22, 2025 
In a deep dive with Peter Baker, Chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, listeners explore the twists of Trump's second term. Baker sheds light on how foreign policy has been transformed, from a surprising dovish approach to China to a focus on economics and personal interests. He discusses the awkward dynamics of global leaders trying to navigate Trump's unpredictable ego and the fallout from pivotal moments like the Zelensky Oval clash. Tune in for insights on lasting changes and how countries adapt to Trump's style.
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Transaction Trumps Consistency
- Ravi and Baker note countries that read Trump's transactional instincts prospered, while complacent partners were blindsided.
- Baker emphasizes Trump's valuing of unpredictability as a strategic asset.
The Zelensky Oval Office Confrontation
- Peter Baker recounts the extraordinary Oval Office clash between Trump and Zelensky that pool reporters called "I've never seen it.".
- He says he has covered presidents since 1996 and had never seen such open berating of a visiting leader.
Diplomacy Now Prepares For TV Theater
- Baker explains foreign leaders now prepare to "avoid getting Zelensky" in meetings with Trump.
- He says Trump's volatility forces diplomats to plan hard to prevent public eruptions.