Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Is President Trump’s grand strategy unraveling? The United States is at war with Iran, China is ascendant, Russia and Ukraine are stalemated and American allies are openly questioning our commitment to them.
Elbridge Colby, the under secretary of defense for policy, joins me to discuss the state of America’s foreign policy and he makes the case that Trump’s approach to our allies and adversaries is making us stronger.
00:00 - Intro
01:24 - What Is Trump’s Approach to Foreign Policy?
05:00 - Is China Still America’s Main Rival?
07:08 - Colby’s Strategy of Denial in the Pacific
9:58 - How to Avoid a War with China & Taiwan
16:43 - Is the Iran War Draining Our Weapons and Resources?
17:49 - U.S. Military Strategy in the Iran War
19:44 - Does the Middle East Conflict Help or Hurt China?
22:04 - Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
28:13 - Vietnam and Iraq War Parallels
33:17 - How Trump Has Handled Russia & Ukraine
40:49 - "NATO 3.0" & Returning to the Cold War
43:21 - Did the Pentagon Try to Cut Support for Ukraine?
46:28 - How "Middle Powers" Fail
49:30 - Greenland, Canada and the Monroe Doctrine
52:22 - Canada: Neighbor or 51st State?
54:23 - What We Expect From Allies
Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com.
Read the full transcript here: nytimes.com/2026/07/23/opinion/iran-china-canada-a-defense-of-trumps-grand-strategy.html
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Is President Trump’s grand strategy unraveling? The United States is at war with Iran, China is ascendant, Russia and Ukraine are stalemated and American allies are openly questioning our commitment to them.
Elbridge Colby, the under secretary of defense for policy, joins me to discuss the state of America’s foreign policy and he makes the case that Trump’s approach to our allies and adversaries is making us stronger.
00:00 - Intro
01:24 - What Is Trump’s Approach to Foreign Policy?
05:00 - Is China Still America’s Main Rival?
07:08 - Colby’s Strategy of Denial in the Pacific
9:58 - How to Avoid a War with China & Taiwan
16:43 - Is the Iran War Draining Our Weapons and Resources?
17:49 - U.S. Military Strategy in the Iran War
19:44 - Does the Middle East Conflict Help or Hurt China?
22:04 - Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
28:13 - Vietnam and Iraq War Parallels
33:17 - How Trump Has Handled Russia & Ukraine
40:49 - "NATO 3.0" & Returning to the Cold War
43:21 - Did the Pentagon Try to Cut Support for Ukraine?
46:28 - How "Middle Powers" Fail
49:30 - Greenland, Canada and the Monroe Doctrine
52:22 - Canada: Neighbor or 51st State?
54:23 - What We Expect From Allies
Thoughts? Email us at interestingtimes@nytimes.com.
Read the full transcript here: nytimes.com/2026/07/23/opinion/iran-china-canada-a-defense-of-trumps-grand-strategy.html
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
