Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast Ziemowit Gowin interviews Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate on Trump’s stance on the Ukraine-Russia war, which led him to call President Zelensky a dictator and publicly berate him in the Oval Office.
Among the topics covered:
● What America’s approach to the Ukraine-Russia war should be;
● How Trump’s Oval Office blowup at Zelensky reveals his amorality;
● The mindset driving Trump’s sympathy for Putin and his approach to negotiation;
● When it would be proper to negotiate with an aggressor;
● The long-term consequences of America’s pro-Russia shift.
Mentioned in this podcast is Ayn Rand’s essay “The Anatomy of Compromise” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal [aynrand.org/novels/capitalism-the-unknown-ideal/?nab=1]. Recommended for further reading are Elan Journo’s essay “Why John Mearsheimer Gets Ukraine Wrong,” [newideal.aynrand.org/why-john-mearsheimer-gets-ukraine-wrong/] Ziemowit Gowin’s essay “European Appeasement Emboldened Putin’s Aggression,” [newideal.aynrand.org/european-appeasement-emboldened-putins-aggression/] and Journo's and Ben Bayer’s essay “Putin’s War Embodies National Conservatism’s Ideology" [newideal.aynrand.org/putins-war-embodies-national-conservatisms-ideology/].
The podcast was recorded on March 5, 2025 and released on March 7, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:10 What America’s approach to the Ukraine-Russia war should be
0:06:55 Trump’s amorality
0:18:29 Trump’s sympathy for Putin and his approach to negotiation
0:27:53 When is it proper to negotiate with an aggressor
0:32:55 The long-term consequences of America’s pro-Russia shift
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast Ziemowit Gowin interviews Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate on Trump’s stance on the Ukraine-Russia war, which led him to call President Zelensky a dictator and publicly berate him in the Oval Office.
Among the topics covered:
● What America’s approach to the Ukraine-Russia war should be;
● How Trump’s Oval Office blowup at Zelensky reveals his amorality;
● The mindset driving Trump’s sympathy for Putin and his approach to negotiation;
● When it would be proper to negotiate with an aggressor;
● The long-term consequences of America’s pro-Russia shift.
Mentioned in this podcast is Ayn Rand’s essay “The Anatomy of Compromise” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal [aynrand.org/novels/capitalism-the-unknown-ideal/?nab=1]. Recommended for further reading are Elan Journo’s essay “Why John Mearsheimer Gets Ukraine Wrong,” [newideal.aynrand.org/why-john-mearsheimer-gets-ukraine-wrong/] Ziemowit Gowin’s essay “European Appeasement Emboldened Putin’s Aggression,” [newideal.aynrand.org/european-appeasement-emboldened-putins-aggression/] and Journo's and Ben Bayer’s essay “Putin’s War Embodies National Conservatism’s Ideology" [newideal.aynrand.org/putins-war-embodies-national-conservatisms-ideology/].
The podcast was recorded on March 5, 2025 and released on March 7, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:10 What America’s approach to the Ukraine-Russia war should be
0:06:55 Trump’s amorality
0:18:29 Trump’s sympathy for Putin and his approach to negotiation
0:27:53 When is it proper to negotiate with an aggressor
0:32:55 The long-term consequences of America’s pro-Russia shift
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
