It’s a tense time in international politics right now. And it’s coming at a pretty tough time for the U.S., as President Joe Biden gets ready to hand over the foreign policy reins to President-elect Donald Trump. Syria’s fate is a big question mark as it prepares for a new government, Israel’s war in Gaza is still raging, and Russia and Ukraine are stuck in a stalemate. Ben Rhodes, former deputy national security advisor for President Barack Obama and co-host of Crooked’s ‘Pod Save the World,’ joins us to discuss Biden’s foreign policy legacy and the conflicts Trump inherits. And in headlines: President Biden defended his economic policy during a speech at a Brookings Institution event, New York Attorney General Letitia James says her office will not drop the almost $500 million fine Trump owes the state, and former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz gets a new job.
It's Wednesday, December 11th.
I'm Jane Coston, and this is what a day.
The show where we are not giving Kid Rock or Tucker Carlson Awards because we are not Donald Trump.
And also, we have not completely lost our minds.
On today's show, former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz gets a new job.
Yay.
And New York Attorney General Letitia James refuses to drop Trump's civil suit.
Let's get into it.
It's a tense time in international politics right now, and it's coming at a pretty tough time for the US As President Joe Biden gets ready to hand over US Foreign policy to President elect Donald Trump.
In Syria, after 13 years of civil war, the regime headed by President Bashar al Assad seemed to collapse in just days.
Syrians are still celebrating Assad's ouster for good reason.
His government is believed to have killed and tortured hundreds of thousands of its own people to stay in power.
But the new guys, there's reason for worry.
The US Considers both Hayat Tahrir al Sham, the Islamist rebel group that tapat al Assad, and its leader, Abu Mohammed al Jelani, terrorists.
Jelani has longtime ties to Al Qaeda, though he's since renounced his association with the organization.
Speaking Sunday after Assad and his family fled to Moscow, President Biden struck a cautious tone as he celebrated Assad's collapse.
We will remain vigilant.
Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.
We've taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days, and they're saying the right things now.
But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions.