Rania Khalek was joined by Daniel Bessner, associate professor of international studies at the University of Washington and co-host of the podcast American Prestige, to talk about US foreign policy under Biden. What’s changed? What hasn’t changed? Is the US empire collapsing? And what should a progressive foreign policy look like? TIME CODES: 0:00 Intro 1:20 America’s obsession with its prestige and credibility 4:19 Why has Biden kept Trump’s Iran policy in place? 6:17 Is there an inevitable confrontation looming between the US and Iran no matter who’s in charge? 9:14 US sanctions have the same impact as traditional warfare 11:23 Sanctions and the liberal fantasy of a “cleaner” imperialism 15:21 Why does the US feel that it's imperative to confront China? 22:08 Accusations of authoritarianism and corruption as regime change propaganda 25:30 The very limited American definition of “freedom” 28:28 Are we in a period of permanent US decline? 35:58 How much of US foreign policy is planned vs improvised along the way? 38:08 How different is Biden’s foreign policy from Trump’s? 45:52 How US foreign policy makes America a more right-wing country domestically 51:10 Identity politics and woke-washing imperialism 56:39 What would a progressive foreign policy look like? 59:42 Rania’s electricity goes out » Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/BreakThroughNews -------------------------------- » Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BTnewsroom » Tweet us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BTnewsroom » Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btnewsroom/ At Breakthrough News we believe in the power of independent media. Five mega-corporations dominate the media landscape — controlling 90% of what we read, watch and listen to. They control the news cycle, to which social media and even most “alternative” media is forced to respond. We are breaking through that cycle. We tell the untold stories of resistance from poor and working-class communities — because out of these stories we will construct a different narrative of the world, as it is and in real time. People’s movements in every corner of the globe are changing history and shifting consciousness. But these movements barely receive any coverage from the corporate media. They need visibility. They need amplification. They need a media arm to break through. We can be that media arm, but only with your help. Become a Patron and join us on the front lines in the battle of ideas. Subscribe and follow us! https://www.youtube.com/breakthroughnews @BTNewsroom #USimperialism #USoutoftheMiddleEast #USEmpire #Foreignpolicy #BreakThroughNews #BTnews #socialistnews #socialist #raniakhalek #eugenepuryear
