Anne Applebaum: What USAID's Absence Looks Like on the Ground

In this episode of The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller interviews Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, to discuss pressing issues related to autocracy and global affairs. They delve into the implications of CEOs having to appease political leaders, drawing parallels to the Soviet Union's politically driven personnel decisions and the potential harm to free-market capitalism. The conversation shifts to the politicization of justice within the FBI and the long-term consequences of destroying institutions for short-term political gains. They also analyze the geopolitical ramifications of reciprocal tariffs, focusing on the whimsical nature of these tariffs and their impact on international relations, using the example of Lesotho. The discussion further covers the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Applebaum emphasizing Putin's continued goal of subjugating Ukraine and the ideological dimensions of the conflict. Finally, they address the civil war in Sudan, highlighting the absence of a liberal world order and the devastating effects of the U.S. aid cuts on the region.