Topic: Liberal World Order

The hosts debate the meaning of the word "interregnum" after it is used to describe Donald Trump's presidency as a gap in the "Liberal World Order." Using the "Book of Knowledge" AI, they define the term as a period between successive reigns or regimes where normal government is suspended. They conclude that by definition, an interregnum implies the leader is not a king.

White House advisor Brian Deese stated that high gas prices are a necessary cost for the "future of the liberal world order." In a lighter segment, TikTok creator Elsa Kurt is recognized for her viral impressions of Vice President Kamala Harris. Kurt's videos parody Harris's speaking style by reciting song lyrics, such as those from Fleetwood Mac, using the Vice President's distinct cadence and word choice.

President Joe Biden mentioned the establishment of a "New World Order" during a speech at a Business Roundtable event. He referenced a secure meeting with military officials where the shift in global dynamics was discussed in the context of post-WWII stability. The use of the term "New World Order," once dismissed as a conspiracy theory, is now being used openly by the administration to describe the current geopolitical inflection point.

Former diplomat Victoria Nuland (referred to as Noodleman) told the BBC that Donald Trump's visit to Normandy for D-Day should remind him of the "liberal world order" that soldiers died for. The hosts strongly criticized this framing, arguing that veterans of World War II fought for their country and freedom rather than a specific modern political concept like the liberal world order.

General Mark Milley explains the origins of the "liberal world order" established by the Bretton Woods Agreement after World War II. He argues that the US military's primary role for 70 years has been to enforce this system of free trade and human rights to prevent another global conflict. Milley warns that this system is currently under intense stress from revisionist nation-states and terrorists.

Media outlets are increasingly using the term "Liberal World Order" to describe the international systems allegedly being trashed by the Trump administration. A report from New York Magazine claims the CIA warned Israeli intelligence not to share secrets with Trump because Vladimir Putin might have leverage over him. The hosts question the validity of these claims and the "cornerstone" status of NATO.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Vice President Joe Biden warns of threats to the "liberal international order" posed by Russia and Vladimir Putin. Secretary of State John Kerry suggests the Trump administration may only last two years. The hosts interpret these comments as part of a broader "regime change" or impeachment plan against Trump.

Neoconservative scholar Robert Kagan writes in the Wall Street Journal about a "crisis of world order," arguing that US reluctance to deploy power has weakened the "liberal world order." Kagan claims the threat of an ISIS attack on an American city is a new development, a claim the hosts dismiss as "fear porn" and recycled propaganda. The segment notes Kagan's family ties to the "war lobby" and the State Department.