Donald Trump's supposedly "perfect call" was the furthest thing from perfect. In this episode, Alexander Vindman tells us what was so dangerously wrong about it as well as WHY IT MATTERS.

Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and the director for European Affairs on the White House’s National Security Council, shares valuable perspectives on the Trump administration, Donald Trump’s unhinged lawlessness and the dangers the country faces if Trump is given another term. Dr. Vindman, having earned a Doctorate in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins, discusses international geopolitics, focusing particularly on Russian aggression and corruption. Lt. Col. Vindman offers a firsthand account of his experience in the Trump White House, the damage that’s already been done and the resilience of the U.S institutions that hold firm amidst these pervasive threats.

Throughout the conversation, Alex emphasizes the central role of local communities and the effectiveness of conversation in addressing divisive socio-political issues. His candid reflections on his own experiences -  as an immigrant serving the country, in the face of profound institutional challenges and even his personal setbacks (eg. Operation Cabbage Patch) - offer a compelling narrative about American resilience and the ongoing pursuit of a 'more perfect union'. This was an in-depth primer on international affairs, national security threats and democratic values. Lt. Col. Vindman had so many valuable insights for listeners interested in understanding the complexities of today's political landscape and the role of dialogue in bridging societal divisions.

WHY IT MATTERS: alexandervindman.substack.com/

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Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what’s broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it.

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Be sure to check out another great podcast, Beyond Politics. They've become friends of ours and are doing really important work.

You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.threads.net/@coreysnathan.