Neoconservatives and MAGA isolationists are locked in a battle for the soul of Republican strategy. Nowhere is the split more glaring than over the Middle East: hawks view it as a proving ground for American power and allegiance to Israel, while isolationists see only endless wars that have bled America dry. Where does Trump fall in this tug-of-war? What are the real-world consequences of this struggle—for Ukraine’s survival, Gaza’s future, and the fate of nuclear diplomacy with Iran? In this episode, Gönül Tol speaks with Bill Kristol—founding director of Defending Democracy Together and editor-at-large at The Bulwark—to unpack the ideological realignment underway in US foreign policy.
Recorded April 25, 2025