Dave Davies

I mean, cyber attacks are a part of this. Access to technology and precious metals are part of this. It's a lot more complicated, isn't it?

I mean, cyber attacks are a part of this. Access to technology and precious metals are part of this. It's a lot more complicated, isn't it?

I mean, cyber attacks are a part of this. Access to technology and precious metals are part of this. It's a lot more complicated, isn't it?

You know, the fact that these challenges are so much more complicated comes at a time that we have a president who famously doesn't have a lot of patience for listening to detailed briefings or reading detailed policy papers. And, you know, who has said his unpredictability is an asset. The fact that I think he once said Xi Jinping knows he's effing crazy. Referring to himself.

You know, the fact that these challenges are so much more complicated comes at a time that we have a president who famously doesn't have a lot of patience for listening to detailed briefings or reading detailed policy papers. And, you know, who has said his unpredictability is an asset. The fact that I think he once said Xi Jinping knows he's effing crazy. Referring to himself.

You know, the fact that these challenges are so much more complicated comes at a time that we have a president who famously doesn't have a lot of patience for listening to detailed briefings or reading detailed policy papers. And, you know, who has said his unpredictability is an asset. The fact that I think he once said Xi Jinping knows he's effing crazy. Referring to himself.

Yeah. Yeah. Referring to himself. Is Trump suited for the challenges here?

Yeah. Yeah. Referring to himself. Is Trump suited for the challenges here?

Yeah. Yeah. Referring to himself. Is Trump suited for the challenges here?

We are speaking with David Sanger. He is a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. His book published last April is New Cold Wars, China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West. A new paperback edition will be out this spring. We'll continue our conversation after this break. This is Fresh Air.

We are speaking with David Sanger. He is a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. His book published last April is New Cold Wars, China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West. A new paperback edition will be out this spring. We'll continue our conversation after this break. This is Fresh Air.

We are speaking with David Sanger. He is a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times. His book published last April is New Cold Wars, China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West. A new paperback edition will be out this spring. We'll continue our conversation after this break. This is Fresh Air.

Let's focus on Iran a bit. You know, there's some big decisions coming here. Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal that the Obama administration had negotiated with Iran, saying it was a terrible deal. Let me just ask you, first of all, was it a bad deal in the eyes of independent analysts?

Let's focus on Iran a bit. You know, there's some big decisions coming here. Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal that the Obama administration had negotiated with Iran, saying it was a terrible deal. Let me just ask you, first of all, was it a bad deal in the eyes of independent analysts?

Let's focus on Iran a bit. You know, there's some big decisions coming here. Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear deal that the Obama administration had negotiated with Iran, saying it was a terrible deal. Let me just ask you, first of all, was it a bad deal in the eyes of independent analysts?

Trump has talked about maximum pressure, right? Sanctions, cutting off oil, that kind of thing. This has happened before. Is it effective?

Trump has talked about maximum pressure, right? Sanctions, cutting off oil, that kind of thing. This has happened before. Is it effective?

Trump has talked about maximum pressure, right? Sanctions, cutting off oil, that kind of thing. This has happened before. Is it effective?

And the fact that Iran has these alliances with Russia, right, and China, does that make it trickier?

And the fact that Iran has these alliances with Russia, right, and China, does that make it trickier?