Hannah Rosen

Okay, so your best guess is that what he wants, even if it doesn't end up going this way, or he articulates it as something like regime change, because there's something heroic in that.

What do you think his understanding is of the U.S.

's influence in the world and how it should behave?

OK, so let's say this is the theory.

It's sort of mafia like a little bit arbitrary and determined by whims.

If that is true, what do you most worry about in that scenario?

Well, Tom, thank you so much for helping us understand what's going on.

This episode of Radio Atlantic was produced by Rosie Hughes and Janae West.

It was edited by Claudina Bade.

Rob Smerciak engineered and provided original music.

Genevieve Finn fact-checked.

Claudina Bade is the executive producer of Atlantic Audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor.

Listeners, if you enjoy the show, you can support our work and the work of all Atlantic journalists when you subscribe to The Atlantic at theatlantic.com slash listener.

I'm Hannah Rosen.

Thank you for listening.

Over the many years of raising kids in D.C.

public schools, I've experienced Black History Month the way many Americans do.

I've helped my kids make poster boards, and as they got older, PowerPoints, celebrating the achievements of many famous Black Americans.

Jackie Robinson, Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks.

Black History Month celebrations tend to follow what the Atlantic's Adam Harris calls a formula.