Zolan Kanno-Youngs

I think you also have to look at it in tandem with the outright skepticism that has come from Trump and his team about U.S. aid to Ukraine as well. And as you continue to put out these false statements that cast blame on Ukraine, turn it from victim to villain, does that now lay the groundwork to pull back U.S. aid on a long term basis to Ukraine as well?

There's been multiple indicators that we could be getting to that point. You saw in recent days the president say that for previous aid to Ukraine that's already gone through that he wanted an exchange, critical earth minerals from Ukraine.

There's been multiple indicators that we could be getting to that point. You saw in recent days the president say that for previous aid to Ukraine that's already gone through that he wanted an exchange, critical earth minerals from Ukraine.

So you're already seeing now a shift from a Biden administration whose position was we're going to send aid and arms to Ukraine to give them the best leverage in potential negotiations to a Trump administration that's saying, essentially, what are we getting back for this U.S. aid? So the skepticism has been building here.

So you're already seeing now a shift from a Biden administration whose position was we're going to send aid and arms to Ukraine to give them the best leverage in potential negotiations to a Trump administration that's saying, essentially, what are we getting back for this U.S. aid? So the skepticism has been building here.

And now you have these false statements that are casting blame on Ukraine in an attempt to potentially shape public perception over the war as well. potentially laying the groundwork for a major change in not just USA to Ukraine, but also kind of U.S. foreign policy and how the United States deals with allies overseas.

And now you have these false statements that are casting blame on Ukraine in an attempt to potentially shape public perception over the war as well. potentially laying the groundwork for a major change in not just USA to Ukraine, but also kind of U.S. foreign policy and how the United States deals with allies overseas.

Michael, you also mentioned the public polling, too, and some of the skepticism from the country. That is something that gets brought up when you press Trump administration officials and some foreign policy experts, too, about this, that there was some frustration building, including in Ukraine, of what's the strategy for a diplomatic off-ramp here? What's the endgame?

Michael, you also mentioned the public polling, too, and some of the skepticism from the country. That is something that gets brought up when you press Trump administration officials and some foreign policy experts, too, about this, that there was some frustration building, including in Ukraine, of what's the strategy for a diplomatic off-ramp here? What's the endgame?

Is this just going to continue? The status quo essentially wasn't working for the American people anymore. So at least this is an effort to force talks. The only issue is are you now forcing talks and pretty much giving up the leverage that you might have had? How much are you actually going to force Ukraine to cede?

Is this just going to continue? The status quo essentially wasn't working for the American people anymore. So at least this is an effort to force talks. The only issue is are you now forcing talks and pretty much giving up the leverage that you might have had? How much are you actually going to force Ukraine to cede?

Correct. I mean, I think there's also a question of just what does the federal government look like when you have a – clear disregard of the checks and balances that are set up within the federal bureaucracy at this point. He has shown that he's willing to go and effectively shrink an agency.

Correct. I mean, I think there's also a question of just what does the federal government look like when you have a – clear disregard of the checks and balances that are set up within the federal bureaucracy at this point. He has shown that he's willing to go and effectively shrink an agency.

He's also indicated that he wants Elon Musk's team to next go into the Department of Education, to also go into the Pentagon. You have a president and an administration here that has been pretty honest about wanting to completely reshape the federal bureaucracy in a way where it's set up in his image, where you have loyalists throughout.

He's also indicated that he wants Elon Musk's team to next go into the Department of Education, to also go into the Pentagon. You have a president and an administration here that has been pretty honest about wanting to completely reshape the federal bureaucracy in a way where it's set up in his image, where you have loyalists throughout.

And when you're disregarding the checks and balances that have been set up in order to do that, I mean, that indicates that there's not going to be much hesitancy on the part of this administration to pursue these goals and upending the federal bureaucracy.

And when you're disregarding the checks and balances that have been set up in order to do that, I mean, that indicates that there's not going to be much hesitancy on the part of this administration to pursue these goals and upending the federal bureaucracy.

There's so few guardrails at this point for this administration. When you're essentially ignoring Congress's role, when you're installing loyalists at the Department of Justice, when you're ousting inspectors general as well, I think there is a real question of, at that point, what is the system of accountability that's in place for the executive branch?

There's so few guardrails at this point for this administration. When you're essentially ignoring Congress's role, when you're installing loyalists at the Department of Justice, when you're ousting inspectors general as well, I think there is a real question of, at that point, what is the system of accountability that's in place for the executive branch?

That's a good question. I know in your story, you indicated that we might have some more country music, you know, at the Kennedy Center. Knowing Trump, probably what he envisions to be patriotic or more America first. I think there's something broader here. Which is what?