Zolan Kanno-Youngs
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Podcast Appearances
And he did say that he was open to receiving one. But just by the comments of some of those who received it and sort of the mixed responses, you can see just how sort of polarizing this was.
On paper, it was almost advertised as something that I think many would characterize as somewhat presidential about economic investment. The president-elect came out with a business leader from the UAE that actually has close ties to the Trump family. And started out by talking about a $20 billion investment to data centers, a sort of normal press conference as one goes into office.
On paper, it was almost advertised as something that I think many would characterize as somewhat presidential about economic investment. The president-elect came out with a business leader from the UAE that actually has close ties to the Trump family. And started out by talking about a $20 billion investment to data centers, a sort of normal press conference as one goes into office.
But it really only took minutes for this thing to move off topic and to devolve into something that was a news conference that I think we all saw when Trump was first in office. Well, inevitably, it turned to Greenland.
But it really only took minutes for this thing to move off topic and to devolve into something that was a news conference that I think we all saw when Trump was first in office. Well, inevitably, it turned to Greenland.
It's straight out of his playbook. Economic coercion is straight out of his playbook.
It's straight out of his playbook. Economic coercion is straight out of his playbook.
And it's not just Denmark and Panama, which he focused on in the press conference, leaders there that are rattled by this. He also talked about Canada and potentially using economic coercion there. Also, the tricky thing with these press conferences is we focus on in one example, Trump said, I want to rename the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. Right. The focus is there.
And it's not just Denmark and Panama, which he focused on in the press conference, leaders there that are rattled by this. He also talked about Canada and potentially using economic coercion there. Also, the tricky thing with these press conferences is we focus on in one example, Trump said, I want to rename the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. Right. The focus is there.
But also, he did have comments about Mexico and the Mexican government not doing enough to stop migrants, to stop drug trafficking. We know that he has also threatened tariffs against Mexico before. So while there might be sort of a flashy statement at the top of this, I do think there's a real through line behind it.
But also, he did have comments about Mexico and the Mexican government not doing enough to stop migrants, to stop drug trafficking. We know that he has also threatened tariffs against Mexico before. So while there might be sort of a flashy statement at the top of this, I do think there's a real through line behind it.
And it does, you know, rattle leaders, including some of our biggest trade partners.
And it does, you know, rattle leaders, including some of our biggest trade partners.
So I'll start with policy and sort of the actions that he's been taking. You know, he recently signed an executive order in the vein of environmental justice and climate. It would basically ban drilling in about 625 million acres of US coastal waters. Biden has also used his final days to issue clemency action as well for those on death row. Right.
So I'll start with policy and sort of the actions that he's been taking. You know, he recently signed an executive order in the vein of environmental justice and climate. It would basically ban drilling in about 625 million acres of US coastal waters. Biden has also used his final days to issue clemency action as well for those on death row. Right.
When I talk to administration officials privately, they're honest that they're limited in what they can do with the president-elect coming in. You know, Trump has said that he's going to gut Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and his environmental investments. He has said he's going to peel back some of that money. And there are laws in place that basically say that appropriated funds have to go out.
When I talk to administration officials privately, they're honest that they're limited in what they can do with the president-elect coming in. You know, Trump has said that he's going to gut Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and his environmental investments. He has said he's going to peel back some of that money. And there are laws in place that basically say that appropriated funds have to go out.
Right. There is not much you can do for, say, Biden's executive actions on immigration. Trump's going to be able to peel much of that back. So, yes, Biden is taking action to try to protect some of these policies. But privately, administration officials are a little bit more candid about how little they can do here to protect this agenda, particularly that which wasn't signed into legislation.
Right. There is not much you can do for, say, Biden's executive actions on immigration. Trump's going to be able to peel much of that back. So, yes, Biden is taking action to try to protect some of these policies. But privately, administration officials are a little bit more candid about how little they can do here to protect this agenda, particularly that which wasn't signed into legislation.
David, I traveled with him to Latin America and Angola, and he answered two shouted questions during both of those trips. Answer two shouted questions, you know.