Liberal YouTubers

Rhiannon12866

(259,562 posts) Mon Jun 1, 2026, 05:40 AM 12 hrs ago

Tom Friedman: "Trump Is Unraveling The World" - America at a Crossroads

Why do China and Russia want Donald Trump in the White House? In this exclusive interview, Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist Tom Friedman breaks down the harsh realities of modern global economics, Trump’s tariff strategies, and the fragile state of global institutions like NATO.

Friedman argues that America’s adversaries favor a Trump presidency because his "heedless" approach isolates the US from critical global coalitions. He also dives deep into the structural flaws of China's "Popeye" economy, explains why no single country can actually build an iPhone, and echoes a chilling warning from Yuval Noah Harari about what happens when global plumbing finally breaks down.

📘 Guest: Tom Friedman - New York Times Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs, globalization and technology.
🎙️ Host: Larry Mantle - Host of NPR's 'Airtalk' on LAist 89.3
📅 Recorded May 2026

7 replies

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Highlight:

Tom Friedman: "Trump Is Unraveling The World" - America at a Crossroads (Original Post) Rhiannon12866 12 hrs ago OP

Highly recommend Yuval Noah Harari's online class, A Brief History of Humankind EverHopeful 11 hrs ago #1

Thanks for the recommendation! Rhiannon12866 11 hrs ago #2

Not a fan WSHazel 10 hrs ago #4

Interesting. I don't remember that so I definitely need to rewatch and watch for that EverHopeful 8 hrs ago #5

I read the book by Harari WSHazel 7 hrs ago #6

No, NETANYAHU and Trump are unraveling the world. Chasstev365 10 hrs ago #3

There is a need to address MAGA's rage points Gum Logger 3 hrs ago #7

EverHopeful

(713 posts)

1. Highly recommend Yuval Noah Harari's online class, A Brief History of Humankind

Reply to Rhiannon12866 (Original post)

Mon Jun 1, 2026, 06:22 AM

11 hrs ago

I took it years ago but the mention of him here reminded me and if I can find the time, I'll watch it again.

Rhiannon12866

(259,562 posts)

2. Thanks for the recommendation!

Reply to EverHopeful (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 1, 2026, 06:27 AM

11 hrs ago

WSHazel

(860 posts)

4. Not a fan

Reply to EverHopeful (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 1, 2026, 08:17 AM

10 hrs ago

I like some of Harari’s theories, but he gets a little too noble savage for me, painting pre history as a utopia when it was actually brutal, violent, and most humans were terrorized by their own leaders.

EverHopeful

(713 posts)

5. Interesting. I don't remember that so I definitely need to rewatch and watch for that

Reply to WSHazel (Reply #4)

Mon Jun 1, 2026, 09:56 AM

8 hrs ago

Have you read Goliath's Curse by Luke Kemp? His picture of prehistory felt less brutal but perhaps I'll need to reread that now. (As if my TBR list isn't long enough already )