{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"The Paradoxical Power?","description":"An immense and growing national debt, entrenched political polarization, and falling levels of patriotism might lead some to conclude that the position of the United States in the world is weakening compared to other major economies. Michael Beckley looks at other measures, including geography, wealth, alliances, and demographics, and concludes that \u201cThis is the paradox of American power: the United States is a divided country, perpetually perceived as in decline, yet it consistently remains the wealthiest and most powerful state in the world\u2014leaving competitors behind.\u201d But, he says, all is not well: an urban-rural divide and a \u201chollow internationalism\u201d threaten our stability and security. Chris, Zack, and Melanie talk about whether the United States is in decline, how our advantages might create vulnerabilities, and how dysfunction at home affects America\u2019s ability to wield influence abroad. Chris has a shoutout for Gabe Murphy and his work on base realignment, Zack has a remembrance of recently-passed security scholar, practitioner, and mentor Joseph Nye, and Melanie criticizes the Biden administration for not coming clean about the extent of failure of the Gaza Pier. Links:  Michael Beckley, \u201cThe Strange Triumph of a Broken America: Why Power Abroad Comes with Dysfunction at Home,\u201d Foreign Affairs, January\/February 2025. Michael Beckley, \u201cThe Age of American Unilateralism,\u201d Foreign Affairs, April 16, 2025. Christopher Preble, \u201cTrump\u2019s Rise: Who\u2019s to Blame?\u201d Cato at Liberty, March 3, 2016. Alexander Cornwell, "US, Israel discuss possible US-led administration for Gaza, sources say," Reuters, May 7, 2025. Supporting Stimson, https:\/\/www.stimson.org\/support\/ Gabe Murphy, \u201cBase Instincts: A Case for Base Realignment and Closures at Home and Abroad,\u201d Taxpayers for Common Sense, May 2025. John Hendel, \u201cThe $42 Billion Biden Internet Program Frustrating Dems in Swing States,\u201d Politico, September 4, 2024. Alex Horton, \u201cBiden\u2019s Gaza Pier Was More Dangerous and Costly than Previously Known,\u201d Washington Post, May 7, 2025. John Arnold, Immigration chart, X, May 11, 2025.    ","author_name":"Net Assessment","author_url":"http:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/132282","html":"