{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"A Strategy of Consolidation: Playing for Time?","description":"Chris, Melanie, and Zack debate Wess Mitchell\u2019s proposed U.S. strategy of consolidation. They discuss whether this strategy would finally realign America\u2019s objectives with its resources. They also question the Trump administration\u2019s ability or willingness to execute such an approach. Chris commends Tom Stevenson\u2019s essay on the war in Afghanistan, Melanie questions the lack of American ambassadors worldwide, and Zack expresses frustration with the meager results of the Trump-Xi meeting. Show Links:   Robbie Gramer,  Trump Still Hasn\u2019t Appointed More Than 100 Ambassadors, Some to Key Allies, Wall Street Journal, May 14, 2026.   Chao Deng,  This Arkansas Town is Humming with the Sound of Missile Making, Wall Street Journal, May 17, 2026.   Zachary Federico,  Utah Breaks Down Occupational Licensing Barriers for Veterans, ALEC, May 14, 2026.    Sean Hannity interview with Donald Trump, May 14, 2026.&amp;nbsp;   Wolfgang Munchau,  Boots on the Ground is Trump\u2019s Best Option, UnHerd, May 11, 2026   Tom Stevenson,  We Were Doing Well When I Left, London Review of Books, May 2026.   Gil Barndollar and Jason Dempsey,  Don\u2019t Believe the Generals, The Atlantic, September 2, 2022.   A. Wess Mitchell, \u201cA Grand Strategy of Consolidation,\u201d Foreign Affairs, May\/June 2026.   Sal Mercogliano, \u201cThe Great Battleship Debate,\u201d What\u2019s Going on With Shipping channel, YouTube, May 12, 2026.   ","author_name":"Net Assessment","author_url":"http:\/\/sites.libsyn.com\/132282","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41361630\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/41361630"}