Derek Chollet, author most recently of “The Long Game: How Obama Defied Washington and Redefined America’s Role in the World”, was an Assistant Secretary of Defense in the Obama administration. He’s now Executive Vice President at the German-Marshall Fund. In this podcast with Perry World House Director Bill Burke-White, Chollet discusses strategy differences between Obama and Trump, what makes for a great Secretary of State, and the most important challenges facing the world.

• (1:00) – Chollet’s background and entry into foreign policy.
• (3:15) – What is the role of academia in solving global challenges?
• (6:00) – How did Obama change America’s approach towards the world?
• (9:30) – Is there coherence to President Trump’s “America First” strategy?
• (12:35) – What makes a great Secretary of State?
• (16:19) – What are the two most pressing issues facing the United States in the short- and long-term
• (21:00) – Career advice for students

Episode Reading:

• “Russians, guns and Mosul,” Derek Chollet & Tommy Vietor, Pod Save the World (Podcast)
•  “Donald Trump Has Made America a Back-Row Kid,” Derek Chollet, Foreign Policy, http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/07/donald-trump-has-made-america-a-back-row-kid/
• “Trump’s First 6 Months Were Terrible, But He Got 3 Things Right,” Derek Chollet, Foreign Policy, http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/21/trump-first-6-months-mattis-defense-diplomacy/
• “Jesse Helms + Hugo Chávez = Donald Trump,” Derek Chollet, Foreign Policy, https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/09/20/jesse-helms-hugo-chavez-donald-trump/
• “The Long Game: How Obama Defied Washington and Redefined America’s Role in the World,” Derek Chollet, PublicAffairs, https://www.amazon.com/Long-Game-Washington-Redefined-America%C2%92s/dp/161039660X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513109713&sr=8-1&keywords=derek+chollet

Music and Produced by Tre Hester