Defense Secretary Mattis resigns after a struggle over Syria. Richard Haass & Fareed break down the President's drive to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and decrease troop levels in Afghanistan. Then, do we focus too much on the negative? Or is the world really that scary? A debate between Niall Ferguson and Steven Pinker. 

Guests: Richard Haass, Niall Ferguson, Steven Pinker, Greta Thunberg

12/23/18To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy
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December 23, 2018: Mattis resigns, Trump disengages

Fareed Zakaria GPS takes a comprehensive look at foreign affairs and global policies through in-depth, one-on-one interviews and fascinating roundtable discussions.

News

Today on the show, Fareed is joined by the head of Ukraine’s Office of the President Andriy Yermak to discuss the US aid bill that passed the House this weekend and its impact, as Ukraine braces for a new Russian offensive.  
Then, Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi talks to Fareed about the tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran, and why he thinks the focus must remain on Israel’s policies in Gaza. 
Next, Academy Award-winning actor and producer Michael Douglas joins the show to tell Fareed about playing Benjamin Franklin in his new show “Franklin” on Apple TV+. 
Finally, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel discusses the Biden Administration’s opposition to Nippon Steel’s bid to buy US Steel.
GUESTS: Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak), Ayman Safadi (@AymanHsafadi), Michael Douglas, Rahm Emanuel (@RahmEmanuel) 
 
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The US aid bill and implications for Ukraine; Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs on the war in Gaza; Michael Douglas on his new show “Franklin”; Ambassador Rahm Emanuel on Nippon Steel’s bid to buy

Today on the show, CNN’s chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward joins from Tel Aviv to break down the calculations taking place within Netanyahu’s government about how and if to respond. 
Then, Fareed speaks with The New York Times’ David Sanger and Vali Nasr, former senior adviser at the US Department of State, about the potential for further escalation following Iran’s attack. They also talk about what this most recent development means for the Biden administration’s influence on Israel’s policy in Gaza. 
Then, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tells Fareed about her recent trip to China, where she emphasized that while the US is not seeking to decouple from Beijing, they are also pressuring China to roll back what she calls “unfair” trade policy. 
Finally, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel joins to discuss Prime Minister Kishida’s state visit to Washington, and Japan’s increasingly crucial position in the region. 
GUESTS: Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward), David Sanger (@SangerNYT), Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Janet Yellen (@SecYellen), Rahm Emanuel (@RahmEmanuel)
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Iran’s attack on Israel and the potential for further escalation in the Middle East; Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on her recent trip to Beijing; Ambassador Rahm Emanuel on US-Japan cooperation in t

This week on the show, Fareed speaks with former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett about the war in Gaza, and whether Israel’s current strategy can eradicate Hamas. They also discuss Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political position, and whether Bennett might run to be Israel’s next prime minister. 
Then, Finland’s new president Alexander Stubb joins the show to discuss his recent trip to Kyiv, the potential impact of a second Trump term on NATO, and why peace negotiations in Ukraine are still a long way off. 
Finally, Assistant Editor of The Spectator, Cindy Yu, talks to Fareed about the social media backlash against China’s richest man. 
 GUESTS: Naftali Bennett (@naftalibennett), Alexander Stubb (@alexstubb), Cindy Yu (@CindyXiaodanYu) 
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Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett on the war in Gaza and domestic politics in Israel; Finnish president Alexander Stubb on the future of NATO and his recent trip to Kyiv; Nationalist socia

This week on the show, Fareed speaks with former State Department director of policy planning Richard Haass about the widening rift between the U.S. and Israel over the war in Gaza and settlements in the West Bank.  
Then, The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood joins to sift through the many theories about who was behind the recent terror attack in Moscow.
Next, former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer talks to Fareed about his new book, “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism not Textualism,” and his views on the current court’s conservative majority and its approach to lawmaking. 
Finally, Bloomberg News’ Saleha Mohsin discusses the role of sanctions in U.S. foreign policy, and the supremacy of the dollar in the global economy. 
GUESTS: Richard Haass (@RichardHaass), Graeme Wood (@gcaw), Stephen Breyer, Saleha Mohsin (@SalehaMohsin)
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The growing U.S.-Israel rift; the terror attack in Moscow; former Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer on the current court; use of sanctions as a tool of American foreign policy

In this special episode, Fareed shares an extended excerpt from his new book, "Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the Present."
The book is available now in print, ebook and audiobook.

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December 23, 2018: Mattis resigns, Trump disengages

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