Zack Cooper joins Melanie and Chris for a discussion of the post-COVID-19 international order. The struggle in both the United States and China to overcome the economic and health effects of the pandemic have called into question each country’s capacity for leadership. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd doubts that middle-tier powers will be able to fill that gap and deal with global challenges. But other signs suggest productive multilateral approaches, including some that barely involve Washington or Beijing. With the two leading powers increasingly locked in a zero-competition, will other countries demonstrate the continued value of cooperation? Melanie showers praise on country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton and throws shade on E.U. diplomats for abetting Chinese misinformation. Chris hopes a failed coup plotter’s 15 minutes of fame are up. And offer a brief remembrance for Jerry Stiller, the immortal voice of “and now, for the airing of grievances….”

Links

• Kevin Rudd, “The Coming Post-COVID Anarchy,” Foreign Affairs, May 6, 2020
• “Kevin Rudd on America, China and saving the WHO,” The Economist, April 11, 2020
• David Sanger and Nicole Perlroth, "US to Accuse China of Trying to Hack Vaccine Data, As Virus Redirects Cyberattacks" New York Times, May 10, 2020
• Jerry Dunleavy, "Crime Against Humanity," Washington Examiner, April 24, 2020
• Michael Birnbaum, "Beijing Censors Reference to China's Role in Outbreak in EU-Penned Op-Ed, Putting Bloc on Defensive,” The Age, May 7, 2020
• Adam Rawnsley, "Dolly Parton is Backing Research into Promising Covid Treatment," The Daily Beast, May 6, 2020
• Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "At Senate Hearing, Government Experts Paint Bleak Picture of the Pandemic," New York Times, May 12, 2020
• Su-Lin Tan, "China's Restrictions on Australian Beef, Barley Seen as Retaliation for Support of Coronavirus Investigation," South China Morning Post, May 12, 2020
• Damien Cave and Isabella Kwai, “China Is Defensive. The U.S. Is Absent. Can the Rest of the World Fill the Void?” New York Times, May 11, 2020
• Peter Keepnews, “Jerry Stiller, Comedian with Enduring Appeal, Is Dead at 92,” New York Times, May 11, 2020
• Brendan Rittenhouse Green, Cato Institute
• Christopher Fettweis, Cato Institute
• Joshua Rovner, Cato Institute