Welcome to Rivera and Reeves, where we break through the bias and tackle the biggest stories with zero patience for media nonsense! In this episode, Meseidy welcomes back geopolitics commentator Amanda Peterson to dive into Trump's first 100 days on the global stage. From the "not-so-chaotic" beginning of Trump 2.0 to the Department of Defense shake-ups, they analyze how Trump's approach to Russia, Ukraine, China, and Iran is reshaping America's role in the world. Is Trump's "peace through strength" strategy working, or is it just salesman talk?

Plus, get the inside scoop on what those rare earth mineral deals with Ukraine really mean for America's future. Pull up a chair and join this unfiltered conversation on what's actually happening with U.S. foreign policy.

Connect with Amanda!

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandatalksgeopolitics
• X: https://x.com/amandatalks__
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandatalksgeopolitics
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@amandatalksgeopolitics

Episode Highlights

• Trump's Foreign Policy Approach Trump's foreign policy makes more sense when you understand his focus on the China threat and his "new school" approach that's forcing allies to take more responsibility for their own defense.
• Ukraine-Russia Progress Despite Putin's aggressive moves before negotiations, the recent rare earth mineral deal between the U.S. and Ukraine could be a significant step toward ending the conflict while giving America strategic access to critical resources.
• Foreign Policy Reality Check Trump's rhetoric about "ending wars on day one" might be hyperbolic, but the podcast hosts argue the world understands Trump should be "taken seriously, not literally" while Democrats do the opposite.
• China Competition Strategy The administration is working to counter China's influence through potential trade deals with countries like India and Japan, moving manufacturing away from China, and securing critical minerals needed for semiconductor production.
• Population Crisis Impact Russia, Ukraine, China, and Western countries all face declining birth rates, creating a long-term challenge for national security and economic stability that's reshaping how countries approach foreign policy and defense spending.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:41 Guest Introduction and Episode Focus

01:13 Trump's Foreign Policy in the First 100 Days

01:55 Department of Defense and Foreign Policy Challenges

02:35 Merch Announcement and Inside Jokes

03:16 Trump's Bold Promises and Realities

05:08 Russia-Ukraine Conflict and Rare Earth Mineral Deal

10:09 China's Influence and Global Dynamics

13:24 US Foreign Policy and Global Partnerships

23:13 Population Decline and Economic Strategies

27:05 India-China Relations and Trade Deals

30:37 Tensions Between CCP and PLA

31:20 China's Propaganda and AI-Generated Videos

31:51 Concerns Over China's Trade Deals and Defense Spending

32:24 American Culture's Global Influence

33:20 Department of Defense Drama and Firings

38:05 Internal Conflicts and Leadership Issues

40:04 Speculations on Iran and Middle East Policies

56:23 Trump Administration's Foreign Policy Challenges

01:00:11 Podcast Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts

Connect

Meseidy - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]

Rachel - Instagram | X | Email - [email protected]