All Podcasts / The Rest Is Politics: US / 148. Greenland, Rogan, and The Dawn of Putin’s America
The Rest Is Politics: US
The Rest Is Politics: US

148. Greenland, Rogan, and The Dawn of Putin’s America

January 19, 2026 • 47m

Summary

⏱️ 7 min read

Overview

Anthony Scaramucci and Katty Kay discuss President Trump's threat to impose 25% tariffs on European countries over Greenland, exploring the implications for NATO and transatlantic relations. They analyze Joe Rogan's emerging skepticism about Trump's ICE tactics and what it means for the administration's support. The episode includes an exclusive interview with Congresswoman Madeleine Dean fresh from Copenhagen, where she met with Danish and Greenlandic officials about Trump's territorial ambitions.

Trump's Greenland Gambit and European Tariff Threats

Trump threatens 25% tariffs on eight European countries that sent small military delegations to Greenland to assess security concerns. The threat has unified European leaders across the political spectrum in opposition, creating what many see as a fundamental rupture in the transatlantic alliance. European officials are debating whether to deploy their "bazooka" trade retaliation measures while recognizing their deep dependence on American security guarantees, intelligence sharing, and military infrastructure.

  • Trump threatens 25% tariffs on European countries for sending military delegations to Greenland
  • Eight European countries sent between 4-30 personnel to assess Greenland's security situation
  • European leaders including Starmer and Meloni have uniformly opposed the tariffs
  • The threat has brought together center and right-wing parties in countries like France
" The most cynical you could say is that he's Putin's slave and he wants to break up NATO "
" The Kremlin is loving this. They've said it publicly "

European Strategic Dilemma: Retaliate or Wait It Out

European leaders face a critical decision about whether to impose retaliatory tariffs and restrict military cooperation or wait out Trump's presidency. The discussion reveals Europe's deep dependence on American intelligence, nuclear deterrence, and military infrastructure, particularly for operations in Ukraine. Anthony argues Europeans should avoid "thermonuclear" responses that could cause permanent damage to the transatlantic relationship, while recognizing they must push back harder against Trump's tactics.

  • Europe depends on U.S. signal intelligence, nuclear deterrence, and F-35 targeting data
  • Ramstein air base is essential for U.S. power projection into Middle East and Africa
  • European leaders are debating a 'bazooka' trade retaliation package
  • Some suggest European leaders should wait out Trump's roughly 1,000 remaining days in office
" If I'm a European leader, do I look at the situation and say, okay, I got three years to go, roughly a thousand days. The U.S. Congress is leaving this mad person unchecked. Do I create permanent systemic damage with the United States? "
" This is not a joke. This is not a source of sadness. There is a systemic problem and an element of fear that America has kind of lost its way "

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