Imperial Isolationism: Foreign Policy Under Trump 2.0
Plus more from The Political Prism, Werner Herzog, and Bagels
In today’s newsletter, you’ll find the following:
Latest updates from The Political Prism
Reviewing Werner Herzog’s memoir
NYC bagel review (Baz Bagel & Restaurant in Soho/Nolita)
New essay (full version for paid subscribers): The Imperial Isolationist President and What It Means For the World
Whether you love or hate Donald Trump, there’s one thing we can all probably agree on — the world has become more uncertain in the 8 weeks since he’s been President.
If you love him, you may think that’s a good thing. This was the radical change you voted for. The system was rigged and required a total reset. DOGE! Elon!
If you hate him, you may also think it’s a good thing. Let people discover the consequences of their decisions — volatile financial markets, increasingly adversarial relationships with old allies, and defying the rule of law (even the WSJ editorial page was aghast at Trump defying court orders).
Or perhaps you think this is all bad and nothing good will come out of it; that we’re heading towards a constitutional crisis, more geopolitical conflict, and the downfall of American democracy as we know it.
Wherever you fall on this spectrum, it’s clear the world has significantly changed since January 20, 2025. It’s also very clear that Trump 2.0 is very different from Trump 1.0. He’s more experienced at governing and has a team of true believers surrounding and supporting him, as opposed to the Mike Pences and Mark Milleys of his first administration.
Trump 2.0 is unprecedented in American and world history. To rationalize and try to make sense of it, we need a new framework; a new way of understanding and anticipating how Trump operates, both on the world stage and domestically.
Below you’ll find an essay that coins a new foreign policy term for this new era - imperial isolationism. Hopefully, it will help you make sense of how Trump engages in geopolitical issues and help you understand what the implications are for the world.
The essay is only for paid subscribers, but you can also read it here if you have a Medium subscription.
Recent top stories from The Political Prism
As you may know, I’m the editor of The Political Prism on Medium. We’re quickly becoming one of the most widely-read law, politics, and society publications on the site. Below are some of the recent top stories. If you’re interested in writing for us, drop me a line.
In Defense of Elon Musk by Matt DeGeronimo.
“Musk is not perfect. His public persona is sometimes erratic, and his ventures — while revolutionary — are not immune to failure. But the broader question is this: Do we want more people like Elon Musk in our society or fewer?”
This is a controversial piece about a controversial person, but it’s something I want more of in The Political Prism as we try to challenge peoples’ perspectives in a world that pressures us to rely on confirmation biases. So if you dislike Elon Musk, give this piece a read.
Then perhaps contrast it with one I wrote in late 2023 before Musk grew even more erratic during the 2024 election cycle.
How Critical Theory Exposes Structured Inequalities in the Israel-Palestine Conflict by E.V. Solanas
A very thoughtful and academic piece from a Palestinian perspective, which I don’t completely agree with, but it made me think and consider my viewpoints. Also, a great example of a “boosted” story on Medium.
“The predominance of the two-state solution over alternatives, such as a one-state solution with equal rights, exemplifies how the system limits the vocabulary available to address rights-based claims and maintains an equilibrium that manages rather than resolves the conflict.”
Werner Herzog
I recently read a memoir written by this legendary filmmaker and wrote a review of it here. As I have worked at improving my filmmaking skills and getting better at the YouTube game, I’m trying to study the greats. Filmmakers like Herzog always come up, especially in the YouTube arena that’s more guerilla, run-and-gun, and avante-garde.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t as inspired by his book as I am about his films and the legend and lore that surround his character. But let me know what you think, especially if you’ve seen any Herzog films.
Read the full review of his memoir here for free.
Bagel review - Baz Bagel and Restaurant in Manhattan
I continued my bagel expedition in the Soho/Nolita neighborhood (stop 8 of 16 on the NYTimes list). This one wins the award for best in-dining experience. Most bagel shops have small counters and limited seating, but Baz Bagel is like a diner infused with a bagel shop. Classic, old-school New York City experience with amazing bagels to back it up. Check out my review here:
New Essay: The Imperial Isolationist President and What It Means For the World
Note: this is a preview and you can also read this full essay if you have a Medium subscription.
Donald Trump’s foreign policy demands a new term in the canon of political science — imperial isolationist. It’s meant to capture and explain his unique blend of foreign policy that defies categorization. At times it can seem aggressive and forceful abroad, while simultaneously promoting protectionism at home.
If you followed the 2024 U.S. Presidential election campaign, you probably heard one phrase in particular on repeat from conservative media — “Donald Trump is the pro-peace candidate.” Conservative influencers like Charlie Kirk regularly highlighted that there were “no wars under Trump.” Of course, they often failed to explain why Trump didn’t end wars, like the war in eastern Ukraine that eventually escalated, or the war in Afghanistan, where the Biden Administration botched the exit. Many even described Trump as an isolationist President who promoted peace and successfully kept America out of foreign wars.
This characterization is very misleading. Trump’s isolationism extends only as far as his self-interest. If there are no clear political or economic advantages in certain foreign policy actions, Trump usually questions why America should be involved. While he often advocates for hard power (i.e., making Canada the 51st state or annexing Greenland), he’s generally unpersuaded by soft power; the type of power previously exercised by agencies like USAID, where America provided humanitarian relief to millions around the world.
But in cases where Trump thinks he may be viewed as a strong leader protecting his country, or where there’s an economic incentive for him, Trump is anything but isolationist. In fact, he can become quite imperial, whether he’s threatening to take control of land in Canada, Greenland, or the Panama Canal Zone, or even threatening military force against Mexico and Iran. Economic incentives motivate him too, as we have seen from his proposals to take control of Gaza, expel Palestinians, and transform it into a “Riviera of the Middle East” (potentially with some Trump properties).
Analyzing Trump’s foreign policy and its global implications demands nuance and critical scrutiny. This analysis is more important than ever as Trump continues to threaten and enforce tariffs, among other threats on the international stage. By examining Trump’s motives and actions through a new imperial isolationist framework, we can better understand the implications of what we’re experiencing.
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