Podcast Summary: "Trump is Taking a Hammer to Traditional Pillars of Soft Power"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Consider This from NPR
• Host: Mary Louise Kelly
• Episode Title: Trump is Taking a Hammer to Traditional Pillars of Soft Power
• Release Date: March 19, 2025
• Description: In this episode, NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly delves into the Trump administration’s actions that undermine traditional U.S. soft power institutions. Through insightful discussions and expert interviews, the episode explores the implications of these changes on America's global influence.

1. Introduction to U.S. Soft Power and Its Dismantling

Mary Louise Kelly opens the episode by highlighting the intertwining of moral and strategic interests in U.S. international aid. She references a 2017 argument by Senator Marco Rubio, voiced by Dan Glickman, emphasizing that U.S. aid initiatives have historically aligned with national interests.

Dan Glickman [00:14]: “I promise you it's going to be a lot harder to recruit someone to anti Americanism, anti American terrorism if the United States of America was the reason why they're even alive today.”

However, the current administration under President Trump has taken a starkly different stance. Kelly points out that Trump has labeled the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) a “left-wing scam.”

Dan Glickman [00:39]: “We're giving billions and billions of dollars to countries that hate us.”

The administration has significantly reduced USAID’s operations, with Secretary Rubio announcing that 83% of its contracts have been cut due to their perceived lack of alignment with U.S. national interests.

Dan Glickman [01:17]: “Tariffs are also a powerful tool of diplomacy and all around the world are moving quickly to bring back peace through strength.”

2. The Shift from Traditional Soft Power to New Measures

The episode elaborates on the broader strategy of moving away from established soft power tools towards more assertive measures like tariffs, which Rubio defends as tools of diplomacy.

Additionally, President Trump has effectively shut down other key soft power instruments, such as Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). These broadcasters have historically provided independent news to millions in authoritarian regimes.

Dan Glickman [01:24]: “Taxpayer funded radical propaganda, says the White House.”

VOA, which broadcasted in nearly 50 languages to 360 million people, has been criticized by the White House for spreading propaganda. Similarly, funding cuts to RFE/RL, initiated by Trump, have sparked concerns about leaving authoritarian governments without access to free press.

Dan Glickman [02:05]: “We're a lifeline to the people who live in those countries and they have no access to information outside of largely government propaganda.”

3. The U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) Under Siege

The focus shifts to the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), a congressionally funded think tank dedicated to conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Trump’s administration has made attempts to dismantle USIP by firing its board and acting president, George Moose.

A dramatic incident involved members of Elon Musk's Doge team breaking into the USIP building, leading to George Moose being escorted out by D.C. police. This event underscores the contentious environment surrounding soft power institutions.

Mary Louise Kelly [04:24]: “Standing outside on the steps of the institute, he had run until just a few days before George Moose told Michelle it was a sad day for the US Institute of Peace.”

4. In-Depth Discussion with Dan Glickman

Mary Louise Kelly interviews former Democratic Congressman and former Agriculture Secretary, Dan Glickman, who was instrumental in founding USIP in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Key Points from Glickman’s Interview:

• Creation and Mission of USIP:

  Dan Glickman [05:12]: “...it was decided that instead of an academy, an institute that would try to promote conflict resolution techniques, try to deal with extremism in the world, and try to do our best to assert American power responsibly along with other soft power aspects...”

• Impact of USIP: Glickman cites USIP’s role in improving governance in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, collaborating with organizations including the U.S. Military to prevent conflicts.

  Dan Glickman [06:07]: “We work with other governments in this regard... We're spending a tiny percentage of military funding to deal in advance with the causes of conflict.”

• Necessity of Taxpayer Funding: He argues that unlike privately funded think tanks, USIP directly serves U.S. interests by fostering peace and stability, thereby enhancing America’s global influence.

  Dan Glickman [07:40]: “It establishes our influence as engaged in the world... We desperately need our government to have an adequate military, but we also need soft power.”

• Bipartisan Origins and Current Challenges: Glickman laments the loss of bipartisan support in today’s hyper-partisan environment, questioning the feasibility of maintaining nonpartisan institutions like USIP.

  Dan Glickman [09:28]: “I wish that we had a lot of that same environment that we did back then... It can do some good.”

• Consequences of USIP’s Dismantling: He warns that without USIP, the U.S. would lose a critical tool in preventing conflicts, leaving a vacuum that adversaries like China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia could exploit.

  Dan Glickman [08:23]: “...we lose the opportunity to make the case for conflict resolution and peaceful ways to resolve these conflicts before war occurs.”

5. The Legacy of Voice of America

Emily Fang provides a historical perspective on VOA, illustrating its significance through personal anecdotes and its impact during pivotal moments like the Tiananmen Square protests.

• VOA’s Influence in China: Anna Wong reminisces about the illegal yet widespread listening to VOA broadcasts in China during the 1970s and 1980s, highlighting its role in disseminating unvarnished news and fostering dissent.

  Emily Fang [11:08]: “Listening to VOA was illegal Punishable in some cases by the death penalty...”

• VOA During Tiananmen Square: Zhou Feng SUO recalls how VOA’s broadcasts countered state media silence during the 1989 crackdown, providing a crucial information lifeline to protesters and the global audience.

  Emily Fang [12:29]: “It was source of truth when things are changing rapidly.”

• Cultural and Educational Impact: The program not only informed but also educated listeners, with many tuning in to improve their English and gain a broader understanding of global events.

  Dan Glickman [14:22]: “They had a generally positive impression, not because they were getting all good news...”

Despite VOA’s positive influence, Trump's allies criticize it for high costs and alleged biases, threatening its future and the free flow of information in authoritarian states.

Emily Fang [14:08]: “With the potential closure after Trump ordered the agency that funds it to be dismantled.”

6. Conclusion: The Future of U.S. Soft Power

Mary Louise Kelly wraps up the episode by emphasizing the critical role that institutions like USAID, USIP, and VOA play in maintaining America’s soft power. The dismantling of these pillars under the Trump administration poses significant risks to U.S. global influence and its ability to foster peace and stability worldwide.

Dan Glickman [08:15]: “We need soft power. And by the way, this was created in a very bipartisan atmosphere...”

The episode underscores the necessity of preserving and supporting these soft power tools to ensure that the United States remains a proactive and positive force on the global stage.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Glickman [00:14]: “I promise you it's going to be a lot harder to recruit someone to anti Americanism, anti American terrorism if the United States of America was the reason why they're even alive today.”

• Dan Glickman [05:12]: “...it was decided that instead of an academy, an institute that would try to promote conflict resolution techniques..."

• Emily Fang [11:08]: “Listening to VOA was illegal Punishable in some cases by the death penalty."

This episode of "Consider This" offers a comprehensive examination of how the Trump administration's policies are reshaping the foundations of U.S. soft power. Through expert insights and historical context, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the potential long-term impacts on America's role in fostering global peace and stability.