Podcast Summary: "Newt’s World" – Episode 934: The New Imperialists

Release Date: January 11, 2026
Host: Newt Gingrich
Guests: Herman Perchner & Elon Berman (American Foreign Policy Council)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Newt Gingrich discusses the emerging global alliance of authoritarian states confronting the U.S., a theme explored in the new book The New Imperialists by guests Herman Perchner and Elon Berman. With a particular focus on the coordinated actions of Russia, China, Iran, and their allied states, the conversation addresses these powers' strategies to undermine U.S. influence, the significance of recent events in Venezuela, and broader questions about U.S. national security, alliances, and policy innovation in response to global threats.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Venezuela as the Latest Flashpoint

• Significance of Venezuela's Regime Change ([03:04]–[09:29])

  • Background: Once stable, Venezuela pivoted toward authoritarianism under Chávez and Maduro.
  • Under Maduro, Venezuela became a "beachhead for the anti-American axis in the Western Hemisphere" bolstered by close ties with Iran, Russia, and China.

    "Venezuela has really positioned itself as a beachhead for this anti-American axis in the Western Hemisphere."
    — Elon Berman [03:43]

  • The Trump administration's decision to capture Maduro is framed as both a domestic clean-up and a geopolitical challenge to adversaries.
  • Homeland Security: Venezuela's role in drugs and the illicit economy underscores U.S. interest—lack of action can destabilize the hemisphere.

• Geopolitical Repercussions

  "The fact that [Trump] was able to act decisively I think will force a recalculation in both Beijing and Moscow..."
  — Herman Perchner [06:20]

  • Trump’s decisive actions are argued to have forced adversaries to rethink their strategies, especially regarding Taiwan and Ukraine.

• Systemic Regime Challenges

  • Informal criminal governance structure in Venezuela means removing Maduro isn’t enough—deeper regime elements and foreign enablers remain entrenched.

  "If you tackle a criminal enterprise and you simply remove the head... it can still do nefarious things."
  — Elon Berman [07:42]

2. Foreign Influence and Hybrid Threats

• Russian and Iranian Activities ([09:29]–[12:20])

  • Russian military presence in Venezuela is significant, but Iran’s network—including operations via proxies like Hezbollah—is perceived as an even greater immediate threat.
  • Iranian-Venezuelan collaboration includes attempted plots targeting the U.S. homeland—e.g., the 2007 JFK fuel tank plot and coordinated cyber attacks.

• Technological and Proxy Threats

  "Iran is moving around in Latin America not just as a state, but also through its proxies..."
  — Elon Berman [10:41]

  • Threats include drone factories with reach to the continental U.S.

3. Military Technology and Defense Dynamics

• Russian Military Perceptions ([14:22]–[15:09])

  • Russia’s underperformance in Ukraine has damaged its reputation as a global arms supplier.

  "...Russian arms are not seen to be up to snuff, and Russia militarily is seen to be a bit of a paper tiger."
  — Herman Perchner [15:09]

• China and the Taiwan Conundrum

  • Chinese decision-making regarding Taiwan is influenced by U.S. displays of dominance—airpower is discussed as both a deterrent and a factor in Beijing’s strategic calculus.

  “…recent activities by the Trump administration will cause a rethinking and we’ll see how that affects actual activity [over Taiwan].”
  — Herman Perchner [15:23]

4. AFPC’s New Journal: 'Statecraft and Strategy' ([16:59]–[19:28])

• Berman introduces a new quarterly publication intended to break ideological silos and synthesize global trends for policymakers, including ground-level regional perspectives and interviews with high-level officials like Gingrich.
• The aim is to link issues such as counterterrorism with the broader competition between democratic societies and authoritarian networks.

  “…a new quarterly journal of ideas that would look at the foreign policy and national security space… to really unify a lot of the voices and really bring out a lot of the voices that aren’t as loud or as prominent as they should be right now…”
  — Elon Berman [16:59]

5. The "New Imperialists" – Authoritarian Collective

• The book posits that Russia, China, Iran, and allies form a global network not captured by classic political science models—a “collective looting organization” seeking to overturn the free world order ([19:28]–[21:08]).

  "There's connected tissue between these different regions and having a global view of these different conflicts... very useful to have that 60,000 foot perspective."
  — Elon Berman [20:12]

6. The Greenland and Arctic Dilemma ([21:08]–[25:05])

• U.S. interest in Greenland stems from both strategic defense needs and countering Russian/Chinese ambitions, who both have significant investments in military and commercial infrastructure in the Arctic.

  “Russia claims 300,000 square miles that rightly belong to the Danish economic zone or Greenland economic zone. So Greenland ties into the imperial ambitions in Russia.”
  — Herman Perchner [21:28]

• Historic attempts to purchase Greenland reflect bipartisan recognition of its strategic value.
• The U.S. lags behind in Arctic capabilities (icebreakers, infrastructure) compared to Russia and China.

7. Global Coordination of Authoritarian States ([26:10]–[28:44])

• The China-Russia-Iran alliance is tightening, with joint exercises, economic and military coordination, and growing formalization of their partnerships.

  “...right now, there's much more commonality and convergence than there is divergence. And that's why you're seeing all this interplay on a bilateral or trilateral level...”
  — Elon Berman [26:38]

• Growing concern that America and Europe are not responding cohesively or quickly enough, with NATO’s logistical and strategic weaknesses laid bare.

8. NATO’s Vulnerabilities & Hybrid War ([29:20]–[33:27])

• European infrastructure and defense mobilization are insufficient—commitments to NATO’s eastern flank lag dangerously behind schedule.
• Russia may exploit these gaps, relying on hybrid warfare (cyber attacks, sabotage), which NATO is not doctrinally prepared to counter.

  "NATO hasn't yet developed a serious doctrine that works across domains to deal with the type of hybrid warfare and gray zone warfare that the Russians are employing."
  — Elon Berman [32:23]

9. Internal Dissent and the Iranian Regime ([33:27]–[37:24])

• The Iranian regime’s decades-long evolution of internet control is discussed, both as an instrument of repression and an area where the U.S. could be more proactive, for example, by leveraging Starlink to help protesters.
  • U.S. official communication efforts are lagging behind; more decisive messaging and technological support for Iranian dissidents are advocated.

  “Using Starlink not just as a commercial tool, but as a geopolitical tool for American objectives is, I think, very logical.”
  — Elon Berman [35:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Authoritarian Regime Resilience:

  "This isn't just one leader or a small cadre... This is a state that has been structured and wired for this sort of anti American cooperation."
  — Elon Berman [07:42]

• On the Russian Military’s Reputation:

  "...in three days, the Ukraine Russian war will have gone on longer than the Great Patriotic War... what have they done against little Ukraine, 1% of the territory in the last year?"
  — Herman Perchner [14:22]

• On NATO’s State of Readiness:

  “...it would take the alliance in extremists 45 days to bring battlefield kit from the west of Europe to the east of Europe. Obviously, this is an unacceptable position.”
  — Elon Berman [29:20]

• On Hybrid Warfare:

  “NATO has a new mission... to create alliance solidarity and reassure its members, there’s not this one trigger that’s really going to kick off a land war in Europe. That’s not how the Russians are playing these days.”
  — Elon Berman [32:23]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Venezuela & Strategic Significance: [03:04]–[09:29]
• Russian, Iranian, Chinese Activities in the Americas: [09:29]–[12:20]
• Implications of U.S. Air Dominance: [13:52]–[15:23]
• Introducing 'Statecraft and Strategy' Journal: [16:59]–[19:28]
• Defining the 'New Imperialists': [19:28]–[21:08]
• Greenland/Arctic Strategic Competition: [21:08]–[25:05]
• Trilateral Authoritarian Coordination: [26:10]–[28:44]
• NATO’s Vulnerabilities and Hybrid War: [29:20]–[33:27]
• Iran, Protest, and U.S. Leverage: [33:27]–[37:24]

Closing Thoughts

Gingrich, Perchner, and Berman argue that the U.S. is facing an unprecedented set of coordinated challenges from a networked bloc of authoritarian powers. They emphasize the urgency of innovative policy, alliance-building, and technological adaptation, and underscore the value of holistic, globally informed analysis—precisely what their new journal and book aim to provide.

For more, listeners are encouraged to read The New Imperialists and follow the American Foreign Policy Council’s research at afpc.org.