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Friday Focus: The US turns its back on Ukraine and a sombre American Independence Day

July 4, 2025
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Friday Focus: The US turns its back on Ukraine and a sombre American Independence Day

Rudyard and Janice open the show unpacking the effect America’s pause on military shipments will have on Ukraine’s war effort. Putin has managed to drive a wedge between the US and Ukraine, thus removing the biggest obstacle to his maximalist ambitions. Has America officially walked away from Ukraine? And does Europe have the will, the weapons, and the finances to fill the void and give Ukraine a fighting chance in a war that they are losing? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice take stock of America on its Independence Day and agree that things do not look good from north of the border: a President who shows contempt for the courts and rule of law, and a country that is now spending more money servicing its debt than its military. Both Rudyard and Janice worry for America’s short term future under this administration, but both are optimistic that American Exceptionalism can withstand this current moment and save the country from decline.

Thank you to this week’s Munk Curators and Supporters. Your contribution supports our efforts to bring back civil and substantive dialogue to the public square.

Curators:

Mark E

Edward S

Supporters:

Gerald W

Linda T

Shanti M

Barry G

Will P

Vijai R

Brenda L

Sebastian G

Andrew J

Adelyne R

Patty J

Richard K

Andre Y

David M

Stephan I

francis N

Denise B

Alain S

Ann E

Thomas H

William T

Paul S

Emma M

Joseph R

Michael S

Quico Q

Christopher B

T G

Sharon G

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