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1. Leaders
Who is the “leader of the free world”?
Since Yalta the answer to that question has been “the sitting president of the United States.” During that period there were good presidents and bad presidents. Some led the free world eagerly and ably; others less so. But the individuals were beside the point. America was the leader of the free world and so the chief steward of the American government was, by definition, the designated driver of that vehicle. We were so big, so powerful, and so invested in small-l liberalism that the American leader was always the de facto leader of liberals everywhere.
Yesterday on the Bulwark Daily pod, Tim casually referred to Mark Carney as the “leader of the free world” for standing up to the American president.
The brutal truth of this statement knocked me on my ass.
Today I want to talk about who the leaders of the free world really are in this moment and the terrifying reality that these men have been forced to take up the mantle not because the United States has abdicated the position, but because Trump’s America is actively opposed to it.
Not only does “the free world” no longer include America—the free world is organizing to defend itself from us.
Who are the leaders of the free world, right now? There’s a triumvirate of them, pointing the way to the future.
I hope you enjoyed your candy yesterday with crazy Natalie, because today I’m gonna wreck your spirit...
