Could a new Pope Stand up to Trump? Relevant Silly Memes

What’s America Without Allies? With Kori Schake

THE POPE IS DEAD; LONG LIVE THE POPE

Pope Francis’s death and his funerary arrangements are completely dominating global news cycles even in predominantly non-Catholic countries like the UK. Maybe this is because his progressive modernity, charisma, genuine humbleness, and common sense represent something that people find lacking and very much desire in their political leaders.

What isn’t being covered in the mainstream media is what a huge opportunity this is for Global Mega Ordering. The Pope is one of the few global figures who can move the needle towards Mega-Ordering and away from MAGA-Disordering.

But would a Mega-Ordering Pope actually affect dynamics inside the US you ask.

I think he would.

The movement of Catholic voters -- traditionally a core democratic constituency, think of the role the Irish, Italians, and Hispanics have played traditionally in the Democratic party — has been essential for the rise of MAGA.

Believing Catholics have shifted more than 10 points towards the Republicans over the last twenty years. This has been essential for the cultural shifts that have allowed the MAGA movement to come into existence and seize institutional power. Many people do not realize that technically, any Roman Catholic male can be elected pope. But the last pope not chosen from the College of Cardinals was Urban VI in 1379. The Vatican has three weeks to consider choosing a change maker to go toe to toe with Trump from a Christian perspective. Imagine a Bill Maher-like (but not so irreligious) figure serving as Pope capturing global attention and calling for Mega-Ordering and Compassion… Sounds unlikely… but our extraordinary times call for extra-ordinary solutions… Otherwise we have this rather un-Christian, un-Charitable, and un-Humble clown setting the global tone…

And now for some silly themed memes:

---

BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING

As Trump’s trade war heats up and his anti-NATO rhetoric continues, America’s allies are having to face a new reality: the global superpower can no longer be relied upon. As core allies like the EU, UK and Canada recalibrate, what does that mean for America? And what does that mean for America’s traditional European allies who rely on the U.S. for their defence?

To discuss the future of NATO and Five Eyes, Jason is joined by longtime friend of the Pod, Kori Schake. She has lived her entire professional life advocating for the Transatlantic Alliance and American global leadership. She started her career as NATO desk officer at DoD under GHW Bush and is now Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

Listen on Apple Podcasts here; or on Spotify here

Kori and Jason look at what might happen if America further withdraws from the world and abandons its traditional allies; what happens next in Ukraine; if Trump has a real peace plan; and how his cabinet members are acting like a megaphone rather than as genuine advisors. The duo look at scary scenerios: like what happens if the US tried to kick Canada out of the Five Eyes Intelligence sharing partnership and why Trump’s allies drive his policy choices towards the extremes.

Background on Kori’s thought:

Hear Kori previously on Episode 6 NATO: A Model for Ordering the Disorder? - https://pod.link/1706818264/episode/9472a8b7d262dd9fb0cd9827e8947964

Read Kori’s piece in The Atlantic - https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/02/intelligence-agencies-weakened/681711/

Check out her views on Signalgate: https://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/the-wrong-signals-the-proper-role-of-a-defense-secretary/

---

Pls CONSIDER becomING a paid member to support us as we try to support NATO and Five Eyes - AS YOU KNOW WE LOSS MONEY EVERY MONTH PRODUCING THIS CONTENT AND WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATED IF YOU JOINED US IN CALLING FOR A MEGA-ORDERING POPE and some bonus content (not that much today but more other times)