Listener Q&A: Woke-iousity, Trump Curiosity, Starmerology, and Rejoinophilia

And anoter chance to join the RUSI live event on March 11

Everyone loves Listener Questions right?

On today’s Pod, Jason and Alex answer listener questions which challenge the neutrality of the pod from both the Right and the Left. One listener worries that the Disorder pod’s ideal "centrist" politicians might sell progressives and LGBTQ+ down the river to placate the MAGA right, while another listener questions if Disorder has become so anti-Trump in its tone as to completely ignore the possible benefits of his ideas.

After standing up for the Mega-Ordering values of the Disorder pod, Jason asserts his mission to call balls and strikes and advocate ordering while criticizing Right and Left equally for why we got to this moment. Then, Jason and Alex respond to questions about the need to rejoin the EU and honestly assess the character of Starmer -- and if he is personally up for the task of reorienting the UK’s global role or coming closer to Europe.

Taken holistically, this batch of listener questions presents an overview of our current dilemmas: the challenges of maintaining progressive values amidst a global anti-woke backlash, the need to point out what was broke about the Liberal World Order before Trump, the potential for Keir Starmer's leadership in navigating the UK's future relationship with the EU, and the implications of a rise of plutocratic class. We finish the pod with a brilliant question from Mega-Ordering listener Tara [who I had the great pleasure of meeting at that NYC Oxford Alumni event]. She asks about 2017 US tax breaks for billionaires that were about to phase out and why Dem-leaning plutocrats defected to Trump and have embraced the politics of distraction is important to understanding the current Disorder we are living through.

And in Tara’s honour I wore my St Ant’s hoodie while denouncing the plutocrats power grab:

NOW FOR SOME BACKGROUND LINKS

Our Last Listener Question ep also dealing with Woke-iousity, Trump Curiosity, Starmerology, and Rejoinophilia :

The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Doctrine-Understanding-Neoliberalism/dp/024163590X

And if you are craving more Ukraine/NATO content check out Arthur’s interview with MP Mike Martin of Tunbridge Wells:

I have spoken a lot about Impoundment and the threat that makes to the constitution but what and the issue of the Unitary Executive? Here is the legal theory that Trump is invoking to exert control over the agencies in this regard:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/26/opinion/trump-roberts-unitary-executive-theory.html

And what of the Ukraine minerals deal? Here is what the FT reports: https://www.ft.com/content/1890d104-1395-4393-a71d-d299aed448e6

Lastly, You are all invited to become Paid members of the substack to come to the below event by heading to the bottom of the page beyond the paywall and click on the link to book now:

Disorder Podcast Live: Europe’s Role in the Battle for an Orderly World

Join us for a discussion between Disorder podcast's co-hosts and Neil Melvin, Director of International Security at RUSI.

17:30 – 19:30 GMT 11 March 2025 Location: WHITEHALL, London

Overview

Join a live recording of the Disorder podcast and put questions to host Jason Pack, Disorder’s co-hosts and RUSI Director of International Security Neil Melvin as they discuss the international order and Europe’s role in the battle for an ‘orderly world’.

They investigate the challenges to the global order in the wake of Donald Trump's policies on trade, tariffs, the Middle East and China, asking if Europe can play an ‘ordering role’ on the global stage.

The panel will discuss:

• The challenge – or threat – represented by the rise of the CRINKs (China, Russia, Iran and North Korea), and the new international architecture they are promoting.

• How the US is reshaping its global role as its interests shift.

• How Europe can push back and exert genuine global leadership in an attempt to ‘order the disorder’.

The discussion will be followed by a live audience Q&A with the opportunity to further examine these topics.

Ordering the Disorder is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Subscribed

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Speakers

Jason Pack, RUSI Associate Fellow, Host of the Disorder Podcast

Dr Neil Melvin, Director, International Security, RUSI

Arthur Snell, RUSI Associate Fellow, Co- Host of the Disorder Podcast

Alex Hall Hall, Co-host of Disorder and Former British Ambassador to Georgia

Jane Kinninmont, Co-host of Disorder and Acting Director of the European Leadership Network

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BELOW THIS PAYWALL IS ALL THE INFO YOU NEED TO RSVP AND ATTEND: