Mary Louise Kelly
Appearances
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
It's Consider This from NPR. This week, as we mark three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, among the many people offering up ideas for how to end that war is Alexander Vindman. Now, a little background here. Vindman was born in Ukraine, emigrated to the United States as a child. He
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
And if you recognize his name, there's a decent chance that is because of a moment back in 2019 when Vindman, by then a staffer in the Trump White House and an active duty officer in the U.S. Army, testified in impeachment hearings against his commander in chief.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
Well, Trump fired Vindman not long after that. Then Vindman retired from the army, but he has not stopped thinking about the relationship between the country for which he wore a uniform and the country where he was born. His new book is The Folly of Realism, How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine. Alexander Vindman, welcome.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
So the last time you and I spoke was three years ago. It was actually right before Russia invaded. Let's start with the case for hope. Do you find grounds for hope that this year, that 2025 may be the year this war ends?
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
The president has his eye on Ukraine's rich natural resources.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
I mentioned your own history that Trump fired you, that he had you marched out of his White House. For people listening and wondering if you have an ax to grind, do you?
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
policymaker and as an academic studying this issue well and what's interesting is that in this latest book you make the argument that the us and its allies have gotten ukraine wrong since the collapse of the soviet union like across six u.s presidential administrations of both parties and
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
I'm sure there are many moments that stand out, but is there a particular one that, if it had been navigated differently, might have led us to a very different outcome today?
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
The Trump administration wants hundreds of billions of dollars of rare earth metals and other critical minerals. Details are thin on what exactly Ukraine would get in exchange. After back and forth, it looks like there's a preliminary deal. Trump spoke Wednesday at the White House.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
Fast forward to this moment now, here we sit in 2025, with the world as it is, not as we wish it were, what counsel would you offer your successors at the White House, at the Pentagon, on trying to end this war?
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
I guess the pushback to that is that the Biden administration tried that, invested in the relationship with NATO, invested in Ukraine, and here we are with war still raging three years on.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
When you argue for investing in Ukraine, is part of that argument more weapons to Ukraine? You make that case in the book.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
The deal President Trump is talking about is a deal to end its war with Ukraine. What ultimately becomes of Ukraine, though, may depend on the compromises it's willing to make with the United States.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
Last thing, do you see any grounds for optimism in the U.S.-Russia relationship? Understanding, as you've made clear, that you don't agree with the way President Trump is handling it. Is it better to be talking than not to be talking?
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, his new book is The Folly of Realism. Alexander Vindman, thank you.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
This episode was produced by Mark Rivers and Alejandra Marquez-Hanse. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lansi. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
But will a deal between the U.S. and Ukraine bring about an end to the grinding conflict between Ukraine and Russia? Consider this. It's been three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Coming up, we'll hear from Alexander Vindman, who knows both Ukraine and the Trump White House intimately, and who says that ending the war will not be so simple.
Consider This from NPR
Is there a deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine?
From NPR, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
The political scandal gripping New York City and its mayor can be summed up in a series of numbers. Five. That's the number of criminal charges filed against Eric Adams late last year. The charges were part of a sweeping case alleging that Adams used the power of various city offices over nearly a decade to solicit lavish vacations and improper campaign contributions.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
It's Consider This from NPR. It has been a tense day in New York City as Governor Kathy Hochul and other top officials weigh the political future of the city's embattled mayor, Eric Adams. Adams faces growing calls to step down over allegations of corruption and over criticism that his deepening ties with the Trump administration have compromised his ability to govern independently.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
NPR's Brian Mann is following this. Hey there.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
So get us up to speed. Governor Hochul was signaling yesterday that she was weighing using her power to force Adams out. Did she move in that direction today?
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
OK, tell me more about the conversations that she was having and just the tone.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
Taking orders from the Trump administration. Brian, just refresh our memory on what Hakeem Jeffries is referring to.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
Five is also the number of criminal charges that acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bovee ordered federal prosecutors to drop earlier this month. Bovee said the criminal indictment restricted Mayor Adams' ability to address illegal immigration and violent crime in the city.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
And is there any kind of deadline for Governor Hochul? Do we know when she might act?
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
NPR's Brian Mann, he is watching developments in New York City. Thank you.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
We are now about one month into President Trump's term, and Justice Department veterans are starting to notice a pattern. They say the DOJ seems to be more lenient with people who appear loyal to the president. NPR Justice Correspondent Kerry Johnson has been reporting on some of those cases. Hi there. Hey there. So we're talking, obviously, about politically sensitive cases.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
What exactly are you hearing from people both in and outside the Justice Department?
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
I will inject a reminder here that Trump, of course, was himself investigated by the Justice Department, was charged twice by the Justice Department. Prosecutors dropped those charges against him after he won the election in November. Is that experience echoing through the Justice Department now?
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
The number four, that's the number of Adams deputies who resigned in protest yesterday, effectively wiping out the mayor's top leadership. They follow a string of Adams officials who have exited his administration. And one final number to think about, 235.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
Stay with the Mayor Adams case for a sec, because that's a big one, and I know the fallout is continuing. What is the latest?
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
Hmm. That reminds me of something that current Attorney General, this is Pam Bondi, something she said, which is that she wants to go after weaponization.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
Thanks, Kerry. Thanks for having me. This episode was produced by Mark Rivers, Megan Lim, and Tyler Bartlam. It was edited by Courtney Dorning, Sarah Handel, Nadia Lancey, Christian Monroe, and Cheryl Corley. Our executive producer is Sammy Yinnigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Mary Louise Kelly.
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
That is the number of years that the governor of New York State has had the power to remove the mayor of New York City if he or she deems they are unable to govern. No governor has ever used that power, but that could change at any moment. Consider this. The nation's biggest city has been all but paralyzed by the legal and political problems of its mayor. What's next for Eric Adams?
Consider This from NPR
Will New York's mayor survive widening scandal?
And what does the scandal tell us about the Trump Justice Department? From NPR, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
Before he was even tapped by President Trump to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth laid out how he thought the incoming administration should overhaul the armed forces.
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Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
And Senator Reed had this question for Brown's successor. Will he have the ability to speak truth to power? Consider this. The Trump administration says it wants a military built on meritocracy. Critics say it's building one governed by political loyalty. From NPR, I'm Mary Louise Kelly.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
All Songs Considered It's Consider This from NPR. So this weekend saw six senior officers ousted by the Trump administration, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Also included the top lawyers for the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. And Trump named his new pick for chairman, retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Kaine.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
This was on the Sean Ryan Show podcast. And at the top of Hegseth's list?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
To get a sense of what this shakeup at the Pentagon will mean for the military, I spoke with Frank Kendall. Until about a month ago, he was a top Pentagon official as Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary, welcome to All Things Considered. Hello, Mary Louise. It's good to be with you. Hey, so to be clear, your departure was part of the regular turnover when a new administration takes over, right?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
Okay. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as you well know, this is the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. Armed Forces. They are appointed to serve four-year terms. They also serve at the pleasure of the president. So it is within a president's powers to pick a new head of the Joint Chiefs, correct?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
You have concerns about General Brown being fired. Just lay out for us what they are.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
That would be General C.Q. Brown, who was the nation's highest-ranking military officer until Friday night when he was fired. Hegseth had attacked Brown for promoting diversity initiatives in the armed services. In his book, War on Warriors, he questioned whether General Brown got the job because he was black.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
I want to play a little bit of what this is. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who went on Fox yesterday and spoke about CQ Brown. Here's what he said.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
Hegseth has in past shared his view that the Pentagon needs to be purged of, and I quote, the woke stuff. And he said that doing so would start with firing C.Q. Brown, who I will note is black. How do you think, Secretary, that this may fit into the stated overt efforts by the Trump administration to scale back DEI?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
And just to stay with the questions about wokeness, I hear you saying you don't even understand what that means. I think the Trump administration would argue that means diversity initiatives have been pursued at the expense of performance. In your long experience at the Pentagon, did you see that?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
Do you know General Cain, President Trump's pick for chairman? Is he qualified?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
I also want to ask about the removal of some of the Defense Department's top military lawyers in this purge. This is not generating headlines as big as removing the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Why is it worth paying attention to?
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
On Fox News, over the weekend, Secretary Hegseth said he has, quote, a lot of respect for Brown, but that Trump had the right to dismiss him.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
Retired Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, thank you for speaking with us.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
This episode was produced by Jason Fuller and Connor Donovan. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Nadia Lancey. Our audio engineer is Ted Meebane. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Mary Louise Kelly.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
Other presidents have fired high-ranking generals, though none has fired a chairman of the Joint Chiefs. They serve four-year terms, often across administrations. And though they do serve at the pleasure of the president, they take an oath to the Constitution. Some Democrats say Trump's move undermines that.
Consider This from NPR
Are Trump's military picks based on merit or loyalty?
That's the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Jack Reed of Rhode Island, speaking there on ABC's This Week.