Stephen Wertheim: Realism and Restraint in US Foreign Policy

What does “isolationism” really mean in U.S. history? How should the U.S. balance its priorities in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East? And could an “America First” policy take hold in the Democratic Party?

In this episode, we speak with Stephen Wertheim, Senior Fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The conversation explores the historical evolution of isolationism, American primacy after the Cold War, and the debate over U.S. global engagement today.

The discussion covers whether the U.S. should have taken a different approach in World War II or the Cold War, the need to reduce involvement in the Middle East, and the case for Europe taking greater responsibility for its own security. Wertheim also examines U.S. policy toward China, the strategic implications of Taiwan and Ukraine, and what an “America First” policy might look like.