Wait, Are We Doing Colonialism Again?

Episode #267

This week, Bill and Phil ask whether gunboat diplomacy is back. From the extraordinary story of Venezuelan gold being brought to the United States, to Trump’s escalating pressure on Cuba, has the administration embraced a neocolonial approach to American foreign policy? Then, with the midterm elections just over a month away, we take our first serious look at 2026. What are the polls, battleground races, and prediction markets telling us about the fight for control of Congress?

Wait, Are We Doing Colonialism Again?

The Politics Lab

Links related to this week’s episode:

• “Trump Brought Venezuelan Gold to the U.S., but Refiners Won’t Touch It” by Anatoly Kurmanaev, Tyler Pager and Rebecca R. Ruiz in The New York Times

• “The Makings of a Prewar World” by Thomas Wright in The Atlantic

• “Can the Polls Possibly Be Right?” by Marc Novicoff in The Atlantic

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