Patrick Cronin appears on the Defense and Aerospace Podcast to discus political chaos in Washington and its impact on international relations, Chinese and Russian influence operations (minute 17), and Beijing’s sensitivity to soft power—from soccer star Lionel Messi’s snub during a football match in Hong Kong to Taylor Swift’s immense popularity (minute 37).
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President Donald Trump holds up a copy of a 2025 National Trade Estimate Report as he speaks at an event at the White House on April 2, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)