Walter Russell Mead talks about the sanctions Joe Biden imposed on Israeli settlers, the declining math skills of students in developed countries, America’s advice on how to lose a war, and Henry Kissinger’s achievements in the Middle East on his podcast, What Really Matters.

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President Donald Trump shakes hands with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen as he announces a trade deal with the EU at Trump Turnberry golf club on July 27, 2025, in Turnberry, Scotland. (Andrew Harnik via Getty Images)