On this episode of Reaganism, host Roger Zakheim sits down with Tim Bouverie, author of the new book "Allies at War: How the Struggles Between the Allied Powers Shaped the War and the World." Tim and Roger delve into the complexities of alliances during World War II, focusing on the intricate dynamics between the Allied powers. Tim discusses how the collaboration among nations like the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union was crucial in defeating the Axis powers, despite internal rivalries and suspicions. They explore the historical context of these alliances, the strategic decisions made, and the lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of unity in facing global threats. They conclude their conversation with a contemporary appraisal of Roosevelt and Churchill, rejecting far-right reinterpretations of World War II and Roosevelt and Churchill's legacies.

On this episode of Reaganism, Roger Zakheim sits down with Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations to discuss the UK, France, Canada, and Australia's recognition of Palestinian statehood. Elliott discusses the complexities surrounding Palestinian statehood, the role of the Palestinian Authority, and the implications of Western recognition of a Palestinian state. He argues that Palestinian nationalism is fundamentally opposed to the existence of a Jewish state and that the leadership of the Palestinian Authority has failed to build a viable state. The discussion also touches on the dynamics of Israeli politics, the potential for annexation, and the changing attitudes towards Israel in the United States.

On this episode of Reaganism, Roger Zakheim and Jonathan Burks explored how to secure a durable, bipartisan fix to America’s fiscal challenges—especially Social Security—without defaulting to lowest-common-denominator politics. Burks argued that trillion-dollar (and rising) deficits, debt service now rivaling or exceeding major programs, and higher interest rates make action unavoidable; any real solution will require both spending restraint and new revenue. They discussed President Trump's tariffs, with Burks noting tariff receipts are too small and economically inefficient to close the gap and that policy/legal uncertainty is chilling investment and manufacturing jobs. Drawing on his Hill experience, Burks explained why continuing resolutions and executive workarounds (e.g., rescissions, reconciliation) are poor substitutes for bipartisan appropriations that give industry long-term certainty—vital for defense and other priorities. They concluded with a discussion on the future of Social Security. Burks argued that there is bipartisan consensus on the path to make the program solvent: gradually raise the retirement age, modestly adjust payroll taxes (with protections for physically demanding careers), and act soon—pointing to strong public support for fixing the program if leaders level with voters.

On this episode of Reaganism, host Roger Zakheim sits down with Matt Continetti, an acclaimed historian of the right, to discuss his latest piece in the Free Press, on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the decline of America's civic character. Roger and Matt discuss the deepening political and cultural divide in America, highlighted by the assassination of Kirk. Matt expresses concern over the reactions to Kirk's death, noting a troubling trend of political violence and the left's misunderstanding of the right. They explore the idea of America becoming two nations, divided not only by politics but also by culture, lifestyle, and epistemology. Matt argues that the right understands the left better due to the left's dominance in cultural institutions. They also discuss the role of political leaders and the need for a collective cultural effort to bridge the divide and reaffirm American principles.

On this episode of Reaganism, host Roger Zakheim sits down with Matt Waxman, a professor at Columbia University Law School. Roger and Matt discuss the Trump administration's recent strike against the Tren de Aragua gang in the Caribbean. Matt outlines the constitutional and international legal hurdles the president faces authorizing the strike. Matt and Roger discuss the intricacies of the authorization for the use of military force, and the distinctions between Al Qaeda and cartel groups like Tren de Aragua. Roger and Matt explore the White House's use of the president's Article II powers to justify the strike against Tren de Aragua. They conclude the conversation with an evaluation of Israel's strike against Hamas in Qatar, Matt finds the strike was justified under international law, but draws important distinctions between Israel's strike and how the US would conduct a similar strike. Roger and Matt finish the episode by concluding Israel's strike was escalatory and opens a new chapter in the Israel-Hamas war.

In this episode of Reaganism, host Roger Zakheim sits down with former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm who served the State of Texas in the United States Senate and is the author of the newly released book, “The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism.” They discuss Sen. Gramm’s new book arguing that many policy debates stem from misreadings of history and flawed statistics. He challenges the notion that free trade hollowed out American manufacturing, pointing instead to record-high output driven by productivity and innovation, much like agriculture’s transformation. Sen. Gramm defends Ronald Reagan as a principled free-trader who saw commerce as an extension of individual freedom, contrasting Reagan’s approach with today’s rising protectionism and “state capitalism.” He critiques how government statistics misclassify income, poverty, and manufacturing, distorting public perception, and insists that prosperity comes from smaller government and greater freedom.

In this episode of Reaganism, host Roger Zakheim sits down with Dmitri Alperovitch who is the Co-Founder and Chairman of Silverado Policy Accelerator, national bestselling author of “World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century,” founder of the Alperovitch Institute for Cybersecurity Studies at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and Co-Founder and former CTO of CrowdStrike Inc., one of the world's largest cybersecurity firms. They discuss Alperovitch’s book 'World on the Brink' and the current geopolitical landscape, emphasizing the new Cold War with China. Alperovitch argues that the U.S. must prioritize its resources and strategies to deter China, particularly regarding Taiwan. The discussion also touches on the importance of American leadership, the implications of various global conflicts, and the need for a robust defense strategy to maintain U.S. dominance in the face of rising threats.

In this episode of Reaganism, host Roger Zakheim sits down with former Ambassador of the United States to the European Union, and now President & COO at Business Roundtable, Kristen Silverberg. They discuss the intersection of business and government. The conversation delves into the role of the Business Roundtable, the impact of executive orders, and the importance of CEO engagement with policymakers. Amb. Silverberg shares her insights on the current administration's approach to business, the significance of trade policies, and the challenges and opportunities in the AI and tech sectors.