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Europe to be a partner. Plus, want a hot latte to go with that Majestic View . Is starbucks about to sponsor this old faithful . Fernando he. Im fernando espuelas. Welcome to matter of fact. Donald trumps connection to russian president Vladimir Putin has played in the headlines for weeks now, intriguing the nation and raising importt the u. S. And russia have always had a complicated relationship, made even more complex by Donald Trumps apparent encouragement of russian spies to hack Hillary Clinton. I spoke with stephen flanagan, senior political scientist at rand, about the delicate dance of u. S. Russia relations. Welcome to the program. Mr. Flanagan thank you, great to be here. So we are almost at the end of obamas second term. Hes focused on his legacy and what ....
Had a complicated relationship, made even more complex by Donald Trumps apparent encouragement of russian spies to hack Hillary Clinton. I spoke with stephen flanagan, senior political scientist at rand, about the delicate dance of u. S. Russia relations. Welcome to the program. Mr. Flanagan thank you, great to be here. So we are almost at the end of obamas second term. Hes focused on his legacy and many who cover him are focused on his legacy. Relative to nato and European Security . Mr. Flanagan well, the president came in determined to strengthen the Alliance Relationships in europe and east asia, which has been strained over the iraq war and other problems in afghanistan and elsewhere. I think that has certainly been achieved. There has been a lot of ....
Fernando this shift in momentum, do you think its connected to trump using the fact that ted cruz was born in canada as some wedge issue . Michael it contributed to it in a small way. What it did was, more importantly, is it got people to stop their inclination to move toward cruz. It said to them, well maybe ill think about that. Let me think. Really . It can turn the table. And i think thats what that did. It was the combination. It wasnt the whole canadian birther thing, but it was, you know, no one likes him. The combination of these two. Not only is he not from america, but no one likes him. And people are like, wow. Fernando is that really . It seems very odd to me that the senate refuses to help him out and do a proclamation. [laughter] michael its because no one like him fernando and what does that say, though . Beyond the human aspect of not liking him, what does it say ted cruz presidency . If you arent camping along your party in the senate today, what would change if you we ....
Fernando hello, and welcome to matter of fact. I m fernando espuelas. On monday, for the gop president ial candidates, it all boils down to the iowa caucus, and 30 delegates. And the rise of outsider candidates, like donald trump and senator ted cruz, is generating handwringing within the ranks of the Republican Party. Michael steele is the former chairman of the rnc and he joins me now here in the studio. Michael, thanks for coming. Michael great to be here. Fernando well, you ve just come back from iowa. Let me ask you right off do you think donald trump will win s wellpoised to do it. Re looking at, there s still a very, very tight span between him and cruz right now. But the thing that s fascinating to watch is how cruz sort of eclipsed him, held that lead almost 4, 5, 6 points, and then trump just turned it, just turned it on the dime and moved the energy back in his so i think, going into this, i think trump wellpoised to ....
Turned it on the dime and moved the energy back in his direction. So i think, going into this, i think trump wellpoised to win it and if he does, it makes the , rest of this effort by the other candidates that much more difficult. Fernando this shift in momentum, do you think its connected to trump using the fact that ted cruz was born in canada as some wedge issue . Michael it contributed to it in a small way. What it did was, more importantly, is it got people to stop their inclination to move toward cruz. It said to them, well maybe ill think about that. Let me think. Really . It can turn the table. And i think thats what that did. It was the combination. It wasnt the whole canadian birther thing, but it was, you know, no one likes him. The combination of these two. Not only is he not from america, but no one likes him. And people are like, wow. Fernando is that really . It seems very odd to me that the senate refuses to help him out michael its because no one like him fernando and ....