This is GPS, the Global Public Square. Welcome to all of you in the United States and around the world. I'm Farid Zakarya.

Today on the show, President Trump casts a slur on a wide swat of the world's nations, calling them shitholes.

What does the smear say about the man who uttered it?

And what is the future of immigration in the Trump era?

Then a possible thought in the frigid relations with North Korea.

President Trump says he would be willing to talk to Kim Jong-un on the phone.

But the question is, is that really a good idea? And what would he say?

Also,

2017, I think most of the world was happy to say farewell to it. But it was actually a very good year and not just for the 1%.

The New York Times' Nick Kristoff will offer a refreshing dose of good news.

The most important thing happening right now is not a Trump tweet, but it is this larger cap-screen of progress that is transforming the world.

But first, here's my take.

The fire and fury of a Michael Wolf's book has largely centered on the personalities and the power struggles within the White House.

But behind all of that lies an important political development, one that explains the real rift between Donald Trump and his former chief strategist Steve Bannon.

President Trump seems to have abandoned populism.

Remember candidate Trump? His signature issue was immigration, on which he promised an unyielding hardline, including a border wall and mass deportations.

His contract with the American voter was brimming with populist measures, from tough actions against China to a trillion-dollar public works program.

His economic plans focused on goodies for the middle class, from a 35% tax cut for middle class families to deductions for child and elderly care.

He called for severe restrictions on lobbying and term limits for members of Congress. Consider Trump's final campaign ad.

It's a global power structure that is responsible for the economic decisions that have robbed our working class, stripped our country of its wealth, and put that money into the pockets of a handful of large corporations and political entities.

Flash forward to President Trump today. There is no wall and his relations with China have been decidedly chummy.

The main focus of his economic program has been to return vast sums of money to large corporations.

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