Hello and welcome to Background Briefing, available 24-7 at Background Briefing.org, I'm Ian Masters,

and today we'll examine a number of stories and issues in the news.

We'll begin with Trump's remarks at a rally on Saturday, saying that he would let Russia or

Putin do, quote, whatever the hell they want to any NATO member who does not meet

defense-bending targets. Joining us to discuss the alarm in Europe, in contrast to the whistling from

Republican Senator Rubio and agreement with Trump from Senator Cotton is Joshua Schifrensen,

a professor at the Center for International Security Studies at the University of Maryland.

His research focuses on U.S. grand strategy, the durability of NATO, U.S. relations with its allies

enduring and after the Cold War, and the rise of China.

He's the author of Rising Titans, Falling Giants, How Great Powers Exploit, Power Shifts.

Then we'll look into the glaring example of Putin's holdover Trump,

with the wannabe despot sucking up

to the murderous despot for reasons that should be a priority for investigative journalists and

democratic strategists alike. Joining us is Scott Horton, a professor at Columbia Law School

and a contributing editor at Harper's in Legal Affairs and National Security. He serves on the American branch of the International Law Association and a contributing editor at Harper's in legal affairs and national security.

He serves on the American branch of the International Law Association and has represented a variety of journalists and whistleblowers. Then finally we'll assess how close Pakistan is to economic

collapse and civil war with a stinging rebuke to the army's control over domestic politics

in an election where the jailed

former leader who fell out of favor with the army just won a majority of 102 seats in parliament

compared to the nearest rival party with 73 seats. Joining us, a Shudja Nawaz, a native of Pakistan,

who has worked as a journalist, a television producer, and a political and strategic analyst.

He is the founding director and distinguished fellow of the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council,

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