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Thank you. Go to spectator.co.uk forward slash voucher. Hello and welcome to the Americano podcast, a series of discussions about American politics, power and prejudices.

It is 2025 and Donald Trump is president once again of the United States.

We will, of course, be following the moves of the Donald's and his second administration very

closely. However, it won't just be politics for us this year. We'll also talk a lot and cover

American culture, life and

the arts. I should also remind you, because my producer Natasha will not let me hear the end of it,

that we are on Spectator TV. So head to our YouTube channel to watch that.

I'm delighted to be joined today by Edward Luce, who is the Financial Times' chief US columnist,

and he is also the author of a new large book, Zbig. It's big enough.

It's the life of Zbigh and New Brzeinski, America's Cold War profit, and it's absolutely

fascinating. I've just finished it this morning. Edward, first of all, congratulations on writing

this very large and broad book that follows the career of somebody, perhaps Americano listeners,

aren't too familiar with, but he is a very important figure

in the America of the Cold War. Can you explain why you were drawn to write this biography

and why is Big Matters so much to you? Well, first of all, thanks very much for having me on

and for reading the book. Prisinski was Henry Kissinger's great rival, didn't match him in terms of celebrity.

I'm not sure any sort of modern diplomat or geopolitical strategist could possibly match Henry Kissinger's celebrity.

I remember as a child, him being mentioned a couple of times on Fulty

...