Goodbye Ma, I love you.
Follow
Fareed Zakaria
@FareedZakaria
WaPo columnist. Host of CNN's GPS, Sundays @ 10am and 1pm ET in the US. Order my book "Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World" amzn.to/3rVlmmV
Fareed Zakaria’s Tweets
My mother, Fatma Zakaria, passed away last night at 85. She lived a long, rich, eventful life, with children and grandchildren whom she adored. She loved this photograph.
Former Pakistani Prime Minister on his feud with the army and concerns for his safety: part 2 of our conversation from today’s show
My much-delayed interview with former Pakistani Prime Minister : his arrest, quest for elections, and why he says there is currently “no rule of law in this country”: part 1 of our conversation, from today’s GPS
Coming up soon on GPS, I'll talk to , the embattled former Prime Minister of Pakistan. He tells me he fears his life is in danger.
This is the real America.
Wow! Where is the Tea Party now?
Quote Tweet
Replying to @davidfrum
To put it another way, relative to the size of the US economy, Trump's deficits will require more borrowing than fighting and winning the Second World War - all per CBO.
Today's What in the World segment: how freedom is eroding in the world's largest democracy
If the US dollar's global supremacy erodes, America will face a reckoning like none before.
My take:
I’m just back from India and what I saw there was a bullish nation, brimming with excitement. It has some hurdles to clear, but I lay out a path for it to truly become an incredible India.
My take:
Imagine you're an American who works with his hands, & you've lost your job because of the lockdowns. You turn on the TV & hear medical experts, academics, technocrats & journalists explain we must keep the economy closed. All these people making that case have jobs.
My take:
Do Hong Kong's citizens want protests to continue, despite the turmoil? Longtime activist (and Yale student) says yes.
You can see our full conversation on GPS, @ 10am/1pm ET Sunday on
How to be a statesman, in 4 mins.
Quote Tweet
Wow. Every. Single. Word. Of. This. If you watch only one thing today, please make it this 4 minutes, and remember what America is all about.
4:07
AMLO's attack on Mexico's election agency is essentially personal. They have their differences, but AMLO has turned out to be the Mexican Donald Trump.
My take:
Today’s last look: Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated 75 years ago last Monday. Today, some are trying to assassinate his character.
Welcome to the new age of bloated Pentagon budgets, all to be justified by the great Chinese threat.
My take:
In two brilliant minutes MLK describes America’s greatest tragedy. Please watch. twitter.com/Tanzanet/statu
This Tweet is unavailable.
India’s most distinguished historian downgrades the country’s status as a democracy
We're in the early stages of what is going to become a series of cascading crises, and we will not be able to get back to anything resembling normal life unless the major powers in the world can find some way to cooperate.
My take:
What could happen if Afghanistan continues to spiral?
Should the Taliban gov't be recognized?
And what's the state of the war on terror, now that the US has pulled back?
Pt. 1 of my exclusive interview w/ Pakistani PM , from today's GPS:
If only American politicians and diplomats knew how to speak to foreigners with this kind of respect and intelligence.
The following media includes potentially sensitive content. Change settings
Quote Tweet
I love the Russian people. That is why I have to tell you the truth. Please watch and share. pic.twitter.com/6gyVRhgpFV
View
My latest special report, “Donald Trump’s Conspiracy Theories,” airs on tonight @ 9pm ET/PT & on @ 9pm ET. A few conclusions I’ve drawn … #TrumpConspiracy
Russia’s biggest problem is not that it’s losing the Ukraine war but that it’s losing the 21st century.
My take:
Today's last look: South Korea's anti-feminist movement—what's driving it & what it says about misogyny as a feature of right-wing politics around the world
Germany's transformation is one of the great good-news stories of our times.
As president, Trump has lied or misled almost 20k times, by the 's count—and Republicans have repeated those lies, at first hesitantly, but increasingly with a “lightness of heart,” “marveling at the ease” with which they can justify their acquiescence.
My take:
I will take my chances and once again predict that Donald Trump will lose this election. Humbled as I am after these four years, I would still rather bet on—and believe in—the best in America.
My latest column:
By assaulting US democracy in so many ways, Trump has shone a light on its weaknesses. We should seize this moment to strengthen it.
My latest column:
Now that Iran has executed a protester, what will happen to the country's widespread movement of discontent?
My conversation with :
Whether I agreed or disagreed with him, I always had the utmost respect for John McCain’s values, courage, and patriotism. RIP.
The only smart way to open up the economy is testing, testing, testing. We just spent $2.3Trillion. Can we please spent 1% of that on mass testing?
Quote Tweet
Over the past few days, I’ve been reading the major plans for what comes after social distancing.
I thought that reading them would be a comfort. Boy, was I wrong. vox.com/2020/4/10/2121
On GPS, @ 10am & 1pm ET Sunday on : Pakistan’s ongoing political crisis deepened this week with the arrest of former Prime Minister . I’ll ask Khan about his arrest, his supporters’ response and where his country is heading … 1/4
Democrats need to once more become the party that gets stuff done, builds things and makes government work for people. That’s a lot more important to most Americans than using the right pronouns.
My latest column:
Lecturing PM Modi on human rights would backfire. Far better to ally with India’s society itself, expanding ties with its businesses, press, NGOs, cultural groups and others.
My take:
Britain has become a middling island nation isolated off the coast of Europe, without the heft to matter on its own or to set the agenda in its partnerships.
There is a remedy. It would, of course, require that Britain return to the European Union.
My take:
Ban TikTok? When I look at the legislation being proposed, I see a frightening, Orwellian law that should send chills down every American’s spine.
My take:
The US faces a real crisis with its asylum system. My take:
US foreign policy has a deep-seated flaw: Today, it often consists of grand moral declarations that divide the world into black and white, friends and foes. We’re unwilling to talk to everyone in the room and unable to show flexibility.
My take:
The US is on track to have the worst outbreak of coronavirus among wealthy countries, largely because of the ineffectiveness of its government. This is the new face of American exceptionalism.
My latest column:
America was on the verge of becoming an illiberal democracy.
My take:
Could the US have withdrawn from Afghanistan better—more slowly, in a different season, after better negotiations? Certainly.
But the naked truth is: There is no elegant way to lose a war.
My take:
The only pressure that will force Russia to the negotiating table is military defeat — in the south. Putin’s Plan A failed, but we cannot let his Plan B succeed.
My latest column:
Pt. 2 of our exclusive interview, from today's show: Pakistani PM on China's treatment of its Muslim minority
They have their differences, of course, but AMLO has turned out to be the Mexican Donald Trump.
My latest column:
Turkey has shown the next innovation in illiberal democracy: elections that are free but also profoundly unfair.
My take:
Some ppl ask, "Why is this happening now? Haven't things gotten better?"
The events of the past week are happening against four backdrops: Deep inequities in criminal justice, a police force that looks like an army, Covid-19, & no nat'l leadership on these issues.
My take:
President Trump clearly understands in his gut what stirs his base. And he is determined to inflame fears over immigration regardless of the facts or the effect it will have on the country: My latest column: wapo.st/2IfXvYM
Elon Musk has come out against Biden's Build Back Better bill, decrying government subsidies and excessive spending. Yet government spending played a pivotal role in helping Musk build his business empire.
My take:
McCain’s Finest Hour
Quote Tweet
Today’s press conference in #Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.
My full statement on the #HelsinkiSummit: mccain.senate.gov/public/index.c
Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam haven’t always been “pedestrian meccas,” says . It took years of work. Other cities can learn from them.
Our conversation from today’s GPS:
Hadn’t seen this, my apologies, another powerful Republican denunciation. Can we get more please?
Quote Tweet
“The most likely scenario” I said, three weeks ago was that on election night, Trump would be ahead in a majority of states--but that over the next few days, the numbers could shift in Biden’s favor. That is exactly where we are.
On today's GPS, I had a rare conversation with the great , host of . Part one: the possibility of a Trump indictment, the state of American governance, and the difficulty of fighting for progress
Greatly honored. 🙏🏽
Quote Tweet
We are thrilled to name @fareedzakaria winner of ICFJ Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism! As host of @CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS & a @WashingtonPost columnist, he brings clear-eyed perspectives to the day's biggest, most important global stories: buff.ly/3eLxOvT
Every Republican legislator should be required to recite this thread out loud.
Quote Tweet
What happened at the U.S. Capitol today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States. romney.senate.gov/romney-condemn
Who should pay to rebuild Ukraine?
says the answer is easy: Russia, and the West should use Russia’s assets abroad to fund it.
"I will take my chances and once again predict that Donald Trump will lose this election. Humbled as I am after these 4 yrs, I would still rather bet on and believe in the best in America"
My take, from our Oct. 25 show:
Part two of my conversation with : What to make of today's culture wars?
Stewart's thoughts on information, distraction, and governing—and on top of that, turning anger into comedy:
If we're going to avoid a global climate disaster, nuclear energy will almost certainly have to be part of the solution.
This week's last look:
Could Trump try to get around the will of the voters? I laid out before the election how the system works
Orlando attack appears to be about radical Islam and guns. You don't have to choose, it can be both.
Reflecting on the history of US mass shootings, draws a conclusion: "Despite their diversity, all these killers had one thing in common: their uniquely American access to firearms."
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/
It's a cliché to say this, but it’s true: Democracy is above all about the peaceful transfer of power.
Pres. Trump is shredding that norm for his own egotistical needs, but his actions today will have a large & lasting effect on this country’s politics & culture.
My take:
This crisis seems to have been designed to bring out the worst of Pres. Trump.
My take:
Today, I worry we may be watching rise of illiberal democracy in US, something that should concern anyone: My column
The current U.S. administration seems intent on dismantling the United States’ great achievements, or to simply be uninterested in setting the global agenda: My latest column wapo.st/2E9MO4P
As we enter a new presidency and a post-pandemic world, we have an opportunity to regain the sense of optimism and idealism that has been America's distinctive contribution to international life.
My take:
Pres. Trump's scandal is about American corruption, not Ukrainian corruption, explains.
See the full conversation on GPS, at 10 am and 1 pm ET Sunday on
By trying to suppress Bannon and others on the right, liberals are likely making their ideas seem more potent. Did the efforts of communist countries to muzzle capitalist ideas work?: My latest column:
As the crazy talk continues, standard rules of fact, truth and reality have disappeared in this campaign: My column
What Bernie Sanders gets wrong about Scandinavia--my take:
For Republicans in the Nixon era, supporting #impeachment was tantamount to political suicide, so they kept holding out for more evidence. Eventually, the evidence swayed GOP Rep. Larry Hogan, and others followed
Fareed Zakaria GPS launched 9 years ago today. Thank you to all our viewers for tuning in.
Pres. Trump's actions today will have a large and lasting effect on this country’s politics for decades, creating a cancer that will metastasize in gruesome ways.
My latest column:
America’s greatest competitive edge.
Quote Tweet
Ronald Reagan's (born Feb 6, 1911) final speech was a love letter to immigrants:
'Anybody from any corner of the world can come to America to live and become an American. We draw our people, our strength, from every country and every corner of the world.'
4:26
“Iran has reached its Ukrainian moment, the time when a people realize that they are willing to pay the price for their freedom.”
On the actual anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown — when Beijing did “send in the troops” — suddenly Tom Cotton wants to imitate the Chinese Communist Party?
We don't need lockdowns, school closures, or onerous travel restrictions.
Instead, we need to make an even sharper distinction btwn the vaccinated & those who are not, coupled w/ sensible measures to slow viral spread so that the health-care system isn't overburdened.
My take:
Is this a time for healing, or accountability?
Fmr Secretary of State & Gen. (ret.) Colin Powell on where the country goes from here—pt. 1 of our conversation from today's show:
None of difficulties US has faced over past 25 years has been because its military was too small or weak: My column wapo.st/2mM6mDJ
Stunning, sad news. He was a colleague and a class act. RIP Tony.
Despite a violent & "unbelievable" crackdown, Iran's protesters will be back, predicts.
See our interview on GPS, @ 10am & 1pm ET Sunday on
From today's GPS: my interview w/ on the power of music to help us through strife, how music can respond to the world around us, & finding inspiration in individuality
Women-led protests have swept across Iran, after the death of a young woman following her arrest by the morality police. As the gov't responds with repression, what does this say about the Iranian regime & its future?
My conversation w/ :
It's a problem: If Trump loses in November, he has already set up claims it was b/c of voter fraud or mail-in-ballot irregularities or China. In doing so, he's creating possible obstacles to the peaceful transfer of power—something more dangerous than anything he's done so far
The United States’ defense budget is out of control, lacking strategic coherence, utterly mismanaged, ruinously wasteful and yet eternally expanding. My latest column:
Putin has calculated that the odds are in his favor.
My take:
I was on CNN tonight with discussing Trump's immigration order, firing of Acting Attorney General: snpy.tv/2kaVdvt
Honored and excited to be giving the convocation address at West Point
today.
Has Washington's hawkish consensus on China created a more secure world for Americans and others?
Or are we moving down a path that takes us toward decades of arms races, crises, perhaps even war?
My take:
As other countries locked down, Sweden didn't: Restaurants have stayed open, & children still go to school. And yet, Sweden has a lower Covid-19 death rate than Spain & Italy, for instance. The gov't's top epidemiologist, Anders Tegnell, explains the strategy:
The hallmark of Pres. Trump's foreign policy is a disdain for professionals and a lack of interest in history or past policy.
My take:
10 weeks after Kabul fell to the Taliban, how bad is the situation in Afghanistan?
My conversation w/ Mahbouba Seraj:
14 years ago today, we started GPS on CNN. It's been an honor to develop a relationship with our amazingly loyal viewers. I can't celebrate because yesterday I tested positive for Covid. (Moderate symptoms). But I will soon, and in any event, I remain deeply grateful. THANK YOU!