The New Rules of Power — with Anne Applebaum and Fiona Hill

The 400th episode of The Prof G Pod features a landmark conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum and Brookings senior fellow Fiona Hill, who deliver a searing critique of modern power dynamics. At the heart of their analysis is a radical rethinking of military strategy: the era of massive defense budgets and high-tech platforms is over. Ukraine’s transformation from defense to offense—driven not by superior firepower but by a decentralized, society-wide drone revolution—proves that innovation from the ground up can outmaneuver even the most powerful state. The episode argues that the U.S. has lost its global influence not because of military weakness, but because it abandoned its historic role as the 'operating system' of the international order—building alliances, institutions, and shared values. Now, with Trump’s foreign policy undermining those very foundations, the U.S. is isolated, while autocracies like Russia, Iran, and China thrive on shared disdain for liberal democracy. The real danger isn’t just losing wars—it’s losing the moral and strategic high ground. As Fiona Hill warns, the U.S. is no longer seen as a partner, but a liability. The future belongs to those who can mobilize society, not just the state. The conversation reveals a world where power is no longer about force alone, but about resilience, legitimacy, and the ability to inspire collective action.