In this Tea Leaves episode, Kurt is joined by TAG Partner Rexon Ryu to welcome on General Dave Goldfein, recently-retired Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. General Goldfein shares his experiences guiding the 650,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian personnel that make up the U.S. Air Force through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three also discuss the future of the Air Force in Asia, how the Air Force approaches technological innovation, the importance of nuclear deterrence, and concepts of teamwork and leadership in the military.
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The Iran Conflict is Reversing America’s Strategic Pivot
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Newsletter
One of the major bipartisan pursuits within the U.S. government over the last two decades has been to redirect military, ...
Kurt Campbell and Christopher Johnstone in APNews on Takaichi-Trump meeting
March 19, 2026
Media Mentions
Trump is expected to put “enormous pressure” on Takaichi, said Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in ...
Kurt Tong in Politico on U.S.-Japan summit: ‘The Iran conflict creates an overlay of anxiety for the meeting’
March 18, 2026
Media Mentions
Tong argued that if it hadn’t been for Taiwan and Iran, “the visit would have been downright celebratory.” Takaichi and ...
Mehu Sitepu quoted in Associated Press on Trump’s trade deal with Indonesia
March 18, 2026
Media Mentions
The agreement requires ratification by Indonesia’s parliament before it can take effect. That adds another “layer of uncertainty,” said Mehu ...