Left, Right & Center

Is it the quid or is it the pro?

Thanksgiving from the Left, Right & Center.

By Josh Barro • Nov 25, 2016 • 29m Listen

President-Elect Donald Trump has started having conversations with foreign leaders and some awkward stories are emerging about potential conflicts of interest. Trump reportedly spoke with the leader of Britain’s right-wing UK Independence Party about how he would like unsightly wind farms not to be constructed near his Scottish golf course. An Argentinean journalist alleged that, when Trump spoke with the president of Argentina, he brought up a permitting issue with regard to an office building he's involved in developing in Buenos Aires. There are stories of Trump's DC hotel pitching itself to foreign diplomats, who see staying there as a good way to curry favor with the president. And Trump's children have been actively participating in the transition, even though Trump has said he'll put his assets in a "blind trust" managed by his kids. Are these conflicts of interest of concern? David Frum says we should be alarmed. And what are we thankful for, from the Left, Right & Center.

Josh Barro (Business Insider) moderates from the Center. Dahlia Lithwick (Slate.com) is on the Left. Rich Lowry (National Review) is on the Right. David Frum (The Atlantic) is our special guest.

Photo: Jonathan Gray, global head of real estate at Blackstone Group emerges with President-elect Donald Trump after their meeting at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, November 20, 2016. (Mike Segar/Reuters)