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Back to Left, Right & Center

Left, Right & Center

Mattis is out and we’re heading to a shutdown

Secretary of Defense James “Maddog” Mattis resigns a day after Trump announces plans to withdraw military forces from Syria. Plus: can we afford a government shutdown?

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By Josh Barro • Dec 21, 2018 • 51m Listen

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis announced he will step down in February. In a formal, seemingly bulletproof resignation letter, Mattis cited deep policy disagreements with President Trump, apparently far beyond even his sudden announcement to withdraw troops from Syria. Henry Olsen joins the panel to discuss Mattis’ tenure and if there is a silver lining to his departure.

This week, Trump made a bold claim: ISIS has been defeated and American troops will withdraw from Syria. Rukmini Callimachi, who covers ISIS for the New York Times, examines what could happen to the Islamic State, the Syrian army, opposition forces and the Kurds if the US steps back.

A hot dispute over funding for the border wall threatens to shut down the government. Congressional reporter Steven Dennis weighs in on the risks of a government shutdown and whether the wall is a really a priority for Republicans in Congress.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Josh Barro

    Former host of Left, Right & Center

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Rich Lowry

    National Review / KCRW's Left, Right & Center

  • KCRW placeholder

    Sara Fay

    Former producer of Left, Right and Center

  • KCRW placeholder

    Rosalie Atkinson

    Associate Producer, Left, Right & Center and All The President's Lawyers

  • KCRW placeholder

    Elizabeth Bruenig

    Staff writer, The Atlantic

  • KCRW placeholder

    Steven Dennis

    Bloomberg

  • KCRW placeholder

    Rukmini Callimachi

    New York Times

    NewsPolitics
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