AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:

We’re joined now by senior nationwide political correspondent Mara Liasson. Good morning, Mara.

MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: Good morning, Ayesha.

RASCOE: So we simply heard the most recent about this very tenuous ceasefire that the U.S. helped negotiate. Do we all know how the incoming Trump administration will deal with issues if the ceasefire breaks?

LIASSON: No, we do not. We do know that Trump informed NBC Information’ Kristen Welker that if the U.S., quote, “is revered,” that the ceasefire will maintain, and if the U.S. is disrespected, he stated, quote, “all hell will escape.” Now, he is made that risk earlier than. A few weeks again, he stated all hell will escape within the Center East if the hostages aren’t launched by the point he will get into workplace. Properly, even when this deal does maintain, not all the hostages are going to be launched, solely about 33 of them. So we do not know what he means by all hell will escape, and it is laborious to think about that the U.S. or Israel will do one thing in Gaza that they have not already performed.

Gaza, as you simply heard, is diminished to rubble. And secondly, he despatched a combined message to Netanyahu. In that interview, he stated he would inform Netanyahu to, quote, “hold doing what must be performed.” So on the one hand, he pressured Netanyahu into taking the deal that he knew Netanyahu did not need to take. The ceasefire deal was designed and crafted by the Biden administration, and it has been on the desk for a number of months. So it is complicated. We do not know precisely what Trump means.

RASCOE: Now, I imply, tomorrow is the inauguration. This would be the second Trump administration. We all know that his group is way more ready this time round, however we additionally know – we each coated the primary Trump administration – that Trump would not typically stick with the script. He tweets issues out or subject edicts with out the buy-in of his employees. How do you suppose that performs out this time round?

LIASSON: I believe this time round, there might be a lot much less pushback, if any, from his employees. These are people who find themselves hand-picked for his or her fealty to him, in some instances, doubtlessly their fealty to him over their loyalty to the Structure, a minimum of for among the issues he stated he’d do, like utilizing the army towards civilian protesters. However the constraints on him this time round will come from the markets, the Dow Jones common, public opinion, not his employees. After which the opposite query is, can he make good on among the guarantees he made due to issues past his management? Some issues want congressional approval or buy-in from different nations.

As an illustration, he stated he’d carry the costs of groceries down on Day 1. Now, he says it is laborious to carry costs down. He stated he’d minimize vitality payments for air-con and heating in half in 12 months. Properly, oil costs are set globally, not by the U.S. president. And he stated he’d finish the Russian invasion of Ukraine inside 24 hours of being in workplace. Now he is walked that one again, too, saying the warfare is, quote, “way more difficult.”

RASCOE: Properly, a giant subject within the first administration was all of the infighting within the White Home, totally different folks making an attempt to get Trump’s consideration. We have seen a bit little bit of this within the debate over H-1B visas. Do you suppose we are going to see those self same kinds of energy struggles on this new administration, and if that’s the case, what is perhaps the affect?

LIASSON: Yeah, I do suppose we are going to. The primary Trump administration was famously at odds with itself and pushed by inner descent. Perhaps that might be much less this time. However in the case of the tech billionaires like Elon Musk, who’s now Donald Trump’s largest funder and supporter, and his firm will get the very best quantity of presidency contracts, you are going to see conflicts, and also you’re seeing them over the H-1B visas. You understand, the folks within the MAGA base, personified by somebody like Steve Bannon, thinks that H-1B visas are principally indentured servitude for international employees to return right here and take away jobs from People. Musk and different Silicon Valley leaders need H-1B visas. And Elon Musk goes to push again towards Trump, and Trump should resolve this battle.

RASCOE: So, I imply, Trump has at all times appeared to be campaigning for reelection in his first time period. However this time, he would not have one other race forward of him. How is that going to play out for Trump and his inside circle?

LIASSON: I believe that that is only one much less constraint. He would not should run for workplace. He does care about public opinion, in fact, and he cares concerning the markets. He cares about whether or not he can dominate the information cycle, however he would not have to fret about being reelected, and I believe that can actually liberate him.

RASCOE: What are you on the lookout for on this first week of the brand new administration by way of rapid priorities?

LIASSON: What I will be looking ahead to are issues that can rework or undermine democratic establishments and alter America’s position on this planet. Does he plan on handing Ukraine to Vladimir Putin on a silver platter? How lots of the January 6 rioters will he pardon, and can any of them be convicted of violent crimes? Will he hearth tens of hundreds of civil servants and substitute them with political appointees? You understand, he has been very, very particular. He is made numerous guarantees. And I believe the large query is, what number of of them might be – will he be capable of fulfill? What number of of them will he not be capable of fulfill? And extra importantly, will the American folks care if he would not?

RASCOE: So, I imply, it appears like, Mara, as we heard so much within the first administration, we’ll see what occurs and in addition…

LIASSON: Proper.

RASCOE: …Buckle up.

LIASSON: That is proper – TBD.

RASCOE: That is NPR’s Mara Liasson. Thanks, Mara.

LIASSON: You are welcome.

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