Defending America From Itself I Anthony Scaramucci and Mark T. Esper I Open Book

Mark T. Esper served as secretary of defense from 2019 to 2020 and as secretary of the Army from 2017 to 2019. A distinguished graduate of West Point, he spent twenty-one years in uniform, including a combat tour in the 1991 Gulf War. Esper earned a Ph.D. from George Washington University while working on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon as a political appointee. He was also a senior executive at a prestigious think tank, at various business associations and commission, and at a Fortune 100 technology company.

Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. He is the host of the podcast Open Book with Anthony Scaramucci. A graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School, he lives in Manhasset, Long Island.

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆!

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆'𝘀 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀:

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿:

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺:

Timestamps:

0:00 Mark T. Esper Introduction
2:15 Teaching people about the sacred oath of the United States
3:55 Crazy sh*t Trump has proposed
9:33 Why did you go work for Trump?
11:00 General Kelly and the power of restraint
13:50 Culture of the Defense Department
17:00 Why should we care about foreign policy and Ukraine?
20:45 What is America's long-term plan?
26:47 How do we prevent the Thucydides trap between US and China?
29:20 Has Russia's military been decimated?
31:55 People praying on America's downfall
34:41 Is Democracy Exportable?
36:52 Five words reaction

[therealanthonyscaramucci]

Thank you for watching to Open Book! We set an ambitious goal of hitting 100K subscribers in the next few months. Help us get there by hitting the subscribe button. You support is greatly appreciated. - Anthony

[baderinwa]

I hate this both sides inaccurate assessment . I am a 72 year old Black female civil and human rights activist, who, throughout my life, have never seen anyone from the left, storm the nation’s capital, beat and kill police officers, smear feces on the walls, threaten to hang the Vice-President, and interfere with the electoral process. I grew up during Jim Crow and this feels like Jim Crow 2.0. In my lifetime, I cannot recall that a Democratic president refused to accept defeat and make attempts to steal the election. We are on the precipice of losing our democracy, because of the extreme right wing, not the left!

[complexmindsimpleman]

"Both sides" when the violence, racism, and push for a dictator is only coming from one side is ridiculous

[sed]

No, Mr. Esper, it's not incivility from both sides that threatens our country right now. It is, at this time in our history, ONE side that is threatening the foundations of this country, the Constitution, and our democracy.

[carolcisko]

Totally agree with all the comment about this time of politics is NOT about both sides being out of line …. It’s about the radical right ✅

[catherinefleet]

Being a Reagan republican is not a badge of honor. He’s the one who broke the unions and thought people should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” which was pretty hard to do when he did everything he could to break their backs and help his rich friends.

[leslieholm]

It’s NoT coming from both sides! It’s only Trump and Maga Republicans and Esper is still a Trump voter.

[gregkoegel]

Anthony, thank you for another outstanding interview. As a Republican who is old enough to remember when “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” had clips of Trump on, I knew then that he was a pompous ass, and he hasn’t changed. Listening to you, knowing that you know Trump personally, it verifies that I’ve been right about him all along.

[Salvino]

VP Kamala Harris is a candidate, not a cult leader. Coach Walz is an inspiring individual. Both bring a much needed energy to America’s leadership and national prosperity and, for global security.

[Mvendrel]

It’s NOT Both Sides! Be honest please.

[whtmasterd]

As a foreigner I have wrestled long and hard trying to understand what made the USA great for so long and what suddenly changed to weaken the USA. My conclusion is the strength of a collective respect and defense of the Constitution, not a person, not a party, but an idea, a plan, documented and accepted as a foundation stone of a Nation State. The world needs a strong. intelligent and unified USA.

[uncleronstrixie]

Great show!!
When I entered the US Navy June 24, 1982 at 18 + a few days, I swore an Oath to the US Constitution and I will always keep it and so should everyone else!
It blows my mind thinking that trump was Commander in Chief and really scares me to think he may be again.
Voted Harris-Walz & blue down ballot

[crazycatmama]

I beg to differ with the extreme partisanship on both sides. Democrats are constantly pushed and pushed to be bipartisan. The same is never asked of Republicans. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one reporter ask a Republican if they’ll work across the aisle. It is not Democrats who primary anyone who doesn’t fall in line. It’s not Democrats who insist on a “permission structure” to vote for the other side. It’s not Democrats who don’t hold corrupt politicians accountable. So please, stop with the both sides-ism.

[haroldrosenthal]

Thank you Anthony. I truly appreciate your intelligence, your thoughtfulness, your honesty & your diligence in working towards a better, freer America. I’m a fan, & I am so grateful for your service/work.

That said, your soft discussion/interview with Mark was wanting.

You both agreed that immigrants are essential to our American way of life. You both agree that promoting democracy is essential to the interests of America & the world. You both agreed that American power, its projection & its limited use is essential to a free & conflict limited world 🌎. And you both agreed that bullying is a stench on the social order that must be confronted with strength & wisdom.

So where was the discussion about Mark’s continued lack of endorsing Kamala for President. He said he despairs that we are not doing enough for Ukraine when he knows that tRump would sell Ukraine off to Putin if God forbid he is elected to or steals the Presidency. He is concerned about China as your are, but gives no credit to Biden/Harris & Obama for containment & bringing essential materials like computer chips home.

All he says is the same word salad 🥗 similar to Romney, GWB, McMaster, Kelly & others. It is an extreme cognitive dissonance to condemn the don on one hand, but not do EVERYTHING needed to defeat this orange menace.

Please help him, & all the others you speak to, to do what you are doing: to publicly denounce the don & support Kamala in every way possible.

[steveflor]

Childish name-calling is Donald Trump's political tour de force.
He thinks it makes him a genius,
uniquely talented.

Like passing a senility test makes him a genius.

[TimBadger-wd]

I think I understand what happened in 2016 but I cannot for the life of me understand why Trump still has so much support from people who actually lived through the utter chaos and insanity of his presidency. Why would you want to do that again? That’s the question the rest of The World is asking.

[valravn]

When people say "Trump's first term wasn't that bad" it's because of people like Mark and other competent people in that admin and should there be a next time they won't be there.

[yolandaaguirre]

I never liked Esper…he never struck me like a very honest public servant and he struck me like he enabled trump too much…

[petez]

I would have loved a discussion on the venomous Project 2025. We’ve stopped talking about this when it is diametrically opposed to the vast majority of Americans, democratic and conservative.

[DonnaMueller-ksfm]

Thank You Mark Esper and Anthony!!
We “The People of this COUNTRY” Appreciate your Dedication and Service!!