A Louder, Less Stable World: Are We Entering a New Era of “Normal” Global Conflict?

A warning from Robert Kagan sets the tone for this edition of America’s News Hour, as Bill Bernardoni steps back from the daily noise to examine a world that feels increasingly unstable. From Ukraine and Russia to Venezuela, China, and the Middle East, the headlines suggest a return to a far more dangerous form of international relations—one many Americans no longer recognize. Retired Brigadier General Ernie Audino joins the program to explain what this moment looks like from a military and strategic perspective, how adversaries calculate risk, how allies depend on U.S. resolve, and why mixed signals from Washington ripple across the globe. The conversation connects foreign policy, deterrence, energy politics, and American leadership, offering clarity at a time when the world feels louder—and far less predictable.Do you agree that we’re returning to a more “normal” — and more dangerous — era of international relations, or is this instability being overstated?