What role does the United States play in the world today—and how is that role changing? Nicholas Kristof and Samantha Power draw on their experience in journalism and public service to examine the evolving nature of American leadership on the global stage. They reflect on the tensions that have long shaped US foreign policy: the balance between power and principle, the gap between ideals and actions, and the challenges of sustaining a coherent approach across changing administrations. Kristof brings a journalist’s perspective on accountability and the importance of bearing witness, while Power draws on her experience in diplomacy to consider the possibilities and limits of international alliances and institutions. In conversation with Phil Lader, they explore whether the current moment signals a shift to a new global era, what that era might demand, and how the United States might navigate it. At stake is not only how America is perceived abroad, but what it means to act as a force for stability, partnership, and shared purpose in an increasingly complex world.