From Anti-War Activist to Defender of American Power — Shadi Hamid

When’s the last time you took a hard look at your own side? Political columnist and foreign policy expert Shadi Hamid joins Uncomfy to talk about the difficult, often painful process of changing your mind — especially when it means challenging the people on your own side. Hamid, once an outspoken critic of American power and an anti-war activist, now argues the opposite in his new book, “The Case for American Power.” In this episode, he opens up about: - His post-9/11 political awakening - Why he went from protesting U.S. power to believing it’s sometimes the only moral option - Cognitive dissonance around U.S. foreign policy - Why progressives shouldn’t give up on influencing American power from within - How we can disagree deeply while still living together in a democracy Shadi Hamid’s new book, “The Case for American Power” - https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Case-for-American-Power/Shadi-Hamid/9781668031889 Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/12/from-anti-war-activist-to-defender-of.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Introducing Shadi Hamid 01:34 Shadi Hamid's Formative Years and Political Awakening 04:23 The Evolution of Shadi Hamid's Views on American Power 07:37 The Role of Identity and Experience in Shadi Hamid's Perspective 11:08 A Call to Action for Progressives 15:39 Conclusion