Is the United States still the stabilising force of the international system — or has it become part of the instability?

In our first episode back, Professor Scott Lucas joins John Bruni to unpack the Iran War, the growing global energy crisis, NATO’s deepening anxiety, and whether Trump-era America has entered a state of permanent political and strategic turbulence.

From the Strait of Hormuz to Washington itself, this is a hard conversation about power, disorder, and whether the world’s superpower is now accelerating the very chaos it once contained.

Show Notes:

After a period away due to medical leave, John Bruni returns to The Focus for a major conversation on the state of the international system — and the growing instability surrounding the United States itself.

Joining us is Professor Scott Lucas from the Clinton Institute in Dublin, one of the most respected analysts of American politics and international affairs.

Together, they examine whether the United States is still acting as the stabilising force of the global order — or whether internal political turmoil, strategic overreach, and the Trump presidency are now contributing to international instability.

Topics include:

The Iran War and risks of wider U.S. escalation
Strait of Hormuz tensions and global energy insecurity
“World War E” — energy as the new geopolitical battlespace
Concerns over American reliability
Trump, executive power, and institutional strain

Scott’s presence on socials:

X: @ScottLucas_EA
Bluesky: @scottlucas.bysky.social
Instagram: scottlucasworldview
Web: https://eaworldview.com/

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