Dissent came quickly this week within the Republican Party after President Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and announced he wished to appoint C.I.A. Director Mike Pompeo to the top diplomatic post. Republican Senator Rand Paul announced he would oppose that appointment, as well as that of Gina Haspel, who Trump named as his choice to lead the C.I.A.. Republicans hold the narrowest of margins in the Senate, so Paul’s objections could place the appointment in peril.
However, foreign policy contributor Art Cyr says that while the change in appointment may be abrupt, "we should all hope for the best" if Pompeo is approved for the job.
"He has a reputation for being something of a zealot and an ideologue, but the kinds of jobs he's had - especially being an influential member of Congress for a period of time - means that he must be pragmatic, flexible, and effective," he says.
The change in Donald Trump’s cabinet is only one of several major stories in international relations that have played out in recent days. From tariffs on steel to a potential meeting with North Korea, Cyr joined Lake Effect's Mitch Teich in the studio to discuss several of the recent top stories:
