Former US Secretary of State John Kerry: We face a special challenge in America

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry: We face a special challenge in America

We face a special challenge in America.

James Naughtie speaks to veteran US politician John Kerry about the state of American politics and his long career at the top of global affairs.

As well as standing for president himself as the Democratic candidate in 2004, he served as Secretary of State in the Obama administration and as Joe Biden’s climate envoy.

Secretary Kerry was at the centre of some of the most significant global crises in recent history from Iraq to Iran and Syria. He still believes one of America’s greatest foreign policy mistakes was invading Iraq in 2003 without first seeking formal approval from the US Congress.

He is forthright in his views on America today, saying he has never seen anything like what the country is living through. He describes politics as defined by greed and insensitivity, and guided by the lowest aspirations. For his Democratic party to return to power once more, he challenges them to face and address the issues the American people care about, including immigration.

Thank you to the Politically team for its help in making this programme. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at 0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out twice a week on BBC Sounds, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: James Naughtie Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Giles Edwards Editor: Nick Holland

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: John Kerry. Credit: Reuters)

Episoder(1827)

Lord Moynihan - Chairman of the British Olympics Association

Lord Moynihan - Chairman of the British Olympics Association

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Sharon Bowles - Chair, EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee

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Michael Barber - Chief Education Advisor, Pearson PLC

Michael Barber - Chief Education Advisor, Pearson PLC

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Mark Carney - Governor of Canada's Central Bank

Mark Carney - Governor of Canada's Central Bank

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Nigel Farage - Leader of the UK Independence Party

Nigel Farage - Leader of the UK Independence Party

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Amos Gilad – Director of Policy, Israeli Ministry of Defence

Amos Gilad – Director of Policy, Israeli Ministry of Defence

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Sheikh Hasina - Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina - Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina has been Prime Minister of Bangladesh for the last three and a half years. It’s her second term in office and throughout her time at the top she’s attracted controversy and criticism in equal measure. Bangladesh is densely populated, desperately poor and riven with corruption and political violence. Back in 2009 Sheikh Hasina vowed to clean up government and heal the country’s divisions. So what’s gone wrong?(Image: Sheikh Hasina. Credit: Getty Images)

29 Jul 201223min

Extratime: Nawal El Moutawakel -Member of the International Olympic Committee

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