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Bob Woodward at the 2021 Audi Innovation Series at the Ritz Carlton on November 10, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Audi Canada

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Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Audi Canada

Bob Woodward at the 2021 Audi Innovation Series at the Ritz Carlton on November 10, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for Audi Canada

The new book by legendary journalist Bob Woodward Warlike so many of his books about the American presidency over the last half century, is making headlines.

There's the matter of the Covid testing machine that President Donald Trump sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the early days of the pandemic, or the seven secret phone calls Trump had with Putin after he left office. There's also the detail that Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed President Joe Biden on his decision to drop out of the race after the June debate. Who can forget the colorful language Biden reportedly used in reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

But according to Woodward, there's much more to the book than just what's in the headlines.

Take, for example, how the Biden administration handled the Ukraine war before Russia invaded, and the proactive steps President Biden and his administration took to declassify intelligence and publicly confront Russia.

“They wanted to stop it, of course,” Woodward told NPR host Scott Detrow.

“But what is very important in terms of foreign policy dynamics is that the intelligence is so good. I mean, at some point they have a human source in the Kremlin, electronic and other intelligence information. So they are as I write, It's like being in the enemy's tent. And this is happening with a lot less ambiguity than usual. You see someone is going to start a war?”

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Biden's handling of wars and nuclear threats.

As the threat of nuclear war became clear in the early days of the Ukraine war, Woodward's reporting painted a picture of a Biden administration that viewed the nuclear threat as a very real possibility.

He details a call between a U.S. and a Russian official urging the Russian government to exercise restraint with its weapons in Ukraine, at the risk of the U.S. using weapons that could escalate the conflict to a new level level could raise.

This is tempered by President Biden saying in meetings that the United States would not respond with nuclear weapons.

“Everyone in this decision-making world knows that it is critical to prevent and stop the use of nuclear weapons, not just by the United States or Russia, but by the entire world. This is becoming a world-changing issue as discussed here. And that's why they pull everything out.” The stops. But there is always the contradiction of Joe Biden. “Let's have a confrontation with a very direct confrontational approach, as set out in this call.” The threat was and how confrontational the government was.)

Then, of course, there is the war between Israel and Hamas that has shaped Biden's presidency.

Woodward describes the period surrounding the Hamas attack and how Biden tried to handle his relationship with Netanyahu.

“We're in October 11th and this is Netanyahu at his best: 'Hey, we're going to solve this problem. Pre-emptive strike.' Biden and the White House and the national security team, that's the last thing they want. And I have the direct dialogue, the persuasion efforts: “No, you can't do that.” won't work.' And Netanyahu is all Netanyahu. “I will make my own decision and incorporate what you say into my advice.”

Woodward describes it as one of those moments when “Biden, the White House and the national security team realize that they have some influence, but very limited. And Netanyahu is marching according to his own fist. I think the book shows that clearly.”

The threat of Trump.

Former President Trump is a character in this book, as Woodwad traces his presidency in exile and the way he begins to regain momentum, re-establish himself on the national stage and run for president again .

“My conclusion, and I think this is reflected in the book, is that Trump doesn't really understand the presidency, doesn't fully understand its obligations and opportunities, and that he's constantly missing the boat and missing the scenes,” Woodward said .

“His big supporter, Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, who tries to rattle Trump, if you will, and at one point says to him, 'The people who think the earth is flat, the people 'Who think we're shallow.' “Don’t go to the moon, you have these people.” And Trump keeps talking. And I think what's confusing even to Trump's own supporters is the idea that he actually won in 2020, and he can't get away from that.”

Woodward quotes Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, as saying that if Trump had been president, Putin would be in Kiev right now.

“Why? Because Trump, who loves dictators and the unity of power in one person, would have sent Putin directly to Kiev. There would have been no resistance. Why? Trump loves dictators.”

This episode was produced by Avery Keatley and Brianna Scott. It was edited by Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.