Iran (thread 10), Episode 14: The Price of Every Promise: James Baker’s Rule for Diplomacy

Quick take: James Baker treated diplomacy like a transaction, not a performance. Every concession had to buy another, and nothing was given away for free. That approach is what let him build coalitions, manage crises, and make deals that actually lasted.

If you want to understand why the real question in any negotiation is "In exchange for what?", this episode is the perfect short course — sharp, practical, and surprisingly human.