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Today we’re talking about American exceptionalism: the idea that the United States is a uniquely virtuous nation and a “shining city on a hill.” It’s a belief that’s long shaped how the U.S. acts on the global stage and how Americans see themselves, the economy and democracy. In the aftermath of the U.S. presidential election, many Americans are questioning the idea of exceptionalism. Journalist Suzy Hansen challenges the notion of American exceptionalism in her book “Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World.” On the show today, she explains where the idea of American exceptionalism comes from, how it has shaped today’s world, and why many Americans are disillusioned with it. Plus, is a new version of national pride the answer to the pitfalls of American exceptionalism? Then, we’ll get into the creative ways the European Union is preparing for President-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs. Plus, perspectives from an American abroad and thoughts on mandatory national service. Here’s everything we talked about today: “Unlearning the myth of American innocence” from The Guardian “Opinion | Is America a City on a Hill or a Nation on the Precipice?” from The New York Times “The End of American Exceptionalism: Trump’s Reelection Will Redefine U.S. Power” from Foreign Affairs “American Exceptionalism Is a Dangerous Myth” from Intelligencer “The US is leaving millions behind: American exceptionalism needs to change by 2030” from The Brookings Institution “Democrats look at late-night, weekend votes to confirm last Biden judicial nominees” from The Hill “Locked and loaded? The EU weapons to fight Trump’s trade war.” from Politico “Oil Glut Set to Thwart Trump’s Call to ‘Frack, Frack, Frack’” from Bloomberg We love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

Nippon Steel is racing to finalize its deal to purchase U.S. Steel before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. But the Biden administration just threw a wrench in that plan, imposing higher tariffs on the Japanese company, despite Nippon’s promise not to import foreign-made steel into the U.S. Also: we discuss market reactions to rising Ukraine-Russia tensions and speak with Rosina Samadani, CEO of Oculogica, a medical device company that has developed a new method of diagnosing concussions.

The U.S. government has been fighting with Google for years, accusing it of holding an illegal monopoly. And in one of those antitrust cases, the government wants a harsh fix: a break up of the tech giant’s search business, more specifically, to split off its Chrome browser into a separate company. Plus, how international students play a key role in the finances of U.S. colleges and universities, and why loan applicants are facing a tougher approval process this year.

From the BBC World Service: The G20 group of nations has struck a new agreement to tax the ultra-rich in order to fund sustainable development projects. Plus, UK farmers are protesting in London over plans for a new estate tax on agricultural land worth more than $1.2 million. And how is the Egyptian economy faring with the Suez Canal still not back to full capacity following Houthi attacks?