America’s “narcissism pandemic”: Tom Nichols, author of "Our Own Worst Enemy"

America’s “Narcissism Pandemic” | GZERO World

Is America's real problem a "narcissism pandemic"? According to Tom Nichols, an Atlantic contributor and author of "Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault From Within On Modern Democracy,," the coronavirus pandemic has revealed the degree to which Americans expect things to come easily to them. "There is a real selfishness and self-absorption and narcissism that has come with living in a country that is peaceful, prosperous, affluent, super high standards of living—technological innovations that we now just take for granted that things just work." Ian Bremmer asks Nichols to suggest some solutions to the problem in an interview on GZERO World, airing on US public television.

Watch the episode: Make politics "boring" again: Joe Biden's first 100 Days

More from GZERO Media

Jess Frampton

Mark Carney is likely to become leader of the Liberal Party of Canada on March 9, and then take over from Justin Trudeau for two weeks before calling an election in which he must convince Canadians that he, not Pierre Poilievre, is the right person to handle President Donald Trump. Carney is taking a harder line than the Conservative leader.

Flags of Quebec are seen on the building in Quebec City, Canada, in 2023.

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Reuters

Donald Trump’s threats to forcibly make Canada the 51st state have delivered a setback to Quebec’s separatist parties, suddenly reducing support for making Quebec an independent country, and increasing national pride.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the Invictus Games in Vancouver on Feb. 16, 2025.
Dutch Press Photo via Reuters

With less than a month to go before he gives up his job, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday launched a six-year, $3.9-billion plan to design a high-speed rail line to (one day) connect Quebec City and Toronto, with speeds of up to 300 kmh and stops along the way in Montreal, Ottawa, and other cities.

beige concrete building under blue sky during daytime

President Donald Trump this week issued an executive order that would give him direct control over regulatory agencies that Congress established as independent. This would change the longstanding balance of powers and will likely be challenged as high as the US Supreme Court.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands as they meet in Helsinki, Finland, in July 2018.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

At the end of the first month of his second presidency, Donald Trump moved toward a warm new relationship with Russia, a 180-degree pivot that created a horrifying situation for Ukraine and may undo all of the United States’ long-standing security alliances.

Ten thousand protesters gather in front of Duesseldorf Central Station to march against the AfD's upcoming afternoon rally in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Feb. 15, 2025.
Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Reuters

Amid a deep economic crisis and renewed migration concerns, the far-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, is poised to double its vote share in this weekend’s general elections. We talked to Eurasia Group expert Jan Techau, about how the AfD's increasing strength is transforming German politics.