VIDEO with Josh Cowen and Ambassador Bridget Brink

The conversation opens with Ambassador Bridget Brink condemning the recent Iran strike as a "war of choice" lacking a clear U.S. strategy or endgame. She argues that without congressional authorization and a defined objective, the conflict risks becoming a perpetual war, endangering American lives abroad and distracting from pressing domestic issues like rising prices and health‑care costs. Brink emphasizes the need for transparent decision‑making and proper evacuation warnings for the estimated half‑million Americans in the region.

Brink then recounts her experience returning to Kyiv after the Russian invasion, describing how she and a small team drove armored vehicles from Poland to a deserted capital, reoccupying a shuttered embassy that was essentially inoperable. The makeshift operation—sleeping in conference rooms, relying on Ukrainian guards, and coordinating with special forces—illustrates the challenges of diplomatic work in active war zones. Her narrative underscores how Ukraine’s resistance shapes NATO security, sends a signal to China, and protects the $1.6 trillion trans‑Atlantic trade architecture that sustains millions of American jobs.

Shifting to her congressional bid in Michigan’s 7th District, Brink ties her foreign‑service background to local priorities: lowering living costs, expanding affordable health‑care, protecting union jobs, and investing in public education. She cites personal ties to the community, a family history of farming and teaching, and a commitment to safeguard democratic freedoms threatened at home. By linking global stability with domestic prosperity—highlighting the ripple effects of European security on American jobs and the importance of robust education funding—Brink positions herself as a candidate who can translate diplomatic experience into concrete policy outcomes for her constituents.