We are bringing you an emergency podcast on the war with Iran.

It seems like only yesterday that we put out a bonus podcast on the strikes in Venezuela. That’s because it was just two months ago, and it may have encouraged a sense of military adventurism that has led to full-on war with Iran.

Today, we are talking about who is currently ruling Iran at present. What are the U.S. goals? And what is likely to happen in the future? Will the regime fall? And if it does, what kind of government would likely replace it?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• US-Israel Strikes on February 28th
• The Death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and key national security leadership
• Iranian Succession Options and U.S. Endgame.

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• America’s attack on Iran turns a taboo into a method (Steve Simon, The Economist)
• The Folly of Attacking Iran (Nick Kristoff; NY Times)
• John Bolton Sounds the Alarm on Trump’s Iran Gamble (Politico)

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The protests in Iran are largely over, but will the heavy-handed crackdown result in the U.S. taking military action? Is Iran poised to be the next Venezuela?

Trump demanded, then backed down over U.S. ownership of Greenland. What was the final agreement, and was anything really accomplished?

Greenland wasn’t the only thing that grabbed headlines at Davos. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared the end of the rules-based international order. If this is true, what comes next, and what steps will middle powers, like Canada, take to serve the best interests of their countries?

Finally, we discuss the recent purge of China’s top military leaders. What does it signal about potential military action against Taiwan?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 08:30 - US plans for Iran
• 26:00 - Greenland Crisis and End of the Post-War World Order
• 53:00 - Chinese Military Leadership Purge

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• US plans for Iran
  • Trump Weighs New Military Options Against Iran (NY Times)
  • Is America about to attack Iran? (The Economist)
  • Donald Trump wants to end America’s half-century conflict with Iran (The Economist)

• Greenland crisis and End of the Post-War World Order
  • The Most Important Foreign Policy Speech in Years (NY Times)
  • Trump’s Greenland Envoy: We Need ‘Total, Unfettered Access’ (NY Times)
  • The Globalization of Canadian Rage (NY Times)

• Chinese Military Leadership Purge
  • What is behind Xi Jinping’s sweeping military purge? (The Economist)
  • The Unsettling Implications of Xi’s Military Purge (Foreign Affairs)
  • China’s Disappearing Generals (NY Times)

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On Saturday, the U.S. announced that it had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who, along with his wife, arrived in New York a few hours later to be tried on drug trafficking charges.

Then, President Trump said that the U.S. would be running Venezuela in the near term. So what does this all mean? We cover the latest on this stunning development and what is likely to happen over the next few days and weeks.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• US Military Capture of Maduro on January 3rd
• Trump Press Conference and who will run Venezuela
• Implications for Russia and China

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

• EIA Breakdown of Venzuela Oil Industry
• Trump Says America will Run Venezuela (UK view-The Rest is Politics)
• Trump Finally Told Americans What This Was All About (NY Times)

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The United States has a new National Security Strategy. What does the world look like under the Second Trump Administration? Should the U.S. no longer strive to be a superpower? We take a look at what in the document seems to strengthen U.S. security, as well as what elements might undermine it and alarm us the most.

Next up, we discuss whether progress has been made on the Ukraine Peace Plan. Are we closer than we have ever been, or is peace still a distant prospect?

Finally, we continue the discussion on Venezuela. The U.S. has taken out more ships and begun seizing oil tankers. What does this escalation mean for the future of Venezuela and U.S. operations there?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 04:30 - The New US National Security Strategy
• 39:00 - Ukraine Peace Plan: Actual Progress or Not?
• 1:00:00 - Venezuela: Ramping Up to War?

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

The New US National Security Strategy

• National Security Strategy of the United States of America (The White House)
• The National Security Strategy: The Good, the Not So Great, and the Alarm Bells (CSIS)
• Trump’s Western Hemisphere Pivot Is Real (Foreign Policy)
• Trump Isn’t Interested in Fighting a New Cold War. He Wants a New Civilizational War. (NY Times)

Ukraine Peace Plan: Actual Progress or Not?

• America gives Ukraine reason to hope, just (The Economist)
• Russian’s Energy Achilles Heel (AEI)
• With Attacks on Oil Tankers, Ukraine Takes Aim at Russia’s War Financing (NY Times)

Venezuela: Enforcement of the Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine

• Trump’s Claim That Venezuela ‘Stole’ U.S. Oil Fields Touches Nationalist Nerve (NY Times)
• Trump says Venezuela stole U.S. oil, land and assets. Here’s the history. (WaPo)

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President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping reached a consensus on trade between the two countries. We discuss what each side gave up and who appears to be winning. Next, we address the possibility of a war with Venezuela and why all signs seem to be pointing to yes. Finally, Trump is going after Nigeria for a supposed slaughter of Christians in the country. We get after the truth of these claims and how Christians and Muslims co-exist in the country.

But first, the government shutdown. How is it affecting the everyday lives of Americans, including Anita, and when will it end…well, the next day apparently!

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 14:30 - Xi and Trump Meeting: Is there a trade deal?
• 27:30 - Looming War with Venezuela
• 54:00 Christian Persecution in Nigeria?

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

Xi and Trump Meeting: Is there a trade deal?

• Why China is winning the trade war (The Economist)
• China Started Separating Its Economy From the West Years Ago (NY Times)

Looming War with Venezuela

• War looms in Venezuela as Trump tests an “Americas First” doctrine (The Economist)
• The Regime Change Temptation in Venezuela (Foreign Affairs)
• Trump Weighs Options, and Risks, for Attacks on Venezuela (NY Times)

Christian Persecution in Nigeria?

• A Fox News report prompted Trump to post about Nigeria, setting off White House scramble (NBC News)
• What to know as Nigeria rejects US military threat over alleged Christian killings (AP)
• Donald Trump says he may strike Nigeria to save Christians. Really? (The Economist)

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Trump and Netanyahu agreed to a Gaza Peace plan. How much should Trump be lauded for the deal and will Hamas sign on? Trump was also busy bailing out his friend, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, announcing a $20 billion bailout of the economy. Was this deal really necessary, and will it be enough to lift Argentina out of its economic woes? Finally, we discuss the growing popularity of far-right policies and the MAGA foreign policy supporting these groups. Plus, Ryan tries once again to convince Anita that aliens have visited Earth.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• UFO Update (US Congressional UAP Hearing on September 9th)
• Gaza Peace Plan: Trump Done Good?
• Argentina First, America Last?
• Illiberalism on the March in Western Europe

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

UFO Update (US Congressional UAP Hearing on September 9th)

• UAP US Congressional Hearing (Oversight Committee)

Gaza Peace Plan: Trump Done Good?

• Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan in full (BBC)
• The White House’s plan for Gaza deserves praise (The Economist)
• Tony Blair, Tapped by Trump for Gaza Plan, Brings Peace Expertise and Baggage (NY Times)

Argentina First, America Last?

• Why Is Trump Bailing Out Argentina? (Paul Krugman)
• Argentina’s finances just got even more surreal (The Economist)

Illiberalism on the March in Western Europe

• The European Radical Right in the Age of Trump 2.0 (Carnegie Europe)
• Trump’s Far Right Allies in Germany: Is History Repeating Itself? (The Rest is Politics Podcast)

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Trade has been a major issue for the Trump administration, and Anita recently spoke with William A Reinsch, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, on all aspects of this topic. They discuss what Americans really think about trade, tariffs and why they might be around to stay, why some of our trading partners are getting extensions, and the need to work with our allies to become less dependent on China.

Another major story in the headlines is the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly Trump’s meeting with both leaders. Ryan and Anita discuss the outcome of these meetings, their unusual nature, and the chances of peace.

We also explore potential U.S. military strikes into Latin America to go after cartels and the current situation in Iran.

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 06:00 - Russia-Ukraine War Peace Efforts
• 20:00 - US Planning Strikes on Latin American Drug Cartels?
• 44:00 - Iran after the 12-day War: Still a Threat?
• 53:00 - Interview with CSIS’s William A. Reinsch on Trump’s Trade policies

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

Russia-Ukraine Peace Efforts

• Putin’s “land swap” is really a grab for Ukraine’s fortress belt (The Economist)
• The Pernicious Spectacle of Trump’s Russia-Ukraine Diplomacy (Foreign Affairs)
• Security “guarantees” for Ukraine are dangerously hazy (The Economist)

US Planning Strikes on Latin American Drug Cartels?

• How US military action against drug cartels in Mexico could unfold (The Atlantic Council)
• Five Reasons Why Trump’s Anti-Cartel Military Plan Will Fail (WOLA)

Iran after the 12-day War: Still a Threat?

• Iran’s Dangerous Desperation (Foreign Affairs)
• As the Houthis sink two ships in one week, the world shrugs (The Economist)

Interview with CSIS’s William A. Reinsch on Trump’s Trade policies

• Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
• The Future of Global Trade- Without America (YouTube-Washington Monthly)

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We look at the current state of U.S. trade deals. Who has a deal? How many will get signed by August 1st? Will there be another extension? And what is their economic impact on the U.S.?

We then discuss the border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, which has recently turned deadly for the first time since 2011. What are they fighting about, and what are the political consequences for both countries?

Finally, we provide an update on the Russia-Ukraine war. We discuss the pressing questions as to: Which side seems to be making progress? How is U.S. policy evolving under Trump? And what does this foretell for the future of the conflict?

Topics Discussed in this Episode

• 04:30 - Liberation Day Redux: Trump Tariff Fallout Prediction
• 28:30 - Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict
• 39:40 - Russia-Ukraine War Update

Articles and Resources Mentioned in Episode

Liberation Day Redux: Trump Tariff Fallout Prediction

• Trump Tariffs: What’s the Latest on the Trade War? (NY Times)
• How America’s economy is dodging disaster (The Economist)
• Trump’s latest trade deals don’t make America stronger (WaPo)
• Likely extension for China talks reflect shift in tone, progress in finding a deal (Anita’s quote in TND)

Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict

• Thailand and Cambodia: The Battle for Preah Vihear (Stanford)
• What to Know About the Conflict Between Thailand and Cambodia (NY Times)
• The fractured friendship behind the fight at the Thailand-Cambodia border (BBC)

Russia-Ukraine War

• Trump’s U-turn on Russia is utterly cynical—and welcome (The Economist)
• Ukrainian drones are killing ever more soldiers (The Economist)
• How Ukraine is Adapting, Enduring, and Striking Back (War on the Rocks)

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