Unholy: Two Jews on the News Trump vs. the world, Protests in Iran and the Draft bill - with Amos Hochstein
18 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
Amos Hochstein, a former U.S. special envoy known for his work on Middle East and energy policy, joins the conversation. They discuss the potential end of the post-1945 international order and the implications of Trump's foreign actions. Hochstein analyzes the West's role in supporting Iranian protesters and contrasts current U.S. diplomacy with past administrations. The conversation also touches on Israel's draft bill protests and the precarious situation in Lebanon, weighing the risks and necessary steps for regional stability.
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Post‑1945 Order Under Strain
- The post‑1945 liberal order is under strain but not dead; precedents are being set that may become norms.
- Amos Hochstein warns we don't yet know which one‑off actions will calcify into a new global norm.
Norms Fail Without Political Will
- International law never fully constrained great powers in practice, so norms depended on political opposition and leadership.
- Hochstein argues today's weakness of world leaders, not law, lets unilateral actions proliferate.
Leadership Vacuum In Europe
- Europe lacks coherent leadership to check aggressive U.S. moves, leaving a vacuum exploited by Trump.
- Hochstein says Trump 'is running the board because there is no board.'
