Conversations With Coleman A Debate with Dave Smith: Israel, Iran, and American Power
217 snips
Oct 4, 2025 
Dave Smith, a stand-up comedian and libertarian foreign policy critic, dives deep into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and American foreign policy. He shares how Ron Paul shaped his views and discusses whether terrorism stems from grievances or ideology. The conversation tackles military intervention, the Iraq War, and the influence of the Israel lobby. They also ponder the future of U.S. support for Israel and debate the potential outcomes if this support ended, touching on Iran's nuclear ambitions and the risks of escalation.
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Ron Paul Sparked A Career Pivot
- Dave Smith recounts discovering Ron Paul during a 2007 Republican debate and falling down a political rabbit hole.
- That moment shifted him from a liberal comedian into a libertarian podcaster focused on foreign policy and the Federal Reserve.
Why 'They Hate Us' Is More Than A Slogan
- Ron Paul's key insight: terrorists often cite U.S. foreign policy, not 'our freedoms,' as motives.
- Smith credits Paul for opening him to non-imperial perspectives and for introducing Federal Reserve critique.
Grievances Plus Ideology Explains Terrorism
- Coleman Hughes argues jihadist attacks need both grievances and jihadi ideology to make sense.
- He stresses ideology (Salafi jihadism) is the extra ingredient that explains attacks like 9/11.
