Matthew Petti, a Reason reporter who specializes in foreign policy, joins the discussion to analyze Israel's recent strike on Iran. He shares insights on the potential for escalating tensions in the Middle East and examines America's role in the conflict. The conversation also touches on the alarming rise of political violence in Minnesota and the nation, as well as the libertarian perspectives on anti-ICE protests and immigration policies under Trump. Petti navigates the complexities of diplomacy in a turbulent geopolitical landscape.
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Israel’s Strike Amidst Nuclear Talks
Israel's strike on Iran targeted its nuclear facilities aiming to prevent a nuclear weapon threat.
The U.S. gave a green light, complicating an imminent U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiation round.
insights INSIGHT
No Clear Aggressor in Middle East
The Middle East conflict is deeply complex with no clear aggressor or clean self-defense case.
Past talks with Iran on nuclear issues have repeatedly failed or been violated.
insights INSIGHT
U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal History
U.S. and Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal involved trading restrictions for normalized relations.
Trump administration tore up the deal, escalating tensions and collapsing talks under political pressures.
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In "My Life as a Spy," Catherine Verdery recounts her experience as an anthropologist researching in communist Romania during the 1970s. After the fall of communism, she discovers her secret police file, revealing that authorities suspected her of being a CIA agent stirring up dissent. The book juxtaposes Verdery's anthropological field notes with the Romanian secret police's interpretation of her activities. It highlights the paranoia and distorted realities created by state bureaucracies, especially under communist regimes. Verdery's naive American perspective contrasts sharply with the secret police's elaborate suspicions. This work provides a humorous yet insightful look into the dynamics between individual intentions and state perceptions. It explores how state power can construct elaborate narratives to fit its own agenda.
The File
A Personal History
Timothy Garton Ash
In this memoir, Timothy Garton Ash recounts his experience of living in East Germany in the early 1980s and his subsequent discovery of his Stasi file after the fall of the Berlin Wall. The file, code-named 'Romeo,' contains a detailed record of his activities compiled by the East German secret police with the help of numerous informers. Ash compares the Stasi records with his own memories, diary entries, and published articles, and he tracks down and interviews the informants and former Stasi officers involved in his case. The book provides a gripping and morally provocative account of life in East Germany's surveillance state and the complexities of post-communist society[2][3][4].
This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Matthew Petti to break down the fallout from Israel's strike on Iran, the likelihood of escalation, and what role the U.S. is already playing in the conflict.
They also cover the Minnesota assassinations and the growing fears of political violence, and offer a firsthand account from one of the nationwide No Kings protests. Finally, they answer a listener's question about libertarian reactions to anti-ICE demonstrations and examine the broader implications of President Donald Trump's shifting immigration enforcement policies.
0:00 - Political violence in America
8:17 - What role does America play in the Israel and Iran conflict?
17:56 - The risk of escalation and expansion in the Middle East
25:26 - How Trump differs from Bush on foreign policy
28:41 - What have we learned from this Middle East conflict?
33:09 - Listener question: Why are libertarians critical of the anti-ICE protests?
38:59 - Observations on the No Kings protests
46:29 - Trump's shifting stance on the ICE raids
51:27 - Is Trump policy driven by personal enrichment?
Reliance College: What if one day could change how you think—how you lead—and how you shape your future? Join Reliance College for Reliance Day—Saturday, June 28th in Los Angeles! This one-day, high-impact experience is designed for students, professionals, and lifelong learners ready to level up their thinking in an AI-driven world. At Reliance Day, you'll dive into collaborative Socratic discussions and sharpen the critical thinking and leadership skills that drive success in college, business, and life. It's a full day of intellectual challenge and creative exploration—rooted in the Great Books and Montessori-inspired methods that have transformed over 400 lives. Go to RelianceCollege.org/reliancedays to register today
Future of Freedom: If you're tired of cable news debates and Twitter shouting matches, and you're looking for serious, good-faith conversations between people who actually care about liberty then it's time to check out the Future of Freedom podcast. Each episode dives deep into a single topic—tariffs, campus speech, the Department of Government Efficiency—and brings together two guests who disagree on the best path forward. But here's the twist: This isn't a debate show. No interrupting. No dunking. If you believe the future of freedom depends on more than just winning arguments and you're ready for something deeper than the usual echo chambers, check out the Future of Freedom podcast. Real disagreement. Real ideas. Real conversations. Subscribe to Future of Freedom wherever you get your podcasts.
The Reason Roundtable 