The News Agents Dictators, Invaders and Trump's motley crew on the Board of Peace
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Jan 22, 2026 
Peter Frankopan, a historian specializing in international affairs, joins to dive deep into the implications of Trump's Board of Peace. They explore the curious composition of this board, filled with authoritarian leaders and lacking Palestinian voices. Frankopan critiques the exaggerations surrounding Trump’s claims about Greenland and highlights the strategic chaos of his foreign policy. They also discuss NATO's role and Europe’s slow response to global shifts, pondering if this marks a pivotal moment in geopolitics or just another spectacle.
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Western Governments Hold Back
- The UK declined to sign, citing legal treaty issues and concerns about Putin's involvement.
- Western governments fear legitimising actors who are active aggressors, notably Russia.
An Alternative To The UN
- Trump is positioning the Board as an alternative to the UN, reflecting personal grievance and a desire to disrupt multilateral institutions.
- The project mixes theatricality with real geopolitical ambition to remake global forums.
UN Humiliation As Motivation
- Emily recalls Trump's UN General Assembly debut when the audience laughed at him, feeding his resentment toward the UN.
- That humiliation helps explain his urge to undermine and replace multilateral institutions.