Jeff Stein, a White House economics reporter, and Elahe Izade, a journalist focusing on U.S. diplomacy, dive into America’s heavy reliance on sanctions as a foreign policy tool. They discuss the historical roots of these economic penalties and their impact on countries like Venezuela and North Korea. The conversation addresses the effectiveness and moral implications of sanctions, especially amid global crises. Elahe also shares insights from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, highlighting the tension between political actions and public dissent.