Vera Bergengruen

Vera Bergengruen, a national security reporter for The Wall Street Journal, dives into the tumultuous influence of Laura Loomer, a far-right activist. They discuss how Loomer's controversial antics, which range from absurd college stunts to direct protests, have gained her unexpected political traction. The conversation reveals the shocking connections between Loomer and President Trump's decisions, like the dismissal of the NSA head. This episode unpacks the unsettling impacts of personal loyalty and conspiracy on national security and the broader political landscape.

Vera Bergengruen, a national-security reporter at the Wall Street Journal, dives into the controversial leadership of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. She discusses Bukele's authoritarian crime policies and his strategies to reshape El Salvador's image in the U.S. The conversation highlights the troubling ties between Bukele and the Trump administration, especially regarding deportations and human rights implications. Bergengruen sheds light on how Bukele's extreme rhetoric resonates with a fearful public, raising important questions about democracy and ethics.

Vera Bergengruen, a senior correspondent at Time, dives into her experiences reporting from Ukraine, where tech companies like Palantir and Clearview are testing their innovations in real-time warfare. She discusses the ethical dilemmas of facial recognition technology used to identify soldiers amidst chaos. The conversation highlights how Ukraine is leveraging this conflict to build its own military tech industry and questions the broader implications of using sophisticated technology in warfare. It's a riveting exploration of tech's role in modern conflict.