Vivian Salama

Helen Lewis, an Atlantic staff writer who attended the Riyadh Comedy Festival, shares firsthand observations of this cultural event. Vivian Salama, also from the Atlantic, provides insights on Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, elaborating on the kingdom's efforts to modernize and attract tourism while grappling with its controversial past, including the Khashoggi murder. The discussion dives into comedy's potential to incite social change amidst censorship, the festival's atmosphere, and contrasting reactions from performers on the moral implications of participating.

Vivian Salama, a politics and national security writer, and Anne Applebaum, a seasoned reporter on Russia and Ukraine, unpack the complexities of international diplomacy in the Ukraine conflict. They explore President Zelensky's pivotal visit to the White House amid escalating tensions and dissect the evolving dynamics between Trump and Putin. The conversation dives into the urgent need for effective communication and the shifting alliances affecting U.S.-Russia relations, stressing that peace isn't as simple as a real-estate deal.

In a compelling discussion, Michael Scherer, a political reporter at The Atlantic, and Vivian Salama, a foreign policy journalist specializing in Latin America, dissect the recent U.S. raid on Venezuela. They analyze President Trump's shifting rhetoric and what it really means for U.S. involvement. Salama highlights the ambiguous role of Delcy Rodríguez and the challenges of a post-Maduro Venezuela, including the tangled web of political opposition and economic crises. Scherer connects this to Trump's broader strategy for hemispheric control and influence.