
Pod Save the World
“Pod Save America” cohost Tommy Vietor thought foreign policy was boring and complicated until he got the education of a lifetime working for President Obama’s National Security Council. On “Pod Save the World,” he and former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes break down the latest global developments and bring you behind the scenes with the people who were there. New episodes every Wednesday.
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Latest episodes

11 snips
Oct 8, 2023 • 49min
Hamas Goes To War With Israel
In this special episode, Ben and Tommy discuss the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration of being 'at war,' President Biden's response, reasons behind the conflict, politicization of the conflict, implications on normalizing relations, responsibility for the events, and concerns in the ongoing conflict.

8 snips
Oct 4, 2023 • 1h 13min
Will Republicans Kill Support For Ukraine?
Former CIA officer Sue Mi Terry discusses the documentary 'Beyond Utopia' which depicts life in North Korea and the struggles people face to escape. The podcast also covers the declining support for Ukraine funding, General Millie's comments on military loyalty, and Trump's disrespect towards veterans.

15 snips
Sep 27, 2023 • 1h 19min
Don’t Clap For Nazis
The podcast covers a range of interesting topics including foreign policy implications of corruption charges, Biden administration's move to grant protected status to Venezuelan migrants, updates from Ukraine and attacks on Russia's Black Sea fleet, Ron DeSantis's time at Guantanamo Bay, US intelligence supplying Canada with info about an assassination, vetting disaster at Canadian Parliament, Saudi Crown Prince's Fox News interview, Azerbaijan seizing Nagorno-Karabakh and thousands of ethnic Armenians fleeing, and more.

10 snips
Sep 20, 2023 • 1h 12min
Canada Accuses India of Assassination
The podcast discusses Canada accusing India of assassinating a Sikh Canadian citizen, the prisoner swap between the US and Iran, the United Nations General Assembly and lack of world leaders in attendance, updates on Russia/Ukraine, Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to the US, increasing espionage activities between the US and China, a missing F-35, and an Australian man fined for taking his pet Python surfing. It also features an interview with Rory Stewart, former British politician and author of 'How Not To Be A Politician', discussing populism and challenges in the progressive center.

Sep 13, 2023 • 59min
Secretary of State Antony Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken joins the hosts to discuss the war in Ukraine, G20, and reported Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization deal. Other topics include Kim Jong Un's trip to meet Vladimir Putin, Armenia's diplomatic shift, US-China economic war, undercover Chinese spy in UK parliament, Biden's trip to Vietnam, Mexico's future female president, and a Florida man's attempt to cross the Atlantic in a hamster wheel.

20 snips
Sep 6, 2023 • 1h 26min
Kim Jong Un and Putin’s Budding Bromance
The podcast discusses a range of topics including the Russia/Ukraine war, Putin's actions and diplomatic efforts, political unrest in Thailand, China-India relationship, protests in China, and the role of Save the Children in Ukraine.

7 snips
Aug 30, 2023 • 1h 12min
Spain’s #MeToo moment?
The podcast covers a range of interesting topics including Spain's 'MeToo' moment in soccer, the expansion of BRICS and the impact of climate change on the Panama Canal, Tucker Carlson's support for autocratic leaders and Saudi Arabia's indiscriminate murder of Ethiopian migrants, the White House response to criticism of MBS, India's space exploration efforts and the funeral of a Russian warlord, and the concept of 'ad hoc racy' in Putin's Russia.

6 snips
Aug 24, 2023 • 36min
Wagner Leader Prigozhin Killed?
The podcast discusses the alleged deaths of Wagner Group leaders in a plane crash near Moscow, speculating on implications for Wagner forces, Putin's inner circle, and more. They explore the potential reasons behind Prigozhin's death, Putin's possible involvement, and the immediate response at the White House. The impact of the plane crash on operations in Africa and skepticism towards making deals with Putin are also analyzed.

4 snips
Aug 23, 2023 • 1h 6min
Has Ukraine’s counteroffensive stalled?
Tommy and Ben talk about negative headlines surrounding Ukraine’s counteroffensive, Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin’s re-emergence in Africa, a Human Rights Watch Report about Saudi Arabia’s horrendous abuse of Ethiopian migrants, a fun twist in the Mar-a-Lago documents case, and rare good news for climate change from voters rejecting oil drilling in Ecuador and a drop in deforestation in Brazil. They also discuss Canada’s unprecedented wildfires, Ecuador’s election runoff a week after the assassination of a presidential candidate, the rise of a far-right political party in Germany, GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s remarks on America’s commitment to Israel, and the crash of a Russian lunar probe. Then Tommy is joined by Kurt Campbell, President Biden’s Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs, to break down the historic summit at Camp David the US hosted between Japan and South Korea’s leaders. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Aug 16, 2023 • 1h 19min
Tripping Balls with Janet Yellen
Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary, talks about US hostage deal with Iran and updates on the coup in Niger. They also discuss President Biden's critical comments on China's economy, Biden's meeting with presidents of South Korea and Japan, and Russia's deteriorating economy. Then interviews Bobi Wine, Ugandan opposition leader, and his wife about their campaign against long-time authoritarian Uganda leader Yoweri Museveni.