Pod Save the World

Pod Save America is vaxxed, boosted, and headed back on the road! Get tickets & learn more: crooked.com/eventsJoin Jon, Lovett, Tommy, Dan, and special guests this spring and summer as they travel across the country for conversations about politics, the press, and the impending threats to our democracy (but in a fun way!)Listener presales: January 25 at 10 am local time through January 27 with code CROOKEDGeneral onsale: January 28 at 10 am local timecrooked.com/events

On today’s episode, Tommy and Ben interview Secretary of State Tony Blinken about the threat of Russia invading Ukraine, the Iran deal, combatting antisemitism and promoting democracy. They also discuss how silicon valley views human rights in China, why Boris Johnson could party his way into retirement, how Novak Djokovic got the boot from Australia, the eruption in Tonga and why Twitter is back in Nigeria.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. 

Ben and Tommy talk about protests and power struggles in Kazakhstan, Boris Johnson’s garden party problems, an update on the assassination of the Haitian president, how Novak Djokovic's vaccination status caused a diplomatic crisis in Australia, when North Korea invented the burrito (huh?) a heroic bomb sniffing rat and much more. Then Ben talks with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk about tensions with Russia and how Ukraine plans to maintain democracy despite Putin's efforts to destroy it. 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.

Tommy and Ben talk about Trump’s endorsement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and what it says about the future of democracy, the latest on Biden’s efforts to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine, China and Lithuania, a major election in Chile, and a look ahead at some of the world’s most important elections in 2022. Then Ben talks with author Howard French about his new book “Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World.”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.

Tommy and Ben are joined by Asia policy expert Danny Russel for a special episode that is entirely focused on China. They discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping’s background and worldview, Wolf Warrior diplomacy, China’s human rights record and suppression of the Uyghurs, and the fear that war between the US and China is inevitable and could start over Taiwan.

Tommy and Ben discuss why a holiday party is causing big problems for British PM Boris Johnson, why the Trump – Netanyahu bromance is officially dead, partying in Finland, an update on the assassination of the president of Haiti, a confusing choice to be US ambassador to Kenya, updates on Russia and Ukraine, the Iran deal, accountability at the Pentagon, a debate over whether progressives are getting rolled on defense policy, a court ruling on Julian Assange’s extradition, and camel influencers.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.

Tommy and Ben cover the US diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, Biden's call with Putin and rising tensions in Ukraine, Myanmar's ousted leader being unjustifiably sentenced to prison time, Justin Bieber's shady concert for the Saudis, El Salvador's crypto game, UK Parliament's cocaine problem, and a "Mambo No. 5" performance amid Poland's deadly migrant crisis. Then Ben talks with New Yorker reporter Ian Urbina about Libya's secret migrant prisons and his time detained in one.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.

Tommy and Ben cover the Omicron variant, a history making Prime Minister in Sweden, the Nordstream 2 pipeline and tensions in Ukraine, corruption and spies in international soccer, Jared Kushner goes hunting for gulf oil kickbacks, a historic election in Honduras, the Iran deal talks on life support, maple syrup cartels and Oasis. Then Tommy talks with Pashtana Durrani about her work educating women and girls in Afghanistan.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, please visit crooked.com/podsavetheworld. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben talk about the allegations by and disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, calls to boycott the Beijing winter Olympics, British PM Boris Johnson’s rough couple of weeks, economic woes in Turkey, democratic backsliding, asteroid killing satellites, what human rights advocates are demanding from Justin Bieber, how Popeyes is taking Britain storm and much more. Then Ben talks with President Biden’s Special Envoy to Iran Rob Malley about next week's nuclear talks with Iran, and where U.S.-Iranian relations stand going into them.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, please visit crooked.com/podsavetheworld. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Ben and Tommy talk about reports of a potential war crime by the US military in Syria, tensions on the border of Belarus and Poland, increased concern that Russia might invade Ukraine, Biden’s (virtual) summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, how Trump sycophants are seeding election lies in Brazil, a hostage is freed in Myanmar, space debris, how Trump’s coup attempt spread to the Pentagon, and the case for invading Australia. Then CNN’s Nima Elbagir joins to discuss the ongoing civil war in Ethiopia and the coup in Sudan.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, please visit crooked.com/podsavetheworld. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.