American Prestige

Though Jake is absent for the week, Danny and Derek remain steadfast in their dedication to bring you news. They discuss the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire (2:04); the Israeli government's plans for Gaza (6:49); Trump’s push for a Gaza ceasefire and Saudi deal on his upcoming Middle East trip (12:54); new clashes between India and Pakistan as well as more details from Wednesday morning's strikes (16:41); the possibility of U.S.-China trade talks (20:28); the reality of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal (22:30); drone strikes on Port Sudan (25:41); peace talks in the DRC (27:49); Vladimir Putin's V-E Day ceasefire (30:41); Friedrich Merz’s chaotic chancellor election (32:48) and the AfD’s potential classification as an extremist group (34:33); the European Union’s effort to poach U.S. academics (36:36); and finally, the Trump administration’s push for countries to adopt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service (39:13). Then, after the show, Danny and Derek speak with Trevor Beaulieu and Josh Olson about their new podcast, "White Canon." ⁠Check out White Canon here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny and Derek talk about India’s attack on Pakistan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Schultz, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois Chicago and author of 'Why Everyone Hates White Liberals,' dives deep into the historical complexities of liberalism. He explores how the term has transformed from a symbol of post-WWII prosperity to a source of derision. The discussion touches on FDR's strategic liberalism, the challenges of the civil rights movement, and the ongoing ideological battles that shape American politics, particularly the tensions between liberalism and conservatism.

Subscribe now for the full episode and much more content! Peter Slezkine, Senior Fellow and Director of the Russia Program at the Stimson Center and host of The Trialogue Podcast, joins the program for a conversation about his recent visit to Russia and his impressions of the political discourse there. They talk about the atmosphere in light of the Ukraine war, the major political factions in the government, people’s sense of the Western reaction to the invasion, their impression of Trump, how the war has emboldened NATO, why a ceasefire might not be in Russia’s interest in the immediate term, how the era of the end of ideology looks in Russia, BRICS and the multipolar world, and more.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May Day is no more, but the world, sadly, does not revolve around the left. This week: a new report on 2024 global military spending shockingly shows it has increased (2:05); the UN’s World Food Programme is out of food in Gaza (4:05), the IDF herds people into Rafah (5:55), and the PLO creates a vice presidency in anticipation of a successor to Mahmoud Abbas (8:32); in Syria, violence between security forces and Druze militias kills over 70 people (12:18); the US bombs a migrant center in Yemen (16:14) as Houthi/Ansar Allah forces continue to shoot down drones (17:58); the Iran-US nuclear talks have been postponed (19:35); there are rumblings of imminent armed conflict between India and Pakistan (21:48); Trump claims to have spoken with President Xi Jinping of China as both economies take a hit from the former’s tariffs (24:31); a court ruling may upend South Korea’s election (28:00); Nigeria sees an increase in jihadist violence (30:00); Congolese and Rwandan foreign ministers set a deadline for a peace deal (32:10); in Russia-Ukraine, Russia’s Kursk operation appears to be at its end (34:03), Trump and Zelensky meet at Pope Francis’ funeral (35:33), and the US and Ukraine finally sign a mineral deal (37:26); the Trump administration designates gangs in Haiti as terrorist groups (39:54); the Liberal Party wins Canada’s election (41:19); Donald Trump relieves Mike Waltz of duty as national security advisor, but appoints him as UN ambassador (44:03); and the US is negotiating with Rwanda so that the latter may take migrants on the former’s behalf (48:50).  Grab a copy of Spencer Ackerman’s current run of Iron Man! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe now for the full episode! Danny and Derek welcome back to the program Carolyn Eisenberg, professor of history at Hofstra University, to talk about the fall of Saigon on its 50th anniversary. Be sure to check out Carolyn’s award-winning book ⁠Fire and Rain: Nixon, Kissinger, and the Wars in Southeast Asia.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content⁠. Please listen to ⁠our Sino-Soviet primer episode⁠ and part one of this discussion for some background! Danny and Derek welcome back Jeremy Friedman, assistant professor in the Business, Government, and International Economy at Harvard, to talk about the Sino-Soviet Split. The conversation picks up in the 1960s with the Soviets’ push for peaceful coexistence vs the PRC and developing world’s push for anti-imperialist armed struggle, how the Cultural Revolution affects the calculation, Mao’s growing distrust of the USSR, the split itself, ideological vanguardism vs elitism, imperialism without capitalism, whether a split was inevitable, and more.   Grab a copy of Jeremy’s book⁠ ⁠⁠Shadow Cold War: The Sino-Soviet Competition for the Third World⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe now for the full episode and much more content! Danny and Derek are joined by Van Jackson, author of the ⁠Un-Diplomatic⁠ newsletter and podcast, Elizabeth Shackelford, Senior Policy Director at Dartmouth’s Dickey Center and foreign affairs columnist with The Chicago Tribune, and Ishaan Tharoor, foreign affairs columnist and anchor of Today's WorldView at The Washington Post, to talk about the second Trump Administration’s first hundred days in office. The group delves into what differentiates Trump 2.0 from 1.0, what he’s been able to enact of his agenda from both the last and current terms, the frailty of American institutions, the imperial presidency, parastatal institutions, the efficacy (or inefficacy) of public protest, how the White House and NSC undermine the State Department, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content.Derek makes his grand return to the AP newsroom! This week: Pope Francis dies (0:30); India sees the worst attack on civilians in Kashmir in years, prompting fallout on India-Pakistan relations (6:35); the US carries out its deadliest airstrike on Yemen to date (14:39); Qatar and Egypt propose a new ceasefire plan for Gaza (18:07); the US and Iran see progress in their nuclear talks, but the Trump administration continues to demand zero enrichment (21:27); Trump has once again changed course on tariffs (26:28); in Sudan, the RSF closes in on Al-Fashir (29:46); it is unclear whether peace talks for the DRC-M23 conflict are making progress (32:30); Russia’s operation in Kursk nears its end (35:10); Vladimir Putin offers to halt the war at the current front line, but this and Trump’s peace proposal meet resistance from Zelensky (36:33); the US State Department releases a reorganization plan (45:13); and more leaks and discord are apparent at the US Department of Defense under Pete Hegseth (48:01). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Journalist Mohammad Alsaafin from AJ+ shares his expertise on the escalating situation in Gaza and the West Bank. He discusses the collapse of a recent ceasefire and the severe restrictions on humanitarian aid. Alsaafin delves into the implications of Israel's military strategies, raising concerns about ethnic cleansing. The conversation highlights shifting international responses, the complex narratives surrounding the conflict, and the tragic realities faced by civilians caught in the crossfire.