American Prestige

Derek welcomes back Jake Werner, director of the East Asia Program at the Quincy Institute, to talk about the latest New Cold War developments. They discuss the Chinese government’s view of Donald Trump, US-China trade negotiations, Beijing’s approach to great power politics, Taiwan’s position in US-China relations under Trump, China’s role in domestic US politics, and what a smarter US trade policy might look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Jordan rejoins the show to see if he can impersonate Danny as well as he impersonated Derek a couple of weeks ago. He and Derek discuss the India-Pakistan ceasefire (01:23); Donald Trump’s big Persian Gulf tour (04:24)(filled with Deals, Bribes, and announcements about Syrian sanctions (7:49) and Iranian nuclear talks (10:40)); the latest developments in Gaza (15:34); the US-China tariff pause (26:52); the PKK’s major disarmament announcement (29:19); a new round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks (32:19); major clashes between militias in Libya (35:49); the arrival of the first group of Afrikaner refugees to the US (39:33); Luis Arce’s decision to quit the Bolivian presidential race (41:17); the sacking of US National Intelligence Council staff for daring to contradict President Trump (43:09); and whether or not the US is still going to have habeas corpus for much longer (46:04). You can watch Alex Jordan on the Quincy Institute’s inaugural episode of the YouTube program “Always at War," which he co-hosted with Courtney Rawlings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bi-monthly collaboration between AP and Nonzero Newsletter continues! Our dear paid subscribers also get access to the additional "Overtime" conversation and a discounted membership to Nonzero, so ⁠subscribe now for that and much more content⁠! Part One Video 0:00 The week's major international stories2:58 Trump's approach to everything8:40 The Houthi deal11:23 Trump's Middle East trip and Gaza15:26 India-Pakistan conflict19:58 Media coverage of Trump 2.023:46 Trump’s biggest Jan 6 transgression30:15 Is the Republic at stake?31:20 Heading into overtime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Schultz, Chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois-Chicago, returns to the program to continue the discussion of his new book⁠ ⁠Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History⁠. In this second part of the discussion, Danny, Derek, and Kevin get into the origins and power of the "radical chic" and "limousine liberal" criticisms, the concept of "positive polarization" as championed by figures like Spiro Agnew, the perceived abandonment of the white working class by the Democratic Party, the role of Nixon in this political shift, the influence of Phyllis Schlafly and George Wallace, George McGovern and the "acid, amnesty, and abortion" label, Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s attempt to redefine liberalism, the transition of some Cold War liberals to neoconservatism, the Democratic Party's embrace of neoliberalism and the rise of "Atari Democrats," the cultural phenomenon of "owning the libs," the association of the professional managerial class with contemporary liberalism, and potential new political vocabularies beyond the "liberal" label, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny and Derek invite Vincent Bevins, author of The Jakarta Method and If We Burn, back to the podcast to talk about the early days of the Trump Administration; how the rest of the world views Trump; what Vincent thinks is going on; and his recent article in The Nation on Brazil's Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (Landless Workers' Movement, or MST). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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