American Prestige

Aziz Rana dives into the constitutional crises stemming from the Trump era. He discusses the tensions around presidential power and the legacy of executive orders. The conversation touches on the risks to liberal values and the shadows of McCarthyism. They examine the carceral state and the evolving balance of power in American governance. Global implications of U.S. constitutional struggles are also explored, shedding light on the decline of the legislative authority to declare war and its impact on foreign policy.

Tensions rise as the IDF seizes more territory in Gaza, alongside protests against both Israeli forces and Hamas. In Turkey, the arrest of Istanbul's mayor stokes public unrest. Military advances in Sudan lead to significant violence, while political instability also grips South Sudan. As Canada gears up for a snap election, the implications of a U.S. politician's visit to Greenland add to the political tension. Meanwhile, a new sixth-generation fighter jet raises eyebrows amid recent national security leaks.

Hugh Wilford, a historian from California State University, dives into the CIA's complex history and its role in American imperialism. He discusses how the agency evolved from intelligence gathering to direct covert actions, exemplified by the 1953 Iran coup. The conversation highlights the influence of individual operatives and the emotional toll on CIA families navigating secrecy. Wilford also tackles the historiographical challenges of studying intelligence, questioning the agency's ideological commitments and the legitimacy of communist threats.

Mark Ames joins to dissect the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conversation dives into the complex relationship between Trump and Putin. They explore the impact of the Russian economy on the war and the implications of potential U.S. policy shifts regarding Crimea. Insights into Zelensky's strategic moves in the face of pressure for a ceasefire reveal the intricate geopolitical maneuvers at play. The discussion critiques media narratives and highlights recent calls for peace amid ongoing hostilities.

Tensions flared as Israel violated the Gaza ceasefire, raising alarm over civilian casualties. In Yemen, U.S. airstrikes resumed, complicating the already fraught situation. Political upheaval unfolded in Turkey with the arrest of a mayor, unsettling upcoming elections. Meanwhile, South Sudan's peace process continues to falter amidst rising violence. Diplomatic friction saw the U.S. expelling South Africa's ambassador. With Canada welcoming a new Prime Minister, the swirl of international dynamics leaves much to ponder.

Danny and Derek speak with Chicago-based historian and writer Charlotte Rosen about the end of so-called “Resistance history”, a particular strain of liberal historiography that emerged during the first Trump administration. They talk about Resistance history’s defining characteristics, how it might have been an overcorrection to defend liberal democracy against attacks by Trump, how historians who engaged in this form of history viewed it as political action, some of the movement’s biggest figures, the apparent elitism and self-promotion among its proponents, the AHA and the decline of the history profession, and more.Read Charlotte’s piece “The End of Resistance History” over at Protean Magazine.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Danny and Derek speak with Charli Carpenter, professor at UMass-Amherst, about US influence on the “rules-based order”. They discuss whether this “system” has become the US unilaterally delegating the rules, how the Biden administration undercut any remaining semblance of these norms, America’s cynical use of this concept in a context like Ukraine, the decline of mass politics in foreign policy decision-making, what mechanism might exist to stop rogue actors like Trump, and more. Read Charli's article, "The Rules-Based Order Is Less Dependent on the U.S. Than Biden’s Critics Think". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the news roundup: the Copernicus Climate Change Service reports that global sea ice fell to the lowest level ever recorded in February (1:18); Alawites in northwestern Syria have been massacred over several days (3:19) while the government and SDF cut a deal (6:49); Israel intensifies its blockade of Gaza (9:38) as the US proposes a new compromise for the Strip (10:55); Armenia and Azerbaijan look to be on the cusp of a peace agreement (14:31); the Philippines arrests former president Rodrigo Duterte on an ICC warrant (16:30); Trump and China’s Xi Jinping might hold a summit in June (19:23); the crisis in South Sudan continues to worsen (21:03); the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and M23 armed group look to hold peace talks (23:31); in Russia-Ukraine, the US and Ukraine produce a ceasefire proposal (25:15) while Russia retakes most of Kursk Oblast (29:46); Trump might be preparing to invade Panama (31:45); Canada elects a new prime minister (33:43); Trump continues to escalate the trade war (37:07); and former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will become Harvard’s inaugural Kissinger Professor of the Practice of Statecraft and World Order (39:32). Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer Ackerman of Forever Wars joins the program to talk about the arrest by ICE of activist Mahmoud Khalil. Read Spencer's piece on the matter, "Mahmoud Khalil's Detention Is A War on Terror Milestone". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chag Purim Sameach! Enjoy this discussion from 2022 where Danny speaks with Benjamin Balthasar, associate professor of English at Indiana University-South Bend, about the history of Jewish anti-imperialism from the 1930s until today.Subscribe today for more episodes like this and ad-free content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices