American Prestige

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.

In this engaging discussion, Luke Savage, a writer at Jacobin and host of the Michael and Us podcast, dives into the heated political landscape of the upcoming Canadian election. He analyzes Justin Trudeau's resignation and the implications for the Liberal Party. The conversation shifts to Mark Carney's potential rise and how Pierre Poilievre is navigating the complexities of Donald Trump's influence. Topics also include the impacts of American tariffs on Canada's economy and the evolving priorities of Canadian voters.

Alex Jordan from the Quincy Institute discusses the chaos in Sudan, where a parallel government is forming amid ongoing violence. Afeef Nessouli, a volunteer in Gaza, shares gripping insights into healthcare struggles and efforts to support local communities. The conversation touches on U.S. nuclear negotiations with Saudi Arabia, escalating military actions in Gaza, and the precarious peace prospects in Ukraine. Together, they highlight the resilience of people in conflict zones, urging a call to action for humanitarian support.

In this discussion, Jeremy Friedman, an assistant professor at Harvard and author of Shadow Cold War, dives into the Sino-Soviet Split during the mid-20th century. He illuminates the geopolitical shifts following Khrushchev's secret speech, revealing how decolonization influenced the divide. The conversation explores missed opportunities for détente, the ideological rifts in communism, and the critical turning points that reshaped both China and the Soviet Union's approaches to socialism. Expect deep insights into the tensions and strategies that defined their relationship.

Jeremy Friedman, a Harvard Business School professor and author of "Shadow Cold War," dives into the tumultuous Sino-Soviet split. He unpacks the early collaboration between revolutionary states and the ideological differences that drove them apart by the mid-1950s. The conversation highlights Lenin's critiques of capitalism, Soviet support for anti-colonial movements, and the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. Discover how geopolitical tensions and philosophical underpinnings shaped modern history through this captivating analysis.