

American Prestige
Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison
A podcast from Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison that provides listeners with everything they need to know about what’s going on in the world.americanprestige.supportingcast.fm
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 19, 2025 • 11min
Special - What Could Go Right? w/ Zachary Karabell (Preview)
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Danny and Derek invite Zachary Karabell, historian and founder of the Progress Network, as well as host of the podcast What Could Go Right?, to talk about the big things: liberalism, American political capitalism, Trump, "abundance," and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 18, 2025 • 9min
Bonus - Trump, China, and U.S.-China Relations w/ Jake Werner (Preview)
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

May 16, 2025 • 55min
News - Trump's Gulf Tour & Deals, Gaza Updates, US Habeas Corpus
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

May 14, 2025 • 33min
AP x Nonzero - Trump Flips on Bibi, Putin, and Xi w/Robert Wright
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

May 13, 2025 • 55min
E210 - White American Liberals, Pt 2 w/ Kevin Schultz
Kevin Schultz, Chair of History at the University of Illinois-Chicago and author of 'Why Everyone Hates White Liberals', dives into the complexities of white liberalism. He discusses the origins of critiques like 'radical chic' and 'limousine liberal', the impact of figures such as Nixon and Schlafly on political identity, and the shift from support for the white working class towards civil rights. Schultz also explores the Democratic Party's struggle with its liberal identity amidst rising conservatism and the emergence of terms like 'owning the libs' in today’s political discourse.

May 11, 2025 • 10min
Bonus - What’s Going on with Trump and Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement w/ Vincent Bevins (Preview)
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

May 9, 2025 • 57min
News - US-Houthi Ceasefire, Israel's Gaza Plans, and Global Trade Tensions
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

May 7, 2025 • 3min
Special - India attacks Pakistan (Preview)
Danny and Derek talk about India’s attack on Pakistan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 snips
May 6, 2025 • 1h 2min
E209 - White American Liberals, Pt 1 w/ Kevin Schultz
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.

May 4, 2025 • 9min
Bonus - Dispatch from Russia w/ Peter Slezkine (Preview)
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