Current Affairs

The podcast dives into the complicated relationship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, revealing how Trump's anti-elite rhetoric clashes with his past friendships. It discusses the political ramifications of the Epstein files and critiques the narratives surrounding the case. With a focus on the ties between powerful figures, it unpacks the layers of conspiracy surrounding Epstein, exposing the contradictions and transparency issues within Trump's administration. This thought-provoking conversation challenges listeners to reconsider their views on elite power.

Honor Cargill-Martin, a historian at Oxford specializing in ancient political scandals, dives into the myths surrounding the Roman Empire and their impact on modern politics. She critiques the romanticization of Rome by contemporary groups, emphasizing the need for historical context. Honor discusses the cyclical nature of governance, the intersection of politics and vice in Roman thought, and the misrepresentation of figures like Messalina. Her insights highlight how ancient narratives continue to influence our understanding and expectations of modern democracy.

Kishore Mahbubani is a renowned diplomat, scholar, and one of the most insightful analysts of global power dynamics. He served as Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations and as President of the UN Security Council, and is the author of books including "Has China Won?" and "Has the West Lost It?"Mahbubani joins Current Affairs to explain why the United States is losing ground to China--not because of Chinese aggression, but because of internal dysfunction, elite failure, and strategic incoherence. He critiques the emotional, zero-sum mindset dominating U.S. foreign policy and calls for a more rational, cooperative approach to global affairs.🌏 Follow Kishore on Twitter: https://x.com/mahbubani_k🌏 Buy Kishore's Books: https://mahbubani.net/books/0:00-3:57 The Good News3:57- 6:54 Why Americans Fear China6:54-9:51 The Failure of American Elites9:51-15:31 Why Trump Should Work With China15:31-21:38 Is China Communist?21:38-23:37 Is America The Best Model?23:37-27:14 Does America Think Strategically?27:14-30:08 America's Wasteful Defense Spending30:08-35:15 America's Strategic Errors35:15-41:17 America's Disdain for the UN41:17-46:17 The Potential For Cooperation🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

He has shown that a socialist message can win people over. His campaign is a model that should be emulated everywhere.🗽 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/zohran-mamdanis-victory-is-just-what-the-left-needed🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

The latest Democratic fad sidelines equality and justice in favor of a focus on cutting red tape. This is not the path forward.🌎 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/abandon-abundance🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Ralph Nader is one of the most important and successful activists in American political history. He played a key role in creating the consumer rights movement in the 1960s and ’70s, and his push for auto safety regulation led to measures that saved countless lives. He has also run multiple insurgent campaigns for president, challenging the two-party system and offering powerful criticisms of corporate power.Nader joins Current Affairs to analyze Donald Trump’s authoritarianism, the Democratic Party’s failure to offer a compelling alternative, and the media’s role in narrowing public imagination. He also responds to Ezra Klein’s recent critique in Abundance, arguing that it shifts blame away from institutional failures and undermines genuine political accountability.📣 Ralph's latest book, Civic Self Respect: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/718731/civic-self-respect-by-ralph-nader/📣 Ralph's website: https://nader.org/📣 Interview transcript: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/ralph-nader-on0:00–5:36 Trump’s Authoritarian Rule5:36–10:39 What Deserves Our Focus Now10:39–15:43 Democratic Party Malpractice15:43–21:19 Ezra Klein’s Attack on Nader21:19–29:45 How Ordinary People Build Power29:45–38:39 Proven Victories by Citizen Action38:39–45:58 Pessimism as a Tool of Control45:58–52:28 Nader Reflects on His Life's Work🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Katrina vanden Heuvel is the publisher and editorial director of The Nation, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and an advocate for diplomacy, disarmament, and international cooperation. She returns to Current Affairs to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the erosion of U.S. diplomacy, and the bipartisan consensus around militarism.She outlines the details of the Quincy Institute’s U.S. peace plan, explains why diplomacy is often smeared as appeasement, and explores what a negotiated end to the war might actually look like. We also explore whether Trump, despite his transactional and erratic instincts, might paradoxically be the only figure capable of restarting peace talks. Nathan concludes with an analysis of the "security dilemma" and how the logic of militarism is driving a global arms race under the guise of self-defense.🕊️ Read Katrina in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/authors/katrina-vanden-heuvel/ 🕊️ Subscribe to The Nation: https://subscriptions.thenation.com/TNA/?f=Site01&s=F5X001 🕊️ The Quincy Institute's Peace Plan: https://quincyinst.org/research/a-u-s-peace-plan-for-ukraine/#executive-summary0:00-5:15 Is Trump Interested In Peace?5:15-17:05 The U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine17:21-26:53 Diplomacy vs. Appeasement26:53-31:21 How Does The War End?31:21-38:58 The Security Dilemma

Even by the standards of right-wing rhetoric, Miller’s public statements are uncommonly shameless. He treats his audience as stupid and gullible. 🦎 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-brainless-propaganda-of-stephen-miller 🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Lindsey Boylan, a former aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo and the first to publicly accuse him of harassment, sheds light on Cuomo's dangerous patterns of abuse. She compares his authoritarian tactics to those of Donald Trump, detailing how Cuomo weaponized state resources to silence critics. Boylan also discusses the manipulation of COVID narratives and the tragic consequences of Cuomo's decisions on vulnerable populations. With Cuomo now a frontrunner for New York mayor, Boylan's urgent warning emphasizes the risks of allowing such behavior to persist.

Lindsay Boylan, a former aide to Andrew Cuomo who publicly accused him of sexual harassment, shares her firsthand insights on Cuomo's troubling legacy. The conversation dives into allegations of a toxic work environment and the chilling tactics used to silence dissent. They discuss Cuomo's disastrous handling of the COVID-19 crisis, including the mismanagement of nursing home data. Boylan also critiques the moral silence of Democratic leaders and the dangers of allowing someone with Cuomo's history to re-enter political office.