Tommy and Ben talk about the drone strike by an Iranian-backed group on a US base in Jordan that killed three US service members, the pressure on Biden to retaliate against Iran directly, and the muddled politics of war. They also cover allegations that UN employees in Gaza participated in the October 7th Hamas attack, the International Court of Justice’s ruling about genocide charges against Israel, and Nancy Pelosi’s odd criticism of activists calling for a ceasefire. They also discuss NATO member fears about Russia, Trump floating major tariffs on China, a Kenyan court blocking the deployment of police to Haiti, and French farmers laying siege to Paris. Then, Tommy speaks with Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director at the International Crisis Group, about Iranian proxy groups, why Iran funds them, and the US conventional wisdom that Iran can only be deterred through military action.
China 101
The Trump-Bibi Netanyahu bromance is dead
Biden’s Olympic Boycott
Rihanna replaces the Queen
What happened to Peng Shuai?
The case for invading Australia
Rhodes goes to Glasgow
The world gathers to fight climate change
Cocaine Hippos
We booked a Nobel Prize winner
Ted Lasso with a bone saw
Decoding the Pandora Papers
Jared Kushner is “Rasputin in a slim-fitting suit”
France is not amused
Who hid the nukes from Trump?
20 years after 9/11
What comes next for Afghanistan
The lessons we should learn from Afghanistan
A tragic end to 20 years in Afghanistan
Tucker’s all Orban has left
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