Empire Has No Clothes

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A new foreign policy podcast from The American Conservative, hosted by Matt Purple, Kelley Vlahos and Daniel Larison.

The American Conservative


    • Aug 26, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 45m AVG DURATION
    • 48 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Empire Has No Clothes

    Endgame: Afghanistan, Iran, and Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2022 59:29


    On the latest pod, Will and Curt are joined by Luke Nicastro, fellow at the John Quincy Adams Society.   On the docket: Afghanistan a year after U.S. exit, and following the Ayman Zawahiri slaying; Iran deal redux; and will the war in Eurasia be continuous?

    The War for Foreign Policy in Ohio & Pennsylvania

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 74:26


    In this episode, Curt Mills and Will Ruger are joined by Saurabh Sharma, president of American Moment and Charles McElwee, editor of RealClearPennsylvania, to discuss the foreign policies debates that went on last month in the campaigns in the Buckeye and Keystone states. The group also addresses the ongoing foreign policy fissures within the GOP as the party licks its chops for a red wave in November, while regrouping for 2024.

    Can Marine Le Pen Win?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 56:33


    Curt is joined by Luke Nicastro, TAC contributing writer and fellow at Defense Priorities, to discuss the French election: what happened to Eric Zemmour, how Emmanuel Macron has been an unlikely nationalist, and how he might go down in defeat to Marine Le Pen anyways.

    Biden Confronts a Divided Union and Disappearing Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 42:01


    Curt and Will dive in on President Biden's first State of the Union address, the fast moving narrative on Russia and Ukraine, and the worrisome prospects from here.

    The Year in Foreign Policy 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 55:57


    Curt and Will rehash "the top 10 foreign policy moments of 2021" and revisit TAC's December foreign policy conference (link below).   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT_nX35hH48

    Where Does Center-Right Foreign Policy Go From Here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 39:41


    A year after Biden's election, the new president is plainly floundering, with crises at home and abroad. Curt and Will dive into where elite Republican foreign policy discourse could go from here, with a dive into: the Charles Koch Institute's recent 'Advancing Security Summit' with longtime national security bigwig (most recently Afghan envoy) Zalmay Khalilzhad, further discussion on National Conservatism, China and a provocative new report about former President Trump's wars with the CIA over Iran.   Relevant links: https://charleskochinstitute.org/news/in-conversation-ruger-and-khalilzad-discuss-americas-future-interests-in-afghanistan/ https://news.yahoo.com/frustrated-with-cia-trump-administration-turned-to-pentagon-for-shadow-war-with-iran-205152958.html

    Europhiles, Ukrainians and National Conservatives

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 62:05


    On this episode, Curt and Will discuss: the new dust-up in Ukraine, the rise of France and the European future after Merkel, a nasty but unintentionally hilarious piece on former Trump personnel man John McEntee and the nationalist vs. libertarian divide on the National Conservatism Conference.

    On Colin Powell

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 36:49


    Co-hosts Curt Mills and William Ruger discuss Colin Powell's death, envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad's exodus from government and the modern history of Republican foreign policy factions in government. 

    Afghanistan, After the Panic

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2021 41:17


    Curt Mills, contributing editor, and William Ruger, TAC board member, reboot EHNC and revisit the decision to leave Afghanistan after the deluge. Mills and Ruger explore the timeline on the decision, its tradeoffs, and Ruger's own nomination to be ambassador to Afghanistan under former President Donald Trump.

    Biden Bombs Syria

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2021 41:59


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and Matt discussed Joe Biden's decision to bomb Syria and what it means for his foreign policy going forward. We also talked with David Sterman of New America about what it means to have an endless war and how to stop them.

    Robert Kagan's Neo-Imperialism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2021 41:52


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and I discussed neoconservative Robert Kagan's new essay embracing endless war. We also talked with John Ghazvinian of the Middle East Center about the future of American policy in Iran.

    Whither the Antiwar Left?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 45:52


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and I discussed the war in Afghanistan and why it's lost. We also talked with journalist James Carden about the state of the antiwar left and whether Joe Biden might do some good on foreign policy.

    Can Joe Biden Save Yemen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 47:32


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and I discussed Joe Biden's announcement that he would withdraw all American support for the war in Yemen. We also talked with Michael Brenes at Yale's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs about how the military-industrial complex came to be.

    Myanmar, Genocide, and the Responsibility to Protect

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 41:52


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Matt, and I discussed the situation in Myanmar and how far the so-called "responsibility to protect" might extend. We also talked with John Allen Gay of the John Quincy Adams Society about why young people are embracing foreign policy restraint.

    Can Joe Biden End the War in Yemen?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2021 45:12


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and I discussed the war in Yemen and whether Joe Biden will make good on his pledge to end it. We also talked with Lindsey O'Rourke at Boston College about why covert regime change fails and why we cling to it nonetheless.

    Trump's Legacy: Realism or Wrecking Ball?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 47:08


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and I discussed the president's final moves on foreign policy and how Mike Pompeo is maneuvering to be his heir. We also talked with John Glaser at the Cato Institute about Donald Trump's legacy and whether he's done more harm than good.

    Insurrection and the 9/11 Temptation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 42:28


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley, Dan, and I discussed the insurrection at the Capitol building and how we can avoid making the mistakes we made after 9/11. We also talked with Jonathan Bydlak of the R Street Institute about the Pentagon budget and why the taxpayer seems to get so little for so much.

    The Madness in the Defense Bill

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2020 40:12


    This week on Empire Has No Clothes, we talked with Barbara Slavin of the Atlantic Council about Iran and whether Joe Biden can ease our tensions with Tehran. Kelley, Dan, and I also discussed the latest defense authorization bill and all the terrible provisions therein.

    A General Running the Pentagon?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 39:58


    On the latest Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Dan speak with William Astore, retired lieutenant colonel (USAF), who teaches history at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. We discuss the Lloyd Austin appointment as Joe Biden's defense secretary, America’s endless wars, the missing antiwar movement, and the need for greater public engagement with foreign policy.

    Iran Versus Israel—and Everyone Else

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 45:36


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Rachel Esplin Odell of the Quincy Institute. She discusses China, what a Biden administration policy will look like, and the real nature of the threat from Beijing. We also talk about the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist and Israel's likely involvement.

    The Last Days of President Trump

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020 42:54


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Justin Logan of the Center for the Study of Statesmanship. He discusses why the Middle East isn't that important and whether anyone has the faintest idea what to do about China. We also talk about the final days of Donald Trump's presidency, troop withdrawals and a possible bombing of Iran.

    Will a President Biden Welcome the Hawks in?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2020 43:08


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Jack Hunter, the libertarian writer for the Washington Examiner. He discusses the likely election of Joe Biden and whether the hawks will find a home in his administration. We also talk about Donald Trump's post-election stand and whether it's good for America's relations with the world.

    The Foreign Policy Debate That Wasn't

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 49:07


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Stephen Wertheim, deputy director of research and policy at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He discusses the rise of American global supremacy and why that idea is now breaking down. We also talk about the foreign policy presidential debate that wasn't and the upcoming election.

    Gaming Out a Biden Administration Foreign Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 39:26


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to TAC foreign policy reporter Barbara Boland. She breaks down the upcoming election and the possible impacts on foreign policy of a Biden victory. We also talk about why Donald Trump's maximalist negotiating policy towards North Korea hasn't worked out so well.

    Debunking the Deep State's Iran and Russia Narratives, with Gareth Porter

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2020 46:35


    Investigative journalist Gareth Porter talks about why he’s spent so much time trying to debunk the Russian hacking story and Washington's institutional bias against Iran. In the first segment, Dan, Kelley, and Matt talk about throwback Vice President Pence and tough talking Democrat Kamala Harris.

    The Missing Antiwar Movement with Bonnie Kristian

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2020 44:41


    Matt, Kelley, and Dan spoke with Bonnie Kristian from Defense Priorities about the absence of an antiwar movement despite 19 years of endless war, the "snapback" debacle at the U.N., and the prospects for progressive/conservative cooperation in opposing wars in the future. We also discussed Charles Kupchan's distortions of American history in connection with "isolationism."

    Refugees Are Everywhere, but Who Takes the Blame? With David Vine.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 41:43


    This week, Kelley, Dan and Matt talk to David Vine, who co-wrote the Cost of War study that found that as many as 59,000 refugees were created in the wake of the U.S.-led 9/11 wars. We also hash out the pushback on the study’s methodology. In the first segment we talk about new U.S. threats to shutter our embassy in Iraq and why.

    Trump's Man in Afghanistan?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 42:54


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Giorgio Cafiero of the Middle East Institute. He assesses what's going on with the Sunni Gulf states and whether Saudi power is waning. We also talk about Will Ruger, Trump's realist appointment to be ambassador to Afghanistan, and how hawks are endangering his Senate confirmation.

    Fear and Loathing in the Imperial Capital

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2020 49:11


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Harry Kazianis of the Center of the National Interest. He explains why America's policy on North Korea has gone awry and whether there's hope yet for the Trump/Kim bromance. We also talk about the new Bob Woodward book and its implications for Donald Trump's foreign policy.

    A Veteran on Endless War, Trump, and 2020 with Danny Sjursen

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 45:46


    On this episode, Danny Sjursen, an Iraq and Afghanistan War veteran-turned antiwar activist, talks about the most recent rift between Trump and the military and what veterans really think about the president and his policies. You may be surprised. Also, Kelley, Matt, and Dan talk about how successful---or not--- Democrats will be in trying to turn the military community against him.

    Nostalgia for the 'Liberal Order' Myth with Patrick Porter

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 39:37


    In this week's episode, we talk with Patrick Porter of the University of Birmingham. Porter is the author of The False Promise of Liberal Order: Nostalgia, Delusion, and the Rise of Trump. We discuss why the liberal order has never really existed, and why it is a mistake to rely on nostalgia for it to guide our foreign policy. We also discuss the U.S. military's involvement in Syria and the aimless mission there that never ends.

    Quitting the Middle East, with Annelle Sheline

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 44:32


    In this week's episode, Matt, Kelley, and Dan talk to Annelle Sheline of the Quincy Institute. We discuss the Quincy Institute's recommendations from their recent report on U.S. policies in the Middle East, and we consider the possibility of rejoining the nuclear deal with Iran. We also discuss Pompeo's convention stunt and his failure at the U.N. to get support for the so-called "snapback" reimposition of U.N. sanctions.

    Tearing Down Bad Foreign Policy, One Brick at a Time, with Chris Preble

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 46:12


    On this week’s episode, Kelley, Matt and Daniel talk to Chris Preble about his New American Engagement Initiative at the Atlantic Council, leaving the Cato Institute, and how there is no better time than now to change people’s minds, on the left and right, about our failed foreign policy. In the first segment we talk about the new Israel-UAE-US deal—and what might be lurking just beneath the surface.

    Building a Better Blob, with Emma Ashford

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2020 43:17


    In our latest episode, Kelley, Matt, and Daniel spoke with Emma Ashford of the Cato Institute about the slipperiness of defining the foreign policy "Blob" in Washington, the narrow confines of many of our policy debates, and the wisdom of past and future rounds of NATO expansion. They also discuss the fight brewing over the future of Russia policy.

    Dropping the Bomb: A Primer on American Exceptionalism (With Mike Vlahos)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2020 49:56


    In our latest episode, Kelley, Daniel and Matt talk with Mike Vlahos, a former professor at the U.S. Naval War College, on the 75th Anniversary of the dropping of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Mike describes the ability to end the war with nuclear power a “wish” that led to more than bargained for: total domination (and corruption) of world foreign policy for the next several decades. We also talk about the withdrawal of 12,000 US troops from Germany. Is it such a big deal?

    Challenging Power at the Risk of Career Suicide (with Max Blumenthal)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2020 59:15


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Kelley and Daniel speak to Max Blumenthal, who founded Grayzone to provide like-minded journalists a chance to flip the narrative and report on regional politics, wars, and U.S. policies that were being ignored by the corporate mainstream media. We also talk about Mike Pompeo’s declaration of Cold War with China, and Doug Macgregor’s pending ambassadorship.

    Joe Biden: Just Another Liberal Internationalist

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2020 49:12


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottowa. He explains why America never seems to get it right on Iran. We also talk about Joe Biden's incoming foreign policy advisors and why his administration is likely to be more of the same warmed-over liberal internationalism.

    The Art of the North Korea Deal, with Jessica Lee

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2020 47:22


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Jessica Lee of the Quincy Institute. She tells us what Donald Trump has gotten right and wrong on North Korea and whether there's still hope for a peace deal. We also talk about H.R. McMaster's new piece pushing back against the realists and why he wants to keep the forever wars going forever.

    Elizabeth Shackelford on America's Accountability-Free Foreign Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 40:21


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak with Elizabeth Shackelford, a former Foreign Service Officer and the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age. She talks about her experience in the State Department, the damage done to the department in the Trump years, her resignation, and the lack of accountability in our foreign policy. We also discuss Bolton’s self-serving book and whether we can believe anything he tells us.

    The Cult of the Presidency in the Trump Era, with Gene Healy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 46:25


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak with Gene Healy, author of the book The Cult of the Presidency. He tells us about Donald Trump's abuses of executive power and whether there's any hope of reining him in. We also talk about North Korea's escalation of tensions with the South and whether there could still be a rapprochement between Trump and Kim Jong-un.

    Where West Point Went Wrong, with Tim Bakken

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2020 46:56


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel talk with author and law professor Tim Bakken about his explosive new book, The Cost of Loyalty: Dishonesty, Hubris, and Failure in the U.S. Military, which takes on the mythology surrounding West Point Military Academy—where he is still employed. He exposes the corruption in their admissions policies and the mediocrity of the education, which he says does not teach cadets how to think for themselves. This unfortunately, is a symptom of the entire military culture. Don’t miss this one!

    Exiting the Empire, with Alexander Cooley and Dan Nexon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2020 59:57


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Alexander Cooley and Dan Nexon, authors of the book Exit From Hegemony. They tell us why America's unipolar power in the world is over and discuss the mistakes we made that got us here. We also talk about Tom Cotton's proposal to use the military on U.S. soil and why that's such a terrible idea.

    Rep. Warren Davidson on Making Congress's War Powers Real Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 45:47


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley, and Daniel speak to Congressman Warren Davidson, Republican of Ohio, and one of the foremost advocates of constitutional war powers in the House. He tells us why Congress so willingly surrendered its authority to declare war to the president and whether they can ever claw it back. They also talk about the toxic U.S.-Saudi relationship and whether reform is finally—finally!—right around the corner.

    John Kiriakou on Torture, Whistleblowing, and his Post-CIA Life

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2020 49:36


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley and Daniel speak to John Kiriakou, who did 2 years in a federal prison after he exposed the CIA policy of waterboarding detainees after 9/11. He talks about state sanctioned torture, his post-prison life as a whistleblower advocate and a radio host for Sputnik, Julian Assange, and Washington hypocrisy. In the intro segment they talk about trade czar Peter Navarro's singular drive to facilitate weapons sales to Saudi Arabia.

    Ben Denison: Regime Change Follies, Venezuela Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 44:35


    On this edition of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley and Daniel speak to Ben Denison, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, on the perils of regime change. In the intro segment, TAC national security reporter Barbara Boland lays out the latest in her reporting on what might be the worst attempted coup in history, in Venezuela, and who in the administration might have known it was coming.

    Peter Van Buren: The State Department's Worst Nightmare

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 44:57


    On today's Empire Has No Clothes, the gang speaks to Peter Van Buren, TAC contributor and State Department whistleblower, about Iraq, the Blob, and the State Department's failure to rebuild countries we've gone to war against. In the intro segment, Matt, Kelley and Daniel cover COVID and Washington's escalating tension with Beijing.

    Andrew Bacevich vs. The Blob

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2020 47:23


    On the first episode of Empire Has No Clothes, Matt, Kelley and Daniel previewed Justin Amash's presidential run, America's ongoing Afghan quagmire, and the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Yemen. In the second segment, they spoke to BU professor Andrew Bacevich about the Trump administration's muddled foreign policy, and whether he'd take a job in it.

    Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2020 3:26


    Introducing Empire Has No Clothes, a new foreign policy podcast from The American Conservative.

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