Podcasts about american power

Prior to the 1930s, old age in America often meant poverty. But thanks to Social Security, Medicare, medical advances, and rising asset prices, over the past 90 years, older Americans have become one of the wealthiest and most politically powerful groups in the country. In his new book, 'Gerontocracy in America,' Samuel Moyn argues that this success has created a dangerous imbalance. He says America isn't just facing oligarchy, or rule by the rich, but "Old-igarchy": a system in which wealth and power are increasingly concentrated among older generations, often at the expense of younger Americans. Today, Derek talks with Moyn about the rise of gerontocracy in America, whether elderly power has become a problem, what reforms could rebalance the scales between generations, and whether this argument is a serious critique of American politics or simply ageist nonsense. Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:https://www.youtube.com/@PlainEnglishwithDerekThompson If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. Host: Derek ThompsonGuest: Samuel MoynProducer: Devon BaroldiAdditional Production Support: Ben Glicksman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

National security columnist and global affairs analyst Josh Rogin joins veteran public radio host Larry Mantle for a discussion of America's role in an increasingly fragmented world and the strategic challenges posed by China's growing influence.Drawing on decades of reporting on foreign policy, national security, and U.S.-China relations, Rogin examines how geopolitical competition, economic interdependence, technological rivalry, and shifting global alliances are reshaping international affairs.Topics include:• U.S.-China relations and strategic competition• Global security and shifting alliances• Trade, technology, and economic rivalry• The future of American leadership abroad• Geopolitical flashpoints and international stability

A SECRETIVE religious group that wields power in Washington, D.C. and other world capitals — sounds like the basis for Dan Brown's next novel, but it's real. Jeff Sharlet, author of The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, has been following this group for years, even living at The Family's headquarters for a time. What he found is a group that justifies its pursuit of political power by claiming that it's for the kingdom of God.Read Jeff's original expose of The Family, “Jesus Plus Nothing,” at Harper's Magazine online. Christians are taking heat for The Family from the likes of The Huffington Post and MSNBC. The irony is that The Family isn't promoting a Christian agenda, but a New Age agenda. See Constance Cumbey's five-part series The Family and its Hijacking of Evangelicalism.  As Jeff Sharlet asked, where is the outrage from influential evangelicals?Derek's book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible!Our latest book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Get our free app! It features all of our weekly content—this podcast, our weekly Bible study, the Gilbert House Fellowship, and our weekly program Unraveling Revelation. It's free and available for iOS, Android, Amazon Kindle Fire tablets, and for Roku and Apple TV. Find the link here: www.GilbertHouse.org/app/.Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! We truly appreciate your support. Thank you for making it possible! If you are so led, you can help out by clicking here.Please join Derek and Sharon Gilbert each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details.Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network!

What does it take to rehumanize our common life in a moment of cultural fragility, institutional collapse, and crisis of trust? Recorded at the Washington National Cathedral for Comment magazine's inaugural Understory Festival, this roundtable asks how culture, beauty, and faith might rehumanize a fractured public life. Mark Labberton is joined by Comment editor-in-chief Anne Snyder, The Sacred host Elizabeth Oldfield, Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid, and Cardus co-founder Ray Pennings. "It is actually possible to have deep roots and wide open arms." In this episode, the panel reflects on building a gathering rooted in hope and Christian humanism rather than argument alone. They discuss why and how politics is downstream from culture, the role of religion in the public square, the limits of purely cerebral ways of knowing, toxic positivity versus honest hope, pluralism with deep roots, the beauty of "groaning," and learning to die well. Episode Highlights "It is actually possible to have deep roots and wide open arms."—Anne Snyder "Naturally as a Muslim, I don't agree with Christianity's truth claims, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the beauty of Christianity."—Shadi Hamid "The word that's been coming to me this whole festival is and."—Elizabeth Oldfield "Politics is downstream from culture."—Ray Pennings "We're all made to worship, it's just a question of what we worship."—Shadi Hamid About the Guests Anne Snyder is editor-in-chief of Comment, a magazine published by Cardus, and convener of the Understory Festival. She hosts The Whole Person Revolution podcast and wrote The Fabric of Character. Elizabeth Oldfield hosts The Sacred podcast, is a former director of UK think tank Theos, and author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times. Shadi Hamid is a Washington Post columnist, senior fellow at Georgetown's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, co-host of Zealots at the Gate, and author of The Case for American Power. Ray Pennings co-founded Cardus in 2000 and serves as its executive vice president and Comment's publisher. Helpful Links and Resources The Understory Festival: https://comment.org/understory/ Comment magazine: https://comment.org Cardus: https://www.cardus.ca The Understory, by Lore Ferguson Wilbert (the book behind the name): https://www.amazon.com/dp/1587435705 Elizabeth Oldfield, Fully Alive: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com The Sacred podcast: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast Zealots at the Gate: https://comment.org/podcasts/zealots-at-the-gate/ Shadi Hamid, The Case for American Power: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/shadi-hamid/ Show Notes Understory Festival, National Cathedral Local hope, national despair Naming the festival: the Lore Ferguson Wilbert book Festival, not conference—body, mind, heart, soul Cardus, a faith-based think tank "Politics is downstream from culture."—Ray Pennings Ways of knowing as the "secret sauce" A Muslim observer among his favorite Christians "I don't agree with Christianity's truth claims, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the beauty of Christianity."—Shadi Hamid Culture as the path out of despair Weeping beside someone rolling their eyes Groaning beauty and Romans 8 Dying well—euthanasia, deathbeds, Ben Sasse The secular paradigm at a dead end "We're all made to worship, it's just a question of what we worship."—Shadi Hamid Madeleine Albright's "theophany" on faith in diplomacy Moral ambition and the power of "and" "The word that's been coming to me this whole festival is and."—Elizabeth Oldfield Christian humanism—rights endowed by a Creator Luke Bretherton—start with the neighbor's need Hospitality—a guest, not an enemy "It is actually possible to have deep roots and wide open arms."—Anne Snyder Surface versus depth—showing what's underneath #UnderstoryFestival #Comment #ChristianHumanism #PublicTheology #ShadiHamid #ElizabethOldfield #AnneSnyder #Cardus #Pluralism #Hope Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.

Conversation with Washington Post columnist and political scientist Shadi Hamid on American power, democracy, and the case for hegemony in the 21st centuryIs America a force for good in the world? It's a question that has become increasingly uncomfortable to ask—and even more uncomfortable to answer. In this episode of Due Diligence, I sit down with political scientist, columnist, and author Shadi Hamid to explore one of the central tensions of modern politics: how should we think about American power in a world where power is unavoidable? Drawing from his new book, The Case for American Power, Shadi argues that while America has often fallen short of its ideals, it remains the least bad option in a world where someone will inevitably wield power. Throughout the conversation, we wrestle with a question that sits at the heart of Due Diligence: How do we hold America accountable for its failures without losing sight of what makes the American project worth preserving? Whether you're skeptical of American power, broadly supportive of it, or deeply conflicted about both, this conversation offers a thoughtful exploration of democracy, empire, idealism, realism, and the future of the international order.(00:43) Meet Shadi Hamid(01:56) Why power must be embraced(04:14) Why America is morally superior among great powers(05:28) The Nirvana fallacy (09:28) Is American foreign policy responsive to democracy?(12:09) How Gaza became a progressive litmus test (15:13) James Baldwin's argument(17:37) Why Democratic pride in America collapsed (20:44) Pride in country vs. love of country(25:17) Why American hypocrisy is a feature, not a bug(33:50) Sincerity vs. propaganda(36:21) Why having ideals makes America different(37:53) Why presidents fold on their foreign policy promises(41:15) The Obama tragedy & disappointment(42:59) How Obama obstructed Arab democracy(45:37) The uncomfortable reason America doesn't support Arab democracy(48:02) When America chose the moral path (51:23) Why supporting democracy is in America's self-interest(54:27) Why China's rise has been overstated(59:43) The role of cultural values in democracy(01:03:50) Idealism vs. realism(01:06:35) The challenge of writing this book(01:08:54) Why America's advantage is immigrationAbout Shadi HamidShadi Hamid is a columnist at The Washington Post, where he focuses on culture, religion and foreign policy. He is also a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Previously, he was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Hamid is the author of several books, including most recently, “The Case For American Power.” In 2019, Hamid was named one of the world's top 50 thinkers by Prospect magazine. He is also the co-founder of “Wisdom of Crowds,” a podcast, newsletter and debate platform. Hamid received his B.S. and M.A. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and his PhD in political science from Oxford University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.Subscribe & followDue Diligence SubstackDue Diligence InstagramDulma's Instagram

Welcome to Navigating Bitcoin's Noise, the show where we cut through the clutter and bring you the clearest insights on Bitcoin. I'm your host, Kane McGukin, and today I'm joined by Nik Bhatia, author of Layered Money and visiting fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute.  In this conversation, we break down Nik's landmark paper on stablecoins and statecraft and why the GENIUS Act may be one of the most strategically important pieces of legislation in decades.  We get into how the Eurodollar system quietly exported dollar governance offshore, how stablecoins are designed to bring it back, and why the end of China's deflationary unsystem is forcing America's hand. We ask the question that matters: are stablecoins just a fintech product, or are they America's most powerful tool for our next money layer?  If you're tired of hype and want a first-principles breakdown of how dollar dominance actually works, and what the U.S. is building to protect it, this episode is for you. So sit back, relax, and let's get started.  Kane McGukinX: https://twitter.com/kanemcgukinSubstack: kanemcgukin.substack.com Nik Bhatia X: https://x.com/timevalueofbtcThe Bitcoin Layer: https://thebitcoinlayer.com/Bitcoin Policy Institute: https://www.btcpolicy.org/authors/nik-bhatiaPaper: https://www.btcpolicy.org/articles/stablecoins-as-statecraft-reclaiming-us-financial-sovereignty-in-the-eurodollar-market

My talk with David starts at 28 mins Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo  

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami Herald

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami Herald

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami HeraldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami HeraldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

It's Wayback Wednesday, with another interview drawn from our archive of programs dating back to June, 2009. This week, it's a discussion from 2009 about an ostensibly Christian group that wields an inordinate amount of power behind the scenes in Washington, D. C., The Family. Originally released September 20, 2009 A SECRETIVE religious group that wields power in Washington, D.C. and other world capitals — sounds like the basis for Dan Brown's next novel, but it's real. Jeff Sharlet, author of The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, has been following this group for years, even living at The Family's headquarters for a time. What he found is a group that justifies its pursuit of political power by claiming that it's for the kingdom of God. Read Jeff's original expose of The Family, “Jesus Plus Nothing,” at Harper's Magazine online. Christians are taking heat for The Family from the likes of The Huffington Post and MSNBC. The irony is that The Family isn't promoting a Christian agenda, but a New Age agenda. See Constance Cumbey's five-part series The Family and its Hijacking of Evangelicalism. As Jeff Sharlet asked, where is the outrage from influential evangelicals? Follow us! X: @viewfrombunker | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbertTelegram: t.me/gilberthouseSubstack: gilberthouse.substack.com | SharonKGilbert.substack.comYouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelationFacebook.com/viewfromthebunker Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! The building has HVAC, a new floor, windows, insulation, ceiling fans, and an upgraded electrical system! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at www.GilbertHouse.org/donate. Download our free app! This brings all of our content directly to your smartphone or tablet. Best of all, we'll never get canceled from our own app! Links to the app stores for iOS, iPadOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle Fire devices are at www.GilbertHouse.org/app. Please join us each Sunday for the Gilbert House Fellowship, our weekly Bible study podcast. Log on to www.GilbertHouse.org for more details. JOIN US IN ISRAEL! We will tour the Holy Land October 11–23, 2026 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Special offers on our books and DVDs: www.gilberthouse.org/store. Discuss these topics at the VFTB Facebook page (facebook.com/viewfromthebunker) and check out the great podcasters at the Fringe Radio Network (Spreaker.com/show/fringe-radio-network)!

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami HeraldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's reach extended far beyond New York, Palm Beach, and the familiar circles of American finance and politics. Newly surfaced records show him probing for influence and opportunity across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Venezuela and Cuba, where he appeared to position himself as a connector for businessmen, political insiders, and power brokers operating in difficult, sensitive, or sanctions-adjacent environments. One major thread involves Epstein advising DP World's Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem after Hugo Chávez nationalized Venezuelan ports, with Epstein suggesting Cuba as a possible backchannel route into Caracas. Another involves Venezuelan businessman Francisco D'Agostino and discussions about potential oil opportunities connected to PDVSA and the Orinoco River oil fields. D'Agostino says the proposed Venezuela trip never happened and no deal came together, but the records still show Epstein attempting to place himself near the intersection of energy, politics, and elite access.The Cuba material follows the same pattern. Epstein traveled there in 2003 with Ghislaine Maxwell and former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana, and Maxwell later claimed they met Fidel Castro, though there is no clear evidence that Epstein conducted business or political negotiations with Castro. Years later, Epstein funded a Cuban state-backed neuroscience conference in Havana through his connection to researcher Gino Yu, fitting his larger pattern of using science, academia, and intellectual circles as a legitimacy machine. The larger takeaway is not that every one of Epstein's approaches produced a successful deal; many appear to have stalled or gone nowhere. The real significance is that a convicted sex offender with a history of elite protection was still moving through circles connected to foreign governments, oil wealth, port infrastructure, sanctioned economies, and high-level intermediaries, raising the same old question: who kept allowing this man access to rooms where he clearly did not belong?to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:How Epstein explored Venezuelan deals, funded Cuban research | Miami HeraldBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

In this moment of renewed debate over the United States' role in the world, CFR launches the Future of American Strategy Initiative, a multiyear effort to develop a strategic vision for U.S. foreign policy and answer a defining question: Where does America go from here?   Led by Senior Fellow Rebecca Lissner, a leading U.S. foreign policy practitioner and scholar, the Future of American Strategy Initiative will bring together perspectives across ideological lines to develop new thinking on U.S. foreign policy.   In this episode, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee discuss the defense priorities, investments, and strategic choices that will define American power in the decade ahead.   Host: Dasha Burns, White House Bureau Chief and Host, The Conversation, Politico; Host, Ceasefire, C-SPAN   Guests: Elissa Slotkin, U.S. Senator from Michigan (D); Member, Senate Armed Services Committee; Member, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee   Tim Sheehy, U.S. Senator from Montana (R), Member, Senate Armed Services Committee   Introductory Remarks: Michael Froman, President, Council on Foreign Relations; CFR Member   Rebecca Lissner, Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy and Director of the Future of American Strategy Initiative, Council on Foreign Relations   Want more comprehensive analysis of global news and events sent straight to your inbox? Subscribe to CFR's Daily News Brief newsletter. To keep tabs on all CFR events, visit cfr.org/event. To watch this event, please visit it on our YouTube channel: Europe's Response to the Iran War

Burning Bright brings on GMoney for a conversation that starts with Iran and ends somewhere near the future of civilization. The two map out how Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are running a controlled demolition of the globalist financial cartel, using operation economic fury to suffocate the shadow banking networks that have controlled nations for decades. GMoney makes the case that Bitcoin is not just an investment but a weapons network and tool of sovereign power, a thesis now being confirmed in real time by four-star Admiral Papparo and Defense Secretary Hegseth in congressional testimony. From California gas prices to Michael Saylor's reverse vampire strategy, from Trump's Nashville Bitcoin speech to Eric Trump calling crypto "dead serious" national security infrastructure, this episode builds a coherent picture of why American power in 2026 is being used to seed power back to the individual.

Photographer, director, and producer Mitch Epstein joins PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf to discuss his storied career in photography, environmental activism, and artistic influences. From early inspiration by Garry Winogrand to guidance from John Szarkowski, Epstein reflects on how he evolved into a research-driven, project-based photographer focused on environmental issues. He also discusses his work in film as a production designer and co-producer on Mississippi Masala (1991) and Salaam Bombay! (1988), and shares insights on privilege, longevity, and sustaining a life in photography. https://www.mitchepstein.net Mitch Epstein has photographed the landscape and culture of America for half a century. A graduate of Cooper Union, he became a pioneer of 1970s fine-art color photography.  Epstein has been inducted into the National Academy of Design (2020) and was awarded the Prix Pictet (2011), Berlin Prize (2008), and a Guggenheim Fellowship (2002). His work has been shown and collected by museums worldwide, including New York's Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Whitney Museum of American Art, the National Gallery in Washington DC, The Art Institute of Chicago, Tate Modern in London, Museum of Modern Art in Paris, Los Angeles's Getty Museum and LACMA, the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, TX, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Recent exhibitions include “American Nature” (photographs and multi-media installations) at the Gallerie d'Italia museum in Torino, Italy (2024-25); “In India,” (photographs and films) at Les Rencontres d'Arles in the Abbey of Montmajour, Arles, France (2022); and “Property Rights” at The Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas (2020-21). Epstein's seventeen books, mostly published by Steidl Verlag, include Recreation (2022, 2005), Property Rights (2021), New York Arbor (2013), American Power (2009), and Family Business (2004), winner of the Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award. Epstein's mixed media work includes films, moving image with sound installations, and performance. In 2013, The Walker Art Center commissioned and premiered a theatrical rendition of his American Power series. Directed by Annie B. Parsons and Paul Lazar, the performance combined original live music by Erik Friedlander and live storytelling by Epstein; and included video, projected photographs, and archival material. In documentary film, Epstein was director of Dad and Retail (2003) and director of photography for India Cabaret (1988). He was production designer and co-producer for the feature films Mississippi Masala (1991) and Salaam Bombay! (1988). Epstein's most recent exhibition, American Nature, assembles three self-contained yet integrated photographic series (Old Growth, Property Rights, American Power); a multi-channel video-sound installation with tonal music by Mike Tamburo and Samer Ghadry filmed performing in the forest (Forest Waves), and a looped projection with music by David Lang, performed by Maya Beiser (Darius Kinsey: Clear Cut). Together these five pieces investigate notions of wilderness and human society; and their both collaborative and troubled co-existence. Epstein lives in New York City and Massachusetts.

He keeps asking the same question — “What happens if I do this?” — and the answer from those who should be defending democracy is always: nothing…See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill Crews speaks with former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr regarding the consequences of the 2026 U.S. military campaign against Iran. Carr describes the United States as a global "disruptor," arguing that by launching strikes without a UN Security Council resolution or congressional approval, the U.S. has committed a breach of the UN Charter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My conversation with Rothkopf starts at about 43 minutes in to today's show after headlines and clips Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo    

Freddy Gray speaks to Shadi Hamid, author of the book The Case for American Power, which explores – and puts forward – the case for American power in spite of Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shadi Hamid once marched against the Iraq War, read Noam Chomsky, and believed America was the root of the world's problems. He has since changed his mind—though not entirely. Now a Washington Post columnist and senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim Christian Understanding, Hamid argues in his latest book, The Case for American Power, that American dominance, exercised morally, remains the world's best bet for stability and peace. He joins the show to make that case while refusing to pull his punches where America has fallen short. He and Coleman debate whether the Iraq War was worth it in the long run, why Joe Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal was a mistake, how the U.S. has failed to use its leverage over Israel, his fundamental mistrust of the Trump administration, and why a world where China balances American power is not the progressive fantasy some on the left imagine it to be. He and Coleman also get into the America First movement and the limits of the United Nations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipDonate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here:http://btml.us/thinkingmuslimIn this episode of The Thinking Muslim, renowned Middle East analyst Mouin Rabbani joins us for a deep and unfiltered conversation on the escalating tensions surrounding Iran and the shifting global order.The discussion opens by examining whether the recent ceasefire represents a genuine strategic win for Trump - or something far more fragile. It then turns to the intensifying bombing campaign in Lebanon, exposing the stark imbalance on the ground and what it reveals about the trajectory of the conflict.Can the region return to the pre-February status quo, or has a permanent shift already taken place?The conversation expands to the role of the Gulf States, evolving security arrangements, and who is ultimately emerging as the real loser in this confrontation. With global stakes rising, Rabbani also unpacks China's strategic calculations - particularly its interest in the Strait of Hormuz - and whether US actions are inadvertently accelerating Beijing's influence.The episode also explores the ideological forces shaping Western policy, including the intersection of extreme Christianity, imperialism, and Zionism.You can find Mouin Rabbani here:X: https://x.com/MouinRabbaniBecome a member here:https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipOr give your one-off donation here:https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:X: https://x.com/thinking_muslimLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thinking-muslim/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmuslimpodcastFind Muhammad Jalal here:X: https://twitter.com/jalalaynInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comDisclaimer:The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction00:35 – Was the ceasefire a victory for Trump?07:00 – Escalation of the bombing campaign in Lebanon: assessing the imbalance between sides16:50 – Is a return to the pre-February status quo possible?24:00 – The Gulf States, security agreements, and identifying the net losers of the conflict30:00 – China's strategic perspective: understanding the Strait of Hormuz37:30 – The intersection of extreme Christianity, imperialism, and Zionism41:44 – What might the emerging new world order look like? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Freddy Gray speaks to Shadi Hamid, author of the book The Case for American Power, which explores – and puts forward – the case for American power in spite of Donald Trump. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Spencer and Kevin finally record in the same room for the first time in what feels like eons, which immediately throws us both into an existential crisis about where to look and whether we're supposed to be making a podcast or something else entirely. We're in an apartment that calls itself "luxury" with the same energy a gas station hot dog calls itself "gourmet," complete with an extensive list of fines in all-caps and bizarrely secretive key-hiding instructions. To celebrate our physical reunion, we attempt a power hour featuring an alarming quantity of novelty Peeps flavors and five hot sauces including an Italian wolf-themed one that becomes our favorite by sheer force of garlic and vinegar. We eat while we're trying to talk about geopolitics, resulting in a chaotic blur of snack takes, Middle East tensions, and Spencer discovering mid-episode that they are, in fact, allergic to pecans. We also cover Spencer's grandmother keeping ham inside her boot. You probably don't want to miss that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump's latest statement telling countries to secure their own oil dismantles the very fabric of the global order. We'd be stepping away from the post-WWII system where the U.S. provided security for everyone, so economic growth could be the priority. Join the Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/PeterZeihan Full Newsletter: https://bit.ly/4c4puXe

➡️ Watch the full interview ad-free, join a community of geopolitics enthusiasts and gain access to exclusive content on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/DecodingGeopolitics➡️ Buy your own Geopolitics of the Western Pacific Map Print: https://decoding-geopolitics-shop.fourthwall.com/➡️ Sign up to my free geopolitics newsletter: https://stationzero.substack.com/This is a conversation with John Bolton - a former National Security Advisor to Donald Trump in his first administration, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and one of the most hawkish public figures in the U.S. foreign policy establishment. I wanted to talk with John about the war with Iran because he is in an absolutely unique position. He's someone who has been long publicly advocating for a policy of a regime change in Iran and who during his time in the White House tried to make it a reality - he is in many ways the ultimate Iran hawk. But unlike almost all the other Iran hawks and despite the fact that this could be seen as the realization of his lifetime goal, he is fiercely critical of the current war with Iran and of how it has been planned and executed. And so we talk about why Bolton thinks this war is heading for failure, why was there such a lack of planning and strategic thinking, whether Trump is already looking for the exit even with the Strait of Hormuz still closed - and what that would mean for America's standing in the world - and why, the United States might very likely end up in a much worse position than before the war started.

Why has opposition to the Iran war been so muted within Trump's America, and how is the US uniquely insulated from the worst impacts of the war? Do American tech billionaires now pose a serious threat to British democracy – alongside Iran, Russia, and China? Should the UK follow in the footsteps of South Australia and ban political donations entirely? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more. __________ Go deeper into the world of The Rest Is Politics by signing up for our free newsletter HERE, featuring exclusive interviews, analysis and weekend reads from Alastair and Rory. Join The Rest Is Politics Plus: Start your free trial at therestispolitics.com to unlock exclusive bonus content – including Rory and Alastair's miniseries – plus ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, exclusive newsletters, discounted book prices, and a private chatroom on Discord. The Rest Is Politics is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit fuseenergy.com/politics. Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restispolitics It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ✅ __________ Instagram: @restispolitics Twitter: @restispolitics Email: therestispolitics@goalhanger.com __________ Social Producer: Celine Charles Video Editor: Josh Smith, Adam Thornton, Lorcan Moullier Assistant Producer: Daisy Alston-Horne Producer: Evan Green Exec Producer: Chris Sawyer General Manager: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The global landscape feels increasingly unsettled. Conflict in the Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine to wider geoplitical, technological and climatic shifts, the world is going though a period of rapid change. At the same time, the nature of conflict and the way it's reported has changed dramatically over the past few decades.So today we're stepping back to look at the bigger picture: how the global risk landscape has changed, how today's conflicts compare to those of previous decades, and what today's crisis might tell us about where things are heading next. Our guest today is one of the most experienced foreign correspondents in British journalism.Humphrey Hawksley is an award-winning author, commentator and BBC correspondent whose reporting career has taken him to conflicts and political turning points across the world for more than four decades.He has reported on the Sri Lankan civil war, on the Yugoslav wars, the War on Terror, the rise of many Asian countries with postings in Hong Kong, the Philippines and India, and he was even tasked with opening the BBC's first permanent television bureau in Beijing way back in 1994.Alongside his journalism, Humphrey is the author of several books on global politics and democracy, as well as bestselling political thrillers. He's also the host of the Democracy Forum debates. You can find his books here:Rake Ozenna Series - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G4D7P7NX?tag=uklinktagbk-21&th=1&psc=1&geniuslink=true Future History - Third World War series - https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/future-history/Asian Waters: The Struggly over the Indo-Pacific and the Challenge of American Power -  https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/book/asian-waters/ Democracy Kills: What's so Good about having the Vote? -                https://www.humphreyhawksley.com/book/democracy-kills-whats-so-good-about-having-the-vote/The International Risk Podcast brings you conversations with global experts, frontline practitioners, and senior decision-makers who are shaping how we understand and respond to international risk. From geopolitical volatility and organised crime, to cybersecurity threats and hybrid warfare, each episode explores the forces transforming our world and what smart leaders must do to navigate them. Whether you're a board member, policymaker, or risk professional, The International Risk Podcast delivers actionable insights, sharp analysis, and real-world stories that matter.The International Risk Podcast is sponsored by Conducttr, a realistic crisis exercise platform. Conducttr offers crisis exercising software for corporates, consultants, humanitarian, and defence & security clients. Visit Conducttr to learn more.Dominic Bowen is the host of The International Risk Podcast and Europe's leading expert on international risk and crisis management. As Head of Strategic Advisory and Partner at one of Europe's leading risk management consulting firms, Dominic advises CEOs, boards, and senior executives across the continent on how to prepare for uncertainty and act with intent. He has spent decades working in war zones, advising multinational companies, and supporting Europe's business leaders. Tell us what you liked!

My conversation with Rothkopf starts at about 31 minutes in to today's show after headlines and clips Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo

Michael Hudson is Distinguished Research Professor of Economics at the University of Missouri, Kansas City and President of the Institute for the Study of Long-Term Economic Trends. He researches domestic and international finance, the history of economics, and the role of debt in shaping class stratification, among many other topics. This is Michael's sixth appearance on the show. On past episodes, including with Richard Wolff, he and Robinson have neoliberalism, industrial capitalism, the rentier economy, Marxism, and the role of economics in political history. In this episode, Michael and Robinson talk about Donald Trump, the war in Iran, Russia and Ukraine, Israel, China, and the possibility of World War III. Michael's most recent book is Temples of Enterprise (ISLET, 2024). Michael's Website: https://michael-hudson.comTemples of Enterprise: https://a.co/d/a3c53dmOUTLINE00:10 How Oil Controls US Foreign Policy10:44 How American Foreign Policy Is Leading to World War III31:03 Trump's Neocon War Strategy34:56 Why Does the United States Need Israel for its Iran War?41:26 Does the US Finance Terrorism in Ukraine and Israel?44:16 How the West Provoked Russia's War in Ukraine52:53 Why Does the US Support Ukraine?56:10 How China Became an Economic Superpower59:49 AI and the Economic War for Global Dominance01:10:21 Oil, Renewable Energy, and the Shifting Global Power Structure01:12:25 The US Economy After WWI01:24:21 Why Europe Fell from WWII to the Present01:36:45 How Trump Ignores the First Amendment01:40:20 The Apex of American Power after WWII01:43:12 Who Will Win the Economic World War?01:49:25 Why Iran Is Crucial to the World's Future01:53:38 The Dismal Future of the American EmpireRobinson's Website: http://robinsonerhardt.comRobinson Erhardt researches symbolic logic and the foundations of mathematics at Stanford University, where he is also a JD candidate in the Law School.

From September 26, 2024: Steve Coll's latest book, “The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq,” seeks to explain why Saddam Hussein would put his regime at risk over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that didn't exist. Saddam ultimately lost his regime, and his life, in part because he saw America as an omniscient puppeteer seeking to dominate the Middle East. The United States put thousands of troops in harm's way in pursuit of a rogue WMD program that turned out to be a fiction. Were these outcomes inevitable?Lawfare Student Contributor Preston Marquis sat down with Coll, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, to explore this question. “The Achilles Trap” is unique in that it relies on Saddam's secret tapes and archives to unpack twists and turns in the U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship dating back to the Cold War. The full review is available on the Lawfare website.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dimitri and Khalid discuss Inderjeet Parmar's book “Foundations of the American Century: The Ford, Carnegie, & Rockefeller Foundations in the Rise of American Power”. For access to full-length premium SJ episodes, upcoming installments of DEMON FORCES, and the Grotto of Truth Discord, subscribe at https://patreon.com/subliminaljihad.

In Episode 466 of Hidden Forces, Demetri Kofinas speaks with Joshua Landis, professor of Middle East Studies and director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, about the US-Israel war against Iran, what it reveals about American strategy in the region, and why the absence of a clear theory of victory raises the specter of yet another catastrophic regime-change war in the Middle East. Kofinas and Landis examine the competing narratives surrounding the conflict — from the argument that the Trump administration was dragged into war by Israel, to the theory that Washington concluded Iran would never voluntarily relinquish its nuclear program, to speculation that the campaign is part of a broader grand strategy aimed at neutralizing a Chinese forward base in the Middle East ahead of Trump's summit with Xi Jinping. They also discuss why Iran's regime is far more institutionalized and resilient than the Arab governments the United States has previously sought to topple, the historical lessons of America's last four regime-change wars — Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya — and why the pattern of civil war, refugee crises, and strategic blowback that followed each of those interventions is likely to repeat itself in a country of over 90 million people. The conversation closes with an examination of the broader regional realignment now underway, including the emerging Turkey-Saudi axis taking shape in response to Israeli dominance, the dangerous irony of simultaneously abandoning the Syrian Kurds while attempting to arm the Kurds of northern Iran, and the most plausible optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for how this conflict ultimately resolves. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Join our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 03/04/2026

In this episode of History 102, 'WhatIfAltHist' creator Rudyard Lynch and co-host Austin Padgett examine the systemic evolution of American global hegemony, contrasting Pax Americana's democratic mass-society constraints against historical aristocratic models while exploring cultural agency and geopolitical transitions. -- FOLLOW ON X: @whatifalthist (Rudyard) @LudwigNverMises (Austin) @TurpentineMedia -- TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Introduction to the Pax Americana (02:16) The Postmodern System and Psychological Traps (04:46) Transcending Historical Frames (06:55) The Value of Universal Wisdom (08:26) Managing Empire Cycles and System Dependencies (10:05) Human Nature and the "Universal Person" (11:34) Democratizing Cultural Agency (13:30) The Disjointed Reality of American Power (15:52) Case Study: The Vietnam War (18:50) Case Study: The Iraq War and Democratic Failure (21:55) The "No Chill" President (24:26) The Global Anglo System and the Pax Britannica (27:14) Resentment Against the Liberal World Order (30:21) Emergent Phenomena vs. Cabals (32:55) Modernity, Systems, and the Loss of Agency (34:50) The 9/11 Psychological Shift and "Revenge" Culture (41:15) The Post-Cold War Global Consensus and Neoliberalism (48:20) Structural Incentives in the Department of Commerce (54:10) The Failure of Centralized Economic Arbitrations (Greece Case Study) (1:05:30) British Indirect Rule and the Aristocratic Model (1:18:45) Germany, Japan, and the Rebellion Against Modernity (1:32:10) Liberalism as the Foundation of the Pax Americana (1:45:50) Industrial Priest Classes and Social Herd Mentality (2:01:20) Sexual Polarity and Celtic Influence in American Culture (2:15:10) System-Wide Corruption vs. Accountable Power (2:24:32) Conclusion and Future Topics: The Cold War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jon Hartley and Tevi Troy discuss Tevi's career as a Presidential historian, serving in a variety of roles in the George W. Bush administration including as White House Domestic Policy Council Deputy Director and as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, as well as Tevi's new book The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between American Titans of Industry and Commanders in Chief. Recorded on December 25, 2025. ABOUT THE SERIES Each episode of Capitalism and Freedom in the 21st Century, a video podcast series and the official podcast of the Hoover Economic Policy Working Group, focuses on getting into the weeds of economics, finance, and public policy on important current topics through one-on-one interviews. Host Jon Hartley asks guests about their main ideas and contributions to academic research and policy. The podcast is titled after Milton Friedman‘s famous 1962 bestselling book Capitalism and Freedom, which after 60 years, remains prescient from its focus on various topics which are now at the forefront of economic debates, such as monetary policy and inflation, fiscal policy, occupational licensing, education vouchers, income share agreements, the distribution of income, and negative income taxes, among many other topics. For more information about the podcast, or subscribe for the next episode, click here.

Is the United States still the “indispensable nation,” former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's term to describe America's leading role in the world? Or is the world better off as the country turns inward and downplays its historic alliances?  Washington Post columnist Shadi Hamid has made his own journey, moving from opposition to America's role in the world to reluctantly embracing it. He says the alternative to American leadership isn't a morally perfect superpower—it's the brutal authoritarianism of countries like China and Russia. He explores this topic in his new book The Case for American Power, and he comes to Commonwealth Club World Affairs to make the case for America to embrace its power as the only moral option in a world beset by tragedy.  Drawing on his unique perspective as both an American and a Muslim who came of age in the shadow of the September 11 attacks, Hamid contends with the contradictions of American power: how a nation founded on moral purpose so often does not live up to its ideals. He also deals with America's failures, from the war in Iraq to support for authoritarian regimes across the Middle East. But he says that because America is a democracy, it has the ability to correct past mistakes and change for the better—and that part is up to all of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My conversation with David Rothkopf begins at about 28 minutes Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous soul Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo

This episode features a full-length debate between Shadi Hamid and Trita Parsi —two thinkers who fundamentally disagree about the role of American power in the world. Released jointly with The Disagreement podcast and hosted by Alex Grodd, the conversation reflects a shared Wisdom of Crowds ethos — one that treats disagreement not as a failure of understanding, but as a tool for thinking more clearly about first principles. Rather than trading talking points, Hamid and Parsi engage each other's strongest arguments in a sustained, good-faith exchange.Shadi draws on themes from The Case for American Power to defend a position that has fallen out of favor across much of the political spectrum: that American power, when used with moral purpose, can still play a necessary role in reducing global suffering. His argument is aimed in part at a disillusioned left that has come to see U.S. power primarily as a source of harm rather than a potential instrument of humanitarian good. Against this, Trita — one of the most incisive critics of American interventionism — offers a sustained challenge, grounded in historical failures, unintended consequences, and the limits of even well-intentioned power.Does the world need the United States to act, and if so, when — and at what cost? How should past disasters constrain present ambitions? And if American power is curtailed, what realistic alternatives exist, and who bears responsibility when things go wrong? This debate doesn't resolve those questions — but it models what it looks like to take them seriously, in conversation with someone who sees the world very differently.Required Reading/ Listening: * The Disagreement podcast. * Shadi Hamid, The Case for American Power. (Amazon) * Shadi's 2024 debate with Daniel Bessner hosted by The Disagreement. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wisdomofcrowds.live/subscribe

Today we're trying something new on the show –  it's a different kind of book review, where we have a healthy disagreement around the core arguments made in a recently released book. The book is The Case for American Power by Shadi Hamid, a columnist for the Washington Post and host of the Wisdom of Crowds podcast. It's a fascinating read – Shadi makes a case that you don't hear very often: that America should be using its power for moral and humanitarian ends. It's a broad-based appeal but also a specific appeal to those on the left who have become deeply skeptical and disillusioned with American power. So to offer a critique we have brought on someone who is deeply skeptical of American power. Trita Parsi is an Iranian-Swedish-American political scientist, author, and foreign policy expert and is currently the Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. It's a thought-provoking conversation and serves as an excellent follow-up to Shadi's previous appearance on our show in April 2024, when he discussed American Power and the role that the United States should be playing on the global stage. The Questions: Does the world need America to use its power to decrease global strife? To what extent and in which circumstances? How do we reconcile past American foreign policy failures with a continued interventionist stance? What are the alternatives to American Power and what gives us reason to believe? The Guests Shadi Hamid is the host of the Wisdom of Crowds podcast, a columnist at The Washington Post, and a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. Previously, he was a longtime senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. Hamid is the author of several books, including The Problem of Democracy and Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World. Trita Parsi is the co-founder and executive vice president of the Quincy Institute. He is an award-winning author and the 2010 recipient of the Grawemeyer Award for Ideas Improving World Order. He is an expert on US-Iranian relations, Iranian foreign policy, and the geopolitics of the Middle East. He has authored four books on US foreign policy in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran and Israel. He has been named by the Washingtonian Magazine as one of the 25 most influential voices on foreign policy in Washington DC for five years in a row since 2021. Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Today's episode is the second part of David's conversation with Helen Thompson about what makes living in a world dominated by the United States so strange. What has changed about American power in the twenty-first century? Is Trump a deviation from the norm or is he simply an extension of it? Why does Greenland matter? And what is at stake as the contest between the US and China ramps up to the next level? Next Time: What's Wrong with Political Philosophy?  Incogni Special Offer for PPF listeners: https://incogni.com/pastpresentfuture (then use code PPF for 60% off annual plans) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition,” Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada announced last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.It was one of the most significant foreign policy speeches in years, sending shockwaves through the international community. He was describing a dynamic that's been building for decades — what the scholars Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman call “weaponized interdependence” — that has now reached a tipping point.I asked Farrell on the show to explain this dynamic, why this is a “rupture” moment and how other countries are responding. He is an international-affairs professor at Johns Hopkins University, is an author of the book “Underground Empire: How America Weaponized the World Economy” and writes an excellent Substack, Programmable Mutter.Note: This episode touches on the clashes over immigration enforcement in Minneapolis and the killing of Renee Good, but it was recorded on Friday, before the killing of Alex Pretti.Mentioned:“Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada”Underground Empire by Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman“Programmable Mutter” by Henry Farrell“The nature and sources of liberal international order” by Daniel Deudney and G. John Ikenberry“The Enshittification of American Power” by Henry Farrell and Abraham L. Newman“Too big to care” by Cory DoctorowWeapons of the Weak by James C. ScottPrivate Truths, Public Lies by Timur Kuran“Further Back to the Future: Neo-Royalism, the Trump Administration, and the Emerging International System” by Stacie E. Goddard and Abraham Newman“The Dynamics of Informational Cascades: The Monday Demonstrations in Leipzig, East Germany, 1989–91” by Susanne LohmannBook Recommendations:Dollars and Dominion by Mary BridgesNonesuch by Francis SpuffordThe Score by C. Thi NguyenThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris, with Mary Marge Locker, Kate Sinclair Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing by Aman Sahota and Isaac Jones. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker and Carole Sabouraud. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.

The first of a two-part conversation in which David talks to Helen Thompson about how to understand the extraordinary and unlikely power of the United States, from its origins to its current incarnation. How strange would it once have seemed to live in a world dominated by a state from the Western hemisphere? When did the US overcome its natural disadvantages to achieve superpower potential? What does the rest of the world get wrong about how American power actually operates? And what might come next? A reminder that the second part of David's conversation with Glen Rangwala about the trial and execution of Saddam Hussein is available now on PPF+. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up to PPF+ today https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus Next Time: The Weirdness of American Power Part 2 – Trump and the Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. Danny and Derek are joined by Shadi Hamid, columnist at The Washington Post and author of The Case for American Power, to talk about American hegemony and Hamid's argument for it as a morally preferable and potentially reformable force in international politics. They discuss Gaza and the crisis of liberal internationalism, democracy and self-correction, American decline, China and Russia, intervention and restraint, the Middle East exception, Libya and “humanitarian war,” and whether it is possible to separate the “good” uses of American power from the bad. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode of The Good Fight Club, Yascha Mounk, Amanda Ripley, and George Packer examine the Trump administration's capture of Nicolás Maduro and the chaotic aftermath in Venezuela, whether Trump's foreign policy represents a coherent “shock and awe” strategy or a dangerous overreach, and the political outlook for 2026. Amanda Ripley is the co-founder of Good Conflict and author of High Conflict. George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Unwinding. Note: This episode was recorded on January 7, 2026. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THEATER, BATTLESHIPS, AND THE ILLUSION OF AMERICAN POWER Colleagues Gaius and Germanicus, Friends of History Debating Society, Londinium, 91 AD. Gaius and Germanicus discuss the theatrical nature of American imperial power under Donald Trump, positing that the administration utilizes military displays—such as missile strikes on empty targets in Nigeria or Venezuela—as symbolic rituals to assert authority without risking the failure associated with actual combat. Germanicus argues that Trump possesses the insight that "theater is the best way to assert American authority," drawing a parallel to Reagan's "Star Wars" initiative, which defeated the Soviets through the illusion of technological superiority rather than its reality. They debate the strategic utility of battleships; while Trump envisions massive vessels for their psychological hold on the "collective imagination," Germanicus predicts the construction of guided missile cruisers that merely project that image of invincibility. The conversation shifts to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, where Germanicus characterizes the Kyiv government as a "gangster racket" protracting the war for financial gain while Russia solidifies its military reputation. They conclude that the US is transitioning into a phase of empire relying on "demonstration and display" to maintain global dominance, warning that an actual military defeat could be a fatal blow to the system. NUMBER 1 1942 BB58 USS MARYLSND IN ACTION.

My conversation with David Rothkopf begins at about 14 minutes Subscribe and Watch Interviews LIVE : On YOUTUBE.com/StandUpWithPete ON SubstackStandUpWithPete Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. This show is Ad free and fully supported by listeners like you! Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 750 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous soul Subscribe to Rothkopf's new Substack  https://davidrothkopf.substack.com/ Follow Rothkopf Listen to Deep State Radio Read Rothkopf at The Daily Beast Buy his books David Rothkopf is CEO of The Rothkopf Group, a media company that produces podcasts including Deep State Radio, hosted by Rothkopf. TRG also produces custom podcasts for clients including the United Arab Emirates. He is also the author of many books including Running the World: The Inside Story of the National Security Council and the Architects of American Power, Superclass, Power, Inc., National Insecurity, Great Questions of Tomorrow, and Traitor: A History of Betraying America from Benedict Arnold to Donald Trump. Listen rate and review on Apple Podcasts Listen rate and review on Spotify Pete On Instagram Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on Twitter Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Gift a Subscription https://www.patreon.com/PeteDominick/gift Send Pete $ Directly on Venmo

Shadi Hamid joins to discuss his new book, The Case for American Power, arguing that progressives' retreat from global engagement is a mistake. He contends that while the Left often views U.S. hegemony as intrinsically immoral—citing the legacy of Iraq and the tragedy in Gaza—the alternative of withdrawal often leads to greater atrocities, such as the unchecked devastation in Syria. Hamid makes the case that moral righteousness without power is toothless, and that ceding the global stage to bad actors or rival superpowers creates a more dangerous world. Plus, Mike critiques the Sunday show trend of grilling Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the price of bananas and Tonka trucks, arguing that "gotcha" questions about specific items ignore the reality of inflation as a composite number. Produced by Corey Wara Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thegist@mikepesca.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠ad-sales@libsyn.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://advertising.libsyn.com/TheGist⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Youtube Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to The Gist Instagram Page: ⁠⁠⁠⁠GIST INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow The Gist List at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pesca⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Sam Harris speaks with Peter Zeihan about Trump's second term and its economic and geopolitical consequences. They discuss Zeihan's failed 2024 election prediction, the unprecedented unraveling of American power, Trump's tariff policies, the AI bubble, deglobalization and supply chain vulnerabilities, China's demographic and economic collapse, the degradation of military readiness, Trump's incompetent foreign policy team, Steven Witkoff's role as a Russian propaganda conduit, Melania Trump's unexpected effectiveness as Ukraine's unofficial ambassador, the 28-point peace plan and its $100 billion bribe, the repatriation of kidnapped Ukrainian children, and other topics. If the Making Sense podcast logo in your player is BLACK, you can SUBSCRIBE to gain access to all full-length episodes at samharris.org/subscribe.  

Realignment Newsletter: https://therealignment.substack.com/Realignment Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail the Show: realignmentpod@gmail.comShadi Hamid, Washington Post Columnist and author of The Case for American Power, returns to The Realignment. Marshall and Shadi discuss his case for American power despite one's opposition to the country's past and present misuse of power, his intellectual journey from Iraq War protestor to power advocate, why polls find that Democrats and the left-liberals are increasingly unpatriotic, and why Democratic Party elites lacked the credibility to make the strongest case against Trump in 2024.