Biden just landed from a multi-day tour in the Middle East where he  spectacularly failed at his goals, including bringing more Arab  countries into an alliance with Israel and bringing the price of oil  down. This week, Russian President Putin is meeting with Iranian &  Turkish leaders including Supreme Leader Khamenei and President  Erdogan--showing that Iran and Russia are not as isolated as Biden makes  them out to be. U.S. influence is declining, but will U.S. officials  change their approach?

Brian is joined by Professor Mohammad  Marandi. He is an expert on American studies and postcolonial literature  who teaches at the University of Tehran.