Current Affairs

Ralph Nader is one of the most important and successful activists in American political history. He played a key role in creating the consumer rights movement in the 1960s and ’70s, and his push for auto safety regulation led to measures that saved countless lives. He has also run multiple insurgent campaigns for president, challenging the two-party system and offering powerful criticisms of corporate power.

Nader joins Current Affairs to analyze Donald Trump’s authoritarianism, the Democratic Party’s failure to offer a compelling alternative, and the media’s role in narrowing public imagination. He also responds to Ezra Klein’s recent critique in Abundance, arguing that it shifts blame away from institutional failures and undermines genuine political accountability.

📣 Ralph's latest book, Civic Self Respect: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/718731/civic-self-respect-by-ralph-nader/

📣 Ralph's website: https://nader.org/

📣 Interview transcript: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/ralph-nader-on

0:00–5:36 Trump’s Authoritarian Rule

5:36–10:39 What Deserves Our Focus Now

10:39–15:43 Democratic Party Malpractice

15:43–21:19 Ezra Klein’s Attack on Nader

21:19–29:45 How Ordinary People Build Power

29:45–38:39 Proven Victories by Citizen Action

38:39–45:58 Pessimism as a Tool of Control

45:58–52:28 Nader Reflects on His Life's Work

🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership

🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Katrina vanden Heuvel is the publisher and editorial director of The Nation, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and an advocate for diplomacy, disarmament, and international cooperation. She returns to Current Affairs to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine, the erosion of U.S. diplomacy, and the bipartisan consensus around militarism.

She outlines the details of the Quincy Institute’s U.S. peace plan, explains why diplomacy is often smeared as appeasement, and explores what a negotiated end to the war might actually look like. We also explore whether Trump, despite his transactional and erratic instincts, might paradoxically be the only figure capable of restarting peace talks. Nathan concludes with an analysis of the "security dilemma" and how the logic of militarism is driving a global arms race under the guise of self-defense.

🕊️ Read Katrina in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/authors/katrina-vanden-heuvel/ 

🕊️ Subscribe to The Nation: https://subscriptions.thenation.com/TNA/?f=Site01&s=F5X001 

🕊️ The Quincy Institute's Peace Plan: https://quincyinst.org/research/a-u-s-peace-plan-for-ukraine/#executive-summary

0:00-5:15 Is Trump Interested In Peace?

5:15-17:05 The U.S. Peace Plan for Ukraine

17:21-26:53 Diplomacy vs. Appeasement

26:53-31:21 How Does The War End?

31:21-38:58 The Security Dilemma

Even by the standards of right-wing rhetoric, Miller’s public statements are uncommonly shameless. He treats his audience as stupid and gullible. 

🦎 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-brainless-propaganda-of-stephen-miller 

🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 

🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

Andrew Cuomo is not just unfit for office—he’s dangerous. In this interview, Lindsey Boylan, the first woman to publicly speak out about Cuomo’s abusive behavior, explains how his pattern of harassment, retaliation, and intimidation mirrors the authoritarian tactics of Donald Trump. Boylan describes how Cuomo weaponized state resources, silenced critics, and surrounded himself with enablers, all while cultivating a media image of competence and compassion. 

This interview complements a larger piece by Nathan J. Robinson, editor of Current Affairs, on Cuomo’s deadly mishandling of COVID, corruption scandals, abuse of elderly prisoners, and his pro-corporate, pro-Israel, anti-worker agenda. Despite resigning in disgrace, Cuomo is now the frontrunner in the race for New York City mayor. Boylan’s warning is urgent: his abuses will continue unless we stop him now. 

🗽 Watch Our Other Video on Cuomo: https://youtu.be/gYg-Ihd74pU 

🗽 Read the AG's Investigation of Cuomo: https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2021.08.03_nyag_-_investigative_report.pdf 

🗽 Read Nathan's Article on Cuomo: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/andrew-cuomo-is-worse-than-you-even-know 

🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 

🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

The former governor is a corrupt abuser of power with a pro-corporate agenda and a proven track record of deadly negligence. He will do nothing to improve New Yorkers’ lives. Why on Earth is he a contender for mayor? 

Nathan J. Robinson, editor of Current Affairs Magazine, reads his article "Andrew Cuomo Is Worse Than You Even Know" 

🗽 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/andrew-cuomo-is-worse-than-you-even-know 

0:00–4:37 The Story of Mr. Smalls 

4:37–13:23 Abuse of Power & Workplace Misconduct 

13:23–21:09 Deadly COVID Mismanagement 

21:09–25:18 Corruption & Cover-Ups 

25:18–39:35 Cuomo’s Political Record & Ideology 

🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 

🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

🦩 This episode originally aired on May 30, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs

Professor Richard Wolff is the host of the weekly program Economic Update, co-founder of Democracy at Work, and the author of numerous books including Understanding Marxism, Understanding Socialism, Capitalism Hits the Fan, and The Sickness Is the System.

He joins Current Affairs to explain how economics is deliberately taught in a way that confuses people and obscures the realities of power and exploitation. He dismantles the myth that capitalism delivers prosperity, showing instead how it generates instability, inequality, and crisis. Wolff also offers a sober analysis of America’s imperial decline, critiques Trump’s economic agenda, and exposes the economic lies behind anti-immigrant rhetoric.

📚 Subscribe to Richard's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@democracyatwrk/videos

📚 Buy Richard's Books: https://www.rdwolff.com/books

0:00–11:53 Why Economics Is Designed to Confuse You

11:53–22:26 What Marxism Actually Reveals About Capitalism

22:26–30:55 Capitalism Isn’t What You Think It Is

30:55–36:48 Capitalism’s “Success” Story Is a Lie

36:48–44:35 The End of American Empire

44:35–47:45 Will Trump Cause A Recession?

47:45–57:23 The Economics of Immigration

This panel was recorded on October 16th, 2024

A special event hosted by Current Affairs Magazine at The New School in New York City to celebrate the release of The Myth of American Idealism, the new book co-authored by Noam Chomsky and Nathan J. Robinson. The panel explores Chomsky’s lifelong critique of U.S. foreign policy—from Vietnam and Iraq to Ukraine and Gaza—and examines why his radical analysis of American power remains essential.

Joining Nathan are leading journalists, scholars, and close collaborators of Chomsky who reflect on his influence, his moral clarity, and the urgent relevance of his work today.

Nathan Robinson - Co-author of The Myth of American Idealism, Editor-in-Chief of Current Affairs Magazine

Amy Goodman - Host of the independent global news program Democracy Now! since 1996, author of six books, winner of the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence and the Gandhi Peace Award

Bev Stohl - Ran Prof. Chomsky's office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for over 20 years and is the author of Chomsky and Me: A Memoir

Greg Grandin - Professor of history at Yale University, author of Kissinger's Shadow, Empire's Workshop, and Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History and the National Book Award

Victor Pickard - Media studies professor, Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, author of America’s Battle for Media Democracy: The Triumph of Corporate Libertarianism and the Future of Media Reform and Democracy Without Journalism?

📖 The Myth of American Idealism: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

📖 Chomsky and Me: https://orbooks.com/catalog/chomsky-and-me/

🦩 This episode originally aired on May 20, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs

John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of Capitalism and Its Critics, joins Nathan J. Robinson to explore the history of capitalism. Cassidy examines why capitalism has been criticized from its inception, the diverse range of critiques it has faced, and how these criticisms have evolved over time.

Through profiles of both iconic figures and overlooked thinkers, Cassidy unpacks the multifaceted critiques of capitalism, from its inherent exploitation and inequality to its destructive environmental impact. He also highlights the often-dismissed contributions of female critics and explores right-wing condemnations of capitalism, providing a thorough and nuanced exploration of the ideological battle over capitalism's role in the modern world.

0:00-7:15 Why Criticize Capitalism?

7:15-9:58 The Different Flavors of Capitalism

9:58-12:51 A Narrative-Driven History of Capitalism

12:51-16:44 Profiles of Capitalism's Critics

16:44-21:43 Female Critics of Capitalism

21:43-25:01 Most Ignored Critics of Capitalism

25:01-29:13 Right-Wing Critics of Capitalism

29:13-33:30 The Future of Capitalism

💰 Buy John Cassidy's Book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374601096/capitalismanditscritics/

The Democratic Party is sclerotic. It’s easy to heap blame on Joe Biden now that he is weak and powerless. But that’s a convenient way of avoiding a major reckoning. 

Nathan J. Robinson, editor of Current Affairs, reads his article "The Problem Goes Well Beyond Biden" 

🦚 Read the article: https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/the-problem-goes-well-beyond-biden 

🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership 

🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs 

🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

🦩 This episode originally aired on May 16, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs

Chas Freeman is one of the most insightful voices in U.S. foreign policy, with a distinguished career as a diplomat and a deep expertise in U.S.-China relations. In this conversation with Nathan J. Robinson, Freeman offers a searing critique of America's current approach to diplomacy, the global balance of power, and its role in key international conflicts.

Freeman challenges the pervasive "China threat" narrative, arguing that the U.S. has misunderstood China's rise and wrongly positioned it as an existential threat. He compares the foreign policy approaches of Presidents Biden and Trump, highlighting the surprising continuities in their handling of China. Freeman also deconstructs the oversimplified and inflammatory discourse surrounding Taiwan, calling for a more nuanced understanding. Shifting to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Freeman explains how U.S. diplomatic failures helped fuel the war and why America’s actions have deepened the crisis. Finally, Freeman offers a sharp critique of U.S. policy towards Israel, urging the U.S. to stop enabling Israel’s expansionist policies and to push for a real peace agreement with the Palestinians.

0:00-6:03 The Decline of American Diplomacy

6:03-15:26: China

15:26-18:30: Biden v. Trump Approach to China

18:30-23:58: Taiwan

23:58-35:07: Russia/Ukraine

35:07-49:09: Israel/Palestine

🤝 Buy Chas Freeman's Books: https://chasfreeman.net/books-and-publications/