Pod Save the World

Tommy and Ben kick off the show by digging into Trump and Netanyahu’s incompatible visions for the war in Gaza: a comprehensive peace deal vs. more fighting and annexation. They also discuss the continuing humanitarian disaster in the Strip, horrific violence in the West Bank even as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson visits the occupied territory, and Netanyahu’s firing of Israel’s attorney general. Then they cover Trump’s tariff threats against India and his newly rocky relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, how America has screwed over Lesotho and Switzerland on trade, and Russia’s tightening control over citizens’ internet access. Also covered: the legal case against former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe, and President Nayib Bukele’s move to end term limits in El Salvador. Finally, Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry get cozy in Montreal and State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce reinvents what’s possible when it comes to word salad. Then, Ben speaks with Elly Schlein, secretary of Italy's Democratic Party, about what it’s like being in opposition to Giorgia Meloni and how progressives can position themselves against the far-right.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben start by breaking down the devastating scale of the famine in Gaza, how Israeli policy drove Gaza to this point, and how the world is responding. They also discuss Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu’s denial and gaslighting about the starvation, whether Trump is buying it, whether there’s hope in this moment to build a coalition to pressure Israel to permanently end the war, what Democrats should be doing in this moment, and the impact of French President Emannuel Macron’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state. Then they cover Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky's political crisis around Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, the ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, why Trump lifted sanctions on allies of the military junta in Myanmar, how the administration is gearing up to sell out Taiwan for a trade deal with China, and why we’re rooting for the Macrons to smoke far-right nutjob and podcaster Candace Owens in court. Finally, Tommy speaks with Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov about his new film, 2000 Meters to Andriivka, which follows an assault brigade in Eastern Ukraine as it attempts to recapture a village from the Russians.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben respond to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s baseless accusation that the Obama administration masterminded a “treasonous conspiracy” against Trump and Trump’s subsequent call to arrest Barack Obama. They also talk about the President’s ongoing beef with Brazil and how it’s backfiring, the exile of a leading human rights organization from El Salvador, the deal to release prisoners from El Salvador and Venezuela, and the blatant hypocrisy behind this administration’s Latin America policy. Also discussed: the latest horrors from Gaza and the statement from 28 countries condemning the humanitarian crisis there, Benjamin Netanyahu’s bizarre foray into YouTube, the daylight between Trump and Bibi on Syria, the massive fallout from a British security leak, the rise of anti-establishment nationalist politics in Japan, the French Prime Minister’s deeply unpopular proposal to strip France of two public holidays, and some tidbits out of North Korea. Then, Ben speaks with Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, political analyst and the Executive Director of Siasa Place, about the ongoing protests in Kenya, the government’s brutal response, and the future of Kenyan politics.    

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben discuss Trump’s Ukraine policy announcement and try to unpack how much of it is style vs. substance. They also talk about the massive layoffs at the State Department, Trump’s bottom-of-the-barrel ambassador picks for crucial posts in Southeast Asia, the investigations into Pete Hegseth’s top aides at the Pentagon, and the president’s excruciating meeting with African leaders at the White House. Additionally, they dig into Trump’s vendetta against Brazil, explore the evidence behind the claim that Jeffrey Epstein worked for Israeli intelligence, the defection of some of Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition partners, the murder of an American-Palestinian man in the West Bank by Israeli settlers, and the latest Cuba fumble from Marco Rubio. Then, Tommy speaks to Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy and a former foreign policy adviser to Bernie Sanders, about how Democrats must reshape foreign policy for the Trump era and beyond.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben take a break from impersonating Marco Rubio to cover Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington to kiss Trump’s ass, the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Qatar, the IDF’s latest plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza, and shifting opinions on Israel within the Democratic Party. They also discuss Trump’s confusing about-face on sending weapons to Ukraine, the continued incoherence of Trump’s tariff policy and his needless antagonism of the BRICS countries. Finally, they talk about the finger-wagging at Tucker Carlson for his interview with Iran’s president, the border crisis in Afghanistan, the Dalai Lama’s succession plan and how China could interfere, the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia that’s caused a political meltdown in Bangkok, and the administration’s cruel termination of Temporary Protected Status for Hondurans and Nicaraguans. Then, Ben speaks with Representative Jason Crow about how the “Big Beautiful Bill” will tank America’s global standing, intelligence in the age of Trump and Tulsi Gabbard, and where the Democratic Party needs to go on foreign policy.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben lament Trump’s travesty of a spending bill and the death of USAID, and how both will cost lives and further tank America’s global reputation. They unpack the fallout from Israel and the US’s strikes on Iran, the bizarre delusions and marginalization of Tulsi Gabbard, and the ending of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians. They also discuss Trump’s interference in Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial, the latest horrors in Gaza, shocking settler violence in the West Bank, and anti-Israel speech at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival. Also covered: new fighting between Ukraine and an emboldened Russia, Trump’s shaky ceasefire and resource-grab masquerading as a “peace deal” between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, and a triumphant pride parade in Budapest. Finally, they plan a trip to the world’s next top spring break destination: Wonsan Kalma, North Korea.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben grapple with the fallout from Trump and Netanyahu’s war with Iran. They talk about how America’s massive bunker buster bombs didn't solve the problem of Iran’s nuclear program, why the strikes were illegal under international law, and how the drumbeat for regime change will never go away. They also discuss the short-term thinking and triumphalism running rampant in DC and the media and Israel’s own under-the-radar nuclear program. Additionally, they cover this week’s NATO summit and Trump’s less-than-reassuring statement on mutual defense for member countries, some rare good news about a prisoner release in Belarus, how companies like Palantir could fast-track us into a surveillance state, and why Jeff Bezos’s Venice wedding is going off the rails. Then, Ben speaks with Nilo Tabrizy, a visual forensics reporter at the Washington Post and co-author of the forthcoming book, For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran's Women-Led Uprising, about how Iranian civilians have experienced the last 12 days.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben react to Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. They break down the many horrifying ways Iran could retaliate in the short and long term, how the conflict could snowball across the Middle East, and why the US can’t just bomb its way back to the negotiating table. They also get into the administration’s baffling, bad-faith messaging on the attacks, how the Democrats should meet this moment, and the global reaction.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben tackle the big question: will Trump be stupid enough to drag the United States into another war in the Middle East? They dig into the various right-wing forces arguing for and against US involvement, discuss why following Benjamin Netanyahu into yet another regime change war in the region is insane, and how this conflict has ballooned from strikes on nuclear infrastructure to a full-on push for regime change. They also talk about the DC blob and media’s cheerleading for these disastrous wars, the eerie similarities between the current moment and the runup to the war in Iraq, and Trump’s willful disregard of our own intelligence. Finally, they cover the efforts in Congress to try to prevent the US from wading into the conflict and why Democrats need to stand firmly against it. Then, Tommy is joined by Congressman Greg Landsman. Landsman supports the US joining the fight against Iran and has been a vocal defender of the war in Gaza, so they debate each policy. Landsman also discusses the terrifying news that he was on the so-called “hit list” found in the Minnesota shooter’s car.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

Tommy and Ben discuss Israel’s ongoing military assault on Iran–breaking down who and what got hit, why the timing was a surprise, and what the Trump administration knew ahead of time. They also talk about how the attacks could impact Iran’s nuclear program and current regime, what retaliation could look like, and how Democrats should respond.