Website: https://www.therightpodcast.org/

Check out the video on Youtube

Trump was never a peace candidate. From his early Reform Party days to his “America First” doctrine, he wasn’t seeking an end to U.S. empire. Instead he wanted to strip it of regulation, diplomacy, and disguise. In this episode, I unpack how Donald Trump’s foreign policy was misread from the start — first framed as less hawkish by figures like Glenn Greenwald than Hillary Clinton, later described by academics like John Mearsheimer as realist, whether Trump realized it or not. But from his 2000 Reform Party flirtation to his 2016 “America First” campaign, Trump never sought to dismantle empire — he wanted to privatize it.

I trace how Trump repackaged old anti-globalist rhetoric with psuedo business logic, treating places like Gaza and Ukraine as assets to be claimed, not communities to be protected. He didn’t want peace. He wanted the end of the neoliberal world order — not to replace it with global justice, but with a deregulated empire unbound by alliances, international law, or oversight. Think less withdrawal, more hostile takeover.

What’s chilling is how this wasn’t just tactical — it was ideological. Russian fascist Aleksandr Dugin saw Trump as a civilizational rupture, not a restrainer of empire but its metamorphosis into something new and authoritarian.  Dugin, in some ways, sees Trump clearer than the liberal media and politicians of the West.

This episode dives into that fundamental misunderstanding — from the Reform Party to Gaza, Ukraine, and the post-liberal future Trump seems to imagine: an unapologetic, race- and class-coded imperial order in which stronger nations simply take what they want, and weaker ones are absorbed, relocated, or erased. . It’s not just empire without apology, it’s empire without brakes.

Catch up on ongoing projects, revisiting some that have stalled and others still in progress. I dive into the book I’m working on and reflect on articles written over the past few months. Topics span a wide range, from analyzing left and right reactions to the events of October 7 to Chomsky. 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cerAMbKXz-w 

Website: https://www.therightpodcast.org/

Buy me a book: https://buymeacoffee.com/therightpodcast

Article link https://therightpodcast.substack.com/p/in-times-of-division-unitys-our-mission

Video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSfWJrC1Iz4 

Join me as I read through "stumbling at times" an article I wrote on Substack about the election of Trump, highlighting key issues to watch and actionable steps for those newly inspired to resist a potential second Trump administration. The piece covers a range of topics, including inflation and the economy, Gen Z's role, the global rise of right-wing populism, the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, strategies for meaningful conversations with Trump voters, fresh opportunities for activism, practical tips for new advocates, and more.

https://linktr.ee/TheRightPodcast

This piece is a reading and discussion of a recent article focused on political syncretism in the 1990s. In the article, I share my personal experiences and juxtapose them with the broader political shifts of that era. Ultimately, it explores the dangers of conspiratorial thought and how populist rhetoric can serve as a pathway to such thinking, often leading to reactionary outcomes. I highlight various movements, including the anti-globalization protests, freight train riding, and radical environmentalism, while also addressing the far-right sentiments of the time, such as Traditionalism.

Link to article: https://therightpodcast.substack.com/p/breaking-from-research-a-personal

This is an effort of love and volunteerism. No paywalls or super chats etc. Please consider liking and subscribing on YouTube as it boosts visibility. If you'd like to support then donate to the "buy me a book" link below. 

All links: https://linktr.ee/TheRightPodcast

Elia Ayoub (he/him) is a writer, researcher and the founder of The Fire These Times podcast and co-founder of From the Periphery Media collective. He holds a PhD in Cultural Analysis from the University of Zurich, is an Affiliate Fellow of the Post Growth Institute and is a Project Manager at Shado Mag.  

He has written for publications such as 972Mag, Al Jazeera, Commons (Ukraine), Al Jumhuriya (Syria), Newlines, L’Orient Le Jour, Crimethinc and Lausan. He blogs at iwritestuff.blog and can be sometimes found on Instagram, Mastodon and Bluesky.

Just a few examples of Elia's work and interviews: 

The Fire These Times: https://thefirethesetimes.com/

+972 Magazine: https://www.972mag.com/writer/elia-ayoub/

Al Jazeera: https://www.aljazeera.com/author/elia_ayoub

Commons: https://commons.com.ua/en/elia-dzh-ayub-interview/

Al Jumhuriya: https://aljumhuriya.net/en/2022/03/04/ukraine-in-syria-syria-in-ukraine/

Newslines: https://newlinesmag.com/writers/joey-ayoub/

L'Orient Le Jour: https://www.lorientlejour.com/author/8629-joey-ayoub

Crimethinc: https://crimethinc.com/2020/02/24/lebanon-the-revolution-four-months-in-an-interview

 Lausan: https://lausancollective.com/2021/periphery-has-no-time-for-binaries/

iwritestuff.blog: https://iwritestuff.blog/

Social Media

Instagram: eliajayoub

Bluesky: @ayoub.bsky.social

Mastodon: @[email protected]

This is an effort of love and volunteerism. No paywalls or Patreon. Please consider liking and subscribing on Youtube as it boosts visibility. If you'd like to support then donate to the "buy me a book" link below.

All links: https://linktr.ee/TheRightPodcast

Summary of previous discussions: Summarizing the previous two videos, we delved into the intricate interplay between narrative, perception, and ideology within political discourse. We explored the nuanced distinctions between anti-imperialism, anti-authoritarianism, and leftist perspectives, recognizing that they may not always align seamlessly. We then explored themes that have persisted from the 2014 Gaza War to the present conflict.

In this session we discussed how the actions of the Trump administration accelerated and escalated instability in the region. We examined various responses to the administration's unilateralism, as well as religious interpretations of these actions. Additionally, we explored why the left often excludes religion from their analysis and why incorporating it can be necessary. Finally, we compared the discourse of a conservative Rabbi with social media posts made by some pro-Palestinian leftists to examine Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. 

This is an effort of love and voluntarism. No paywalls or patreon. Please consider liking and subscribing on Youtube as it boosts visibility.

All links: https://linktr.ee/TheRightPodcast

Continuing from the previous conversation, we delve into the intricate interplay between narrative, perception, and ideology within political discourse. We explore the nuanced distinctions between anti-imperialism, anti-authoritarianism, and leftist perspectives, recognizing that they may not always align seamlessly.

In this context, we examine the role of organizations like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and their utilization of social media to shape perceptions and garner support. The evolution of Hamas, balancing adaptation with political realities, becomes a focal point.

We then pivot from the Fatah-Hamas Conflict to the 2014 Gaza War, dissecting its ramifications and the precedents it established for contemporary events. By analyzing historical events through this lens, we gain a deeper understanding of current geopolitical dynamics and their implications.

n this Livestream, I delve into the broad origins of Hamas, aiming to comprehend their worldview while maintaining a stance of not endorsing it.

I'll be having ongoing "office hours" live streams about once a month. I'm currently focused on writing and want to maintain the audio connection. I'll be putting polls for topics up on the YouTube Community page and X. These will be informal and focus on a book, a few articles, an idea etc. The topic that won polls for this session is Oct 7th. I'm aiming for 30 min or so to start. If you can't make it and want to send associated articles, comments or opinions then email me at therightpodcast.proton.me

@TheRightPodcast's link in bio | Twitter and socials | Linktree

Links to socials and website: TheRightPodcast | Twitter | Linktree

Check this podcast out on YouTube for visuals: The Right Podcast Channel Trailer (youtube.com)

This is an update on my current research and some ideas about how the podcast might move forward. I ask for your input throughout this podcast on various topics. Please reach out at [email protected] or on any of the linked socials.