At the start of 2021, four prominent voices on the political left created the popular Substack ‘The Liberal Patriot.’ Motivated by what they saw as a gap in analyses on US politics and foreign policy, John Halpin, Ruy Teixeira, Peter Juul, and Brian Katulis seek to use their publication to promote a new liberal nationalism on the center-left and a more open-minded and inclusive approach to thinking about political and social issues.

Two of The Liberal Patriot’s co-editors, Brian Katulis and Ruy Teixeira, joined Marc and Dany to discuss their writing, the foundations of liberal and inclusive nationalism, the political conversation on the American center-left, and the current state of modern political discourse.

The Liberal Patriot was created by co-editors John Halpin, Ruy Teixeira, Peter Juul, and Brian Katulis. Together, all four have decades of experience in the fields of political ideology; electoral analysis; public opinion; demography; and national security and international policy.

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Since the United States recorded its first Covid-19 related fatality in February 2020, over half a million Americans have died from the virus, and an estimated 43 million total cases have been reported in the country. How was America so unprepared for this pandemic? And how can we ensure that we are prepared for the next public health disaster?

Dr. Scott Gottlieb once again joined Marc and Dany to discuss his new book “Uncontrolled Spread: Why COVID-19 Crushed Us and How We Can Defeat the Next Pandemic.” He also talks about the current reality of the Delta variant and what a future with endemic COVID may look like.

Dr. Gottlieb is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He returned to AEI in 2019 after serving as the 23rd Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. He has a medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and did his residency in internal medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

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Following the United States’ chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, there is much debate about how America’s exit will impact its reputation on the world stage and whether rivals such as China and Russia will benefit. While President Biden has justified the withdrawal decision on the grounds of refocusing American strategic priorities around the globe, other countries are now seeking to expand their influence with the newly established Taliban-controlled government of Afghanistan.

Yaroslav Trofimov joined Dany and Marc to discuss his reporting from Afghanistan, the global balance of power now that the US has left, the goals and priorities of the Taliban, and what the Chinese and Russians are up to.

Yaroslav Trofimov is the chief foreign-affairs correspondent of The Wall Street Journal. He joined the Journal in 1999 and previously served as Rome, Middle East and Singapore-based Asia correspondent, as bureau chief in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and as Dubai-based columnist on the greater Middle East. He is the author of two books, “Faith at War” (2005) and “Siege of Mecca” (2007).

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While an estimated 120,000 Americans, NATO allied citizens, and Afghan allies were evacuated from Afghanistan during the US military withdrawal, many Afghans who worked directly with the US were left behind as the last American planes departed Kabul on August 31. According to a State Department official, a majority of special immigrant visa applicants were not evacuated and still remain in Afghanistan, putting them at additional risk for Taliban retribution. In the absence of the US government, ad hoc groups of veterans, journalists and activists have taken it upon themselves to help rescue both US citizens and our Afghan partners from Afghanistan.

Elliot Ackerman joined Marc and Dany to discuss Biden’s botched withdrawal, American private citizens working to evacuate the Taliban’s hostages still trapped in Afghanistan, and how we can all do our part to help our Afghan partners.

Elliot Ackerman is the author of four novels. He is both a former White House Fellow and Marine, and served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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It has been 20 years since the attacks of September 11, 2001, took the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people and shook America to its core. While much has changed in the two decades since that tragic day, Americans have not forgotten those who perished, as well as the survivors, victims’ families, and the first responders whose lives were irreversibly changed in an instant.

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Marc and Dany spoke with Patrick Dowdell about his father, an FDNY first responder who died in the Twin Towers, and reflected on his dad’s life and legacy.

Patrick Dowdell is the son of New York City firefighter Lt. Kevin Dowdell, who died on 9/11. Following his graduation from the United States Military Academy West Point, Dowdell became a US Army captain, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

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On Tuesday, the United States ended its evacuation mission in Kabul, marking the conclusion of two decades of the American military mission in Afghanistan. Since mass evacuations began on August 14, both Americans and NATO allies have criticized President Biden for what they view as a catastrophic execution of an already flawed decision to withdraw. Following last Thursday’s suicide bombing at the Hamid Karzai International Airport that resulted in the death of 13 US service members and more than 200 Afghan civilians, it is has become ever more clear that Biden’s withdrawal was little short of a disaster.

Amb. Ryan Crocker joined Marc and Dany to discuss the execution of Biden’s Afghanistan evacuation, America’s betrayal of Afghanistan, and the national security ramifications of the American withdrawal.

Amb. Crocker is an American retired diplomat, a career ambassador within the United States Foreign Service, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was a United States ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, serving both Republican and Democratic administrations.

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Almost 20 years after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the Taliban are back in control of the country. After President Biden’s decision to depart Afghanistan regardless of conditions on the ground, and the withdrawal of U.S. intelligence and air support to the Afghan army, the Taliban rapidly advanced, culminating in the collapse of the Afghan government.

Dr. Frederick W. Kagan joined Marc and Dany to discuss the Taliban takeover, President Biden’s decision, the role of the Afghan army, and the impact on al Qaeda.

Kagan is the director of AEI’s Critical Threats Project and a former professor of military history at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He served on the ground in Afghanistan, providing civilian support to the U.S. military mission.

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For many vaccinated Americans the pandemic is all but over, but the political struggle over COVID-19 continues. At the same time, the new and highly contagious delta variant has many calling for a return to mask mandates first implemented at the height of the pandemic.

Dr. Marty Makary joins Marc and Dany to discuss why some Americans aren’t getting the vaccine, how much we should really be concerned about the delta variant and breakthrough infections, and whether new mandates on masks and vaccines are warranted in our communities and schools. They also talk about America’s global pandemic response and the future of COVID-19 in America.

Dr. Makary is a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School. He is the author of “The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It.”

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Over the past five years, more than 130 US government personnel have been impacted by a strange neurological condition known as "Havana Syndrome,” causing chronic headaches, memory problems, loss of stability and other brain injuries. First identified in Havana, Cuba, in 2016 and largely overlooked by the US government, evidence increasingly suggests that Havana Syndrome may be the result of targeted attacks by Moscow.

CBS’ Catherine Herridge joins Marc and Dany to discuss her investigation into Havana Syndrome, evidence that the condition is the result of a targeted attack, and why Moscow is likely responsible. They also talk about the US response and how to help those affected.

Catherine Herridge is an award-winning senior investigative correspondent for CBS News covering national security and intelligence. Prior to joining CBS News, Herridge was the chief intelligence correspondent for FOX News Channel and worked as a TV and radio correspondent for ABC News in London.

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The people of Cuba are rising up against their government and calling for freedom and basic rights. Enabled by new access to social media, protestors are demanding liberty after decades of political and economic abuses exacerbated by the weight of the pandemic. Will the Cuban people finally throw off their dictators?

Roger Noriega joined Dany and Marc to talk about the decades-long political and economic oppression that led to the current demonstrations, how social media has enabled opposition to the regime, and how the US and international community can help the Cuban people win their freedom.

Roger Noriega is the founder and managing director of the consultant firm VisiónAméricas LLC. He has served as both US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and as US Ambassador to the Organization of American States. Noriega was also a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute from 2005-2020.

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