JD Vance’s Global Humiliation

About this episode

Tommy and Ben discuss recent failures of the Trump administration in international diplomacy and political events, including an interview with Anand Gopal about Syria.

Tommy and Ben walk through a week of epic failures for the Trump administration, from peace talks with Iran to Viktor Orbán’s historic loss in Hungary. They break down everything that was wrong with the US-Iran peace talks, like both sides coming in with maximalist positions, Vice President JD Vance walking out in a huff, and the lack of American expertise at the table. Then they unpack what we know about Trump’s risky plan to also blockade the Strait of Hormuz, the growing economic fallout from the war, the heated AI-powered, LEGO-themed propaganda war happening on social media, the attack on free speech in many Gulf countries, including the arrest of American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, and the latest on Israel’s bombing, invasion, and occupation of Lebanon. Then they cover some rare good news in Viktor Orbán’s stunning defeat after 16 years in power, and what we can learn from Hungarian activists about fighting corrupt autocrats, and discuss what other world leaders can learn from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s continued electoral success from punching back at Trump. At the end of the show, Ben speaks to Anand Gopal about his new book about Syria, Days of Love and…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tommy, Ben

Guest: Anand Gopal

Topics covered

• US-Iran relations
• political failures
• international diplomacy
• media and propaganda
• autocracy and activism
• Middle East conflict
• Hungarian politics

Keywords

• Trump administration
• JD Vance
• Iran peace talks
• Viktor Orbán
• Hungary elections
• Middle East
• Syria
• Anand Gopal
• propaganda
• free speech

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Trump administration, Viktor Orbán, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

Books & works: Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution

Places: Hungary, Iran, Lebanon, Strait of Hormuz

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