Pod Save the World

Tommy and Ben discuss a blockbuster Washington Post report alleging that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth personally ordered a “double tap” airstrike that was a textbook example of a war crime, the latest on Trump’s slow-moving regime change policy in Venezuela, Trump’s shocking pardon of Juan Orlando Hernández, the former President of Honduras who was convicted of conspiring to import 400+ tons of cocaine into the United States, and the latest on the Trump administration’s peace talks with Russia. Then they explain how the tragic shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington, DC has led to a massive crackdown on legal immigration, and why the shooter is part of the long and disastrous history of the “Global War on Terror”, how the former president of South Africa’s daughter tricked men into fighting for Russia on the front lines against Ukraine, and the latest PR disaster for FBI Director Kash Patel. Then, Ben speaks to film director Julia Loktev and Russian journalist Ksenia Mironova about the documentary, “My Undesirable Friends”, which documents the experiences of independent journalists in Moscow as Putin cracked down on the press in the months before the invasion of Ukraine.

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2025

Tommy and Ben unpack Trump’s rapidly changing “peace deal” to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. They explain how the plan has changed since the first draft leaked last week, the confusion over where the plan came from and why many people believe the Russians authored it, what it tells us about which Trump officials are actually driving the policy, and why Russia seems poised to reject Trump’s plan even though it’s wildly tilted in their favor. They also discuss the consequences of the US skipping out on two major global summits at the G20 and COP, explain why former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says a paranoid hallucination led to his arrest, provide an update on whether the US is going to attack Venezuela, unpack Israel’s recent airstrikes in Lebanon and Gaza despite ceasefire agreements, unpack the stakes of a spicy war of words between China and Japan and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call to President Trump over Taiwan, attempt to explain Candace Owens’ latest insane conspiracy theory involving France, and how a new tool on X proves many MAGA influencer accounts aren’t so America First after all.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, his request for F-35 fighter jets and a NATO-like security guarantee, the real estate deals the Trump family might get in return, and how corruption is driving US foreign policy, including in the case of a gold-bar bribe from the Swiss. Then they talk about new reports on embattled (and embarrassing) FBI Director Kash Patel, what leaked emails tell us about Jeffrey Epstein’s relationship with Israeli intelligence and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, how Chinese hackers used AI in a game-changing new way, why the former prime minister of Bangladesh was sentenced to death, a massive corruption scandal in Ukraine, an update on civilians fleeing violence in Sudan, and a new documentary about how Adolf Hitler’s teeny tiny secret caused big problems. Then Ben speaks with author and former assistant administrator at USAID, Atul Gawande, whose new documentary “Rovina’s Choice” highlights the staggering rise in preventable malnutrition and deaths after American cuts to foreign aid.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss Syrian transitional President Ahmed Al-Shaara’s historic and improbable visit to the White House, Trump’s sanctions waiver and special favors for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of his election, why the US is boycotting the G20 in South Africa, and how a sham election in Tanzania that’s led to mass protests and potentially thousands dead. Then they talk about how Trump could bring an end to bloodshed in Sudan with one phone call to the United Arab Emirates, a new list of problems undercutting Trump’s case for the Nobel Peace Prize, why Trump is suing the BBC for $1 billion, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s colossal infrastructure failure in the desert. Then Tommy speaks to Josh Paul and Tariq Habash about why they resigned from the Biden administration over Gaza, and how they’re trying to change Democrats' approach to US-Israel policy with their organization, A New Policy.

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2025

Live from Crooked Con, Tommy and Ben look back at the last year since Trump was re-elected and unpack the worst and most surprising moments of Trump 2.0 foreign policy, including the president’s bogus claims that he’s a “peacemaker,” the continuing horrors of Russia’s war on Ukraine, the administration’s incoherence on China, and the catastrophic gutting of USAID. Then the guys are joined by Representatives Yassamin Ansari and Ro Khanna to discuss the future of Democratic foreign policy. They talk about how the next generation of Democrats should lead on immigration, Israel, Iran, climate change, Venezuela, and more.

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2025

Ben and Tommy discuss President Trump’s threat to invade Nigeria to stop a (nonexistent) genocide against Christians and the international community’s total failure to stop an actual genocide happening in Sudan. Also covered: why Trump’s pitch to restart testing of nuclear weapons might be his worst (and scariest) foreign policy idea to date, why FBI Director Kash Patel’s trip to visit his girlfriend is getting slammed by right-wing commentators, the uproar in Israel over a torture investigation, election wins for left-wing candidates in Ireland and the Netherlands, Trump’s overtly racist refugee policy, and the final nail in the royal coffin for Prince Andrew. Then Ben speaks with Sanna Marin, the former Prime Minister of Finland, about the double standards women in leadership face, and her new book Hope in Action: A Memoir About the Courage to Lead.

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss President Trump’s visit to Asia: the weird dancing, his meetings with the new prime minister of Japan and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his annoying victory laps when Trump “solves” problems he himself created. They also unpack two recent examples of blatant government corruption, including Trump’s pardon of a crypto billionaire and an Army contract to purchase drones from a company “advised” by Donald Trump Jr. Then they discuss the “next generation” of the Pentagon press corps (one filled with MAGA sycophants), a rebel group’s capture of a major city in Sudan and how the UAE is fueling the Sudanese civil war, more US strikes against alleged drug traffickers in the Pacific, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s announcement that he has ordered “forceful strikes” on Hamas and what it means for the Gaza ceasefire agreement, a legislative election win for President Javier Milei in Argentina, an anti-tariff ad in Canada that invoked Ronald Reagan, and Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making their relationship official. Then Tommy speaks with former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul about his new book Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2025

Being an American right now is a wild ride. Every day brings a new controversy, with breathless media narratives and the same loud voices rushing in to score political points. Then another Truth Social post drops and the circus moves on. But all that noise is drowning out the actual story. On Crooked Media’s new podcast Runaway Country, veteran journalist Alex Wagner talks to the voices at the center of the headlines: from the fringes of the resistance, to the marrow of MAGA, to the many people who’ve found themselves smack-dab in the crosshairs of a fight they never asked for. Because if you want to understand our unreal times, you’ve got to talk to the very real people who are experiencing it all first-hand. Join Alex as she brings together the stories of everyday Americans trapped in our national car with no brakes, alongside conversations with some of the smartest thinkers in politics. Buckle up, this road could lead anywhere. New episodes every Thursday wherever you get your podcasts, and @RunawayCountryWithAlexWagner on YouTube. Make sure to subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss reports that Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a disaster, and that his summit in Hungary with Russian President Vladimir Putin may be canceled. They also cover the administration's threats to punish Colombia and Venezuela, including authorization of the CIA to conduct covert action in Venezuela, and other warning signs that the administration is pushing for regime change. They also talk about the rapid return of violence in Gaza since the “peace deal” and right-wing calls for war to resume, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff’s painful interview with 60 Minutes and the lack of a credible plan for Palestinian governance moving forward, an account from a member of the Freedom Flotilla detailing her detention by the IDF, and the story of a journalist who was attacked by settlers in the West Bank. Then they highlight Japan’s first female prime minister and gruesome details published in a memoir by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. Finally, Tommy speaks to art theft investigator Anthony Amore about the stunning French crown jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2025

Tommy & Ben break down the deal between Israel and Hamas–how we got here, who deserves credit (and who doesn’t), why the hell it took so long, and then dig into the many questions still to be resolved: Will Hamas disarm? How will Gaza be run? And who might make up the proposed “International Stabilisation Force”? They also talk about Trump’s victory lap in Israel and Egypt (including a quick pit stop for some corruption with Indonesia’s president), the pervasive media narrative that Israel’s “victory” over Iran led to this deal, Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future, Drop Site News’s rebuttal to the Free Press’s vile “reporting” on starving Palestinian children with preexisting conditions, and whether Trump’s peacemaking is contagious and could spread to Ukraine. Also covered: how the US’s bailout of Argentina will benefit hedge funders in Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s circle, French President Emmanuel Macron’s surprising replacement for his short-lived Prime Minister, and why the recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize is dedicating it to Donald Trump. Then, Ben goes deep on the shadow fleet with Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2025

Tommy & Ben sound the alarm about how Trump is laying the foundation for war with Venezuela—breaking down the administration’s justifications, what escalation could look like, and why attacking Venezuela won’t solve America’s drug problem. Then, they discuss the latest negotiations between Israel and Hamas over Trump’s Gaza “peace plan,” Israel's treatment of activists arrested from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, an update from journalist Noa Avishag Schnall, who’s currently sailing to Gaza with another flotilla, and the United States’ unprecedented security agreement with Qatar. Also covered: how MAGA is advocating for an El Salvador-style judicial takeover, Russia’s “hybrid war” on Europe and its shadow fleet of decrepit oil tankers, and the over-the-hill rock stylings of Argentina’s embattled president, Javier Milei. Finally, Tommy speaks with Michael Froman, president of the Council on Foreign Relations and former U.S. Trade Representative under Obama, about Trump’s trade “strategy,” the death of the rules-based system of global commerce, and why the humble soybean has become a flashpoint in the trade wars.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2025

Tommy & Ben react to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump's bizarre and alarming gathering of top military officials, including Trump's fascistic rhetoric about the "enemy within", wildly inappropriate partisan rants, and Hegseth's anti-DEI, pro-war-crimes lecture that could have been an email. They also talk about Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of a 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas, Netanyahu's apology to Qatar for striking Hamas leaders in Doha and why the hell Tony Blair is involved. Also discussed: Marco Rubio's secret plan for regime change in Venezuela, the revocation of the Colombian president's visa by the U.S., how Trump's trade war with China could sell out Taiwan and hurt American farmers, "Gen Z" protests in Madagascar, and former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's latest prison sentence. Finally, they explain why the comedy world is headed to Saudi Arabia and how Trump bonded with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over rigged elections. Then, Ben speaks to foreign policy analyst, author, and journalist Rula Jebreal about the sidelining of Palestinians in Trump's peace plan, the threat of West Bank annexation, and what the international community can do for Palestine.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2025

Tommy & Ben grit their teeth and dive into Trump’s rambling, insulting address at the United Nations and fact-check his ridiculous claim that he solved seven wars. They cover Trump’s proposed bank bailout for Argentina, his threat to re-invade Afghanistan, Pete Hegseth’s crackdown on journalists’ access to the Pentagon, and Russia’s continuing incursions into NATO airspace. They also discuss a trio of immigration stories: the administration’s new goalposts for high-skilled H-1B visas, the ending of Temporary Protected Status for Syrians, and the chilling deportation order for Mahmoud Khalil. Finally, updates on America’s rogue attacks on alleged drug boats off the coast of Venezuela, a potential new approach to nuclear negotiations with North Korea, how French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte are fighting back against conspiracy theorist Candace Owens, and potential U.K. Prime Minister Nigel Farage’s incredibly undignified side hustle. Then, Ben speaks with Robert Malley, co-author of the new book Tomorrow Is Yesterday: Life, Death, and the Pursuit of Peace in Israel/Palestine, about the failures of the peace process under Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, the recent move by several countries to recognize a Palestinian state, and what a path to peace could look like beyond a two-state solution.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2025

Tommy & Ben start with Gaza: the UN Human Rights Council’s finding that Israel has committed genocide, and Israel’s ground operation into Gaza City. They discuss how Marco Rubio signaled that Trump has given up on brokering a peace deal in Gaza, and why the Netanyahu government is telling the press that Trump is lying about his knowledge of the IDF airstrike in Qatar. Also covered: Kash Patel’s combative Senate hearing about the rampant dysfunction at the FBI, the global reaction to the murder of Charlie Kirk and the dark conspiracy theories that have emerged around it, the long-term harm to the US-South Korea relationship caused by the ICE raid on a Hyundai plant in Georgia, Nepal’s democracy by Discord, Trump’s UK state visit amid Jeffrey Epstein fallout and far-right protests, Trump’s ultimatums to NATO, and Conor McGregor’s aborted bid for the Irish presidency. Then, Tommy speaks to Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the humanitarian situations in Haiti, Sudan, and Gaza, the devastating effects of the gutting of USAID, and what’s giving him hope right now. Check out Be Hope here.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2025

Tommy & Ben react to Israel’s shocking strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar. They cover how this closes the door on ceasefire negotiations, how the attacks humiliate the Arab world and make normalization in the region next to impossible, and the Trump administration’s incoherent response. They also discuss the alleged Israeli bombing of a humanitarian aid flotilla in Tunisia, the horrific terrorist attack in Jerusalem, and Spain’s roadmap for opposing what’s happening in Gaza. Also covered: Keir Starmer’s misguided cabinet reshuffle in the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron’s chronic inability to hold onto a prime minister, what protest movements in Nepal and Indonesia say about the state of the world, and the ongoing threat of a US war with Venezuela. Then, Ben speaks with Susan Rice, national security advisor and UN ambassador under Obama, about the redirection and weaponization of the military under Trump, how this administration’s foreign policy is pushing our allies into our adversaries’ arms, and the “brazen violation of international law” that is Israel’s attack on Qatar.

Transcribed - Published: 9 September 2025

Tommy & Ben discuss China’s summit in Tianjin, which brought together leaders from 20 countries, including India, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, and how it signals a major shift in global alliances. They talk about the schism between Trump and India’s President Narendra Modi and how Trump keeps conceding to China on issues like AI and student visas despite his many empty threats. Also covered: the administration’s illegal airstrike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly carrying drugs, the new for-profit ethnic cleansing plan for Gaza, how the gutting of USAID is hobbling the response to Afghanistan’s devastating earthquake, and Steve Witkoff’s stupendous incompetence in his role as special envoy for….everything. Then, Tommy speaks with journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who covers the West Bank on his Substack, Infinite Jaz. They talk about what life is like for Palestinians there, the far-right’s goal of achieving total annexation of the territory, and the pipe dream of a two-state solution.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2025

Tommy & Ben dig into the FBI’s raid on John Bolton and how Pete Hegseth’s firing of the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency fits into Trump’s ongoing ideological purges of the US intelligence community. They discuss Israel’s criminal “double tap” strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, The Free Press’s sanctimonious reaction to criticism of their reporting about starvation in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s constant moving of the goalposts on a ceasefire deal, why Trump’s meeting South Korean president Lee Jae Myung was humiliating for America, Trump’s lies and delusions about being a peacemaker, the latest on Iran negotiations, why Australia expelled Iranian diplomats, and Putin’s answer to Eurovision. Then, Tommy speaks with Franklin Nossiter, Sahel Analyst at the International Crisis Group, about the complex dynamics in a region where military juntas, jihadists, and foreign powers are all jostling for influence.

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2025

Tommy & Ben sift through the week’s flurry of meetings on Ukraine, including Putin and Trump’s Alaska summit and Zelensky’s White House visit. They discuss how territory and security guarantees factor into negotiations, what Putin means by the “root causes” of the war, and how Russia won the optics game. They also talk about why a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel isn’t likely, massive anti-war protests in Israel, the Free Press’s ghoulish “reporting” on starving Gazan children, Laura Loomer’s malicious influence on medical visas for injured Palestinian kids, and the imprisonment of a 16-year-old Palestinian-American boy in Israel. Also covered: a rightward shift in Bolivia, Trump’s mobilization against cartels, and we say a fond farewell to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Then, Ben speaks with Representative Ro Khanna about his letter supporting the recognition of a Palestinian State and how to think about the future of Democratic Foreign Policy.

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2025

Ben and guest co-host Yalda Hakim, Sky News’ Lead World News Presenter, discuss Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin’s upcoming Alaska summit, previewing what might unfold, Ukraine's predicament, and how Europe has struggled with being sidelined. They also talk about Trump’s fixation on the Nobel Peace Prize and his ‘real estate diplomacy,’ as well as Israel’s frightening plan to take over Gaza, the targeted killing of several Al Jazeera journalists, and Europe’s uncoordinated response to Israel’s expanding war and the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Finally, they discuss the fourth anniversary of the fall of Kabul and what life is like for women and girls under the Taliban’s rule. Then, Tommy speaks with Michael C. Horowitz, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Development and Emerging Capabilities, about how drones and artificial intelligence have ushered in a new era of warfare, and why the US military is lagging behind. Check out Yalda’s podcast, The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim.

Transcribed - Published: 13 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 22 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 13 June 2025

Tommy and Ben unpack Trump’s cruel and incoherent travel bans, the administration’s callous stranding of migrants and ICE agents in Djibouti, the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the US and his immediate prosecution, and the revival of the plan to send thousands of migrants to Guantánamo. They also discuss Trump’s upcoming North Korea-style military (and birthday) extravaganza and Trump’s abuse of the military for his personal interests. Also covered: Israel’s interception of Greta Thunberg’s Freedom Flotilla to Gaza and her subsequent deportation, the continuing chaos of Israel’s disastrous humanitarian aid plan for the strip, Israel arming Gazan clans to fight Hamas, and the intra-MAGA war being waged over Trump’s Iran policy. Finally, they take a tour through Tulsi Gabbard’s dark twisted nuclear fantasy. Then, the guys speak with Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, about how Covid changed global politics, working with big tech to reduce radicalization, and the need to hold two truths at once when it comes to Gaza. Her new book is a A Different Kind of Power.

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

Ben and guest co-host Ali Velshi kick off the show with a conversation about how Trump’s policies are accelerating US brain drain, Tulsi Gabbard’s Fox News-style overhaul of the Presidential Daily Brief, and the eyebrow-raising new press secretary at the Pentagon. They also talk about Ukraine’s massive surprise drone strike on Russia and the stalemate between Putin and Zelensky. Additionally, they cover the horrific attack on Jewish demonstrators in Colorado, Israel and America’s disastrous aid distribution operation in Gaza, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and the future of the two-state solution. Also discussed: China’s advantages in the trade war, how trade wars can become real wars, and far-right politics in Poland, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Finally, Ali takes a step back to talk about being a journalist covering Trump 2.0. Ali’s show Velshi airs weekends on MSNBC, and his book is Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy.

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

Tommy and Ben are on the Trump corruption beat, including Vietnam’s fast-tracking of a Trump golf project for favorable treatment, the administration pushing Elon Musk’s Starlink on foreign countries, the president’s grotesque dinner for buyers of his memecoin, and Cory Booker’s embarrassing vote for Charles Kushner to be ambassador to France. Additionally, they talk about the reduction of National Security Council staff and how its operations are changing for the worse under Trump and the administration’s hostility to international students. Also discussed: the tragic killing of two Israeli embassy workers in Washington, Israel’s widely denounced new method of distributing aid in Gaza, Putin’s ongoing humiliation of Trump, North Korea’s failed battleship launch, Japan’s rice crisis and how a joke cost a government minister his job, and the crucial role a biscuit tin plays in New Zealand politics. Finally, Tommy speaks with Representative Jim Himes, ranking member of the  House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, about the dangers of politicizing intelligence, how the war in Gaza might be fueling terrorism, and more.

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss President Trump’s policy changes on Syria and his man-crush on its president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, what lifting sanctions on Syria could (and should) look like, more details on how Qatar’s plane bribe came together, and Tulsi Gabbard’s shocking politicization of the intelligence community. They also talk about the continuing crackdown on journalists and human rights activists by Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, the dire–and indefensible–humanitarian situation in Gaza, the lack of any meaningful progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and elections in Portugal, Romania and Poland. Then, Ben speaks with Dr. Feroze Sidwha, a trauma surgeon who has volunteered twice in Gaza, about his experience treating patients in Khan Younis. Finally, Ben and Tommy are forced to endure some selections from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss how President Trump’s first official foreign trip is a blatant extraction of money from the Middle East, his announcement that the US will lift sanctions on Syria, the widening cracks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump and Israel’s increasing isolation, and the different stories the US and Iran are telling about the latest nuclear talks. They also talk about why Trump caved to China on tariffs, India and Pakistan’s ceasefire and the Trump administration’s belated intervention in the conflict, and the latest talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. Additionally, they talk about the first American Pope and why the Trump administration’s classification of white South Africans as refugees is white supremacy as policy. Finally, Tommy speaks with Senator Chris Murphy about the historic corruption on display during Trump’s Middle East trip and what Democrats can do to fight back.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss President Trump’s firing of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and the dangers that come along with consolidating responsibilities into fewer hands, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the White House, and cuts to the CIA, military, and other intelligence agencies while Trump plans a “big, beautiful” military parade on his birthday. They also talk about Israel’s plan to occupy and hold Gaza indefinitely, the anti-Trump effect in the Australian election, but a rightward turn for elections in the UK and Romania. Additionally, they cover the rocky start for Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the Trump administration’s defense of Germany’s far-right AfD party after being designated as an “extremist endeavor”, India’s military response to a terrorist attack in the Kashmir region, and they take bets on the papal conclave. Finally, Ben speaks to Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders in the US about the grim state of global press freedom.

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

Ben and Tommy discuss the Liberal Party’s shocking come-from-behind victory in the Canadian election and why it was a rebuke of Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump’s meeting at the Vatican and why Trump’s peace talks with Russia have failed, and the never-ending chaos swirling around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. They also talk about the escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan after a terrorist attack in the Kashmir region, the horrifying, deteriorating situation on the ground in Gaza, and a new investigation from Channel 13 news in Israel about the Biden administration’s disastrous approach to the war in Gaza. Then Ben speaks to Oleksandra Matviichuk, a Ukrainian human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate about the devastating humanitarian impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the latest scandal engulfing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and why even his defenders say the Pentagon is in chaos, a report about the FBI Director’s jet-setting lifestyle, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s mindless reorganization of the State Department. They also talk about Pope Francis’ moral leadership on global affairs, how China is winning the trade war and concern that the impact of Trump’s tariffs might be irreversible, why US airstrikes on the Houthi rebels have failed to deter them, a new political crisis for Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu, the latest from Gaza, and why Swedes are Netflix and chilling to the Moose Migration.

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele’s White House meeting with Trump and their coordinated assault on due process in America, the terrifying prospect of Trump sending American citizens to foreign prisons, Daniel Noboa’s re-election in Ecuador, and disgraced military contractor Erik Prince’s attempts to privatize and profit from right-wing autocracy. They also talk about Trump’s failures to end the war in Ukraine, the administration's talks with Iran about its nuclear program and the fight to define what a successful Iran deal 2.0 could look like, and the anti-Trump effect on Australia and Canada’s upcoming elections. Then, Tommy speaks to Josh Rogin, author of Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the Twenty-First Century, about Trump’s chaotic China policymaking in the first term and who in the administration is influencing his decision-making as he launches a massive trade war.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the disastrous impact of Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, how a fringe right-wing conspiracy theorist got Trump to fire top national security officials, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington and the upcoming talks between the Trump administration and Iran. Then they explain why South Sudan is teetering on the edge of civil war, and the dramatic end of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s time in power. Finally, Tommy speaks to Noah Bullock, Executive Director of Cristosal, about the brutality of El Salvador’s prison system and why Donald Trump and Nayib Bukele have forged such a close relationship.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss French far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement conviction and what it could mean for France’s political future, reactions from world leaders to Trump’s promised “Liberation Day” when US tariffs on global imports will supposedly go into effect, and a spate of incompetent national security staffing stories from Elise Stefanik losing the UN nomination to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bringing his wife to meetings. They also talk about the chilling effects of deportations and student visas being revoked and how the latest version of the Ukraine mineral deal will only lead to corruption and grift from Trump’s goons. Then Ben speaks with International Rescue Committee President David Miliband about the hole USAID cuts have left in the humanitarian response to crises in Myanmar, Sudan, and global health. Sign up for our Friends of the Pod community at crooked.com/friends to start your 30-day free trial!

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the fallout from Trump's national security team accidentally sending top secret war plans to a journalist, Turkey's backsliding democracy as a result of Erdoğan arresting his top political opponent, and Bibi Netanyahu's continuing efforts to remove internal critics while Israel gears up for potential annexation of Gaza. They also discuss a violent settler attack on the Oscar winning co-director of No Other Land, Russia's maximalist terms for the new maritime ceasefire with Ukraine, the conflicts in Sudan and Congo, and the Trump administration's latest immigration moves, including revoking temporary protected status for over 500,000 people. Then, Tommy is joined by Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director at the European Council of Foreign Relations, for a tour of Europe, including Turkey's political unrest, Romania's fraught election, and the latest with Hungarian strongman Viktor Orbán.

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss Bibi Netanyahu restarting the war in Gaza as he creates a new domestic political crisis, why Trump's airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen are likely to fail, and the gutting of Voice of America. They also cover the latest in Trump's efforts to harness the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged gang members to El Salvador, how Putin continues to play Trump in negotiations over Ukraine, Serbia's wave of student-led protests over government corruption, and why patrons at a popular Chinese hotpot chain are getting more than just a full refund. Then Ben speaks with Pankaj Mishra, author of The World After Gaza: A History, about how Israel's relationship with the legacy of the Holocaust has shifted, decolonization in the 20th century, and how a writer can be of service in these dark times.

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

Today we're excited to bring you the first episode of Shadow Kingdom: God's Banker. In the summer of 1982, the Vatican’s top money man was found dead. Roberto Calvi was at the center of a prolific money laundering scheme that put him in the crosshairs of the Sicilian mafia, a secret far-right chapter of the Freemasons, and the Catholic Church. Forty years after his death was ruled a suicide, Shadow Kingdom host Nicolo Majnoni got a tip that there was more to the story. So who killed God’s banker? Shadow Kingdom is a new series from Crooked Media and Campside Media. Each season starts with a crime, and as the layers are peeled back to find out who or what is at the center of it, a larger system at play is revealed. Subscribe to Shadow Kingdom: God’s Banker wherever you get your podcasts or join Crooked's Friends Of The Pod subscription community to hear the full season right now. Join Friends Of The Pod at crooked.com/friends or subscribe through the Shadow Kingdom Apple feed.

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss late-breaking news that Russia and Ukraine may agree to a 30-day ceasefire, Canada’s new Prime Minister and the rapidly escalating trade war with the United States that he’ll inherit, and the final death knell for USAID. They also talk about the irrational anger at the Trump administration’s direct talks with Hamas, and the Anti-Defamation League’s ludicrous support of the arrest of a Columbia university student for his role in pro-Palestine protests. Then they cover the recent violence in Syria between the new government and pro-Assad loyalists, and the ICC arrest of Rodrigo Duterte, former President of the Philippines. Then Tommy speaks to journalist and System Update host Glenn Greenwald about the Trump administration’s attacks on free speech, a realistic end to the war in Ukraine, Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s new FBI leadership, and censorship in Brazil.

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the continued fallout from President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous White House meeting, including Europe’s attempt to come up with an alternative peace plan, Trump casually talking about regime change in Ukraine, and the giddy response from the Kremlin. They also discuss the potentially devastating economic consequences of Trump’s trade war with Canada, China, and Mexico, the grim death toll from DOGE destroying USAID, why the Trump administration helped Andrew Tate return to America, Israel blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, and news from Panama, Venezuela, and Mexico. Then Ben speaks to Natasha Hall, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, about the way geopolitics are affecting the establishment of a new government in Syria.

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s disastrous meeting at the White House that erupted in a yelling match and resulted in Zelensky being told to leave. They dig into JD Vance’s role as instigator, the revealed motivations for attacking Zelensky in front of the press, and what Zelensky’s options are for pursuing peace from here.

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the increasing divide between the US and Europe on the issue of the war in Ukraine just as the world marks the three year anniversary, including a mineral reserves deal and America’s vote against a UN resolution calling for an end to Russian aggression. They also talk about Germany’s election results and the likely new Chancellor Freidrich Merz, the right wing podcaster who is Trump’s new Deputy FBI Director, firings at the Pentagon, an update on migrants sent to Guantanamo Bay and Panama, a parade of international right wingers at CPAC, and strains in the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel after the return of the remains of the Bibas family. Then, Tommy speaks to Bloomberg Businessweek reporter Zeke Faux about the Argentinian President’s memecoin and how it relates to the Trump family’s crypto schemes.

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the seismic shift in US foreign policy that happened this past week after Trump announced that the US and Russia would directly negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine through talks that exclude Ukraine and Europe. They also explain how JD Vance’s first foreign trip insulted nearly every leader in Europe while boosting Germany’s far-right AfD party ahead of Germany’s election this Sunday, how support for a crypto scam has become a major political liability for the president of Argentina, the continued fallout from USAID cuts, the latest on the Gaza ceasefire, and intelligence leaks about a potential Israeli military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Then, Ben speaks to Max Seddon, Moscow Bureau Chief for the Financial Times, about how the flip flop in US foreign policy towards Russia is being greeted by the Kremlin.

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss how Trump’s insane plan to ethnically cleanse and “own” the Gaza strip is destabilizing governments in Egypt and Jordan, and why Trump keeps undermining the Gaza ceasefire deal he helped broker. They also discuss new whistleblower allegations about Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, how the Department of Justice is making it harder to combat foreign election interference and corruption, JD Vance’s speech scolding Europe for AI safety regulations, Trump’s Executive Order cutting off aid to South Africa, the dynastic political battle in the Philippines, and the discovery of new JFK assassination documents. Then, Tommy speaks to Congresswoman Sara Jacobs about the damage from cuts to USAID and what levers Democrats can pull to stop Trump from gutting agencies.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

Tommy and Ben discuss the assault on USAID by Trump and Elon Musk, how Democrats can best make the argument to support it, and why putting it under the purview of the State Department is a bad idea. They also discuss a purge at the FBI, Marco Rubio’s first overseas trip as Secretary of State, the moral and logistical stupidity of both sending US prisoners to El Salvador and undocumented migrants to Guantanamo Bay, Trump launching air strikes in Somalia, and Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump at the White House. Then, Ben speaks with Sky News Africa Correspondent Yousra Elbagir about the violence unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025