Pod Save the World 3b6e3p

Tommy and Ben discuss the latest news out of Ukraine, including the increasingly vocal criticism of the war effort from Putin’s allies and talk of nuclear weapons use. Then they cover the election results in Brazil, prisoner releases, trickle down economics get humiliated in the UK, a coup in Burkina Faso, and shorter updates from around the world. Then Tommy speaks with Yeganeh Rezaian from the Committee to Protect Journalists about the protests in Iran, her experience with Iran’s brutal morality police, and what Americans and the US government should do to this movement.

Soccer is a game which has often been called “the world’s most important least important thing.” However this November’s World Cup, the most-watched sporting competition on the planet, forces fans to grapple with the complexities of a tournament which has been twisted into a public relations exercise for Qatar, a country smaller than the state of Connecticut, with a shocking human rights record, that has built the tournament’s infrastructure with migrant labor practices that have left a reported 6,500 dead. This dilemma is at the core of World Corrupt, a six-episode collaboration from Men in Blazers Media Network and Crooked Media. Starting October 8, Men in Blazers’ Roger Bennett and Pod Save the World’s Tommy Vietor will forces to explore what it means to be a fan and a responsible citizen of the world while navigating a sports landscape that is increasingly being co-opted for geo-political and corporate gain.

Ben and Tommy talk about the new right-wing government in Italy, the growing protests in Iran, Russia’s troop mobilization and sham referendums in eastern Ukraine, new British PM Liz Truss nearly tanks global markets, Jared Kushner gets a big boy award, the latest on the Mar-a-Lago documents saga, Cuba, NASA and the CIA starts a podcast. Then Ben talks with Senator Bernie Sanders about the elections in Brazil. 

Tommy and Ben talk about reports about Russian intelligence and misinformation operations abroad, Biden on Taiwan, El Salvador and US policy towards Central America, the Queen’s funeral, Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Armenia, protests in Iran, how the EU might punish Hungary, the Saudi golf tour hires a lobbyist, and the scandal rocking the international chess world. Then Ben interviews Kyiv Independent defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko about why Russia is losing their grip and Ukraine's pathway to success.

Tommy and Ben cover the successful Ukrainian military counteroffensive, what it means for Zelensky and Putin and the next phase of the war. They also discuss the rise of a far-right party in Sweden, the latest news about the Queen of England’s funeral, famine in east Africa, Biden and refugees and why Obama yelled at Steph Curry about the moon landing. Then Tommy interviews US Trade Representative Katherine Tai about China, Taiwan, and how to make voters believe free trade will help them.

In this bonus episode, Tommy and Ben discuss the life and legacy of Queen Elizabeth II. Then Ben is ed by historian Dan Snow to dig deeper into the Queen’s place in British history.

This week, Ben and Tommy talk about the new British Prime Minister Liz Truss, Israel’s bizarre rules for visitors to the West Bank, Chileans vote down a new constitution, an assassination attempt in Argentina, updates on Ukraine, Politico’s new owner, China’s covid lockdowns, Kenya’s election, Nigel Farage gets a new product line and a BBQ row roils .

Tommy and Ben talk about reports that Ukraine launched a new offensive against Russian troop and ask the question, who is winning the war? They also cover the impending European energy crisis, the death of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, reports that Trump brags about having intelligence on the French President’s sex life, floods in Pakistan, new pentagon rules to prevent civilian casualties and more. Then Ben talks with Associated Press reporter Samya Kullab about the political crisis in Iraq.

Ben and Tommy cover the latest on the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, the dumb controversy over Sanna Marin - the PM of Finland - dancing, Colombia considers decriminalizing cocaine, forced labor in China, Brazil’s election, Imran Khan in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia gives the west the finger, Dennis Rodman goes to Russia and more. Then Max Seddon from the Financial Times s to discuss a recent car bomb attack near Moscow that killed a far-right propagandist and daughter of a right-wing Russian philosopher.

Ben and Tommy cover the latest on the classified information seized at Mar-a-Lago, the one year anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, assassination attempts connected to Iran, Austin Tice, the former Australian PM’s secret jobs, Kenya’s presidential election, Ukraine, Myanmar, TikTok and disinformation and bears tripping balls. Then Ben talks with Congressman Adam Schiff about possible ramifications of the FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago, potential national security fallout, and what this tells us about what Trump would do if he won in 2024.

Tommy and Ben cover the national security implications of the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, Israel bombs targets in Gaza, good news about the Iran deal and climate change, a historic first for the Marine Corps, Trump and his generals, Viktor Orban attends fascist AC Coachella, and a verdict for Brittney Griner. Then Tommy talks with podcaster Emily Y. Wu about Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and the Chinese response.

Tommy and Ben cover the drone strike against Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, Speaker Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan, the latest news from Ukraine, including the debate over adding Russia to the State Sponsor of Terrorism list, news about Russian intelligence operations in the US, Trump weighs in on Brittney Griner’s case, excerpts from a wild profile of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, why there’s tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and the first ever international take appreciators.   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.  

In 2015 Putin’s number one public enemy, Boris Nemtsov, was shot and killed in front of the Kremlin. He was a relentless critic of Putin, corruption, and war in Ukraine. Then, he was assassinated. His daughter, journalist Zhanna Nemtsova, and co-host Ben Rhodes tell his story to find out what happened to an entire country – and what happens next. Is another Russia possible?   Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/another-russia/id1634279839   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1edslXTCkkMFeN8htn1iAy?si=1G14a5slQ-uURxuxsTmbpA   Crooked: https://crooked.com/podcast-series/another-russia/

This week, Ben and Tommy explain why the Chinese government is freaking out about Speaker Pelosi visiting Taiwan, the latest news from Ukraine, the climate change bomb that might go off in Congo, Viktor Orban’s latest racist rant, Pope Francis’s trip to Canada, and why 9/11 families are doubling down on their criticism of Trump while the Saudi government plans a monument to stupidity in the desert, and much more. Then Ben talks with Zhanna Nemtsova about their new podcast Another Russia, which explores the murder of Zhanna's father and what it tells us about Russia today. Listen to Another Russia here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tommy and Ben cover President Biden’s trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia, explain why 9/11 families are furious at Donald Trump, discuss what can happen internationally on climate change without US action, the latest from Sri Lanka, why the Prime Minister of Italy may resign, then we laugh at Fox News’s foreign coverage, Mike Pompeo’s presidential ambitions, a French mustard shortage and what Boris Johnson’s successors think about him. Finally, Tommy is ed by Politico’s Christopher Miller to discuss the latest news from Ukraine.

Tommy and Ben discuss the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, protest in Sri Lanka, President Biden’s trip to the Middle East, the latest news from Ukraine and Brittney Griner’s prosecution in Russia, Condoleezza Rice’s new job and John Bolton weighs in on coups. Then Ben talks with long-time diplomat and Asia expert Danny Russel about the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, politics in Japan, and Abe's legacy.

Ben and Tommy record a bonus episode on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation with special guest and friend of the pod David Lammy, Labour MP and shadow Foreign Secretary of State.

Ben and Tommy answer your questions about the Labour Party’s leadership, Brexit and the UK’s refugee policies, “Russification” in Ukraine, Latin America, the risk from and rise of China, Yemen, Sri Lanka, climate change, favorite simple pleasures, pet peeves, favorite places to visit, and book recommendations.   Crooked Coffee is now available at crooked.com/coffee!

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.

Ben lays out the significance of the elections and governmental shakeups in Israel, Colombia, and and talks through the latest on the war in Ukraine. Then Ben talks with Alexei Navalny’s chief of staff Leonid Volkov in Copenhagen about Navalny’s fate, his media operation, and Putin’s propaganda machine.