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Pod Save the World

Each week, “Pod Save America” cohost Tommy Vietor and Obama’s former Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes break down the biggest developments in foreign policy, national security and global politics. They try to explain which stories matter and why, and what we can all do to understand and shape the world around us.

Subscribe to Friends of the Pod! Your subscription makes Crooked’s work possible and gives you access to ad-free episodes of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World, plus exclusive content and a lively Discord community. Learn more and subscribe at crooked.com/friends or on Apple Podcasts.

Tommy and Ben unpack the latest twists in Donald Trump’s chaotic regime-change war with Iran, which eleven days in is still plagued by shifting goals, contradictory messaging, and rising regional consequences. They break down the White House’s confusing claims of victory despite unresolved threats—from the hundreds of pounds of highly enriched uranium still loose inside Iran to signs that Tehran may be mining the Strait of Hormuz. The guys discuss the war’s mounting casualties, environmental devastation from Israeli strikes on Iranian fuel depots, and the dangerous escalation of attacks on desalination plants across the Gulf. They also dig into what we know about Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, explain why sending troops into Iran to secure its nuclear materials—or seize the oil hub of Kharg Island—would be a massive and risky military mission, and why Democrats in Congress must refuse to authorize more funding for the war. Plus: Israel’s widening war in Lebanon, the U.S. military’s new role in Ecuador’s fight against drug cartels, and the election of a GenZ rapper-turned-politician in Nepal. Then Tommy speaks to Michael C. Horowitz, Senior Fellow for Tech & Innovation at the Council on Foreign Relations, about the Pentagon’s fight with Anthropic and how AI is being used by the military.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

For Friends of the Pod the guys answer questions about whether assassination-as-foreign-policy is making a comeback, which US military interventions were actually successful in the post-WWII era, and, like…dude, what the fuck.

Preorder Ben’s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

Why Trump Might Send Ground Troops to Iran

Tommy and Ben discuss the ways in which the war in Iran seems to be spiraling out of control, from American service member deaths and devastating civilian casualties to Iranian drone strikes on embassies and the mounting global economic fallout. Meanwhile, the White House’s explanation for why the war started keeps getting more absurd. The guys unpack the claim that an impending Israeli strike somehow forced Trump’s hand, JD Vance’s reported push to “go big,” and the deep uncertainty around who might fill the leadership vacuum in Iran. Finally, they discuss the latest from Cuba and Lindsey Graham’s open call for regime change, and do a special deep dive on FBI Director Kash Patel’s extremely online girlfriend. Then, Ben speaks with Rep. Yassamin Ansari, who is Iranian-American, about the mixed emotions of the diaspora and what Congress can do about a war they weren’t consulted on.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Preorder Ben’s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

Did Israel Push Trump into War with Iran?

Trump’s war with Iran is escalating fast and the consequences are spreading across the Middle East. Tommy and Ben break down the latest military operations, Iran’s decision to attack countries and sow chaos across the region, and the growing regional fallout as missiles and drones hit targets from Israel to the Gulf. Then they play clips from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chaotic press conference and unpack their lies and incoherence, shifting war aims, and refusal to rule out boots on the ground. They explain Iran’s strategy, the costly missile defense math, the risks of wider escalation — and what Democrats should be saying right now.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Update: Trump Breaks Silence About Iran War

Tommy and Ben discuss the breaking news that Israel and America launched hundreds of joint strikes against Iran, throwing the region into chaos. They talk about reports that the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead, Iran’s retaliation against Israel, US bases in the region and civilian targets in Gulf nations, how Democrats should respond, the international reaction, and the uncertainty that lies ahead.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Breaking: America and Israel at War with Iran

Tommy and Ben discuss seemingly imminent American military strikes on Iran despite the absence of clear goals or military plan, the lack of concern for both the Iranian public and US troops who are caught in the middle of President Trump’s chaotic warmongering, and Tucker Carlson’s striking interview with Mike Huckabee where Carlson pins him down on Israeli border expansion and justification for war with Iran. They also talk about the Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs and what it means for Trump’s foreign policy, why companies like Anthropic may be the only hope to control the military’s use of AI, a mass exodus of ISIS supporters from a detention camp in Syria, and FBI Director Kash Patel inserting himself into the US Men’s hockey team’s celebration at the Olympics. Then Tommy speaks to Ricardo Zúniga, founder of Dinámica Americas, about the significance of Mexican forces killing drug lord “El Mencho” and the resulting violence in the country.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
 

Preorder Ben’s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

Countdown to War With Iran?

Ben and guest co-host Ayman Mohyeldin break down the news out of the Munich Security Conference, including Marco Rubio’s condescending speech, why all eyes were on Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the grim outlook for Ukraine, and Ben’s sense of the mood on the ground there. They also talk about Israel's slow-motion annexation of the West Bank, the lack of progress on Gaza, and Lindsay Graham’s enthusiasm for future wars fought with Israeli tech. Also covered: what Iran could look like if the current regime falls, and Trump’s responsibility for the dire humanitarian situation in Cuba. Finally, new clues on Kim Jong Un’s succession plan for North Korea and the extremely satisfying downfall of MAGA troll Richard Grenell. You can find Ayman hosting The Weekend: Primetime, which airs Saturdays and Sundays at 6pm ET on MS NOW.

Preorder Ben’s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

AOC on the World Stage, Trump Starves Cuba

Tommy and Ben discuss the growing calls for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to resign over Labour’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and the comparative lack of political accountability here in the US. They also talk about new details surrounding the whistleblower complaint that was silenced by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, an overwhelming electoral victory for the nationalist party in Japan, a multibillion-dollar arms sale to Taiwan that could jeopardize Trump’s upcoming trip to China, and a penis enlargement scandal taking center stage at the Olympics. Then, Ben speaks to Nilo Tabrizy, an investigative reporter who was just laid off from The Washington Post about the mass cuts to the international desk, and what will be lost without the newspaper’s investment in foreign reporting.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Preorder Ben’s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

Will Epstein Files Take Down the British Government?

Tommy and Ben break down the expanding web of corruption around President Trump — from a bombshell report revealing the UAE royal family’s stake in the Trump family crypto venture, to the global fallout from the release of the Epstein Files. They also dig into Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s role in “investigating” insane foreign election conspiracies, a mysterious, top-secret whistleblower complaint that Gabbard has kept from Congress, the impact of brutal winter conditions on the war in Ukraine, Egypt’s role in Sudan’s civil war, why Americans should care about a separatist movement in Alberta, Canada, and the last place you’d ever expect to find a World War I artillery shell. Then, Ben speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group about what’s unfolding in Iran after the regime’s brutal crackdown. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. 

Preorder Ben’s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack here.

Epstein Files Reveal Depraved Global Network

Tommy and Ben explain why Trump backed off his threat to take Greenland by force and debate whether European leaders have finally found a playbook for how to push back, the backlash to Trump’s disgraceful denigration of NATO troops and their service in Afghanistan, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s bold attempt to break from the United States and forge a new international order. Then they cover the purge of top military leaders in China and widespread rumors of a coup attempt against Chinese President Xi Jinping, Jared Kushner’s much-derided PowerPoint presentation on the future of Gaza, new details about how the Iranian regime crushed the recent protests and why there may now be an even greater likelihood that the US bombs Iran (again), a humiliating and terrifying profile of Kash Patel’s first year at the FBI, and why a real estate forum in Saudi Arabia made us want to cry. Then Tommy speaks with Kenneth Rosen, author of Polar War: Submarines, Spies, and the Struggle for Power in a Melting Arctic, about why the Arctic is becoming a geopolitical flashpoint. Subscribe to Ben’s Substack here.

Has the World Finally Decided To Stand up to Trump?

Tommy and Ben talk about the growing and very real threat of President Trump attempting to take Greenland by force, the spectrum of reactions from world leaders from feckless NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to scorning French President Emmanuel Macron, and how this would lead to the end of NATO if Europeans don’t stand up to the US. They also discuss how Trump’s walking back of military threats to Iran led to the death of thousands of protesters, the confusing and corrupt intentions behind the “Board of Peace”, a rocky ceasefire between the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, Grok’s sexualized image crisis, and a bizarre tribute to Stephen Hawking. Then, Ben speaks to Sky News Africa Correspondent, Yousra Elbagir, about Uganda’s contested election. Preorder Ben’s new book, All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches, out on May 26.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Update: Trump Breaks Silence About Iran War

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