logo
episode-header-image
May 2021
23m 18s

Trump's Last Stand: An Off-The-Books Mis...

AXIOS
About this episode

In this bonus story for How It Happened: Trump's Last Stand, Axios political correspondent Jonathan Swan details a botched attempt, made during President Trump's final days in office, to rapidly withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

  • Trump desperately wanted ending America's longest war to be part of his legacy. Instead, it will be Joe Biden's.
  • Nonetheless, in a recent interview with Swan, Trump took credit for Biden's announcement, insisting he set in motion a plan that could not be stopped.
  • Swan provides listeners the full story of what Trump tried to do, how, and why it ultimately didn't happen.


Follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen so you don't miss our second season coming later this year.

Credits: This episode is produced by Amy Pedulla and Naomi Shavin. Dan Bobkoff is our executive producer. Mixing by Alex Sugiura. Theme music by Michael Hanf. Margaret Talev is Managing Editor of Politics. Sara Kehaulani Goo is Executive Editor. Additional writing, reporting and research by Zach Basu.

Special thanks to Nuria Marquez Martinez, Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Jimmy Shelton, and to Axios co-founders Mike Allen, Jim VandeHei, and Roy Schwartz.

Note: This episode has a brief moment of profanity

Up next
Jan 2023
Elon Musk vs. Twitter Part V: Cracks in the Empire
How It Happened: Elon Musk vs. Twitter Part V: Cracks in the Empire explores whether Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter has made his cross-industry empire too big for one billionaire to run. Host Erica Pandey examines Musk's first months as CEO of Twitter and the simultaneous cha ... Show More
32m 9s
Oct 2022
Elon Musk vs. Twitter Part IV: Musk's Must-Do List
How It Happened: Elon Musk vs. Twitter Part IV: Musk's Must-Do List features reporting from Axios media reporter Sara Fischer about the challenges at Twitter that Musk could inherit — and what he might do about them. Fischer takes listeners inside Twitter to understand how the pl ... Show More
34m 23s
Oct 2022
Elon Musk vs. Twitter Part III: Musk Offers To Buy Twitter (Again)
Just days before a trial to determine if Elon Musk would be forced to buy Twitter was scheduled to begin, Musk sent a letter offering once again to buy Twitter for the same price he'd originally offered in April. Musk has a unique tolerance for risk at his companies, but the surp ... Show More
17m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
Biden's civic challenge
Today, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take the oath of office and begin their terms as President and Vice President of the United States. It's a historic inauguration without crowds or celebrations but one that Axios' managing editor Margaret Talev says fits the tenor of the mo ... Show More
10m 53s
Oct 2022
“Chief Twit”
Elon Musk finally completes his Twitter takeover.Adam dives into what it means for the platform’s future with the BBC’s Technology editor, Zoe Kleinman, and Tim Higgins, author of “Power Play: Tesla, Elon Musk, and the Bet of the Century”.And documentary film-maker Adam Curtis ta ... Show More
32m 38s
Aug 2023
Prigozhin: Has Putin Struck Again?
The boss of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is presumed dead after a plane crash north of Moscow killed all on board.Ukrainecast’s Vitaly Shevchenko and security correspondent, Frank Gardner, join Adam to go through what we know. Lou Osborn from the monitoring grou ... Show More
31m 59s
May 2024
Hush money, a gag order, and protests: the Trump-Stormy Daniels trial
It’s the Donald Trump trial made for the tabloids. Accused of an affair with an adult film star and a payment allegedly made to cover it up ahead of the 2016 US election. Eight years later, Trump is seeking the presidency again. What’s the impact of the scandal this time? In this ... Show More
19m 28s
Mar 2022
Biden Joe’s Time
The US President wraps up his trip to Europe, but is he taking the lead on Ukraine?The BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, who has been travelling with the US Commander-in-Chief on Air Force One, and Europe Editor, Katya Adler, drop by to chew over the transatlantic approach ... Show More
31m 41s
Mar 2024
Another Take: Will Vladimir Putin go nuclear?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story that’s in the news again.  Russia’s President Vladimir Putin seems set to win his fifth term as president as voters head to the polls this weekend. Days before the voting began, Putin confirmed that Russia was prepared for nuclear war. Today, we ... Show More
21m 53s
Jun 2024
Another Take: What was Donald Trump convicted of?
Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. Here are all the details you need to know for now on the case behind Donald Trump's conviction.  It’s the Donald Trump trial made for the tabloids. Accused of an affair with an adult film star and a payment allegedly made to c ... Show More
20m 51s
Jan 2024
US presidential race: a 2020 rerun?
The US presidential primary season is underway and a once crowded Republican party field has narrowed in New Hampshire. That's left former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley to go head-to-head with her former boss, Donald Trump. But when the dust settles, will voters have déjà vu? In this ... Show More
18m 41s
Mar 2022
Biden's message of national and global unity
President Biden delivered his first State of the Union address last night, while the refugee crisis out of Ukraine continued to grow and Russian forces bombed the country’s two largest cities. Biden's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was clear: "When the history of thi ... Show More
11m 6s
Apr 2023
SpaceX giant rocket explodes minutes after launch from Texas
SpaceX giant rocket explodes minutes after launch from TexasGuest: Jordan Bimm, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute on the Formation of Knowledge, University of Chicago Close Canadian friend on the fight to free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich being held in Mosc ... Show More
1h 37m