Tommy and Ben discuss Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s arrest in France, the debate over free speech, social media, and CEO accountability, as well as why the Russian government finds the app so useful. They also talk about strikes between Hezbollah and Israel and the lonely optimism of the US on a ceasefire deal, a change in US nuclear strategy that refocuses ... Show More
Nov 19
Trump & Saudi Arabia: A Tale of Corruption
<p>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 t ... Show More
1h 38m
Nov 10
What Should Progressive Foreign Policy Look Like? (Crooked Con)
<p>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 U ... Show More
1h 5m
Sep 2024
How Telegram Became the Underworld’s Favorite App
<p>A Times investigation has found that Telegram, one of the world’s biggest messaging apps, with nearly a billion users, is also a giant black market and gathering place for the likes of terrorists and white supremacists.</p><p>Adam Satariano, a technology reporter for The Times ... Show More
25m 45s
Sep 2024
Hezbollah pager explosions, France rape trial and Trump suspect’s disputed Ukraine links
This podcast has been updated to refer to former soldier Evelyn Aschenbrenner by their preferred pronouns.
An unprecedented Hezbollah security breach has seen thousands of pagers detonate across Lebanon, killing at least nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others. In France, a ... Show More
12m 24s