Trump’s Shocking Ukraine Reversal

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.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. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

16 Heinä 1h 32min

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.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.  Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

2 Heinä 1h 15min

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. 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.  Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

25 Kesä 1h 22min

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.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.  Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

22 Kesä 47min

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. 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. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

18 Kesä 1h 41min

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.  Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

13 Kesä 33min

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. 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. Get tickets to CROOKED CON November 6-7 in Washington, D.C at http://crookedcon.com

11 Kesä 1h 35min