Shows / Pod Save the World
Pod Save the World
“Pod Save America” cohost Tommy Vietor thought foreign policy was boring and complicated until he got the education of a lifetime working for President Obama’s National Security Council. On “Pod Save the World,” he and former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes break down the latest global developments and bring you behind the scenes with the people who were there. New episodes every Wednesday. To get access to extended ad-free Pod Save The World episodes, sign up to be a Friends of the…
Episodes
- Pod Save the World
Pod Save America's Going On Tour!
Pod Save America is vaxxed, boosted, and headed back on the road! Get tickets & learn more: crooked.com/eventsJoin Jon, Lovett, Tommy, Dan, and special guests…
- Pod Save the World
Secretary of State Tony Blinken
On today’s episode, Tommy and Ben interview Secretary of State Tony Blinken about the threat of Russia invading Ukraine, the Iran deal, combatting antisemitism…
- Pod Save the World
Putin invades (but not where you thought)
Ben and Tommy talk about protests and power struggles in Kazakhstan, Boris Johnson’s garden party problems, an update on the assassination of the Haitian…
- Pod Save the World
Trump endorses a dictator
Tommy and Ben talk about Trump’s endorsement of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and what it says about the future of democracy, the latest on Biden’s…
- Pod Save the World
China 101
Tommy and Ben are joined by Asia policy expert Danny Russel for a special episode that is entirely focused on China. They discuss Chinese President Xi…
- Pod Save the World
The Trump-Bibi Netanyahu bromance is dead
Tommy and Ben discuss why a holiday party is causing big problems for British PM Boris Johnson, why the Trump – Netanyahu bromance is officially dead, partying…
- Pod Save the World
Biden’s Olympic Boycott
Tommy and Ben cover the US diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, Biden's call with Putin and rising tensions in Ukraine, Myanmar's ousted leader being…
- Pod Save the World
Rihanna replaces the Queen
Tommy and Ben cover the Omicron variant, a history making Prime Minister in Sweden, the Nordstream 2 pipeline and tensions in Ukraine, corruption and spies in…
- Pod Save the World
What happened to Peng Shuai?
Tommy and Ben talk about the allegations by and disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, calls to boycott the Beijing winter Olympics, British PM Boris…
- Pod Save the World
The case for invading Australia
Ben and Tommy talk about reports of a potential war crime by the US military in Syria, tensions on the border of Belarus and Poland, increased concern that…
- Pod Save the World
Rhodes goes to Glasgow
This week, Ben calls in from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow where he’s traveling with President Obama. In this episode Ben and Tommy cover the latest news…
- Pod Save the World
The world gathers to fight climate change
Tommy and Ben talk about the big news out of the climate change summit in Glasgow, the news out of the G20, the latest on the coup in Sudan and civil war in…
- Pod Save the World
Cocaine Hippos
Tommy and Ben discuss the military coup in Sudan, how Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter is making waves in China, Israel’s designation of six Palestinian human…
- Pod Save the World
We booked a Nobel Prize winner
Tommy and Ben discuss the murder of a British member of parliament, Colin Powell’s legacy, missiles, climate change, the fight against Viktor Orban…
- Pod Save the World
Ted Lasso with a bone saw
Tommy and Ben talk about why US special forces were on a training mission in Taiwan, the Saudi government buys a soccer team, Biden’s Syria policy, stealing US…
- Pod Save the World
Decoding the Pandora Papers
Tommy and Ben discuss a new, massive leak of financial documents that expose how billionaires and powerful politicians hide their money, the global impact of…
- Pod Save the World
Jared Kushner is “Rasputin in a slim-fitting suit”
Tommy and Ben talk about the results of the German elections, Senate hearings on Afghanistan, a report about a Trump administration plan to arrest Wikileaks…
- Pod Save the World
France is not amused
Tommy and Ben explain why a security agreement between the US, UK and Australia has enraged the French, the latest on elections in Canada and Russia, the…
- Pod Save the World
Who hid the nukes from Trump?
Tommy and Ben talk about the national security news in Bob Woodward’s new book, some rare progress in nuclear talks with Iran, the latest on efforts to get the…
- Pod Save the World
20 years after 9/11
Tommy and Ben cover the latest from Afghanistan, right-wing protests in Brazil, a coup in Guinea, bitcoin in El Salvador, Biden’s immigration policy, big…
- Pod Save the World
What comes next for Afghanistan
Tommy and Ben talk about the United States ending its war in Afghanistan as both countries navigate what comes next, what a visit from Israel’s prime minister…
- Pod Save the World
The lessons we should learn from Afghanistan
Tommy and Ben cover the latest news from Afghanistan, including an update on the evacuation efforts, the threat from ISIS, the coming US political fight over…
- Pod Save the World
A tragic end to 20 years in Afghanistan
Today’s episode is all about Afghanistan. Tommy and Ben cover President Biden’s decision to withdraw troops, the failure to process visas and get refugees out…
- Pod Save the World
Tucker’s all Orban has left
Tommy and Ben talk about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, Mike Pompeo and the missing whisky, Sudan and Ethiopia, big climate change news…
- Pod Save the World
Tucker Carlson makes a fascist friend
Tommy and Ben discuss the latest news from Afghanistan, Tucker Carlson’s adventures with fascists in Hungary, the state of US-Iran relations, the shortcomings…
- Pod Save the World
Trump vs Team USA
Tommy and Ben discuss the criminal charges against Trump’s inaugural committee chair Tom Barrack, President Biden's meeting with the prime minister of Iraq…
- Pod Save the World
Spyware for profit
Tommy and Ben discuss unrest and inequality in South Africa, the spyware for profit industry in Israel, Chinese cyberattacks, climate change news, updates from…
- Pod Save the World
An assassination in Haiti and protests in Cuba
Tommy and Ben discuss the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse, the ongoing protests in Cuba, how President Biden should respond to ransomware…
- Pod Save the World
World’s worst space race
Tommy and Ben discuss the US withdrawal from Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, why billionaires are racing to ride rockets, Xi Jinping’s speech celebrating the…
- Pod Save the World
Private mercenaries and naked sunbathers
Tommy and Ben discuss updates on the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the discovery of hundreds of bodies at former residential schools for Indigenous children…
- Pod Save the World
Iranian elections and Justin Bieber’s state visit
Tommy and Ben discuss the results of the presidential election in Iran, regional elections in France and why Justin Bieber went to visit the French president…
- Pod Save the World
Bye bye Bibi!
Tommy and Ben discuss President Biden’s first foreign trip and meeting with Vladimir Putin, the end of Bibi Netanyahu’s 15 year hold on power, a Twitter ban in…
- Pod Save the World
Joe's Eurovision 2021
Tommy and Ben discuss how Bibi Netanyahu has gone full Trump in an attempt to break up the opposition coalition in Israel, presidential elections in Nicaragua…
- Pod Save the World
Boris elopes, Bibi on the ropes (with Afua Hirsch)
Ben and guest co-host journalist Afua Hirsch do a deep dive into the biggest stories in British politics including Dominic Cummings' damning testimony, Boris…
- Pod Save the World
Belarus hijacks a plane (and Samantha Power)
Tommy and Ben discuss how the Belarusian president forced a plan to land so he could arrest a journalist, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a spike in…
- Pod Save the World
Time to call for a ceasefire in Gaza
Tommy and Ben do a deep dive into the latest news on the fighting between Israel and Hamas and what the Biden administration has said about it. They also talk…
- Pod Save the World
Clashes in Israel and Gaza
Tommy and Ben talk about the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza, cyberattacks on American infrastructure, a deadly police raid in Brazil, updates on Alexey…
- Pod Save the World
Talks with Iran and covid in India
Tommy and Ben discuss all the latest news out of Iran and the Iran deal negotiations, reports about mysterious directed energy attacks against Americans, the…
- Pod Save the World
Fighting climate change, coronavirus, and capitalism
Tommy and Ben discuss President Biden’s ambitious new climate goals, the coronavirus outbreak in India, American recognition of the Armenian genocide, Chloé…
- Pod Save the World
Putin's Power Plays
Tommy and Ben discuss the president of Chad’s mysterious death, Vladimir Putin's imprisonment of Alexei Navalny, the devastating coronavirus outbreak in India…
- Pod Save the World
Biden ends one war, will Israel and Iran start another?
Tommy and Ben discuss the cyberattack on an Iranian nuclear facility, Biden's plans to withdraw all troops from Afghanistan by September 11th, whether MBS…
- Pod Save the World
Should America boycott the 2022 Olympics?
Nearly two dozen people are arrested in Jordan as confusion swirls about whether a coup was being plotted there. Calls to boycott the 2022 Olympics in Beijing…
- Pod Save the World
Israel Deadlocked, Suez Unblocked
Tommy and Ben walk through the inconclusive results of the latest Israeli election, how Covid and bad political leadership is devastating Brazil, the Suez…
- Pod Save the World
Biden versus Putin
Tommy and Ben talk about what they are watching for in the Israeli elections, why Republicans are stalling the confirmation of a key Department of Defense…
- Pod Save the World
Vaccine diplomacy and Kushner bashing
Tommy and Ben discuss the intelligence community's new report on foreign interference in the 2020 election, America's role in getting the whole world…
- Pod Save the World
Oprah upends the British Empire
Tommy and Ben discuss the latest massive state-sponsored hack on American businesses and government email servers, Biden’s efforts to end the war in…
- Pod Save the World
President Biden, Saudi Arabia and human rights
Tommy and Ben talk about the newly released report on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and how President Joe Biden is approaching the US-Saudi relationship, US…
- Pod Save the World
Bobi Wine’s fight against a military dictatorship
Tommy and Ben discuss the line between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism, and how people like Mike Pompeo lie and blur that line to shut down…
- Pod Save the World
Biden confronts the war in Afghanistan
Tommy and Ben talk through Biden’s options in Afghanistan, updates on the coup in Myanmar, censorship in China, the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine in…
- Pod Save the World
Why Rihanna cares about the farmers' protests in India (and you should too)
Tommy and Ben discuss the farmers’ protests in India, updates on the situation in Myanmar, Biden’s big foreign policy speech, Canada’s classification of the…
- Pod Save the World
The coup in Myanmar, explained
Tommy and Ben discuss the military takeover in Myanmar and how President Biden should respond, Alexey Navalny's sentencing in Russia, Poland's near-total…
- Pod Save the World
Putin's plush palace
Tommy and Ben discuss President Biden’s first call with Vladimir Putin as President and the US-Russia relationship, Rob Malley and the fight over Biden’s Iran…
- Pod Save the World
The world Biden inherits
On the final Pod Save the World of the Trump presidency, Ben and Tommy talk about Joe Biden’s day-one foreign policy agenda, the arrest of Russian opposition…
- Pod Save the World
Samantha Power’s point
Tommy and Ben discuss last week’s violent coup attempt and the call for new domestic terrorism laws, how world leaders are reacting to Trump’s Twitter ban…
- Pod Save the World
New year, new strain
Tommy and Ben discuss Joe Biden’s latest foreign policy staffing decisions, the huge (likely) Russian hack of American government and private networks, Iran’s…
- Pod Save the World
Barack Obama, Worldo-in-Chief
Tommy and Ben talk with former President and current Worldo Barack Obama about some of the biggest foreign policy challenges and accomplishments addressed in…
- Pod Save the World
Biden's controversial pick to run the Pentagon
Tommy and Ben talk through Joe Biden’s decision to nominate General Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense, a new wealth tax in Argentina, the mass vaccination…
- Pod Save the World
Assassinations in Iran & Biden’s foreign policy team
Tommy and Ben talk about the assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist, what Biden’s national security team tells us about his foreign policy, protests…
- Pod Save the World
A very Worldo mailbag
In the inaugural Pod Save the World Thanksgiving mailbag episode, Tommy and Ben take your foreign policy questions, and a trip down memory lane.
- Pod Save the World
One last war for the road?
Tommy and Ben talk about reports that Trump asked his national security team for options to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities and has accelerated the drawdown…