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
Trump lost, the world won
Tommy and Ben talk about President-elect Biden’s win, Trump’s refusal to start the transition, how world leaders reacted and who Biden should talk with first…
- Pod Save the World
How the world sees our election
Tommy and Ben talk with British Member of Parliament David Lammy about how the world views the US election. Then they talk about protests over abortion rights…
- Pod Save the World
A Biden foreign policy
On the final Pod Save the World before the election, Tommy and Ben talk to Biden foreign policy advisor Tony Blinken about what Joe Biden’s foreign policy will…
- Pod Save the World
Rudy Giuliani's disinformation expo
Tommy and Ben break down what we know about the connection between foreign disinformation and the latest allegations about Hunter Biden, Russia’s proposal to…
- Pod Save the World
North Korea debuts a massive new missile
The Trump administration argues with itself about troop withdrawal timelines in Afghanistan, Trump’s covid drug cocktail restarts a debate about the…
- Pod Save the World
COVID Commander-in-Chief
The foreign policy implications of Trump catching Covid, erosion of democracy in India, a possible coup in Kyrgyzstan, an update on fighting between Armenia…
- Pod Save the World
Trump’s foreign IOUs
Trump’s taxes reveal foreign income and liabilities, why Armenia and Azerbaijan are at war, the White House’s efforts to bribe Sudan, politically-charged…
- Pod Save the World
Assassin-in-Chief
Tommy and Ben discuss the latest on Russian election interference, the case for dismantling DHS, a setback for LGBTQ+ rights and US military accountability in…
- Pod Save the World
The Missing Peace
Tommy and Ben discuss the so-called “peace” deals between the UAE and Israel and Bahrain, the US/Taliban/Afghan peace talks, disturbing allegations from a…
- Pod Save the World
Trump’s military complex
Tommy and Ben discuss reports that Trump routinely denigrates American servicemembers and veterans, including those killed in battle, an update on the…
- Pod Save the World
From Putin to pandas with Karen Attiah
Ben and guest co-host Karen Attiah, the Global Opinions editor for The Washington Post, talk about Jared Kushner’s coddling of dictators and his trip to the…
- Pod Save the World
The RNC live from Jerusalem
Tommy and Ben talk about the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the foreign-policy focused elements of the Republican National Convention…
- Pod Save the World
Blockbuster Senate report on Russian election interference
Foreign policy analyst and author Rula Jebreal joins to discuss the US-Israel-UAE diplomatic agreement announced last week. Tommy and Ben talk about the major…
- Pod Save the World
Kamala Harris on the world stage
Now that Senator Kamala Harris is Joe Biden’s running mate, Ben and Tommy examine her foreign policy record. They also discuss growing concerns about foreign…
- Pod Save the World
Explosions in Beirut
Tommy and Ben talk about the enormous explosions in Beirut, why Cuba has become an issue for Congresswoman Karen Bass in Biden’s VP selection process, Biden’s…
- Pod Save the World
Ambassadors Gone Wild
Tommy and Ben make the case for Susan Rice as Vice President, the latest on escalating tensions between the US and China, US plans to sell advanced armed…
- Pod Save the World
Everything Mike Pompeo touches turns to sh*t
Democrats sound the alarm about foreign election interference. Experts say Israel and the US are responsible for mysterious explosions across Iran. Mike Pompeo…
- Pod Save the World
Dems in Congress push for a more progressive foreign policy
A leadership fight in Congress that could help make the Democratic Party’s foreign policy more progressive. A far-right nationalist wins reelection in Poland…
- Pod Save the World
Trump’s cruel immigration policies
Literally no one is surprised that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has contracted COVID, and how Sweden’s terrible response could help us move past the…
- Pod Save the World
Russian bounties with Rep Adam Schiff
Explosive reports that the Russia military has been paying Taliban-linked militants to kill US forces in Afghanistan. Tommy and Ben try to figure out why…
- Pod Save the World
John Bolton’s sh*tty book
Tommy and Ben talk through some of the explosive revelations in John Bolton’s book, from supporting the construction of concentration camps in China, to…
- Pod Save the World
Assault on the press and democracy in the Philippines
An attack on press freedom in the Philippines and what it could mean for the future of their democracy. The two year anniversary of the US-North Korea…
- Pod Save the World
Why policing is better abroad
Tommy and Ben examine how other countries structure and run their police forces to see if there are policies or tactics the US can adopt to improve outcomes…
- Pod Save the World
The world is watching
The global reaction to the protests in the United States and the scary and inappropriate way the US military is being asked to police them. Trump’s latest…
- Pod Save the World
False START
China tries to crush dissent in Hong Kong. Tommy and Ben discuss what the White House, Congress and the Biden campaign can do to stop them. Failed diplomacy…
- Pod Save the World
The corruption of Mike Pompeo
Al Qaeda stages its first successful attack on American soil since 9/11, exposing America’s broken relationship with Saudi Arabia. Mike Pompeo fires the man…
- Pod Save the World
Flynnocent After Proven Guilty
The political fallout from the failed coup attempt in Venezuela. General Flynn and the administration’s attempt to undercut the Mueller probe and punish…
- Pod Save the World
Mercenaries invade Venezuela
Why the Trump administration is directing the intelligence community to prove their claims about China and the coronavirus is so dangerous. A truly…
- Pod Save the World
TMZ at the DMZ
The latest rumors and news about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s health, and what we know about a possible succession process. Iran launches a military…
- Pod Save the World
Kim Jong Un-healthy?
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu cuts a deal that allows him to stay in charge. We explain how the price of a barrel of oil briefly becomes negative…
- Pod Save the World
Samantha Power Hour
Former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus talks about Capt Crozier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt and how the coronavirus created a crisis in the Navy. Former US…
- Pod Save the World
The Navy’s coronavirus clusterf*ck
A coronavirus clusterf*ck in the Navy leads the Acting Secretary of the Navy to resign. The virus sends British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the ICU while…
- Pod Save the World
How a virus can threaten democracy
Today’s show is a little different. We skip the update on the spread of the coronavirus itself and instead focus on the impact it’s having on governments and…
- Pod Save the World
A criminally negligent coronavirus response
Tommy and Ben go through the latest news on the international response to the coronavirus, including nationwide lockdowns in the UK and India and signs of hope…
- Pod Save the World
Our new coronavirus reality
Tommy and Ben talk about the new normal as the world combats the coronavirus. They cover how South Korea has successfully reduced cases, how the Trump…
- Pod Save the World
Coronavirus and oil shocks rock the global economy
Coronavirus update and explanation of why an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia is rocking the global economy. More crackdowns in Saudi Arabia, why…
- Pod Save the World
A fragile peace deal in Afghanistan
Tommy and Ben talk about the fragile peace agreement between the US and the Taliban, the Israeli elections, the escalating fighting between Turkey and Syria…
- Pod Save the World
Bernie Sanders’ foreign policy record comes under attack
First, Trump’s trip to India, his new and unqualified Director of National Intelligence, and should Democrats attend AIPAC? Then updates on Sudan and South…
- Pod Save the World
Bloomberg’s foreign policy and the global economy gets the coronavirus
Mike Bloomberg’s foreign policy record and platform. How some 2020 candidates failed a foreign policy quiz. The humanitarian crisis in northwest Syria. The…
- Pod Save the World
How the CIA broke the world’s encryption
Tommy and Ben tell some stories about the New Hampshire primary in 2008, walk through a report on a decades-long CIA/German effort to crack encrypted…
- Pod Save the World
Jared still sucks
Today’s topics include: Brexit, updates on the Coronavirus, why Trump made Venezuela a focus of his State of the Union speech, the list of countries subject to…
- Pod Save the World
Trump kills the Middle East peace process
First, Tommy and Ben talk about Trump’s plan to help Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu win reelection and how it essentially means the death of the middle…
- Pod Save the World
That’s President Sh*thole to you
Will new facial recognition technology end privacy as we know it? Can Trump scare the Intelligence Community out of testifying before Congress? Why did Putin’s…
- Pod Save the World
Iran and the lies we told along the way
Tommy and Ben cover the latest developments in the Iran crisis, including why the intelligence and legal case for assassinating Soleimani keeps changing, the…
- Pod Save the World
Iran retaliates to the Soleimani strike
Tommy and Ben talk about the fallout from Trump’s decision to assassinate Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. What do we know about Iran’s ballistic missile…
- Pod Save the World
Trump goes to war with Iran
In a bonus episode, Tommy and Ben discuss Trump’s decision to assassinate a top Iranian official named Qassem Soleimani. What happened? How did we get here?…
- Pod Save the World
UK election aftermath
British MP David Lammy joins to talk about the UK elections and what they mean for Brexit and the future of the Labour Party. Then Ben and Tommy talk about…
- Pod Save the World
A history of failure in Afghanistan
Tommy and Ben explain why the Russian foreign minister is in Washington and why Vladimir Putin is in Paris, the media and political reaction to the Saudi…
- Pod Save the World
NATO’s “brain death”
Tommy and Ben talk about Trump’s trip to London for the NATO summit, including his dustup with the French President and the health of NATO in 2019. Then they…
- Pod Save the World
Panic at the Pentagon
First, Tommy talks with former DOD official and national security expert Kelly Magsamen about Trump’s meddling in the military justice system and the firing of…
- Pod Save the World
Impeachmentpalooza
First, Tommy and Ben discuss the increasingly violent protests in Hong Kong, the impeachment hearings, Trump’s new policy on Israeli settlements, and protests…
- Pod Save the World
President Erdogan crashes the impeachment hearings
Tommy and Ben talk about Fmr President Evo Morales's abrupt departure from Bolivia and whether to call it a coup, the latest Brexit news, Turkish President…
- Pod Save the World
Breaking down the Baghdadi raid
Tommy and Ben discuss what the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi means for ISIS as well as Trump's strange lie about Baghdadi's "whimpering" demise. Then they…
- Pod Save the World
Announcing: What A Day
“What A Day,” Crooked Media’s new daily news podcast, is here! Hosted by comedian Akilah Hughes and politics reporter Gideon Resnick, “What A Day” cuts through…
- Pod Save the World
LIVE from J Street
Tommy and Ben record a special episode from D.C. at the national conference hosted by the progressive Jewish organization J Street. They run through news from…
- Pod Save the World
Bill Taylor’s got the Ukraine receipts
Tommy and Ben talk about the latest on impeachment and about Turkey’s invasion of Syria. Then they run through a whirlwind week of news that included Brexit…
- Pod Save the World
Send Rudy Giuliani to Syria
Tommy and Ben talk about disaster unfolding in Syria, fact check Trump’s claim that he’s ending wars, explain who the Kurds are and why they’re US allies…
- Pod Save the World
Abandoning our allies in Syria
Tommy and Ben discuss Trump’s decision to pull US troops out of Syria and let Turkey begin a military campaign against the Kurds, a key US ally in the fight…
- Pod Save the World
Ukraine, corruption, and partners in crime
First, Tommy and Ben discuss Trump’s quid pro quo with Ukraine, that country’s history with corruption, why Joe Biden was pushing to fire a Ukrainian…
- Pod Save the World
Impeach the mofo
Tommy talks with national security expert Kelly Magsamen about Trump’s attempt to extort Ukraine for manufactured dirt on Joe Biden, Trump’s UN speech, Iran…