A society overflowing with guns and drugs. Politicians who would rather cater to the extreme fringes of their parties instead of the country as a whole. And dark money flowing in from secretive billionaires with eccentric agendas.

This is the United States depicted in the novel The Last Election by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang.

Yang left the Democratic Party to start his own non-partisan party, called Forward.

He tells host Steve Clemons that the US is headed for a bleak future unless new leaders rise who are willing to "solve the problems that are literally driving us crazy".

A society overflowing with guns and drugs. Politicians who would rather cater to the extreme fringes of their parties instead of the country as a whole. And dark money flowing in from secretive billionaires with eccentric agendas. This is the United States depicted in the novel The Last Election by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Yang left the Democratic Party to start his own non-partisan party, called Forward. He tells host Steve Clemons that the US is headed for a bleak future unless new leaders rise who are willing to "solve the problems that are literally driving us crazy".

A weekly take on US politics and policies and how they affect the world.

The Bottom Line

Andrew Yang: Americans are fed up with both Republicans and Democrats | The Bottom Line

Months after being attacked by the United States and Israel, Iran finds itself in the crosshairs again, with Israeli officials lobbying US President Donald Trump to address Tehran's ballistic missiles.

Veteran Iranian diplomat Javad Zarif tells host Steve Clemons that "everybody lost any faith in diplomacy" after Israel and the US attacked Iran following five rounds of reconciliation talks between Washington and Tehran.

Zarif added that Israel has historically thwarted every opportunity for reconciliation between Iran and the US, and that Trump's style of diplomacy is disastrous, as it creates "negotiations that end up in war".

Javad Zarif: Main threat to the Middle East is Israel, not Iran | The Bottom Line

Two months ago, United States President Donald Trump held an international gala to celebrate his 20-point plan for peace in Gaza, but his plan has been stuck in phase one since then.

Bronwen Maddox, the director of Chatham House – one of the world’s leading think tanks – argues that while Trump’s ceasefire slowed the horrific Israeli bombing of Gaza, “that doesn't mean we've got a plan for the future".

Maddox tells host Steve Clemons that Iran is weaker, but Israel’s campaign to destabilise its neighbours, such as Syria, is dragging the region into further conflict, not peace and prosperity.

Trump declared a 'new Middle East’ – but what has changed? | The Bottom Line

After years of support from the United States for the Ukraine war to continue “as long as it takes”, the Trump administration is now pushing to end Europe’s war – quickly and imperfectly.

While details are still under negotiation, they include issues such as ensuring Ukraine never joins NATO and Russia’s control over about 20 percent of Ukraine.

To understand the implications for Europe, the US and their relations, host Steve Clemons speaks with Kurt Volker, Trump’s former special representative for Ukraine negotiations, and retired Colonel Heino Klinck, former director of US Army international affairs.

Andrew Yang: Americans are fed up with both Republicans and Democrats | The Bottom Line

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