Jessica Gardner on why Xi Jinping is the quiet winner from the war, how much the conflict has cost Donald Trump and what it means for the midterm elections and the rest of his presidency.

This podcast is sponsored by Westpac

Further reading:
MAGA still supports war strongman Trump. But that’s not enough
On the streets of Miami and Palm Beach, havens for Donald Trump supporters, the president’s war in Iran gets unswerving trust – or at least the benefit of the doubt.

Off the reins: Xi, Trump set for summit with a difference
Neither leader needs any more drama than they already have, so they will instead seek an easy path to stability in the world’s most important bilateral relationship.

Trump says US-Iran ceasefire on ‘massive life support’
The US president accused Tehran of reneging on a promise to drop its nuclear ambitions as part of a deal to end the war, which threatens his meeting with Xi Jinping.

Jessica Gardner on why Xi Jinping is the quiet winner from the war, how much the conflict has cost Donald Trump and what it means for the midterm elections and the rest of his presidency.
This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/">Westpac</a>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/maga-still-supports-war-strong-man-trump-but-that-s-not-enough-20260418-p5zoz1?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">MAGA still supports war strongman Trump. But that&rsquo;s not enough</a> On the streets of Miami and Palm Beach, havens for Donald Trump supporters, the president&rsquo;s war in Iran gets unswerving trust &ndash; or at least the benefit of the doubt.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/off-the-reins-distracted-xi-trump-set-for-summit-with-a-difference-20260509-p5zv8i?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Off the reins: Xi, Trump set for summit with a difference</a> Neither leader needs any more drama than they already have, so they will instead seek an easy path to stability in the world&rsquo;s most important bilateral relationship.
<a href="https://www.afr.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-us-iran-ceasefire-on-massive-life-support-20260512-p5zvu7?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_fin&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Trump says US-Iran ceasefire on &lsquo;massive life support&rsquo;</a> The US president accused Tehran of reneging on a promise to drop its nuclear ambitions as part of a deal to end the war, which threatens his meeting with Xi Jinping.

A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.

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A weekly podcast from The Australian Financial Review that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter, explained by the best financial journalists in the country.
Search The Fin and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

A weekly podcast that examines the biggest stories in business, markets and politics, and why they matter.