‘The Truth Social war’: the US playbook for war with Iran

The US-Israeli war with Iran is here, and so is the information war. We track how “major combat operations” were announced and sold on Truth Social, the echoes of the Iraq war, and what claims about “threats” and “self-defense” mean for the Iranian people. With Tehran confirming Supreme Leader Ayat…

Brief: Day 2 of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Supporters mourn Khamenei

This week: 151 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 618 Palestinians in Gaza.  Israel and the United States are attacking Iran and have killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader. Israel has killed more than 72,082 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In thi…

Another Take: Imani Barbarin on disability rights, COVID and Gaza

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on xx, 20xx. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. Why does the public understanding of disability lag so far behind reality? TikTok influencer and disability activist Imani Barba…

Aaron Bushnell, Gaza and the meaning of ‘no longer complicit’

Aaron Bushnell, a member of the US air force, set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, in an act of political protest over Israel’s war in Gaza. Bushnell livestreamed his death, saying he no longer wanted to be complicit in genocide. Two years later, how did his messag…

Is the US negotiating with Iran or preparing to strike?

Iran and the United States are heading into a third round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, while US military assets build up across the region. Is either side prepared to compromise, or is the confrontation at a breaking point? In this episode:  Sina Toossi, Senior Fellow, Center for In…

What El Mencho’s death means for Mexico’s cartels

Mexico says it killed El Mencho, leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Within hours, highways burned and violence spread across multiple states. His death is being called a victory, but removing a kingpin doesn’t dismantle a cartel. What changes now for Mexico, and what doesn’t? In…

What to expect from Trump’s State of the Union address

As US President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, we look at what he’s expected to outline, from foreign policy tensions and sweeping tariffs to immigration crackdowns, and the influence of the conservative blueprint known as Project 2025 on his agenda. What direction…

Omar El Akkad on the West’s hypocrisy over Gaza

Acclaimed author Omar El Akkad writes a powerful reflection of Western hypocrisy over Gaza in his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. We speak to El Akkad on the immense suffering that has occurred over the past two years of Israel's genocidal war and examine how Western lib…

Brief: Palestinians in Gaza skeptical of Board of Peace, Israeli escalation in Lebanon

This week: 144 days into a ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 612 Palestinians in Gaza.  Donald Trump's Board of Peace met in Washington DC. Israel escalated strikes in Lebanon. Israel has killed more than 72,070 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7th, 2023. In this episode: Hind Khoudary, (@hi…

Another Take: How Trump’s tariffs are changing the rules of global trade

Every Saturday, we revisit a story from the archives. This originally aired on April 7, 2025. None of the dates, titles, or other references from that time have been changed. United States President Donald Trump has initiated sweeping tariffs against even some of his country’s closest allies. It h…