Focus

In this special mailbag episode, Tommy and Ben answer listener questions on topics including framing climate change as a national security interest, how both artificial intelligence and migration are going to become headline issues in the years to come, why Democrats are better at foreign policy, Myanmar, their top Pearl Jam albums, career advice for those who want to work in foreign policy, and m...

Tommy and Ben interview Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about the state of democracy, gun control, Ukraine and the best comedians in Canada. Then they cover the Summit of the Americas, the latest from Ukraine, President Biden’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia, why Jared Kushner could be in trouble, how Poland is showing what a post Roe America might look like, why confidence is waning in Bri...

Tommy and Ben cover the latest news from Ukraine, including the EU’s plan to ban most imports of Russian oil, reports that Iran has enough nuclear material to make a bomb, how other countries have prevented gun violence, a major election in Colombia, President Biden meets BTS, the Queen’s Jubilee controversy, and climate activists say let the Mona Lisa eat cake. Then Ben speaks with USAID Administ...

Tommy and Ben talk about President Biden’s trip to Asia, whether the US would defend Taiwan in a war with China, the latest news from Ukraine, including calls for Ukraine to cut a deal with Russia and the growing food crisis. They also cover a plot to assassinate George W Bush, fascism in Hungary, charges of anti-semitism against progressives and US policy towards Israel, MAGA grifters and Boris J...

Ben and Tommy talk about the latest news from Ukraine, including the latest from Mariupol, Finland and Sweden’s application to join NATO, and Mitch McConnell’s visit to Kyiv. Then they explain why countries are threatening to boycott the Summit of the Americas, changes to Biden’s Cuba policy, news of a major covid outbreak in North Korea, the upcoming elections in Australia, Eurovision and rocking...

Tommy and Ben cover the latest news from Ukraine, including more money and weapons from the US, the First Lady’s visit to Ukraine, intelligence leaks and Vladimir Putin’s underwhelming Victory Day speech. Then they cover the historic election in Northern Ireland, more dumb scandals in the UK, protests and violence in Sri Lanka, a depressing election result in the Philippines, the CIA’s message for...

Tommy and Ben talk about the latest in Ukraine, including Ukrainian attacks on targets in Russia, Biden’s $33 billion aid request, and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s insane attempt to blame the Jews for the Holocaust. Then they cover the upcoming election in the Philippines, France’s resurgent left, Saudi Arabia, a former CIA agent turned life coach, QAnon runs for congress and more humi...

Ben and Tommy cover the latest from Ukraine, including the Secretary of Defense and State’s visit to Kyiv and concerns that both the US and Russian mission in Ukraine might be expanding. Then they talk about major defeats for far-right candidates in elections in France and Slovenia, what Elon buying Twitter could mean for international users, worrisome news in Darfur and Trump musings on the royal...

Ben and Tommy cover the latest from Ukraine, including how the fighting has moved east, the sinking of a Russian battleship, and how the war is evolving on the digital battlefield. They also discuss how fighting between Israeli police and Palestinian worshippers could break up Israel's government coalition, Ronan Farrow's new report about spyware for profit, Jared Kushner's $2 billion kickback fro...

On today’s episode, Tommy talks with Oleksiy Sorokin from the Kyiv Independent about the latest news from Ukraine, including reports of a Russian chemical weapons attack, Russian war crimes, British PM Boris Johnson’s visit to Kyiv and preparations for the next phase of fighting in eastern Ukraine. Then Tommy walks through some additional Ukraine news out of Washington, what happened in the French...

Tommy and Ben discuss the horrifying images of war crimes against civilians in Ukraine, the growing support for far-right candidates in the upcoming French elections, Viktor Orban’s depressing victory in Hungary, political turmoil in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the fragile ceasefire in Yemen and covid funding. Then Tommy talks with Anastasiia Lapatina from the Kyiv Independent about what it’s like cov...

Tommy and Ben talk about the latest in Ukraine including reports of progress towards a peace deal, President Biden's visit to Poland, the apparent poisoning of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, and Trump's (second) plea to Putin for (more) dirt on Biden. Tommy and Ben also discuss other international news, including China's latest covid lockdown, missiles in North Korea, and the Taliban reversing...

Tommy and Ben cover the latest in Ukraine, including Biden’s visit to Brussels for a NATO summit and trip to Poland. They also explore how China is viewing the Russian invasion, how the war can create a global food shortage, the latest on the military effort and peace talks, the reaction to President Zelensky’s address to the Israeli Knesset, why the Russians are making prank calls, and President...

Tommy and Ben record a second episode this week on Ukraine to discuss President Zelensky’s speech to Congress, the latest on US weapons transfers to Ukraine, Vladimir Putin’s terrifying authoritarian speech, Russian attacks on civilians, hope for peace talks, bad faith attacks on Biden by Republicans and the frustrating way Ukraine is being covered in the US. Then Ben speaks with Sviatoslav Yurash...

Tommy and Ben discuss the debate about whether the US and NATO should help supply MiG fighter jets to Ukraine, reports that Russia may be preparing to use chemical weapons, the growing risk to journalists covering the war, what President Biden and the US are doing to support Ukraine and how people in Russia are reacting to the invasion. They also cover China’s reaction to the war, the major covid...

Tommy and Ben talk about Biden’s decision to ban Russian oil and gas imports, Congress’s proposed $12 billion package for Ukraine, the latest military movements, diplomatic efforts to end the war and Russia’s detention of WNBA star Brittany Griner, the treatment of refugees, Donald Trump’s creative plans for Ukraine and how Republicans are annoying President Zelensky. Then Tommy talks with State D...

In this bonus episode, Tommy and Ben talk about the escalating attacks by Russian forces on Ukrainian civilians, the shocking Russian attack on a nuclear power plant, Russian military progress in southern Ukraine, the latest on western energy sanctions, intelligence sharing and how the war could lead to a global food shortage. You will also hear from a 29-year-old mother of two on the ground in Od...

Tommy and Ben walk through the latest news from Ukraine, including how Russia has conducted the military campaign so far and why many experts are concerned that the risk to civilians will increase, the impact of sanctions, the strong response from Europe, which countries have refused to condemn Russia and why, the private sector response and how sports leagues have shown solidarity for Ukraine. Th...

As the worst case scenario unfolds in Ukraine, Ben runs through the latest on Russia’s invasion, how this attack marks a new phase of history, and what to expect in the coming weeks and months. Then Ben is joined by Ukrainian investigative reporter Tanya Kozyreva from Kyiv as it is under siege. During the interview, Tanya describes the dire situation in Kyiv, the Ukrainian peoples’ commitment to r...

Ben assesses the escalating situation in Ukraine, from Putin’s recognition of separatist regions and his deployment of troops as peacekeepers to the first wave of sanctions against Russia. Then, he chats with Max Seddon, bureau chief of The Financial Times in Moscow, about Putin’s state of mind and the current political mood in Russia. And USAID Administrator Samantha Power drops by to share her p...

In an emergency pod, Ben gives an update on the rapidly unfolding situation in Ukraine, the unfolding of Putin’s potential pretext for war, and how the world is preparing for a likely and looming invasion. Then Ben is joined by BuzzFeed correspondent Christopher Miller, who has been reporting from the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, for an on-the-ground perspective on what’s happening, what war cou...

Ben reviews the latest developments in Ukraine, including President Putin’s shifting tone and President Biden’s warning of the risk of war. Then he chats with the New Yorker's Moscow correspondent Joshua Yaffa on the ground in Kyiv amid fears of an imminent Russian invasion. Ben also talks with radicalization and extremism expert Amarnath Amarasingam about Canada's trucker protests, how American r...

Ben and guest host Alex Wagner discuss the latest diplomacy on Ukraine, Russia and China’s pact against the West, the politics of a return to the Iran Deal, right-wing truckers protesting in Canada, Boris Johnson singing I Will Survive, censorship at the Beijing Olympics, and Kim Jong Un’s new look. Then Ben is joined by Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to talk about her views on Ukraine and w...

Ben does a deep dive on President Vladimir Putin’s history and how he has arrived on the brink of war with Ukraine with help from Putin expert and special Reuters correspondent Catherine Belton, and Russian journalist and activist Zhanna Nemtsova.  Where to Donate: Baby to Baby , an LA non profit that provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing, and basic living necessities. Star Le...

Tommy and Ben cover the latest news about a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine, a coup in Burkina Faso, fighting in Yemen and the UAE, why the clock is ticking for the Iran deal, a new cabinet in Chile, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern cancels her wedding, news about Havana syndrome, more trouble for party enthusiast and British PM Boris Johnson, buying the bitcoin dip in El Salvador, and Mike Pom...