What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

This week, Walter and Bill discuss the push to impeach Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Chinese spy scandal engulfing Nvidia's Jensen Huang, the new round of Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi, and what the midterm rebuke says about the limits of President Trump's hard-charging style of governing, and whether he'll heed the voters' message.

In this emergency pod, Walter and Bill discuss the Democratic sweep in Tuesday's midterms: why it was bigger than expected, what it means for the Republican Party in Washington and the states, and whether the Iran war will change course.

This week, Walter and Bill discuss what's at stake in today's midterm elections, President Trump's announcement that US aid to Israel will end this year, North Korea's record $6 billion crypto heist at Binance, and why, despite the shale revolution and the dreams of every recent president, America can't walk away from the Middle East.

This week, Walter and Bill discuss Anthropic's blockbuster IPO filing and its warnings about AI, reports that the US is preparing a short, intense renewal of the Iran war after the midterms, Kim Jong Un's surprise trip across a newly finished bridge into China, and whether Lula's comeback in Brazil and Vučić's defeat in Serbia mean the world has passed peak Trump. 

This week, Walter and Bill discuss Trump's endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu days before Israel votes, Elon Musk's throttling and alleged restoration of Ukraine's Starlink and Putin's push for a summit with Trump and Xi, the AI-discovered software flaw that knocked websites offline around the world, and why generational revolt is spreading from France to India.

After more than 140 episodes, Jeremy Stern is stepping down as co-host, and Hudson's Bill Drexel takes his place. This week, Walter and Bill discuss the Houthis' widening missile war on Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon's plan to livestream a military execution, the fall of Kimberly Guilfoyle, and why President Trump's shock-and-awe foreign policy shows no sign of slowing down. A Houthi missile hit Saudi...

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the success of US sanctions on Iran, America's expanding budget deficit, China's destruction of the EU's economy, and why 2026 is proving to be a bad year for incumbent political leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the final US withdrawal from Iraq, the bipartisan consensus to allow Congressional insider trading, Russia’s nuclear threats over Kaliningrad, and China’s efforts in AI and the US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the three grand narratives shaping world history. The episode was recorded live on September 23 in front of an audience at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Flock camera debate, Canada's prospects for joining the EU, America's weaponization of outer space, and why geopolitical competition with China is going to make American higher ed more patriotic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the AfD's victory in Eastern Germany, the breakdown of global shipping, trouble on the Chinese internet, and the impact on American society and foreign policy of 9/11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's reasons for optimism in Iran, the responsibility voters bear for the quality of their elites, and the greatness of Dolly Parton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss challenges to Zelensky's power, the Pentagon's ultimatum to US universities with ties to China, the Turkish-Israeli standoff in Syria, and the fate of China's Christians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Abdul El-Sayed's primary victory in Michigan, updates from the Persian Gulf, New York rabbis' meeting with Mayor Mamdani, and the global backlash to immigration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walter and Jeremy are on the road this week, so please enjoy Walter's recent appearance at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss new sanctions on Russia, why America is entering a golden age of small-business creation, China's ability to shut down oil imports, and why Iran is the hedgehog to Trump's fox.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Israel's abstention from the latest military strikes on Iran, Zelensky's management of his generals, and what is going on with the US-Saudi nuclear deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss New York's ban on data centers, the fight to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, the collapse of the MOU and the current state of the Iran war, and thoughts on the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the breakdown of Trump's Iran MOU, the president's newfound admiration for Ukraine, whether Americans are becoming post-literate, and why we are not a "creedal" people.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the wave of socialist victories in Democratic primaries; China's new plan to overhaul its economy with AI; why Europeans hate air conditioning; and the crumbling of Vladimir Putin's empire.

This week, Walter gives a lecture and Q&A at the Hamilton School at the University of Florida on "The Global Crisis." The recording is from December 1st and is republished here with the permission of the Hamilton School.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Finland's reversal of its prohibition on nuclear weapons, what it means for AI doctors to outperform human physicians, Hezbollah's supposedly newfound resolution, and how to interpret Trump's Memorandum of Understanding with Iran.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the mounting crisis in Lebanon, Russia's setback in Armenia's elections, the sources of North Korea's strength, and why Cuba is unlikely to be an easy victory for Trump.

This week, Walter gives a lecture and Q&A at the London School of Economics on American foreign policy in the Trump era. The recording is from February 19 and is republished here with the permission of the LSE.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Pope's AI encyclical, the UAE's role in the Iran war, new concerns about the divide between labor and capital, and why America and Iran's minimum requirements for a peace agreement are unlikely to be met.