Trump is essentially cooking up a global slush fund over which he will exert complete control. Countries that get in early—while he's president—will certainly be in a strong position to request preferential treatment in state affairs. The opportunities for graft and grift are immense. He will probably ask Congress to kick in the $1 billion pay-to-play membership fee to guarantee he'll have a pot of money to spend (or pocket) at his fancy...
Showing posts with label foreign affairs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label foreign affairs. Show all posts
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Friday, January 24, 2025
Trump lays out demands in virtual reintroduction to world stage
President Trump took his first major foray on the world stage with a virtual speech with business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Lisa Desjardins reports.
Interview:
Thursday, June 27, 2024
The Great Arizona Water Grab (Reveal podcast)
A surprising group of investors is fueling a global scramble for water in the most unlikely of places – the Arizona desert.
For years, a Saudi-owned hay farm has been using massive amounts of water in the middle of the Arizona desert and exporting the hay back to Saudi Arabia.
The farm’s water use has attracted national attention and criticism since Reveal’s Nate Halverson and Ike Sriskandarajah first broke this story more than eight years ago.
Since then, the water crisis in the American West has only worsened as megafarms have taken hold there. And it’s not just foreign companies fueling the problem: Halverson uncovers that pension fund managers in Arizona knowingly invested in a local land deal that resulted in draining down the groundwater of nearby communities. So even as local and state politicians have fought to stop these deals, their retirement fund has been fueling them.
Since we first aired this story in July, our reporting has spurred Arizona’s governor and attorney general into action.
Interview:
For years, a Saudi-owned hay farm has been using massive amounts of water in the middle of the Arizona desert and exporting the hay back to Saudi Arabia.
The farm’s water use has attracted national attention and criticism since Reveal’s Nate Halverson and Ike Sriskandarajah first broke this story more than eight years ago.
Since then, the water crisis in the American West has only worsened as megafarms have taken hold there. And it’s not just foreign companies fueling the problem: Halverson uncovers that pension fund managers in Arizona knowingly invested in a local land deal that resulted in draining down the groundwater of nearby communities. So even as local and state politicians have fought to stop these deals, their retirement fund has been fueling them.
Since we first aired this story in July, our reporting has spurred Arizona’s governor and attorney general into action.
Interview:
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Is Taiwan Indefensible? (John Donvan; Open to Debate podcast)
China recently conducted two days of military exercises around Taiwan as a “punishment” for “separatist acts” by Taiwan’s new president. Beijing sees Taiwan as territory that needs to be “reunified” with the mainland, while the U.S. is Taiwan’s strongest backer. Some argue that China’s military presence is too large to stop and the island nation is indefensible. Those who disagree argue that American credibility is on the line and they should stand by their political posturing. Now we debate: Is Taiwan Indefensible?
With this background, we debate the question: Is Taiwan Indefensible?
Arguing Yes: Lyle L. Goldstein, Research Professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College; Charlie Glaser, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University
Arguing No: Elbridge Colby, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; Elizabeth Larus, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at University of Mary Washington
Interview:
With this background, we debate the question: Is Taiwan Indefensible?
Arguing Yes: Lyle L. Goldstein, Research Professor in the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College; Charlie Glaser, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University
Arguing No: Elbridge Colby, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense; Elizabeth Larus, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at University of Mary Washington
Interview:
Monday, December 11, 2023
Year in Review: Anne Applebaum & Frank Foer on Foreign Affairs (Al Franken podcast)
The status of Ukraine, Russia, China, Israel, and Gaza.
Interview:
Sunday, December 12, 2021
Biden’s Olympic Boycott (Pod Save the World podcast)
Tommy and Ben cover the US diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics, Biden's call with Putin and rising tensions in Ukraine, Myanmar's ousted leader being unjustifiably sentenced to prison time, Justin Bieber's shady concert for the Saudis, El Salvador's crypto game, UK Parliament's cocaine problem, and a "Mambo No. 5" performance amid Poland's deadly migrant crisis.
Then Ben talks with New Yorker reporter Ian Urbina about Libya's secret migrant prisons and his time detained in one.
Interview:
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