Best Daniel Bessner Podcasts (2025)

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News - DRC-Rwanda Peace Deal, PKK Disarmament, US Airstrikes in Somalia 45:56

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1d ago45:56

45:56

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get more content. Order our limited edition ⁠"Robo Washington Crossing the Delaware" ⁠poster now. Paid subscribers get a 50% discount! Our news roundups are sometimes big, but never beautiful. This week: the PKK to begin its disarmament in Turkey (1:17); Iran suspends its cooperation with the IAEA (4:30), but remai…

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The Progress Report: A Robot Saved My Heart 13:08

2d ago13:08

13:08

This week on The Progress Report, Zachary and Emma bring more uplifting headlines you won’t find in your usual news feed. America’s prison population is dropping fast, thanks to a dramatic decrease in youth incarceration. The first fully robotic heart transplant in the U.S. marks a giant leap for medical innovation, eliminating the need for open-ch…

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Climate Change's Agriculture Problem with Michael Grunwald 57:26

4d ago57:26

57:26

Can we feed the world without destroying it? Zachary and Emma speak with Michael Grunwald, award-winning journalist and author known for his work on the environment and national politics. He is currently a senior writer for Politico Magazine and author of We Are Eating the Earth: The Race to Fix Our Food System and Save Our Climate. Michael discuss…

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Special - The DRC-Rwanda Ceasefire w/ Jason Stearns (Preview) 10:01

4d ago10:01

10:01

Subscribe now for the full episode and access to all news specials. Derek welcomes back to the show Jason Stearns, associate professor at Simon Fraser University and author of The War That Doesn't Say Its Name: The Unending Conflict in the Congo, to talk about the state of play between the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group and the Democratic Republic …

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70 - Nazi, Stasi, Aussie (German memory politics w/ Alexander Wells) 1:34:23

5d ago1:34:23

1:34:23

The politics of memory is everywhere in Germany. To discuss how Germany selectively uses the history of WWII and the Cold War--and how the memories of these events are invoked abroad--Ted speaks with Berlin-based journalist Alexander Wells about the politics surrounding the bombing of Dresden, the DDR and Stasi, and the heroic "dissident." Plus, ho…

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E217 - The Continued Assault on Gaza and the West Bank w/ Dalia Hatuqa 1:08:41

5d ago1:08:41

1:08:41

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get more content! Get our "Welcome to the Crusades" miniseries! Derek welcomes back to the show Dalia Hatuqa, a journalist specializing in Israeli/Palestinian affairs and regional Middle East issues, to talk about the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. They recap what has been happening to Palestinians in Gaza wh…

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What's Next for July 2025 0:52

5d ago0:52

0:52

One week before each episode, we're going to give you a heads up as to what we'll be discussing so you have time to catch up with it and get the most out of our next episode. Next up, a double feature of Best Picture winners - Ordinary People & American Beauty.By Trevor Beaulieu & Josh Olson

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Bonus - Reading the Right w/ Richard Beck (Preview) 8:57

7d ago8:57

8:57

Subscribe now for the full episode. Don’t forget to purchase our “Welcome to the Crusades” series before the price increases next week. Subscribers get a 25% discount! Richard Beck, senior writer at n+1 and author of Homeland: The War on Terror in American Life, joins the program to talk about the rise of interest in studying the far right since 20…

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News - Iran Strikes and Ceasefire, Nato Ups Defense Budgets, Supreme Court Okays Government Trafficking Migrants 43:34

9d ago43:34

43:34

Don’t forget to purchase our “Welcome to the Crusades” series before the price increases next week. Paid AP subscribers get a 20% discount, so subscribe today! Danny and Derek broadcast from an undisclosed resort location. This week: an update on the conflict with Iran, including the ceasefire (2:34), Trump’s disagreement with US intelligence asses…

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The Progress Report: FDA Approves HIV Prevention Gamechanger 19:53

9d ago19:53

19:53

On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma spotlight the stories that prove the world is moving forward, from Ireland’s bold move to end coal power to major U.S. brands ditching synthetic food dyes to breakthrough HIV prevention. They also cover how aviation safety is getting a high-tech upgrade as airlines roll out new cockpit alert systems …

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Special - Reflections on Mamdani’s Victory plus the View from Tehran w/ Eli Clifton (Preview) 11:10

10d ago11:10

11:10

Subscribe now for the full episode and access to all of our breaking news specials. Investigative journalist Eli Clifton is back on the show, this time to share his thoughts on Zohran Mamdani's victory in New York's Democratic mayoral primary. Eli also just got back from Iran and analyzes where things stand amid a tenuous ceasefire. Learn more abou…

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Are High-Achieving Families Born or Made? with Susan Dominus 50:04

11d ago50:04

50:04

Can sibling rivalries shape success? Zachary and Emma speak with Susan Dominus, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. She is the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into the Mystery of Sibling Success. Susan shares case studies about high-achieving families and how siblings can be powerful motivators…

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E216 - Tracking Think Tanks w/ Ben Freeman and Nick Cleveland-Stout 1:00:08

12d ago1:00:08

1:00:08

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get more content. Ben Freeman and Nick Cleveland-Stout from the Quincy Institute join the program to talk about their Think Tank Funding Tracker, a repository that tracks funding from foreign governments, the U.S. government, and Pentagon contractors to the top 50 think tanks in the United States over the past five…

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Special - Iran Strikes US Base 30:02

12d ago30:02

30:02

Subscribe now for all breaking news specials and commercial-free content. Danny and Derek break down the details of today's strike by Iran against the US Al-Udeid air base in Qatar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison

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Special - Trump Bombs Iran (Preview) 8:27

14d ago8:27

8:27

Subscribe now for the full episode. Danny and Derek discuss last night's attacks, what the strategy of the US was, what the strategy of Iran might be, what an invasion of Iran would look like, the US role in the Middle East, and the Axis of Resistance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Bonus - Trump, Israel, and Escalating the War With Iran w/ Trita Parsi (Preview) 10:58

14d ago10:58

10:58

Subscribe now for the full episode and much more content. Note: This episode was recorded Friday, June 20 in the afternoon. Danny and Derek welcome back to the program Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, to talk about when and how the US will become fully involved in Israel’s war with Iran. They discuss the major interest…

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News - Israel-Iran War, Russia Strikes Kyiv, Trump Expands Travel Ban 51:07

16d ago51:07

51:07

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get more content. No ChatGPT here—our em dashes are organic. This week: in the Iran-Israel war, an update on the casualties and targets (1:52), US involvement remains in question (7:45), Ayatollah Khamenei refuses to surrender (14:47), and US and Israeli intelligence agencies disagree over “evidence” of Iran pursui…

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The Progress Report: Child Labor Drops by 100 Million 13:31

16d ago13:31

13:31

On this week’s Progress Report, Emma is going solo with the news. Discover how global child labor has nearly halved since 2000, why alarming disaster statistics might be more about better data than a world in crisis, and how Britain’s zoos are rolling out major reforms to improve animal welfare. What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Netw…

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Special - Will the US Join the War With Iran? w/ Akbar Shahid Ahmed 33:00

17d ago33:00

33:00

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and access to all breaking news specials. Derek welcomes back to the program ⁠⁠Akbar Shahid Ahmed⁠⁠, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent for HuffPost, to talk about the prospect of Trump bringing the US into a war with Iran. Akbar has written a number of articles on Israel-Iran in the last several days, including…

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Bonus Episode: Good Night & Good Luck on Broadway and CNN! 1:41:14

18d ago1:41:14

1:41:14

We're joined by Pulitzer prize winning playwright Michael R. Jackson and journalist & commentator Michael Tracey to discuss the new production of Good Night & Good Luck on Broadway, and the recent CNN live broadcast.By Michael R. Jackson, Michael Tracey, Trevor Beaulieu, Josh Olson

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The Capitalism Conundrum with John Cassidy 58:14

18d ago58:14

58:14

Does capitalism deserve its bad rap? Zachary and Emma speak with John Cassidy, longtime staff writer at The New Yorker and author of several acclaimed books on economics, including his recent work, Capitalism and Its Critics: A History from the Industrial Revolution to AI. He discusses the current sentiment on capitalism along with historical conte…

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Welcome to the Crusades, Episode 1: Rome, 1095 1:17:36

19d ago1:17:36

1:17:36

In lieu of a typical AP episode this week, we're releasing the first two episodes of our standalone miniseries on the First Crusade with the crew from We're Not So Different⁠⁠. Get the rest of the series here. Our journey through the First Crusade starts where the Crusaders themselves did: in western Europe with Pope Urban II and the Council of Cle…

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Welcome to the Crusades, Episode 2: Taranto, 1096 1:12:15

19d ago1:12:15

1:12:15

We've released the first two episodes of our standalone miniseries with the folks from ⁠We're Not So Different⁠⁠⁠. Get the rest of the episodes ⁠here⁠! The expedition begins to take shape. We continue to explore the fallout from Pope Urban II’s call for Crusade at the Council of Clermont, as lords from across France prepare to set off. We look espe…

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Special - The Israel-Iran War, Ep. 2 (Preview) 12:04

20d ago12:04

12:04

For the full episode and access to all breaking news specials, subscribe now. Danny and Derek update us on what's been going on over the past few days between Israel and Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison

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Bonus - Third Parties plus Analyzing Trump w/ Matt Karp (Preview) 12:53

21d ago12:53

12:53

Subscribe now for the full episode. "Top Secret" subscribers get a free one-year digital subscription to The Nation! Danny speaks with Matt Karp, associate professor of history at Princeton, about party formation in the 1850s as well as his take on the Trump phenomenon. They explore the downfall of the Whigs and rise of the Republicans, the structu…

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Unlocked: The LA Protests and the Imperial Boomerang w/ Spencer Ackerman 33:41

21d ago33:41

33:41

Spencer Ackerman of ⁠Forever Wars⁠ is back on the podcast to talk about the LA protests and his piece on them for Zeteo, ⁠"The Imperial Boomerang Lands in Los Angeles."⁠ You can read the "director's cut" of Spencer's piece ⁠over at Forever Wars⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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Special - Israel Attacks Iran w/ Séamus Malekafzali (Preview) 12:38

22d ago12:38

12:38

Subscribe now for the full episode and no ads. Danny and Derek speak with ⁠Séamus Malekafzali⁠ about Israel’s strike on Iran, Iran’s response and attack on Israel, U.S. and geostrategy, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison

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News - Tensions Rise with Iran, Sudan-Libya Border Clashes, Trump Creating Office of Remigration 39:13

23d ago39:13

39:13

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and more content. "Top Secret" subscribers get a complimentary one-year digital subscription to The Nation! Danny and Derek are everyday people who still believe in you. This week: the AUKUS security partnership is under review at the Pentagon (1:47); the IAEA rebukes Iran, nuclear negotiations are going nowh…

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The Progress Report: With or Without the U.S. 19:17

23d ago19:17

19:17

This week on The Progress Report, Zachary and Emma cut through the noise of a turbulent news week to spotlight stories of real progress. From the historic UN ocean treaty poised to protect international waters, to shifting global attitudes on gender and record-high American retirement savings, Zachary and Emma look at how the world is moving forwar…

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Special - The LA Protests and the Imperial Boomerang w/ Spencer Ackerman (Preview) 8:31

25d ago8:31

8:31

Subscribe now for the full episode and access to all breaking news specials. Spencer Ackerman of ⁠Forever Wars⁠ is back on the podcast to talk about the LA protests and his piece on them for Zeteo, ⁠"The Imperial Boomerang Lands in Los Angeles."⁠ You can read the "director's cut" of Spencer's piece ⁠over at Forever Wars⁠. Learn more about your ad c…

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Judicial vs. Executive: Preventing a King with Jeffrey Rosen 1:00:13

25d ago1:00:13

1:00:13

How is the Constitution interpreted today? Zachary and Emma speak with Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and host of its “We the People” podcast. Jeffrey is also a law professor at George Washington University and author of the upcoming book “The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting B…

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E215 - The Low Culture of 1999 Predicting Modern America w/ Ross Benes 59:57

26d ago59:57

59:57

For an ad-free experience and much more content, subscribe now. Subscribers at the "Top Secret" tier get a one-year digital subscription to The Nation! In this week’s episode, Danny speaks with journalist Ross Benes about his book 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. They discuss the connection between the…

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UNLOCKED Is Germany's Israel consensus finally shifting? w/ Hanno Hauenstein 1:08:35

26d ago1:08:35

1:08:35

**UNLOCKED premium episode 40, now available for all listeners. Support us here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/spassbremse⁠** Germany's material and rhetorical support of Israel has long been unyielding, even in the face of genocide charges from international organizations and other European countries' growing condemnations of it's conduct in Gaza…

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Bonus - Claudia Sheinbaum’s Presidency So Far w/ Alex Aviña (Preview) 10:57

28d ago10:57

10:57

Subscribe now for the full episode and much more content. "Top Secret" subscribers get a free one-year digital subscription to The Nation! Danny and Derek welcome back to the program AP Mexico desk Alexander Aviña, associate professor of Latin American history in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State Univer…

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News - Ukraine Drone Attack, Gaza Aid Center Massacres, IAEA Suggests “Secret Nuclear Activities” in Iran 47:38

30d ago47:38

47:38

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content. The "Top Secret" tier gets you the show plus a one-year digital subscription to The Nation! We’re sorry to say that we’re professionals, and Danny and Derek’s falling-out will be behind closed doors. In this week’s news: in Russia-Ukraine, Ukraine launches a massive drone strike and bom…

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Progress Report: Vatican City Runs on Pure Sunshine 16:30

30d ago16:30

16:30

On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma explore news stories that highlight human progress, from a university student’s discovery of a fungus related to LSD to a breakthrough in HIV research that could lead to a cure. Also, there’s more power and less murder, as Vatican City is running completely on solar energy while Brazil has reported a…

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Democrats: What the Heck Happened? with Jaime Harrison 1:02:05

1M ago1:02:05

1:02:05

What do Democrats do next? Zachary and Emma speak with Jaime Harrison, lawyer and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. Jaime discusses Joe Biden’s 2024 candidacy and Kamala Harris’ nomination, the roles and limitations of the DNC, and the need for the Democratic party to return to a grassroots, community-oriented approach. Jaime also …

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E214 - The History of Americans’ Global War on Prostitution w/ Eva Payne 58:57

1M ago58:57

58:57

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience. Subscribers at the "Top Secret" tier get a one-year digital subscription to the Nation! Danny and Derek welcome to the program author Eva Payne to talk about her book Empire of Purity: The History of Americans' Global War on Prostitution. They discuss American sexual exceptionalism, the legal definition of “…

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Dazed & Confused w/David Sirota & Aaron Thorpe 1:50:40

1M ago1:50:40

1:50:40

It's everyone's - everyone white, that is - favorite high school nostalgia flick, Richard Linklater's Dazed & Confused, with The Lever's David Sirota and The Trillbilly Worker's Party's Aaron Thorpe!By David Sirota, Aaron Thorpe, Josh Olson, Trevor Beaulieu

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Bonus - The State of History in America w/ Mike Duncan (Preview) 10:34

1M ago10:34

10:34

Subscribe now for the full episode. At the "Top Secret" tier, you get a 1-year digital subscription to The Nation! Danny and Derek are pleased to welcome to the podcast Mike Duncan, history podcaster and author, to talk about where history stands in the American academy, popular culture, and public consciousness. They discuss the trials and tribula…

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News - Gaza Aid Disaster, Russia Offers New Peace Talks, Trump Freezes Student Visas 56:48

1M ago56:48

56:48

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience! In this week’s news roundup: US-Iran negotiations might be making progress (1:02); in Israel-Palestine, a new aid program implemented gets people killed (6:30), the US proposes framework for a new peace deal* (11:01), and Israel creates 22 new West Bank settlements (15:54); cases of cholera are spiking in Su…

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The Progress Report: The US Says 'I Don't' to Child Marriage 19:23

1M ago19:23

19:23

In this week’s Progress Report, Emma brings you the inspiring good news stories you might have missed. Discover how states across the U.S. are raising the minimum age for marriage, with Maine’s new law creating a “New England Wall” against child marriage. Celebrate the launch of Africa’s first continental space agency, promising better weather data…

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Introducing: The Ongoing Transformation 39:47

1M ago39:47

39:47

Today we’re sharing an episode of a podcast called The Ongoing Transformation. It’s a biweekly podcast featuring conversations about science, technology, policy, and society. They speak with interesting thinkers—leading researchers, artists, policymakers, social theorists, and other luminaries—about the ways new knowledge transforms the world. The …

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Unlocked - What Could Go Right? w/ Zachary Karabell 54:36

1M ago54:36

54:36

Enjoy the full version of this special we published last week! Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content! Danny and Derek invite ⁠Zachary Karabell⁠, historian and founder of ⁠the Progress Network⁠, as well as host of the podcast ⁠What Could Go Right?⁠, to talk about the big things: liberalism, American political capitalism, Trum…

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E213 - South Sudan’s Failed Peace Deal w/ Joshua Craze 55:59

1M ago55:59

55:59

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content! Writer and researcher Joshua Craze returns to the program to talk about the situation in South Sudan. They cover the collapsed 2018 “peace deal,” the elite forces vying for power, the Nuer White Army, figures like Salva Kiir Mayardit and Riek Machar, how South Sudan’s troubles have been…

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What's Next for June 2025 0:52

1M ago0:52

0:52

One week before each episode, we're going to give you a heads up as to what we'll be discussing so you have time to catch up with it and get the most out of our next episode. Next up, Richard Linklater's 1993 high school opus, Dazed & Confused!By Trevor Beaulieu & Josh Olson

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Bonus - Democratic Backsliding w/ Francis Fukuyama (Preview) 11:25

1M ago11:25

11:25

Subscribe now for the full episode and much more content! Danny and Derek welcome to the program political scientist Francis Fukuyama to talk about his recent article for the Journal of Democracy, “Delivering for Democracy: Why Results Matter.” The group explores why Dr. Fukuyama felt the need to address democratic backsliding, what about Trump’s a…

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News - Ukraine Talks Collapse, India Threatens Pakistan’s Water Supply, IDF Operation Gideon’s Chariots 51:03

1M ago51:03

51:03

Subscribe now for an ad-free experience and much more content! This week in the news roundup: the Ukraine peace talks collapse (3:30) as Trump stuns European allies with his sudden pivot back to positions beneficial to Russia (7:21); in EU elections, a Romanian centrist wins the presidency (11:06), a Polish centrist wins the first round of the pres…

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The Progress Report: Crime Plummets in 2025! 16:17

1M ago16:17

16:17

On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma serve up a fresh batch of good news you probably missed: U.S. crime rates are dropping to record lows, a bold new law is aimed at taking down revenge porn and AI deepfakes in just 48 hours, and Guinea-Bissau is throwing its very first art biennale, despite having almost no galleries or art schools. W…

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The View from Canada with David Frum 1:02:00

2M ago1:02:00

1:02:00

What does Canada think about Donald Trump’s America? Zachary and Emma speak with David Frum, author, staff writer at The Atlantic, political commentator, and former speechwriter for President George W. Bush. A Canadian American, David elaborates on Canada’s strategic integration with the U.S., the implications of recent shifts including Trump’s tar…