Best Foreign Concept Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 236 Edward Luce, "Zbig" - Zbigniew Brzezinski & Carter Era U.S. Foreign Policy 1:02:46

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4h ago1:02:46

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"I was initially very skeptical about embarking on a full life biography of anyone, let alone a figure as big as Zbig."Edward Luce is talking about President Carter's former national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski. Mr. Luce is the Financial Times' chief commentator and columnist. Luce is a native of Sussex, England, and has spent close to 20…

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Is The MAGA Movement a Cult? How to Become a Tyrant. Radical Nationalistic Devotion: The “Charismatic Leadership” of Trump & the Cult Following He’s Created with MAGA. Can the Country Ever Recover from ... 1:12:27

3d ago1:12:27

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Welcome to this brand-new episode of Light ‘Em Up! We’ve had our cake and ate it too (and it was delicious) celebrating achieving our 100th episode! Now it is time to get back to work. Thank you to all of our previous guests, listeners and fans who contacted us, sharing warm, caring and nice thoughts about the show. We are truly here for you and be…

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Kyiv Dispatch 29:51

1h ago29:51

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A flurry of back-and-forth diplomacy, a renewed Russian offensive, and a rare outburst of protest in Ukraine. The Kyiv Dispatch with Aaron Schwartzbaum and Fabrice Deprez returns to break down what's actually happening and most importantly, how people on the ground are feeling about it. For more reporting and stories from Ukraine, be sure to follow…

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I was set to interview Charlie Kirk. Then he was assassinated. 8:23

5d ago8:23

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In moments of political shock and horror, where can we turn? Ross was supposed to interview Charlie Kirk next month for the show and now offers his reflections on Kirk, his political movement and his assassination. (A full transcript of this episode is available on the Times website.) Thoughts? Email us at [email protected]. Please subsc…

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Is ‘net zero’ a moral pursuit? 56:39

4d ago56:39

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The party conference season kicked off with claims and counter claims about the viability of Nigel Farage’s proposals for government. One issue that unites Reform and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives is scrapping the 2050 net zero target, echoing US President Donald Trump's pledge to "drill, baby, drill" and embark on new oil and gas exploration. This…

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Kyiv Dispatch: Third Time's the Charm 29:51

3h ago29:51

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A flurry of back-and-forth diplomacy, a renewed Russian offensive, and a rare outburst of protest in Ukraine. The Kyiv Dispatch with Fabrice Deprez returns to break down what's actually happening and most importantly, how people on the ground are feeling about it. For more reporting and stories from Ukraine, be sure to follow Fabrice’s newsletter, …

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Ep. 235 Simon Ball, "Death to Order" 1:12:22

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Simon Ball is the author of the book "Death to Order: A Modern History of Assassination." Professor Ball is British and is located at the University of Leeds. His publisher, Yale University Press, says: "Assassination, the murder of a specific individual by an organized conspiracy in pursuit of political ends has shaped the fate not only of the fam…

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Does the media reflect or exacerbate public disquiet? 56:30

11d ago56:30

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One story has been dominating the news for several weeks: immigration. Whether it’s debates about how to stop the small boats, protests outside asylum hotels, speeches pledging mass deportations or balaclavad ‘patriots’ painting red crosses on roundabouts, there’s been no shortage of reporting and impassioned opinions on the subject. It is no doubt…

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Does the Future Belong to China? 1:05:17

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Is the United States still a worthy opponent for China? In this episode, Ross Douthat talks to Dan Wang, the author of “Breakneck: China’s Quest to Engineer the Future,” about the alarming speed at which China is able to build and could blow America out of the water. 01:44 - “A life full of ease and beauty” 05:30 - Rule by engineers 11:00 - China’s…

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Ep. 234 Sam Tanenhaus, "Buckley" 1:14:58

7d ago1:14:58

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Author Sam Tanenhaus opens the acknowledgement section in his latest book, "Buckley," this way: "I first met William F. Buckley in 1990, shortly after I had begun work on a biography of Whitaker Chambers…Bill Buckley had been Chambers' last patron and most eloquent champion." The biography of Chambers was published in 1997. Now 28 years later, Sam …

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What is the moral value of disgust? 56:45

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The decision of OnlyFans and Instagram to ban the porn star Bonnie Blue, who engaged in sequential sex with more than a thousand men in 12 hours, indicates the strength of the backlash of disapproval to the stunt. The reaction of many people has been what the psychologist Jonathan Haidt calls 'moral bafflement', the idea that most of us instinctive…

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The MAGA Woman Dress Code 20:08

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While “Interesting Times” is on vacation, we’re sharing a conversation from “The Opinions” between Meher Ahmad, an editor for Times Opinion, and the Opinion writer Jessica Grose. They talk about the aesthetics of MAGA women — think Kristi Noem and Nancy Mace — and what they signal about femininity and power within the Republican Party. Thoughts? Em…

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Ep. 233 Jay Winik, "1861" 1:05:58

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Historian Jay Winik first appeared on the Booknotes television program 24 years ago to discuss his book, "April 1865." It became a #1 New York Times bestseller, reportedly read by Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and many others. It's the narrative story of the Civil War. For his latest book, Winik stepped back four years in history to l…

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Pro-Life & Pro-Death Penalty: Hypocrisy & Hypoxia. How Does One Reconcile These Polar Opposites? An In-depth Examination of the Pelican State of Louisiana. 1:03:04

18d ago1:03:04

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Welcome! We’re thrilled and excited that you joined us as we celebrate an enormous milestone — our 100th episode of Light ‘Em Up. This achievement has been 5 years in the making and something we honestly never envisioned accomplishing when we started this project in January of 2020. Email us here, [email protected] and let us know how …

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Ross and Ezra Klein Discuss Trump, Mysticism and Psychedelics 1:36:12

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This week, we’re sharing a great conversation Ross had on “The Ezra Klein Show” this past spring. Ezra asks Ross about his most recent book, “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.” But along the way, they debate not just how religion influences the Trump administration but also their own lives. Come for their seeking and stay for their thought…

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Ep. 232 Richard J. Evans, "Hitler's People" 1:02:16

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Sir Richard J. Evans has been writing about Germany and Adolf Hitler for his entire professional life. He was knighted in Britain in 2012 for his service to scholarship. From 2003-2008, Professor Evans published a trilogy of the Third Reich with a total of over 2,500 pages. His latest book is titled "Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich." …

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Drones and the Future of War 36:20

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Are drones the future of war? What lessons can be learned from Ukraine for the Taiwan contingency? To discuss these topics and more, FPRI President Aaron Stein sat down with Lorenz Meier, CEO of Auterion, to discuss drones and the future of war. Get full access to FPRI Insights at fpriinsights.substack.com/subscribe…

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Abolish the Senate. End the Electoral College. Pack the Court. 55:37

1M ago55:37

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For Democrats, President Trump’s victories have revealed the antidemocratic flaws at the core of our government. But could it be an opening for a constitutional revolution as the party searches for its next leader? This week, Ross explores what that revolution would entail with Osita Nwanevu, the author of the book, “The Right of the People: Democr…

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Ep. 231 David Herbert Donald, "Lincoln" 1:02:43

1M ago1:02:43

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In our earlier discussion with Zaakir Tameez about his biography of Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, he discussed his differences with Professor David Herbert Donald on the same subject. On December the 24th, 1995, Professor Donald talked about his book called "Lincoln" on the Booknotes television program. David Donald died in 2009 at age 8…

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Whither Strong? Exploring Conceptions of Russian Power 31:38

1M ago31:38

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Why does Russia play such an important role in geopolitics? If it's because of 'strength'... what does strength even mean? And why do conceptions of Russia's strength vary so extremely? Seva Gunitsky joins Aaron Schwartzbaum on this week’s Bear Market Brief podcast. Related Reading Russia is both weak and strong - that's the problem by Seva Gunitsk…

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The Next Parenting Trend Starts Before Conception 1:03:05

1M ago1:03:05

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Would you use an algorithm to select your embryos? Enter Orchid, a company that promises parents the ability to protect their future children through genetic testing for embryos before pregnancy. The founder, Noor Siddiqui, and Ross debate the scientific, moral and ethical implications of designing a “healthy” child and what we lose in separating r…

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Ep. 230 Zaakir Tameez, "Charles Sumner" 1:07:04

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Charles Sumner was from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a U.S. Senator for 23 years from 1851 to 1874. Sumner, an anti-slavery Republican, was brutally caned on the Senate floor by pro-slavery Democrats in 1856, during the lead-up to the Civil War. The attack, which almost killed Sumner, kept him out of the Senate for over 3 years. Sumner didn't marr…

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Unmasking America: Birthright Citizenship, Mass Deportation & the Cost of Exclusion. The 14th Amendment on Trial, Citizenship Under Siege. The Use of the Executive Order to Bypass the Constitution ... 1:05:08

2M ago1:05:08

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We welcome you to this in-depth, investigative, fact-finding episode of Light ‘Em Up. Thank you for joining us — as we march one step closer to achieving an enormous milestone, our 100th episode! In this episode we are diving into complex and impactful topics. We’ll drill down on the concept of Birthright Citizenship — enshrined by the 14th Amendme…

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Whither Strong? Exploring Conceptions of Russian Power 31:38

1M ago31:38

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Why does Russia play such an important role in geopolitics? If it's because of 'strength'... what does strength even mean? And why do conceptions of Russia's strength vary so extremely? Seva Gunitsky joins Aaron Schwartzbaum on this week’s Bear Market Brief podcast. Related Reading Russia is both weak and strong - that's the problem. by Seva Gunits…

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The DOGE Alum Asking if Foreign Aid Is America’s Problem 47:33

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Does America have a moral obligation to the world? The former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Jeremy Lewin, now deputy administrator for the United States Agency for International Development, explains how he is implementing President Trump’s foreign aid philosophy and what it means for humanitarian assistance going forward. 01:59 - Fro…

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Ep. 229 John Seabrook, "The Spinach King" 1:10:26

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The patriarch, C.F. Seabrook, was hailed as the Henry Ford of agriculture. His son, Jack, a keen businessman, was poised to take over what Life magazine called the biggest vegetable factory on earth. His son, John Seabrook, has written about his grandfather and father in his book called "The Spinach King." It's subtitled "The Rise and Fall of an Am…

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Future of Collaborative Combat Aircraft 20:47

2M ago20:47

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How might combat collaborative aircraft be used to fight a war in Europe? Or the Indo-Pacific? To discuss these questions, and the latest from the YFQ-44A, President Aaron Stein sat down with Andrew Van Timmeren, the director of air dominance systems at Anduril Industries, about what he and the company are working on. FPRI’s new project, Behind the…

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What if the Government Believes in U.F.O.s More Than You Do? 59:41

2M ago59:41

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U.F.O.s, fairies and abductions! This week, Ross talks to Diana Walsh Pasulka, a professor of religious studies, about how a deep dive into Catholic archives led her down a path to unravel the connections between religion, extraterrestrial encounters and government secrecy. 01:53 - How Pasulka’s religious studies led to the U.F.O. debate 06:08 - Mo…

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Ep. 228 Evan Osnos, "The Haves and Have-Yachts" 1:10:45

2M ago1:10:45

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In a word, Evan Osnos' latest book focuses on the subject of money. His book is titled "The Haves and the Have Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultra-Rich." There are 10 essays which originally appeared in his home publication, The New Yorker. The oldest one, "Survival of the Richest," ran in 2017. The newest, titled "Land of Make-Believe," was published …

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She Exposed Epstein, and Shares MAGA’s Anger 58:38

2M ago58:38

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Julie K. Brown thinks Jeffrey Epstein didn’t act alone. On this episode of “Interesting Times,” Ross talks to Brown, the investigative reporter whose work ultimately led to Epstein’s re-arrest, about what the government could release that it hasn’t and how the story is bigger than Epstein. 2:32 - Brown's initial interest in the Epstein case 5:26 - …

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Is ‘Toxic Empathy’ Pulling Christians to the Left? 1:03:37

2M ago1:03:37

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The conservative Christian podcaster Allie Beth Stuckey joins Ross on “Interesting Times” this week to explain why “toxic empathy” has a stranglehold on politics, whether evangelical Christians have a red line President Trump could cross and why her commentary has echoes of Phyllis Schlafly. 01:26 “The New Phyllis Schlafly” 9:46 Untangling the web …

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Ep. 227 Dave Barry, "Class Clown" 1:07:10

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Dave Barry's memoir is called "Class Clown." It is at least his 46th book. On the front of his book, he makes an important declaration: "How I went 77 years without growing up." For 30 years, Dave Barry wrote a weekly humor column published in newspapers, mostly on the weekends. He retired that column in 2005 but has kept writing. On the back flap …

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Detained & Damaged: Kids, Cash & the Trump Immigration Machine. A dumpster fire of greed, cruelty & cowardice: The human cost of the relentless, xenophobic attacks on immigrants. Do Trump's policies actually ... 59:59

2M ago59:59

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As we rapidly approach another enormous milestone — our 100th episode (currently #98) we’ve e-x-p-a-n-d-e-d our global footprint to 131 countries. ONLY through your unyielding support could this achievement have been realized. Thank you! Immigration is a “3rd rail” hot topic in the U.S. The issues of immigration decided the ’24 presidential electio…

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Israel’s Moral Balance Beam 46:07

2M ago46:07

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How has the war in Gaza reverberated throughout American politics? Opinion columnist Bret Stephens and Ross Douthat debate the implications of the Israel-Gaza conflict on antisemitism, the morality of war, and why “Monday morning quarterbacking” is not productive when taking stock of military actions in the Middle East. 01:56 Israel actions in Gaza…

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Is it time to ditch historical figures as heroes? 56:49

2M ago56:49

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The Bank of England has been accused of being the 'Bank of Wokeness' after proposing to cut historical figures from banknotes. Images of Winston Churchill, Jane Austen and Alan Turing could be replaced by images of themes such as nature, innovation, or key events in history. It raises the possibility of British birds, bridges, or bangers and mash f…

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Ep. 226 John Laurence, "The Cat from Hue" 1:01:28

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As a follow-up to last week's interview with Lien-Hang Nguyen, here is an encore interview with former CBS and ABC reporter John Laurence. Mr. Laurence was interviewed on Booknotes, the television program, on January 17, 2002. His book is called "The Cat from Hue". It's 800 plus pages and relays his Vietnam experience as a reporter for CBS. John La…

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Is social cohesion a moral good? And can governments influence it? 56:53

3M ago56:53

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Are we at risk of becoming “an island of strangers”? The Prime Minister, backtracking on many fronts, has apologised for the phrase - he says he hadn’t read it properly before he said it – but he’s backed a grand-sounding Independent Commission that’s now at work to fix a society it says is a “tinderbox of division”.Is it? Social attitude surveys s…

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From Russia with Risk 31:24

3M ago31:24

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Here on the Bear Market Brief, a lot of what we focus on is, simply put, risk: what might happen, and what might it mean? On this episode, geoeconomic and country risk expert Rachel Ziemba joins Aaron Schwartzbaum to delve in the discipline of Political Risk: how does one "do" the field? Bear Market Brief features a weekly newsletter and a monthly …

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Why Trump’s Blood-and-Guts Strategy Worked 55:30

3M ago55:30

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Happy Independence Day! We’ll be back next week with a new episode, but today we’re sharing the episode that started us on the path to “Interesting Times.” Ross Douthat talks to Reihan Salam, the president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Together they wrote the book “Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Sav…