Pod Save the World

Introducing "Killing Justice"

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When a judge in India dies of a heart attack, his passing barely makes the news. But when his niece approaches a journalist two years later, she share...

Hamas and Netanyahu Accused of War Crimes

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and guest host Alyona Minkovski discuss the ICC’s application for arrest warrants against both Hamas and Netanyahu for war crimes, the mass exod...

Biden Punishes China

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben is joined by guest hosts Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, Editor of Foreign Affairs magazine and Rana Ayyub, global opinion columnist for the Washington Post....

Israel Begins Rafah Offensive (feat. Ali Velshi)

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and guest host Ali Velshi discuss the latest developments on ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the beginning of a military offensiv...

Tucker Carlson Interviews "Putin's Brain"

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy discuss reports that a temporary ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas may be imminent, that Saudi Arabia has deci...

Gaza Protests Roil College Campuses

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy discuss the House approving $26 billion in military aid to Israel despite strikes on Rafah and a continuously deteriorating humanitarian...

Breaking: Israel Strikes Back at Iran

19 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In a bonus episode, Tommy and Ben talk about the reports that Israel launched a retaliatory strike deep inside Iran, why Iranian leaders are downplayi...

Iran Attacks Israel

17 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel and whether Israel will retaliate, Biden’s message of restraint to Prime Minister ...

Biden Gives Israel An Ultimatum on Gaza

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss Biden’s call with Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu and threat to cut off US support for the war in Gaza, Israel’s announcement that...

Can Saudi Money Whitewash a Murder?: World Corrupt Season 2, Episode 4

06 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the final episode of this four-part series, Rog and Tommy trace the massive flow of Saudi money into Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Wall Street, and...

Israeli Strike Kills World Central Kitchen Staff in Gaza

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy discuss an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian embassy building in Syria that killed several top Iranian generals, Israeli drone strikes tha...

Saudi Arabia: The New Home of Global Football: World Corrupt Season 2, Episode 3

30 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In episode three of this four part series, Rog and Tommy explore the rise of Saudi Arabia’s domestic football league and why superstars like Cristia...

How Will Putin Respond to an ISIS Attack? (feat. Bernie Sanders)

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the deteriorating relations between the White House and Bibi Netanyahu's government after the UN Security Council calls for a ce...

Saudi Arabia’s Despotic Ruler: World Corrupt Season 2, Episode 2

23 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Roger Bennett and Tommy Vietor take a look at the history of Saudi Arabia, US-Saudi relations, and the Kingdom’s path to becoming a geopolitical for...

Trump Says Jewish Democrats “Hate Israel”

20 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the looming famine in Gaza, reactions to Senator Chuck Schumer’s call for new elections in Israel, Trump’s claim that Jewish...

Football in the House of Saud: World Corrupt Season 2, Episode 1

16 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Roger Bennet and Tommy Vietor are back for Season 2 of World Corrupt! And this time, Rog and Tommy are diving into how Saudi Arabia, the biggest expor...

Trump’s TikTok Flip Flop

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss plans for delivering aid to Gaza through a maritime route and floating pier, US “red lines” over an Israeli invasion of Rafa...

Why is the US air dropping aid to Gaza?

06 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the futility of aerial aid drops by the US in Gaza, Kamala Harris’ speech calling for an immediate ceasefire, Netanyahu rival ...

CPAC Doubles Down on Creepy Autocrats

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy discuss President Biden’s claim that a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas may be imminent, the domestic political problems the wa...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 8: The Shit In The Frame

24 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Guangcheng has put his life on the line to stand up for noble causes and principles. He has also thrown his support behind Trump and, more recently, a...

Can Ukraine Outlast Putin?

21 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the military defeat of Avdiivka, panic at the Munich Security Confer...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 7: Lost And Found In Translation

17 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

With a new position at the Catholic University of America and funding from a rightwing think tank, Guangcheng takes on a new challenge: strengthening ...

Breaking: Putin Kills Alexei Navalny

17 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the breaking news that Russia’s most prominent opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, has died while in prison. The only informati...

Trump Tells Putin to Invade NATO Nations

14 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Max Fisher talk about the disastrous humanitarian implications of Israel’s impending offensive in Rafah, the Biden administration’s shif...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 6: The Great Moving Right Show

10 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Almost one year after arriving in the US, the New York Post publishes a story suggesting NYU is trying to sever ties with Guangcheng. Guangcheng alleg...

Tucker Carlson Goes to Moscow

07 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about US strikes against facilities in Iraq and Syria used by Iran-backed militia groups, White House denials that the conflict in ...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 5: Guangcheng’s Year of Living Famously

03 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Following a tense negotiation between the US and China, Guangcheng arrives in the United States. He is greeted with a hero’s welcome. He gives speec...

Will Biden Bomb Iran?

31 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the drone strike by an Iranian-backed group on a US base in Jordan that killed three US service members, the pressure on Bide...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 4: Coming To America

27 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Guangcheng escapes house arrest, but he’s not free yet. Without a real plan or a place to hide, he turns to the US embassy in Beijing. His moves set...

Netanyahu Rejects a Two-State Solution (again)

24 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the latest news out of Gaza, including a potential ceasefire deal that would include a two month stop in fighting in exchange fo...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 3: A Dissident Is Born

20 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Guangcheng is kidnapped by Chinese authorities and thrown in jail. By keeping him under lock and key, the government hopes to take away his power. But...

Biden Launches Airstrikes Against Houthis in Yemen

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy discuss US airstrikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen and why they are unlikely to deter them, and provide background and context on the H...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 2: The Barefoot Lawyer

13 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Guangcheng fights his biggest case in China – exposing the brutality of the One Child Policy. This, and a series of public and legal victories in th...

Dissident at the Doorstep Episode 1: Batman Gets Punched

13 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2011. Hollywood A-lister Christian Bale is in China and gets punched in the face by security guards for trying to visit Chen Guangcheng, a loca...

How Israel’s War with Hamas Could Escalate Into a Regional Conflict

10 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy cover the major developments in the war between Israel and Hamas, including the widening difference between Netanyahu and Biden on post-...

Introducing “Dissident At The Doorstep”

06 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when someone becomes a human-rights icon – but then turns out to stand for something else entirely? Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng wa...

Zelensky's Plea To Congress

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the dire humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza and the disconnect between the Biden administration’s words and deeds wh...

Henry Kissinger’s Complicated Legacy

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the latest news from Gaza, including Israeli forces moving into southern Gaza, the Biden administration’s shift from a “hug ...

How Long Will The Ceasefire In Gaza Hold?

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy discuss the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and how the US and Qatar helped broker it, Qatar’s unique role in international di...

Climate Special: A Look Ahead At COP28

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a special episode, Tommy and Ben discuss the upcoming COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates. They speak about the climate summit’s importa...

Hospitals Under Siege In Gaza

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the latest news out of Israel and Gaza, including the legality of targeting hospitals, French President Emmanuel Macron’s call...

One Month of War Between Israel and Hamas

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about where the world stands one month after Hamas’ attack on Israel, including the declaration from Gaza’s health ministry tha...

The Israeli Ground Invasion Begins

01 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the latest news out of Israel and Gaza, including the Israeli ground offensive, the death of over 3,000 children in Gaza, a r...

America's Warning To Israel

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the latest news from Israel and Gaza including the staggering figures of over 5,000 civilians dead in Gaza, the slow pace of aid...

Biden Heads To Israel

18 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the breaking news of an airstrike hitting a hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds of staff, patients, and civilians. They also d...

Breaking: Israel Tells Civilians In Gaza To Evacuate

14 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the developing situation in Gaza where 1.1 million people have been told to evacuate northern Gaza in advance of an anticipat...

What’s next for Israel and Gaza?

11 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the latest from Israel and Gaza, including the Netanyahu government’s policy and intelligence failures, the devastating tol...

Hamas Goes To War With Israel

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a special episode, Ben and Tommy talk about the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, how Israel’s intelligence community failed to detect ...

Will Republicans Kill Support For Ukraine?

04 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the waning support for financing the war in Ukraine, both in the US Congress and in Europe, Elon Musk’s visit to the southe...

Don’t Clap For Nazis

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the foreign policy implications of Senator Menendez’s corruption charges, the Biden administration’s move to grant tempor...

Canada Accuses India of Assassination

20 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation that India may have been behind the murder of a Sikh Canadian citizen, ...

Secretary of State Antony Blinken

13 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about Kim Jong Un’s trip to meet with Vladimir Putin, Viktor Bout’s entrance into local Russian politics, Armenia’s diplomati...

Kim Jong Un and Putin’s Budding Bromance

06 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and guest host Max Fisher talk about the latest headlines on the Russia/Ukraine war, including Putin’s refusal to sign a new grain deal with Tur...

Spain’s #MeToo moment?

30 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about the fallout after Spain’s head soccer official kissed star player Jennifer Hermoso, BRICS announcing the addition of six co...

Wagner Leader Prigozhin Killed?

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In a special episode, Tommy and Ben talk about the developing story of the alleged deaths of Wagner Group leaders Yevgeny Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin i...

Has Ukraine’s counteroffensive stalled?

23 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about negative headlines surrounding Ukraine’s counteroffensive, Russian warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin’s re-emergence in Africa, a ...

Tripping Balls with Janet Yellen

16 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

 Tommy and Ben talk about a US hostage deal with Iran, a far-right frontrunner in the Argentina presidential election, a presidential candidate murde...

Ukraine Sea Drones and Peace Talks

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the global response to the coup in Niger, Ukraine’s sea drone attacks and peace talks in Saudi Arabia, new polling about ap...

Russian War Crimes and a Coup in Niger

02 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about a coup in Niger, progress on the Ukrainian counteroffensive, drone attacks on Moscow, Yevgeny Prigozhin attends a summit of A...

Israel’s Judicial Coup, and Samantha Power on Ukraine

26 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the gutting of Israel’s judicial system, and the (lack of) response from the US. They also discuss good-ish news from the e...

Ukraine and the 2024 Presidential Campaign

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about Russia pulling out of a vital grain initiative with Ukraine, 2024 Republican primary candidate views on Ukraine, Trump and Ta...

NATO Grows on Russia’s Borders

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Max Fisher joins Ben to discuss the ever-weirder Prigozhin circus, the last-second drama over bringing Sweden into NATO, whether Ukraine should join, ...

Trump’s Self-incriminating Audio

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about the fallout from Wagner Group’s aborted mutiny in Russia, the status of Ukraine’s counteroffensive, new audio of Trump kn...

A Russian Coup Against Putin? (Bonus Pod!)

25 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about the extraordinary failed coup attempt against Vladimir Putin by Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner mercenary group in Russia. T...

Tony Blinken goes to China

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode covers: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Trump’s interview on Fox News about the Mar-a-Lago document indic...

How Trump’s Mar-a-lago Docs Endanger National Security

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the national security implications of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago document indictment, China’s eavesdropping base in Cuba, Ukraine...

Did Ukraine bomb the Nord Stream pipeline?

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about a blockbuster report that Ukraine bombed the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines, the bombing of a dam in Ukraine, accountabili...

Lindsey Graham’s Russian Arrest Warrant

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about an anti-LGBTQ law in Uganda, violent protests in Kosovo and more reports on Trump’s handling of classified documents. They ...

The War Goes to Russia

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about President Zelensky’s travel to the Arab League and G7 summits, Biden’s policy change on training Ukrainian pilots to fly ...

Zelensky’s Secret War Plan

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode, Max Fisher and Tommy discuss reports that a close Putin ally betrayed the Russian military and that President Zelensky secretly ...

Defining Victory for Ukraine

10 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about Iran using Syrian earthquake aid to smuggle weapons, Syria being readmitted to the Arab League, the drone strikes on the Krem...

Israel on the Brink

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy are joined by Max Fisher for a special episode on the roots of the judicial crisis in Israel that has brought millions of protestors out...

The Pope’s peace talks

03 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the ongoing crisis in Sudan, the Pope’s visit to Hungary, the upcoming coronation of King Charles and Prince Harry’s laws...

Crisis in Sudan

26 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about the evacuation of American employees from Sudan, expectations for Ukraine’s spring military offensive and Ron DeSantis’s ...

21-year-old Pentagon leaker exposed

19 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the latest news about the Pentagon leaks and leaker, and what it tells us about the effectiveness of the security clearance p...

The Pentagon documents leak

12 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the massive leak of US intelligence documents and the potential global implications, a new White House report on what went wrong...

The world watches Trump’s arrest

05 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about Donald Trump’s historic arrest and arraignment, Finland PM Sanna Marin’s election loss, Taiwan’s president visits Ameri...

Netanyahu backs down

29 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about protests in Israel and Netanyahu’s persistent attack on Israel’s democracy, a drone strike in Syria, reignited fears of a...

Is prosecuting presidents a good idea?

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben are joined by Crooked contributor Max Fisher for a segment to discuss a possible Trump indictment and how common presidential prosecutio...

20 years after the invasion of Iraq

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy record a bonus episode to mark the 20-year anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq to try and answer the question: how did the Iraq war c...

China’s Iran Deal

15 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about China brokering a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Saudi Arabia’s wish list to “normalize” relations with Israel, pr...

Who is poisoning girls in Iran?

08 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the suspected poisoning of Iranian schoolgirls, new intel on Havana syndrome, the case for dismantling the DHS, potential Chines...

Will China arm Putin?

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss changes to Mexico’s electoral system, the botched presidential election in Nigeria, Jill Biden’s trip to Africa, new intelli...

One year of war in Ukraine

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben look back on a year of war in Ukraine and discuss what people got wrong, lessons learned, and where things stand today. Then, Ben and To...

Biden goes to Ukraine

22 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss Biden’s surprise trip to Ukraine, Putin’s decision to suspend participation in the New START treaty, the administration’s ...

Alien Balloon Invasion

15 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Ben and Tommy talk about Israeli PM Bibi Netanyahu’s attack on Israel’s judicial system, the ongoing US war against Chinese balloons and UFOs, Kim...

InflateGate: Biden vs Balloon

08 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about Balloon-gate, Biden’s State of the Union address, the latest in Ukraine, the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria and how ...

Israel attacks Iran

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about an Israeli drone attack in Iran, Tony Blinken’s meeting with Bibi Netanyahu, Ukraine’s requests for F-16 fighter jets, Pu...

Tanks for Nothing

25 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss a corruption scandal in Ukraine, the debate over sending tanks to Kyiv, Mike Pence gets in on the classified hoarding game, the ...

How to handle the Biden docs

18 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the Davos summit, the latest round of Biden documents, the U.K. blocking a Scottish law that would make gender change easier, mo...

Brazil's January 6th?

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the riots in Brazil, Biden’s trip to Mexico AND IMMIGRATION POLICY, what a Republican House majority means for defense spendin...

New year, old problems

04 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben recap all of the world news you missed over the holidays, including the latest on the war in Ukraine, Zelensky’s visit to DC, Bibi Net...

“Can language be more inclusive?”

28 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy introduces Worldos to Radiolingo, a new limited season podcast from Crooked Media and Duolingo. Radiolingo investigates all the ways language sh...

Understanding Iran

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Yeganeh and Jason Rezaian join Ben to answer all of your burning questions about Iran: what life is like for girls and women, why this movement is dif...

Brittney Griner is Home (with Jen Psaki)

14 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki subs in as cohost, talking with Ben about Brittney Griner’s release, what a Republican House means for ...

Standing up to autocrats (and royals)

07 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben talk about the ongoing protests in China, Ukrainian strikes into Russia, speculation over Putin’s health, Iran sending mixed messages ...

World Corrupt Episode 7: Stoppage Time!

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Rog examine a tournament in which politics, sport and humanity have all been laid bare; USMNT captain Tyler Adams' leadership and poise when...

Covid protests rock China

30 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben discuss the anti-covid lockdown protests sweeping across China, soccer and politics at the World Cup, including the US win over Iran, Bi...

World Corrupt Episode 6: A Dystopian World Cup

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Rog discuss what has been a surreal tournament thus far, from FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s astoundingly tone-deaf first-person speech...

Thanksgiving Mailbag!

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tommy and Ben answer all of your burning foreign policy questions and give recommendations for what to read and watch over the holidays. For a closed...