Iran vs. USA: It Can Always Get Worse!

Iran vs. USA: It Can Always Get Worse!

Author: Steve Palley, Pete Newsom January 17, 2020 Duration: 33:28
January 8: The Iranian regime says Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed a couple hours prior because of "mechanical errors."January 11: Actually… we shot it down because we mistook it for an incoming missile. Also this is America’s fault! We will not take any questions about why a commercial flight was allowed to take off while we were launching missiles at the American troops in Iraq. Ahem. Yes.Also January 11: Turning on a dime from mourning assassinated General Qassem #Soleimani to focusing rage on a hidebound regime, the Iranian people resume protesting in face of goons firing live ammo, even though 1500+ citizens have already died.Now: These are extremely hard times in #Iran, where the 40-year-old Islamic Republic looks like it could be tottering. And you know what they say: a cornered foe can be more dangerous than a confident one...This week, Steve and Soumi talk about the Islamic Republic's many difficult challenges, as well as how things in the Middle East could somehow be even scarier now than they were a month ago, even though everyone's stopped paying attention!Further reading:1.    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-510690902.    https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-01-14/soleimani-strike-shows-trump-plan-for-iran-is-regime-disruption3.    https://www.npr.org/2020/01/14/796260687/iran-makes-arrests-over-accidental-downing-of-ukrainian-airliner4.    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/business/economy/iran-economy.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article5.    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/world/europe/iran-nuclear-deal.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage6.    https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2020-parliamentary-election-causing-anxiety-tehran-191213162204935.html

Navigating the daily deluge of headlines can leave anyone feeling adrift. The Elucidators: Decoding Global News is a weekly conversation designed to provide a compass. Hosts Steve Palley and Pete Newsom don't just recount the events; they unpack the historical context, the political forces at play, and the often-overlooked connections between seemingly disparate stories. Each episode takes a notable global affair and patiently breaks it down, moving beyond the sensational soundbite to explore the 'why' and the 'what next'. You'll hear them analyze the mechanics of government decisions, debate the efficacy of political rhetoric, and offer grounded commentary that prioritizes understanding over alarm. This podcast operates on the belief that being an informed citizen requires more than just consumption-it requires digestion. By tuning in, you're not simply getting a news update; you're getting a framework for thinking critically about power, policy, and the narratives that shape our world. The goal is to leave each discussion with a clearer, more nuanced picture of the forces shaping our collective future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 48

The Elucidators: Decoding Global News
Podcast Episodes
Is NATO Still Great-O? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:57
@RealDonaldTrump threatened to pull out 1/3 of the American troops stationed in Germany…without telling Congress…or Ze Germans. Nice guy!What does this mean for the future of NATO—the world’s oldest multinational militar…
Trump vs Xi Jinping vs Tedros: WHO Needs This During COVID-19?! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:02
Q: How did a mild-mannered Ethiopian microbiologist end up one of the most talked about people in the ongoing pandemic?A: International politics.This week, Steve and Soumi discuss how Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the…
Coronavirus in China: The Wuhan Flu, Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:25
Since we first discussed the #coronavirus outbreak in China last week, A LOT has changed: There are now more than 7,800 confirmed #nCoV2019 cases and 212 deaths worldwide... as well as over a hundred full recoveries.The…
Pandemic in China: Crouching Virus, Frightened Planet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:48
This week, Steve and Soumi discuss the new #Coronavirus, the threats of pandemics in a globalized world, and what countries can do to handle problems that are bigger than nations.Buckle up cuz #pandemics can come at you…
Iran vs. USA: Tensions Drone On [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:11
Follow this maze, if you can.Last week, #Trump ordered the assassination of #Iran General Qassem #Soleimani as payback for Iran-linked Shia militias protesting in front of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, #Iraq.The Iraqi par…
Iran vs. USA in Iraq: Green Zone Blues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:57
*BREAKING NEWS ALERT*Just before we were about to post this episode Thursday evening, President Trump ordered a targeted assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike on Baghdad Airport.Welp.Soleima…
Episode 19: India Modi-fies Citizenship Laws [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:28
Q: How can a law offering a path to citizenship for religious refugees from neighboring countries lead to nationwide protests?A: When the law excludes Muslims from that path... and there are already 200 MILLION Muslims i…
Episode 18: More Brexit, Friday the 13th Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
Much like the well-known horror film franchise (albeit with fewer hockey masks and machetes), Brexit is scary and just doesn’t seem to end. In this latest installment of UK Democracy: Endless Madness, the world will find…