Is the World Order Actually Disintegrating? | with Ian Bremmer

Is the World Order Actually Disintegrating? | with Ian Bremmer

Author: The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas April 22, 2026 Duration: 40:41
What happens when the rules of the global game are being rewritten in real-time? Ian Bremmer, the founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media, joins host Zachary Karabell to discuss how to navigate a world defined by a "long geopolitical recession" and the erosion of the post-1945 order. From the escalating conflicts in the Middle East and the surprising vulnerabilities of the economic models in the Gulf to the "asymmetric war fighting" that allows drones to bring the global economy to its knees, this episode reckons with a world that seems to be disintegrating rather than coming together. Bremmer and Karabell explore why we aren’t getting a better picture of what’s happening on the ground in places like Iran and Yemen, and whether the "noise" of modern social media is a tool for freedom or a new mechanism for state control. As political revolutionaries rise and established media organizations downsize, Bremmer and Karabell ask: is our current information environment worse than it was 30 years ago, or can individuals still "sniff out" the truth? And: Is this the peak of global chaos, or just a cyclical trough before a new rebound? What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/ Follow him LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zacharykarabell Follow Zachary on X @zacharykarabell

It’s easy to feel that everything is falling apart, but what if the dominant narrative of decline is missing a crucial piece of the story? What Could Go Right? asks that question directly, offering a necessary counterpoint to the daily drumbeat of crises. Hosted by The Progress Network’s Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas, this podcast operates from a simple but radical premise: while the problems are real, so is the human capacity for ingenuity and constructive change. Each episode brings together a diverse group of thinkers, from scientists and activists to policymakers and cultural commentators, for conversations that go beyond diagnosing issues to exploring tangible solutions and underreported advances. You’ll hear nuanced discussions on everything from climate technology and economic innovation to the reshaping of governance and culture, all grounded in a realistic sense of possibility. This isn’t about blind optimism; it’s about engaged, evidence-based hope. Tuning in means joining a community that believes understanding what’s working is just as important as understanding what’s broken. If you’re weary of doomscrolling and looking for substantive dialogue that charts a path forward, this is the podcast for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

What Could Go Right?
Podcast Episodes
The Progress Report: Positive Innovation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
In this week's Progress Report Zachary and Emma discuss positive developments in the world amidst grim headlines. They explore innovative energy solutions in urban transit, breakthroughs in diabetes treatment using stem…
The Dish on Disinformation with Jiore Craig [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:44
How do we know which information on social media is real? How can we overcome campaigns of disinformation and misinformation? Zachary and Emma speak with Jiore Craig, global and political media strategist. They discuss t…
The Progress Report: Interest Rates of Social Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:07
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss various positive developments around the world, including economic updates on interest rates and inflation, the introduction of an at-home flu vaccine, and social…
The Attention Deficit with Gloria Mark [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:38
What are the effects of having so much technology at our fingertips? Are we connected to too much information at once? Is technology shortening our attention spans? Zachary and Emma speak with Gloria Mark, psychologist a…
The Progress Report: New Discoveries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:01
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss news stories including the recognition of new species in Australia and the significant anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. They discuss the implications…
What's So Good About Immigration? with Zeke Hernandez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:21
Are Americans really opposed to immigration? Zachary and Emma speak to author and professor Zeke Hernandez about immigration in the United States, and how it impacts the culture and economics of our society. They talk ab…
The Progress Report: Shifting Attitudes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:55
In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss some positive news and developments happening around the world. They highlight the surprising optimism among likely voters in the US, the decrease in extreme pover…
The Politics of Ranked Choice with Andrew Yang [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:25
Is fundamental change possible in a polarized two-party system? Zachary and Emma speak with Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang to discuss the current state of the primary system in the United States and what positive chan…
The Progress Report: Expect the Unexpected [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:54
This week's Progress Report covers a range of topics, including the banning of wild animals in circuses, the reduction of air pollution in China, and the ban on ghost guns in Oregon. The conversation also touches on the…
Introducing The Global Story [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:48
This week we’re sharing an episode of a podcast we think you’ll really like – BBC’s The Global Story. Indonesia is building a brand-new capital city - twice the size of New York – in the middle of a rainforest. The curre…