Today's Briefing: Ken Klippenstein @kenklippenstein.bsky.social | Hannah Metzger | David Daley @davedaley.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Mae Ngai | James Zirin | Dr. Henry Abraham soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

I told @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social that many speak of the fog of war; America and Iran are now bringing us the fog of peace. But an opportunity has emerged — one that hasn't existed in decades — for the two countries to get off their 47-year path of confrontation. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Monday's Briefing: Aziz Huq | Nader Hashemi @naderhashemi.bsky.social | Christy McGillivray @notpoliticians.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Sunday's Briefing: David Smilde | David Schultz | Steven Greenhouse @greenhousenyt.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Matt Sledge | Josh Fox | Judith Levine soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Eric Blanc @ericblanc.bsky.social | Stephen Wertheim @stephenwertheim.bsky.social | Christopher Miller @christopherjm.ft.com soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing - Dean Baker @deanbaker13.bsky.social | Sidney Blumenthal | Steven Levistsky soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Polly Toynbee @pollytoynbee.bsky.social | Karen Greenberg | Timi Iwayemi soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Sina Toossi @sinatoossi.bsky.social | Andrei Markovits | Alexander Motyl soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Joshua Landis @joshua-landis.bsky.social | R. Daniel Kelemen @rdanielkelemen.bsky.social | Shawna Kidman soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Robert Malley | Joshua Shifrinson | David Walbert soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Today's Briefing: Matthew Petti @matthewpetti.bsky.social | Charles Kupchan | Jennifer Kavanagh @jekavanagh.bsky.social soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Trump, Vance, and Iran’s Qalibaf have reportedly signed an MOU set to be finalized in Geneva on Friday, raising hopes for a broader peace agreement. Juan Cole joins to discuss what we know so far and whether the deal can hold in the volatile region. on.soundcloud.com/bkdUYIGAUJGn...

We spoke with Paul Pillar about his article at @quincyinst.bsky.social, “Senate wants to force US to share sensitive intel with Israel,” as well Trump’s determination to weaponize US Intelligence against his enemies by placing Bill Pulte in charge of the ODNI.

We spoke with @irashapiro.bsky.socialabout the new book which he co-edited, Betrayed: America Didn’t Vote for This.

I think this is an important story. Illustrates how professional norms can allow for collective action in defiance of the bosses and owners, analogous to unions in some ways.

Following an expletive-laden phone call in which Trump told Netanyahu he is “f***ing crazy” and “everybody hates you now,” we spoke with @tcambanis.bsky.social about Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon which has continued in spite of Trump’s effort to restrain Netanyahu. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We’re joined by @anelsona.bsky.social looking into the rebellion inside CBS’s 60 Minutes against the Ellisons' lackeys who Scott Pelley has accused of “murdering” the flagship program to please Trump. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We speak with Jeffrey Winters, professor of political science at Northwestern University on how and why Oligarchs are dominating our democracy. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Paxton and the moral decay and collapse of decency and discourse in the Trump Era. Featuring James Moore, Emmy Award–winning television news correspondent. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

In spite of the “Art of the Deal,” Trump keeps getting rolled in negotiations. Featuring @dgraham.bsky.social, staff writer at The Atlantic. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

The rise of progressive populism in the heartland as the con of Trump’s authoritarian populism sinks in. Featuring author and professor @coryhaala.bsky.social. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

The California crackup that could have Republican reality TV disruptors elected in the bluest state. Featuring Harold Meyerson, progressive columnist and editor-at-large of The American Prospect. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Another US Senator assaulted by Trump and Stephen Miller’s ICE and DHS thugs. Featuring @krhawkins.bsky.social, a Senior Legal Analyst at the Project on Government Oversight focusing on accountability for ICE. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We explore how asymmetric warfare goes back to the American Revolution, when the colonial revolutionaries defeated the greatest power on earth at the time. Featuring Tom Mockaitis, professor of history at DePaul University. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Joining us to assess whether Trump will distract us with an invasion of Cuba since he won’t be able to spin his way out of his defeat in Iran is @naderhashemi.bsky.social, the Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

An analysis of what is happening at the Pentagon with a racist incompetent in charge who is destroying our military’s valuable assets as America’s greatest meritocracy. Featuring author @robertyoungpelton.bsky.social. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Iran is holding the cards, and Trump appears desperate. I joined @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social on Background Briefing to discuss the latest in the war, and why the US never should have done it.

President & CEO @nancyokail.bsky.social joined @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social to discuss Saudi pressuring Trump to make a deal with Iran. Listen here: www.backgroundbriefing.org/2026/05/07/b...

“If any other president did this, it would dominate headlines.” Bill Scher discusses allegations surrounding Trump’s pardon of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández. BTW the media is silent on this Real conversations. Unflinching journalism. Only on KPFA. @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social

Have a listen to this great interview with @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social and @jeffcolgan.bsky.social. They discuss the escalating Persian Gulf conflict, Iran’s Strait of Hormuz blockade and the global economic fallout from soaring oil prices. Find it online here: www.backgroundbriefing.org

We assess the fate and future of the Iranian opposition, as according to the White House the war may soon be ending. Featuring Afshin Matin-Asgari, professor of Middle East History at California State University. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We examine the resignation of Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence. Featuring Gregory Treverton, senior adviser with the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With comedians leading the resistance, Colbert is taken off the air by a President who can’t take a joke. Featuring @jonathanalter.bsky.social, contributing correspondent for NBC News. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

While Democrats and the press focus on Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund, the deal to bar the IRS from investigating the monetization of the presidency continues. Featuring Edward McCaffery. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

The release of the DNC autopsy on the Democrats’ 2024 defeat fails to mention Gaza. Featuring @ryanlcooper.com, cohost of the Left Anchor podcast. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With Trump’s war stalemated, more sticker shock coming for working Americans being punished at the gas pump. Featuring @jeffcolgan.bsky.social. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Hondurasgate looks worse than Watergate and Iran-Contra combined, but the US Media is ignoring it. Featuring @billscher.bsky.social, politics editor of the Washington Monthly. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Trump’s capture of the DoJ gives him a $1.77 slush fund and IRS Immunity from tax fraud. Featuring Bruce Fein, a constitutional lawyer who formerly served as associate deputy attorney general under the Reagan administration. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Trump’s grip over the GOP tightens as his poll numbers tank. Featuring @therickwilson.bsky.social , renowned political strategist, infamous ad-maker, writer, speaker, and political commentator. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

The political clout that allows police to protect and serve themselves. Featuring @stschrader1.bsky.social, professor of history at Johns Hopkins University. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

With Trump’s endorsement of AG Paxton over Senator Cornyn, we look at the future of James Talarico’s US Senate campaign. Featuring @jeremisuri.bsky.social. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

A scandal worse than Watergate and Iran Contra combined which is not being covered by the American press. Featuring David Adler, General Coordinator of @progintl.bsky.social. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We examine oil and its role in global capitalism as the war in the Gulf impacts transport fuel, fertilizers, plastics and chip manufacturing, threatening food supplies and the financial system. Featuring Adam Hanieh. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Trump’s control over the GOP increases in spite of how he is taking the party down with his cratering poll numbers, yet could still hold onto the House thanks to his Supreme Court. Featuring Mike Lofgren. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

An analysis of the Xi-Trump summit from the inside and the different versions of what Trump said happened and what Xi and the Chinese media had to say. Featuring Orville Schell. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

We look into how Republicans avoid discussing any issue of substance but continue to throw out made-up distractions like “Critical Race Theory, Antifa, and Cultural Marxism.” Featuring A.J.A. Woods. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

The US offers $100 million in aid to Cuba as they run out of oil and diesel as a result of the US blockade. Featuring William LeoGrande, professor at the American University School of Public Affairs. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...

Trump claims he had a successful summit with Xi in China despite the fact that he came home empty-handed. Featuring Kent Harrington, former senior CIA analyst. soundcloud.com/user-8304426...