Unholy: Two Jews on the News Trump vs. the world, Protests in Iran and the Draft bill - with Amos Hochstein
24 snips
Jan 8, 2026 
Amos Hochstein, a former U.S. special envoy known for his work on Middle East and energy policy, joins the conversation. They discuss the potential end of the post-1945 international order and the implications of Trump's foreign actions. Hochstein analyzes the West's role in supporting Iranian protesters and contrasts current U.S. diplomacy with past administrations. The conversation also touches on Israel's draft bill protests and the precarious situation in Lebanon, weighing the risks and necessary steps for regional stability.
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Leadership Vacuum In Europe
- Europe lacks coherent leadership to check aggressive U.S. moves, leaving a vacuum exploited by Trump.
- Hochstein says Trump 'is running the board because there is no board.'
Oil Won't Be An Instant Payday
- Seizing Venezuela's leadership doesn't automatically deliver oil revenues or easy extraction.
- Hochstein outlines shifting, costly realities: financing, logistics and modest initial gains far below early rhetoric.
Diplomacy Was Tried First
- The Biden team tried diplomatic, commercial routes in Venezuela and negotiated exits without force.
- Hochstein says norms sometimes made democracies hesitant, and Trump broke that restraint for better or worse.
