Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast

Ian Proud, former British diplomat and economic counsellor in Moscow, and host of The Peacemonger. He argues Europe needs an economic reset with Russia to avoid decline. They discuss risks of EU enlargement without Russia talks, treaty-based security commitments beyond a ceasefire, reopening trade and energy links, and why European diplomacy has been slow to re-engage.

Patrik Baab, a German journalist and bestselling author who reported from both sides of the Ukraine frontline, discusses threats to freedom of expression in Europe. He explores EU-linked censorship mechanisms, high-profile sanctions and reputational attacks, pervasive self-censorship in institutions, and the geopolitical tug-of-war shaping Europe’s future.

Nicolai Petro, political science professor and former State Department special assistant on the Soviet Union, weighs in on Europe’s strategic confusion. He discusses the chaotic shift to multipolarity. He contrasts European wishful thinking with US pragmatism. He examines Germany’s political strains, EU limits, backchannels with Russia, and how BRICS offer a forward-looking alternative.

Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Tehran University professor and former nuclear negotiations advisor, warns that any token attack on Iran could spiral into total war. He discusses Iran's hidden military preparations and regional alliances. He examines limits to negotiations, maritime and economic retaliation options, and how a wider regional conflict could unfold.

Richard Wolff, economist known for sharp critiques of capitalism, examines America’s overreach and the Trump-era playbook. He discusses theatrical domestic politics, tariffs that miss structural problems, and the US tribute-like foreign strategy. He also outlines Europe's economic shrinkage, social strains, and pressures to align under US dominance.

Jeffrey Sachs, economist and UN sustainable development leader, explains how U.S. economic coercion reshapes global power. He traces historical regime-change tactics and the human cost of sanctions. He also highlights how dollar dominance enables extraterritorial pressure and why non-dollar alternatives are rising.

Larry Johnson, former CIA analyst and State Department counterterrorism official who runs Sonar21, outlines signs Washington is gearing up for military action against Iran. He discusses intelligence warnings, US force posture and regional fallout. The conversation also covers Iran's missile and drone capabilities, and the roles of Russia, China and Israel in the unfolding crisis.

Gilbert Doctorow, historian and analyst of Russian affairs, offers sharp geopolitical commentary. He examines the alleged assassination attempt on General Alekseyev and its effect on diplomacy. He explores who might have orchestrated it, patterns of targeting Russian commanders, and how Western and Ukrainian incentives could prolong the war. He outlines risks of escalation and shifting Russian domestic reactions.

Michael Hudson, classical economist and author of The Destiny of Civilization, explains how financialization, rent extraction, and debt reshape societies. He traces the shift from industrial to finance capitalism. He discusses privatization, energy as modern rent, state-led infrastructure in China, geopolitics and sanctions as rent tools, and historical debt jubilees.

Daniel Davis, a former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and four-time combat veteran turned analyst, warns a U.S. attack on Iran would spark an unpredictable regional war. He breaks down U.S. force limits, why limited strikes could provoke large retaliation, how hawkish rhetoric and staged actions mislead policymakers, and the likely asymmetric responses from Russia and China.