Americano

Jacob Heilbronn, editor at The National Interest and political commentator, joins to unpack Melania Trump’s surprising televised denial about Epstein and its strange timing. He also discusses whether her statement worsened the controversy. Short conversations touch on Trump’s feuds with former MAGA figures and shifting dynamics around the Iran ceasefire talks.

David Whitehouse, astroscientist and science writer, breaks down Artemis II and its moon ambitions. He explains the Space Launch System, timing with a full moon, and the mission’s tricky communications and tests. He also discusses why lunar exploration paused for 50 years, the US-China race for the moon, and how Artemis shapes long-term thinking about Mars and human curiosity.

Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest and Spectator columnist, offers sharp foreign policy commentary. He discusses the strategic nightmare of the Strait of Hormuz. He weighs risks of U.S. withdrawal and regional consequences. He examines Trump's decision-making, global energy fallout, and whether American power is waning.

Steven Crowder, conservative commentator and host of Louder with Crowder, joins to debate the escalating conflicts in the podcast world and reflect on grief after Charlie Kirk. He examines Western leftists’ trips to Cuba, contrasts foreign interventions like Venezuela and Iran, and warns about China’s influence on Western elites and institutions.

Christopher Caldwell, Spectator columnist and author, offers a crisp take on Trumpism and its future. He discusses how a US strike on Iran could alienate the movement’s base. Short segments cover Kushner’s behind-the-scenes role, Republican succession battles like Vance vs Rubio, GOP splits over Israel, and whether Trumpism survives as a lasting political force.

Robert Hardman, journalist and royal author known for biographies of the British royal family, discusses whether King Charles should proceed with a US state visit. He covers the history of controversial state visits and why Donald Trump is drawn to royal pageantry. Timing around the US 250th anniversary and how the monarch navigates sensitive topics are also explored.

James D. Boys, senior research fellow at UCL and author of US Grand Strategy and the Madman Theory, gives a crisp scholarly tour of the madman idea from Machiavelli to Nixon and Trump. He traces its intellectual roots, compares Nixon and Trump, explores uses against allies and Iran, and flags the strategy’s limits and risks in great power politics.

Roger Kimball, editor and commentator on culture and conservative politics, discusses the SAVE Act and its Senate prospects. He explains filibuster history and why 60 votes matter. He outlines photo ID and mail‑in ballot rules, defends voter‑ID practicality, and links the bill to broader political strategy and electoral stakes.

Robert Bryce, energy expert who writes on gas and oil markets, and Jacob Heilbrunn, foreign policy editor and commentator, discuss Trump’s Middle East messaging and his talks with Putin. They debate risks of military escalation, effects on oil and gas markets, Britain’s energy vulnerability, and whether diplomacy with Russia could change Iran’s behavior.

Geoffrey Cain, journalist and author who studies authoritarian regimes and tech, shares his take on geopolitics. He discusses China’s Belt and Road as a strategic project. He explains China’s transactional ties with Iran and others. He connects recent US strikes to China’s influence, Taiwan calculations, chips and tech leverage. He outlines risks if the Middle East becomes a prolonged quagmire.