Podcast / American Prestige / May 24, 2024

The Death of Ebrahim Raisi, the Rafah Offensive in Gaza, and Unrest in New Caledonia

On this episode of American Prestige, headlines from around the globe.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Death of Ebrahim Raisi, Rafah Offensive in Gaza, Unrest in New Caledonia | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek return with the news roundup. This week: a Gaza update (0:35), three countries recognize Palestine (10:47), the ICC pursues arrest warrants (14:17), and an ICJ hearing wraps up (18:07); Yemeni Ansar Allah / Houthi forces down two US drones, plus the US admits its bombing campaigns have been futile (20:19); the death of Iranian president Embrahim Raisi (25:16); Taiwan inaugurates a new president and sees protests at the parliament while China conducts military drills nearby (27:38); protests and riots in France’s New Caledonia colony territory, prompting a visit from Macron (29:49); the US finally sets a date for withdrawing troops from Niger (33:52); Kenya’s William Ruto visits the US, with the former country’s mission to Haiti starting soon (34:40); an update on the Kharkiv offensive in Ukraine (36:58); and the UK schedules an election for July 4 (39:22).

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A Shiite Muslims holds a prayer bead and the photograph of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.

(AP Photo / Dar Yasin)

On this episode of American Prestige, we’re back with another news roundup with headlines from around the world. In our Gaza update this week (0:35), three countries recognize Palestine (10:47), the ICC pursues arrest warrants (14:17), and an ICJ hearing wraps up (18:07); Yemeni Ansar Allah/Houthi forces down two US drones, plus the US admits that its bombing campaigns have been futile (20:19); Iranian President Embrahim Raisi is killed in a helicopter crash (25:16); Taiwan inaugurates a new president and sees protests at the parliament, while China conducts military drills nearby (27:38); France’s New Caledonia colony territory is shaken by protests and riots, prompting a visit from Macron (29:49); the US finally sets a date for withdrawing troops from Niger (33:52); Kenya’s William Ruto visits the US, with the former country’s mission to Haiti starting soon (34:40); we have an update on the Kharkiv offensive in Ukraine (36:58); and the UK schedules an election for July 4 (39:22).

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Lula Wins Fourth Term, Serbian Students Defeat Ruling Party, US Prepares to Escalate Iran War / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek considered helping Flavio Bolsonaro mount a political comeback here in the States, but cut ties on the advice of Danny's psychic. In this week’s news: Israel's election leaves Netanyahu without a parliamentary majority (1:41); Lula wins Brazil's presidential runoff and Flávio Bolsonaro flees Brazil for the United States after his defeat (8:53); Serbia's student-led opposition topples the ruling party (14:33); the United States and Gulf states pursue a new peace initiative with Iran as the United States prepares for another military campaign after the midterms (18:35); a Sudanese military drone strike kills more than 100 people in Nyala (23:55); Turkey hosts talks between Libya's rival governments looking toward reunification (26:01); in the Russia-Ukraine war, Zelenskyy announces peace talks in Abu Dhabi for November (28:50), the two countries observe a local ceasefire near Oleshky to allow humanitarian aid (29:56), and the Trump administration considers major sanctions relief for Russia (32:21); Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado returns to the country (34:50); and apparent cyberattacks disrupt refrigeration systems at U.S. military bases (37:41).

Listen to our full special on the election in Brazil with Andre Pagliarini.

Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠Welcome to the Crusades: The Second Crusade⁠!

Watch last night’s livestream.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Daniel Bessner

Daniel Bessner is a historian of US foreign relations and is the author of, among other books, Imperialist Realism.

Derek Davison

Derek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.

More from The Nation

Presidential candidate and incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil celebrates after the results of the general election day on October 25, 2026, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Lula Wins a Fourth Term, Serbian Students Defeat the Ruling Party, the US Prepares to Escalate the Iran War Lula Wins a Fourth Term, Serbian Students Defeat the Ruling Party, the US Prepares to Escalate the Iran War

Danny and Derek unpack the week’s global news, from elections in Israel and Brazil to political upheaval in Serbia, tensions with Iran, and the wars in Sudan and Ukraine.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

A plume of smoke rises during a reported air strike by the Saudi-led coalition on the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa, on October 9, 2026.

US and Israel Plan Iran Strikes, Ansar Allah Hits Saudi Arabia, Mass Protests Sweep France US and Israel Plan Iran Strikes, Ansar Allah Hits Saudi Arabia, Mass Protests Sweep France

Neera Tanden has not yet posted a tirade about AP, and we’re starting to take it personally. In this week’s news: The US and Israel prepare for renewed strikes against Iran after t…

Podcast / American Prestige

Presidential candidate for the Brazilian Liberal Party Flavio Bolsonaro during a press conference with representatives that declared their support for the runoff election in Brasília, on October 7, 2026.

War Breaks in Tigray, Brazil Holds Elections, Houthi/Ansar Allah Attacks Hit a Saudi Airport War Breaks in Tigray, Brazil Holds Elections, Houthi/Ansar Allah Attacks Hit a Saudi Airport

Derek has returned, but he keeps trying to get Danny to go to some seminar led by a charismatic “mentor” he encountered in his travels.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

The Scala Data Centers facility in Barueri, São Paulo state, Brazil, on March 9, 2026.

Brazil’s Data Center Boom Is Enabled by Renewables Firms—With Laís Martins Brazil’s Data Center Boom Is Enabled by Renewables Firms—With Laís Martins

Paris Marx and a tech reporter for The Intercept Brazil discuss how Brazil’s renewable energy industry is fueling data center expansion, greenwashing, and harm to local communitie...

Paris Marx

A Palestinian flag in the Mashrou' Beit Lahia area of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, on October 6, 2026.

Palestine Three Years After October—With Rashid Khalidi Palestine Three Years After October—With Rashid Khalidi

Rashid Khalidi joins Danny and Derek to discuss Gaza, October 7, US policy toward Israel, regional shifts, and the future of Palestinian resistance.

Podcast / American Prestige

Joe Biden with national security adviser Jake Sullivan during a roundtable with Jewish community leaders on October 11, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Gaza and Elite Accountability Gaza and Elite Accountability

Connor Echols on a reckoning within the foreign-policy establishment.

Jeet Heer

x