Podcast / American Prestige / Oct 25, 2024

World News Roundup: BRICS Summit, IDF Assault on Lebanon, and an India-China Border Agreement

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.

Houthis Escalate Red Sea Conflict, Pentagon Report on Iran War Costs, BRICS Summit Exposes Divisions / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Derek has journeyed to Bolivia seeking contact with the newly discovered cat species, so Alex Jordan of Always at Warsteps in to bring you the headlines. This week: in New Delhi, BRICS member states issue a fractured joint statement on restraint in the Middle East (1:12); Iran strikes a U.S.-contracted vessel near the Strait of Hormuz (5:42); a cyberattack disables Texas-bound tankers (8:30); a new Pentagon report puts the Iran war’s cost at $33.4 billion (9:59); the Houthis/Ansar Allah advance in Taiz and hit Saudi Arabia (14:46); Yemeni government forces strike back while the U.S. rules out direct involvement (19:00); China pushes Iran to restrain the Houthis (22:37); an Israeli strike collapses a building in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people (25:12); the U.S. approves a $2.8 billion weapons sale to Israel (27:34); Russia and Ukraine strike each other’s energy infrastructure (30:57); the House passes a Russia sanctions bill named in honor of Lindsey Graham (33:37); a banking scandal roils Brazil’s presidential race (37:53); and in Sweden, a left-wing bloc narrowly wins an election (41:12).  

Don’t forget to grab your copy of Danny’s new book Imperialist Realism.

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

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

Officials attend a plenary session at the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 24, 2024.

(Maxim Shemetov / AFP)

On this week’s American Prestige world news roundup: the 2024 BRICS summit, featuring Vladimir Putin pushing for a dollar alternative and potentially alienating some member states (1:36); in Palestine-Israel, an update on Northern Gaza (9:10), Antony Blinken’s visit (12:31), and a leaked document on Israel’s planned counterattack on Iran (16:22); in Lebanon, the IDF targeting the Qard al-Hassan banking network (18:22), US special enovy Amos Hochstein’s special demands (21:13), and the IDF’s first assault on Tyre (23:45); in Turkey, a terrorist attack interfering with the Kurdish peace process (25:19) and the death of Fethullah Gülen of (of the eponymous movement) (28:02); negotiations between India and China over a border agreement, with Xi and Modi meeting while at the BRICS summit (31:11); in Sudan, the defection of an RSF commander (34:18); the apparent failure of the M23 ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (36:03); in Ukraine, Russian forces pressuring several towns (37:57) amid talk of DPRK/North Korean soldiers being deployed (40:18); and finally, a new UN climate report saying countries have made no progress in cutting emissions to tackle climate change (43:42).

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

Reparations as a Climate Solution—With Brea Baker

Reparations as a Climate Solution—With Brea Baker Reparations as a Climate Solution—With Brea Baker

“Those who own the land get to be decision makers over what happens to the land. They get to decide whether they‘re gonna frack and how much they’re going to pollute.”

Shilpi Chhotray and Mindy Ramaker

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 Flock Safety automated license plate reader surveillance camera in Santaquin, Utah, on September 27, 2026.

Why Communities Want to Stop Flock Cameras—With Jason Koebler Why Communities Want to Stop Flock Cameras—With Jason Koebler

Paris Marx is joined by Jason Koebler to discuss the rise of Flock surveillance cameras, their misuse by police, and the growing bipartisan backlash.

Paris Marx

Halloween decorations are seen outside Flower Bar in Katowice, Poland, on October 25, 2026.

Halloween Origins—With Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters Halloween Origins—With Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters

Eleanor Janega and Luke Waters join the show to explore Halloween’s origins, from medieval beliefs about death and ghosts to costumes, commercialization, and modern traditions.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

President Donald Trump after casting his ballot during early voting on October 24, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Defeating Trump’s Attacks on Voting—Plus, the Coming End of the Trump Era Defeating Trump’s Attacks on Voting—Plus, the Coming End of the Trump Era

On this episode of “Start Making Sense,” Rick Hasen explains election protection, and Harold Meyerson analyzes the key Senate contests.

Jon Wiener

California insurance commissioner candidate Jane Kim speaks at the “Ballots Over Billionaires” rally on October 5, 2026, in Los Angeles.

Can Jane Kim Fix Insurance?—With Jane Kim Can Jane Kim Fix Insurance?—With Jane Kim

Jane Kim joins the show to discuss her run for California insurance commissioner, addressing corporate profits, denied claims, and the growing risks of climate change.

Jonathan Smucker, Matt DaSilva, and Aaron Regunberg

x