Podcast / American Prestige / May 9, 2025

A US-Houthi Ceasefire, Israel’s Gaza Plans, and Global Trade Tensions

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.

US-Houthi Ceasefire, Israel’s Gaza Plans, and Global Trade Tensions | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Though Jake is absent for the week, Danny and Derek remain steadfast in their dedication to bring you news. They discuss the U.S.-Houthi ceasefire; the Israeli government's plans for Gaza; Trump’s push for a Gaza ceasefire and Saudi deal on his upcoming Middle East trip; new clashes between India and Pakistan as well as more details from Wednesday morning's strikes; the possibility of U.S.-China trade talks; the reality of a U.S.-U.K. trade deal; drone strikes on Port Sudan; peace talks in the DRC; Vladimir Putin's V-E Day ceasefire; Friedrich Merz’s chaotic chancellor election and the AfD’s potential classification as an extremist group; the European Union’s effort to poach U.S. academics; and finally, the Trump administration’s push for countries to adopt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service.

Then, after the show, Danny and Derek speak with Trevor Beaulieu and Josh Olson about their new podcast, "White Canon."

⁠⁠Check out White Canon here!

Topics:

02:04 The US-Houthi ceasefire.

06:49 Israel's plans for Gaza.

12:46 Donald Trump's planned visit to the Persian Gulf and his goals.

16:34 Tthe new clashes between India and Pakistan.

20:21 Potential US-China trade talks.

22:41 The US-UK trade deal.

23:44 The recent Australian elections.

25:50 The RSF attacking Port Sudan.

27:59 The advancing peace talks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

30:44 Putin's VE Day ceasefire and its effectiveness.

32:51 Friedrich Merz needing a second ballot to become German chancellor.

34:37 The AFD party in Germany.

36:34 The EU's efforts related to academics.

39:17 US pushing countries to adopt Starlink.

42:30 Discussuin w/ Trevor Beaulieu and Josh Olson about their new podcast, "White Canon."

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

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

Military spokesman of Yemen’s Houthi group Yahya Saree addresses a rally in solidarity with Palestinians and the Gaza Strip and in condemnation of Israel and the US, in the capital Sanaa on May 2, 2025.

(Mohammed Huwais / AFP via Getty Images)

Though Jake is absent for the week, we remain steadfast in their dedication to bring you news. On this episode of American Prestige, we discuss the US-Houthi ceasefire; the Israeli government’s plans for Gaza; Trump’s push for a Gaza ceasefire and Saudi deal on his upcoming Middle East trip; new clashes between India and Pakistan as well as more details from Wednesday morning’s strikes; the possibility of US-China trade talks; the reality of a US-UK trade deal; drone strikes on Port Sudan; peace talks in the DRC; Vladimir Putin’s V-E Day ceasefire; Friedrich Merz’s chaotic chancellor election and the AfD’s potential classification as an extremist group; the European Union’s effort to poach US academics; and finally, the Trump administration’s push for countries to adopt Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite Internet service.

Then, after the show, we speak with Trevor Beaulieu and Josh Olson about their new podcast, White Canon.

⁠⁠Check out White Canon here!

Topics

02:04 The US-Houthi ceasefire.

06:49 Israel’s plans for Gaza.

12:46 Donald Trump’s planned visit to the Persian Gulf and his goals.

16:34 Tthe new clashes between India and Pakistan.

20:21 Potential US-China trade talks.

22:41 The US-UK trade deal.

23:44 The recent Australian elections.

25:50 The RSF attacking Port Sudan.

27:59 The advancing peace talks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

30:44 Putin’s VE Day ceasefire and its effectiveness.

32:51 Friedrich Merz needing a second ballot to become German chancellor.

34:37 The AFD party in Germany.

36:34 The EU’s efforts related to academics.

39:17 US pushing countries to adopt Starlink.

42:30 Discussion w/ Trevor Beaulieu and Josh Olson about their new podcast, White Canon.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

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.

US Plan for Venezuela’s Oil, Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two, Iran Protests w/ Matt Lech and Negar Mortazavi | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Derek welcomes Matt Lech to the show to bring you the news while a sick Danny convalesces. This week: Trump pushes U.S. oil companies to reenter Venezuela and outlines plans for a long-term U.S. takeover of the Venezuelan oil industry (1:34); opposition leader Maria Corina Machado presents Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal (7:01); Southern Transitional Council leader Aidarus al-Zubaidi flees Yemen as the group fractures amid competing leadership claims (8:50); Somalia cuts ties with the United Arab Emirates following the latter’s support for Somaliland and the evacuation of Yemeni separatist leaders through Somali territory (12:05); the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire begins as Israel continues to restrict humanitarian aid (14:27); UK Palestine Action prisoners conduct hunger strikes as part of a broader campaign against repression and arms manufacturing, with Matt relaying a statement from the group (18:11); Sudan’s military government announces its return to Khartoum while preparing a major operation against the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur and Kordofan (21:22); China records a $1.2 trillion trade surplus despite U.S. tariffs (24:09); Japan’s prime minister moves toward snap elections amid high approval ratings and ongoing political instability (26:30); the UN reports 2025 as the deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians since 2022 (28:40); American, Danish, and Greenlandic officials meet in Washington as Trump continues to press claims over Greenland (31:06); the Trump administration halts immigrant visa processing for 75 countries (33:15); and the New York Times reports on possible U.S. war crimes involving the use of disguised military aircraft in “anti-smuggling” operations (34:23). Derek then speaks with Negar Mortazavi, journalist and host of The Iran Podcast, about the causes, trajectory, and implications of Iran’s recent nationwide protests (37:11). Find more of Matt’s work over at Left Reckoning, The Majority Report, and The Jacobin Show.  Here is the complete statement from UK Palestine Action.

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 an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.

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

Donald Trump speaks to the press upon returning to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Bombing Iran Won’t Help the Protesters Bombing Iran Won’t Help the Protesters

Annelle Sheline on Trump’s embrace of chaos in the Middle East.

Jeet Heer

Young woman holding smartphone, with a computer-generated background.

Reimagining Our Relationship With Digital Tech Reimagining Our Relationship With Digital Tech

Paris Marx on some of the big themes that will move conversations he’ll be having this year like digital sovereignty and rethinking the value of the tech we admit into our lives.

Paris Marx

Trump, from Minneapolis to Caracas—Plus, How Capitalism Came to Communist China

Trump, from Minneapolis to Caracas—Plus, How Capitalism Came to Communist China Trump, from Minneapolis to Caracas—Plus, How Capitalism Came to Communist China

On Start Making Sense, Harold Meyerson on Trump’s efforts to overcome collapsing support, and critic John Powers talks about the new TV series “Blossoms Shanghai” by Wong Kar Wai....

Jon Wiener

Donald Trump boards Air Force One before departing Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan on January 13, 2026.

Can American Power Be Redeemed? Can American Power Be Redeemed?

On American Prestige: Shadi Hamid on American hegemony and whether it can be a force for good.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Donald Trump departs after speaking during a House Republican retreat at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on January 6, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Venezuela in American Politics—Plus, VA Housing for Homeless Vets Venezuela in American Politics—Plus, VA Housing for Homeless Vets

On Start Making Sense: John Nichols on the lack of support for Trump’s attack on Venezuela, and Mark Rosenbaum on the court victory that should end homelessness for disabled vets....

Jon Wiener

Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a federal courthouse in Manhattan on January 5, 2026 in New York City.

Venezuela, Latin America, and the Future of US Foreign Policy, With Greg Grandin Venezuela, Latin America, and the Future of US Foreign Policy, With Greg Grandin

On the latest American Prestige.

Daniel Bessner, Derek Davison, and Greg Grandin

x