Podcast / American Prestige / Dec 20, 2024

Russian General Assassination, Turkey-SDF Tensions, Israel in Syria 

On this episode of the American Prestige news roundup, 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.

Russian General Assassination, Turkey-SDF Tensions, Israel in Syria | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, our last news roundup before the holidays —but stay tuned for other fun AP programming! This week: in Palestine-Israel, yet more Gaza ceasefire talks (1:33) and two new reports on Israeli conduct in the Strip (6:54); in Syria, reports of reprisal attacks (12:18), the US fails to broker a Turkey-SDF ceasefire (16:23), and Israel occupies the country's south (20:40); Russia appears to have moved military assets from Ukraine to Libya (23:32); the RSF carries out more attacks in Sudan's Al-Fashir (27:13); South Korea's Yoon is impeached again (28:21); in Russia-Ukraine, a prominent Russian general is assassinated (30:46), Russian forces close in on Pokrovsk (32:47), and Zelenskyy is in Brussels to talk peacekeepers (34:52); and a New Cold War update featuring the US and China extending a research agreement (37:19), a US naval vessel docking in Cambodia (38:26), and the Trump FP team targeting China (40:59).

If you want to keep following AP over the break, you can access our feed over at americanprestigepod.com!

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com

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

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

Syrian Kurds wave independence-era flags and flash the V for victory sign during a demonstration in support of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeastern city of Qamishli, on December 19, 2024.

(Delil Souleiman / AFP via Getty Images)

On this episode of American Prestige, our last news roundup before the holidays —but stay tuned for other fun AP programming! This week: in Palestine-Israel, yet more Gaza ceasefire talks (1:33) and two new reports on Israeli conduct in the Strip (6:54); in Syria, reports of reprisal attacks (12:18), the US fails to broker a Turkey-SDF ceasefire (16:23), and Israel occupies the country’s south (20:40); Russia appears to have moved military assets from Ukraine to Libya (23:32); the RSF carries out more attacks in Sudan’s Al-Fashir (27:13); South Korea’s Yoon is impeached again (28:21); in Russia-Ukraine, a prominent Russian general is assassinated (30:46), Russian forces close in on Pokrovsk (32:47), and Zelenskyy is in Brussels to talk peacekeepers (34:52); and a New Cold War update featuring the US and China extending a research agreement (37:19), a US naval vessel docking in Cambodia (38:26), and the Trump FP team targeting China (40:59).

If you want to keep following AP over the break, you can access our feed over at americanprestigepod.com!

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.

The Political Economy of Porn w/ Molly Lambert | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek welcome to the show Molly Lambert, creator of the JENNAWORLD podcast, to talk about the rise of the modern porn industry and its roots in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley. They discuss the medium’s origins in underground stag films and the porno chic era; the shift to home video and the corporate studio model; breakout stars like Ginger Lynn Allen and Jenna Jameson; porn as an outsider industry mirroring Hollywood; gender, labor, and power in late-20th-century media; the relationship between pornography and evolving feminist politics; porn’s role in the VHS–Betamax war; and how the internet, OnlyFans, and content platforms have affected a formerly professionalized industry.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com

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

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani looks on as New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during the grand opening of the Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem, New York City, on November 12, 2025.

Mamdani's Socialism—and Us; Plus, Football and Concussions Mamdani's Socialism—and Us; Plus, Football and Concussions

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Bhaskar Sunkara analyzes the constraints New York’s new mayor will face, and Dave Zirin comments on brain injuries among football players.

Jon Wiener

US investor and philanthropist Alexander Soros, son of Hungarian-US investor and philanthropist George Soros, speaks during a ceremony to accept on behalf of his father the 2025 Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma, on October 23, 2025, in Berlin, Germany.

Liberal Philanthropy and the Fight for Democracy, With David Callahan  Liberal Philanthropy and the Fight for Democracy, With David Callahan 

On the latest Nation Podcast.

D.D. Guttenplan and David Callahan

Reframing Resistance, Live From NYC Climate Week

Reframing Resistance, Live From NYC Climate Week Reframing Resistance, Live From NYC Climate Week

It’s the season finale of A People’s Climate.

Shilpi Chhotray

Cooling vent fans are seen on the roof of a Digital Realty data center in Ashburn, Virginia. on November 12, 2025.

Data Centers Are a Climate Enemy Data Centers Are a Climate Enemy

On this episode of Tech Won't Save Us: Ketan Joshi on how data centers are a climate justice issue.

Paris Marx

Trump Condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene, Praises Mamdani—Plus, Alice Waters on “a School Lunch Revolution”

Trump Condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene, Praises Mamdani—Plus, Alice Waters on “a School Lunch Revolution” Trump Condemns Marjorie Taylor Greene, Praises Mamdani—Plus, Alice Waters on “a School Lunch Revolution”

On this episode of Start Making Sense, Harold Meyerson comments on Washington politics, and the founder of Chez Panisse describes her project for kids.

Jon Wiener

Moses Malone

Moses Malone Gets Biblical Moses Malone Gets Biblical

On Edge of Sports: Paul Knepper on his new book on Moses Malone, and Arya comes back to talk all things NBA.

Dave Zirin

x