Podcast / Edge of Sports / Jul 8, 2026

Did Trump Doom the US Men at the World Cup?

We talk to authors Leander Schaerlaeckens and Dr. Vincent Intondi about the World Cup.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

Congressional candidate Sam Husseini and talking NBA over-unders
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week we talk to Maryland Green Party candidate and longtime activist Sam Husseini about his insurgent congressional campaign. We also bring in the hoops savant Arya Shirazi to talk over/under win totals for the forthcoming NBA season. 

Zirin, The Bogus Lakers Sale Is Exactly Why We Need Publicly Owned Sports Teams

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/los-angeles-lakers-sale-private-equity/

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Folarin Balogun of USA reacts to the loss after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Lumen Field Seattle, Washington, on July 6, 2026.

(Ercin Erturk / Anadolu via Getty Images)

This week we speak to sports journalist and author Leander Schaerlaeckens. He has covered the US Men’s National team at four World Cups and is the author of the terrific new book The Long Game U.S. Men’s Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts.

We also talk to Dr. Vincent Intondi, executive director of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, about how the organization is using the World Cup to reach people politically.

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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.

Basketball Butterfly Effect: Steph Curry & the Knicks | Edge of Sports with Dave Zirin
byThe Nation Magazine

In Part 6 of our series, Basketball Butterfly Effect, Arya Shirazi joins the show again to discuss the 2009 NBA draft and the Knicks coming close to getting Davidson sharpshooter Steph Curry, the most revolutionary player of his generation. You don’t want to miss this episode!

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Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Dave Zirin

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is the author of a new book, The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.

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