Podcast / The Time of Monsters / Jun 22, 2025

Democrats Need to Reclaim Anti-War Politics

In this episode of The Time of Monsters, Matt Duss on political organizing to stop a catastrophic new Middle East war.

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.

Democrats Need to Reclaim Anti-War Politics | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
byThe Nation Magazine

Donald Trump has betrayed his promise to be a pro-peace president. Prodded by Washington hawks and the Israeli government, he has green-lit Israel’s attack on Iran, which the Untied States might soon join directly. A new Middle Eastern war would be a catastrophe. In order to stop it, Democrats will need to recover the anti-war politics that they adopted in opposition to George W. Bush’s Iraq War. I spoke with Matt Duss, vice-president of the Center for International Policy on how popular mobilization can push both Democrats and Republicans in congress to stand up to Trump’s war. Matt recently wrote on this topic for Foreign policy. 

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

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

President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation accompanied by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from the White House on June 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation accompanied by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from the White House on June 21, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

(Carlos Barria / Pool / Getty Images)

Note: This episode was recorded before the US bombings in Iran on Saturday night.

Donald Trump has betrayed his promise to be a pro-peace president. Prodded by Washington hawks and the Israeli government, he has now joined Israel’s attack on Iran. A new Middle Eastern war is a catastrophe. In order to halt it, Democrats will need to recover the anti-war politics that they adopted in opposition to George W. Bush’s Iraq War. I spoke with Matt Duss, vice-president of the Center for International Policy on how popular mobilization can push both Democrats and Republicans in congress to stand up to Trump’s war. Matt recently wrote on this topic for Foreign Policy

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.

Palestine and the Iran War w/ Yousef Munayyer | The Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
byThe Nation Magazine

As negotiations proceed in ending the Iran War, the question of the relationship between the US

and Israel becomes more salient. I spoke with Middle East expert Yousef Munayyer on the

agenda of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose interest in a securing his country’s

hegemony in the region is now in conflict with efforts to end the war.

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

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

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Your support makes stories like this possible

From illegal war on Iran to an inhumane fuel blockade of Cuba, from AI weapons to crypto corruption, this is a time of staggering chaos, cruelty, and violence. 

Unlike other publications that parrot the views of authoritarians, billionaires, and corporations, The Nation publishes stories that hold the powerful to account and center the communities too often denied a voice in the national media—stories like the one you’ve just read.

Each day, our journalism cuts through lies and distortions, contextualizes the developments reshaping politics around the globe, and advances progressive ideas that oxygenate our movements and instigate change in the halls of power. 

This independent journalism is only possible with the support of our readers. If you want to see more urgent coverage like this, please donate to The Nation today.

More from The Nation

Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) (R) participates in a discussion during a National Press Club Headliners Newsmaker event on April 14, 2026, in Washington, DC.

Ro Khanna: AI for the People—Plus, Trump’s Downward Spiral Ro Khanna: AI for the People—Plus, Trump’s Downward Spiral

On this episode of Start Making Sense, the member of Congress from Silicon Valley presents an “AI Manifesto,” and Harold Meyerson reports on Trump’s continuing decline.

Jon Wiener

US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago club on December 29, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

America, Israel, and the Jews (With David Klion) America, Israel, and the Jews (With David Klion)

Aaron and Matt are joined by Nation columnist David Klion to talk about the role that Israel has played in the rise of American fascism.

President Donald Trump pauses as he finishes speaking about the Iran war from the Cross Hall of the White House on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The Party of Chaos—With Paul Heideman The Party of Chaos—With Paul Heideman

Danny and Derek welcome writer Paul Heideman to talk about the shift of the Republican Party from the party of business interests to a fragmented, personality-driven coalition

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

Morris Katz at Zohran Mamdani's mayoral inauguration on January 1, 2026.

What if Democrats Didn’t Suck? With Morris Katz What if Democrats Didn’t Suck? With Morris Katz

Aaron, Matt, and Jonathan are joined by authors Astra Taylor and Mark Bray for a big picture conversation about what it means to fight fascism in this historical moment.

LAPD officers arrest a protester dressed as Lady Liberty in chains following clashes near the Metropolitan Detention Center during the “No Kings” national day of protest in Los Angeles on March 28, 2026.

Protest After No Kings—Plus, Abortion After “Dobbs” Protest After No Kings—Plus, Abortion After “Dobbs”

John Nichols analyzes the post–No Kings political landscape, and Amy Littlefield explains why there are more abortions now despite the restrictions.

Jon Wiener

President Donald Trump reacts during a Cabinet meeting.

Origins of the Imperial Presidency Origins of the Imperial Presidency

David Sirota on how Trump got the power of a king.

Jeet Heer

x