Podcast / American Prestige / Jan 16, 2024

The White House, Gaza, and the NSC’s Lies with Akbar Shahid Ahmed

On this special episode of American Prestige, a discussion of the post-Gaza plans of a Biden official to rebuild the Palestinian territory through a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

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 White House, Gaza, and the NSC’s Lies with Akbar Shahid Ahmed | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Recorded Monday, January 15, 2024:

Akbar Shahid Ahmed, senior foreign affairs reporter at HuffPost, returns to the American Prestige podcast to discuss his recent pieces covering the post-Gaza plans of top White House official Brett McGurk and the imminent departure of the White House’s special Middle East envoy on humanitarian issues.

Then, for American Prestige subscribers, the group gets into the NSC’s attempts to discredit Akbar’s reporting, the media backlash, how this compares to treatment of reporters under Trump, and more.

Subscribe to American Prestige for the full interview!

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

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

Brett McGurk, US National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, and Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Saudi ambassador to the US, look on during an investment agreement signing ceremony between the US and Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on July 16, 2022.

(Amer Hilabi / AFP via Getty Images)

On this episode of American Prestige, Akbar Shahid Ahmed, senior foreign affairs reporter at HuffPost, returns to the podcast to discuss his recent pieces covering the post-Gaza plans of top White House official Brett McGurk and the imminent departure of the White House’s special Middle East envoy on humanitarian issues.

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 Kidnaps Maduro, Israel Escalation, Yemen Separatist Collapse | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek return from their holiday retreat at Bohemian Grove to bring you news from around the world. This week: Delcy Rodríguez assumes Venezuela’s presidency following Nicolás Maduro’s U.S. rendition (1:31), as questions mount over the indictment (3:51) and Washington moves toward de facto control of Venezuelan oil exports (6:36); Saudi-backed forces push back Southern Transitional Council gains in southern Yemen, with STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi fleeing to the UAE and facing treason charges (11:10); Israel bans 37 humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (15:33), and advances the E-1 settlement project in the West Bank (17:49); protests spread across Iran amid currency collapse and renewed sanctions (21:05); Thailand and Cambodia’s December ceasefire largely holds despite a reported accidental mortar incident (25:33); U.S. airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria raise questions about targets and objectives (27:52); Israel becomes the first country to recognize Somaliland, prompting regional backlash and speculation about military basing and Gaza resettlement plans (30:44); European leaders discuss security guarantees for Ukraine as part of potential peace negotiations with Russia (36:00); Trump escalates rhetoric and planning around annexing or purchasing Greenland (37:54); the Trump administration pushes for a $1.5 trillion U.S. military budget (42:12); and Trump orders a U.S. withdrawal from dozens of UN and international institutions, particularly those related to climate governance (44:30).

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

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

A security volunteer stands at a roadside checkpoint during the conflict in the Thai province of Buriram, 10 kilometres away from the border with Cambodia.

Thailand–Cambodia Fighting, Venezuela Escalation, Yemen Separatists Thailand–Cambodia Fighting, Venezuela Escalation, Yemen Separatists

The news from American Prestige.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

A boy looks at an iPhone screen displaying various social media apps on December 13, 2025.

How Effective Is Australia’s Social Media Age Limit? How Effective Is Australia’s Social Media Age Limit?

Podcast / Tech Won’t Save Us / Jan 16, 2024 The White House, Gaza, and the NSC’s Lies with Akbar Shahid Ahmed On this episode of Tech Won’t Save Us: Cam Wilson on…

Podcast / Tech Won't Save Us

Donald Trump speaks during a Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation in the Oval Office on December 15, 2025.

Trump’s National Security Strategy Trump’s National Security Strategy

On this episode of American Prestige: Julia Gledhill and Van Jackson on the Trump administration's National Security Strategy.

Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Busan, South Korea, Oct. 30, 2025.

Trump’s Asia Tour and Xi Summit, Massacres in Sudan by the RFK, Bombings of Boats Off the South American Coast by the US Trump’s Asia Tour and Xi Summit, Massacres in Sudan by the RFK, Bombings of Boats Off the South American Coast by the US

The news from American Prestige.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

An Indigenous woman waves a Venezuelan flag during a rally to commemorate Indigenous Resistance Day on October 12, 2025 in Caracas, Venezuela.

The Rush to War With Venezuela The Rush to War With Venezuela

On The Time of Monsters: Van Jackson on Trump's reckless plunge into conflict in Latin America.

Jeet Heer

x