Podcast / American Prestige / Apr 19, 2024

Israel and Iran, Mass Coral Bleaching, and the US Allegedly Refusing to Leave Niger

On this week’s News episode of American Prestige, a look into global headlines.

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Israel and Iran, Mass Coral Bleaching, and US Allegedly Refusing to Leave Niger | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Producer’s note: This was recorded on Thursday, April 18, before Israel’s strike on Iran, hence us releasing this earlier than usual. Overnight, Israel did launch a strike on Iran.

On this week's news episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek bring you another world news roundup. This week: Israel's retaliation for Iran’s strike last week, Iran floats the possibility of developing nuclear weapons in response (0:31), and plans for an IDF Rafah operation in Gaza are underway (8:09); the US is still pursuing Saudi normalization with Israel (10:40) and vetoes a Palestinian statehood resolution at the UN (13:38); the US is trying to create an “independent” sanctions monitor for the DPRK/North Korea (15:11); in climate news, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is suffering the “worst” bleaching event ever (17:19); in Sudan, the fighting expands into North Darfur (19:46); the UN’s Libya envoy quits in frustration (21:18); a whistleblower says that the US is ignoring the order to withdraw from Niger (23:44); the US pushes back over oil refinery attacks in Ukraine (26:41) while the House of Representatives will take up military aid bills (30:01); and the US will reinstate sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector (32:12).

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Holding Iranian flags, worshippers chant slogans during an anti-Israeli gathering after their Friday prayer in Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 19, 2024.

(Vahid Salemi / AP Photo)

Note: This podcast was recorded on Thursday, April 18, before Israel’s strike on Iran.

On this week’s news episode of American Prestige, we bring you another world news roundup. This week: Israel retaliates for Iran’s strike last week, and Iran’s floats the possibility of developing nuclear weapons in response (0:31), while the IDF makes plans to assault Rafah in Gaza (8:09); the US continues to pursue Saudi normalization with Israel (10:40) and vetoes a Palestinian statehood resolution at the UN (13:38); the US tries to create an “independent” sanctions monitor for the DPRK/North Korea (15:11); in climate news, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef suffers the “worst” bleaching event ever (17:19); the fighting in Sudan expands into North Darfur (19:46); the UN’s Libya envoy quits in frustration (21:18); a whistleblower says the US is ignoring the order to withdraw from Niger (23:44); the US pushes back over oil refinery attacks in Ukraine (26:41), while the House of Representatives prepares to take up military aid bills (30:01); and the US decides to reinstate sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector (32:12).

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.

U.S. Moves Toward Venezuela Attack, Double-Tap Strike in Caribbean, DRC–Rwanda Peace Deal Collapses | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

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Despite sitting on a large surplus of Labubus, Danny and Derek work hard to bring you the news. This week: in Russia-Ukraine, new US diplomacy goes nowhere (1:08), Ukraine is now attacking Russian commercial ships (5:55), and the EU moves to phase out Russian natural gas (8:35); in the DRC-Rwanda conflict, Trump hosts a peace deal signing as fighting resumes with M23 in the eastern DRC (11:17); new fighting erupts in southern Yemen (14:19); Lebanon and Israel hold ceasefire talks as the IDF resumes strikes (17:08); in Gaza, new clashes leave a gang leader dead (19:45), the ceasefire implementation sees minimal progress (23:48), and Israel reopens the the Rafah checkpoint (26:24); Sudan’s RSF claims a new advance in the Kordofan region (28:40); a bizarre coup unfolds in Guinea-Bissau (30:40); Trump moves closer to military action against Venezuela (36:55); Honduras heads toward a contentious election (40:17); the US pauses entry from 19 countries after the DC National Guard shooting (43:46); and a double-tap strike on a boat in the Caribbean raises new legal questions (45:43).

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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.

Daniel Bessner

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

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