Podcast / American Prestige / Jul 19, 2024

UK and French Elections, “New Cold War” Arms Tension, and a Sahel Junta “Confederation”

On this episode of American Prestige, headlines from around the globe.

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UK and France Elections, New Cold War Arms Tension, Sahel Junta “Confederation” | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, we are back with a news update after two weeks.

This week: in Gaza, another round of fledgling ceasefire talks (0:35), the Knesset officially rejects Palestinian statehood (6:05), The Lancet journal publishes a study on the likely number of Palestinian casualties thus far (10:30), Haaretz publishes a piece about the Hannibal Doctrine’s use on 10/7 (14:07), and Biden’s “aid pier” is officially kaput (17:27); the results of Iran’s presidential election (20:49); violence in Bangladesh over government job quotas (24:06); a new UN report on civilian displacement within Sudan (26:37); the respective junta governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso form a “confederation” (28:29); the Ukrainian military is losing its foothold on the eastern side of the Dnipro River (30:46); the results of the French election (34:37); the results of the UK election (38:32); Kenyan police begin arriving in Haiti as an intervention force (40:35); a New Cold War update featuring China suspending nuclear talks with the US (42:34), Russia and the US starting up a new arms race in Europe (44:21), and accused spy Evan Gershkovich’s trial moved up in Russia amid negotiations with the US (46:23).

Enjoy the full rendition of the New Cold War theme song.

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People gather to celebrate the victory of the left-wing union after the partial results of the second round of the French parliamentary elections in Paris, France on July 07, 2024.

(Luc Auffret / Anadolu / Getty Images)

On this episode of American Prestige, we’re back with a news update after two weeks. This week: Concerning Gaza, another round of fledgling cease-fire talks (0:35), the Knesset’s rejection of Palestinian statehood (6:05), The Lancet’s study on the likely number of Palestinian casualties thus far (10:30), Haaretz on the Hannibal Doctrine’s use on 10/7 (14:07), and the failure of Biden’s “aid pier” (17:27); Iran’s presidential election results (20:49); violence in Bangladesh over government job quotas (24:06); a new UN report on civilian displacement within Sudan (26:37); the formation of a “confederation” by the junta governments of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso (28:29); the Ukrainian military’s slipping foothold on the eastern side of the Dnipro River (30:46); the results of the elections in France (34:37) and the United Kingdom (38:32); the arrival of Kenyan police in Haiti as an intervention force (40:35); a “New Cold War” update featuring China’s suspension of nuclear talks with the United States (42:34), Russia and the US’s inception of a new arms race in Europe (44:21), and accused spy Evan Gershkovich’s trial, moved up in Russia amid negotiations with the US (46:23).

Enjoy the full rendition of the New Cold War theme song.

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.

Iran Talks Under Strike Threat, Mexico Cartel Killed, Pakistan Attack in Afghanistan | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Warner Brothers shamefully won’t consider Danny and Derek’s aggressive offer. In this week’s news: U.S.-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva amid reports that the White House is weighing strike options (0:54), plus Trump claims in his State of the Union that Iran is building nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (9:58); on the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine invasion, the EU fails to advance new Russia sanctions and a Ukraine loan package due to Hungarian interference (12:28); fighting again intensifies in the eastern DRC (15:53); Mexican authorities kill alleged cartel leader El Mencho, triggering widespread violence (18:49); the Committee to Protect Journalists reports a record number of media workers killed in 2025, mostly killed by Israel (22:07); the UAE backs construction of Israeli-controlled camps in Rafah (23:25); the U.S. extends consular services to West Bank settlements (25:34); the so-called Islamic State declares a “new phase” of operations in Syria (27:37); Pakistan launches cross-border strikes into Afghanistan amid renewed tensions (29:16); the RSF massacres civilians in North Darfur (31:44); a diplomatic spat erupts between Washington and Paris over rhetoric on left-wing violence (33:22); Cuba faces a firefight off its coast and limited U.S. easing of fuel restrictions for private firms (35:44); Trump proposes sending a hospital ship to Greenland (38:51); and the Supreme Court overturns Trump’s tariffs as the administration moves to reimpose duties via alternative means (41:14).

Grab a copy of Danny and Michael Brenes’ edited volume Cold War Liberalism: Power in a Time of Emergency. Use the discount code BESSNER26.

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