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Biden’s Carte Blanche for Israel, an Assassination Attempt on the Slovakian PM, and More

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

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

May 17, 2024

Boys watch smoke billowing during Israeli strikes east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 13, 2024.(AFP via Getty Images)

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Biden’s Carte Blanche for Israel, Slovakia PM Shot, Myanmar’s Rohingya Conscription | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek are back at “it” (the news). This week: in Gaza, a Rafah invasion update and Biden’s “red line” (0:29), more questions about Israel’s postwar plans (6:16), an update on the humanitarian situation and the American “aid pier” (11:10), and the Biden administration’s refusal to punish Israeli rights violations (15:05); Egypt-Israel tensions are escalating as Gaza continues to deteriorate (19:56); in Myanmar, a report on the forced conscription of the nation’s embattled Rohingya minority (22:49); in Sudan, the RSF has surrounded the city of El-Fasher, trapping about 2.5 million displaced civilians (25:36); the US withdrawal from Niger grinds on as the former sends a negotiating team to iron out the details (28:08); Vladimir Putin replaces defense minister Sergei Shoigu (30:34); in Ukraine, a new Russian offensive (33:34) and a visit from Antony Blinken (35:57); prime minister Robert Fico of Slovakia was shot five times in an attempted assassination (36:54); the State Department removes Cuba from a counterterrorism list only to keep it on a terrorism supporter list (38:23); a New Cold War update featuring Biden’s new tariffs on Chinese imports (40:29) and Putin visits Xi Jinping (42:23).

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On this episode of American Prestige, we’re back with more headlines from around the world. This week: in Gaza, a Rafah invasion update and Biden’s “red line” (0:29), more questions about Israel’s postwar plans (6:16), an update on the humanitarian situation and the American “aid pier” (11:10), and the Biden administration’s refusal to punish Israeli rights violations (15:05); escalating Egypt-Israel tensions as Gaza continues to deteriorate (19:56); a report from Myanmar on the forced conscription of the nation’s embattled Rohingya minority (22:49); the siege by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces of the city of El-Fasher, trapping about 2.5 million displaced civilians (25:36); the US withdrawal from Niger, grinding on as the former sends a negotiating team to iron out details (28:08); the replacement of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu by Vladimir Putin (30:34); a new Russian offensive in Ukraine (33:34) and a visit from Antony Blinken (35:57); the attempted assassination of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico. shot five times (36:54); the State Department’s removal of Cuba from a counterterrorism list while keeping it on a list of terrorism supporters (38:23); a New Cold War update featuring Biden’s new tariffs on Chinese imports (40:29) and Putin’s visit with Xi Jinping (42:23).

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-Iran Ceasefire Collapses, Hamas Dissolves Gaza Government, Sudan’s El-Obeid Braces for RSF Assault / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

Danny and Derek’s FIFA officiating careers have been tragically cut short since Javier Milei’s checks started bouncing. In this week’s news: the NATO summit ends on a high note (4:46); in Iran, new fighting erupts as Trump declares the end of the ceasefire (11:59), plus estimates of the war’s cost increase (16:45); in Gaza, Hamas dissolves its government (18:15) as the Board of Peace prepares a “humanitarian zone” (20:29); Trump appears ready to sell Turkey F-35s (23:40); Syria is officially removed from the state sponsors of terrorism list (27:54); in Sudan, civilians flee fighting in El Obeid (29:32); rebels coordinate a new joint offensive in Mali (32:59); the U.S. licenses domestic Patriot missile production in Ukraine (34:17); Roberto Sanchez concedes the Peruvian presidential election (38:07); Colombia’s presidential transition breaks down (39:01); and the U.S. drops the “Indo-Pacific” construct (40:07), prompting strategic discussions on the future of America’s position in the Pacific (43:25).

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


Derek DavisonDerek 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.


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