Podcast / American Prestige / Jun 28, 2024

A Failed Coup in Bolivia, Protests in Kenya, and Assange’s Plea Deal

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

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A Failed Coup In Bolivia, Protests In Kenya, and Assange’s Plea Deal | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this week's American Prestige news roundup: in Palestine/Israel, a grim Save the Children report on Gaza (0:30), Netanyahu again rebuffs a ceasefire and suggests a new phase of the operation (2:41), a new court ruling on ultra-Orthodox Jews’ conscription (7:14), and Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich again pushes West Bank annexation (10:17); Lebanon is still on edge as the US—while hosting Israeli minister of defence Yoav Gallant—warns Hezbollah that it will not stop Israel from attacking (13:00); a preview of Friday’s presidential election in Iran (17:06); a disputed weapons test in the DPRK/North Korea (20:50); rumblings of an imminent coup in Burkina Faso (22:38); widespread protests break out in Kenya, leading President Ruto to back off of the controversial tax legislation (26:28); deadly attacks in Dagestan (29:47); the espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich begins in Russia (32:02); a failed coup attempt in Bolivia (33:16); Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to face armed groups (36:23); and Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the United States (38:27).

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Juan Mario Paulzen Sandy and Anibal Aguilar Gomez are escorted by policemen following their arrest, accused of being accomplices of now-dismissed army chief General Juan Jose Zuniga, after he led a military movement that attempted to seize the government palace by force in La Paz, on June 27, 2024.

(Aizar Raldes / AFP via Getty Images)

This week’s American Prestige news roundup starts as usual with Palestine/Israel: Save the Children issues a grim report on Gaza (0:30); Netanyahu again rebuffs a cease-fire and suggests a new phase of the operation (2:41); a court rules on ultra-Orthodox Jews’ conscription (7:14); and Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich again pushes West Bank annexation (10:17). Lebanon is still on edge as the US—while hosting Israeli minister of defense Yoav Gallant—warns Hezbollah that it will not stop Israel from attacking (13:00). We preview Friday’s presidential election in Iran (17:06). North Korea stages a disputed weapons test (20:50). There are rumblings of an imminent coup in Burkina Faso (22:38). Widespread protests break out in Kenya, leading President Ruto to back off of controversial tax legislation (26:28). Dagestan is the scene of deadly attacks (29:47). The espionage trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich begins in Russia (32:02). A coup attempt fails in Bolivia (33:16). Kenyan police arrive in Haiti to face armed groups (36:23). And Julian Assange has reached a plea deal with the United States (38:27).

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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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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.

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