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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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).

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.
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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