What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Russian drones entering Polish airspace, Israel's failed strike on Hamas leadership in Qatar, Trump's decision to rename the Defense Department the War Department, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss US naval warships in Latin America, the latest poll of American opinion on Gaza, Trump's attempt to fire the governor of the Federal Reserve, and Xi Jinping's summit with Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss why Americans are moving less, Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, declining alcohol consumption in the US, and the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss plummeting public school enrollment, Netanyahu's five-point war plan for Gaza, Nvidia's weird China deal with the White House, and the political, diplomatic, and strategic similarities between Napoleon Bonaparte and Donald Trump.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss transatlantic pressure on Israel, Arab pressure on Hamas, Xi Jinping's new infrastructure play in Tibet, Trump's criticism of India's relationship with Russia, the significance of Trump's trade deals with Japan and the EU, and tips for haggling in bazaars, souks, and night markets.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the White House's new "AI action plan," protests against Zelensky in Ukraine, hot conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, and the role of public intellectuals throughout history.

Walter's on the road this week, so in place of regular programming, we’re bringing you something special: an extended excerpt from Walter’s most recent book, The Arc of a Covenant: The United States, Israel, and the Fate of the Jewish People.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Trump-Bibi meetings, the consequences of the president's legislative achievement, where he stands on arming Ukraine, the Western Hemisphere's bright fossil fuel future, and Gore Vidal vs. William F. Buckley.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss why China, Russia, and North Korea haven't come to Iran's aid, what Zohran Mamdani's primary victory in New York could mean for national politics, how Trump understands Europe and NATO better than Obama and Biden did, and what the long-term significance might be of America's bombing of Fordow.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Israel’s control of Iranian skies, the prospects for a negotiated settlement, and the domestic politics shaping Donald Trump’s pending decision to involve US forces in military operations.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the ICE raids and riots in LA, heightening tensions with Iran, changing demographics in world religions, and trouble in the U.S.-India relationship.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the public spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the AI threat to white-collar jobs, Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian aircraft, and “Zero Day,” a new 10-part Taiwanese TV drama about a war with China.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Elon Musk’s departure from Washington, America’s nonexistent shipbuilding capacity, plans to revoke visas from Chinese students, and the conspicuous absence of Biden’s foreign policy team from the new book on the ‘coverup’ of his condition. Also in this weeks episode, an interview with Tablet editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse, from the podcast How to Be a Jew, about why she decided to start a print magazine.  If you want to subscribe to that magazine, click here.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's ban on foreign students at Harvard, the Supreme Court's decision on the president's authority to fire federal commissioners, the Senate's vote against California's EV mandate, and a report from the Copenhagen Democracy Summit.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the declining fortunes of young men and boys in America, the Trump-China trade truce, Qatari cash in Washington, and Trump's visit to the Middle East.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the first American Pope, the India-Pakistan conflict, Trump's trade deal with the UK, and the new struggle for mastery in Africa.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the impact of tariffs on China's economy, Trump's mineral deal with Ukraine, the Canadian election, and how rising tensions between India and Pakistan could suck America and China into war. Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/whatreallymatters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet columns here and check out more from Tablet here.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's take-it-or-leave-it Ukraine deal, why he walked back threats against China and the Fed, what the terror attack in Kashmir means for Modi's India, and the legacy of Pope Francis. Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/whatreallymatters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet columns here and check out more from Tablet here.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Harvard vs. Trump, Israel vs. Iran, Tourists vs. US Customs, and the Dollar vs. the World. Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/what-really-matters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet column here, and check out more from Tablet here. Connect with us Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow Walter on Twitter Follow Jeremy on Twitter Email us: wrm@tabletmag.com

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the effect of Trump's tariffs on Russia's economy, Apple's operations in China, Netanyahu's visit to the White House, and how tariffs are concentrating power in Trump's hands. Each week on What Really Matters, Walter Russell Mead and Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now. For more, check out tabletmag.com/what-really-matters. You can read Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet column here, and check out more from Tablet here. Connect with us Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow Walter on Twitter Follow Jeremy on Twitter Email us: wrm@tabletmag.com