What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

This week, Walter and Bill discuss Anthropic's blockbuster IPO filing and its warnings about AI, reports that the US is preparing a short, intense renewal of the Iran war after the midterms, Kim Jong Un's surprise trip across a newly finished bridge into China, and whether Lula's comeback in Brazil and Vučić's defeat in Serbia mean the world has passed peak Trump.

This week, Walter and Bill discuss Trump's endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu days before Israel votes, Elon Musk's throttling and alleged restoration of Ukraine's Starlink and Putin's push for a summit with Trump and Xi, the AI-discovered software flaw that knocked websites offline around the world, and why generational revolt is spreading from France to India.

After more than 140 episodes, Jeremy Stern is stepping down as co-host, and Hudson's Bill Drexel takes his place.

This week, Walter and Bill discuss the Houthis' widening missile war on Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon's plan to livestream a military execution, the fall of Kimberly Guilfoyle, and why President Trump's shock-and-awe foreign policy shows no sign of slowing down. A Houthi missile hit Saudi Aramco's headquarters days after a deadly strike on Riyadh's airport, andhttps://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/houthi-missile-china-parts-5c2b2516___.YXAzOnRhYmxldDphOm86Y2M0OWU5MDg3NTU5ZTQxNjAzYmE4MGU5MDJlMDg3N2E6NzpmZDk5OmM4ZTkzYTNiYTE3MDNmYTQ4MDAyOGFmOWU3MjE4OWJmZjdjYjZlY2UyNjFjNmNiMzE2NWY1MDY1NzY2NDVhMzE6aDpUOk4The Wall Street Journal reports that the group is building an advanced missile with Chinese parts.

Back home, the Catholic archbishop for the militaryhttps://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.milarch.org/archbishop-broglio-issues-statement-on-proposed-execution-livestream/___.YXAzOnRhYmxldDphOm86Y2M0OWU5MDg3NTU5ZTQxNjAzYmE4MGU5MDJlMDg3N2E6NzplNDI2OjBjYjY4YmU3YjI2YmIwYzYzMmMxNDEzOTgxNjcxZWMxNmEzN2VjMmVlMWYxODdlOWYzMzQ4ODQxYmFmOGU3ODk6aDpUOk4condemned the plan to stream Nidal Hasan's firing-squad execution, and Guilfoylehttps://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/kimberly-guilfoyle-resign.html___.YXAzOnRhYmxldDphOm86Y2M0OWU5MDg3NTU5ZTQxNjAzYmE4MGU5MDJlMDg3N2E6Nzo2MWE1OmI5NWMwZWEyYTEwNmVlNGIzMTQyYTljNjY4ZmY0ZWQ3Y2RjODRhNDBiMzFlYjI1ZDY5MDljZWM0ZGQzNGFmM2E6aDpUOk4resigned as ambassador to Greece after reports that she asked a donor to pay her credit card bill.

In the big conversation, Walter expands on his latest Journal column, "Russia, Iran and Trump's Shock-and-Awe Foreign Policy," and the tip of the week asks which president left the biggest physical mark on Washington.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the success of US sanctions on Iran, America's expanding budget deficit, China's destruction of the EU's economy, and why 2026 is proving to be a bad year for incumbent political leaders.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the final US withdrawal from Iraq, the bipartisan consensus to allow Congressional insider trading, Russia’s nuclear threats over Kaliningrad, and China’s efforts in AI and the US

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the three grand narratives shaping world history. The episode was recorded live on September 23 in front of an audience at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Flock camera debate, Canada's prospects for joining the EU, America's weaponization of outer space, and why geopolitical competition with China is going to make American higher ed more patriotic.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the AfD's victory in Eastern Germany, the breakdown of global shipping, trouble on the Chinese internet, and the impact on American society and foreign policy of 9/11.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's reasons for optimism in Iran, the responsibility voters bear for the quality of their elites, and the greatness of Dolly Parton.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss challenges to Zelensky's power, the Pentagon's ultimatum to US universities with ties to China, the Turkish-Israeli standoff in Syria, and the fate of China's Christians.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Abdul El-Sayed's primary victory in Michigan, updates from the Persian Gulf, New York rabbis' meeting with Mayor Mamdani, and the global backlash to immigration.

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Walter and Jeremy are on the road this week, so please enjoy Walter's recent appearance at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss new sanctions on Russia, why America is entering a golden age of small-business creation, China's ability to shut down oil imports, and why Iran is the hedgehog to Trump's fox.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, Israel's abstention from the latest military strikes on Iran, Zelensky's management of his generals, and what is going on with the US-Saudi nuclear deal.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss New York's ban on data centers, the fight to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, the collapse of the MOU and the current state of the Iran war, and thoughts on the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the breakdown of Trump's Iran MOU, the president's newfound admiration for Ukraine, whether Americans are becoming post-literate, and why we are not a "creedal" people.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the wave of socialist victories in Democratic primaries; China's new plan to overhaul its economy with AI; why Europeans hate air conditioning; and the crumbling of Vladimir Putin's empire.

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This week, Walter gives a lecture and Q&A at the Hamilton School at the University of Florida on "The Global Crisis." The recording is from December 1st and is republished here with the permission of the Hamilton School.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Finland's reversal of its prohibition on nuclear weapons, what it means for AI doctors to outperform human physicians, Hezbollah's supposedly newfound resolution, and how to interpret Trump's Memorandum of Understanding with Iran.

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This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the mounting crisis in Lebanon, Russia's setback in Armenia's elections, the sources of North Korea's strength, and why Cuba is unlikely to be an easy victory for Trump.

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