{"id":259,"date":"2026-02-02T05:49:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T05:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wokeantifa.org\/videos\/?page_id=259"},"modified":"2026-02-11T09:03:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T09:03:21","slug":"pod-save-the-world","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wokeantifa.org\/videos\/pod-save-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Pod Save the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\n\n
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\n \n \"Ben\n \n
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Ben and guest cohost Alyona Minkovski, PSTW's senior producer, try to make sense of the many contradictions and threats coming from President Trump and his administration on Iran, like reports that he wants to make the Strait of Hormuz everyone else\u2019s problem to solve, and claims that regime change has already happened. Then they juxtapose the incoherence with the very real consequences of the war on people's lives, from American troops being deployed to the Middle East, to the normalization of targeting civilian infrastructure. They also defend Spring Breakers featured in a Fox News segment, call out Pete Hegseth for personally interfering in the military promotions of women and black soldiers, ask how the increasingly spotty internet connection in Moscow could affect support for Putin, question the US policy towards Cuba, and do a special reading from former French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
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\nAt the end of the show, Ben speaks with Nika Kova\u010d, Slovenian activist and founding director of My Voice My Choice, about private intelligence agency Blackcube\u2019s interference in Slovenia\u2019s election, the outlook for the government following very close results, and what she\u2019s learned from years of opposing authoritarianism.
\n
\nPreorder Ben\u2019s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches and subscribe to his Substack https:\/\/benrhodes1.substack.com\/p\/notes-on-the-stories-we-tell?r=7jalf&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay&utm_source=ig&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnk2XQpGCmzcvVGkeFlK9dqpiOZOtrjYa6vZNZOGIUYKNGWNuwRdTS-TcWTxc_aem_CO-34uPQ7U7nZXxTI-IbdQ&triedRedirect=true.
\n
\nCHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS:
\nZBIOTICS: https:\/\/zbiotics.com\/PSTW CODE: PSTW
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\nSIMPLISAFE: https:\/\/simplisafe.com\/crookedworld
\nSUNDAYS FOR DOGS: https:\/\/sundaysfordogs.com\/world50 CODE: WORLD50
\n
\nCHAPTERS
\n0:00 - Tommy on Spring Break
\n4:51 - Hegseth Briefing On Iran War
\n14:52 - Rubio and Regime Change
\n19:43 - Ad Break
\n22:17 - American Frustration With Foreign Policy Lies
\n24:58 - More Troops Deployed to Middle East
\n39:08 - Spring Breakers
\n46:11 - Ad Break
\n48:56 - Trigger Happy Pete Hegseth
\n56:41 - An Update on Russia
\n1:05:59 - Trumps Talks Cuba, Oil
\n1:15:52 - Ad Break
\n1:17:17 - Interview with Nika Kovac
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 311<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 34<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LnhTR2JKVlJnNWgw<\/span>\n

\n <\/span>\n <\/path><\/svg> <\/div>\n <\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n
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\n\t\t\t\t\tTrump Insults World Leaders, BEGS Them for Help<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tApril 1, 2026 1:00 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

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\n \n \"And\n \n
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\n \n \n \n

And it's all his fault.
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 603<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 17<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3Li1UTVhfZ2IwQWtF<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tTrump's Iran Deal is IMPOSSIBLE<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 27, 2026 12:30 am<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\n
\n \n \"Why?\n\nWant\n \n
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\n \n \n \n

Why?
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 385<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 8<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LlFwX3JjS1R2VlFr<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tTrump lets Iran make BILLIONS during war?!<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 26, 2026 10:00 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
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\n \n \"The\n \n
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The corruption stinks.
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 217<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 5<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LnV2dUZ5U1VmM2Jr<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t$580 MILLION Bets on Iran Oil MINUTES Before Trump Tweet!<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 26, 2026 5:01 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\n
\n \n \""It's\n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n

"It's either the dumbest f*cking plan, ever, or the dumbest f*cking war, ever." - Ben Rhodes
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 1.1K<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 75<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LjBERGRJa21VOEo4<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tThis War Makes NO SENSE AT ALL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 26, 2026 2:30 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
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\n \n \"Tommy\n \n
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Tommy Vietor and Ben Rhodes discuss the growing revolt inside European Right against Donald Trump.
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 4.7K<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 613<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LnJaUUxEbHF4NTBR<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tTrump is Told to "F*ck Off" By Far-Right Parties in Europe<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 26, 2026 2:01 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
\n
\n \n \"Floating\n \n
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Floating War Crimes?
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 581<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 23<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LkVnLVR0Q2ZmT25n<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tTrump is FLIP-FLOPPING on Iran<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 26, 2026 2:00 am<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
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\n \n \"It's\n \n
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It's all psychological.
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 437<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 4<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LkxnZUFwN0R6QktV<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tIran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 25, 2026 10:00 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>

\n
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\n \n \"In\n \n
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\n \n \n \n

In the past few days, Donald Trump went from threatening to obliterate Iran's power plants to announcing a surprise diplomatic reprieve and declaring that the war has been won. This episode breaks down the whiplash: what actually happened, whether the talks are real, why an agreement between the US and Iran will be extraordinarily hard to reach, and why $580 million worth of energy trades just minutes before Trump's announcement reek of insider trading and corruption. Ben and Tommy also cover: the US allowing Iran to sell $14 billion worth of oil, Iran firing missiles at a joint US-UK military base, Israel's creeping occupation of southern Lebanon, signs that Trump is actually harming far-right parties in Europe, and how a workout app put a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at risk. Then Tommy talks with Edward Fishman, the author of Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare, about the ballooning economic cost of war with Iran and how it\u2019s revealing America\u2019s economic vulnerabilities.
\n
\nPreorder Ben\u2019s book All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches (Barnes & Noble, Bookshop) and subscribe to his Substack here.
\n
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\n
\nCHAPTERS
\n0:00 - Intro
\n5:15 - Trump filp-flops on Iran
\n14:46 - Ad break
\n17:06 - Trump's Iran deal
\n32:42 - U.S. troops en route
\n36:13 - Iran missile capabilities
\n41:17 - Ad break
\n43:59 - Lebanon updates
\n49:26 - European far-right political parties
\n57:37 - Strava hack
\n1:01:21 - Ad break
\n1:03:42 - Runaway Country
\n1:04:39 - Edward Fishman interview
\n
\nWant Pod Save the World ad-free? Subscribe to Friends of the Pod: https:\/\/www.crooked.com\/friends
\n
\nPhotos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
\n
\nCrooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us\u2014one that doesn\u2019t just focus on what\u2019s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it\u2019s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
\n
\nThat\u2019s it. End of mission.
\n
\nLearn more about us at crooked.com<\/p>\n \n

\n \n 5K<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \n 676<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n YouTube Video VVVXZUt5V2lGZWI0WVY4ZTNFaWJFcVF3LkdxcDR5eWZCVzI4<\/span>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPod Save the World<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 25, 2026 1:00 pm<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n \n\t

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