What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

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

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Donald Trump's tariffs regime, and what the neoliberal era in American politics was and wasn't. 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 Signalgate, Palestinian protests against Hamas, JD Vance's trip to Greenland, and what Trump sees when he scans the Middle East. 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 Trump-Putin phone call, Israel's attacks in Gaza, America's attacks on the Houthis, and how the Sino-Russian-Iranian bloc is measuring up against what's left of the US-led alliance system. 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 fears of a U.S. recession, universities abandoning DEI under pressure from the White House, a new Chinese railway in Africa, and how Trump's approach to Putin compares with Roosevelt's to Stalin, and Nixon's to Brezhnev. 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 U.S. cutting off intelligence sharing with Ukraine, shutting down American consulates overseas, TSMC's $100 billion investment in Arizona, and Trump's on again, off again tariffs on U.S. allies and enemies. 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 Trump-Zelensky mineral deal, the rise of Christian faith among American youth, Germany's election results, and why Trump's Russia policy is also Obama, Merkel, and Biden's, only with greater chance of success. 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 White House scrapping environmental regulations, the Trump-Modi bromance, the New York Times' adoption of AI tools, and the beginning of the end of the transatlantic alliance. 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 talk the FBI's Kennedy assassination files, a constitutional crisis manqué, antisemitism among the young, and how Trump is hoisting China on its own green petard. 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 talk Donald Trump's plans for Gaza, buying out the CIA bureaucracy, the problems of the NGO complex, and the controversy around USAID. 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