As the United States marks its 250th anniversary—a testament to endurance, sacrifice, and democratic aspiration—it does so under a dark and foreboding shadow. At this defining moment, the nation finds itself led not by steadiness or vision, but by a figure whose erratic conduct, corrosive narcissism, and moral decay mock the very ideals this milestone…
As midterm campaigns accelerate and disillusionment with Trump’s domestic and foreign policies widens, a stark scenario emerges: America faces a perilous inflection point demanding immediate action before democratic erosion becomes irreversible Donald Trump did not invent America’s vulnerabilities, but he has driven them to a breaking point. His contempt for democratic norms, alliances, and international…
A war launched to reshape the Middle East has instead exposed the limits of force—and the cost of misunderstanding a nation that has spent millennia learning how to endure The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was finally unveiled a few days ago only reaffirmed how misguided the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28…
Benjamin Netanyahu’s political career will be remembered not for an era of national stewardship, but as a prolonged exercise in political survival at the expense of Israel’s security, democratic health, and moral standing For nearly three decades, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu has treated the state as an instrument of personal power rather than a public…
At the core of the Israel-Palestinian conflict is not only about land or security; it is about competing claims to justice. One philosophical truth stands out: a nation cannot secure its future by indefinitely denying other people their fundamental rights.
Today’s podcast guest is Jason Pack, Senior Analyst for Emerging Challenges at the NATO Defense College Foundation and Associate Fellow at RUSI. He is the Host of the Disorder Podcast, and author of Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder.
In this episode, we discuss the end of the post-WWII global order and the prevailing disorder since 2011, the loss of American leadership, the Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States, particularly in comparison to the 2015 JCPOA, and the broader regional fallout from the war with Iran.
Listen now; link in bio.
Full bio
Jason Pack is the Founder of Libya-Analysis LLC, and the host of Disorder, a geopolitics podcast co-produced with Goalhanger Podcasts. He is an Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the Senior Analyst for Emerging Challenges at the NATO Defence College Foundation in Rome.
His most recent book, Libya and the Global Enduring Disorder (Hurst 2021 / Oxford University Press 2022) is a ‘cross-over’ academic book that explores what Libya’s dysfunctional economic structures and its ongoing civil war reveal about our era of 21st-century geopolitics. Jason’s ‘Enduring Disorder’ concept – that we no longer inhabit the post-Cold War World, but have entered a new era – the ‘Enduring Disorder’ – was conceived to describe the collective action failures that have come to define international politics.
Jason has lived in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Oman, Qadhafi-era Libya, and Trump-era Washington, DC. Proficient in Arabic, French, and Hebrew, he has been kidnapped twice, and served as the Executive Director of a K St-based Trade Association. He is open for media appearances about US foreign policy, conspiracy theories, the state of the global system, neopopulism, and especially the Middle East.
When not podcasting or consulting on the Middle East, Jason plays backgammon semi-professionally. He was the 2018 World Champion of Doubles Backgammon, came 2nd place in the 2024 World Championship of Speedgammon, and has achieved the rank of Grandmaster – placing him in the top 100 players in the world. He also writes about gambling’s connections to geopolitics.
Today’s guest is Dr. Daniel Bar-Tal, Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University. In this episode, we discuss differing narratives between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs and how to bridge that gap, the decline of the Israeli peace movement, and changing public opinion toward Israel abroad.
Listen now; link in bio.
Full bio
Dr. Daniel Bar-Tal is Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University. Dr. Bar-Tal received his graduate training in social psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, and completed his doctoral thesis in 1974. He previously served as a Director of the Walter Lebach Research Institute for Jewish-Arab Coexistence through Education, Tel Aviv University and as President of the International Society of Political Psychology, and was Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Palestine Israel Journal. In 2013 he received honorary membership in the Polish Society of Social Psychology.
Since the early eighties his interest has shifted to political psychology and the study of the socio-psychological foundations of intractable conflicts and peace building, including reconciliation. In the latter area, he studied the evolvement of the socio-psychological infrastructure in times of intractable conflict that consists of shared societal beliefs of ethos of conflict, collective memory, and emotional collective orientations. He also studied socio-psychological barriers to peacemaking and ways to overcome them, and acquisition of the conflict repertoire by children and adolescents.
Within this scope of studies he developed with his collaborators theoretical frameworks for concepts like siege mentality, intractable conflict, delegitimization, collective victimhood, socio-psychological infrastructure, culture of conflict, effects of lasting occupation, barriers to peace making, construction and struggle over conflict supporting narratives, acquisition of intergroup psychological repertoire, early development of the ethos of conflict, transitional context, collective identity, and peace education, among many others.
Elizabeth Hoffman, Executive Director, North America at ONE, joined me on my podcast to discuss the urgent humanitarian situation in Sudan as a result of its ongoing civil war. She speaks about the background to the civil war and the players involved, and discusses the techniques of fear being used in the war, and the horrific crimes against humanity being committed by both the RSF and the SAF.
Listen to this and more in my latest episode, available now - link in bio.
Sudan is facing one of the world's worst humanitarian catastrophes, yet millions of civilians remain without adequate protection. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, tens of thousands have been killed, more than 10.5 million people have been displaced within the country, and millions more have fled across borders. Women, children, and vulnerable communities continue to face indiscriminate attacks, sexual violence, starvation, and other grave human rights abuses. A growing international coalition is calling for the urgent deployment of an international protection force to help safeguard civilians, facilitate humanitarian aid, and monitor attacks. Every signature on this petition will be delivered to the UN Security Council and the African Union, urging immediate action to protect Sudan's civilians before more lives are lost.
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Security forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo used excessive force against peaceful protesters opposing proposed constitutional changes that could extend President Félix Tshisekedi’s time in office, according to Human Rights Watch. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators in Kinshasa, while failing to protect them from attacks by a pro-ruling party group. Witnesses reported that opposition offices were vandalized and protesters were assaulted after ruling party supporters were allegedly mobilized to disrupt the demonstrations. Human Rights Watch called on Congolese authorities to respect the rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, investigate the violence, and ensure security forces protect—not suppress—citizens exercising their democratic rights.
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Amnesty International’s latest report reveals that many Filipino domestic workers in Saudi Arabia continue to endure severe exploitation, echoing the abuse previously documented among Kenyan workers. Women described working up to 21-hour days without rest, having their passports confiscated, being denied food, being trapped under the kafala system, and, in some cases, being subjected to sexual harassment and assault. Amnesty warns that these abuses may amount to forced labor and human trafficking. The organization is calling on Saudi authorities to investigate all allegations, hold abusive employers accountable, dismantle the kafala sponsorship system, and ensure domestic workers receive the same legal protections and rights as all other workers.
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Georgia’s independent civil society is under unprecedented pressure. According to Human Rights Watch, the government has adopted increasingly repressive laws targeting NGOs, media outlets, and activists receiving foreign funding. Organizations face stigmatizing "foreign agent" labels, intrusive government oversight, funding restrictions, asset freezes, and even prison sentences. Human rights groups warn these measures are silencing dissent, forcing organizations to close, suspend legal aid, self-censor, and abandon vulnerable communities. International bodies, including the OSCE and Council of Europe, say the laws violate fundamental freedoms and human rights standards. The international community should press Georgian authorities to repeal these laws, end politically motivated investigations, restore frozen assets, and protect the space for independent civil society to operate freely.
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🙏🏿 jay mahadev
