Culturally Clueless

Nes Reign

Welcome to Culturally Clueless—where we dive into culture, current events, and the everyday chaos of life. It’s raw, real, and refreshingly unfiltered, with me, Nes Reign and a lineup of fascinating guests. Together, we’ll break down the big questions and the small quirks that make life so endlessly intriguing!

  1. Culturally Clueless | Dissent Is Terrorism, War Is a Market & Berlin Is Toxic | Episode 117

    3d ago

    Culturally Clueless | Dissent Is Terrorism, War Is a Market & Berlin Is Toxic | Episode 117

    Send us Fan Mail This episode covers a range of stories that cut to the core of who gets punished for speaking, who sets the agenda for war, and what is quietly happening in the world while everyone looks elsewhere. The criminalization of pro-Palestine solidarity remains one of the most urgent and underreported stories of this moment. In the UK, more than 500 people were arrested at a mass vigil in Trafalgar Square simply for holding signs that read "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action," [SFist](https://sfist.com/2026/04/26/former-idf-soldier-accused-of-tackling-student-who-took-miss-israels-sign-at-stanford/) with the Metropolitan Police invoking terrorism legislation against protesters ranging in age from 27 to 82. [SFist](https://sfist.com/2026/04/26/former-idf-soldier-accused-of-tackling-student-who-took-miss-israels-sign-at-stanford/) Nes highlights one particularly chilling moment: a woman filmed during her arrest told police she was being detained for holding a cardboard sign while her government sells weapons and uses military bases to commit what she called genocide. The response from authorities was to treat her support for Palestine as evidence of mental instability. Nes frames it as a pattern — the pathologizing and criminalization of dissent when it comes to Palestine. At the JNS International Policy Summit held in Jerusalem, Netanyahu delivered a speech framing Israel's military campaign against Iran and its regional proxies in existential terms, claiming Israel had prevented Iran from "carrying out a plan to annihilate us" and declaring that had Israel not acted, Iran would have had atomic bombs — and would have used them. [ScheerPost](https://scheerpost.com/2026/03/10/bombs-lies-and-nuclear-threats-wilkerson-sounds-alarm-on-escalating-iran-war/) Israel's Minister of Diaspora Affairs also made waves at the summit by announcing that Iran is no longer the primary threat — shifting the focus to Turkey, Qatar, and Syria as the new destabilizing forces in the region. Nes examines the implications of this rhetorical pivot and what it signals about Israel's next moves. On the Iran deal, Trump previously announced that frozen Iranian assets would need to be returned as part of any agreement — only to now suggest that America would keep a portion of those funds in exchange for Iran purchasing American agricultural products like soybeans. The Iranians are contesting this. Nes tracks the contradiction and asks the obvious question: where exactly is this heading? Berlin is also dealing with a crisis of a very different kind. Authorities across the city are battling one of the worst outbreaks of oak processionary moth caterpillars in recent memory, with parks, sports facilities, and green spaces being cordoned off across multiple districts. [City & State NY](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/03/vickie-paladino-charged-ethics-committee/411858/) Each caterpillar carries around 700,000 microscopic toxic hairs that break off easily and can travel on the wind, causing rashes, conjunctivitis, respiratory difficulties, and in severe cases, anaphylactic shock. [City & State NY](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/03/vickie-paladino-charged-ethics-committee/411858/) Elderly residents in some affected neighbourhoods have reportedly stopped leaving their homes entirely. [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/vickie-paladino-islamophobia-accusation-social-media-nyc-council/) Nes notes that the infestation is being linked directly to climate change, with warmer and drier conditions accelerating the spread of a pest that was once confined to southern Europe. --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or its host. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    36 min
  2. Culturally Clueless | Fallouts, Lies & The Business of Human Trafficking | Episode 116

    6d ago

    Culturally Clueless | Fallouts, Lies & The Business of Human Trafficking | Episode 116

    Send us Fan Mail Trump and Netanyahu's relationship is deteriorating, with the president reportedly feeling manipulated and significantly restricting contact with the Israeli prime minister except for necessary coordination. Nes questions whether this alleged rift is genuine or theater, particularly as Trump's foreign policy appears to be unraveling and he finally acknowledges the failures. Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced intense questioning about the Gaza Peace Board plan, which remains unimplemented, and was caught repeatedly lying about aid delivery and related matters. The episode also covers the resignation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, making him the seventh prime minister to step down within a decade following Brexit. Nes examines the instability this reflects in British governance and what it signals about the state of European leadership. The IDF's inclusion on the UN's list of organizations credibly suspected of sexual abuse came under scrutiny when an Israeli representative attempted to defend the military at a UN meeting. Nes highlights how the defense was dismissive, disrespectful, and fundamentally inadequate, an attempt to justify the unjustifiable that exposed the absurdity of the moment. She also unpacks the underreported relationship between Israel and the EU, exposing how European institutions have become complicit in supporting Israeli actions despite public statements of concern. Libya emerges as a case study in deliberate destabilization. With two competing governments, the country has become a hub for human trafficking where migrants are literally auctioned off, forced into labor camps, and subjected to conditions equivalent to modern slavery. The EU is actively funding and training coast guards to prevent these migrants from crossing the Mediterranean, effectively trapping them in hellish conditions. Meanwhile, the UAE is using Libya as a conduit to funnel weapons to the RSF and other radical armed groups, deliberately perpetuating instability in the region to maintain control and chaos. --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode... Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    47 min
  3. Culturally Clueless | They Burned the Homes, Lied to Congress & Called It Aid | Episode 115

    Jun 18

    Culturally Clueless | They Burned the Homes, Lied to Congress & Called It Aid | Episode 115

    Send us Fan Mail This episode goes deep on stories that expose how power operates when it thinks nobody is watching. Nes shines a light on Belfast, where violent anti-immigration riots broke out following a stabbing attack allegedly carried out by a Sudanese asylum seeker. Masked rioters went door to door trying to identify homes occupied by immigrants, setting vehicles and houses on fire across the city. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service responded to 62 incidents in a single night. Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director described the anti-Islam sentiment as "a more prominent feature" of these riots compared to previous unrest. Nes notes that this is the third consecutive summer of organized mob violence against immigrants in Northern Ireland — and that women from minority communities bore some of the worst of the violence and harassment. She also covers the ongoing detention of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, who has now been held for over eighteen months without charge under Israel's Unlawful Combatant Law. After his legal team filed an appeal challenging the extension of his detention, he was transferred to solitary confinement in Nafha Prison — a move his lawyer described as a direct act of retaliation. He has reportedly lost over 40 kilograms, been denied adequate medical care, had his eyeglasses broken, and been subjected to physical abuse. UN experts have called for his immediate release, stating his conditions violate the Mandela Rules and the Geneva Conventions. Nes makes clear: this is a doctor who stayed with his patients until Israeli forces dragged him out of the hospital. She also takes on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — the US and Israeli-backed aid distribution scheme that Doctors Without Borders called "orchestrated killing." More than 2,100 Palestinians were killed while trying to access food at GHF distribution sites, which were run by private American armed contractors and placed under full Israeli military control. USAID's own internal assessment flagged critical concerns about the operation days before the State Department handed the GHF 30 million dollars. Nes calls it what it is: an operation designed less to feed people than to dismantle the UN-led humanitarian infrastructure and tighten control over the Strip. In Congress, two separate hearings delivered two spectacular moments of accountability. Energy Secretary Chris Wright admitted under oath that a post made on his behalf claiming the US Navy had successfully escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz was false — and was then blindsided on camera when a congresswoman played him audio of Trump announcing a secret oil operation Wright had no idea was happening. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee he had never seen Trump fall asleep — only for Representative Ted Lieu to play him video after video of exactly that, including footage of Trump dozing off while Rubio himself was speaking at a Cabinet meeting. Rubio denied it anyway. Lieu's response: "So you're lying again." --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or its host. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    31 min
  4. Culturally Clueless | Loopholes, Firsts & The Dead Who Said No | Episode 114

    Jun 14

    Culturally Clueless | Loopholes, Firsts & The Dead Who Said No | Episode 114

    Send us Fan Mail This episode brings together stories that seem unrelated on the surface but all point to the same truth: the rules were written by those who benefit from them most — and the rest of us are just living in the gaps. Nes covers Jonas Lauwiner — a 31-year-old Swiss-Moroccan man who discovered a provision in Swiss law allowing anyone to claim land with no registered owner, simply by writing to the local council. He has since accumulated around 150 ownerless plots across Switzerland, including the land on which his self-declared palace sits. [France 24](https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260510-how-switzerland-self-proclaimed-king-built-a-land-empire-that-riling-local-authorities) His haul includes 83 stretches of road, giving him significant leverage over local communities and prompting several Swiss cantons to rush to close the loophole. [MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/fury-as-self-declared-swiss-king-builds-empire-of-117-000-sq-metres-by-claiming-ownerless-land/ar-AA224O0n) Nes unpacks how one person reading the fine print can shake an entire legal system. She also covers a historic moment in American politics: Dr. Adam Hamawy won New Jersey's Democratic primary for the 12th Congressional District, positioning himself to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. [WHYY](https://whyy.org/articles/new-jersey-election-2026-primary-12th-congressional-district-2/) If he wins the general election in November, Hamawy could become New Jersey's first Muslim member of Congress. [WHYY](https://whyy.org/articles/new-jersey-primary-elections-adam-hamawy-12th-district-congress/) Nes marks the significance of the milestone. On Iran, Israel, and the US, Nes dissects the latest round of strikes, threats, and contradictions — with Pete Hegseth publicly announcing military action and Trump simultaneously floating the idea of a great deal while the war grinds on. She also holds Netanyahu's message to the Lebanese people under a magnifying glass — a leader offering visions of opportunity while overseeing the destruction of the very infrastructure and homes those people depend on. The contradiction, Nes argues, is not accidental. She also revisits a story she covered in a previous episode: universities donating bodies for IDF training purposes. The follow-up this week involves a couple who, upon learning how their bodies might be used after death, formally revoked their consent — a quiet but powerful act of resistance that raises urgent questions about transparency, institutional accountability, and who gets to decide what happens to the dead. --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or its host. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    29 min
  5. Culturally Clueless | God, Flamingos & The People Who Think They Own Everything | Episode 113

    Jun 11

    Culturally Clueless | God, Flamingos & The People Who Think They Own Everything | Episode 113

    Send us Fan Mail This episode covers a wide range of stories that connect power, religion, money, and the fight to hold on to what belongs to the people. Nes digs into the Seven Mountain Mandate — a Christian nationalist framework that positions believers as called to take dominion over the seven key pillars of society, including media, entertainment, and government. She examines how Hollywood and celebrity culture function as instruments of influence, how trends shape identity, and how ordinary people are quietly nudged into modelling themselves after carefully constructed images. She also takes apart a recent episode of Patrick Bet-David's show, where Mehdi Hassan appeared as a guest. Nes highlights how some of Bet-David's questions revealed more about his own biases than about the topic at hand — and how Hassan handled each one with precision, composure, and sharp clarity, leaving Bet-David looking outmatched on his own platform. Trump's rhetoric gets its own dissection — the contradictions, the threats directed at countries and individuals who push back, and the pattern of a leadership style that runs on intimidation rather than strategy. Nes also covers Burkina Faso and the government's crackdown on religious practice in the Sahel region. The context matters here: with radical infiltration documented across the region, authorities have moved to restrict and monitor religious activity as a tool for identifying those responsible. Nes presents the complexity of the situation — acknowledging it is not a clean story, but one that demands to be understood rather than flattened. Then there is Albania — where thousands of people have taken to the streets in what protesters have dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution." Jared Kushner is among a group of investors planning to transform Sazan Island — once a secret communist military base off Albania's Adriatic coast — into a luxury tourist destination, with hotels also planned in the surrounding Vjosa-Narta protected zone, which environmentalists say is rich with wildlife including flamingo habitats. [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/13/who-is-peter-magyar-hungarys-new-leader-who-trounced-viktor-orban) The WWF issued a statement condemning the ongoing destruction of the protected landscape, calling it far more than a local issue. [Democracy Now!](https://www.democracynow.org/2026/4/24/lebanon_amal_khalil_sara_qudah_journalists) Protesters took to the streets carrying pink flamingo cutouts, with signs reading "Ivanka! Keep your hands away from Narta" and "Albania is not for sale." [Democracy Now!](https://www.democracynow.org/2026/4/24/lebanon_amal_khalil_sara_qudah_journalists) Nes frames it simply: a protected coastline, a vulnerable ecosystem, and a Trump family business deal that the Albanian government fast-tracked with minimal transparency. --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or its host. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    55 min
  6. Culturally Clueless | Lies, Tokens & The Stories They Don't Want Told | Episode 112

    Jun 1

    Culturally Clueless | Lies, Tokens & The Stories They Don't Want Told | Episode 112

    Send us Fan Mail This episode pulls back the curtain on some of the most uncomfortable truths hiding in plain sight. Nes takes on the Tommy Robinson "Unite the Kingdom" rally, where Robinson stood before the crowd and declared "we are here in our millions" — while police, using CCTV and helicopter footage, estimated attendance at just 60,000. [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/hungary-election-orban-magyar) The event was funded in large part by substantial donations from American supporters, including $200,000 from Andy Miller and a further $100,000 from businessman Robert Shillman, and Robinson publicly thanked Elon Musk for his continued support. [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/fl-06-republican-primary-winner) Nes zeroes in on a Black woman who took the stage, cheered on by the crowd — and asks the sharper question: the same people platforming her are funded by those who would have a problem with her the moment she stepped off that stage. The tokenism, Nes argues, is not subtle. She also covers the leaked documents revealing that the Biden administration pressured Pakistan to remove Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote — or face consequences — exposing a long pattern of Western interference in the democratic processes of other nations. On the Abraham Accords, Nes addresses Trump's push for GCC countries including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to sign on, pointing out that the reluctance is not about ideology — it comes with a clear condition: a two-state solution for the Palestinians. No justice, no deal. She also takes a deep dive into the growing movement around Al-Aqsa, connecting the third temple movement directly to the settler violence that continues to plague the compound and the West Bank, and laying out why these two things have always moved together. On a different but equally unsettling note, Nes looks at the future of chocolate — where lab-grown cocoa butter, gene-edited trees, and corporate science are being positioned as the solution to climate and disease threats facing the cocoa industry. The question she raises: who decided this, and who profits? Hollywood gets its own reckoning too. Nes discusses how the film industry's gatekeeping keeps certain stories from being told — pointing to Danny Glover's decades-long, frustrated attempt to bring the Haitian revolution to the big screen as a case study in which histories Hollywood considers worthy of a hero. She closes with Errol Musk — Elon's father — whose interview made waves for comparing Tommy Robinson to Nelson Mandela, arguing that political prisoners tend to become leaders [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/23/what-we-know-about-israel-killing-lebanese-journalist-amal-khalil) , while conveniently minimizing the atrocities of apartheid, with Errol claiming of Black South Africans under the regime: "We gave them work, we fed them." [Meduza](https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/04/23/hungary-s-new-leader-outlines-sweeping-changes-after-defeating-orban) Nes does not let it go unchallenged. --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or its host. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    1 hr
  7. Culturally Clueless | AI, Dead Journalists & The Men Who Control Your News | Episode 111

    May 28

    Culturally Clueless | AI, Dead Journalists & The Men Who Control Your News | Episode 111

    Send us Fan Mail This episode covers stories that the mainstream news cycle would rather you scroll past. Nes digs into the growing alarm around Palantir and AI in warfare. More than 229,000 people in the UK have signed petitions demanding the government scrap all public contracts with Palantir [Democracy Now!](https://www.democracynow.org/2026/3/10/lawrence_wilkerson) , as backlash intensifies over the US tech giant's expanding role in the NHS, police, and military. Two senior systems engineers at the Ministry of Defence have even broken cover to warn that Palantir poses a national security threat to the UK [nuclear-news](https://nuclear-news.net/2026/04/14/3-a-america-is-losing-the-world-and-it-doesnt-know-how-to-stop/) — the concern being that handing a foreign company this level of access to sovereign data is a risk no government should be taking. Stateside, Palantir is publicly fighting the Defense Intelligence Agency after being excluded from a major military intelligence modernization contract [Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/04/stanford-plaza-showdown-as-miss-israel-visit-ends-with-idf-soldier-tackling-student/) , arguing the DIA is wasting taxpayer money by refusing to consider commercial AI solutions already operating at scale. [X](https://x.com/MiddleEastEye/status/2051642703054577728) Nes frames the bigger question: should AI companies with direct ties to active war zones be trusted with the data of civilians, soldiers, and governments? She also covers Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf and what it produced — and what it conspicuously didn't — pointing to a pattern of a president who makes sweeping geopolitical moves with zero regard for how Americans feel about the wars being waged in their name. Nes touches on the UAE's increasingly uncomfortable position — exposed for its involvement in multiple conflicts across the region while simultaneously seeking validation and praise on the world stage. She then turns to journalism under fire, featuring testimony from a journalist and revisiting the devastating toll on the press in Palestine — a reminder that the killing of journalists is not incidental but systematic. The episode also marks Nakba month and its 78th year, weaving together the lived reality of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank — where settler violence has surged — and examining youth-led calls to sanction settlements, while questioning whether those measures carry any real teeth when funding can simply flow from elsewhere. Nes closes with Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer, whose public declaration of Zionism and whose message to critical journalists — agree with how we do things or leave — ties back to every other thread in the episode: who controls the narrative, who gets silenced, and who profits from keeping it that way. --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or its host. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this content is prohibited. Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    44 min
  8. Culturally Clueless | Stolen Land, Depleted Weapons & A World Shifting Its Alliances | Episode 110

    May 14

    Culturally Clueless | Stolen Land, Depleted Weapons & A World Shifting Its Alliances | Episode 110

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Nes takes stock of a world where the rules keep changing — and not in anyone's favor. She opens with the explosive story unfolding in New York: pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside a New York synagogue to demonstrate against an expo called "the Great Israeli Real Estate Event," which featured properties for sale in Israel and the occupied West Bank [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/25/politics/live-news/trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner) , including listings in settlements considered illegal under international law. [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/25/politics/live-news/trump-white-house-correspondents-dinner) Nes lays out why this is not just a moral issue — activists have argued that the events run afoul of US domestic law as well, including anti-discrimination statutes [news](https://english.news.cn/20260428/c4cffb08e85e414d9c5c28012a5c6b06/c.html) — and why the protesters showing up in solidarity are on the right side of both history and the law. She then circles back to the Iran situation, dissecting the cascade of failed decisions that got the world here, the staggering costs of the war, and Trump's whiplash-inducing rhetoric that swings from threats of total annihilation to vague talk of deals and back again. She also breaks down Netanyahu's 60 Minutes appearance and what it revealed: a leader intent on continuing the war while everyone else is scrambling for a way out. [The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/04/25/trump-whcd-evacuation-live-updates/) Nes connects the dots — every rejected proposal has not brought stability closer, it has pushed it further away. On the military and economic front, Nes unpacks the UAE's shifting position. The heavy use of US munitions in the war on Iran has raised serious concerns about Washington's ability to replenish its stockpiles [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/white-house-correspondents-dinner-shooting-suspect-cole-allen/) , leaving allies like the UAE to look elsewhere for military partnerships — including Turkey. Meanwhile, JPMorgan announced it will remove the UAE from its emerging market bond indexes, citing that the country has surpassed its income thresholds for three consecutive years [ABC7 San Francisco](https://abc7news.com/post/stanford-investigating-altercation-between-israeli-soldier-student-during-political-event/18961708/) — a reclassification that, while framed as a sign of economic maturity, leaves the UAE in a financial no-man's land, having outgrown one category with no clear place in another. Nes asks the question nobody in mainstream media is asking: what does all of this mean for the UAE's standing and leverage going forward? --- Legal Disclaimer The views, opinions, and commentary expressed in this podcast episode of Culturally Clueless are solely those of the host and any guests featured, and do not constitute legal, financial, political, or professional advice of any kind. All content is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. Culturally Clueless, its host Nes, and any guests make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information discussed. Listeners are encouraged to independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decisions based on content heard in this podcast. Nothing in this episode should be construed as legal counsel, political endorsement, defamation, or an attempt to harm the reputation of any individual, organization, government, or institution. Any references to ongoing legal matters, political figures, or current events are based on publicly available information at the time of recording and are subject to change. Culturally Clueless and its producers are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners in response to the content of this episode. Guest opinions are their own and do not necessarily re Connect with Nes: www.linktr.ee/NesReign

    32 min

About

Welcome to Culturally Clueless—where we dive into culture, current events, and the everyday chaos of life. It’s raw, real, and refreshingly unfiltered, with me, Nes Reign and a lineup of fascinating guests. Together, we’ll break down the big questions and the small quirks that make life so endlessly intriguing!