badlands podcast by borzou daragahi

Borzou Daragahi
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Politics
  • Updated Semiweekly

incisive and engaging commentary and intelligence on global affaiirs borzou.substack.com

  1. 1d ago

    Why Saudi Arabia Fell Back Into The Yemen Trap (S01E172)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com Friday, October 16, 2026, Paris The war between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Ansar Allah has escalated dramatically, undermining the Arabian Peninsula’s financial aspirations and unsettling the global economy. In the latest episode of badlands, scholar and former US diplomat Annelle Sheline joins host Borzou Daragahi for an extraordinary discussion of Yemen’s history and how the Saudi Arabia appears to have stumbled into a trap set up Ansar Allah, or the Houthis as they are popularly known. The Quincy Institute analyst also discusses her public departure from the US State Department over Washington’s support for Israel’s horror campaign in Gaza. In the episode, Borzou also discusses the extraordinary Reuters investigation showing the extent of the damage to crucial Gulf infrastructure caused by Iran’s missiles and drones, and what they say about Tehran’s capabilities. badlands is a audience-supported podcast. To receive new episodes, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

  2. 2d ago

    It Will Take A Lot More Than Elections To Bring Down Trumpism (S01E171)

    Thursday, October 15, 2026, Paris It appears that Donald Trump is about to face some measure of accountability—or at least comeuppance—for his actions. His party seems set to be punished in upcoming midterm elections. In the latest episode of badlands, host Borzou Daragahi discusses the impending consequences for Trump and the Republican Party as the upcoming elections approach. He reflects on Trump's delusional nature and the anger brewing among Americans populace following a series of transgressions and broken promises, including the war he launched against Iran. The discussion delves into the historical roots of Trump's rise, tracing back to figures like Roy Cohn and the political strategies that have shaped the Republican Party. He also critiques the overwhelming influence of money in politics, particularly how it has led to a corrupt system that prioritizes donor interests over the public good, and the need to dismantle foreign influence operations that manipulate US policy. In interviews with India’s NewsX World, Borzou also discusses the Senate contest in Texas, Trump’s scheme to lower diesel prices, and the French protests. badlands is viewer-supported show. To receive new episodes and all content, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  3. 3d ago

    War, And Rumors of War Across The Middle East (S01E170)

    Wednesday, October 14, 2026, Paris We’re on the precipice of a major escalation in the Middle East, drawing in numerous regional countries and global powers. In the latest totally free episode of badlands, I sort through the various dimensions of the conflict—from the Iranian strikes on ships passing through the US-protected corridor along the Strait of Hormuz, to the uneasy, temporary calm between Hezbollah and Israel and southern Lebanon, as well as the raging battles between Yemen’s Ansar Allah government in Sana’a and Saudi Arabia. I also examine the Fairford airbase incident in England, which raises questions about the credibility of the UK government and the pain tolerance of the US. Also in this episode, I discuss Iran’s relationship to Hezbollah in an interview with Azerbaijani television. We explore how Iran gets money to Hezbollah, and the purpose of the aid. In an interview with Pakistan TV, I also discuss whether the war between Iran and the US will resume before the mid-term elections, as well as the role of the Israel lobby in shaping US foreign policy. Finally, I discuss the impact of the war between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia on aviation and energy markets, as well as Riyadh’s ambitions. badlands is a listener-supported publication. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  4. 4d ago

    Bombshell: Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Ambitions Began Under The Shah (S01E169)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Paris Why is the US buying diesel fuel from Russia while supporting Ukraine? Why is the Saudi Arabia hiding images of the damage being inflicted by Yemen’s Houthis? And why is the UK warning of an alleged Iranian attack on its soil without actually releasing any details of the plot? In the latest of episode of badlands, I briefly touch upon these late-breaking news developments—all of which are a consequence of the US decision to attack Iran over its nuclear program. That nuclear program is the subject of a new book, “Iran and the Bomb,” by George Washington University assistant professor Sina Azodi. In the interview, the professor delves into the origins of the nuclear program, Iran’s current capabilities, and where it might now be headed now, following a war by US and Israel meant to destroy the regime. We also attempt to discern fact from fiction about Iran’s nuclear ambitions. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

    Bombshell: Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Ambitions Began Under The Shah (S01E169)

  5. 5d ago

    The Kids Are Right: Why France’s Protests Are Spreading (S01E168)

    Monday, October 12, 2026, Paris Student protests continue to expand across Europe, shaking France, Spain, and Belgium and revealing the underlying crises that threaten public trust and social stability. In the latest totally free episode of badlands, I unpack the escalating protests—including at my own daughter’s school—their implications for the future. With hundreds of thousands of students taking to the streets in France, I discuss the overcrowded classrooms and staff shortages that sparked the protests last month, as well as well as broader dissatisfaction with government’s neoliberal policies. In interviews with India’s NewsX World, I also discuss the relevance of the protests worldwide, how they reflect the same dissatisfaction causing political upheavals from the US to India. badlands is an audience-supported podcast. To receive new epsidoes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  6. 6d ago

    Iran’s Economy Crushed Under Sanctions, Blockade, Mismanagement (S01E162)

    Thursday, October 1, 2026, Istanbul Tehran tech entrepreneur Hamidreza Ahmadi joins badlands from Tehran to discuss the state of the economy inside Iran. He describes enormous pressure on ordinary Iranians, compounded by the government’s refusal to shift away from its version of neoliberal economics. In addition, I discuss the latest on the comical alleged attack on a UK military base, the alleged terrorist incident aboard a FlyDubai flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv, energy prices and escalation in the Iran-US war, and the ongoing financial scandal in Turkey. badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

    Iran’s Economy Crushed Under Sanctions, Blockade, Mismanagement (S01E162)

  7. Oct 9

    Inside Iran’s Machinery Of Death And Torture (S01E167)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com Friday, October 9, 2026, Paris Iran continues to execute political dissidents at an unprecedented rate, flouting its laws and international standards in applying the death penalty to cases that clearly do not merit it. In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss Iran’s use of the death penalty and how the regime is crushing hope for any change inside the country. The episode features part 2 of my interview with environmental activist Morad Tahbaz, in which he details his arrest in Iran and confinement inside Tehran’s notorious Evin Prison, the topic of his memoir “Green Parrots.” He describes how he managed to survive long stretches in solitary confinement, and how he managed to thrive once he was placed in the general prison population. Also in the episode, I discuss the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee and the use of the death penalty in the US in an interview with India’s NewsX World. badlands is an audience-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

  8. Oct 8

    How The Gulf Plays Both Sides In The Ukraine-Russia War (S01E166)

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com Thursday, October 8, 2026, Paris Earlier this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tried to convince Gulf countries to join the effort to counter Russia’s invasion of his country, to frame the conflict against Islamic Republic and Putin’s autocracy as part of the same war. It was a tough sell. Russia has deep financial and diplomatic ties to the Gulf states. In the latest episode of badlands, Anastasiya Shapochkina and Bohdan Kostiuk join me for an interview about their recent report, “Fault Lines Exposed: Russia–GCC Relations After the Iran War.” It examines the three-way relationship between Russia, Iran, and the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. In the interview we explore the strange dichotomy of Gulf states and Russia continued friendly relations, even as Russia allegedly provides weapons and satellite information that allows Iran to strike their military bases. We also discuss whether the needle has moved at all in diplomatic efforts to resolve a war that has now stretched longer than the First World War. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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incisive and engaging commentary and intelligence on global affaiirs borzou.substack.com

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