The Pragmatic Idealist with Mike Brand

Mike Brand

Driven by the Nelson Mandela quote, "It always seems impossible until it's done" The Pragmatic Idealist discusses practical solutions to some of the world's biggest issues. From progressive politics in the United States to promoting human rights and preventing mass atrocities around the world, Mike Brand shares news, analysis, and opinion and discusses major issues with experts and activists.

Episodes

  1. May 7

    Eyewitness to Israeli Settler Violence

    In this episode of the Pragmatic Idealist, host Mike Brand is joined by Jenna Fischer to discuss her time volunteering with the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, engaging in protective presence in the occupied West Bank. Jenna speaks about her time in the village of Umm al Khair in Masafer Yatta, recounts how welcomed she was in the community by Palestinian friends, and how she was brutally attacked by Israeli settlers. Mike and Jenna discuss the expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, the struggle within the American Jewish community to unlearn what they've been taught about Israel while reconciling with the realities on the ground in Palestine and Israel, and the wider issues of apartheid. In the conversation, Jenna and Mike talk about their personal history with Israel, social justice, Tikkun Olam, and why they continue to speak out against injustices in Israel/Palestine. For more information on some of the topics and organizations discussed in this episode, check out these links:https://cjnv.org/ https://cjnv.org/hineinu/ https://www.2j3o.org/ https://www.rememberingawdah.com/ https://supportmasaferyatta.com/ https://www.rebuildingalliance.org/ Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok:   / miketheidealist   Twitch:   / miketheidealist   Twitter:   / miketheidealist   Facebook:   / miketheidealist   Instagram:   / miketheidealist

    1h 10m

  2. 12/19/2025

    Inside the Collapse of USAID: What the Aid Cuts Really Mean for Millions

    What really happened inside USAID as the Trump administration dismantled the agency, and what does its collapse mean for global health, humanitarian aid, and US foreign policy?In this in-depth conversation, I’m joined by Julianne Weis, former USAID global health official and Managing Director of Aid on the Hill, to break down the sudden shutdown of USAID, the chaos that followed, and the real-world consequences for millions of people worldwide.Julianne brings nearly 20 years of experience in international development, including years inside USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health. She explains how lifesaving programs were halted overnight, why critical data systems like demographic health surveys and famine early-warning tools went dark, and how political decisions in Washington translated directly into suffering on the ground. Check out https://www.aidonthehill.org to learn more about the work Julianne and many former USAID staff are doing, engaging with members of Congress advocating for a better foreign policy. Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@miketheidealist Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/miketheidealist Twitter: https://twitter.com/miketheidealist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miketheidealist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miketheidealist

    44 min

  3. 09/17/2025

    Gaza, the State of Atrocities Prevention, & What's Next After USAID | The Pragmatic Idealist

    In this episode of The Pragmatic Idealist, host Mike Brand sits down with Dr. Saghar Shahidi-Birjandian for a candid conversation about the global state of atrocity prevention in the wake of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, challenges in the prevention and international humanitarian community with the dissolution of USAID, and advice for those seeking a career in the field of atrocity prevention and genocide studies. They discuss the bipartisan Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act and the Global Fragility Act, and how President Trump is dismantling these laws despite signing both bills into law. The fracture within the atrocity prevention community over Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, with debate around the International Association of Genocide Scholars’ resolution declaring Israel’s conduct as genocide. And, funding pressures, accusations of antisemitism, and why many organizations stay silent on genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing.Like, comment, and subscribe to support more in-depth discussions on human security, conflict prevention, and global justice. Join the Conversation! What stood out to you in this episode—donor dependency, US policy rollbacks, or the split among genocide scholars over Gaza? Share your thoughts, questions, or resources in the comments.If you value deep dives on atrocity prevention, peacebuilding, and human rights, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss a new episode of The Pragmatic Idealist.Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok:   / miketheidealist   Twitch:   / miketheidealist   Twitter:   / miketheidealist   Facebook:   / miketheidealist   Instagram:   / miketheidealist

    1h 7m

  4. 08/27/2025

    A Jewish Call to Confront Genocide in Gaza | End Silence and Complicity

    I have spent nearly two decades working to prevent mass atrocities—genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. I was inspired by many in the Jewish community who led the anti-genocide movement 20 years ago to end the genocide in Darfur. Where is that leadership today?In this video, I speak about the blind spot in the Jewish community when it comes to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While Jewish organizations mobilized against genocide in Darfur, Myanmar, and the DRC, many have stayed silent or worse, justified the atrocities Israel is committing in Gaza and the West Bank.This is a moment of moral reckoning for the Jewish community and the world. If we could speak out against atrocities in Sudan, Myanmar, and elsewhere, we must also speak out for Palestinians. “Never Again” must mean never again for everyone.Watch the video on my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGVdtBmxiig

    8 min

  5. 05/06/2025

    Israel Plans to Ethnically Cleanse Gaza

    Israel stops pretending and announces its plans to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip. Mike Brand, an expert in mass atrocities (genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing), responds and provides some context to the latest news. We all need to do more to stand up against mass atrocities wherever they occur. Subscribe and follow miketheIdealist for more: Tiktok:   / miketheidealist   Twitch:   / miketheidealist   Twitter:   / miketheidealist   Facebook:   / miketheidealist   Instagram:   / miketheidealist

    8 min

  6. 02/11/2025

    Republicans Used to Like USAID, What Happened?

    Before Trump, Musk, and Rubio decided to completely abolish the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Republicans used to like USAID. Here are just a few clips of Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio, speaking of the importance of USAID and foreign assistance more broadly.

    11 min

  7. 02/11/2025

    What is USAID?

    Donald Trump and Elon Musk are working hard to kill USAID, but what is USAID and why are they so focused on abolishing the agency?

    12 min

  8. 06/30/2023

    Teaching About Genocide & Mass Atrocities - Guest Roni Kay O'Dell

    In this episode, Mike sits down with Dr. Roni Kay O'Dell, Associate Professor at Seton Hill University to discuss how they stay positive while teaching about difficult topics such as genocide, mass atrocities prevention, and human rights. Roni Kay highlights teaching through empathy and the importance of programs like Model UN to get students to understand how the international system works.

    45 min

  9. 06/02/2023

    Crisis in Sudan - Guest Samah Salman

    Since fighting broke out in Khartoum, Sudan on April 15th, 2023, over one million people have been forced to flee their homes many have become internally displaced in Sudan, while others have fled across the borders to neighboring countries. There are no exact figures but is estimated that over 800 people have been killed and over 5,000 have been injured due to the fighting. To help us make sense of how we got here and discuss where the crisis may be going Mike is joined by by Samah Salman. Samah is a business executive in Sudan’s private sector and the founding member and president of the us-educated Sudanese association and has been heavily involved in responding to the ongoing crisis in Sudan. You can follow Samah on Twitter. As always, you can follow Mike on all the platforms @miketheidealist.

    56 min

  10. 05/12/2023

    Accountability for Trump, Proud Boys, and Santos...oh my!

    We are finally seeing some accountability for Donald Trump, the Proud Boys, and George Santos. Click here to watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dQlH9gSkN6s

    14 min

  11. 05/12/2023

    Pragmatic Idealist Intro

    A brief intro of what to expect from this podcast. Thanks for listening.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Driven by the Nelson Mandela quote, "It always seems impossible until it's done" The Pragmatic Idealist discusses practical solutions to some of the world's biggest issues. From progressive politics in the United States to promoting human rights and preventing mass atrocities around the world, Mike Brand shares news, analysis, and opinion and discusses major issues with experts and activists.

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