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Check latest episodes from What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead podcast

Xi, ICE, Iran, and the Tech Right

2026/01/26

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Xi Jinping's purge of the People's Liberation Army, the ongoing showdown between ICE and Minneapolis, the death toll in Iran, and how the tech-MAGA alliance could outlast Trump.

Live From Davos 2026

2026/01/23

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss why the mood at Davos this year went from denial to fear, why the United States has never been both so unpopular and so dominant there, and what Trump and Zelensky's speeches revealed about the state of the Western alliance.

Trump on Antisemitism, Aid to Israel, and Iran

2026/01/15

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Netanyahu's proposal to end U.S. aid to Israel, Trump's disavowal of rightwing antisemites, his ever-changing assessment of what's happening in Iran, and what China and Russia think of his moves in Venezuela and Greenland.

Venezuela, Greenland, Iran

2026/01/10

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Trump administration's appetite for Greenland, the ongoing anti-regime protests in Iran, and how America's enemies will try to turn the Maduro operation into a quagmire for Washington.

Heritage, MAGA, Venezuela, Trump, and the Great Ben Sasse

2025/12/23

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the downfall of the Heritage Foundation, the fissures that roiled MAGA at the Turning Point festival, the ongoing Venezuela crisis, how Trump's foreign policy might actually be making the world better off, and why we should all aspire to be more like Ben Sasse in 2026. To support Tablet and make a tax-deductible donation, click here.

Bondi Beach and the Nihilism of Palestinian Strategy

2025/12/19

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss new U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, Trump's attempts to regain control of economic messaging, the EU's new aid package for Ukraine, and the consequences of allowing the intifada into Australia.

Trump's New National Security Strategy

2025/12/12

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the administration's seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, the hidden and rising costs of healthcare premiums, China's energy future, and the implications for China, Russia, Europe, and the GOP of Trump's new National Security Strategy.

The Higher Ed Doom Spiral

2025/12/05

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Pete Hegseth's drug boat imbroglio, the Minnesota fraud scandal, the difficulty of managing the MAGA coalition, and the factors contributing to the decline in college enrollment, outcomes, and relevance.

Trump’s Ukraine Ultimatum That Wasn’t

2025/11/26

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss how AI is splitting the MAGA coalition, Xi’s phone call with Trump, why young conservative women are having more children than their liberal peers, and what exactly is happening with the Trump administration’s Ukraine peace plan.

Orthodox Christianity in America

2025/11/22

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the China-Japan spat, Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House, China's lead in scientific paper and patent production, and the apparent rise of Orthodox Christianity among young conservative American men.

Trump in Africa

2025/11/15

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Democrats' recent election victories, the end of the government shutdown, Venezuela preparing for a hypothetical US invasion, and why Trump has started to talk about humanitarian intervention in Africa.

The Groyperization of the Right

2025/11/04

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the impact of Trump's tariffs, his summit with Xi Jinping, Bill Gates' about-face on climate change, and whether the future of the American right belongs to Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes.

Drug Wars, Sanctions, Nuclear Power, and Japan

2025/10/24

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's expanding military operations against Venezuelan drug traffickers, new US sanctions on Russia, China's nuclear power build-out, and Japan's new heavy metal-drumming, Thatcher-admiring, female prime minister.

The Return of the Hostages, an AfPak War, and India

2025/10/14

This week, Walter and Jeremy return to discuss the Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal, a possible war between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Walter's travels in India and Sri Lanka.

The Week When Decades Happened

2025/09/19

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Trump administration's apparent speech crackdown, the Saudi-Pakistani mutual defense pact, the rise of cocaine cartels in Mexico, the recent events that shook the Western order, and why rightwing influencers are obsessed by Israel and Jew hatred.

Read What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead podcast reviews

4.9 out of 5

416 reviews

John Kreis 2025/12/22

An insightful podcast

In an age of alarmism and news “fluff”, Mr Mead provides a calm and seemingly objective interpretation of the stories. He seems to be primarily concer...

iwantpizzawithswine 2025/12/20

Truth

WRM seems to have no dog in any fight. In All he wants to do is help us understand what’s true, and he’s very very good at that.

Chattasteff 2025/12/19

‘splain it to us, Russ!

Thank you, Mr. Mead. I do appreciate your inside and levelheadedness. Reminds me of my deceased David who was my anchor. Keep up the good work, good ...

jeffmed9191 2025/11/26

Love it

Love this show. Very level headed

Uzi Silber 2025/11/22

Always a pleasure

It’s always a pleasure to listen to a crystal clear thinker like Walter Russell Mead.

wellgaveitatry 2025/11/16

Best weekly reality check

The title of the podcast does really reflect what this invaluable show does.

hdksneieosndjsk 2025/10/14

Refreshing and insightful

Found this through Bari Weiss “honestly” podcast and thought the subject matter was deeply interesting. One podcast in and will definitely be a weekly...

Mike O'Brien 2025/08/12

Unique format, thought provoking analysis

I love the news / not news question at the top, followed by deep, historically rooted discussion. The global perspective and long term view of current...

October 13 2023 2025/08/01

Brilliant analysis

Walter Russell Meade delivers a concise, accurate and insightful analysis of the struggles in the Middle East. I cannot thank you enough for deliveri...

DareBoBear 2025/07/12

jeremy audio issue

jeremy your audio was uncharacteristically subpar this week.. (not walter).. hopefully this is a one-week glitch.. absolutely indispensable weekly...

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