Kurdistan: Iraq’s Unknown Dictatorship, with Kamal Chomani
The Game of Thrones politics of Kurdistan is fascinating and neglected, involving family and tribal dictators, international intrigue from the likes of Turkey, Iran and Israel, and the elusive PKK. Rania Khalek spoke with Kamal Chomani, a political analyst from Iraqi Kurdistan. They discussed the nuances of the political parties that make up the leadership […]
How China Lifted 850 Million People Out of Extreme Poverty, with Tings Chak
In February, the Chinese government celebrated the eradication of extreme poverty within its borders. This would be a massive achievement for any country, but for China it’s even more so as it is home to some 1.4 billion people and is considered a developing country. China is credited with lifting over 800 million people out […]
Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Media Lies and the War On China, with Daniel Dumbrill
Rania Khalek was joined by Daniel Dumbrill, a political commentator on China-related issues who is based in Shenzhen, to speak about his experiences in Hong Kong, his recent trip to Xinjiang and how it relates to America’s new Cold War. You can listen to all episodes of Rania Khalek Dispatches anywhere you get podcasts like […]
Inside the US Pullout from Afghanistan: This Ambassador-Turned-Activist Has Done it Before
Blasts rocked Kabul airport yesterday, with more than 170 people killed. Ann Wright, US Army Colonel & State Department official in Afghanistan who resigned in protest of the invasion of Iraq and became an anti-war activist, was acting ambassador in Sierra Leone after a violent coup against the government required the US embassy to evacuate. […]
Former Ethiopian Diplomat Blasts TPLF as Tools of Imperialism in Horn of Africa
As the situation in Ethiopia continues to escalate, the war over narratives is in full force. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Is it even that black and white? Is the TPLF fighting a war for liberation of the Tigrayan people against a cruel government or is it executing a […]
View from Iran: US Withdrawal From Afghanistan Reflects A Weakened Empire, with Mohammad Marandi
All eyes are on Afghanistan as the Taliban has rapidly taken over the entire country. Most coverage is focused on what this means for the US. But in reality, the West is removed and distant. Iran, on the other hand, is Afghanistan’s neighbor and hosts about 2 million official or unofficial Afghan refugees and will […]
View from Iran: US Withdrawal From Afghanistan Reflects A Weakened Empire, with Mohammad Marandi
All eyes are on Afghanistan as the Taliban has rapidly taken over the entire country. Most coverage is focused on what this means for the US. But in reality, the West is removed and distant. Iran, on the other hand, is Afghanistan’s neighbor and hosts about 2 million official or unofficial Afghan refugees and will […]
Biden’s Imperial Foreign Policy in the Age of American Decline, with Daniel Bessner
Rania Khalek was joined by Daniel Bessner, associate professor of international studies at the University of Washington and co-host of the podcast American Prestige, to talk about US foreign policy under Biden. What’s changed? What hasn’t changed? Is the US empire collapsing? And what should a progressive foreign policy look like?