Behind the Bastards — Part One: Prince Mohammed Bin Salman: The Tyrant of Saudi Arabia

Podcast: Behind the Bastards
Host: Robert Evans (Cool Zone Media/iHeartPodcasts)
Guest: David Bell (Writer/podcaster, "Some More News" & "Gamefully Unemployed")
Date: January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This inaugural episode of a multi-part series examines the origins and bloody legacy of the House of Saud, with particular emphasis on the formation of Saudi Arabia, the dynasty’s long partnership with religious fundamentalism, and the lavish, violent environment that shaped Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), today’s effective ruler of Saudi Arabia. Host Robert Evans is joined by David Bell for a blend of historical narrative, political context, and their trademark dry wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Talk About "Bastards" Like MBS?

• “Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating.” — The hosts set the stage by drawing listeners into the psychology and attraction of historical villains versus more mundane world leaders.
• This episode aims to look beyond headlines like the murder of Jamal Khashoggi to explore how Saudi Arabia’s complex, violent history informs MBS’s rule.

2. Meet the Hosts and Establishing Their Credentials (00:00–03:00)

• Quick banter: Robert teases David’s Saudi “expertise,” riffing on their history together at Cracked and various podcasts.
• David pokes fun at himself:

  “If anything, I'm going to be teaching you a thing or two.” (00:41, David Bell)

• The tone is accessible, irreverent, but sharp.

3. Who is Mohammed bin Salman? (04:43–08:12)

• Robert gives a succinct overview: MBS is the Crown Prince and de facto ruler, best known globally for ordering the murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and as a highly effective, albeit dangerous, modern authoritarian.
• He is described as a master at consolidating power, mixing reforms with intense crackdowns (even on family), and leveraging oil wealth for regional (and global) influence:

  “At home he has mixed a series of dizzying reforms with unprecedented authoritarian crackdowns...” (06:13, Robert Evans)

4. Origins of the House of Saud & Wahhabism (08:12–16:54)

• Historical Context:

  • The House of Saud began in the 18th century when Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab (a hardline religious reformer) partnered with local emir Muhammad Ibn Saud, launching a fusion of political ambition and religious extremism.

• Wahhab's Extremism:

  “He was unhappy about a lot of art in the Ottoman world that depicted the human form... unhappy about music... he was angry at what he saw as the decadence and many moral compromises of the Ottoman caliph...” (07:36-08:45, Robert Evans)

• Comparison to Modern Extremism:

  • Wahhab is likened to proto-‘Heritage Foundation’ zealotry, exploiting religious grievances to serve larger ambitions:

    “You could see Wahab as sort of like a Heritage Foundation maniac of his time...” (08:59, Robert Evans)

  • David wryly notes the timelessness of zealous fringes driving political change, regardless of faith.

• Early Struggles:

  • The initial Saudi ‘state’ (a city-state around Diriyah) lasted more than 50 years, but was eventually crushed by the Ottomans. Brutality and family infighting became recurring themes.

5. Violence, Betrayal, and Family Chaos (16:54–22:26)

• The second Saudi state rises, again via a member escaping exile and rebuilding the dynasty, marked by betrayals and assassinations (e.g., Turkey bin Abdullah killed by his cousin, internal wars).
• The pattern emerges:

  “Honestly, even up to the modern day, the Saudi royal family spends a lot of time killing other members ... It’s one of their great pastimes.” (21:15, Robert Evans)

• David quips how power and family always breed conflict:

  “You never have enough power. But you can have too many cousins, right? That’s kind of the rule.” (22:06, David Bell)

6. The Modern Saudi State and Its Foundations (22:26–27:51)

• Abdulaziz Al Saud (MBS’s grandfather) is highlighted as the modern founder—skilled, ruthless, and opportunistic.
• With little money, Abdulaziz sells drilling rights to Standard Oil for a pittance (£50,000), betting on oil’s potential—a gamble that pays off spectacularly.

7. The Oil Boom: Transformations and Corruption (27:51–34:57)

• The Aramco deal brings in “millions, then billions,” structuring Saudi society to prop up the royal family and buy allegiances.

  “Large numbers of Saudi men, even outside of the family, are given government jobs that are themselves basically bribes to keep anyone from complaining about the endemic corruption.” (31:04, Robert Evans)

• Excess, grift, and burgeoning royal ranks—by the late 20th century, thousands draw state stipends, while 40% of Saudis are poor and 90% of private workforce is foreign labor.

• Notable quote:

  “Much of that money trickled into society to earn the royals the loyalty of the population... But the royals still had large, commanding fleets of yachts, building palaces from Los Angeles to Monaco.” (32:08, quoting Ben Hubbard)

8. Patterns of State Brutality and Internal Paranoia (34:57–37:42)

• Family feuding, public executions, and deliberate brutal intimidation are institutionalized.
• Notorious story: Abdulaziz executes 18 rebelling family members publicly, then pardons the 19th to “tell everyone.”

  “Go tell everybody. I could have killed you, but I didn’t.” (36:03, David Bell, paraphrasing the king)

9. Modernization vs. Religious Backlash (37:42–47:42)

• Kings struggle to balance Westernization and religious conservatism.

• King Faisal brings modernization, more rights for women, and attempts to dilute clerical power. Assassinated by his own nephew over a TV ban.

• 1979: Seizure of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by fundamentalists prompts the regime to swing violently back to religious orthodoxy, banning gender mixing, alcohol, TV, and women’s labor in public.

  “Almost overnight, everything changed in Saudi Arabia... No more movies, no more alcohol, no more women on television, no more gender mixing anywhere...” (48:20, quoting Karen House)

• Brutal suppression: Use of French commandos (forced to “convert” for the mission), mass executions, indiscriminate violence during the Mosque siege.

10. The Rise of MBS's Father, Salman, and the Next Generation (49:49–54:00)

• Salman, MBS’s father and eventual king, is portrayed as the rare hardworking, relatively non-corrupt prince among a sea of decadent siblings.
• His sons—one becomes the first Muslim in space, others obtain Western educations and succeed in business or military.
• The system ensures intra-family competition is lethal, and alliances are fragile and transactional.

11. A New Generation: The Birth of MBS (53:08–end)

• Mohammed bin Salman is born in 1985—emerging into a Saudi Arabia convulsed by religious reaction and family malaise.

• By the late 1980s–’90s, the regime is ossifying: successive kings are weak, ineffective, or disengaged, setting the scene for the rise of an ambitious new wielder of power.

• Hosts wrap up, reflecting on the sundry failings, oddities, and violent excesses that have paved the way for MBS.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If Fox Mulder really existed, you would have done a six part series on him.” (02:52, David Bell, illustrative of the show’s humorous, pop-culture infused tone)
• “You could see Wahab as sort of like a Heritage Foundation maniac of his time.” (08:59, Robert Evans)
• “Honestly, even up to the modern day, the Saudi royal family spends a lot of time killing other members ... It’s one of their great pastimes.” (21:15, Robert Evans)
• “Large numbers of Saudi men, even outside of the family, are given government jobs that are themselves basically bribes to keep anyone from complaining about the endemic corruption.” (31:04, Robert Evans)
• “No more movies, no more alcohol, no more women on television, no more gender mixing anywhere...” (48:20, quoting Karen House on post-1979 Saudi Arabia)

Memorable and Humorous Asides

• Ongoing X-Files and Fox Mulder jokes in the opening, as well as riffs on being Nepo babies/Nicolas Cage as a comparison to royal family members (41:03).
• Observing the Saudi family's internal warfare:

  “It’s what the Skarsgards have going for them—they know who’s in charge at any given point and there’s not too many of them.” (34:34, David Bell)

• David ponders the weirdness of being older than MBS, the “tyrant” in question:

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize I’m older than him. That bums me.” (53:08, David Bell)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:00–04:43 – Banter & introductions; why these stories matter.
• 04:43–08:12 – Introduction to MBS & modern Saudi power.
• 08:12–16:54 – The Wahhabist origins and the early Saud dynasty.
• 16:54–22:26 – Betrayals, assassinations, and family feuds.
• 22:26–27:51 – Modern Saudi state’s formation, early oil deals.
• 27:51–34:57 – Oil boom, society-wide corruption, royal excess.
• 34:57–37:42 – Political violence, paranoia, and examples of state brutality.
• 37:42–47:42 – Modernization, religious clerical power, and the 1979 Mosque seizure.
• 47:42–49:49 – Intensification of fundamentalism, religious police.
• 49:49–54:00 – The next generation: Salman’s rise, MBS’s origins.

Conclusion / Where the Series is Going

This episode concludes with the Saudi state at a turning point; burdened by its bloody, corrupt, and contradictory legacies, and with MBS—a man described as "one of the most dangerous and in some ways competent bastards in the world today"—about to step onto the world stage. Future episodes will dive into MBS’s personal ascent and the consequences of his rule.

For Further Listening

David Bell can be found at Gamefully Unemployed, and “Some More News.”
Robert Evans teases more detail on MBS in upcoming episodes.

Note: All ads, musical intros/outros, and unrelated asides omitted per instructions.