Fareed Zakaria GPS (CNN Podcasts)

Episode: Push for Peace in Ukraine; The Battle to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery

Date: December 14, 2025
Host(s): (Guest host) Bianna Golodryga (for Fareed Zakaria)

Overview

This episode of GPS explores three major stories shaping global politics and culture: the intense diplomatic maneuvering to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, the high-stakes and unprecedented media industry battle over control of Warner Bros. Discovery, and a deep-dive into Iran’s catastrophic water crisis. The episode also features an interview with MTV cofounder Tom Freston on the evolution—and eclipse—of American cultural soft power.

Main Segments & Key Takeaways

1. Push for Peace in Ukraine: A Diplomatic Frenzy

[03:00–11:13]

Guests:

• Carl Bildt (Former Prime Minister of Sweden, co-chair European Council on Foreign Relations)

Discussion Points:

• Leaked US “Peace Plan” & Its Impact:
  The episode opens with the context of an urgent peace push in Ukraine, prompted by a leaked US-drafted peace plan heavily favoring Russia, and President Zelensky's counter-proposal to the US administration.
• Trump’s Shift and European Concerns:
  Carl Bildt highlights that while initial peace efforts centered on a ceasefire along existing lines, President Trump now supports Russia’s demand for Ukraine to yield additional territory.

  “Since Alaska, President Trump has... endorsed... Russian demand that Ukraine should give up territory which Putin has not been able to conquer... That is unacceptable for the Ukrainians.” — Carl Bildt [04:03]

• Ukrainian Red Lines & European Support:
  Zelensky refuses both the moral and legal precedent of ceding territory. European leaders, while leaving decisions to Ukraine, lean toward supporting Kyiv.
• US Security Guarantees & Europe’s Role:
  Concerns are raised about the effectiveness and credibility of American security guarantees, especially as US policy seems to be shifting away from Europe. Bildt insists that Ukraine’s main guarantee should be its own defense capability, underwritten by European financial/military support.

  “I don't think there are any sort of paper security guarantees that can replace what we need to do... support Ukraine financially... helping to finance their defence.” — Carl Bildt [06:36]

• US National Security Strategy:
  The episode discusses the newly released US security strategy that frames Russia as a stabilizing force while lambasting Europe’s democracy—a narrative welcomed by Moscow but met with alarm in Europe.

  “It has an extremely distorted view of what’s happening in Europe... Not a single word about [Russian aggression], but only criticizing Europeans..." — Carl Bildt [07:59]

• Europe’s Next Steps and Agency:
  Drawing on Foreign Affairs’ “How Europe Lost” feature, the discussion touches on the need for Europe to act with more sovereignty and less dependency on US leadership.

  “I disagree with the assessment, but I agree with the recommendations. Europe [has] to stand on its own leg somewhat more... build a NATO with substantially less of the United States. We... offer quality of life for the majority... better than anywhere in the world.” — Carl Bildt [09:50]

Memorable Quotes:

• “It’s not fair to ask [Zelensky] to give up lands... just because Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump likes it.” — Carl Bildt [05:40]
• “The quality of life in Europe is, I think, unsurpassed in the world today.” — Carl Bildt [11:02]

2. The Battle to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery

[12:35–18:38]

Guests:

• Joe Flynn (Entertainment Reporter, Wall Street Journal)

Discussion Points:

• Paramount’s Hostile Bid:
  Paramount, led by David Ellison and backed by billionaire Larry Ellison, makes an unprecedented hostile takeover attempt of the significantly larger Warner Bros. Discovery, directly appealing to shareholders after being rebuffed in favor of a Netflix offer.

  “A hostile takeover bid in Hollywood from a company that is significantly smaller than its target. That’s almost unheard of.” — Bianna Golodryga [13:05]

• Financing & Geopolitics:
  Paramount’s financing, tied to Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and Jared Kushner’s firm, triggers regulatory and reputational concerns—especially in Europe. Netflix, by contrast, offers straightforward bank financing.
• The Trump Factor:
  President Trump has pledged unusually direct involvement in the regulatory review due to CNN’s place in the sale (as a Warner subsidiary), with suggestions from Larry Ellison to “make sweeping changes” to CNN if Paramount wins.

  “Typically a president doesn’t really put their thumb on the scale of a big merger. ...This is a different situation.” — Joe Flynn [17:54]

• The Bigger Picture:
  Paramount and Netflix’s bids have Hollywood and global media on edge, with the outcome likely to reshape the industry for decades.

Notable Quote:

• “Paramount, instead of complaining about the process… make a bigger bid. We’re going to see if that is in fact what happens next.” — Joe Flynn [16:24]

3. Iran’s Water Crisis: Running Dry in Tehran

[19:00–24:49]

Guests:

• Holly Douglas (Senior Fellow, Washington Institute; Curator, “The Iranist” Substack)

Discussion Points:

• Root Causes:
  Holly Douglas attributes the crisis—Tehran facing “Day Zero” with just 10% dam capacity—to “46 years of systemic mismanagement and corruption,” compounded by drought, sanctions, and governmental stonewalling.

  “Unfortunately, it's 46 years of systemic mismanagement and corruption and that's really been what's been leading this.” — Holly Douglas [20:04]

• Corruption & The ‘Water Mafia’:
  The IRGC’s engineering arm is labeled a “water mafia,” funneling resources for profit while ignoring sustainable supply.
• Impact on Daily Life & Political Unrest:
  Ordinary Tehran residents deal with nightly water shutoffs, those with means buy water pumps, while protests—sometimes met by force—continue over resource failures.

  “Iranians were chanting, ‘electricity, water, life is our inherent right.’” — Holly Douglas [22:53]

• Lost Expertise and International Isolation:
  The irony that Iran’s water system was originally engineered by an Israeli team highlights both technical decline and current diplomatic impasses. Israel has even offered remote advice, to no effect.
• Discontent and the Future:
  Discontent is near-universal: “92% of Iranians are discontent with the conditions on the ground.” Structural change remains unlikely under the current regime.

Memorable Moments:

• “It's not that Iranians are ignoring this... starting with 2021, protests against the water situation…” — Holly Douglas [21:48]
• “The issue at hand here is the Islamic Republic itself… 92% of Iranians are discontent…” — Holly Douglas [24:32]

4. MTV, American Soft Power, and the End of a Cultural Era

[25:59–32:38]

Guest:

• Tom Freston (Cofounder, MTV; author, former CEO Viacom)

Discussion Points:

• Origins of MTV and the Power of Music TV:
  Freston recounts his psychedelic San Francisco epiphany in 1969 and the evolution that led to MTV’s 1981 launch, making American pop culture a global touchstone.

  “You have a great song and it’s coupled with really engaging imagery, the power of a song is really multiplied.” — Tom Freston [27:39]

• Why American Culture Spread—and Faded:
  English-language dominance and the lack of other countries’ media infrastructure made MTV and U.S. film/music globally dominant. This began to erode after 2000 as the Internet enabled local cultures to produce and disseminate their own art (e.g., K-pop, Afropop, Latin pop).

  “American music and film had a big cultural time. ... But then, you know, around 2000 it began to melt away with the Internet. ... Our soft power has diminished because other countries have gotten better at it themselves.” — Tom Freston [29:11]

• American Soft Power—Present and Future:
  Freston decries recent US cuts to international aid and the loss of influence:

  “It’s just bulk me so much. ... Take the poorest people in the world and take away life saving medicines for like 20 million people... We're gonna put them in the wood chipper, like it's a criminal syndicate.” — Tom Freston [30:54]

• Advice for the Next Generation:
  Freston's life advice emphasizes global travel and perspective as key to personal and professional growth.

  “When you're really young, you can take a chance, step off the conveyor belt, go out into the world... It's the best classroom you will ever find.” — Tom Freston [32:02]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Ukraine Peace Diplomacy: 03:00 – 11:13
• Warner Bros. Discovery Takeover: 12:35 – 18:38
• Iran’s Water Catastrophe: 19:00 – 24:49
• Tom Freston on MTV, Soft Power, and Advice: 25:59 – 32:38

Notable Quotes

“Since Alaska, President Trump has... endorsed... Russian demand that Ukraine should give up territory which Putin has not been able to conquer... That is unacceptable for the Ukrainians.”
— Carl Bildt [04:03]

“Iranians were chanting, ‘electricity, water, life is our inherent right.’ …[a] bitter play on…‘nuclear energy is our inherent right.’ So that's to tell you where things are.”
— Holly Douglas [22:53]

“You have a great song and it’s coupled with really engaging imagery, the power of a song is really multiplied. …I thought I was either having a hallucination or I was in one.”
— Tom Freston [27:39]

“Our soft power has not vaporized, but it has diminished because other countries have gotten better at it themselves.”
— Tom Freston [29:11]

Episode Tone & Style

• Analytical, urgent, and at times somber—especially regarding geopolitics and humanitarian crises.
• Interspersed with moments of personal storytelling and a touch of nostalgia during Tom Freston’s segment.
• Conversations blend policy depth with clear, accessible commentary for global listeners.

For listeners: This episode delivers a panoramic view of pivotal world events and the shifting tides of global influence, unpacked by some of the most thoughtful voices in diplomacy, journalism, and popular culture.