Podcast
The Foreign Report
Hosted by Last Podcast Network · EN
Welcome to The Foreign Report — where global chaos meets sharp analysis and dark humor that keep you from screaming into a pillow (maybe) (doubtful). Every week, producer, comedian, and lawyer Seena Ghaznavi and a rotating crew of experts, journalists, and policy nerds break down the wildest stories in foreign affairs. From competitive authoritarians taking over countries to Ai taking over our minds - Seena will drag you through the gory details of everything you need to know around the world.
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34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
TFR at the World Cup!!
6d ago01:00:02Tap to summarizeThis week Seena and Travis brave LA traffic to see the Iranian World Cup team take on New Zealand. They talk through who they should cheer for and why that question is so fraught, explain the history of the Iranian’s team and its relationship with the IRGC, and check in on what is happening in the countries of some former WC champions. After the game, they reflect on their experience (it was a journey, folks) and cast forward to guess how exactly JD is going to f*ck up the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding. Spoiler- Turns out he didn’t even have to travel anywhere! JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZdMRt9DAm8/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DZV0K-xgRuI/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DYPvZPSkW0p/ https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260615-what-we-know-us-iran-memorandum-understanding https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2026/06/15/as-he-is-headed-to-france-for-g7-trump-once-again-threatens-100-tariff-on-french-wines-over-digital-tax_6754508_19.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/anishasircar/2026/06/10/ai-owned-companies-argentina/ https://english.news.cn/20260613/85f52a7b99144c7db302fb130cb05ebd/c.html#:~:text=MEXICO%20CITY%2C%20June%2012%20(Xinhua,Secretary%20Josefina%20Rodriguez%20Zamora%20said. https://www.nss-sports.com/en/lifestyle/45750/fifa-world-cup-2026-costs-security-geopolitics https://x.com/Megatron_ron/status/2066539716019659098?s=20 https://archive.is/tr2UR Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Venezuela to China: How One Regime Change Could Tank Your Retirement Account
2w ago00:51:46Tap to summarizeThis week Seena and Travis check-in on the Trump administration’s most recent foray into regional hegemony– the kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro. They dig into the reasoning behind it (faulty at best), the plan to rebuild Venezuela (pie in the sky forecasting), and where it might lead us in terms of our relationship with China (basically like planting mines under an already rocky road). They also discuss the on-again / off-again ceasefire between Israel, the US, and Iran, Congress rebuking Trump with more aid to Ukraine, and Germany losing its seat on the UN Security Council. JD also gave a speech to graduating cadets in Colorado Springs that was the definition of mealy mouthed, so basically no surprises there. JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/05/the-striking-way-jd-vances-message-to-military-graduates-changed-in-just-one-year.html https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/05/joint-chiefs-head-makes-first-official-visit-to-post-maduro-venezuela/ https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/05/joint-chiefs-head-makes-first-official-visit-to-post-maduro-venezuela/ https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/06/us-plan-venezuela-wont-work-without-rule-law-heres-how-make-progress https://www.chathamhouse.org/2026/06/us-plan-venezuela-wont-work-without-rule-law-heres-how-make-progress/summary Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →War in Iran: We Told You This Would Happen + Trump Flip Flops & Vietnam Gets Tough
3w ago01:03:17Tap to summarizeThis week we couldn’t help ourselves, we had to do it. This war is such a shitshow a collective “we told you so” just needed to be said. From the reaction of the proxies to the swiftness with which Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz to the continued and ever deepening suffering of the Iranian people, all of this was foreseeable. We looked into Trump’s recent change of heart on troops in Poland and the danger of China procuring our AI tech. Who woulda thought that could be a bad idea? We also checked in on why Vietnam is beefing up its maritime footprint and why JD gave Dems fighting fraud the cold shoulder. Apparently simply being inept wasn’t cutting it anymore. JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2026/05/iran-mass-arbitrary-arrests-and-political-executions-mark-intensifying-repression/ https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/congressional_testimony/ts161206_Dalton_Testimony.pdf https://www.bakerinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/20260316-Maritime%20Chokepoints.pdf https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/31445/1/Stuck%20on%20a%20hostile%20path%20%20US%20policy%20towards%20Iran%20since%20the%20revolution.pdf https://www.newsx.com/world/why-us-suddenly-blocked-nvidia-ai-chips-from-reaching-chinese-firms-worldwide-228667/ https://www.npr.org/2026/05/22/g-s1-123596/trump-sending-5-000-troops-to-poland https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-south-china-sea-tensions-vietnam/?embedded-checkout=true https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/05/27/repub/democratic-state-ags-say-their-staff-excluded-from-vance-anti-fraud-meeting/ https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/jd-vance/vance-book-faith-journey-usha-central-role-rcna346453 https://www.instagram.com/p/DY3QecajUtr/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DY-q8MGoGG0/ Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Trump’s Failed ‘Back to the Future’ Ahmadinejad Plan
4w ago00:41:14Tap to summarizeThis week Seena and Travis talk through Trump and Netanyahu’s insane plot to return Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s loathsome former president, to power. The plot (thank all that is good) ultimately failed, but why it happened in the first place and how exactly it failed is a testament to how disconnected from reality the two men who started this war are. JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media: https://youtu.be/OD1PnbJwfSw?t=2628 https://newrepublic.com/post/210395/jd-vance-donald-trump-never-said-care-even-little-bit-americans https://www.instagram.com/p/DYkW3YFCum7/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DYk1t12mhfw/ https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/briefs/vance-praises-redistricting-touts-efforts-to-bring-manufacturing-back-to-u-s-at-kansas-city-stop/ https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/05/20/as-jd-vance-and-donald-trump-try-to-gaslight-ohioans-about-the-economy-working-families-suffer/ https://www.ptinews.com/story/international/us-israel-planned-to-instal-ahmadinejad-as-iran-president-in-regime-change-op-report/3684381 https://www.specialeurasia.com/2026/05/20/us-israeli-ahmadinejad-iran/ https://knpr.org/npr/2026-05-20/new-york-times-report-says-u-s-and-israel-planned-to-install-former-hardline-president-in-iran https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyt-israeli-developed-plan-sought-to-have-ahmadinejad-run-iran-after-khamenei-killed/ https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/someone-from-within-report-reveals-alleged-us-israeli-plan-to-install-hardliner-former-iranian-president-after-khamenei-strike20260520075144/ Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Trump’s “Fact” Sheet on the Xi Summit, JD v. Marco, and Labour on the Brink
May 2100:53:19Tap to summarizeThis week, Travis and Seena eviscerate Trump’s claims about his “highly successful’ trip to China, going line-by-line through the White House’s “fact sheet” to get to the bottom of what, if anything, was actually accomplished. They also check in on Ukraine and Russia, pour some out for the UK’s Labour party, and look forward to the upcoming cage match between Marco Rubio and JD Vance. Get ready to rumble, folks! JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/05/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-secures-historic-deals-with-china-delivering-for-american-workers-farmers-and-industry/ https://youtu.be/Hrbq66XqtCo?si=0o6RG9jsIbfgucR_&t=4920 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/17/ukraine-war-briefing-us-allows-russian-oil-sanctions-waiver-to-lapse https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/kremlin-furious-after-zelenskyy-allows-may-1778274924.html https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/17/explainer-uk-eu-relationship-brexit-bid-rejoining https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz62dwe30wdo https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/uganda-defies-world-bank-and-central-bank-warnings-to-enact-controversial-sovereignty/8bpye4z https://www.justice.gov/nsd-fara/fara-enforcement https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/05/jd-vance-invokes-the-apprentice-while-discussing-trump-succession-drama.html https://www.instagram.com/p/DYX9wFolZoV/ https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/05/vance-task-force-targets-states-for-medicare-and-medicaid-fraud-crackdowns.html https://www.instagram.com/p/DYVVk1JHw3j/ Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Trae Crowder Talks Iran, the Dems, and the Role of the Comedian Under Trump
May 1400:54:59Tap to summarizeTrae Crowder joins Seena and Travis in the studio for a lively discussion. They parse through the ever-changing objectives of the war, debate who scares them more: Hegseth or Patel, question the role of the comedian in politics, and offer some advice to the floundering Dems. And, of course, they top it all off with a little JD Vance corner. Follow the Guest: instagram.com/officialtraecrowder/ JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Mehrsa Baradaran on Lewis Powell and the Rise of the Oligarch + Cubans Are Souring on Trump?
May 700:59:49Tap to summarizeWanna know where Project 2025 actually came from? Well, this week Seena and Travis welcome Mehrsa Baradaran to talk Lewis Powell– who he was, why he matters, and how he (maybe) ruined everything. They also dive into how Cuban Americans are responding to Trump’s latest overtures to Cuba (not well) and whether or not Trump’s Golden Dome can stop the rise of North Korea’s missile program. JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/02/trump-cuba-policy-florida-00902686 https://militarnyi.com/en/news/north-korea-nuclear-arsenal-us-capabilities/ https://www.leonardodrs.com/what-we-do/our-solutions/advanced-sensing/golden-dome-missile-defense/ https://x.com/DMichaelTripi/status/2051312960929210752?s=20 Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Iran’s F-5 Surprise in Kuwait & Russia's Grimy Paws Are Everywhere
Apr 3000:52:44Tap to summarizeThis week Travis and Seena talk through some of the shadow consequences of the war, the fallout that isn’t covered on the evening news. Have you heard a lot about the Iranian F-5(!) that bombed a US military base in Kuwait? Yeah, us either. They also dig into Russia’s many inroads into the conflict. Are they an unintentional winner of this shitshow? You bet. JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://apnews.com/article/us-iran-war-hormuz-april-27-2026-374d81d1aac6d8f19c21e1d1e10ab103 https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/iran-caused-extensive-damage-us-military-bases-publicly-known-rcna331853 https://thedefensepost.com/2026/04/27/russia-north-korea-cooperation/ https://www.msuexponent.com/news/national/syrian-court-begins-proceedings-against-assad-and-allies/article_94736f06-6ed0-5273-879d-770bbc98d222.html https://www.theguardian.com/politics/ng-interactive/2026/apr/23/mapped-local-elections-labour-may-unprecedented-losses https://www.thedailybeast.com/erika-kirks-tpusa-event-with-jd-vance-hits-another-block/ https://www.kcci.com/article/iowa-state-tpusa-event-postponed-jd-vance-erika-kirk/71144125 Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Netanyahu's "Other" Occupation in Lebanon + Trump Takes on the Pope
Apr 2300:48:01Tap to summarizeThis week Seena and Travis dig into the “other” war Israel is waging in Lebanon. They question Netanyahu’s tactics and wonder where they will lead: another failed state, a “new” Hezbollah? Whatever the case, over a million Lebanese have already been displaced, thousands have been killed, and the ceasefire clock is ticking. In more ridiculous news, Trump took a swing at the Pope– who proved to be lighter on his feet than anticipated, things are looking even bleaker for Kash Patel at the FBI, and JD gets heckled. Silver linings do exist! JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWRDALBiJea/ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-publishes-map-south-lebanon-territory-under-its-control-2026-04-19/ https://substack.com/@raniakhalek/note/c-239526074?r=3a6bs&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action https://www.instagram.com/p/DXDv4gQGmod/?img_index=1 https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2026/04/14/trump-pope-columbus-catholic-bishop-earl-fernandes/89604297007/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences/686839/ https://people.com/erika-kirk-backs-out-of-turning-point-event-with-jd-vance-over-serious-threats-11950140 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVOkZDazo2s Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Transcribe →Gissou Nia on Iran: Is There Hope in a Hopeless Place?
Apr 1600:59:14Tap to summarizeThis week Seena and Travis welcome human rights lawyer and advocate Gissou Nia to explain why she’s more hopeful than most that the Iranian regime will eventually be overthrown. They discuss why issues of human rights always end up taking a backseat and what the world, and us as individuals, can do to help the Iranian people. They also delight in JD Vance’s latest international face plant. Thank goodness that never gets old. 🙃 Follow the Guest: https://www.instagram.com/gissounia/ JD Vance Corner Song: Kevin Flatt and SB JD Vance Corner Animation: Bridgit Connell Media/Links: https://en-hrana.org/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-iran-war-disrupts-global-helium-supply-and-artificial-intelligence-chip/ https://www.instagram.com/reels/DTeXqTCj5vo/ https://www.newsweek.com/viktor-orban-hungary-election-jd-vance-rally-11804123 Follow The Show: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheForeignReportInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foreignreportshow/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foreignreportlpnThreads: https://www.threads.net/@foreignreportshowWebsite: https://www.foreignreportshow.com/ Follow the Host:https://www.instagram.com/seenanow/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/travisirvineusa/?hl=en Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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