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What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Tablet Magazine
Walter Russell Mead, a historian, pundit, and popular author, is encyclopedic about politics, culture, and history. On What Really Matters, Mead and Tablet deputy editor Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what news matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 weeks ago48 min
The Generation Conflagration: Protests in France and India
This week, Walter and Bill discuss Trump's endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu days before Israel votes, Elon Musk's throttling and alleged restoration of Ukraine's Starlink and Putin's push for a summit with Trump and Xi, the AI-discovered software flaw that knocked websites offline around the world, and why generational revolt is spreading from France to India.
- 3 weeks ago45 min
Trump’s Shock and Awe Strategy
After more than 140 episodes, Jeremy Stern is stepping down as co-host, and Hudson's Bill Drexel takes his place. This week, Walter and Bill discuss the Houthis' widening missile war on Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon's plan to livestream a military execution, the fall of Kimberly Guilfoyle, and why President Trump's shock-and-awe foreign policy shows no sign of slowing down. A Houthi missile hit Saudi Aramco's headquarters days after a deadly strike on Riyadh's airport, and The Wall Street Journal reports that the group is building an advanced missile with Chinese parts. Back home, the Catholic archbishop for the military condemned the plan to stream Nidal Hasan's firing-squad execution, and Guilfoyle resigned as ambassador to Greece after reports that she asked a donor to pay her credit card bill. In the big conversation, Walter expands on his latest Journal column, "Russia, Iran and Trump's Shock-and-Awe Foreign Policy," and the tip of the week asks which president left the biggest physical mark on Washington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Oct 13, 202627 min
A Bad Year For Incumbents
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the success of US sanctions on Iran, America's expanding budget deficit, China's destruction of the EU's economy, and why 2026 is proving to be a bad year for incumbent political leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Oct 2, 202624 min
China Check-In
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the final US withdrawal from Iraq, the bipartisan consensus to allow Congressional insider trading, Russia’s nuclear threats over Kaliningrad, and China’s efforts in AI and the US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 24, 20261h 2m
What Really Matters (Live in DC)
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the three grand narratives shaping world history. The episode was recorded live on September 23 in front of an audience at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 18, 202635 min
Why Geopolitics Will Make US Colleges More Nationalist
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the Flock camera debate, Canada's prospects for joining the EU, America's weaponization of outer space, and why geopolitical competition with China is going to make American higher ed more patriotic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 11, 202633 min
25 Years After 9/11
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the AfD's victory in Eastern Germany, the breakdown of global shipping, trouble on the Chinese internet, and the impact on American society and foreign policy of 9/11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- Sep 7, 202626 min
The Limits of Democracy in War
This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's reasons for optimism in Iran, the responsibility voters bear for the quality of their elites, and the greatness of Dolly Parton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead
Walter Russell Mead, a historian, pundit, and popular author, is encyclopedic about politics, culture, and history. On What Really Matters, Mead and Tablet deputy editor Jeremy Stern help you understand the news, decide what news matters and what doesn’t, and enjoy following the story of America and the world more than you do now.
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