In this 30 August 2026 published video, host Victor Davis Hanson discusses Vladimir Putin, Russia, Iran, China, Israel, and the growing geopolitical tensions confronting the United States. Hanson explains how Putin thinks, why he believes Putin takes advantage of weakness in the West, and how Russia’s ambitions have shaped its approach to Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. He also examines Iran’s leadership and its goals in the Middle East, the conflict with Israel, Iran’s nuclear program, and the aftermath of the recent war, challenging the idea that Iran emerged victorious.
The conversation also turns to the dangers of tribalism and the lessons of Rwanda, the WNBA and Caitlin Clark, Japan and Pearl Harbor, and the effects of social media, Silicon Valley, and artificial intelligence on American culture and society.
