East meets West with Olga Bataman and Tara Reade is a place where we invite guests from both East and West, so you can get a perspective from across the ocean – on politics and things that matter.
Iran under fire, killing of Supreme Leader & Life near US bases with Elham Abedini
Olga and Tara are joined by Iranian journalist and international relations expert Elham Abedini, reporting directly from Tehran after the strikes by Israel and the US that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, among many others. We discuss the atmosphere in Iran as the nation mourns the deaths, including civilian casualties at the Tehran Grand Bazaar. Are the “Saturday Strikes” now the hallmark move of the current US administration? We also explore the growing fear that foreign powers are attempting to trigger a civil war in Iran – and what life is like when US military bases are encroaching upon your borders.
Iran, Ukraine, Trump & Deep State with George Papadopoulos & Simona Mangiante
Olga and Tara welcome former foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump, George Papadopoulos, and former legal adviser to the European Parliament, Simona Mangiante, to break down the most recent whirlwind of global diplomacy. We assess the recent rounds of negotiations on Ukraine and Iran in Geneva. Is Trump “cleaning up the mess” left by the previous US administrations? We also look at the military buildup in the Persian Gulf. Is it a prelude to war or a masterclass in “negotiation tactics” by Trump?
European security, peace talks & the OSCE with Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky
Olga and Tara sit down with Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s appointed permanent representative to the OSCE. After years at the UN in New York City, the ambassador has transitioned to Vienna, and he’s here to give us an unfiltered look at the state of international diplomacy today. We dive into matters of Ukraine and peace talks, the ‘Trump factor’, Epstein files, and Eurasian security.