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Behind the News with Doug Henwood

Doug Henwood
Donald Trump
Israel
United States
Iran
Neoliberalism
Private Equity
Trump Administration
Silicon Valley
Republican Party
Capitalism
Gaza
China
European Union
Democratic Party
Political Economy
Right-Wing Populism
Sudan
Venezuela
Trump
Climate Crisis

Behind the News with Doug Henwood

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes28Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Behind the News

Latest Episodes

Behind the News, 5/21/26 - guests: Jake Werner on the Trump–Xi summit, Gareth Gore on Opus Dei - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 5/14/26 - guests: Laleh Khalili and Mouin Rabbani on Iran - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 5/7/26 - Imperialism & the Homeland Event: Greg Grandin, Nikhil Pal Singh, Gaya Sriskanthan - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 4/30/26 - guests: Dylan Gottlieb on yuppies • Ervand Abrahamian on Iran - Doug Henwood

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Recent Guests

Gareth Gore
Financial journalist and author of Opus, Dark Money
Simon & Schuster (author)
Episode: Behind the News, 5/21/26
Greg Grandin
Historian, Yale University
Yale University
Episode: Behind the News, 5/7/26
Nikhil Pal Singh
Historian, NYU
New York University
Episode: Behind the News, 5/7/26
Dylan Gottlieb
Author of Yuppies, The Bankers, Lawyers, Joggers and Gourmands Who Conquered New York
Harvard University Press
Episode: Behind the News, 4/30/26
Ervand Abrahamian
Historian of Iran, Emeritus Professor
CUNY Graduate Center
Episode: Behind the News, 4/30/26
Ben Tarnoff
Co-author, Muskism, A Guide for the Perplexed
Tech journalist, author
Episode: Behind the News, 4/23/26
Kyle Shybunko
Historian of Eastern Europe specializing in Hungary, interviewed for his expertise on the election and Orban's regime
Independent scholar/Historian
Episode: Behind the News, 4/16/26
Anita Zsurzsán
Budapest-based independent scholar providing analysis of domestic political movements and media
Independent scholar
Episode: Behind the News, 4/16/26
Andrew Cockburn
Washington editor of Harper's Magazine and author of Washington is Burning
Harper's Magazine / Verso
Episode: Behind the News, 4/9/26

Host

Doug Henwood
Host of Behind the News

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 672 ratings
  • ST. LOUIS MENTIONED!!!

    Episode 1/22/2026, 9 minutes 41 seconds in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flora Racine
    United States4 months ago
  • Thank you, Doug!

    I’ve been listening to Behind the News for years and it has profoundly deepened my knowledge and understanding of world events. I am always amazed at how Doug is able to speak with a wide range of extremely knowledgeable guests and distill complex topics into accessible segments. Not to mention some awesome music interludes. Thank you for all you do, Doug!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kchen510
    United States5 months ago
  • Weekly pair of 25 minute interviews, w great music

    This podcast is like a dispatch, with meal-sized discussions fit for a lunch break - musical refreshments included. The host is very experienced and keeps the energy crisp and moving, even when the topics are quite sophisticated or high-intensity. Rarely is the content “too much to handle”, but almost always the guests nurture my intelligence. The material may be kept to a 25-minute se’ment, with a wizened interviewer, but I never feel I am being fed simplified or boring material.

    If someone l... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    *never too late
    United States8 months ago
  • Great interviews. Love the music interludes.

    Let's go out with this.

    Bye!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    dirt mcgirt
    10 months ago
  • One of the best

    This podcast is an oasis from the anti-intellectualism rampant in the U.S. today. Great guests, and Doug doesn’t waste my time with mindless chit-chat, which I appreciate. Lots packed into these conversations and I always learn a lot.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AmeliaInTheForest
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Music breaks are a frequently praised interlude that complements dense discussions.
Listeners value concise, probing interviews with strong contextual grounding.
Guests are consistently knowledgeable and bring depth to complex topics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Behind the News, 3/12/26
Q: What does the historian see as a possible positive way forward for left politics in this context?
A hopeful pathway involves building a coherent opposition that centers the needs of ordinary people—economic and social—while rejecting imperialistic dominion, mass deportation, and coercive state power, and instead emphasizes cooperative internationalism and accountable, transparent governance.
Behind the News, 3/12/26
Q: How should we think about Trump and the implications of his presidency?
Trump represents a destabilizing accelerant that leverages coercive state power and a collapsing liberal order, but there is also a deeper, structural unraveling of the US empire and ruling class that predates him, suggesting a need for a different political framework rooted in universal human flourishing and democratic accountability.
Behind The News [untitled]
Q: I'm curious, how would that be a kind of Leninism?
Fraser discusses the concern that centering class could resemble an authoritarian hegemonic project, but suggests a reimagined, inclusive working-class identity that integrates race and gender without reproducing old hierarchies.
Behind the News, 2/26/26
Q: What do you think of the appeal of the rich to academics who don't have much money?
It's a fascinating tangle of intellectualism and finances, with wealthy individuals eager to collect smart people, making them feel important while offering crucial funding for research.
Behind the News, 2/26/26
Q: So what were the young women or the girls even to such a group? Were they entertainment, collateral damage, decorations not worth thinking about?
The women were likely dehumanized and viewed as mere objects, similar to accessories or possessions, devoid of any real humanity in discussions among Epstein and his associates.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Behind the News

What is Behind the News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, policy-forward show centered on global power, imperialism, and the intersections of economics and politics. It features two long-form discussions per week with leading scholars, journalists, and policymakers who dissect U.S. foreign policy, Middle East dynamics, labor issues, and historical trends, often through a critical left-leaning lens. Notable strengths include access to prominent experts, rigorous contextual analysis, and a mix of historical depth with contemporary critique. Listeners likely appreciate clear explanations of complex geopolitics, thoughtful critique of power, and a rotating set of high-profile guests across history, economics, and international affairs.

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Which podcasts are similar to Behind the News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the News:

1. Jacobin Radio
2. American Prestige
3. Politics Theory Other
4. Know Your Enemy
5. Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber

How many episodes of Behind the News are there?

Behind the News launched 21 years ago and published 28 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Behind the News?

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What guests have appeared on Behind the News?

Recent guests on Behind the News include:

1. Gareth Gore
2. Greg Grandin
3. Nikhil Pal Singh
4. Dylan Gottlieb
5. Ervand Abrahamian
6. Ben Tarnoff
7. Kyle Shybunko
8. Anita Zsurzsán

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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