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What Really Matters with Walter Russell Mead

Tablet Magazine
Israel
Biden Administration
Donald Trump
United States
Iran
Green Movement
Hamas
North Korea
Middle East
Argentina
Kissinger's Middle East Policy
American Jewish Community
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Middle East Peace Process
Javier Milei
Ukraine
Global Trade
Antisemitism
Zionism
Texas Governor Greg Abbott

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. Check out Walter Russell Mead’s Tablet column at www.tablet... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes90Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureNewsPolitics

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Artwork for What Really Matters

Latest Episodes

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the ICE raids and riots in LA, heightening tensions with Iran, changing demographics in world religions, and trouble in the U.S.-India relationship.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the public spat between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the AI threat to white-collar jobs, Ukraine’s drone attack on Russian aircraft, and “Zero Day,” a new 10-part Taiwanese TV drama about a war with China.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Elon Musk’s departure from Washington, America’s nonexistent shipbuilding capacity, plans to revoke visas from Chinese students, and the conspicuous absence of Biden’s foreign policy team from the new book on the ... more

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Trump's ban on foreign students at Harvard, the Supreme Court's decision on the president's authority to fire federal commissioners, the Senate's vote against California's EV mandate, and a report from the Copenha... more

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Hosts

Walter Russell Mead
Co-host, historian, author, and commentator
Jeremy Stern
Co-host and Tablet Deputy Editor

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 652 ratings
  • Walter Russell Mead is one of the Best!

    WR Mead is one of the most interesting and best Global Affairs Analysts anywhere. I never miss his WSJ Column, now I never miss his What Really Matter Podcast. It’s like having a private tutor on what’s happening, why it matters, and how it will shape events in the future. You won’t regret adding this podcast to your listening material.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    alanfjr
    United Statesa month ago
  • WRM is Most Intelligent, Unbiased, Informed, and Informative.

    Can’t wait each week to hear Walter’s take on what’s happening. Short, witty, erudite, based in deep study and personal experience through world travel, while listening to both ordinary people and the movers and shakers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Smilingpilgrim
    Canadaa month ago
  • Smart—Right wing

    Not crazy. Always right but wrong about Trump.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    redacted54
    United Statesa month ago
  • Arrogant and entitled

    I find it quite amusing to listen to Walter Russell Mead make fun of people who think they know everything and the arrogance of all lead institutions. He is the poster child of both.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DinoF16
    United States2 months ago
  • Informative and balanced

    Best investment of time . Thank you for provinding this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AtulatHK
    Hong Kong2 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critiques focus on the length of episodes and a wish for more robust interactions between the hosts.
Many express admiration for the hosts, particularly Mead's insights and eloquence, while also noting some desire for greater debate.
Reviews commend the podcast for its thoughtful examination of current events, often providing historical context that enriches understanding.
Listeners appreciate the informative and balanced discourse on complex issues, highlighting the hosts' depth of knowledge.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#194
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#59
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#160
Chile/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#178
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#180
Brazil/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#200
Ukraine/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Foreign Policy Consequences of Biden’s Decline and Fall
Q: How have American universities been affected by Chinese student enrollments?
Establishments may have grown too dependent on Chinese students, but shifts in enrollment are occurring, indicating a broader change in the U.S.-China relations context.
The Foreign Policy Consequences of Biden’s Decline and Fall
Q: What impact did Biden's decline have on U.S. foreign policy?
Biden's decline led to less coherent strategies and uninspired decision-making, particularly in response to challenges like the Ukraine war.
Resistance Fighters of the World Unite
Q: Did you see any kind of self-awareness about that at the conference you attended in Copenhagen or did you get the sense people are really kind of doubling down on those strategies?
Many at the conference lack self-awareness regarding the political repercussions of legal actions against opponents.
Resistance Fighters of the World Unite
Q: So Trump aside, do you think it's a problem that Harvard's student body is over a quarter foreign students?
The size and makeup of Harvard's student body raises questions about representation and diversity, especially in relation to American students.
Trump's Persian Gulf Tour
Q: What do you think Israel does about this kind of conundrum?
Walter explains that Israel may have to recalibrate its strategies given the changed regional dynamics, particularly with less immediate threat from Iran and needs from the Gulf Arabs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About What Really Matters

What is What Really Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the intertwining of current events with broader historical, political, and cultural contexts. Frequent discussion topics include U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to China and Russia, as well as domestic political dynamics, including elections and the evolving Republican Party. The hosts provide insights into geopolitical tensions and historical influences on modern politics, often linking current events to past precedents. A notable aspect is the non-partisan approach, as the hosts strive to present balanced viewpoints, shedding light on complexities often obscured in mainstream discourse. This presentation style likely appeals to listeners eager for informed and critical engagement with both national and... more

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1. What Matters Now
2. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
3. The Tikvah Podcast
4. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
5. Ask Haviv Anything

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What Really Matters launched 2 years ago and published 90 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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