Rephonic
Artwork for What Really Matters

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
Middle East Peace Process
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Ukraine
Javier Milei
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes123Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsSociety & CulturePolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for What Really Matters

Latest Episodes

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the ceasefire, the situation in Lebanon and the Strait of Hormuz, how the war has impacted US defense capabilities, and how Trump's domestic and international political status is faring.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the latest headlines from Iran, Trump and Rubio's fight with NATO, whether Trump might try to obtain a Declaration of War from Congress, and the best and worst wartime presidents in American history.

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss the other strait Iran is threatening to close, the Trump administration's interest in Ukrainian territorial concessions, rumors of increasing US troop deployments to the Middle East, and how the doves and the hawk... more

This week, Walter and Jeremy discuss Joe Kent's resignation, Trump's frustration with NATO's refusal to help in the Gulf, JD Vance's show of support for Viktor Orban, and the state of the war in Iran.

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Walter Russell Mead
Historian, pundit, and author
Tablet, The Wall Street Journal, Hudson Institute, Hamilton School at the University of Florida
Episode: How Iran Ends
Volodymyr Zelensky
President of Ukraine
Government of Ukraine
Episode: Live From Davos 2026

Hosts

Jeremy Stern
Co-host and Deputy Editor at Tablet, involved in discussing geopolitics and current events alongside Walter Russell Mead.
Walter Russell Mead
Historian, pundit, and popular author known for his deep insights into politics, culture, and international relations.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 751 ratings
  • I’m mad as hell

    Why do you only do an episode a week or less when I want your insight daily, Monday through Friday? 😉

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    peter647505619
    Canada14 days ago
  • Informative and balanced

    Best investment of time . Thank you for sharing so generously

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AtulatHK
    Hong Kong14 days ago
  • Enjoyable and informative

    This has become one of my essential listening activities. The show has a very skilful host (Jeremy) who deftly steers a well read and opinionated “guest” (Walter) through news / faux news / big topics etc.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OziMozzie
    Australia3 months ago
  • An insightful podcast

    In an age of alarmism and news “fluff”, Mr Mead provides a calm and seemingly objective interpretation of the stories. He seems to be primarily concerned not with telling his audience what to think, but rather in teaching his listeners how to think about geopolitics and culture, which is much-needed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    John Kreis
    United States4 months ago
  • Truth

    WRM seems to have no dog in any fight. In

    All he wants to do is help us understand what’s true, and he’s very very good at that.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    iwantpizzawithswine
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Reviews highlight the hosts' ability to connect history with contemporary issues, fostering an engaging dialogue on complex topics.
Some comments point out a desire for more diverse discussion formats, while many praise the clarity and depth of analysis offered.
Listeners appreciate the insightful, objective analysis of current events, making the show essential for understanding geopolitical affairs.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#225
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#167
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#49
Poland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#61
Ukraine/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#75
Israel/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#97
Chile/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will Trump Try to Get a Declaration of War?
Q: How likely is this scenario and what would be the implications for Trump and the term?
The guest suggests it could be a possible trajectory if the war drags on, as it would offer legal and political tools to sustain the conflict, but would require bipartisan support and carry significant domestic and international risks that could define the remainder of the presidency.
Will Trump Try to Get a Declaration of War?
Q: What are some concrete benefits a declaration of war could confer, and what are the risks?
A declaration could restore tariff authority, empower actions against non-citizens, enable censorship and internment powers, and solidify domestic political will, but it also risks expanding executive overreach and turning public opinion against allies and partners; the host and guest weigh both sides.
Will Trump Try to Get a Declaration of War?
Q: Can you explain this idea a little more and why you think it's important?
The guest explains that while he did not officially advocate for a declaration of war, he outlined circumstances where it might be strategically advantageous, as a way to restore certain powers and legitimacy to prosecuting a war, with much of the discussion focused on how such a declaration could consolidate executive power and influence domestic support.
How Iran Ends
Q: What are the practical costs or risks if Trump and the administration have not clearly defined the mission or end state of this conflict?
He argues that war planning cannot be reduced to charts and fixed end states, stressing that a great power must adapt to changing circumstances, with credible messaging to supporters and the public while avoiding overpromising quick victories that undermine legitimacy if the conflict drags on.
How Iran Ends
Q: Walter, you wrote earlier this week about the three main ways the Iran War could end, and the end state scenario you think is most likely. So tell us what these are.
Mead outlines three scenarios—an optimistic good outcome with democratic shifts or a Venezuela-style regime realignment that cooperates with the United States; a middle ground ugly scenario where a prolonged but manageable stalemate preserves pressure but delays resolution; and a worst-case path where sanctions and open oil flows are not secured, allowing Iran to leverage control over Gulf energy through the Strait of Hormuz.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About What Really Matters

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

Covering a wide array of political, cultural, and historical topics, the discussions emphasize understanding current events through a nuanced and often critical lens. The episodes often touch on significant geopolitical issues including relationships between major world powers, internal political dynamics in the U.S., and notable global movements. The hosts aim to not only inform but challenge listeners to consider the deeper implications of news stories, making complex subjects accessible and engaging.

What's particularly noteworthy is the way the content merges weekly news summaries with historical context, allowing listeners to grasp not just the 'what' but the 'why' behind current events. The format encourages thoughtful discussions th... more

Where can I find podcast stats for What Really Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for What Really Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to What Really Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does What Really Matters get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for What Really Matters, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for What Really Matters?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for What Really Matters, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does What Really Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers What Really Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to What Really Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Really Matters:

1. Breaking History
2. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
3. Ask Haviv Anything
4. The Commentary Magazine Podcast
5. FDD Morning Brief

How many episodes of What Really Matters are there?

What Really Matters launched 3 years ago and published 123 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 What Really Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for What Really Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for What Really Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for What Really Matters?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of What Really Matters. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on What Really Matters?

Recent guests on What Really Matters include:

1. Walter Russell Mead
2. Volodymyr Zelensky

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days