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.
War and US post-Lindsey Graham, NATO 3.0 and Ukraine’s Mirage Patriot Factory – with Richard Sakwa
Olga and Tara are joined by renowned political scientist and University of Kent Professor Richard Sakwa – to dissect the legacy left by US Senator Lindsey Graham, who suddenly died right after visiting Ukraine. Will the departure of one of the chief “Trump whisperers” open a long-awaited diplomatic channel between Washington and Moscow – or will the military-industrial complex continue its relentless march unchecked? Can a highly individualized foreign policy under Donald Trump bypass the systemic “war machine” that Graham so gleefully championed for decades? Why are NATO leaders offering Ukraine high-tech Patriot transfers when the engineering capacity and intellectual property safeguards simply do not exist? As Western Europe battles severe “war fever” despite crumbling domestic economies, how do elites justify historic military spending? We also look into the UK facing a rapid leadership transition under Andy Burnham – and dissect what modern Russophobia actually implies.
UK detains human rights lawyer, NATO’s somber summit & ‘Op Barbarossa 2.0’ – with Daniel Kovalik
Olga and Tara welcome human rights lawyer and peace activist Dan Kovalik to recount his recent high-stakes detention at the UK border and discuss the broader geopolitical climate surrounding NATO, Russia, Iran, and the US. Why are Western authorities weaponizing broad anti-terrorism laws against prominent anti-war voices and legal advocates? What does it mean for civil liberties when governments can confiscate electronic devices and collect DNA? We look at the broader geopolitical fallout surrounding the US 250th anniversary, the recent Trump-Putin phone call, and NATO expanding military spending. Daniel also explains why he believes the conflict in Ukraine is already a direct confrontation between Russia and the West – describing it as “Operation Barbarossa 2.0.” Is this historical comparison a warning about where current policies are leading?
Weaponized tariffs and why China was ready, Beijing in Iran war, Brzezinski’s nightmare – with Nelson Wong
Olga and Tara are joined by Nelson Wong, vice chairman and president at the Shanghai Centre for RimPac Strategic and International Studies. We’ll discuss the detention of American human rights lawyer Dan Kovalik in the UK, explore the strategic consequences of the Iran war, Trump’s comments on communism, technological competition, and whether fear – not strength – is driving today’s geopolitical decisions. Was Brzezinski’s “worst nightmare” always destined to become reality? Did the strategic partnership between China, Russia, and Iran emerge despite Western expectations – or because of them? And why does Nelson Wong argue that China spent more than a decade preparing for today’s tariff and trade confrontation with the United States? How vulnerable is China to instability in the Strait of Hormuz? What role does Iranian oil play in China’s long-term strategy, and why does Nelson Wong believe Beijing has already prepared for worst-case scenarios? Can a superpower exist without seeking military dominance? What does China’s leadership believe a global power should look like, and why does Wong reject the idea that every country wants to follow the American model?
Starmer’s out, Poland’s rift with Ukraine & war-2030 — with Mario Bozic
Olga and Tara welcome Mario Bozic, journalist and anchor of Mario ZNA, to break down the political turbulence shaking Europe, growing tensions between Brussels and Washington, and the changing balance of power in a multipolar world. Is Larry the Cat the only permanent fixture left in Downing Street? We dismantle Keir Starmer’s sudden resignation and the domestic crises pushing the UK to the brink. Is the “Zelensky Curse” a proven pattern for Western leaders who prioritize foreign warmongering over their own citizens? How long can European establishments blame their economic and migration failures on a manufactured external threat? What is driving the growing rift between Ukraine and some of its strongest supporters, including Poland? Has Zelensky become a political liability for leaders who once stood firmly behind him? And are we witnessing the beginning of a broader realignment inside Europe — and the world?
Trump loses in Iran, Private Plutonium & US-Israel Military Merge – with Leah
Olga and Tara sit down with independent investigator Leah (The Leah Files shows) – a former intelligence professional with a 20-year background in agencies like the NSA and DIA. Is the new Iran peace deal a masterclass in diplomacy, or is it just performative politics designed to distract the public from institutional corruption? Why is the Department of Energy quietly handing over weapons-grade plutonium to private tech companies, and what does this mean for global nuclear non-proliferation? Furthermore, how are quiet legislative maneuvers effectively merging US and Israeli military intelligence networks beyond the control of the president? Finally, is Trump genuinely shifting strategies, or is the administration acting under the weight of deep blackmail? We follow the money past the public assassinations, corporate shell games, and hidden elite dynamics to expose what the mainstream narrative is desperate to bury.
Trump-Bibi’s theater, Manifest Destiny, Ukraine’s targets, and Cuba – with Chris Helali
Olga Bataman and Tara Reade welcome political commentator and international observer Christopher Helali. Drawing on his recent travels across Donbass and Iran, Chris shares firsthand observations from the ground – breaking down and challenging the rigid, institutionalized narratives that have come to shape Western foreign policy. We discuss the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, ongoing US-Russia contacts, and the war in Ukraine. Why do Western media report only some civilian casualties and not others? We also talk about tensions between Israel and Iran, Trump’s role in global diplomacy, the legacy of Manifest Destiny in American foreign policy, and Europe’s military buildup. Finally, we cover Cuba’s resilience under sanctions – and the emergence of a more multipolar world.