Christopher Turner sits down with Amjad Tadros, an award-winning investigative journalist and former CBS Middle East producer, for a fascinating conversation about reporting from the front lines of history.

Amjad reflects on his extraordinary career covering some of the defining events of the modern Middle East, including the aftermath of 9/11, the Iraq War, and the Arab Spring. Drawing from his memoir, The Fixer: A Journalist's Accidental Journey Through the Middle East, he shares what it was like to work as a local journalist for an American news organization, the realities of reporting in conflict zones, and the ethical challenges of telling stories that shape global understanding.

This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at international journalism, war reporting, and the human stories behind the headlines.

Topics covered:

• Reporting from the Middle East during times of conflict
• Behind the scenes of 9/11, the Iraq War, and the Arab Spring
• The role of local journalists and "fixers"
• Ethics, bias, and truth in international reporting
• The stories that never make the headlines

How do economics shape the outcome of modern conflicts? Christopher Turner sits down with Dr. Anita Kellogg, Assistant Professor at the National Defense University, to examine the economic dimensions of warfare through the lens of the conflict involving Iran.

Dr. Kellogg explains how economic statecraft has become a central tool of national security, exploring the impact of conflict on global trade, energy markets, and supply chains. The conversation also covers the strategic importance of rare earth minerals, the challenges of rebuilding domestic manufacturing, the effects of tariffs, and the evolving geopolitical competition involving China and Russia.

Whether you're interested in international relations, national security, or global economics, this discussion offers valuable insight into how economic decisions influence military strategy and everyday life.

• The economic consequences of conflict involving Iran
• Economic statecraft and modern warfare
• Global trade and supply chain security
• Rare earth minerals and critical resource competition
• U.S.-China trade tensions and tariffs
• Domestic manufacturing and industrial policy
• National security, environmental policy, and workforce challenges
• The long-term economic effects of ongoing conflict

Is socialism destined to fail? What role should government play in the economy? And why do debates about capitalism and socialism often miss the bigger picture?

In this episode of Polypolitics, Christopher Turner sits down with economist and author Dr. Doug Cardell to discuss the ideas behind his bestselling book, Why Socialism Struggles. Drawing on decades of experience in economics and higher education, Dr. Cardell explains why centrally planned economies struggle, how incentives shape economic outcomes, and where government intervention can help, or hurt.

The conversation also explores housing affordability, healthcare, education, lobbying, free markets, and the challenges of balancing economic theory with real-world policy.

Whether you agree or disagree, this episode is designed to encourage thoughtfuldiscussion about the economic systems that shape our society.

• Why socialism struggles in practice
• Capitalism vs. socialism vs. fascism
• Housing affordability and government regulation
• The role of incentives in economics
• Universal services and social safety nets
• Healthcare and free-market principles
• Education and preparing for the modern economy
• Lobbying and political influence
• Economic growth and historical prosperity
• Can there ever be a perfect economic system?