Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Elan Journo and Ben Bayer discuss the Trump administration’s move to restart nuclear talks with Iran by rehashing Obama’s failed deal.
Among the topics covered:
● How the Trump administration’s new Iran deal essentially recycles Obama’s failed policy;
● Why hopes for diplomacy with Iran evade the regime’s totalitarian nature;
● Why treating a death-worshipping regime as legitimate empowers its cause;
● The role of tribalism in stripping moral principles from America’s foreign policy;
● How Trump’s amoralism blinds him to the threat of foreign dictatorships.
Mentioned in this podcast are "ARI’s Resources on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East" [newideal.aynrand.org/aris-resources-on-israel-palestine-and-the-middle-east/], Journo’s book What Justice Demands [newideal.aynrand.org/free-read-the-introduction-of-what-justice-demands/], and his co-authored book with Onkar Ghate Failing to Confront Islamic Totalitarianism [newideal.aynrand.org/new-ari-book-examines-what-went-wrong-after-9-11/].
This podcast was recorded on April 28, 2025 and posted on April 30, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:38 Recycling Obama’s failed policy
0:09:26 Evading Iran’s totalitarian nature
0:22:29 Empowering Iran’s regime’s cause by treating it as legitimate
0:35:33 Tribalism and stripping moral principles from America’s foreign policy
0:39:53 Trump’s amoralism and blindness to foreign dictatorships’ threats
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youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Elan Journo and Ben Bayer discuss the Trump administration’s move to restart nuclear talks with Iran by rehashing Obama’s failed deal.
Among the topics covered:
● How the Trump administration’s new Iran deal essentially recycles Obama’s failed policy;
● Why hopes for diplomacy with Iran evade the regime’s totalitarian nature;
● Why treating a death-worshipping regime as legitimate empowers its cause;
● The role of tribalism in stripping moral principles from America’s foreign policy;
● How Trump’s amoralism blinds him to the threat of foreign dictatorships.
Mentioned in this podcast are "ARI’s Resources on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East" [newideal.aynrand.org/aris-resources-on-israel-palestine-and-the-middle-east/], Journo’s book What Justice Demands [newideal.aynrand.org/free-read-the-introduction-of-what-justice-demands/], and his co-authored book with Onkar Ghate Failing to Confront Islamic Totalitarianism [newideal.aynrand.org/new-ari-book-examines-what-went-wrong-after-9-11/].
This podcast was recorded on April 28, 2025 and posted on April 30, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:38 Recycling Obama’s failed policy
0:09:26 Evading Iran’s totalitarian nature
0:22:29 Empowering Iran’s regime’s cause by treating it as legitimate
0:35:33 Tribalism and stripping moral principles from America’s foreign policy
0:39:53 Trump’s amoralism and blindness to foreign dictatorships’ threats
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
