Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to President Trump’s shocking settlement with the IRS and his new $1.8 billion slush fund for victims of political “weaponization.”
Then, David is joined by Phillips O’Brien, a military historian and a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, for a discussion about the fallout from the war in Iran, Russia’s stalemate with Ukraine, and Trump’s recent meeting with President Xi Jinping in China. Frum and O’Brien discuss President Trump’s lack of commitment toward Taiwan and how he has greatly diminished America’s standing with China.
Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “What Science Says About Astrology,” by Carlos Orsi.
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00:00 Introduction
00:35 Trump Slush Fund Bombshell
06:23 What This Means for Democracy
07:49 Phillips O'Brien
08:43 Ukraine Strikes Moscow
13:25 Drones Rewrite Modern War
26:38 Iran Miscalculation
28:27 Deadlines And Pain Tolerance
31:00 Who's Winning The Iran War
33:54 Trump Xi Summit Fallout
37:24 Alliance System Collapse
40:11 Can Taiwan Be Defended?
45:31 Roosevelt Vs. Trump Worldview
49:21 “What Science Says About Astrology”
#davidfrum #thedavidfrumshow #theatlantic #iran #trump
On this week’s episode of “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his reaction to President Trump’s shocking settlement with the IRS and his new $1.8 billion slush fund for victims of political “weaponization.”
Then, David is joined by Phillips O’Brien, a military historian and a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, for a discussion about the fallout from the war in Iran, Russia’s stalemate with Ukraine, and Trump’s recent meeting with President Xi Jinping in China. Frum and O’Brien discuss President Trump’s lack of commitment toward Taiwan and how he has greatly diminished America’s standing with China.
Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of “What Science Says About Astrology,” by Carlos Orsi.
Sign up for David Frum’s newsletter alert to find out when a new story is published: theatlantic.com/author/david-frum/?follow=true&utm_campaign=frum-yt
Subscribe to “The David Frum Show” on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-david-frum-show/id1305908387
Subscribe to “The David Frum Show” on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/79CBHEDdEbdykveVgbpWs7
Follow The Atlantic on Instagram: instagram.com/theatlantic/?hl=en
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple podcasts.
Subscribe today at accounts.theatlantic.com/products/?utm_medium=cr&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=apple_podcasts
Subscribe to The Atlantic on YouTube: bit.ly/subAtlanticYT
00:00 Introduction
00:35 Trump Slush Fund Bombshell
06:23 What This Means for Democracy
07:49 Phillips O'Brien
08:43 Ukraine Strikes Moscow
13:25 Drones Rewrite Modern War
26:38 Iran Miscalculation
28:27 Deadlines And Pain Tolerance
31:00 Who's Winning The Iran War
33:54 Trump Xi Summit Fallout
37:24 Alliance System Collapse
40:11 Can Taiwan Be Defended?
45:31 Roosevelt Vs. Trump Worldview
49:21 “What Science Says About Astrology”
#davidfrum #thedavidfrumshow #theatlantic #iran #trump
