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.
Trump as a symptom, weaponized Christianity & Freedom Flotilla with Tadhg Hickey
Olga and Tara welcome Irish satirist and activist Tadhg Hickey for a raw assessment of the current geopolitical landscape. In this episode, we examine what Donald Trump as president actually signals for the international rules-based order. We also look into the “weaponization of Christianity.” How is religious rhetoric used to justify imperial interests today? Tadhg shares what really happened when Israel disrupted the Freedom Flotilla’s effort in 2024 and how the activists were treated. We explore the resilience of nations like Iran under decades of sanctions. From the collapse of traditional “diplomatic decorum” to the rise of a post-truth political era, we analyze the systemic tremors reshaping our world.
Dollar sinking in Hormuz, death of ‘Dubai bling’, and rise of petroyuan, with Pepe Escobar
Olga and Tara are joined by veteran geopolitical analyst Pepe Escobar to dissect the seismic shifts occurring in the Strait of Hormuz. We dive deep into the implementation of Iran’s new ‘tollbooth’ system and what it means for the future of global trade. Is the US dollar truly sinking in the Persian Gulf? We explore the rise of the petroyuan, the updated concept of the ‘Primakov triangle’ which includes Russia, Iran, and China – and why the traditional business models of the UAE and the West are facing an existential crisis. From hypersonic deterrence to the emergence of a gold-backed alternative to SWIFT, we break down the birth of a new multipolar reality.
Israel as the ‘51st state’ and the cult of armageddon with George Galloway
Olga and Tara welcome former British Parliamentarian and veteran broadcaster George Galloway to break down the explosive shifts in Middle East geopolitics — and much more. We examine the “culture of impunity” and the unique status of Israel as what Galloway calls America’s “51st state.” Is the world witnessing a dangerous slide toward a “Second Vietnam” in Iran? We also dive into the “eschatological mania” driving current US defense policy and Galloway’s own recent legal battles, and his “exile in the East” following his arrest under UK terrorism laws.
Surviving Israeli missile strike, Lebanon battle & UK press freedom with Steve Sweeney
Olga and Tara welcome reporter Steve Sweeney for an eyewitness account of the escalating conflict in Lebanon and the personal cost of reporting from the front lines. We break down the harrowing details of the Israeli strike on Sweeney’s press crew and investigate claims of systemic targeting of media and medical workers. From the use of chemical agents on ancient olive groves to the controversial “regeneration” plans for the border region, are we witnessing a new blueprint for ethnic cleansing? We also dive into the legal pressures facing journalists in the West, discussing Sweeney's own detention under UK anti-terror laws.
‘Mirage’ of US two-party system, ‘donor book’ and depleted uranium, with Cynthia McKinney
Olga and Tara sit down with former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney to dismantle the “chimera” of America’s two-party system and financial interests driving global conflicts. We explore how identical funding sources ensure that US policy remains unchanged regardless of who wins the election. McKinney breaks down her “upside-down” political philosophy – where the far-left and MAGA find common ground against a centralized “Global deep state.” We also confront the chilling reality of modern warfare: The ongoing use of depleted uranium and why McKinney believes a “low-level” nuclear war is already being waged.
Death of diplomacy: Greater Israel, China & Iran war, mini-nukes with Karin Kneissl
Olga and Tara are joined by former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl to discuss the unraveling of the global diplomatic order and the shifting front lines of energy security. We examine the current escalation in Iran and beyond, asking critical questions. Is the aim to stop Tehran, or to block China’s access to the Persian Gulf? Are we witnessing Israel reveal and advance their imperial ambitions? What are mini-nukes, and is traditional diplomacy in Europe dead?