Foreign Policy Provcast

On the second anniversary of the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023, the Provcrew sits down to review Donald Trump's proposal for ending the war. Although it's a good plan with significant support, many ambiguities and questions remain. Will the Arab states step up? Will the Israeli far-right bring down the Netanyahu government? And will Hamas fighters really put down their weapons? Turning closer to home, the crew then takes up the Trump Pentagon's new national defense strategy which centers on "hemispheric security" in North and South America. Is this just rhetoric for domestic politics? What does it mean for our competition with China?

(…actually, Wesley was a teetotaler so not possible.) Ladies and gentlemen, the Provcrew is at war. “Can you be a Wesleyan Protestant and a Christian realist?” The battle lines are drawn. Providence editor Mark Tooley, a Methodist Christian realist, says yes; editor at large Robert Nicholson, a non-Methodist who knows about John Wesley’s optimistic theology, is skeptical. To break the deadlock, they hosted Methodist theologian and Reinhold Niebuhr scholar Robin Lovin to set the record straight. Sin, grace, anthropology, eschatology, nationalism, fascism—they got to all of it. And the outcome was surprising.

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk is a wakeup call for Americans of every stripe. What is happening to our society? How can we fix it—and where do we start? In a fascinating conversation with Wilfred McClay and Stuart Halpern, authors of a new book entitled The Jewish Roots of American Liberty: The Impact of Hebraic Ideas on the American Story, the Provcrew discusses the pivotal place of the Judeo-Christian heritage in US history and how we can reclaim it in troubled times. Here’s the link to their book: https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/jewish-roots-american-liberty/

In a weird twist of history, the United States has spent the bulk of its diplomatic energy everywhere but its own backyard: the Western Hemisphere. President Trump has vowed to change that, wisely re-prioritizing Latin America after years of neglect, but may be undermining his chances of success with a counterproductive tariff policy that (ironically) resembles those of many failing/failed Latin American countries—at least, that’s what Providence contributor Eric Farnsworth argues in his recent essay, “Is America Becoming Latin America?” In today’s episode, Mr. Farnsworth defends and explains his argument, fielding questions like: Is America really becoming like Latin America, and if so how? What is the backstory of US-Latin America relations until now? What are the similarities and differences between our two cultural blocs? And why does Latin America matter to the US beyond issues of illegal migration, crime, and area denial (historically, to European empires, the USSR, and now to the Chinese Communist Par

In an essay commemorating the end of World War II, Providence editor Dr. Paul Miller argues that increased global anarchy and democratic decline are pushing US towards another global war. “The question is not whether there will be conflict,” Miller writes, “but when, what kind, and how large.” In this episode of the Provcast, editor at large Robert Nicholson asks Miller to unpack his argument and respond to those who might see him as “Chicken Little”—or the Trojan priestess Cassandra, as he describes it in the essay—who warns of disasters that never come. Is the US really doing that badly? Are we really facing the possibility of World War III? Moving from Russia and China to our own backyard, Miller explains his reasoning in light of the last five years with typical verve. He touches on the Afghanistan withdrawal, the Alaska summit, the problem with “spheres of influence” thinking, and the (few) times he feels Trump got it right. Admitting that his warnings may strike some as hollow, he adds: “Don’t forget

On August 6, 1945 at 8:15 AM, US forces dropped a new kind of bomb—one which harnessed the very power of the sun—on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The devastation was total and unprecedented: some 70,000 Japanese died in the blast and tens of thousands more by year’s end. The event marked the start of new era in international politics and of a long-running public debate that continues today. Did President Truman make the right decision? Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima (and later Nagasaki) moral or immoral? In this episode, Robert Nicholson sits down with McDonald Scholar of Ethics, War, and Public Life Marc LiVecche to talk through these questions in light of the historical record. Decades of study have led LiVecche to rule Truman’s decision the best moral choice in light of the alternatives—but this conclusion seems more controversial than ever. Walking through arguments and counter-arguments, LiVecche responds to some of the more common objections and makes the case—carefully but confidently—that the

Taking a break from guest interviews, the Provcrew (Tooley, Diddams, LiVecche, Nicholson) meets up to discuss a few big topics looming above the current news cycle. First, they talk through a recent Washington Post article from George Will arguing the need for more clarity about the nature and purpose of Western civilization. Moving between domestic and international politics (and a fair bit of philosophy and theology), each crew member lays out his understanding of the “West,” its significance in 2025, and the choices that lie before us (including Diddams’ belief that the choice may be, as he puts it, “Bari Weiss or Protestant Franco”). Next, in light of the upcoming 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the crew reflects on the apparent paradox of Western values and weapons of mass destruction. How should we feel about atomic weapons and the events of August 1945? How does the annihilation of two Japanese cities at the end of World War II mess with, or clash with, Judeo-Christian values? Wha

The end times get a bad rap. Typically associated with Christian fundamentalists, the apocalypse has in fact been an object of human fascination for thousands of years. In this offbeat conversation with Robert Joustra, professor of politics and international studies at Redeemer University, the Provcast crew (James Diddams and Robert Nicholson) unpacks the history of apocalyptic thinking and how it manifests in American society today. Aliens, zombies, dystopias, and armageddons—could these things, so frightening on the surface, flow from a divine longing inside us? And could the apocalypse actually be a prerequisite for hope? Stick around to the end for Joustra's hot take on evangelical polarization and the need for a bit of humility. Texts referenced: Joustra, Robert, and Alissa Wilkinson. How to Survive the Apocalypse: Zombies, Cylons, Faith, and Politics at the End of the World. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2016. Joustra, Robert. “Punching Blind: Why Grand Theories of Church and Culture Often Fail the

On June 30th, Providence and Tikvah partnered to convene a panel titled "What We Mean by 'Judeo-Christian'" to discuss the role of the Hebrew Bible as a shared point of reference in the American traditions of liberal democracy and constitutional republicanism. This panel was inspired by the Providence article "The Judeo-Christian Nation" by Pete Peterson and Jack Miller, published in Providence on March 26, 2025. In the face of heightened political and social divisions, the Hebrew Bible holds the possibility of civic renewal rooted in biblical principles which, though having originated with Israel, are accessible to all Americans. Throughout American history, from the Pilgrims to the Founders and from Abraham Lincoln to Martin Luther King, the Hebrew Bible in particular has served as a moral touchstone for disparate Christian denominations, Jewish people, and nonbelievers alike. The panelists included: Tamara Berens, Director of Young Professional Programs, Tikvah Jonathan Silver, Chief Programming Officer

In July 2023, Brig. Gen. (ret.) Yossi Kuperwasser saw something catastrophic on the horizon: a Hamas invasion of Israel. A year later, in a conversation with Providence, he predicted an aggressive IDF military campaign to proactively degrade Hezbollah, the Assad regime, and Iran itself -- another bold prediction which also came true. One year later, Kuperwasser's reputation as a prophet has been firmly established. Now the president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, Kuperwasser joins the Provcast to discuss his past predictions, the current state of Israel's multi-front war against its enemies, the IDF's changing military doctrine, US-Israel relations, and the recent Israeli-American strike on Iran. This time Kuperwasser predicts the emergence of a new regional security architecture -- and, possibly, a wider peace -- that could bring about dramatic changes in the Near East.

Responding to two recent essays, the Provcast team interview Rich Ghazal, Executive Director of In Defense of Christians, to discuss the question of Christian persecution as it relates to US foreign policy past and present—and particularly to the well being of Christians now under threat in Syria. What is America’s obligation to these Christians and where does it come from? Should helping them be a priority of American power, and if so, how? What about other persecuted non-Christian communities? And how do we rank our foreign policy priorities when confronted with multiple moral “goods”? Articles referenced: https://mereorthodoxy.com/how-america-betrayed-middle-eastern-christians https://mereorthodoxy.com/america-and-christians-in-the-middle-east-a-response

Talking with Iranian scholar and policy expert Dr. Farhad Rezaei, the Provcast crew get caught up on the latest developments related to the Iran-Israel war before talking through a number of hard questions: the nature of America's involvement, the potential for escalation and unexpected outcomes, and the controversial question of regime change. How should a Christian realist think about this war? What's at stake? And how should President Trump be assessing what to do next? Articles referenced: "Iran’s Enduring Apocalyptic Political Mythology" by Jozef Kosc on Sept. 17, 2024 in Providence Magazine. "Thousands of Paper Cuts, Then a Nuclear Bomb: Georges Sorel, French Anarchism, and Iran’s Revolutionary Warfighting Doctrine" by Jozef Kosc on Oct. 21, 2024 in Providence Magazine.

In this two-part conversation, the Provcast crew unpacks Ukraine’s surprise drone attack on Russia and what it means for the war (and the future of war in general), America’s involvement, and whether the attack risks escalation with Russia. The crew then shifts to President Trump’s recent speech in Riyadh, which lays out the preliminary principles of a “Trump doctrine”—but are they really principles? Is there any method to Trump’s approach? Is he an isolationist, a realist, a mercantilist, or something else? Do nations just want to be rich? And if so, where do “irrational” things like religion fit? Is US foreign policy amoral? Text: https://providencemag.com/2025/06/ukraines-operation-spiderweb-was-smart-not-reckless/ https://www.amazon.com/Seconds-Die-Military-Nagorno-Karabakh-Warfighting/dp/1636241239 https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-trumps-speech-in-riyadh-dawn-of-the-bright-new-day-for-the-great-people-of-the-middle-east/

Providence Managing Editor James Diddams is joined by Jozef Kosc, Hamilton Center Fellow at the University of Florida, to discuss the varied ideological parentage of Iran's official state ideology, which includes not only Islamic sources but also European philosophers such as Martin Heidegger, Georges Sorel, Vladimir Lenin, Ernst Cassirer, and GWF Hegel. Jozef's two articles on this subject, "Iran’s Enduring Apocalyptic Political Mythology" and "Thousands of Paper Cuts, Then a Nuclear Bomb: Georges Sorel, French Anarchism, and Iran’s Revolutionary Warfighting Doctrine" appeared in Providence in September and October of 2024. https://providencemag.com/2024/09/irans-enduring-apocalyptic-political-mythology/ https://providencemag.com/2024/10/thousands-of-paper-cuts-then-a-nuclear-bomb-georges-sorel-french-anarchism-and-irans-revolutionary-warfighting-doctrine/

Providence Editor James Diddams is joined by Bill Drexel, Fellow at Hudson Institute in US-India relations and geopolitical competition with China, to discuss his April 4th article "How Competing Hindu Theologies Drove India’s Nuclear Decision Making—In Opposite Directions." The story of India's acquisition of nuclear weapons is a compelling counterexample to the idea that foreign policy/national security decisions, and nuclear proliferation in particular, are only driven by the narrowly defined logic of economic self-interest and abstract methods of analysis like game theory. According to the "realist" security analysis of Westerners, India's security situation in the 1960s was such that it should have been compelled to acquire nuclear weapons, and yet chose not to. Then, in 1998, when nuclear proliferation seemed far from necessary, India shocked the world by conducting tests that revealed to the world its possession of nuclear weapons. What could explain the thought process behind India's circuitous path

Pondering recent events in the Vatican, the Provcast crew talks through the legacy of Pope Francis and the rise of "Pope Bob from Chicago" (the first Bishop of Rome to laugh at the Blues Brothers?) against the backdrop of a more important question: What role should the Roman Pontiff play in global affairs, if any? They then pick up questions surrounding the emerging, and likely unsatisfying, peace deal in Ukraine, Trump's visit to the Middle East, and the role of allies and "spheres of influence" in US grand strategy. Towards the end, they turn to the topic of national memory in light of America's retreat from Vietnam 50 years ago and its victory over Nazism 30 years before that, exploring America's unique capacity for renewal despite major setbacks.  Articles mentioned: https://providencemag.com/2025/05/the-power-of-the-papacy-in-international-affairs/ https://providencemag.com/2025/05/the-world-needs-a-cold-warrior-pope/ https://providencemag.com/2025/04/americas-defeat-50-years-ago/ https://providence

As Providence Magazine approaches 10 years since its launch, editors Mark Tooley, Marc LiVecche, Robert Nicholson, and James Diddams discuss the founding vision of Providence and how the magazine has functioned as a forum for Christian realism since its inception.

In his recent book "Religion and Republic: Christian America from the Founding to the Civil War" (Davenant, 2024), Miles Smith IV, Assistant Professor of History at Hillsdale College, explores the interplay between faith and politics in early America, revealing a more complex picture than current polemics might have us believe. Breaking down his thesis with Providence editor-at-large Robert Nicholson, Dr. Smith talks liberalism and conservatism in US history, nations vs. empires, the Protestant/evangelical divide, the role of “Christian institutionalism,” and the great American golden age—or lack thereof.

Marc LiVecche joins Providence contributor Keith Pavlischek and the Hoover Institution's Peter Berkowitz on a wide-ranging exploration of Israel's war against Hamas and adjacent themes. Taking place on the leeward side of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, they discuss ongoing antisemitism as it exploded on American college campuses in the immediate aftermath of the October 7th Hamas terrorist attacks, the decimating effect of progressive ideology on liberal arts education, the IDF's record in its fight in Gaza, and the recent negotiations and ceasefire agreements. They take on question of whether Israel is committing genocide, they discuss American and Israeli successes and failures in the wake of 10/7, and they laud the IDF's extraordinary battlefield successes, including the IDF's extraordinary commitment to necessary, proportionate, and discriminate force. Essays discussed: Peter Berkowitz, David Brooks Misunderstands the Miseducation of Elites Peter Berkowitz, Disregarding Mi

The world looks very different a year after the Iran-orchestrated Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023. With Israeli counterstrikes in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, and Iran itself—and with hatred for Israel reaching an all-time high around the world—it’s worth asking what it all means. In this episode, Marc LiVecche talks with Providence’s co-founder and Editor-at-Large Robert Nicholson about the various dynamics shaping the conflict and how people of conscience can reckon with the paradoxes of war. What's this war all about? What is the relationship between power and peace? Why do so many people hate Israel? And what about those Abraham Accords anyway?