Eddie Fishman: Understanding Iran
6/11/20261 hr 48 min
Trevor and Eugene sit down with Eddie Fishman– former State Department official, international sanctions expert, and author of Chokepoints– to unpack the hidden mechanics of global power. Using Iran as a lens, Eddie explains how economic sanctions became one of America's favorite foreign policy tools, why they're often seen as an alternative to war, and what happens when those plans collide with the realities of the world they're meant to change.
Along the way, the trio explore unintended consequences, international hypocrisy, and the stubborn truth that people, countries, and history rarely cooperate with anyone's grand strategy.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsEddie Fishman· Guest0:00
[upbeat music] This is one of the, I think, honestly tragic lessons of recent history is, you know, the countries that have given up nuclear weapons or that have developed some parts of a nuclear program but then didn't cross the threshold have actually fared a lot worse than the countries that have developed nuclear weapons, right? I mean, this is- Damn, Eddie ... it's bad That's a crazy paradox when you think about it.
Eugene Khoza· Host0:23
Mm.
Eddie Fishman· Guest0:23
Yeah. I think there's an incentive. I mean, if you look at Gaddafi, right? I mean, the, the Libyans- That's a crazy paradox when you think about it ...
Eugene Khoza· Host0:29
mm.
Eddie Fishman· Guest0:29
Yeah.
Trevor Noah· Host0:29
Everyone who didn't get a nuke, look what happened to them.
Eugene Khoza· Host0:32
Look what happened.
Trevor Noah· Host0:33
But you don't want them to get a nuke, but if you don't get a nuke- [laughs] You might wanna get a nuke, Eugene. It- Just go on LinkedIn, man. [laughs] [laughs] [upbeat music] This is What Now? with Trevor Noah. All right, Eugene.
Eugene Khoza· Host0:56
Mm.
Trevor Noah· Host0:56
Let's play a little game. You know, make something fun. Two truths and a lie.
Eugene Khoza· Host1:01
Mm-hmm.
Trevor Noah· Host1:01
Here we go. One, I've had to tell a world leader that their fly was undone. Two, when getting dressed, I don't do sock, sock, shoe, shoe. I do sock, shoe, sock, shoe. Three, I've been a Verizon customer for 11 years. What do you think?
Eugene Khoza· Host1:18
Hm. Very confused. First of all, why would a world leader own a fly? 'Cause those things just come uninvited. Secondly, lying to a friend is not cool. It's never been a game.
Trevor Noah· Host1:28
No, Eugene,