Trump, Iran, and the Trajectory of American Empire

In this special episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we step back from the hourly news cycle to examine the deeper historical context of the unfolding crisis between the United States and Iran.

As the situation in the Middle East escalates hour by hour, with consequences nobody can yet predict, it's tempting to get drawn into "hyperpunditry"—the kind of instant analysis that offers certainty where none exists. This podcast takes a different approach. Instead, we explore the historical patterns and structural forces that have brought us to this moment.

Fr...