Turbulence
Turbulence is a podcast about the end of the American empire, or the end of the world—whichever comes first. Join Dylan Saba, Séamus Malekafzali, and M Ceniza as they navigate the geopolitical chaos of a world-system in flux.
Episodes
Episode 28: Fanon and Psychic Resistance w/ Lara Sheehi
Lara Sheehi joins us to discuss the legacy of Franz Fanon, what psychoanalysis can offer liberation struggles, Zionism as the denial of Palestinian interiority, and the psychic dimensions of occupation and resistance.Please consider donating to the Lebanon Emergency Relief Fund, here: Tanseqeye Shaabeye Lebanon.Works mentioned: Black Skin, White Masks, Wretched of the Earth, Psychoanalysis Under O
BONUS: Art of the Deal
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the latest flare-up in the Strait of Hormuz, China’s impact on the global oil market, the new “ceasefire” in Lebanon, the disarmament of militant groups in Iraq, a new plan to militarily integrate the US and Israel, and America’s 250th birthday.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads o
Episode 27: Every Time the Media Lies w/ Adam Johnson
Adam Johnson joins us to discuss his work documenting how the mainstream media supported the Gaza genocide by sanitizing Israeli war crimes, obscuring the US’s role, and systematically dehumanizing Palestinians.Works mentioned: Why Did the Heavens Not Darken?, How to Sell a Genocide.Adam Johnson is co-host of the Citations Needed podcast and author of How to Sell a Genocide: The Media’s Complicity
BONUS: Peace Processing
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss Netanyahu’s non-strategy in Gaza and Lebanon, the draft memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, Trump’s last-ditch Abraham Accords push, and what’s going on with JD Vance.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is enti
Episode 26: The Popular Struggle in Latin America w/ Soberanía
José Luis Granados Ceja and Kurt Hackbarth of Soberanía join us to discuss a potential US military assault on Cuba, updates from Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Honduras, and Mexico, and the prospects for left internationalism in Latin America.Check out José Luis and Kurt’s podcast, Soberanía.Works mentioned: Despite Trump’s Oil Blockade, the Quiet Resistance of Daily Life Continues in Cuba; Hondura
BONUS: The Ahmadinejad Solution
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the scandalous reporting about a former Iranian president, the perils of situation monitoring, international outrage at Itamar Ben-Gvir, and what Abu Mohammad al-Julani’s fragrant encounter with Donald Trump means for the future of greater Israel.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads
Episode 25: The Bahraini Counterrevolution w/ Aamer
Aamer joins us to discuss the repressive crackdowns in Bahrain amidst the Iran war, the popular uprising in 2011, the history of leftist and Islamist movements in the country, and the shifting geopolitics of the Gulf.Works mentioned: The View from Bahrain, Shouting in the DarkAamer is a writer and researcher whose work focuses on the Gulf. He looks at the Gulf states’ roles in broader geopolitical
BONUS: First Person Shooter
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss Trump’s visit to Beijing, negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz, the budding UAE-Israel alliance, and advancements in Hezbollah’s drone warfare.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is entirely listener-funded.For $5 a month, pa
Episode 24: A Geography of Palestine, From Nakba to Return w/ Salman Abu Sitta
Salman Abu Sitta joins us to discuss his memories of the Nakba, a practical program for the return of Palestinian refugees, Zionist continuities with the Nazis, and the meaning of intergenerational resistance.Texts mentioned: Mapping My Return, The Atlas of Palestine (1917-1966), I could have been one of those who broke through the siege on October 7, Point of No Return.Dr. Salman Abu Sitta is a P
Episode 23: Iran Against the Empire w/ Navid Zarrinnal
Navid Zarrinnal joins us from Tehran to discuss the popular mobilizations in support of the war effort, national resilience in the face of economic siege, the prospects of diplomacy with the West, and Iranian support for the Axis of Resistance.Navid Zarrinnal holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University’s Department of Middle East Studies, and has taught in the Global South for the past three years. He
BONUS: The Road to $200
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss Trump’s most recent “plan” for the Iran war, the price of oil, the UAE leaving OPEC, Haredi anti-draft riots in Israel, and the latest updates from Gaza.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is entirely listener-funded.For $5 a m
Episode 22: Palestine's Prisoners w/ Basil Farraj
Basil Farraj joins us to discuss Israeli carceral violence, the evolution of the Palestinian prisoners’ movement, and the life and thought of Walid Daqqa.Texts mentioned: “Parallel Time”: Cultural Productions from the Small Prison to the Large Prison; My Father Is One of Thousands Disappeared in Israel’s Prisons.Basil Farraj is the Director of the Ibrahim Abu Lughod Institute of International Stud
BONUS: A Crude Awakening
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe continue our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran with a discussion of Trump’s unilateral ceasefire extension, the US naval blockade, the prospects for renewed hostilities, and the looming economic crisis.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Tur
Episode 21: Oil Wars w/ Adam Hanieh
Adam Hanieh joins us to discuss the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, how the petrodollar system shaped US-Gulf relations, the role of oil in US foreign policy, the economic rise of China, and what the war on Iran means for the climate crisis.Texts discussed: Crude Capitalism, Venezuela’s Oil in the Grip of US Empire. Also check out Hanieh’s latest in the FT, The Coming Global Food Crisis.Adam Hani
BONUS: No Peace, No War, No Oil
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe continue our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran with a discussion of the diplomatic smoke and mirrors around renewed ceasefire talks, the US blockade outside the Strait of Hormuz, and the Israel-Lebanon direct negotiations.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institut
Episode 20: Lebanon on the Brink w/ Karim Makdisi
Karim Makdisi joins us to discuss the recent widespread Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the re-emergence of Hezbollah as an active fighting force in the broader regional war, what the Lebanese government is hoping to achieve with diplomacy, and the future of Israel’s struggle for hegemony.Karim Makdisi is an Associate Professor of international politics at the American University of Beirut, and the co
BONUS: Finger on the Trigger
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe continue our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran with a discussion of the “ceasefire” “agreement” brokered by Pakistan, the rescue operation following the downing of an American fighter jet, and Israel’s genocidal attacks on Lebanon.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from
Episode 19: Merchants of Death w/ Tim Barker
In the second installment of our Political Economy of Genocide series, we are joined by Tim Barker to discuss the role of the defense industry in the US economy, how the trade in weapons shapes foreign policy, and whether the war on Iran is following a capitalist logic.Texts mentioned: Merchants of Death by H.C. Engelbrecht & F.C. Hanighen; How To Ensure Israel Has the Weapons it Needs; The Inside
BONUS: Boots on the Ground
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe continue our coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran with a discussion of the strategic landscape, Trump’s address to the nation, and whether the US is about to do something extremely stupid.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is entire
Episode 18: Strait Outta Hormuz w/ Laleh Khalili
Laleh Khalili joins us to discuss the mechanics, strategy, and economics of Iran’s wartime closure of the Strait of Hormuz.Laleh Khalili is a professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and the author or editor of seven books, including Heroes and Martyrs of Palestine: The Politics of National Commemoration (Cambridge 2007), Sinews of War and Trade: Shipping and Capitalism in the Arabian
BONUS: Transnational Jihad w/ Darryl Li
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comDarryl Li joins us to discuss his work deconstructing the concept of the “foreign fighter” and how ideology shapes our perception of who is fighting for what on battlefields from Palestine, to Afghanistan, to Syria, and beyond.Darryl Li is an anthropologist and legal scholar thinking mostly about questions of w
BONUS: Double or Nothing
We continue our coverage of what’s been called the “The Ramadan War” with a discussion of the strategic landscape, the supposed ceasefire negotiations, Iran’s development of the “Hormuz weapon,” and the prospects of a US ground invasion.This is a special public release of our News of the Week series, which is usually available exclusively to paid subscribers.We’re committed to independence and wil
BONUS: Unity of Fronts
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe continue our coverage of the Iran war with a discussion of shifting US and Israeli strategies, attacks on energy infrastructure, the assassination of Ali Larijani, and Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon.Please consider donating to support families displaced from southern Lebanon here, here, here, and here
Episode 17: Settler Empire w/ Darryl Li
Darryl Li joins us to assess the post-October 7 conjuncture, the US-Israel relationship, and the new regional order emerging out of the Iran war.This is the first part of a two part conversation. Part 2, where we discuss Darryl’s work deconstructing the concept of the “foreign fighter,” will be available as an exclusive for paid subscribers on April 3.Texts mentioned: Arghiri Emmanuel, White-Settl
BONUS: Operation Epic Mistake
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe continue our coverage of the Iran war with a discussion of the new Supreme Leader, Iranian and American strategic narratives, the Axis of Resistance, and the war’s global economic fallout.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is entirely
Episode 16: Cuba, Defiant w/ Helen Yaffe
Helen Yaffe joins us to discuss the Trump administration’s escalating attacks on Cuba, the country’s history of medical internationalism, and Che Guevara’s developmentalist socialism.Helen Yaffe is a Professor of Latin American Political Economy at the University of Glasgow, specialising on Cuba. Since 1995, she has spent time living and researching in Cuba. She is the author of Che Guevara: The E
BONUS: Escalation Dominance
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the rapidly expanding scope, duration, and intensity of the Iran war.Please consider donating to support families displaced from southern Lebanon here, here, here, and here.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is entirely listen
BONUS: Make it a World War
We discuss the US and Israel’s war of aggression on Iran that has dragged the entire region into chaos.This is a special public release of our News of the Week series, which is usually available exclusively to paid subscribers.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulence is entirely listener-funded.For $5 a month, paid subscribers ga
BONUS: State of the Union
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the killing of “El Mencho” in Jalisco, an attempted gusano infiltration of Cuba, a looming war with Iran, SCOTUS knocking down Trump’s tariffs, cases against the Prairieland 19 in Texas and Pal Action in the UK, and Snowgazi in New York City.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or t
Episode 15: Ghost in the Machine w/ Edward Ongweso Jr.
In the first installment of our Political Economy of Genocide series, we are joined by Edward Ongweso Jr. to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in war, Silicon Valley’s relationship with Israel, and ongoing resistance within the industry.Texts mentioned: The Eye of the Master by Matteo PasquinelliEdward Ongweso Jr. is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, NY. Most of his work centers arou
BONUS: A Masterclass in Munich
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the legal troubles of the British royal family, the inaugural Board of Peace summit, a new military base in Gaza, AOC and Marco Rubio’s performances at the Munich Security Conference, and the US military buildup around Iran.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from ins
Episode 14: Policing and the Counterinsurgency State w/ Stuart Schrader
Stuart Schrader joins us to discuss the Cold War origins of modern policing, the ongoing ICE and CBP deployments, and Zohran Mamdani’s attempts to reform the NYPD.Stuart Schrader is an associate professor of history at Johns Hopkins University, where he is the founding director of the Chloe Center for the Critical Study of Racism, Immigration, and Colonialism. He is the author of Blue Power: How P
BONUS: A War on Cuba
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the blockade of Cuba, the US-Iran negotiations, an anti-immigration plebiscite in Switzerland, ICE’s prospective mass detention centers, and CBP shooting down a party balloon with a laser in El Paso. We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Tu
Episode 13: UAE's Weaponized Interdependence w/ Andreas Krieg
Andreas Krieg joins us to discuss the United Arab Emirates’ regional rivalry with Saudi Arabia, its cultivation of an ‘Axis of Secessionists,’ and what its network-centric geopolitical approach portends for the future of the world system.Texts mentioned: A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari.Dr. Andreas Krieg is an associate professor at the School of Security Studies at King’s
BONUS: Mutually Assured Destruction
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the US-Iran negotiations in Muscat, the end of nuclear non-proliferation, the assassination of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Libya, oil deals in Syria, and what the Epstein files have revealed about our ruling class.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. Th
Episode 12: Ecology of Empire w/ Abby Martin
Abby Martin of Empire Files joins us to discuss the devastating environmental impacts of US militarism, the murder-suicide pact embraced by our ruling class, and Israel’s ecocide in Gaza. Check out Abby’s new film, Earth’s Greatest Enemy, which is on tour now. Abby’s art is available here.Abby Martin is an investigative journalist, filmmaker, and activist whose work focuses on U.S. militarism, emp
BONUS: A New World Order w/ Jake Romm
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comIn part two of our conversation with Jake Romm, we discuss October 7th and its aftermath, and how counter-systemic movements such as Hamas and Ansarallah have attempted to redeem the emancipatory promise of international law. We also discuss Jake’s work with the Hind Rajab Foundation, an organization committed
Episode 11: Deconstructing the Law of War w/ Jake Romm
Jake Romm joins us to discuss the construction of the liberal international order, the latent imperialism of just war theory, and the legal infrastructure of the war on terror. This is part one of a two part conversation. Part two—in which we cover October 7th, the collapse of the liberal international order, and Jake’s work with the Hind Rajab Foundation—will be released for paid subscribers on J
BONUS: Catastrophic Success
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the state of the world order as seen from Davos, Ahmed al-Sharaa’s campaign against the Kurds in Syria, the growing possibility of a US military attack on Iran, and the unveiling of Jared Kushner’s Gaza reconstruction plan.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from inst
Episode 10: Gaza vs. the World w/ Abdaljawad Omar
Abdaljawad Omar joins us to discuss life under occupation in the West Bank, Israel’s strategy of permanence through crisis, and what Palestinian resistance represents from the perspective of world revolution.Works discussed: Israel Seeks Redemption in the Gaza Ruins; The Grammar of Resistance: Rethinking Palestine Beyond Pity and Fear; The Anxiety of Liberation.Abdaljawad Omar is a Palestinian wri
BONUS: We Are Jerome Powell
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the Tony Dokoupil Century of Humiliation, NATO’s troop buildup in Greenland, anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis, the criminal investigation into Jerome Powell, and the latest developments in Gaza.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulen
Episode 9: Venezuela Under Siege w/ José Luis Granados Ceja
José Luis Granados Ceja joins us to discuss the abduction of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, the US’s long war on the Bolivarian Revolution, and what to expect next from the Trump administration in Latin America.José Luis Granados Ceja is a journalist and political analyst based in Mexico City. He previously worked as a staff writer for teleSUR and currently covers Latin America for Drop Site
BONUS: The Border is Everywhere
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the abduction of Nicolás Maduro, the murder of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, the protests in Iran, and the collapse of the UAE-backed secessionist project in southern Yemen.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or take money from institutions. That means Turbulenc
Episode 8: The Scramble For Somalia w/ Samar Al-Bulushi
Samar Al-Bulushi joins us to discuss Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, US intervention in the Horn of Africa, and why the Red Sea corridor has become such a hotspot in the rapidly shifting global order.Works mentioned: Israel, Ethiopia and the Somali questionSamar Al-Bulushi is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at UC Irvine. She is the author of War-Making as Worldmaking: Kenya, the United
BONUS: Botched Bari
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss Trump’s threatened blockade of Venezuelan oil, the expanded Muslim ban, Bari Weiss’s town hall with Erika Kirk, and the latest FBI sting operation.Congratulations to Dan for winning our first book giveaway! We’ll be sending you our copy of Orisanmi Burton’s Tip of the Spear.We’re committed to indepen
Episode 7: Black Internationalism w/ Adom Getachew
Adom Getachew joins us to discuss self-determination, pan-Africanism, and the life and thought of Marcus Garvey. Check out Getachew’s book, Worldmaking After Empire, here.Adom Getachew is Professor of Political Science and Race, Diaspora & Indigeneity at the University of Chicago. She is the author of Worldmaking after Empire: The Rise and Fall of Self-Determination (2019) and co-editor, with Jenn
BONUS: December Q&A Livestream
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comIn our first Q&A livestream, we were joined by Hassan from Episode 4: Sudan in the World System to answer questions about Salafism in the Sahel, Dubai influencers, Chinese foreign policy, developments in South Yemen, and more.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or have institutional affiliati
Episode 6: Lebanon and the Party of God w/ Rania Khalek
Rania Khalek joins us to discuss the history of Hezbollah, Lebanon’s struggle for sovereignty in the face of US interference and Israeli aggression, and the country’s current political dilemmas. Watch Khalek’s documentary with Breakthrough News on Israel’s 2024 pager attacks here.Rania Khalek is an award-winning Lebanese-American journalist and host of Dispatches on Breakthrough News, where she in
BONUS: Dirty Laundry
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the death of Yasser Abu Shabab, Netanyahu’s corruption charges, the upcoming Houthi invasion of the Golan Heights, Hegseth’s double tap, and Trump’s racist tirade against Somalis.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or have institutional affiliations. That means we’re entirely liste
Episode 5: The Axis of Resistance w/ Rob Ashlar
Our friend Rob Ashlar joins us to discuss the myths and realities of the Axis of Resistance, Iranian grand strategy, and the unifying power of the Palestinian cause.Rob Ashlar is an independent researcher and reporter covering jihadist movements, particularly in West Africa and the Middle East. His primary subjects are Al Qaida in the Sahel and Islamic State during the Iraqi Insurgency. Rob also f
BONUS: The Brazilian Bungler
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss Jair Bolsonaro’s failed attempt to escape from house arrest, former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz’s sensational book tour, and the Trump-Mamdani White House summit.We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or have institutional affiliations. That means we’re entirely listener funded.F
BONUS: Bored of Peace
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit turbulencepod.substack.comWe discuss the McDonald’s Summit, the Donroe Doctrine, Mohammad bin Salman at the White House, and the United Nations Security Council formally endorsing Trump’s Gaza plan. We’re committed to independence and will never run ads or have institutional affiliations. That means we’re entirely listener funded.For $5
Episode 4: Sudan in the World-System w/ Hassan
Our friend Hassan joins us to discuss the devastating civil war in Sudan, the geopolitical strategy of the United Arab Emirates, and US counter-rationality as a hegemon in decline. Check out Hassan's 2022 piece on the Sudanese revolution, Where is Sudan? Refracting the Globe Through Bilad al-Dahab.If you are able, please consider donating to one of the following fundraisers to support relief effor
TEASER: Mamdani Madness
We discuss Kazakhstan joining the Abraham Accords, the absurd failure of Saudi Arabia’s Neom, Jolani’s White House visit, and offer a critical assessment of the Mamdani mayoral victory on our first news roundup bonus episode. This is a teaser for our news roundup bonus episode. Subscribe here for access to the full version. We're committed to independence and will never run ads or have institutio
Episode 3: Black August, Black September w/ Orisanmi Burton
Orisanmi Burton joins us to discuss the legacy of Assata Shakur, the prison as a form of warfare, and transnational solidarity between Black and Palestinian revolutionary struggles. Texts discussed: Assata is Welcome Here, Tip of the Spear, and Fugitive Solidarities. Please consider donating to the commissary of Tarek Bazrouk and this fundraiser for Jakhi McCray, two political prisoners mentioned
Episode 2: The Palestine-Mexico Border w/ Alexander Aviña
Alexander Aviña joins us to discuss Israel’s Cold War involvement in Latin America, the invention of “narcoterrorism,” and the potential for solidarity between the pro-Palestine and anti-ICE movements. Check out Aviña’s work with the Anti-Imperialist Scholars Collective. Alexander Aviña is an Associate Professor of History at Arizona State University. He is a historian of modern Mexico and Latin A
Episode 1: Yemen's Solidarity Blockade w/ Laleh Khalili
Laleh Khalili joins us to discuss Ansarallah’s naval blockade in support of Palestine, the politics and history of the commodities trade in the Arabian Peninsula, and "counter-logistical" strategies of resistance. Check out Khalili’s new book Extractive Capitalism: How Commodities and Cronyism Drive the Global Economy and her previous book Sinews of War and Trade: Shipping and Capitalism in the Ar
Episode 0: Introducing Turbulence
Audio: George Habash speaks on U.S. role in Palestine and Lebanon, January 1979.Theme: Eye for an Eye, Haram (2017)Art: Vivek VenkatramanThe American Century is ending. So far, the world order emerging in its wake has been defined by geopolitical chaos and rolling, interconnected crises—in a word: Turbulence. Whether these crises ultimately produce a new superpower, a new multipolar world, or simp
TEASER: Turbulence (Premiering October 28, 2025)
Audio: George Habash speaks on U.S. role in Palestine and Lebanon, January 1979.Theme: Eye for an Eye, Haram (2017)The American Century is ending. So far, the world order emerging in its wake has been defined by geopolitical chaos and rolling, interconnected crises—in a word: Turbulence. Whether these crises ultimately produce a new superpower, a new multipolar world, or simply more and more chaos
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