To Save Us From Hell
To Save Us From Hell is a podcast that discusses the players and debates raging at the UN to keep us from that fiery furnace. Each week, UN Dispatch editor-in-chief Mark Leon Goldberg and International Relations Scholar Anjali Dayal give critical analysis of the United Nations, as well as break down the latest news from Turtle Bay. From shenanigans at the Security Council to the UN’s life saving humanitarian work around the world, two veteran UN watchers dissect the key debates driving the agenda at the UN and uncover geopolitical intrigues along the way. The podcast provides in-depth, accessible, and timely takes on the United Nations and its activities around the world.
Episodes
Navi Pillay Wins the Nobel! And Trump Goes Nuclear on the ICC
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgGet a discounted subscription: https://www.globaldispatches.org/50PercentOffAnnual The former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and chair of the UN body that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza has won the Nobel Peace Prize.In the first segment, Anjali and Mark break down the implications
Trump at the UN — And the Biggest Moments From UNGA
President Trump delivered his annual address to the United Nations General Assembly, kicking off a week of speeches from presidents and prime ministers from over 100 countries. In this special crossover edition of To Save Us From Hell and Global Dispatches, I am joined by Anjali Dayal, my To Save Us From Hell co-host and a professor of international relations at Fordham University, and Harshani Dh
What to Watch at UNGA 2026: Our Guide to the Biggest Week in Global Diplomacy
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgToday’s episode is dedicated to all things UNGA81! We are just two weeks away from the largest diplomatic gathering of the year, as hundreds of presidents and prime ministers descend on the United Nations for the opening of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.In this special episode, Anjali an
A Shakeup in the Race for UN Secretary General
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe United Nations is in the midst of selecting its next Secretary-General — and the race to succeed António Guterres just got more interesting. Last week, the Security Council held a straw poll to test the viability of the eight women and men vying to become Secretary-General in January. The results: we have a n
Who’s Up, Who’s Down in the Race for UN Secretary-General?
The race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General reached a pivotal moment on Thursday, when the Security Council held its first straw poll of the seven declared candidates. The results sharply narrowed the field: only four candidates now appear viable, with one clear frontrunner and three others close behind.In this special live episode of To Save Us From Hell, Anjali Dayal and I break
What's Going on With the ICC? Plus: UNHCR in Trump's Crosshairs...And a rumored new Sec Gen Candidate?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgTo the world, Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York. To the UN, he is the mayor of its host city. So when he posted a video calling for the arrest and extradition of Benjamin Netanyahu to the International Criminal Court should he visit the UN General Assembly in September, it naturally generated some buzz arou
A Viral Shouting Match at the UN has Turned Into a Campaign to Oust a Senior UN Official
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgAbout ten days ago, a highly unusual scene unfolded at the United Nations: Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon and Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, got into a public shouting match, with Danon telling Frazier, “You will be quiet now!”What began a
How the UN Views the Iran-U.S. Ceasefire
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgCarolyn Rodrigues-Birkett could become the first United Nations Secretary-General of Indigenous descent. Guyana’s ambassador to the United Nations was nominated as a Secretary-General candidate this week, bringing the grand total of candidates to six as we enter the final stretch of the campaign before the first
Germany Gets Snubbed for the Security Council
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThere was a remarkable scene at the United Nations yesterday as the President of the General Assembly and former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock read out the results of a hotly contested race for a Security Council seat.For months, Portugal, Austria, and Germany had been duking it out behind the scenes
Stopping Ebola Requires Multilateralism. America’s Retreat Is Making That Harder
An Ebola outbreak is spiraling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — and one of the clearest lessons from past outbreaks is that Ebola requires multilateralism: countries working together through existing institutions like the United Nations and the World Health Organization to contain the disease, support frontline health workers, share information, and prevent cross-border spread.But the Tru
Inside the Flawed Push at the Security Council to Reopen Hormuz
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe Security Council is weighing yet another U.S.-backed resolution on the Strait of Hormuz that is probably doomed from the start. In this first segment, Anjali and Mark explain the flawed logic behind this latest effort to return the Strait to its status quo ante bellum. Then, Mark discusses what he learned cov
Let the Race for UN Secretary General Begin!
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the four candidates for UN Secretary-General made their case at the UN General Assembly. Across twelve hours spanning two days, they took questions from UN member states and civil society groups eager to learn more about their priorities, proclivities, and leadership styles should they become the next UN Secretary-General on January 1, 2027.It was a marathon — a
The UN Has a Plan to Open Hormuz (Two of Them, Actually.)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe war in the Middle East has claimed its first UN casualties: three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon were killed in under 24 hours. With Israel intent on occupying the same part of southern Lebanon that UN peacekeepers are meant to patrol, can the peacekeeping mission even continue? Meanwhile, in New York, a
How the US is Justifying the Iran War to the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgOne of the fundamental precepts of the United Nations Charter is that waging war against another UN member state is simply not permitted. It’s illegal. There are, however, some narrow exceptions — and here the United States is playing a game of legal legerdemain. In the first segment of our show, we break down th
The War in Iran Comes to the United Nations
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgWe cover a lot of ground in this week’s episode of To Save Us From Hell! There are two new entrants to the race to succeed António Guterres as the next UN Secretary-General; Cindy McCain announced she is stepping down as head of the World Food Programme, meaning there will soon be a vacancy at the top of one of t
Board of Peace v United Nations | US To Attack Iran? |Plus, Trump's Very Odd Pick to Lead Outreach to International Organizations
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgIt was an odd juxtaposition: Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace gathered in Washington, D.C. as the U.S. appeared to be readying for war with Iran. In this week’s To Save Us From Hell episode, Mark and Anjali discuss why this Board of Peace can’t really compete with the Security Council, and what its advent says ab
The Secretary-General Race Heats Up — And the Epstein Files Hit the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgFor the first time in history, multiple countries have jointly nominated a candidate for UN Secretary General. Earlier this week, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico endorsed Michelle Bachelet—a former president of Chile, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a survivor of brutal repression under the Pinochet r
The Stories that Will Drive the UN Agenda in 2026 | Plus, Can Trump's "Board of Peace" Compete with the Security Council?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgCan Donald Trump’s new Board of Peace really compete with the Security Council? Will we even be discussing it a week or two from now, or will Trump and other world leaders simply move on? And what’s with the Board’s logo, which looks almost like a parody of the United Nations emblem?Mark and Anjali break down the
Is This an Existential Moment for the United Nations?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Monday in response to American military operations in Venezuela that captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife— forcing dozens of countries to publicly respond to one of the most audacious U.S. actions in recent memory. Anjali and Mark break down what unfolded in t
Anjali Addresses the Security Council! | Plus: Rafael Grossi Gets "The New Yorker" Profile Treatment
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgDiscount link for full episode: https://www.globaldispatches.org/40percentoff Your very own To Save Us From Hell co-host Anjali Dayal briefed the United Nations Security Council on Monday! She was paired with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a special meeting of the Council dedicated to examining the r
The Security Council Goes To Syria
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgOn December 4, the entire United Nations Security Council made an unprecedented trip to Syria. It is hard to overstate what a significant turning point this represents — both for the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole. For thirteen long years, the civil war in Syria was the largest and most brutal
What We Think About the Gaza Resolution at the Security Council
On Monday evening, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2803, formally endorsing Trump’s peace initiative for Gaza. The resolution passed overwhelmingly, with 13 votes in favor, none against, and two abstentions (from Russia and China), following several weeks of U.S.-led diplomatic wrangling. There are a few ways to interpret this resolution. On one hand, it finally offers a semblance of inter
What Zohran Mamdani's Win Means for the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgNew York isn’t just the cultural and media capital of the United States — it’s also the host city to the United Nations. Since 1962, City Hall has maintained a special office dedicated to liaising with the UN. Anjali and Mark discuss the history of this office and how municipal elections in New York are actually
Will the Security Council Back a Gaza Stabilization Force? | Trump vs. the International Maritime Organization | Plus: Heba Aly on a New Push for UN Charter Reform
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe ceasefire in Gaza is hanging by a thread. One idea on the table: an International Stabilization Force made up of troops from around the world. The Security Council is deep in negotiations over a resolution to authorize it — but even if it passes, will the mission ever deploy? Mark and Anjali have their doubts
Did The Gaza Ceasefire Emanate From UNGA? Plus: A New "Gang Suppression Force" for Haiti and our Nobel Predictions
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgUNGA is over. But its legacy lives on. We recorded this episode as news broke of a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and so we look back at UNGA80 to trace the ways in which the world’s largest diplomatic gathering may have provided some key momentum for a breakthrough on Gaza. Mark and Anjali also go
“Your Countries Are Going to Hell”: Trump’s UNGA Speech, Unpacked | Live From UNGA
It was Donald Trump’s fifth speech before the United Nations General Assembly.It was also his most rambling. For 55 minutes, the President of the United States riffed: on migration, windmills, hot air, London’s mayor, offshore oil in Aberdeen, even the flooring and décor of UN headquarters. At one point, Trump told the assembled world leaders: “Your countries are going to hell!”But was there a met
These are the Stories that Will Drive the Agenda at UNGA This Year
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgHundreds of presidents and prime ministers are coming to the UN for the annual opening of the General Assembly. UNGA officially kicked off on September 9, but the big events—including the parade of speeches from world leaders—begin on September 22.In this special episode of To Save Us From Hell, Mark and Anjali p
US Nixes UNIFIL and Denies Famine in Gaza | Plus, is Antonio Guterres Too Timid?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe United States this week pulled the plug on UNIFIL, the decades-old UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon. Every other member of the Security Council—and Lebanon itself—wanted it to stay. But Israel has long bristled at the mission, and Washington was happy to do its regional ally a favor. At another Cou
States Are Lining Up to Recognize Palestinian Statehood at the UN | Tammy Bruce Tapped as Deputy US-UN Amb
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgTrump’s latest UN pick is not a diplomat. He’s tapped conservative firebrand Tammy Bruce — a Fox News personality–turned–State Department spokesperson — as Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN. We break down what this shock appointment could mean for US diplomacy.Plus, in our subscriber-only deep dive: a dip
A UN Expert on Enforced Disappearances Investigates the U.S. Detention of Venezuelan Migrants in El Salvador
We have a special (and timely) conversation today with Grazyna Baranowska, Vice Chair of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. Anjali Dayal and Dr. Baranowska discuss the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the kinds of investigations the Working Group has undertaken — in particular, the Working Group’s critical effo
What We Learned From Mike Waltz's Confirmation Hearing
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgTrump’s pick for UN Ambassador, Mike Waltz, faced questions from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week. You may recall he previously served as National Security Advisor before being sidelined by Trump after “Signalgate.” But Waltz was never officially fired — he was banished to the United Nations inste
Searching for Compromiso in Seville | Is Rafael Grossi Radioactive?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe major Financing for Development Conference wrapped up in Seville last week with the so-called Compromiso de Sevilla, which commits countries to accelerating efforts to fund the Sustainable Development Goals and support economic and social development in lower-income countries. In our first segment, we are joi
What the UN is Doing about the Iran-Israel War | Plus: The US walks out of a key UN conference, and why the UN might abandon its historic building in Geneva
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgBombs are dropping in Iran and Israel, with no end in sight and the very real prospect that the United States might imminently join the fight. As a hot war unfolds in the Middle East, frantic diplomacy is also underway at both the United Nations and the IAEA.In the first (and free) segment, Mark and Anjali take a
New Faces at the UN—and a Horse Fight at the General Assembly
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe General Assembly selected five new members of the Security Council and one new President of the General Assembly this week in not-so-hotly contested elections. These new Security Council members will take their seats in January, and former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will assume the PGA gavel at
Will the UN Set Up Shop in Rwanda?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgDiscount subscription link for 40% Off --> https://www.globaldispatches.org/40PercentOff The UN is facing a major budget crunch. So how is it responding? One answer is UN80—a reform effort championed by the Secretary-General aimed at reducing the cost of operating the world body. Some proposals are beginning to
Who Will Be the Next UN Secretary-General? | With Richard Gowan
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe race to succeed António Guterres is unofficially underway. His term as UN Secretary-General ends in December 2026, but the backroom jockeying has already begun. In this episode, Mark and Anjali are joined by Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group to break down the early contenders, how shifting geop
Trump’s Tariffs Are Making a Mess at the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.org"Nobody wins in trade wars," said António Guterres as he left a UN Security Council meeting this week. But it’s clear there’s at least one big loser: American diplomacy. This week, Anjali and Mark break down how the Trump tariffs are rippling through the UN — and how they’re complicating diplomacy on issues that
Crisis at the UN Refugee Agency and International Organization for Migration
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration are two entities now squarely in the crosshairs of their once-strongest backer. Both agencies rely heavily on American funding—but with that funding now cut, they’re laying off staff by the thousands. Anjali and Mark discuss the impact of thes
Trump's War on Women Comes to the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe Trump administration has turned the United Nations into a battleground in its war on gender equality. At the Commission on the Status of Women this week, the U.S. sought to block references to gender equality…in a conference dedicated to that very cause! Meanwhile, at the Security Council, the U.S. refused to
Seismic Shift At The UN Following a Jaw Dropping Vote On Ukraine
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgOn Monday February 24, the General Assembly convened for a long-scheduled vote marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a stunning shift, the United States abandoned its European allies and abruptly sided with Russia in an attempt to block any condemnation of Russia’s aggression and any a
Trump's Anti-DEI Crusade Comes to the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe Trump administration’s fight against DEI has come for the United Nations. In this episode of To Save Us From Hell, Anjali Dayal and Mark Leon Goldberg discuss what we are seeing unfold at the UN in terms of Trump’s push against inclusion and gender equity. These moves are already disrupting the regular order
Can the UN Stop the Violence in DR Congo? | How The US Foreign Aid Freeze Impacts the UN
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgThe major city of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, is now under the control of a Rwanda-backed rebel group. UN peacekeepers in the area were unable to repel the assault but continue to play a key role in protecting civilians from violence. Meanwhile, the Security Council has held emergency m
What We Learned From Elise Stefanik's Confirmation Hearing
In this special live recording of To Save Us From Hell, Anjali Dayal and I break down the highlights (and lowlights) from the confirmation hearing for Donald Trump’s pick as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.Elise Stefanik, a member of Congress from New York and a staunch Donald Trump loyalist, did not project the hardcore MAGA vibes one might expect during her confirmation hearing. As Anjali
What to Expect at the UN in 2025
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgA new year. A new United Nations. In this 2025 debut episode of To Save Us From Hell, Anjali Dayal and I discuss what to expect in the year ahead at the United Nations. We cover a lot of ground—from the new composition of the UN Security Council to China’s new status as a major funder of the UN system, the chaos
How the UN Can Help Syria
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgIt’s a new day in Damascus. But what about New York? For the last 14 years, the United Nations’ role in Syria has been relegated to the circumscribed (but vital) task of supporting the humanitarian needs of Syrians. Now, there is an opportunity for the UN and the broader international community to support Syria’s
What's the Relationship Between the ICC and the UN? | COP29 Update | Another US Veto | World, Meet Tom Fletcher
We cover a lot of ground in this week’s free episode. Just hours before we recorded our conversation, the ICC issued formal arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Anjali Dayal and Mark Leon Goldberg explain what this means for the UN. We then travel to Baku for an update on COP29 before heading back to UN headquarters to discuss the latest US veto
Trump and the UN: What Awaits, Come January
In this special post-election edition of To Save Us From Hell, Mark Leon Goldberg and Anjali Dayal explain what to expect — and what not to expect — from Donald Trump’s approach to the United Nations during the next four years. Will he burn Turtle Bay to the ground? Mostly ignore the UN? Cozy up to Russia at the Security Council? And will the next UN Ambassador be Anjali’s old Middle School classm
What Happens if UNRWA Shuts Down?
UNRWA is a unique humanitarian agency. It is both a humanitarian relief provider for millions of Palestinians across several countries, and in many places, it functions as a de facto municipal government, providing services like schools, healthcare, and trash collection. Together, UNRWA provides a social safety net for 2.5 million people in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.And now, all of t
What Happens if UNRWA Shuts Down?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgUNRWA is a unique humanitarian agency. It is both a humanitarian relief provider for millions of Palestinians across several countries, and in many places, it functions as a de facto municipal government, providing services like schools, healthcare, and trash collection. Together, UNRWA provides a social safety n
UNIFIL Peacekeepers Injured By Chemical Agent | Guterres Goes to Russia | Can the UN Save Biodiversity?
The Israeli Defense Forces have continued their deliberate attacks on UN peacekeeping positions in southern Lebanon, including an incident in which UNIFIL Blue Helmets were injured by white phosphorus, an incendiary chemical agent used by the Israeli army. Why does this keep happening, and what can make it stop? Meanwhile, António Guterres finds himself in hot water with the Ukrainians for his att
UN Peacekeepers Under Attack in Lebanon!
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgOver the last week, Israel has directly targeted the positions of UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon. Several peacekeepers have been injured, but none killed—yet. The real tragedy of these ongoing attacks against UNIFIL is that they are undermining the one entity that can provide an off-ramp to further escalation in Leb
Saudi Snubbed in Human Rights Council Elections | Our Nobel Peace Prize Predictions
The UN Human Rights Council consists of 47 member states that serve three-year terms. They are elected to their seats by a vote in the General Assembly. Unlike most General Assembly votes, this one is done by secret ballot. On October 9, the UN General Assembly considered 19 candidates for 18 open seats on the Human Rights Council. The loser? Saudi Arabia. (Phew.)In this week’s episode of To Save
Israel PNG'd Antonio Guterres(!)
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgIn the 79 years of the United Nations, no country has ever declared a UN Secretary General Persona Non-Grata—until now. On Wednesday, Israel made history when it PNG’d Antonio Guterres, saying he was no longer welcome to set foot on Israeli soil. The reason? In a statement condemning Iran’s attack on Israel, he a
All About UNGA79 | With Richard Gowan
It’s an annual UNGA tradition!For the umpteenth year in a row, Richard Gowan, Anjali Dayal, and I sit down for a wide-ranging chat about all things UNGA. Richard Gowan, of course, is the oft-quoted UN expert who serves as the UN Director of the International Crisis Group.The three of us caught up a few hours after Biden’s farewell UNGA address and spent a good portion of our conversation dissectin
There's a Bold New U.S. Plan to Reshape the Security Council. Can It Work?
Linda Thomas-Greenfield made big waves around the UN this week when she rolled out a new and rather detailed American proposal for reforming the staid United Nations Security Council. The proposal is quite concrete and would likely be popular among most of the 193 UN member states. But is this just a cynical ploy to curry favor with Africa and much of the developing world ahead of UNGA? And how co
From Biden to Burhan: Here are the Key UNGA Speeches We'll Be Watching
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgAbout 140 world leaders are scheduled to address the opening of the 79th United Nations General Assembly. That’s a lot of speeches! In today’s episode, co-hosts Mark Leon Goldberg and Anjali Dayal preview some of the most anticipated speeches of UNGA. From inspirational and high-minded addresses by moral heavywei
Polio, Peacekeeping and...Postage?
"A rare bright spot amid the disastrous conflict in the Gaza Strip" is how UNICEF described the successful first phase of a massive polio vaccination campaign in Gaza. Polio was confirmed three weeks ago, and over the last several days, UNICEF, the WHO, and UNRWA have taken advantage of humanitarian pauses in the fighting to administer hundreds of thousands of vaccine doses. In our first segment,
What's Wrong With the New UN Cybercrime Treaty
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgOn August 8th, a committee representing most UN Member States approved a draft text of a new United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime. Despite the support from the majority of UN member states, civil society and private sector groups are arguing against its adoption. In fact, the proposed Convention on Cyberc
Everything You Need to Know About the Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future is a two day confab on September 22 and 23 that kicks off the opening of the United Nations General Assembly and High Level Week. It is being billed as “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to revitalize the UN and multilateralism in a time of great global turmoil and restore trust in international cooperation as a means of solving common global challenges. That may sound imp
The UN in Music, Movies and TV
As certified UN-Nerds, Anjali Dayal and Mark Leon Goldberg's ears always perk up when they see the UN represented in pop culture. In this special episode of To Save Us From Hell, we take a deep dive into how the United Nations is portrayed in popular music, television shows, and film. From Lou Reed to Charlize Theron to Doctor Who —we explore the cultural impact of the United Nations from the 1950
Spurious Accusations Against UNRWA | Sudan in the Spotlight | Drama at International Seabed Authority!
Our first segment discusses both spurious and verified accusations that some UNRWA staff in Gaza may have been involved October 7th attacks. Two new reports this week shed light on how wild accusations against UNRWA are less than credible. Our second segment looks at how the UN is approaching the war in Sudan, which by the numbers is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. We discuss a Securit
Can an 18-Year-Old Security Council Resolution Prevent a Wider War in the Middle East? | Plus: Sierra Leone and ECOSOC in the Spotlight
Before we sat down to record this week’s episode, authorities in Iran announced that Hamas’ political leader, Ismael Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran. This news came just hours after Israel claimed responsibility for the targeted assassination of a top Hezbollah commander, who was killed in retaliation for a gruesome missile attack in the Golan Heights. Amidst this flurry, there is a heightened prosp
Haiti in the Spotlight | Race for President of the General Assembly | Olympic Hopes
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield visited Port-au-Prince this week in a show of support for UN-backed efforts to bring a modicum of stability to Haiti. Her visit comes on the heels of the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti and a recent vote in the Security Council to back the UN’s Office in the country. In our second segment, we discuss the kick off of the race
What Would a Second Trump Presidency Mean for the UN?| An Interview with Malta's UN Ambassador
It’s been a tumultuous week in American politics: an assassination attempt on Trump, JD Vance nominated as the Republican vice presidential candidate, and the ongoing Republican National Conventions. In this episode of To Save Us From Hell, we take a look at what a second Trump presidency would mean for the United Nations. We discuss Trump’s views and approach to the UN from his first term in offi
Ukraine and Russia Clash at the Security Council | The Sustainable Development Goals Get Their Annual Check Up | Kamala Harris + the UN?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgIf Biden declines to run for re-election, the most likely replacement is Vice President Kamala Harris. In this week’s episode of To Save Us From Hell we take a deep dive into Kamala Harris’ views of the United Nations. We discuss how she’s engaged with the UN since becoming Vice President and why there are some s
Russia Assumes the Presidency of the Security Council | Whither R2P? | Republicans Seek to Defund the UN
A new month means a new president of the UN Security Council. On July 1, Russia took the helm of the most powerful body in the United Nations system and announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would chair two Security Council meetings during Russia’s presidency. The problem is, Lavrov is under a travel ban and asset freeze by the United States for his actions related to Russia’s invasion of
Can Peacekeepers in Lebanon Stop a War? | How Should the UN Engage the Taliban? | Plus, What Does China Want from the United Nations?
The United Nations Interim Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has more peacekeepers deployed per square kilometer than any other UN peacekeeping mission in the world. These peacekeepers have helped avert an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah in the past, but tensions are very high right now. Our second segment focuses on a summit this week between Taliban officials and representatives of about 30 g
What Are China's True Intentions at the United Nations?
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.globaldispatches.orgFor most of the history of the United Nations, China was not a major power. The China of today was only given its seat at the UN in 1971. (Prior to that, the seat was occupied by Taiwan.) For the subsequent two decades, China was mostly focused inward. It was not until relatively recently that China has taken a k
What Russia's New Pact with North Korea Means for the United Nations | Plus, Progress on Gaza and Sudan at the Security Council, and Who Should Replace UN Humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths?
As we sat down to record the episode, Vladimir Putin was being feted in Pyongyang by Kim Jong Un. The two had just signed a security pact revived from the Cold War era, signaling an ever-closer alliance and marking the death knell of nearly 20 years of North Korea nuclear diplomacy at the Security Council. Meanwhile, over the last ten days we’ve seen the first meaningful progress at the Security C
Introducing: "To Save Us From Hell"
"To Save Us From Hell" is a new weekly chat show about the United Nations. Each week, two veteran UN watchers break down the latest news from the United Nations, giving our audience insights into what is driving the agenda at UN headquarters and in its operations around the world. Co-host Mark Leon Goldberg is a veteran journalist who is editor in Chief of UN Dispatch and founder of Global Dispatc
