Nation States with Yates

19:57

Nation States: The 2026 Midterm Checklist for America

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/10/06

Four years can change the direction of a country. Steve Yates compares where the United States stood heading into the 2022 midterms versus the landscape facing voters in 2026, focusing on four issues that shape America's future: border security, energy, technology, and the Western Hemisphere. Rather than telling listeners how to vote, he offers a framework for evaluating candidates and asking better questions about national priorities, security, economic strength, and America's strategic position

en-US

2:35

Nation States Update: FlyDubai Red Flags, B-1 Bombers...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/10/05

Steve Yates breaks down the major national security and geopolitical stories shaping the week, including new details surrounding the FlyDubai hijacker and troubling questions about radicalization, vetting, and international intelligence sharing. Steve also examines the departure of U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford amid security concerns in the United Kingdom and a separate Iran-related spy scandal raising questions about the state of the U.S.-UK alliance. Plus, Brazil heads toward an October

en-US

2:16

Nation States Update: Iran Terror Threats, America’s...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/10/02

Steve Yates delivers a Nation States weekend update on the major national security and geopolitical developments shaping the U.S. competition with Iran and China. Steve examines the attempted attack aboard a FlyDubai flight bound for Israel and developments in the United Kingdom, and discusses what they could mean for Iran, the IRGC, and the possibility of further military action. The FlyDubai investigation remains ongoing; President Trump has suggested a possible Iranian connection and threatened a

en-US

29:42

Nation States: Grading the Trump-Xi Summit After...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/10/01

A state dinner and red-carpet diplomacy made headlines, but Steve Yates focuses on the real scorecard after Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington. From the temporary trade truce and AI competition to Taiwan deterrence, Iran’s oil lifeline, and the case of Jimmy Lai, he examines what Beijing gained, what Washington held firm on, and where key questions remain unresolved. The central test is not symbolism, but implementation. Listen now and decide whether this summit delivered progress or

en-US

25:36

Nation States: Why Trump Rejected Iran’s Seven-Day...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/29

Iran offered a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but the price was steep: sanctions relief, unfrozen assets, and an end to economic pressure before any lasting agreement. Steve Yates explains why President Trump rejected the proposal, how leverage shapes nation-state negotiations, and what the decision could mean for energy markets, China, the Revolutionary Guard, and American consumers facing higher fuel costs. Listen for a clear breakdown of the bargaining strategy behind the

en-US

26:21

Nation States: What Main Street Gets From the United...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/24

As world leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly, Steve Yates examines a question most Americans rarely ask: what does the United Nations actually deliver for Main Street America? Looking at the UN's origins, America's role as its largest funder, the Security Council veto system, and case studies from Korea to the South China Sea, Yates evaluates whether the institution still advances U.S. interests or has become more theater than tool. Listen for a practical framework to judge global

en-US

21:13

Nation States: Xi’s Washington Visit and the Test of...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/22

As Xi Jinping heads to Washington for another summit with President Trump, the real question is not what gets announced, but what gets delivered. Steve Yates explains why implementation matters more than optics and examines the key tests facing U.S.-China relations, from AI controls and Taiwan to Iran, Ukraine, rare earth supply chains, fentanyl enforcement, and the fate of Jimmy Lai. Listen for a practical framework to separate diplomatic theater from meaningful results and understand what success

en-US

24:52

Nation States: China’s AI Playbook and America’s Red...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/17

China’s top security officials have laid out their biggest fears about artificial intelligence and the roadmap they believe will keep the Chinese Communist Party in control. Steve Yates breaks down a rare public window into Beijing’s thinking, from deepfakes and cyber warfare to data security, chips, and global AI competition. The bigger question is what America and its allies should refuse to accept as AI becomes critical infrastructure. Listen, share your thoughts, and join the

en-US

26:37

Nation States: Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong, and China's...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/15

Jimmy Lai's imprisonment has become a measure of far more than one man's fate. Steve Yates examines how the jailed Hong Kong publisher's story challenges decades of U.S. assumptions about China's political future, Hong Kong's promised autonomy, and whether Beijing still has room for voices outside Communist Party control. As President Trump prepares for another meeting with Xi Jinping, the case raises difficult questions about leadership, freedom, faith, and the future of U.S.-China relations

en-US

31:24

Nation States: Are We at War? The Constitution, Iran,...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/10

When does a military conflict become a war, and who gets to decide? Steve Yates examines the constitutional, legal, and political debate surrounding U.S. military action, using the ongoing confrontation with Iran as a real-world case study. From declarations of war and presidential authority to the 1973 War Powers Resolution, he explains why America has fought major conflicts for decades without formally declaring war. Share this episode with friends and family who want a clearer understanding of

en-US

26:18

Nation States: Canada, China, and the Future of North...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/08

A surprising question at a Canadian security conference sparks a bigger conversation about the future of the U.S.-Canada relationship. Steve Yates looks beyond headlines and political rhetoric to examine Canada's economic stagnation, military readiness, growing interest in deeper ties with China, and why geography, trade, and security continue to bind North America together. The real story is not invasion fears. It is whether two longtime allies can adapt to a changing world while preserving a

en-US

29:50

Nation States: Adoption and the American Idea of...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/03

America adopts more children into permanent families than any other wealthy nation, and Steve Yates argues that fact reveals something deeper about the American idea itself. Drawing from adoption data, international comparisons, personal experience as an adoptive father, and a memorable White House encounter involving President George W. Bush and Romania, he explores how law, love, and shared commitment can define family and citizenship beyond bloodlines. Share your thoughts and experiences with

en-US

28:58

Nation States: A White House Witness to 9/11, 25...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/09/01

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, Steve Yates shares a firsthand account from inside the White House complex as America came under attack. Drawing on his experience serving on the vice president’s national security staff, he reflects on the confusion, evacuation, continuity of government, and leadership lessons that emerged in the hours and days that followed. More importantly, he examines what those events still teach America in 2026 about vigilance, resilience, and national

en-US

28:40

Nation States: Economic Outcast and America’s Iran...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/08/25

A major shift in U.S. strategy toward Iran may redefine how America uses power abroad. Steve Yates breaks down Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s newly announced Operation Economic Outcast, a campaign aimed at cutting off Iran’s financial lifelines and isolating the regime from the global economy. He explains why economic pressure, rather than expanded military engagement, could become the decisive tool in ending the conflict while reducing long-term risks to American families, energy

en-US

29:24

Nation States: Regime Change from Iran to Iraq and...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/08/18

Regime change is one of the most controversial ideas in foreign policy, but what does it actually mean, when has it worked, and why has it often failed? Steve Yates examines major case studies from Iran, Guatemala, Chile, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Germany, and Japan to explain how governments are removed, what comes afterward, and why the hardest question is rarely how to topple a regime but how to build a stable future. Listen now and join the conversation about one of the most consequential and

en-US

23:19

Nation States: Data Centers, AI, and America’s Next...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/08/13

As America races to expand AI infrastructure, a new political fight is emerging around data centers, energy, water use, and local control. Steve Yates examines Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s push for greater scrutiny of large-scale data center projects and asks whether today’s resistance to AI infrastructure echoes past debates over the Green New Deal. The bigger question: how can the United States balance community concerns with the need to stay competitive against China in the

en-US

25:17

Nation States: How the Middle East Playbook Was...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/08/11

The assumptions that shaped U.S. Middle East policy for decades are no longer the same. Steve Yates explains how American energy production, the Abraham Accords, the rise of Iran as the region’s primary threat, and China's growing influence have fundamentally changed the strategic landscape. He outlines why old foreign policy frameworks are losing relevance and what the new realities mean for American interests, military commitments, energy security, and regional stability. Listen as Steve

en-US

17:17

Nation States: Sanctions Done Right and America's...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/08/06

America’s financial power may be one of its most effective tools between diplomacy and war. Steve Yates argues that the Trump administration and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are reshaping sanctions into a more targeted, results-driven instrument focused on changing behavior, disrupting threats, and advancing U.S. interests. Using examples from Iran, Venezuela, Syria, Russia, and transnational criminal networks, he explains why precision and flexibility may strengthen American leverage

en-US

23:24

Nation States: The Axis of Aggressors and the...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/08/04

A new national security warning argues that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are cooperating more closely than many Americans realize. Steve Yates examines the core findings of The Axis of Aggressors, outlining how military support, technology transfers, energy partnerships, and cyber coordination could create simultaneous crises that strain U.S. resources, alliances, and readiness. He explains why this matters for Main Street, from supply chains to energy costs and national security. Listen and

en-US

29:18

Nation States: Why North Korea Is No Longer a...

Nation States with Yates ·

2026/07/30

North Korea has quietly evolved from an isolated regional challenge into a global security player with growing influence far beyond the Korean Peninsula. Steve Yates examines how Pyongyang's support for Russia's war effort, expanding missile and nuclear capabilities, cyber operations, and long-standing ties to Iran are reshaping the strategic landscape and creating new risks for the United States and its allies. What does North Korea's growing role mean for American security, military deterrence,

en-US

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

Start Here

ABC News

Wall Street Now

ABC News

Cruise News Today

Cruise Radio News features travel and...

Fox News Hourly Update

FOX News Podcasts