The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus

Hey, it’s Marcel Dirsus. I’m a political scientist and this is The Next Best, my podcast. The world is complex, dangerous and confusing. To make sense of it all, I talk to authors, historians, diplomats and spies. Together, we’re going to learn about nuclear weapons, sanctions, targeted killings and much more. Let’s go.Have a question? Email at: thenextbestpodcast@gmail.com

The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus is a news podcast hosted by Marcel Dirsus, with 32 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Marcel Dirsus hosts The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus, a news show with 32 episodes published.

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  Episode #31

  #31 Casey Michel: American Oligarchy Is Worse Than You Think

  Aug 14, 202643 minS1

  What happens when billionaires buy democracy?In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus speaks with author and investigative journalist Casey Michel about the rise of America’s oligarchs — and how enormous private fortunes are reshaping American politics, government and foreign policy.Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DrMarcelDirsusBuy Casey's book: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250430120/unitedstatesofoligarchy/They discuss Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and the billionaire class surrounding the Trump administration; how campaign-finance rules collapsed; the impact of Citizens United; and why American politics has increasingly become a pay-to-play system.Casey also explains how today’s oligarchy compares with America’s Gilded Age, what Teddy Roosevelt can teach us about fighting concentrated wealth, how corruption and self-enrichment are affecting US foreign policy, and why a backlash against America’s billionaire class may be coming.

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  Episode #30

  #30 Frank Sauer: This is How Nuclear War Works

  Aug 7, 202646 minS1

  What would actually happen if nuclear war broke out?Nuclear weapons expert Frank Sauer explains, step by step, how a nuclear war could begin, how world leaders would make life-or-death decisions in minutes, and what the consequences would be for humanity. Subscribe to Frank's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@sicherheitspod We discuss:- How a nuclear war between Russia and NATO could realistically start - The difference between tactical and strategic nuclear weapons - How launch decisions are made by world leaders - Whether the US or Europe could shoot down incoming nuclear missiles - Why nuclear deterrence has worked—and why it could still fail - The Cuban Missile Crisis and the closest humanity has come to nuclear war - Nuclear winter and whether it could end human civilization - Why Frank believes nuclear weapons remain the greatest existential threat facing humanityThis is one of the most detailed conversations you'll hear on how nuclear strategy actually works, why accidents are a real concern, and what keeps experts awake at night.If you enjoy in-depth conversations on geopolitics, international security, AI, history, and the future of humanity, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications.

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  Episode #29

  #29 Carter Malkasian: How the Taliban Won (and America Lost)

  Jul 31, 202647 minS1

  Why did the United States lose the war in Afghanistan? Why did the Taliban ultimately return to power? And what lessons should policymakers take from America's longest war? In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus sits down with Carter Malkasian — former adviser to the U.S. military and author of The American War in Afghanistan—to explore the origins of the Taliban, the failures of nation-building, the 2021 withdrawal, and the enduring lessons of the conflict.

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  Episode #28

  #28 Anna Fifield: How Kim Jong Un Stays in Power

  Jul 24, 202646 minS1

  How does Kim Jong Un stay in power? In this episode of The Next Best, Marcel Dirsus speaks with journalist Anna Fifield, former Washington Post Beijing bureau chief and author of The Great Successor, about the inner workings of North Korea's dictatorship. They discuss Kim Jong Un's rise to power, the assassination of his half-brother, North Korea's relationship with Russia and China, the regime's nuclear ambitions, propaganda, life inside the world's most secretive state, and whether the Kim dynasty can survive another generation. Buy Anna's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/anna-fifield/the-great-successor/9781541742499/?lens=publicaffairs Subscribe to Anna's newsletter: https://annafifieldnz.substack.com

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  Episode #27

  #27 Jade McGlynn: Ukraine's Drone Strikes, Putin's War and Russia's Fuel Crisis

  Jul 17, 202643 minS1

  How much do ordinary Russians really support the war in Ukraine? Can Ukraine's drone strikes change the course of the conflict? And what happens after Vladimir Putin? In this episode of The Next Best, I sit down with Dr Jade McGlynn, one of the world's leading experts on Russia. A research Fellow at King's College London and the author of Russia's War, Jade explains why the Kremlin's propaganda is so effective, what Russians actually think about the war, and why Putin's invasion is about far more than territory. Buy Russia's War: https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=russias-war--9781509556755 Buy Memory Makers: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/memory-makers-9781350522220/

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