What Now? With Trevor NoahEddie Fishman: What is Actually Happening in Iran?
Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- June 11, 2026
- Duration
- 1h 48m
- Channel
- What Now? With Trevor Noah
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
Trevor and Eugene sit down with former State Department official and international sanctions expert Eddie Fishman to unpack the hidden mechanics of global power. Using Iran as a lens, Eddie explains how economic sanctions became one of America's favorite foreign policy tools, why they're often seen as an alternative to war, and what happens when those plans collide with the realities of the world they're meant to change. Along the way, the trio explore unintended consequences, international hypocrisy, and the stubborn truth that people, countries, and history rarely cooperate with anyone's grand strategy. If you haven't already.... Subscribe to the channel here: http://bit.ly/SubscribeTrevorNoah Or follow the podcast on your other favorite platforms... SiriusXM Apple Podcasts - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnApplePodcasts Spotify - https://bit.ly/WhatNowOnSpotify 0:00 - Introduction & The Nuclear Paradox 0:48 - NYC Life with Eddie Fishman 3:33 - About Eddie: Sanctions & the State Department 4:33 - What Is Actually Happening with Iran? 7:43 - The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Explained 9:28 - Why the World Fears Iran's Nuclear Program 14:34 - Fear vs. Legitimate Concern: A Post-9/11 World 17:51 - North Korea Has Nukes — So What? 23:04 - Nuclear Accidents & The Man Who Saved the World 27:32 - Stanislav Petrov: The Unsung Hero 33:32 - Economic Warfare & Choke Points 37:44 - The Petrodollar Explained 42:19 - How the US Used the Dollar as a Weapon Against Iran 45:40 - Iran's Counter-Move: The Strait of Hormuz 49:17 - The New Age of Economic Warfare 55:03 - Why Does America Always Choose Force? 1:01:56 - Preemptive Strike vs. Defense: Where's the Line? 1:01:00 - Was the Iran Strike Justified? 1:03:13 - The Complexity of Iran's Nuclear Intent 1:04:47 - Khamenei, Succession & Unintended Consequences 1:02:12 - Inside the Room: How Foreign Policy Decisions Are Made 1:22:37 - Russia, Ukraine & Bad Policy in the '90s 1:24:57 - How Putin Rose to Power 1:39:46 - Keeping Yourself in Government: Moral Compass vs. Patriotism 1:15:45 - Protocol vs. Personal Relationships in Diplomacy 1:25:50 - The Danger of Propaganda & Caricaturing Other Countries 1:31:11 - Are We Just Seeing America's Own Propaganda? 1:32:14 - The Dollar, Tariffs & Economic Warfare Against Allies 1:37:27 - Canada, China & the Scramble for Economic Security 1:38:19 - The Reshaping of the Global Economic Order 1:34:20 - Verizon Segment: Most Iconic World Cup Moments 1:40:02 - Roberto Baggio's Missed Penalty 1:43:31 - Luis Suarez Handball: Africa's Greatest Heartbreak 1:46:23 - Suarez as a Lovable Villain 1:48:33 - How That Moment United Africa 1:53:41 - Outro
SPEAKERS
Eddie Fishman
guestFormer U.S. State Department official and foreign policy expert focused on sanctions and economic statecraft.
Trevor Noah
hostComedian and television/podcast host of "What Now? With Trevor Noah".
Eugene
hostCo-host who provides reactions, comedic banter, and occasional interview questions.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of What Now? With Trevor Noah, featuring Eddie Fishman and Trevor Noah, Eddie Fishman: What is Actually Happening in Iran? explores iran’s nuclear standoff meets economic choke points and escalation risks Fishman argues the U.S. shift from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to “maximum pressure” sanctions failed and helped accelerate Iran’s nuclear stockpile, contributing to later military escalation.
RELATED EPISODES
