Topic: Diplomats

NPR reports on Peter Mandelson's alleged leaking of both UK and US government secrets to Wall Street via Jeffrey Epstein. The segment also clarifies a joke made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer about Mandelson, which was reportedly taken out of context by media outlets.

The hosts discuss current television trends, including the "gory" biblical series House of David and the Netflix political drama The Diplomat. A "boomer moment" ensues as they complain about modern television seasons having only eight episodes compared to the 30-plus episodes typical of the Sid Caesar era.

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance engaged in a tense, televised meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Trump mocked Zelensky's attire, while Vance challenged the Ukrainian leader on the feasibility of his peace plans. The encounter, described by some as "great television," signaled a significant shift in U.S.-Ukraine relations and a move toward a "deal-based" foreign policy.

A trend in recent television shows like *The Diplomat*, *Black Doves*, and *The Agency* is identified as being overtly "anti-British," portraying UK officials as incompetent or corrupt. This media shift coincides with political tension between Elon Musk and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer's recent comments at Prime Minister's Questions emphasized that the UK would not lower food standards for a U.S. trade deal.

European diplomats have expressed concern over the attendance of leaders from the German political party AFD at the US inauguration. Critics and the German government have accused the group of using Nazi-era propaganda slogans, while party supporters claim the "far-right" label is a tactical smear. The presence of these libertarian-conservative figures has sparked debate regarding international protocol and political alignment.

The hosts discuss the second season of the Apple TV+ series "Severance," noting its "creepy" premise regarding corporate brain modification. They also mention the second season of "The Diplomat" on Netflix and the quirks of modern voice-to-text technology. This casual conversation about current media serves as a transition toward the end of the broadcast.

Diplomatic efforts at the United Nations are monitored as Malta holds the presidency of the Security Council for April 2024. Despite the Iranian attack, reports indicate that no emergency meetings were immediately requested by member states. The narrative questions the necessity of continued media "yakking" after Iran signaled the end of its specific retaliatory operation.

The hosts discuss the presence of OSCE election observers in Texas and the state's threat to prosecute them if they interfere with voting. A State Department spokesperson's "shut up slave" response confirms that these observers are eligible for full diplomatic immunity under a 1996 proclamation.

Reporter Matt Lee challenged State Department spokespeople regarding the actual "leverage" the U.S. is using to influence Israel's military actions in Gaza. While the administration claims to use "diplomatic levers," Lee pointed out that no military or financial consequences have been imposed. The exchange highlighted the perceived lack of influence the U.S. has over the Netanyahu government's strategy.

President Joe Biden claimed during a fundraiser to have known Benjamin Netanyahu for 51 years, dating back to when Biden was a 32-year-old senator. This timeline is questioned for its factual accuracy regarding Netanyahu's whereabouts and roles during that period.

President Joe Biden's decision to skip the coronation is criticized as a diplomatic snub, despite his explanation to Stephanie Ruhle about a future meeting during a NATO trip. Jill Biden attended the event in his place. The hosts mock the media's attempt to frame the relationship between Biden and the King as being bonded by a shared passion for environmental issues.

In a significant diplomatic shift, China brokered a reconciliation agreement between long-time rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, who agreed to re-establish diplomatic ties after seven years. The deal, signed in Beijing, could have major implications for the proxy war in Yemen and broader Middle East stability. This "baller move" by China signals its growing influence as a global mediator, potentially challenging the traditional role of the United States in the region.

A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester, Bob Chang, was reportedly dragged into the Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten by staff. Consul General Zhang Shiyuan admitted to pulling Chang's hair, claiming it was his "duty" to defend his country's honor. The UK government has summoned the Chinese ambassador and warned of diplomatic consequences if immunity is not waived for the officials involved.

The US, UK, Canada, and Australia have announced diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Winter Olympics to protest human rights abuses. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintains a stance of "political neutrality," which is criticized as a financial calculation. There is speculation that the withdrawal of Western elites is a precursor to a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan following the conclusion of the games.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has issued an order to remove the word "squaw" from all federal land names, declaring it a derogatory slur. In international news, President Biden is considering a "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which would involve withholding government officials while still allowing American athletes to compete.

The US diplomatic mission in Russia has shrunk from 1,200 staff to just 120 over the past several years, leading to a "caretaker presence" at the embassy in Moscow. Russians seeking US visas are now forced to apply in third countries as the US is no longer allowed to employ local Russian staff. Meanwhile, Russia maintains over 400 diplomats in the United States.

U.S. senators are calling for the expulsion of 300 Russian diplomats if the Kremlin does not issue more visas for American embassy staff in Moscow. This follows a Russian ban on the U.S. embassy hiring local staff, which forced the termination of nearly 200 employees. The diplomatic row is part of a broader "quid pro quo" involving sanctions and foreign agent registrations.

The death of British teenager Harry Dunn, killed by the wife of a U.S. diplomat driving on the wrong side of the road, has sparked an international incident. Anne Sacoolas claimed diplomatic immunity and fled to the U.S., leading to allegations that she and her husband were intelligence "spooks" stationed at a UK listening base. President Trump's attempt to facilitate a meeting between the families at the White House was rejected by Dunn's parents.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats following the poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. May characterized the diplomats as undeclared intelligence officers and suspended high-level bilateral contacts. The move is described as the largest expulsion of Russian officials since the Cold War.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert faced a difficult briefing regarding the U.S. search of Russian diplomatic properties in San Francisco. Nauert argued the searches were necessary to achieve "parity" after Russia expelled U.S. diplomats, but she struggled to answer questions about the legality of searching sovereign property. The briefing became contentious when Nauert accused journalists of "working for RT" for asking critical questions.