What Would Karl Marx Do?

Iran (thread 10), Episode 9: Goldwater’s Grit: How He’d Handle Modern Iran

Imagine your bluntest, no-nonsense friend dropped into a modern foreign policy debate — that’s Barry Goldwater here. He’d see Iran as a direct challenge to American strength and insist on big, unmistakable responses rather than cautious hedging. This piece walks through how Goldwater’s Cold War instincts — deterrence, overwhelming force, and disdain for ambiguity — would shape his view on Iran’s proxies, the Strait of Hormuz, and nuclear ambitions. Casual, direct, and a little unnerving, it’s a look at why some foreign policy arguments still sound a lot like him: strong words, stronger actions.

Iran (thread 10), Episode 8: Dean Acheson: The Suit Who Built America’s Global Order

Ever wondered what an impeccably tailored Cold Warrior would say about Iran? Dean Acheson would probably light a cigar, give you a dry smile, and remind you it’s all about balance — strategic choke points, allied credibility, and steady management, not theatrical crusades. This episode walks through how Acheson helped build the rules of the postwar world and why he’d treat the Persian Gulf as a problem to be managed with cool realism — blunt, practical, and surprisingly relatable.

Iran (thread 10), Episode 7: Dulles on the Brink: How a Cold Warrior Would Handle Iran

Imagine your friend who treats geopolitics like a high-stakes chess match — that’s John Foster Dulles. In this episode we trace how his fierce anti-communist instincts and love of brinkmanship shaped the 1953 Iran coup and continue to echo in today’s U.S.–Iran tensions. He’d view hesitation as a strategic weakness, favoring bold covert action, strong alliances, and forceful deterrence — all while wringing his hands about oil routes and credibility. If you’re into Cold War drama, secret ops, and the bitter irony of unintended consequences, this one’s for you.

Iran (thread 10), Episode 6: If Truman Saw Iran Today: Cold War Instincts in a Hot Region

Picture Truman sliding his glasses down and asking, “And then what?” — that’s the vibe here. He’d read Iran through the Cold War playbook: no appeasement, protect the Strait of Hormuz, back allies, and show clear resolve to deter aggression. He wasn’t itching for war, just terrified of looking weak. So expect firm, pragmatic moves to preserve trade routes and regional balance — a hard-nosed approach that feels oddly familiar today.

Obamacre (thread 2), Episode 11: Fighting Bob vs. Big Health: La Follette on Obamacare

Picture Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette flipping through your insurance plan and sighing. This episode draws a quick line from his fight against railroad trusts to today’s battles with giant insurers, hospitals, and drug companies. It’s a short, friendly tour of why La Follette might have liked the ACA’s consumer protections but still called it a compromise that leaves too much power with entrenched corporations — now with hold music.