GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

President Trump has never been shy about his revolutionary ambitions. In his second term, he’s moved aggressively to consolidate power within the executive branch—signing more than 150 executive orders in just over 150 days, sidelining Congress, and pressuring the institutions that were designed to check his authority. His supporters call it common sense. Critics call it dangerous. Either way, it’s a fundamental shift in American governance—one that’s unlike anything happening in any other major democracy. While Congress has largely collapsed into partisan submission, and the DOJ and other power ministries face political purges, one institution still stands: the courts. In this episode, Ian Bremmer speaks with New York Times Magazine staff writer and Yale Law School’s Emily Bazelon about how the judiciary is holding up under pressure, what rulings to watch, and whether the rule of law can survive the Trump revolution. Host: Ian Bremmer Guest: Emily Bazelon     Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast [https://www.gzeromedia.com/gzero-world-podcast/] on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gzero-world-with-ian-bremmer/id1294461271], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/13QW2sLPCjVbdDE6fmJCNf], or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

It was an extraordinary public fight between two billionaires—President Donald Trump, the world’s most powerful man, and Elon Musk, the world’s richest. On a special bonus episode of the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Semafor co-founder and editor-in-chief Ben Smith to talk about Trump and Musk’s messy breakup, what led to the explosive public fallout, and whether there’s any chance of reconciliation. Though their feud appears to be cooling down, there’s still a lot at stake for both men: namely, Musk’s political funding for the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterms and billions in government contracts and subsidies for his companies, which Trump has threatened to cancel. In the battle between politicians and tech oligarchs, who holds more power? Will President Trump’s ability to punish his enemies in consequential ways have long-term consequences for Musk? And how does a fight like this change the nature of political journalism when everything is happening in real time in full view of the public? Smith and Bremmer break down the end of the bromance that has defined President Trump’s second term and where the administration’s relationship with Silicon Valley goes from here. Host: Ian Bremmer Guest: Ben Smith Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast [https://www.gzeromedia.com/gzero-world-podcast/] on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gzero-world-with-ian-bremmer/id1294461271], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/13QW2sLPCjVbdDE6fmJCNf], or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

On this week’s GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer sits down with Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, for a look at one of the most dangerous flashpoints in the world: the Taiwan Strait. China has been conducting drills around Taiwan for years, but since the current pro-independence president, William Lai, took office in 2024, Beijing has been staging near-daily military exercises near the island–larger, louder, and more aggressive than ever before. Lai has pledged to boost defense spending, strengthen ties with the US, and reduce Taiwan’s economic dependence on China. But Lai faces serious political headwinds at home. His party lost its majority in parliament, and he’ll have to navigate a deeply divided government to get anything done. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping says reunification with Taiwan is a national priority and has made it clear Beijing won’t hesitate to take the island by force if necessary. The stakes are global: A war in the Strait would reshape the world economy, drag in major powers, potentially triggering the deadliest military conflict in the Asia-Pacific since World War II. So how far can China push, and how long can Taiwan hold out, before a crisis becomes inevitable? Host: Ian Bremmer Guest: Bonny Lin Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast [https://www.gzeromedia.com/gzero-world-podcast/] on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gzero-world-with-ian-bremmer/id1294461271], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/13QW2sLPCjVbdDE6fmJCNf], or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

Ian Bremmer sits down with Jesuit priest and bestselling author Father James Martin to discuss the unprecedented election of Pope Leo XIV—the first-ever (North) American Pope—and what his leadership could mean for the Catholic Church, American politics, and a divided, secular world. Known for his humility and spiritual depth, Pope Leo has a chance to bridge widening rifts within the Church. “There’s a lot of division and anger,” Martin says, “but Pope Leo has the opportunity to build bridges between progressives and traditionalists.” Martin highlights the Pope’s early statements on war and migration as signs that his moral leadership will extend beyond Church walls, rooted in a clear Gospel mandate: “When Jesus says, ‘When you welcome the stranger, you welcome me,’ that’s pretty clear.” The conversation also touches on Martin’s advocacy for LGBTQ Catholics, especially the trans community, who he says are “being treated like dirt,” and the enduring legacy of Pope Francis, whose compassion and global engagement still echo in the Vatican. “Francis showed us that the Church is a field hospital,” Martin says. Host: Ian Bremmer  Guest: Father James Martin  Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast [https://www.gzeromedia.com/gzero-world-podcast/] on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gzero-world-with-ian-bremmer/id1294461271], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/13QW2sLPCjVbdDE6fmJCNf], or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.

How much could our relationship with technology change by 2027? In the last few years, new artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek have transformed how we think about work, creativity, even intelligence itself. But tech experts are ringing alarm bells that powerful new AI systems that rival human intelligence are being developed faster than regulation, or even our understanding, can keep up with. Should we be worried? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer is joined by Daniel Kokotajlo, a former OpenAI researcher and executive director of the AI Futures Project, to discuss AI 2027—a new report that forecasts AI’s progression, where tech companies race to beat each other to develop superintelligent AI systems, and the existential risks ahead if safety rails are ignored. AI 2027 reads like science fiction, but Kokotajlo’s team has direct knowledge of current research pipelines. Which is exactly why it’s so concerning. How will artificial intelligence transform our world and how do we avoid the most dystopian outcomes? What happens when the line between man and machine disappears altogether?   Host: Ian Bremmer Guest: Daniel Kokotajlo Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast [https://www.gzeromedia.com/gzero-world-podcast/] on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gzero-world-with-ian-bremmer/id1294461271], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/13QW2sLPCjVbdDE6fmJCNf], or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published.