In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast, we review some of the major geopolitical events and developments of the year.

We discuss U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump, including how the administration approached international conflicts and alliances, and what those decisions meant for global politics. We also look at ongoing crises in Sudan, Venezuela, and Gaza — examining how these situations evolved over the year, what drove them, and how international actors responded.

Along the way, we reflect on other themes and stories that came up in our conversations throughout the year, including shifting alliances, regional instability, humanitarian impacts, and the broader direction of global politics.

This episode is a chance to step back, review what happened, connect the dots between different regions, and think about how these events fit into the bigger geopolitical picture.

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Tom Gardner, The Economist’s Africa correspondent based in Nairobi and the author of The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia. Gardner unpacks the story behind his book, offering deep insight into the rise of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the complex forces of religion, power, nationalism, and conflict shaping modern Ethiopia. Drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting, he explores how hope, ideology, and war collided in one of Africa’s most influential states.

Following the interview, Robert is joined by Ruairi for a candid reflection on the conversation—discussing what stood out, what challenged their assumptions, and why Ethiopia’s story matters far beyond its borders.

A thoughtful episode on leadership, belief, and the realities of power in contemporary Africa.

Show Notes:The Abiy Project: God, Power, and War in the New Ethiopia

https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2025/11/13/ethiopia-is-perilously-close-to-another-war

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JJ McCullough joins the show for a candid conversation about what it’s like on YouTube in today’s media environment. JJ opens up about the growing challenges of making nuanced political and international content on a platform shaped by algorithms, audience polarization, and increasing pressure to simplify complex global issues into click-friendly narratives.

Together, we dig into how online incentives shape what viewers hear about foreign policy, why thoughtful geopolitical analysis is harder than ever to sustain, and how creators balance accuracy, audience expectations, and platform constraints. JJ reflects on where discourse breaks down, what still makes the work worthwhile, and how independent media can survive in a climate that often rewards outrage over understanding.

A thoughtful, behind-the-scenes look at modern political commentary—and a must-listen for anyone interested in geopolitics, media ecosystems, or the realities of explaining the world on the internet.

Check out The Morris Doctrine on Substack:

https://morrisdoctrine.substack.com/

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Robert Morris is joined by YouTuber and political commentator JJ McCullough for a lively conversation about Rob’s new Substack and the guiding idea behind The Morris Doctrine:
The United States gets weaker every time it uses military force — so it shouldn’t.

Rob breaks down why America’s geography, wealth, and security make restraint not just possible but essential. JJ pushes back on parts of the doctrine, offering his own perspective on U.S. power, international responsibility, and where Rob’s argument goes too far. The result is a sharp, engaging debate that digs into what U.S. foreign policy could look like if military action stopped being the default.

A must-listen for anyone interested in foreign policy, media narratives, or big-picture arguments about America’s role in the world.

https://morrisdoctrine.substack.com/

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In this episode, hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi dive into a hard truth that history makes impossible to ignore: great powers often drain their own strength through endless, unnecessary wars. Drawing parallels between Britain’s long decline and America’s current global posture, Rob explores his growing concern that the U.S. may be following a similar path—squandering its unmatched potential by pouring resources into military dominance rather than domestic prosperity.

Together, the hosts unpack how much better America could be if it focused on strengthening itself at home instead of projecting force abroad. From economic resilience to social wellbeing, they argue that the U.S. has everything it needs to thrive—if only it chose to invest in its people rather than perpetuating global conflict.

Thought-provoking, historically grounded, and deeply relevant, this episode challenges listeners to rethink what real national strength looks like—and what America stands to gain by choosing a different path.

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Foreign Affairs, a supposedly respectable publication, recently published an article entitled “America's Allies Should Go Nuclear” , which argues that U.S. allies like Germany, Japan, or Canada ought to be sold nuclear arsenals. Foreign Affairs+1

We dismantle that argument, laying out why proliferating nukes among American-aligned nations would be a reckless misstep — not a “strengthening” of global order but a dangerous gamble with global stability. We explore the risks: undermining treaty frameworks like the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT), increasing nuclear arms races, and making deterrence less predictable and more volatile.

Most importantly, we argue that U.S. allies don’t need nuclear weapons — they need a renewed commitment to non-proliferation. Instead of spreading the bomb, let’s spread trust — not knot the world tighter into a nuclear standoff.

Tune in for a hard-hitting, no-punches-pulled breakdown of why arguments for “selective proliferation” are dangerously short-sighted.

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast, hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi dive into one of the most misunderstood crises on the global stage — the violence in Nigeria, the claims of a “Christian genocide,” and the speculation that the United States might intervene militarily.

We explore how a mix of religious tension, regional insecurity, and government failures have fueled a humanitarian disaster — without fitting neatly into the narrative some Western commentators promote. While we don’t believe a coordinated genocide against Christians is taking place, the situation in Nigeria is undeniably dire, with thousands of civilians — of multiple faiths — suffering from extremist groups, criminal networks, and political corruption.

Robert and Ruairi break down:

• Why some media voices think the U.S. could invade Nigeria

• How Nigeria’s internal conflicts actually work on the ground

• The role of religion versus economics and power

• How government elites are enriching themselves — including the seizure of national oil wealth

• Why a U.S. military intervention is highly unlikely, and what Washington truly wants

This episode takes a sober, critical look at a humanitarian crisis too often oversimplified for American culture-war politics — and asks what responsible concern for Nigeria should really look like.

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In this episode, hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi break down the latest U.S. election results from Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and beyond — and explore why the night turned out to be a sweeping win for the Democratic Party. But beneath the headlines lies a more complicated question: What direction is the party really heading?

With the election of candidates like former CIA officer Abigail Spanberger, the Democrats appear to be consolidating gains not by shifting left, as figures like Zohran Mamdani might hope, but by embracing a more centrist, national-security-friendly identity — a posture that aligns closer to Pentagon priorities than democratic-socialist ambitions.

Robert and Ruairi look at the electoral data, the policy rhetoric, and the factions within the party to ask:

• Are Democrats rejecting the progressive wing, or just recalibrating?

• What do these victories mean for the party’s future strategy?

• And is the Biden-era coalition holding — or hardening?

It’s a deep dive into ideology, power, and the future of American politics — one that challenges assumptions about what voters really want.