Day: May 13, 2026

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Background Briefing: May 13, 2026

On By asher

Growing Medical Concern About the President of the United States

We begin with an open letter from leading mental health professionals, “A Statement of Medical Concern about the President of the United States” and speak with one of it’s signatories as concerns grow about Trump’s mental and physical health. Now his long-held narcissism and sociopathy is undergoing the stress of the real world consequences on somebody that lives in his own world as Trump’s war, which he is losing, is making him erupt with unhinged fury on social media and at the press. Joining us is Dr. Henry Abraham, who has served as Unit Chief of the Westboro State Hospital, Director of Psychiatric Research at the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston, as a consultant to the National Academy of Sciences, and as advisor for several revisions of the Diagnostic Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. A member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, he was an author of the constitution of those organizations, and shared in the award of the Nobel Peace Prize. He is a signatory to an open letter from leading mental health professionals, “A Statement of Medical Concern about the President of the United States.” And he writes a weekly newsletter at https://henryabrahammd.substack.com/

 

The US and Israel Have Destabilized Global Oil and Gas Supplies For the Foreseeable Future

Then we look into how Israel and the United States have destabilized the Persian Gulf and global oil and natural gas supplies for the foreseeable future and speak with Juan Cole, a professor of Modern Middle Eastern and South Asian History at the University of Michigan. He is also the author of the blog Informed Comment at JuanCole.com and the author of Engaging the Muslim World, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires and most recently, Gaza Yet Stands. We discuss his article at TomDispatch, “The Electric Car won the Iran War: The Twilight of Oil.” As well as his article at The Nation, “This Is Why the Hormuz Crisis Is Different From Other Oil Crises”

 

The Meaning of Fascism as Authoritarian Populism is on the Rise 

Then finally we assess how much the word fascism has lost its meaning as authoritarian populism is on the rise around the world and speak with David Ost, professor emeritus of politics at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, who has written widely on eastern Europe, left and right politics, and labor and democracy. He has done research in Polish factories, taught at European universities, and worked as an NYC taxi driver. His books include Solidarity and the Politics of Anti-Politics, The Defeat of Solidarity: Anger and Politics in Postcommunist Europe, and his latest book, out next week, is Red Pill Politics: Demystifying Today’s Far Right.