Radio War Nerd EP #525 — Gaza Genocide in 2025, feat. Mouin Rabbani
Guest: Mouin Rabbani, writer & researcher
Recorded: May 29, 2025
Mouin Rabbani returns to RWN to discuss Israel's genocidal war on Gaza under the Trump Administration, the noticeable shift in establishment discourse, Israel's increasingly maniacal behavior and miscalculations & more...
Further listening with Mouin:
RWN EP #464 — Israel's War on Gaza: Month 10, feat. Mouin Rabbani
RWN EP #407 — Gaza War & Hamas, feat. Mouin Rabbani
Music interlude by Brendon Anderegg. Check out music from his group Mountains here
Total time: 1:17:48
Direct link to this episode's mp3 here
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Comments (24)
Curious about the article on Charles Portis referenced at the top of the episode. The one co-authored by John and Mark. Is it available anywhere?
It's so wild to have people that don't believe in this or that, my man all you have to do is use Google translate on tweets and publications and you'll quickly find out how sick and deranged Israeli society is
Hey RWN, any plans to unlock this episode or share it on youtube? Would love to share this knowledge with my Tucker Carlson watching dad
It is unlocked.
Inconveniencing people coming to us in Canada is the least of what we should be doing in retaliation to acts of war.
Another great interview from Rabbani
Has John been taking the new Tren Maya to travel the Yucatan? A major success of AMLO/Sheinbaum. Would love to know his thoughts if so.
Mouin is a welcome and truly valuable guest- deeply knowledgeable, calm but not dispassionate, and full of insight. His analysis of the changing landscape created by Trump and how this complicates things for Netanyahu seems a bit hopeful to me. First, from the pictures I have seen and the reports I have read, there does not appear to be a single two-story or taller building in the Gaza Strip that remains intact. The level of destruction is on par with Dresden 1945 and perhaps even Hiroshima 1945. Even if a ceasefire were effectively imposed today, the eradication of the Strip seems largely accomplished. Netanyahu doesn't need more bullets. All he has to do is stall food deliveries for another month and there will be precious few Palestinians left to deal with. And he seems to have the support of most Israelis to do this. As for Trump, his only consistent principle, if you can call it that, is his venality. And it is purely personal-money in his pocket is all he cares about. It makes him very easy to manipulate and also limits the scope of his concern. He doesn't give a fig about Palestinians-they can't put a penny in his pocket. Backers of Israel can. Like Mouin, I hope a Big Mac gets him but we are not going to be that lucky. Great discussion, worst human tragedy in sometime. Mark's oft-repeated remark that Israel is the greatest threat to Diaspora jews is spot-on.
Adding on to the pessimism, recent polling shows Israel's conduct still has the support of almost half of all Americans – something like 49 percent, and the number was above 50 percent just a couple months ago. "After being informed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced that Israel would send more troops into Gaza, forcefully enter the territory, and relocate Palestinian citizens, a majority of voters (51%), including a majority of Independent voters (56%), say they are opposed to Israel launching this military escalation." https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/5/21/voters-want-trump-to-back-a-ceasefire-in-gaza-not-israels-military-operation Israel's support base is not crumbling. It is, remarkably, just as popular and resilient as Trump. Israel remains popular with Republicans, and, probably, about 20-30 percent of Americans will forever be on board with anything Israel does. Yet, plausibly, there's still a layer of largely right-leaning non-elites who can and should be persuaded – just like Trump voters. If this is so, I question whether it makes tactical sense to shame those who, for whatever reason, are just now beginning to wake up to what's wrong with the Gaza war. I get that the targets here are media and political elites, so the calculus may be different, but even there, I'm not sure.
Consistently insightful and measured commentary by Mouin, thanks for the episode
Mouin’s voice is incredibly calming talking about the worst crimes against humanity that gives absolute clarity about what is happening and it’s very appreciated through the fog of bullshit. I know he is friends with Norm so I don’t think this is out of line to link for other leftists who haven’t heard this interview with Norm. Remain steadfast however you can. https://www.patreon.com/posts/91508360?utm_campaign=postshare_fan
Those cyber trucks were actually being driven by Snyder and Stanley. Strange that you would cross paths with both refugees. What a coincidence!
Fantastic guest. Would love to hear more About the ramifications of Israel’s slaughter on its economy and just how dependent it is on US aid to stay afloat
The debt has got to be a tidal wave
Create a database of people who proliferated Israel's crimes and their evidenced statements/actions in facilitating genocide. Make it a very public thing.
In the vast pantheon of extraordinary RWN guests, Mouin is easily in my top 3, which is saying something. So grateful for his crystal clear analysis and presence.
Rabbani’s description of the Gulf Arab world and their evolving views of Israel and the US was really well stated. great analysis
Biden: "From the high window of my office In the Government of Hate, Where I stay up late, working hard, Where I make no bargains, entertain no Scenarios of reconciliation. I watch the hot flowers flare up Across the city, the state, the continent - I sip my soft drink of hate on the rocks And let the punishment go on unstopped." TH
I hope that for the next episode the Nerd calls in from Tulum after raving in a cenote with Israelis high on ketamine.
Agree. Free the Mouin ep for the masses!
Please make this one a free episode.
Something that’s been gnawing at me for weeks now: if Israel is no longer an American military outpost, what does it bring to the world? What would an isolated Israel have for negotiation with its neighbors? They have their own hummus
All they have is sex blackmail and spyware
I’m so glad you guys introduced me to Mouin the first time he was on. Always has the best analysis on Palestine.