Historian. Strategist. Myth-buster.

Walter Russell Mead joins the J100 Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on the real foundations of the U.S.–Israel relationship—and why both supporters and critics often misunderstand what actually drives it.

Mead argues that familiar narratives are backward: Israel didn’t become powerful because of an American alliance; America aligned with Israel once Israel became a regional superpower—at the moment Middle East oil and global order grew central to U.S. interests. From Truman and Stalin to Nixon and the Yom Kippur War, he shows how domestic myths (including myths about “Jewish power”) flatten a far more complex historical record.

The conversation also explores post–Oct. 7 geopolitics, the strategic meaning of weakening Iran’s regional project, Qatar’s survival logic, and why arguments about “America First” often boil down to whether Americans believe the U.S. has interests beyond its borders. Along the way: a surprising first trip to Israel involving Yasser Arafat, a childhood shaped by faith and civil rights activism, and what writing columns teaches you that books never will.

Chapters

00:00 — Why America Aligns With Israel

06:48 — Why Mead Wrote the Book

09:07 — Myths: Pro-Israel vs. Anti-Israel

15:02 — Israel’s Power, Not Jewish “Influence”

17:53 — America First, Antisemitism, and National Interest

22:10 — Oil, Order, and Keeping One Power From Dominating

29:11 — October 7, Iran, and Netanyahu’s War Leadership

46:10 — Arafat, Faith, Writing, and What Jews Miss About America

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at 

https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/why-america-backs-israel-interests?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of ”The J100 Podcast” was produced by David Taragin.

Walter's recent WSJ Article:

The Intifada Comes to Australia