Inside America’s most difficult hostage negotiations

Roger Carstens spent nearly five years leading hostage negotiations for the United States. He joins Jason to discuss the high-stakes work of bringing wrongfully detained Americans home—negotiating, at times, with people he fought against during his prior service in U.S. special operations.Carstens explains the role humor, humility and empathy play in negotiations and why authoritarian governments increasingly use detained journalists as political leverage. The conversation turns personal as Jason reflects on his own experiences after being released from captivity in Iran and how they have affected his understanding of freedom.Today’s show was produced by Josh Carroll and Layli Nazarova. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and Reena Flores.Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward has spent more than two decades reporting from war zones. She joins Jason Rezaian to explain why firsthand reporting matters—and what the public loses when journalists cannot reach the people living through a conflict.They discuss the threats facing local journalists in Gaza, why Ward has remained committed to journalism despite many harrowing close calls in the field, and the fractured nature of truth in the age of social media.Today’s show was produced by Josh Carroll and Layli Nazarova. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and Reena Flores.Subscribe to The Washington Post here. And watch us on YouTube here.

Jason Rezaian knows the cost of free speech. He spent 544 days in an Iranian prison for simply being a journalist.The world is witnessing the erosion of democratic values. The Freedom Desk video podcast is about what comes next in the global fight for free expression.Every week, Jason talks to one leading voice about freedoms gained, freedoms lost, who's trying to take it from us, and how we take it back. First episode drops September 9th.

The "Freedom Desk" video podcast is a new project from Jason Rezaian, Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post.

On the final episode of Sidebar, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger breakdown the shaky ceasefire between Iran and Israel – and whether it will hold. And having decided to enter the conflict, President Trump is now trying to play peacemaker.Then, the crew breaks down Trump's stunning turn of fortune since Sidebar began – from being found guilty in his New York hush money and election interference trial, to winning the presidency for a second time and seeing his federal charges dismissed.Later, the crew reflects on their time hosting Sidebar and other Washington Post coverage.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the evolving news on Iran – from trading strikes with Israel to President Trump's increasing involvement.The crew breaks down what Trump says he might do, what his endgame is – and whether Israel is luring the United States into a war of its choosing.Then, Trump's 2024 financial disclosures have been released – and the President made money from all kinds of ventures, from his golf courses to crypto to signed guitars. Which ones earned him the most money?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down just how much President Trump wants to remind you that he's Commander-in-Chief – from deploying the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles, to Saturday's military parade in D.C.Plus, Democrats accuse Trump of intentionally provoking protests in an attempt to justify escalating use of military force.And later, video journalist Anna Liss-Roy joins the show to discuss what it's like along Saturday's parade route near the White House, where tanks will drive down Constitution Avenue.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the Republican drama surrounding President Trump's signature "Big, beautiful bill" – starting with the dramatic social media breakup occurring between Trump and Elon Musk. And are GOP senators on board with Trump's plan?Then, Trump seems to be reacting to that drama by creating distractions – from a new travel ban to a dubious investigation of his predecessor.Plus, former president Joe Biden's former White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, says she's leaving the Democratic Party. Why?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down some of the most controversial provisions in Republicans' giant spending and immigration bill: Provisions that would affect Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.While the bill has already passed the GOP-controlled House, it might have a tougher time getting through the Senate, where some Republican senators have already expressed doubts – like Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Ark.), who has said it is “wrong to cut Medicaid for the working poor.”Plus, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told a town hall last week that "we all are going to die," then doubled down in an Instagram video on Saturday. Is that a politically risky move – or just what Trump would do?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe to delve inside the ongoing drama in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's inner circle: Who is at odds with whom, and what does it mean for Hegseth's job security.Then, President Trump has been on a spree of issuing pardons and commutations for convicted felons – many of whom are his supporters. The crew breaks down who got pardons, and why.Finally, Elon Musk is out of government; did he accomplish what he set out to do, and was it a success?