The Winds Of Change Are Blowing Very Strange

The Winds Of Change Are Blowing Very Strange

How do individuals from all walks of life battle addiction? On this episode of *The World According To Ben Stein*, the focus is far less on personal recovery and more on the turbulent political landscape shaping daily life. Author and economist Ben Stein, co-host and addiction specialist Judah Friedman, and commentator Peter Roff sit down for a fast-paced, opinionated chat about power, money and the strange direction global politics seems to be heading.

You’ll hear Judah open by asking why some U.S. states and voters back questionable politicians, including a candidate with a Nazi-themed tattoo and serious allegations against him. Ben pushes back gently, while Peter argues that media and party activists hide key facts from voters and whip up "Trump derangement syndrome" rather than honest debate. The conversation then shifts to NATO, the G7, Arab money and what Judah calls "really bad actors" on the global stage.

Peter bluntly explains that wealthy Arab states attend big international gatherings because "people go there to do deals" and rich investors want in, while Ben worries aloud about "so many bad actors running around the world" and the risk that ordinary families pay the price.

From there, they move to Iran, war, and what it truly takes to win conflicts, with stark references to World War II, starvation strategies and the idea that "Israel is never allowed to win a war." Inflation and economic pain also get airtime, with Ben blaming price-fixing and Peter pointing to policy-driven money supply and supply constraints.

The style is unscripted, combative yet often humorous, with long stretches of political analysis and occasional personal asides about health, family and everyday life. If you’re someone in recovery trying to make sense of the wider chaos around you, this episode could leave you asking: how much do global decisions and "bad actors" shape the environment you’re trying to heal in?