Radio War Nerd EP 587 — Saudi Arabia, feat. Malise Ruthven + Iran War Update, feat. Annibale

What this episode covers

Guest: Malise RuthvenRecorded: February 27, 2026 & March 6, 2026* We talk to historian-journalist Malise Ruthven about his book on Unholy Kingdom: Religion, Corruption and Violence in Saudi Arabia, on the history of Wahhabism and the Saudi ruling family, and on contemporary Saudi politics, relations with Iran, and the Crown Prince, "Bonesaw" MbS. Our interview was recorded the day before Bonebrain Trump unleashed his war on Iran, so we re-recorded the introduction this morning to give an update on the war with friend of the show Annibale, who lays out some of the war's likelier & less likely scenarios. First - our war update with AnnibaleAt 54:22 - our interview with Malise Ruthven Buy Malise Ruthven's book Unholy Kingdom: Religion, Corruption and Violence in Saudi Arabia (Verso). We also discuss some of his other books, including The Divine Supermarket: Travels in Search of the Soul of America (Bloomsbury) + Torture: The Grand Conspiracy. Total time: 2:08:12Direct link to this episode's mp3 here * Buy & review John Dolan's new book, They Should Have Been Hanged: War Nerd Essays on the U.S. Civil War Subscribe to Radio War Nerd at patreon.com/radiowarnerd Sound production by Telescope Audio