The Arab King and the American Republic

How does a Western-educated king survive — and thrive — in the political chaos of the Middle East for more than 25 years? Aaron Magid, a journalist formerly based in Jordan, discusses his book The Most American King: Abdullah of Jordan, exploring the fascinating story of Jordan's King Abdullah II: a monarch shaped by American culture, dependent on American support, yet ruling one of the region's most fragile and strategically vital countries. From Georgetown and Star Trek to Gaza, the Arab Spring, ISIS, Trump, Obama, and the future of the Hashemite Kingdom — this conversation dives deep into the balancing act that has kept Jordan stable while the region around it burns. Why does Washington invest billions in Jordan? How "American" is King Abdullah really? Can authoritarian stability survive economic despair? And how has Jordan managed to weather every regional storm? A timely conversation about power, survival, diplomacy, and the quiet importance of Jordan in Middle Eastern politics.