John Mearsheimer - Offensive Realism

About John Mearsheimer - Offensive Realism

The official podcast of Prof. John Mearsheimer

Publisher

John Mearsheimer

Category

government · news · science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Jul 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

5 of 19 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Did Russia Manipulate Mearsheimer? | Ask The Professor

   Professor John Mearsheimer explains how he separates genuine insight from propaganda after his Russia visit, detailing his independent analysis of NATO expansion causing the Ukraine war.

2. 

   16 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Why Can’t America Contain China? | Ask The Professor

   John Mearsheimer explains why America struggles to contain China, detailing the shift from engagement to containment and its impact on global strategy.

3. 

   14 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   We Can't Help Saudi Arabia | Ask the Professor

   Professor John Mearsheimer explains to Sam Baker why the U.S. struggles to provide Saudi Arabia with effective air defenses, highlighting the offensive advantage in modern warfare.

4. 

   13 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Why Hamas Really Attacked Israel on Oct. 7 | Episode 12

   Political scientist John Mearsheimer explains Hamas's motivations behind the October 7th attack on Israel, offering a critical analysis of the event's underlying causes.

5. 

   9 Oct 2026

   We’ll Never Beat the Houthis

   John Mearsheimer explains why a war against the Houthis is not a viable strategy, even with Iran's involvement.

6. 

   7 Oct 2026

   The Korean War: America vs China | Ask The Professor

   Professor John Mearsheimer analyzes the Korean War, detailing America's conflict with China and its pivotal moments.

7. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Episode 11: Trump Can’t Bluff Iran into Surrender

   Political scientist John Mearsheimer explains why Trump's aggressive stance will not force Iran into surrender, offering insights into international relations.

8. 

   3 Oct 2026

   Forget Vietnam, You Get Iran And Iraq | Ask The Professor

   Political scientist John Mearsheimer discusses how the Vietnam War informs his views on international relations and its contemporary relevance in this interview.

9. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Will China Attack Taiwan? | Ask The Professor

   Professor John Mearsheimer explains why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is unlikely in the next decade, detailing the single scenario that could alter this prediction in this interview.

10. 

    29 Sept 2026

    Episode 10: The Inescapable US-China Rivalry

    Political scientist John Mearsheimer explains how the US-China rivalry is an inescapable consequence of great power competition.

11. 

    22 Sept 2026

    Is Ukraine Committing National Suicide?

    Iuliia Mendel, former press secretary to President Zelensky, argues Ukraine's current war strategy leads to national suicide, offering a critical perspective on the conflict's devastating impact.

12. 

    16 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT

    Episode 8: The Russia I Saw

    John Mearsheimer shares insights from his recent trip to Russia, detailing conversations with figures like Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about the Russian security community.

13. 

    9 Sept 2026

    Episode 7: A Must Read Book on the Israel Lobby

    John Mearsheimer discusses Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick's new book, "Israel's Lobby," exploring its insights into the US-Israeli relationship and the foreign power's influence.

14. 

    1 Sept 2026

    Episode 6: Why Ukraine Is Doomed

    John Mearsheimer, a renowned international relations scholar, argues why the prevailing Western narrative on the Ukraine war is fundamentally flawed, revealing Russia's true strategic advantage.

15. 

    24 Aug 2026

    Episode 5: The False Promise of Tactical Nuclear Weapons

    Host John Mearsheimer argues that the US pursuit of tactical nuclear weapons offers a false promise, leading to catastrophic consequences rather than meaningful victory.

16. 

    17 Aug 2026

    Episode 4: The MOU Is Dead! Can a Blockade Save Us?

    Host John Mearsheimer analyzes the failed Memorandum of Understanding and argues a naval blockade cannot save the US from Iran's demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

17. 

    11 Aug 2026

    Episode 3: Iran Has Trump Over A Barrel

    Host John Mearsheimer, PhD, analyzes why President Trump's rejection of the Iran MOU weakened US leverage in this interview.

18. 

    3 Aug 2026

    Episode 2: Trump Must Admit Defeat In Iran

    Political scientist John Mearsheimer explains why President Trump must admit defeat in Iran to avoid worse outcomes for the US.

19. 

    30 Jul 2026

    Episode 1: Origins of the War In Ukraine

    John Mearsheimer explains conventional deterrence and Russian thinking to analyze why Ukraine was not deterred from attacking.

Inside a recent episode

Did Russia Manipulate Mearsheimer? | Ask The Professor

Published 19 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I don't think that happens at all. I think in almost all of the cases I've dealt with over the many years I've been in this business, people pretty much tell you what they think. certainly true in the academic world, but I've always found that to be true in the policy world. And when you're talking about people like Viktor Orban or Sergei Lavrov, you're talking about people who have rich track records of commentary. They have stated their views very clearly on numerous occasions. And when you get together and talk to people like that, you're talking about what they've said in the past and what they say when you meet them invariably is a repeat of what they have said in the past. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

21 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

75 ratings

Contact John Mearsheimer - Offensive Realism

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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