Episode

Obama staffer Ben Rhodes on Iran negotiations and the battle for American identity

Podcast: Fresh Air
Published: May 27, 2026
Duration seconds: 2636
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Canonical source: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/27/nx-s1-5836547/obama-staffer-ben-rhodes-on-iran-negotiations-and-the-battle-for-american-identity
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Summary

Ben Rhodes was a speechwriter and Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama. He spoke with Terry Gross about his experience negotiating with Iran during his time in the White House, and his read of the current conflict. His new book, ‘All We Say,’ is a collection of 15 speeches — from Ben Franklin to President Trump — about what it means to be American. He also reflects on collaborating with President Obama on one of his most impactful speeches, like the so-called "race speech." See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy