Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture.

Trump and Vance Pick a Fight with the Pope

April 17, 2026 50:15 10.01 MB ( 66.16 MB less) Downloads: 0

Pope Leo’s call for peace evidently didn’t sit well with President Trump. He lashed out and called the Pope bad for foreign policy, while Vice President JD Vance lectured the pontiff to be careful when opining on matters of theology. 

The president’s next move in Iran is a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, but is it an effective strategy to force negotiations, or could it backfire and possibly embolden China?

Also, what Viktor Orban’s fall as Hungary’s leader could tell us about the health of far-right movements.

Plus, we chat with Sarah Isgur about her new book that takes us inside the Supreme Court, “Last Branch Standing.” 

Producer: Leo Duran

Host: David Greene 

Guests: