New York Times correspondent David Sanger says that Iran and its proxies are posing new challenges: "We're seeing outbreaks of low-level but highly damaging conflict all over the region." Also, John Powers reviews the new Mexican film Tótem. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Terry Gross.
The regional war in the Middle east, the war that no one wanted, is already here, and it may be difficult to contain, warns my guest David Sanger.
Hes a White House and national security correspondent for the New York Times.
He writes that Iran and its proxies are posing a new challenge to the west.
Now Russia and China are on Irans side.
This week, the UN secretary general warned that all the countries and militias involved in escalating tension in the Middle east should step back from the brink and consider the horrendous human cost of a regional conflict.
David Sanger has been reporting on how and why the war has been widening.
Hes the author of the forthcoming book new Cold wars, Chinas rise, Russias invasion, and the struggle to defend the west.
We recorded our interview yesterday.
David Sanger, welcome back to Fresh Air.
Great to be with you, Terry.
The war between Israel and Hamas has already widened into a regional war.
Can you just connect the dots through who's attacking who?
Sure.