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 Download Audio. Scott interviews Kyle Anzalone about the latest news in foreign policy. They discuss the escalation between the Houthis and Saudis, the differences between this round of fighting in Yemen and the last, how the Iran war is impacting domestic politics in the US and more. Discussed on the show: “More U.S. troops have died amid Iran war than Pentagon has disclosed publicly” (The Washington Post) “Destruction of Saudi Pipelines Bring Us From Crisis to Catastrophe” (The Libertarian Institute) “Defense Minister Says Pakistan Will ‘Fulfill Our Duty' to Saudi Arabia Amid Attacks from Ansar Allah” (Antiwar.com) “UN Report: Reasonable Grounds to Believe US Committed War Crimes in Iran” (The Libertarian Institute) “House Votes to End Iran War for Third Time” (The Libertarian Institute) Kyle Anzalone is news editor of the Libertarian Institute, opinion editor of Antiwar.com, co-host of Conflicts of Interest and host of The Kyle Anzalone Show. Follow him on Twitter @KyleAnzalone_  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

 Download Audio. Scott interviews writer and analyst Elfadil Ibrahim about the current state of Iraqi politics. The US-backed Iraqi government sits in a strange, awkward and concerningly unstable place between Washington and Tehran amid this ongoing war. Ibrahim breaks it all down and also provides some clarity on the recent escalation between the Houthis and Saudis. Discussed on the show: “As Baghdad tries to please Trump, Iran tells Iraqi militias not to disarm” (Responsible Statecraft) Elfadil Ibrahim is a writer and analyst covering the politics of the Middle East and Africa, with a special focus on Sudan. His work has been featured in The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The New Arab, Open Democracy and other outlets. Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

We continue reading and commentary of Ordinary Men.

One comment from Donald Trump cuts through the usual talking points: Ukraine should stop hitting Russian diesel refineries. We dig into why that matters, what it says about U.S. intelligence support for Ukrainian strikes, and how energy infrastructure attacks ripple into global diesel supply and American prices. If you've wondered why fuel feels expensive in ways that don't match the headlines, this conversation ties the pump to policy in plain terms. From there, we zoom out to the U.S. posture toward Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that Washington's real priority shows up in what it tries to protect and what it's willing to risk. We talk refinery realities, why crude type and shipping lanes matter, and how a Middle East squeeze can force Washington to “manage” the Ukraine war through restrictions and messaging instead of strategy. We also challenge claims about depleted U.S. munitions stockpiles by separating what was sent to Ukraine from what's being consumed in the Middle East, including Patriots and other high-end systems. Then we hit a fast-moving Yemen update: Ansar Allah's (Houthis) territorial gains, Red Sea choke points, Saudi vulnerability, and what it could mean for regional leverage. Finally, we stop a 9/11 anniversary clip defending the Global War on Terror and lay out why the moral story being sold doesn't match the outcomes.

 Download Audio. Eric Margolis returns to the show to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. They cover the Iran war, Netanyahu's advance knowledge of the October 7 attack, the relevance of the Epstein files to American foreign policy and more. Discussed on the show: American Raj by Eric Margolis War at the Top of the World by Eric Margolis “Revealed: Netanyahu Received an Explicit Warning Days Before Oct. 7. He Didn’t Brief Israel’s Security Chiefs” (Haaretz) “What I Know About Jeffrey Epstein” (Seymour Hersh) Eric Margolis is a foreign affairs correspondent and author of War at the Top of the World and American Raj. Follow him on Twitter @EricMargolis and visit his website, ericmargolis.com. Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

 Download Audio. Scott interviews John Dudlicek, a civil engineer from Indiana, about the critical state of America's water mains, dams and other crucial components of the infrastructure we rely on every day. John Dudlicek is a civil engineer and VP of a construction firm based in Northwest Indiana.  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

World War II is the one war we're still not allowed to talk about like history, and that's exactly why we should. I'm joined by Darryl Cooper to dig into what happens when a past conflict becomes a civic religion, complete with taboos, approved villains, and moral shortcuts that shape how Americans see today's wars. When you try to tell the German perspective with real nuance, people often assume you're “carrying water” for the worst actors. We explain why that reaction is so common, what it reveals about politics now, and how asking better questions can actually make us harder to manipulate. From there, we pivot to the 25-year shadow of 9/11 and the War on Terror. Daryl breaks down the difference between what's politically possible in the moment and what a strategic, humane response would require long term. We talk blowback, the gravity of using force overseas, and why a country can't repeatedly accept civilian deaths “in our name” without it changing who we are. If war becomes routine, moral reflexes fade, and even people who oppose these policies can end up numb. We close with a blunt look at the United States as a late-stage empire. The post-1945 order gave America a historically rare level of dominance, and the real task now is dialing back to something sustainable without triggering bigger disasters. If you care about US foreign policy, military history, and anti-war realism, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review, then tell us: what's the hardest truth Americans avoid about war today?

Bush says America didn't overreact after 9/11. We don't let that pass. Kyle Anzalone sits down with Scott Horton to walk through what Washington knew before the attacks, what it chose to ignore, and how a moment that demanded focused justice became an open-ended Global War on Terror. If you've ever wondered whether there was a serious middle ground between “do nothing” and “invade half the world,” this talk lays it out in plain terms. We dig into the intelligence warnings that piled up, the political incentives to widen the fight, and al-Qaeda's strategy of baiting the United States into a costly overreaction. Then we get specific about Afghanistan: Taliban frustrations with bin Laden, reported offers to try or transfer him if the US provided evidence, and why negotiation was dismissed even when it could have put the actual perpetrators in custody. We also revisit Tora Bora and the argument that bin Laden's escape wasn't inevitable, raising hard questions about priorities in late 2001. From there, we trace the aftershocks: the Iraq War's weak connection to 9/11, the 2001 AUMF as a permanent blank check, drone-war blowback, and the “redirection” era that helped empower extremist factions in conflicts from Syria and Libya to Yemen. We end by talking about realistic security: stopping support for violent proxies, avoiding new wars, and focusing on keeping attackers off US soil. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review with the biggest claim you agreed or disagreed with.

Dave Smith joins Kyle Anzalone for a wide-ranging conversation about Trump's failures, the changing American political landscape, and what Dave sees as the rise of “Woke 2.0.” After years of backlash against progressive politics, is the pendulum beginning to swing back? Dave and Kyle discuss whether the Trump administration's record is breathing new life into a movement many on the right believed had already been defeated. They also break down the growing frustration with Trump, the political realignment happening on both the left and right, foreign policy, war, MAGA, and where libertarians fit into an increasingly divided political environment. Is the Woke Left really making a comeback — and if so, is Trump helping make it happen?

The loudest voices keep insisting the U.S. is “winning” against Iran, but winning should be measurable and explainable, not just repeated until it feels true. We sit down with Matt Hoh to test the claims against what's happening in the Persian Gulf, where the Strait of Hormuz remains a pressure point and U.S. forces are still absorbing attacks and burning through tempo. If the public story is victory, why does the conflict look like it's settling into a long grind with no clear off-ramp? We also go straight at the most frightening escalation risk: low-yield nuclear weapons and the Washington idea that some nukes are “usable.” Matthew explains how that doctrine was built over years, why it's designed for exactly this kind of scenario, and what happens when political leaders want a dramatic finale they can sell as success. It's a conversation about incentives, not just personalities, and why a war that can't be honestly defined can still be dangerously expanded. From there we confront civilian casualties and the strike on a wedding, the familiar pattern of official denials, and the deeper question of accountability in modern U.S. air war. We talk about intelligence failures, wasted munitions, and how corporate media narratives can dull outrage even when the facts are grim. Finally, we examine the emerging sanctions-and-blockade strategy, compare it to Iraq in the 1990s and early 2000s, and ask what the economic blowback means for Americans as energy prices climb. Subscribe for more honest foreign policy coverage, share this conversation with someone who follows the Middle East, and leave a review with your take: what would a real end to this war require?

Netanyahu doesn't just hint at confrontation with Iran, he says the quiet part out loud: the aim is to bring the regime down. We play the clip, then pull apart what that means in practice, especially when U.S. leaders keep selling the war as a narrower fight about nuclear weapons and missiles. If Israel's stated […]

 Download Audio. Scott interviews Elizabeth Lane about the domestic and geopolitical situation facing the country of Georgia. Lane, who is Georgian, digs deep into the relevant history and explains how the various factions, on all sides, try to distort the historical narrative to better serve their interests. Discussed on the show: Elizabeth Lane TV  […]

 Download Audio. Scott interviews Scooter Downey, a producer at the Tucker Carlson Network, about his new documentary series on the Oklahoma City bombing. Discussed on the show: The OKCBOMB Files An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th (IMDb) Tucker's interview with Margaret Roberts The OKC Bombing Archive  Scooter Downey is a filmmaker who, […]

Hybrid warfare Is a can of worms, a fascinating conjoining of kinetic and non-kinetic means of achieving victory or stale between warring nations. This second episode examines an historical example of what I think is the closest modern hybrid warfare modality in the Japanese Empire in the 1930s leading to WWII; the.Imperial Japanese Army's Tokumu […]

AOC gets asked a simple question with enormous consequences: should Benjamin Netanyahu be arrested if he lands in the United States while an ICC warrant hangs over him? We unpack why her cautious answer lands like a warning flare for the 2028 election, especially with younger Democratic voters who want clear accountability, a real break from blank-check military aid, and an end to rhetorical gymnastics about international law. Then we shift to the right, where J.D. Vance's supposed non-interventionist image runs into a wall of donor politics and hardline messaging about Iran and Israel. We talk through what his Republican Jewish Coalition remarks suggest about where the party is headed, why “no new wars” branding keeps collapsing into escalation, and how the pro-Israel lobby can punish even friendly politicians who do not deliver everything it demands. If you care about U.S. foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, and the political incentives that keep Washington locked into the same playbook, this part connects the dots. The middle of the show turns grim and specific: U.S. strikes on Iran, reports of civilians killed, and a new embrace of “mowing the lawn” as a strategy for periodic bombing and permanent war. We dig into why that approach fails against a fortified state, how retaliation and the Strait of Hormuz can hit Americans through gas prices and supply shocks, and why escalation can push adversaries toward nuclear deterrence. We close with Ukraine, where Zelensky's warning about Russian airspace and civilian aviation raises stakes that touch international law, global travel, and the risk of catastrophic miscalculation. If this conversation helps you think more clearly, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find it.

Kyle and I talk.

“Total control” is easy to say on a podium, but war has a way of grading claims in real time. We sit down with Larry Johnson to sort through the latest reports of US strikes linked to the Strait of Hormuz, why mine warfare is still shaping the battlefield, and how a single chokepoint can rattle global oil prices, shipping risk, and energy security far beyond the Middle East. From there, we get specific about what retaliation looks like on the map: missiles hitting US bases in Jordan, what “they shot them all down” can hide, and why air base maintenance sites and warehouses are not minor targets. We also talk hard limits, including how quickly Patriot missile defenses can burn through interceptors when attacks come in waves, and what it means for the US to sustain a high-tempo conflict if stockpiles and resupply can't keep up. We then connect the shooting war to the economic war, including sanctions, fuel shortages, and the uncomfortable reality that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is not an infinite backstop. We challenge the political sales pitches too, like promised Venezuela oil windfalls that ignore heavy crude, infrastructure decay, and the years-long timeline it takes to turn underground reserves into refinery-ready supply. Finally, we confront the most chilling signal: talk of nuclear “options,” Israel's influence in US politics, and the escalation ladder that no one can confidently control once it starts moving. If you want clearer thinking on the US Iran conflict, the Strait of Hormuz, energy markets, and the risks of escalation, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a friend who follows the news, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next.

John and I continue reading and commentary on Ordinary Men.

 Download Audio. Scott interviews writer and podcast host Nolan Denaro about several columns he's written recently for Antiwar.com. They dig into the shortcomings, failures and overall depravity of the war hawks in the current MAGA movement. Discussed on the show: “JD Vance's Iran War Dilemma” (Antiwar.com) “How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran” (New York Times) “Pete Hegseth: Militarism's Ideologue” (Antiwar.com) “The War Hawks' Predictions Have Aged Like Milk” (Antiwar.com) Nolan Denaro is a political analyst, writer, and host of “The Quest For Clarity” podcast, available on YouTube and Spotify. He is a columnist at Antiwar.com, and his work has been published by Responsible Statecraft, the Libertarian Institute, The Daily Caller, and the Ludwig von Mises Institute. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, economics, and current events, with a particular focus on war and imperialism. He writes opinion pieces on his Substack, and you can follow him on X @nolandenaro. Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

Timeline, Buck’s article, my thoughts.

A foreign government buying ads on a US senator's podcast sounds like satire until you follow the money. We dig into reporting from Connor Echols at Responsible Statecraft on how Israeli government “I Am Israel” ads ran on “Verdict with Ted Cruz” and how that ad revenue, via iHeartMedia, flowed to a pro-Ted Cruz Super PAC instead of landing in a normal media account. The details are technical, but the implication is simple: commercial ad buys can quietly reshape political incentives. We walk through the campaign finance machinery that makes this possible, from Citizens United era Super PAC rules to the FEC's narrow “coordination” standard that's tough to prove. We also tackle the question listeners immediately ask: doesn't FARA kick in? You'll hear why “fair market rate” tourism ads often dodge foreign agent registration, even when the campaign's stated goal is image rehabilitation in the United States. From there, we zoom out to the wider influence battle: AIPAC-linked spending tactics, why candidates sometimes treat explicit pro-Israel branding as a liability, and what polling suggests about shifting voter attitudes on Israel and Gaza, especially among Democrats. We close with a look at how recycled World War II analogies warp debate, plus Ukraine's effort to sell itself as “the Israel of Europe” and what that means for escalation, NATO fears, and gray zone retaliation.

“Economic D-Day” might sound like a clean alternative to missiles, but economic war has its own escalation ladder. Today with guest Andrew Day, we break down the Trump administration's reported shift on Iran from overt military action to “Operation Economic Isolation,” and why secondary sanctions, trade pressure, and financial choke points can ricochet into global oil prices, medicine shortages, and the kind of retaliation that turns the Strait of Hormuz into the world's most dangerous bottleneck. We also connect foreign policy to domestic reality. If Iran tensions push gas prices up, voters feel it immediately, and that matters heading into the midterm elections. We talk through why the war's unpopularity shapes messaging in Washington, what polling on inflation signals for Republicans, and why the Democratic Socialists of America are finding momentum in a politics defined by affordability, inequality, and frustration with establishment leadership. From there, we pivot to Russia and Ukraine and the surprise headline of CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveling to Moscow. Is it a warning about a possible Russian test of NATO in the Baltics, a pressure play over Ukraine, or something even stranger? We lay out what's known, what's speculation, and why US credibility keeps taking hits when agreements get signed and then treated like they never mattered. We close with North Korea, Trump's talk of renewed outreach, and why summit-style diplomacy can slide fast from headline-grabbing “deals” into dangerous brinkmanship. If this helped you think more clearly about US foreign policy, sanctions, and diplomatic trust, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

The Strait of Hormuz is where slogans go to die. Today we take a hard look at the claim that the United States “controls” the strait because mines were cleared and surveillance is perfect, then we test that claim against something more revealing: the reported message relayed through Pakistan offering to lift sanctions if Iran reopens shipping. If Washington has control, why negotiate for access? I walk through the incentives, the contradictions, and what leverage actually looks like when global oil flows, insurance risk, and regional escalation are all tied together. We also dig into Iran's position around a memorandum of understanding and why Tehran keeps linking navigation to a broader ceasefire structure across the Middle East. Then the story gets more concrete with Oman's role. Reports of technical talks point to a phased framework for safe navigation, a permanent maritime corridor, information exchange, traffic management, and even a possible two-lane design that could give Iran and Oman real veto power over transit. If foreign military ships face new limits, that raises an immediate question about the U.S. Navy's posture with Bahrain sitting inside the Persian Gulf. From there, we zoom out to the economic war: China signals it won't let U.S. sanctions disrupt its cooperation with Iran, and we connect that stance to banking channels, yuan pricing, secondary sanctions limits, and America's own dependence on rare earth minerals like gallium. We close with the political split between Trump and Netanyahu on escalation, a critique of the “wartime footing” defense buildout, a warning sign in Ukraine about potential sabotage targeting UK-linked drone production, and why Trump's North Korea rhetoric looks like a hunt for a headline summit while Kim Jong-un's leverage grows. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review with your take on who really holds the leverage right now.

John ad I continue reading and commentary on Ordinary Men

“Economic D-Day against Iran” makes for great TV, but it only matters if the US can actually enforce it. Kyle sits down with Larry Johnson, a former CIA analyst and the writer behind Sonar21, to pressure-test the Trump administration's new sanctions push, “Operation Economic Outcast,” and the claims that it will isolate Tehran, choke off military funding, and reopen business as usual in the Gulf. We dig into what's happening around the Strait of Hormuz, why official narratives can clash with independent shipping tracker data, and how visibility, radar, and maritime traffic shape energy markets in real time. From there, we get concrete about enforcement: if Iran's trade is increasingly conducted in Chinese yuan through Chinese banks, meaningful pressure points shift from Tehran to Beijing, raising the stakes of secondary sanctions and retaliation. We also talk through the practical energy fallout, including oil supply timing, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown, and why shortages in diesel and aviation fuel can show up after a delay. The conversation then widens to the regional and security consequences that often get ignored. We discuss how decades of Washington's fixation on Iran has repeatedly empowered Sunni extremist networks, why Syria's new rulers cannot be judged by a suit and a name change, and what new flashpoints could look like, from Gulf escalation risks to Israel Turkey tensions and Netanyahu's incentives ahead of elections.

“Economic war” sounds like a tidy solution until you look at what it actually does and what it rarely accomplishes. We sit down with Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski to pressure-test the latest U.S. messaging on Iran, from claims that sanctions will prevent a nuclear program forever to louder promises that Tehran's government can be collapsed through blockade and financial pressure. We don't treat this as abstract theory. We dig into how sanctions function in practice, why they often fail to produce regime change, and how they can still escalate conflict while pretending to be restraint. We also take on the rhetoric itself. When leaders insist a rival country can “never” do something again, that's not strategy so much as a demand for total control. Karen connects that mindset to authoritarian language, public conditioning, and the way fear-based narratives get repeated until they feel normal. Along the way, we challenge oversimplified portrayals of Iran as uniquely irrational or bloodthirsty and talk about resilience: domestic production, long-built trade relationships, and why underestimating an adversary is a recurring U.S. foreign policy mistake. Then we pivot home. With Democratic Socialists winning primaries, we ask what voters are actually demanding and why so many candidates struggle to directly confront a $1.5 trillion defense budget, an unauditable Pentagon, and the broader problem of corporate welfare and crony capitalism. If you care about Middle East policy, U.S. national security, defense spending, and what real anti-corruption reform would require, this conversation ties the threads together.

A US senator gets a basic Taiwan and South China Sea question and freezes, defaulting to “I support the military.” That clip sets the tone for a hard look at how casually America treats foreign policy competence while Congress keeps voting on war funding, alliances, and the next escalation. We talk through why Taiwan policy, freedom of navigation, and China deterrence are not optional knowledge for people shaping US national security. Then we dig into the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz, where the difference between “we control it” and “we can move some oil tonight” is everything. I break down reports of US escorted tanker convoys taking the Omani route, sometimes with transponders off, and why the plan raises real questions about sustainability: fighter escort tempo, limited tanker supply, the added per ship cost, and the insurance pressure that could halt traffic if Iran decides to raise the price. We also look at the claim that Washington can pivot from military conflict to economic warfare, and why sweeping sanctions and trade crackdowns may be both impractical and dangerously escalatory. From there, we hit two more developing stories: Israel's strike in Syria and the possibility of Turkey and Israel colliding over influence after Assad's fall, plus Trump's talk of meeting Kim Jong Un while pressuring South Korea and recalibrating war games. If you care about US foreign policy, Middle East security, oil markets, and the Korean peninsula, this one connects the dots. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.

The fastest way to lose a war is to start one without an end state, and that's the thread we pull from start to finish with Jim Webb. We get specific about what “no strategy” looks like in the real world: no clear objective, no believable measure of success, and no honest accounting for what happens when the other side attacks the thing that actually powers U.S. force projection, logistics. When the plan is blurry, every headline becomes the plan, and that's how major powers stumble into disasters. We also dig into the reporting and firsthand verification Jim has received about the USS Abraham Lincoln conditions. A carrier can be a symbol of strength, but it's also a floating city that needs food, maintenance, rest cycles, and time in port. Seven months at sea without a port call is not just a hardship story, it's a readiness story, and it raises hard questions about retention, morale, and what happens to the Navy when high tempo deployments become the norm for a war of choice. From there we widen the lens to the Strait of Hormuz blockade and the gap between political talk and military reality. How many carriers can the U.S. actually keep operational, for how long, and at what cost to the fleet? We connect that to oil prices, inflation pressure, sanctions resilience, and the growing strain of funding global ambitions with a country sitting at roughly $40 trillion in debt. If you care about U.S. Iran policy, the Middle East, aircraft carrier readiness, and defense budgeting that actually matches national priorities, this conversation will challenge your assumptions. Subscribe, share the show, and leave a review, then tell us what a realistic off ramp should look like.

The centerpiece of this episode is DHP Episode 253: Academia is a Racket, which CJ produced back in late-February 2023, only about 6 months after he walked away from academia, after spending 22 years of his life in it (6 as a student & 16 as a teacher.) In this episode, CJ mostly avoided the lowest-hanging & widely understood defects of academia in recent decades — ie, the rise to hegemony of once-fringe (even in academia) “Woke” ideology, & the exorbitant costs to the students of getting a college “education.” Instead, drawing from his 22 years inside academia, he mostly focuses on structural (in the true sense of the word) problems inherent in the nature of the institution & the perverse incentives created thereby, which minimize the amount of education (in the true sense of the word) that takes place. Join CJ as he discusses the following problems with modern conventional academia: No real market feedback mechanism to indicate whether a “good education” is being provided. Overspecialization. Rigid credentialism. Too many courses online (especially at the intro/gen-ed level.) Excessive disability accommodations. Private-sector profiteering (off a captive audience & cartelized, non-competitive system.) Administrative bloat. A focus on arbitrary metrics that can be juked/gamed. Degree inflation. The accreditation agencies functioning as a cartel enforcer to artificially restrict entry & reduce competition. Ideology baked into most (if not all) disciplines, in many cases for over a century. The adversarial relationship often automatically created between student & teacher. State & corporate influence & control. Like this episode? Support the DHP on Patreon! Through Labor Day (9/7) of 2026, CJ's running a Back to (Dangerous History) School Special: There will be a 25% discount on the first year of an annual membership at any level of support, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership (also at any level of support)! If you want to get access to the upcoming multi-hour DHP Bonus Episode “Wooden Walls on the Water,” covering just about everything we know about ancient Greek warships & naval warfare, sign up as one of his Patreon supporters at the Journeyman Scholar-Warrior Level (or higher) — if you're not already one of those excellent individuals who keeps the DHP a going concern, of course!

Gas prices don't rise in a vacuum. They rise when chokepoints tighten, reserves drain, and officials pretend the pain will stay contained. We sit down with Larry Johnson of Sonar21 to pressure-test the story you're being sold about the war with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and why “it's only $4 a gallon” can quickly turn into a very different reality when global oil supply, diesel, and aviation fuel get squeezed. From there, we connect the dots to US military readiness in plain terms: reports of Iran downing a large number of US Reaper drones, the growing strain on air and missile defenses, and what it means when key munitions run low. We also get into the uncomfortable supply-chain truth behind modern warfare, including how rare earth minerals and other inputs tied to China can stall weapons production no matter how big the Pentagon budget is. The hardest part of this conversation is the human cost. We talk about Navy logistics breaking down at sea, extended aircraft carrier deployments, conditions families are describing from the USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships, and the wider mental health crisis reflected in suicide numbers since 2001. We also hit the geopolitics beyond Iran: South Korea war games, alliance management, Oman and the reality of who controls Hormuz, and Israel's escalating rhetoric on Gaza alongside questions about whether US leverage can change the trajectory. If you care about energy security, US foreign policy, military logistics, and what war looks like once the slogans fade, listen all the way through. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next.

 Download Audio. Scott interviews Arta Moeini of The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy about several articles he's written recently digging into the true risk of Trump's decision to kill Iran's supreme leader and launch this regional war in the Middle East. Discussed on the show: “The dangerous martyrdom of Khamenei” (Unherd) Kill Chain: The Rise of the High-Tech Assassins by Andrew Cockburn “Welcome to Fortress Iran” (Unherd) “Trump can forge a new Middle East” (Unherd) “The virtue of America First” (Unherd) “The Coming Multi-World: A New Civilizational Theory of International Relations” (The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy) Dr. Arta Moeini is a realist scholar of geopolitics and Managing Director at The Institute for Peace & Diplomacy in Washington DC. Follow him on X @ArtaMoeini Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

 Download Audio. Scott brings Tim Shorrock back on the show to dig into the latest developments between Trump and the leaders of both South Korea and North Korea. They discuss the specifics and the broader historical context behind these latest moves. Discussed on the show: Empire Blues with Tim Shorrock Tim Shorrock is the author of Spies For Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing and a regular contributor to The Nation and the Korea Center for Investigative Reporting. Follow him on Twitter @TimothyS and subscribe to his Substack.  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

A US aircraft carrier packed with 5,000 sailors is not supposed to become a story about empty shelves, broken plumbing, and desperate messages to families. We start there because the USS Abraham Lincoln reports don't just raise moral alarms, they raise a strategic one: if extended deployments are pushing crews to the edge, what does that say about America's ability to sustain a long pressure campaign and naval blockade tied to the US-Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz? From that human reality, we widen the lens to the region's shifting center of gravity. We dig into the Mecca Agreement and what a Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan defense alignment could mean for the future of Middle East security, especially as countries weigh whether Washington is a reliable partner when air defenses, munitions, and political priorities all feel strained. We also examine claims that Iran is rapidly rebuilding missile and drone capacity after the 2026 war, and why production rates matter more than narratives when offensive weapons can outpace defensive interceptors. Then I dismantle the Washington Post editorial argument for “containment” and more credible escalation. We walk through what containment has looked like for decades, how it can lead directly to war, and why ideas like a “more sustainable” blockade collide with fleet readiness, oil market fragility, and the limits of sanctions enforcement. If Iran gets a say on the battlefield and at the negotiating table, pretending otherwise is not strategy, it's denial.

This episode is a segment from the big Patreon Supporters-Only Bonus DHP episode CJ is currently working on, “Wooden Walls on the Water,” which will be a multi-hour deep-dive into virtually everything we know about Greek navies (especially the Athenian navy, about which we know the most) in the 5th century BC, including – but not limited to: the design & construction of triremes, the logistical & financial burdens of building & maintaining a large fleet of them, the experience of the crew, & the tactics & experience of battle, with some historical examples of important Greek naval engagements. This particular segment focuses on the oarsmen, who usually comprised more than 3/4 of a trireme’s total complement of 200 men. Join CJ as he discusses the three levels of rowers on an Athenian trireme — thalamites, zygites, & thranites — and the uncomfortable, exhausting, dangerous, & often downright disgusting conditions they dealt with when deployed on a trireme, even before they faced the hazards of battle. Like this episode? Support the DHP on Patreon! Through Labor Day (9/7) of 2026, CJ's running a Back to (Dangerous History) School Special: There will be a 25% discount on the first year of an annual membership at any level of support, or 25% off the first month of a monthly membership (also at any level of support)! If you want to get access to the full, multi-hour Patreon Bonus Episode “Wooden Walls on the Water,” from which this little segment was excerpted, sign up as one of his Patreon supporters at the Journeyman Scholar-Warrior Level (or higher), if you’re not already one of those excellent individuals who keeps the DHP a going concern. Just use coupon code 826 when signing up! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6LThrow CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING – not just these specific items – from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) A Naval History of the Pelopponesian War by Marc DeSantis A War Like No Other by Victor Davis Hanson Syracuse 415-413 BC by Nic Fields Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X CJ's PO Box Address (For Sending Him Items — Including, but not Limited to — Sacks of Gold Doubloons, Pieces of Eight, Freeze-Dried Flapjacks, etc. ) CJ Killmer Dangerous Media Productions 704 E Moody Blvd #43 Bunnell, FL 32110

Hybrid warfare Is a can of worms, a fascinating conjoining of kinetic and non-kinetic means of achieving victory or stale between warring nations. This first episode tries to lay the ground work of what it is and in the next two episodes we will examine an historical and a contemporary example of hybrid warfare in meat-space. References: Report to Congress on Russian Hybrid Warfare in Europe 11 August 2026 The Future of Hybrid Warfare Hybrid Warfare: How to Escape the Conceptual Gray-Zone The Evolution of Hybrid Warfare: Implications for Strategy and the Military Profession Richard Feynman Cargo Cult speech at CalTech 1974 RAND wish-casting on drones in 2015. Slaughterbots (2017) Slaughterbots: if human: kill() (2021) How are Drones Changing Modern Warfare? Sun Tzu The Art of War Carl von Clausewitz On War Miyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO's Contribution to Warfare Christian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare Qiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy America Email at cgpodcast@pm.me

A president who craves praise is easy to steer, and Charles Goyette argues that's exactly the danger facing US foreign policy right now. I'm joined by the New York Times best-selling author and Libertarian Institute writer to unpack his “mousetrapped” thesis: how Benjamin Netanyahu can use flattery, timing, and intelligence claims to nudge Donald Trump toward bigger risks in the Iran conflict. We walk through the mechanics of influence, including a reported decoy travel maneuver and why low-confidence intelligence can still change presidential behavior when fear and ego are involved. From the narrative of an Iranian threat to the way “tough” posturing spreads through the Beltway media ecosystem, we look at how escalation becomes normalized. We also confront the dark side of public war commentary, where calls to “obliterate” a major city get airtime as if consequences are optional. Then we bring it back to what gets ignored: leverage, accountability, and the human toll. We talk about US aid and Israel policy, political corruption allegations and market rumors, and why morale and mission clarity matter for service members living with the fallout of shifting objectives. If you care about the Israel and US relationship, Trump and Iran tensions, intelligence manipulation, and anti-intervention analysis, this is a must-hear conversation. Subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it, what part of this debate do you think the public is missing?

Trump says the war is going great and the “bully of the Middle East” is no longer in charge. We're not buying slogans, so we pull the thread on what “going great” is supposed to mean when U.S. munitions stockpiles are thinning, regional bases are taking hits, and the Strait of Hormuz still looks anything but normal for global shipping. If you care about U.S. foreign policy, oil prices, and the real costs of escalation with Iran, this conversation is built for you. I'm joined by writer Nolan Denaro, whose recent reporting cuts through the talking points. We unpack why polling shows this conflict is wildly unpopular, why there was no serious attempt to “sell” it to the public, and what that says about Washington's attitude toward consent. Then we get into the human side of it: recruiting, military-age skepticism, and why even loose talk of a draft lands differently when people think the premise is based on provable lies. We also react to Senator Chris Murphy's blunt case for ending the war even if the only deal available is a bad one. From there, we examine the politics and psychology that keep wars alive: the fear of “losing,” the need to declare victory, and the media ecosystem that keeps promising Iran is always one more round of strikes away from collapsing. Nolan breaks down JD Vance's Iran war dilemma heading toward 2028, and we close on the way Lindsey Graham's legacy is being used to justify new sanctions and a new generation of hawkish influence. If this helped you see the narrative machine more clearly, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

 Download Audio. Ron Paul joins the show to talk about Iran, the economy, Flock cameras and the prospects for liberty in the years ahead. Discussed on the show: The Ron Paul Institute Former congressman and American hero Ron Paul is the host of the Ron Paul Liberty Report and director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity. Dr. Paul is the author of numerous books, including Swords into Plowshares and The Revolution: A Manifesto. Follow him on Twitter, @RonPaul.  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

 Download Audio. Dave DeCamp returns to the show to run through the latest foreign policy news. He and Scott discuss Israel's ongoing, ceasefire-violating strikes in Gaza, the risks of another escalation between the US and Iran, the regional dynamic of the war, the risk of a nuclear strike on Iran and Washington's never-ending air campaign in Somalia. Discussed on the show: “Iran's Secret Plan to Escalate the War” (Wall Street Journal) “Another Failed 20-Year War: America vs. Somalia” (Antiwar.com) Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com and the host of Antiwar News with Dave DeCamp. Follow him on Twitter @decampdave  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

A threat is not a strategy, and it definitely is not a negotiating position. We sit down with Ambassador Chas Freeman to unpack why talk of “decapitation,” demands for compensation, and shifting US red lines do not move Iran toward a deal, they push everything toward attrition and escalation. Freeman argues credibility is the real currency of diplomacy, and once a country's signature stops meaning what it says, rivals and allies start planning around that reality. We dig into the memorandum of understanding that was supposed to set basic terms for de-escalation, including constraints on threats, questions around sanctions and frozen assets, and the high-stakes reality of the Strait of Hormuz. Freeman explains why shipping volumes matter to global oil prices and supply chains, and why public claims of US control can backfire when markets and other governments see a different picture on the water. We also talk about practical limits, including munitions shortages and the strain of projecting power far from home. From there, we widen the lens to US reputation with Russia and China, the risk calculus around Taiwan, and the pressure points that shape Washington's relationship with Israel as Netanyahu signals open defiance on Gaza and disarmament terms. We close by challenging the idea of war reparations in this conflict and what “winning” even means when diplomacy collapses. If you want clearer thinking on US Iran policy, Middle East security, the Strait of Hormuz, and the credibility crisis shaping global politics, listen through and share your take. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

The fastest way to understand a crisis is to stop arguing about talking points and look at what is physically happening. Today we do exactly that with Larry Johnson as LtCol. Karen Kwiatkowski fills in for Kyle, starting with the Strait of Hormuz and the hard question behind every headline: is it actually open, and who controls passage right now? We point listeners to real-time ship tracking, then walk through what the traffic patterns imply for global oil prices, shipping risk, and the credibility gap between public claims and observable reality. From there, we dig into Tehran's power structure and why personnel moves can change the tone and terms of negotiations. We connect the elevation of tougher security figures to a wider pattern: when moderates are removed, deals get harder, not easier. That sets up a blunt conversation about the MOU that was touted, then abandoned, plus the longer shadow of the JCPOA and how walking away reshapes what Russia, China, and other actors are willing to enforce. The practical takeaway is that “maximum pressure” can end up producing maximum leverage for the other side. We also bring the story home with what families are reporting from US Navy and Marine deployments: supply failures, substandard food, collapsing morale, and the strategic consequences of treating logistics like an afterthought. Finally, we stress-test the idea of bypassing maritime chokepoints with pipelines, including why crude oil is only part of the Persian Gulf export picture when LNG, fertilizer inputs, and helium are on the line too. If this helped you see the Iran-US conflict and energy security with clearer eyes, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What do you think is the most realistic path to reopening the strait without escalating the war?

“Golden age” is an easy line to sell. Living through the consequences of a war of choice is harder. We're joined by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson for a blunt look at where the United States stands as the Iran conflict drags on, and why the economy, the military, and public trust can't be separated when policy decisions start compounding. We talk through the gap between political messaging and real constraints: munitions shortages, JDAM kit limitations, and a defense industrial base that can't simply surge precision weapons overnight. Wilkerson explains why rare earth metals and critical inputs like gallium matter for systems Americans hear about every day, including Patriot, THAAD, and HIMARS. When supply chains tighten and tariffs add friction, readiness becomes a spreadsheet problem before it becomes a battlefield problem. If you care about U.S. national security, military readiness, and the US Iran war, this is the kind of nuts-and-bolts discussion that rarely makes the headlines. From there, we widen the lens to Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon, including the internal pressure inside Israel and the risk of escalation if Iran responds with more sophisticated missile capability. We also revisit a key historical comparison: how H.W. Bush used leverage to pressure Israel, and how U.S. politics and campaign money can shape what presidents are willing to do today. If this conversation made you rethink anything, subscribe, share the episode with someone who follows foreign policy, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What's the most undercovered risk right now: supply chains, escalation, or politics?

If you've ever watched an AI tool answer a complicated question with total confidence, you've felt the power problem hiding in plain sight. We sit down with journalist Nick Cleveland-Stout of Responsible Statecraft and Drop Site News to trace how Israeli influence operations are pushing narratives about Gaza directly into the systems people now use as “truth machines,” from chatbots to AI-powered search. We break down the reporting on millions spent to shape chatbot responses, including networks of pro-Israel websites designed to be scraped, cited, and absorbed into training data. Nick explains what he tested, what he found in real chatbot citations, and why “LLM poisoning” matters even when users never click a single link. We also talk about Foreign Agents Registration Act disclosures, why these campaigns target broad public opinion after October 7, and what it means when safeguards seem stronger for some foreign influence efforts than others. Then we zoom out to the broader ecosystem: targeted ad pushes on X, YouTube campaigns with massive view counts, and paid placements that aim to shore up conservative support. To close, we turn to a different kind of influence story with huge stakes, Trump's reported purchases of defense stocks and the conflicts-of-interest questions that follow when arms makers profit alongside expanding defense budgets and war.

A progressive primary upset turns into something much bigger when you follow the money and the message. We're rolling solo and starting with what last night's results suggest about where U.S. politics is heading: foreign policy is no longer a side issue. When wars drag on, when Israel and Iran dominate headlines, and when voters feel the cost through inflation and gas prices, they vote accordingly. I also unpack why the “jihadist” and “communist” scare talk misses the actual story, and how race-first politics on both fringes poisons any real populist reform. Then we pivot to a story that should be front-page news for anyone who flies. A Wired report points to GPS jamming tests near White Sands Missile Range and how interference can spill hundreds of miles beyond a test site. When multiple aircraft lose GPS at once, pilots and controllers get forced into backup modes under pressure. We talk through the reporting around a civilian medical flight that crashed into a mountain at night after GPS disruption, and why this raises urgent questions about military tech, FAA readiness, and public accountability. From there, we head to the Middle East for a fast-moving update: tanker incidents, reported Iran Oman talks over Strait of Hormuz routing and tolls, and the broader negotiating game between Tehran and Washington. I play a Trump clip on the 2015 Obama Iran nuclear deal and explain why undoing that framework makes any future settlement messier and more dangerous. We close with Gaza, separating talk of Hamas disarmament from the on-the-ground reality of continued territorial control and stated Israeli policy. If you want clear, detailed analysis without the spin, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it.

“We don't want regime change… but the regime has to change.” That line tells you almost everything about how Washington talks itself into bigger wars, and why the US Iran conflict keeps drifting from one stated goal to the next. We sit down with Lt Col Karen Kwiatkowski to sort out what's real, what's posturing, and what the incentives look like behind the curtain as Trump alternates between strike threats and sudden stand downs. We dig into the reported faction fight inside the White House between escalation minded voices and officials trying to slow the spiral, plus the hard constraint nobody can spin away: munitions, interceptors, and readiness. Karen explains why regime change is not a strategy, why “opening the Strait of Hormuz” is often used as a slogan instead of an operational objective, and how a lack of cultural and political understanding of Iran leads to reactive decisions that cost lives and credibility. Then we widen the lens to the regional chessboard. If the US is weakened, overextended, and seen as unreliable, who gains freedom of action? We talk about Israel's incentives, America's intelligence dependence, and the disturbing report that CENTCOM sought “creative and unconventional” ideas to punish Iran, a sign of strategic confusion rather than serious planning. We also unpack the Pentagon leadership and career pipeline that can reward recklessness while punishing accountability. If you care about US foreign policy, Middle East escalation, national security decision making, and what to watch next, this conversation will sharpen your radar. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with your take: what's the clearest off ramp from here?

A viral interview raises an uncomfortable question: what does it mean when a high-profile US political influencer sits down with a commander tied to the Azov movement and the “clean up the optics” answer is basically no? We take that clip seriously, not as clickbait, but as a window into how the Ukraine war is sold to the public, how propaganda works when facts are inconvenient, and why the neo-Nazi imagery controversy never actually went away. From there, we pull on a bigger thread that keeps showing up in foreign policy: the push to connect wars into one narrative. We talk about the incentives for Ukraine to tie itself to an Iran-centered conflict, what Israel's leadership may want, and how US priorities shift when munitions, media attention, and political will are finite. We also dig into the hard part that rarely gets discussed honestly: even if you think a war is provoked or justified, what is the endgame, and what happens to public opinion when strikes land inside Russia? We then pivot to US politics and the pro-Israel lobby ecosystem, reacting to John Fetterman's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu and what that symbolism says about party discipline, image management, and who gets rewarded. After that, we highlight journalist Sam Husseini confronting Chuck Schumer, and why real accountability often only happens when someone is willing to get shoved out of the room for asking the question. Finally, we unpack the “Morocco invaded Spain” claim by looking at Ceuta, asylum pathways, Abraham Accords-era leverage, spyware, and how migration routes tie back to destabilization across North Africa and the Sahel. If you care about Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, NATO, and the Israel lobby, this conversation connects the dots. Subscribe, share the show, and leave a review with the part you think the media is getting most wrong.

 Download Audio. Joe Kent joins the show again to discuss the risk of a major terrorist attack against Americans. He and Scott go through all the major Islamist groups around right now and weigh who poses the biggest risks of carrying out blowback terrorism. Discussed on the show: “The Islamic State in ‘Khorasan': How it began and where it stands now in Nangarhar” (Afghanistan Analysts Network) The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda by Ali Soufan Joe Kent is a retired Army Special Forces soldier who served as the director of the National Counterterrorism Center in Trump's second term until he resigned in 2026 over the war with Iran. Follow him on Twitter @joekent16jan19  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

 Download Audio. Scott brings Robert Pape back on the show. They discuss the difficult situation Trump is in as he tries to find a face-saving way out of his war with Iran. But first, Scott and Pape look back at Pape's career and previous conflicts like Iraq War I and Bosnia to assess how reliable the model he's using to analyze this current war is. Discussed on the show: Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War by Robert A. Pape The Escalation Trap Robert A. Pape is Professor of Political Science and Director of the University of Chicago Project on Security and Threats and the author of Bombing to Win: Air Power and Coercion in War. Follow him on Twitter @ProfessorPape  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

 Download Audio. Journalist Lindsey Snell returns to the show to talk about Syria. She first recounts her experience getting kidnapped by the Jihadists who now control the country. Scott and Snell then debunk all the propaganda we're being fed about Jolani and the rest of his “moderate” rebels who now, with Western backing, are closer than ever to establishing their caliphate in the Middle East. Discussed on the show: Things Aren’t Great with Lindsey Snell Lindsey Snell is a journalist covering conflict and crises in the Middle East and North Africa, especially Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Tunisia. She currently lives in Germany. Follow her on X @LindseySnell  Sign up for the Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom at scotthortonacademy.com For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/43D82oY (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/4eMQblu Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/4a5fKvx Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott's full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Tax Attorney Matt Sercely https://agoristtaxadvice.com; Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods' Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com; and Crowdhealth https://www.joincrowdhealth.com/ (use promocode Horton) You can also support Scott's work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/ or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show!

Missiles in the air, oil markets on edge, and a White House that still can't answer the simplest question: what's the plan? We start with reporting from foreign correspondent Trey Yingst on US forces having only minutes to intercept incoming Iranian ballistic missiles, then I lay out why “shock” at Iranian retaliation doesn't make sense in a war the US chose to escalate. When leaders talk like this is a surprise, it's usually a cover for something else: drift, misreads, or a narrative meant to keep the public on board. From there, I get into Trump's increasingly volatile rhetoric and an NBC News report that says top officials can't agree on an Iran strategy, with allies privately admitting there never was one. I connect that to the familiar failures of Iraq and Afghanistan: unachievable goals, no timeline, and a fantasy that a few strikes will force surrender. We also hit the AP polling that shows how little support there is for continuing the war, plus the hard reality of the Strait of Hormuz as a global energy choke point. Then we play clips of Benjamin Netanyahu as he reframes the mission around nuclear fears, denies misleading Trump, pitches pipeline workarounds, and rejects a Palestinian state by pointing to Gaza. Finally, we pivot home to the Anthony Fauci hearing and the part many people skip: Trump praised Fauci, backed lockdowns, and pushed vaccine development, and that legacy is a major piece of today's broken trust in public health. If this helped you think more clearly, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find it.

J and I discuss the Iran war, the collapsing economy, economic hardship, true grievance, and some UFC.