Podcasts about baltics

Human settlement goes back thousands of years in the region of the Baltics that would become Lithuania. Like so many Baltic states, it went from being a significant regional power to one that was subjugated by the Soviet Union for decades. This is a proud land that has its own legends and haunted locations. Join us for the history and hauntings of Lithuania. This Month in History features Boris Yeltsin elected. Check out the website: http://historygoesbump.com Show notes can be found here: https://historygoesbump.blogspot.com/2026/07/hgb-ep-647-haunted-lithuania.html Become an Executive Producer: http://patreon.com/historygoesbump Music used in this episode: Main Theme: Creepy Carnival Theme  Created and produced by History Goes Bump Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (This Month in History) "In Your Arms" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  Pod wiejskim słońcem by Sasha Ende at ende.app Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week we talk about Russia, Ukraine, and the Warsaw Pact.We also discuss Patriot interceptors, Hungary, and Article 5.Recommended Book: The Alternative by Nick RomeoTranscriptThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, was founded in the wake of WWII, in 1949, in order to affirm unity between non-Soviet European nations, Atlantic nations like Greenland and Iceland, and the US and Canada, over in North America.The main purpose of this unity was to establish a sort of firewall around the western perimeter of the Soviet Union, which at the time was the only global superpower other than the US, because much of the world, but especially Europe, was struggling to recover from the destruction wrought during the second world war, and the Soviets had made pretty clear that they intended to take over everything: they'd already gobbled up most of their neighbors, creating an increasingly expansive buffer zone of Soviet states around their central, Russian territory, and most of the conflicts still playing out, or threatening to play out, globally at this point were either overt or slightly concealed proxy fights between the capitalist democratic forces of the West and the authoritarian, Stalinist forces of the Eastern Soviet bloc.NATO was thus a wall of nations that said, hey, if you attack any of us, that will mean you're attacking all of us. And that ‘all of us' included the United States, which was the only individual force capable of standing up to the Soviets at this point, due to its massive conventional military force, and the threat posed by its huge, and still growing, nuclear weapons arsenal.The Soviet counter to NATO was called the Warsaw Pact, which formed in 1955, and these rival alliances carved up Europe during the latter half of the 20th century, until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.As military alliances go, NATO has been fairly successful—Article 5, the portion of the agreement that triggers if a NATO member is attacked, calling the other members to come to their aid, was only activated once, following the terrorist attacks on the US on September 11, 2001; that led to NATO involvement in the US's attacks on Afghanistan in subsequent years, though NATO forces also periodically got involved in other regional conflicts, like the Kosovo War in 1999, and the Libyan Civil War in 2011, in both cases working with the UN to protect civilians from the actions of violent leaders or assailants. But beyond that, no one, including the Soviets, messed with NATO.NATO has since accepted sixteen new member states, and that expansion is one of the supposed rationales for Russian President Putin's invasion of Ukraine. During Putin's first presidency, Russia and NATO had been on pretty solid, even cooperative terms, which had some questioning the point of the treaty, since it was originally formed to counter Russian aggression. In Putin's second presidency, though, things took an antagonistic turn, and when Russia illegally invaded and annexed a part of Ukraine, called Crimea, back in 2014, NATO ceased all cooperation with Russia.When Russian forces launched a full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO suddenly seemed more important than ever, as a reinvigorated Russia, with the stated purpose of, in Putin's words, reclaiming portions of Europe that were previously part of the extended Soviet Union, parts of the Warsaw Pact, that posed a serious threat to just about everyone, especially European nations that border Russia and Russian allies, like Belarus.What I'd like to talk about today is the 2026 meeting of NATO leaders, and the general state of affairs on the ground in Ukraine, as of mid-2026.—Leaders of NATO member nations typically meet for a summit each year, though the schedule varies a bit, depending on the needs of the moment, and whether there are any NATO-relevant crises that might nudge things forward or cause them to be delayed.The 2026 NATO summit was held in Turkey's capitol city, Ankara, on July 7 and 8. It was the second such summit hosted by Turkey, and the 36th NATO summit, overall.This meeting was notable for several reasons, many of them directly related to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, but also the US's continued ambivalence, at times bordering on active antagonism, toward the treaty, under the Trump administration.Over the course of the past 4 years, Russia has continued to make threats toward the rest of Europe, implying or suggesting that it might have to act militarily against its NATO-member neighbors. During the same period, the US has criticized European NATO member states for not carrying their own weight, most of these nations not spending enough of their GDP on their military and defense infrastructure, in accordance with their treaty obligations, and most more or less relying on the US's military (and nuclear) umbrella to threaten would-be attackers.This has long been the NATO state of affairs, but under the Trump administration, the US made it a point of contention. And though it's been a relatively slow process—it's not easy for a government to pivot toward that scale of remilitarization—these nations have agreed to a 5% of GDP target for defense and defense-related spending by 2035, and in the last year alone, European and Canadian defense spending has increase by 20%; not all of which is immediately convertible into useful, front-line assets and soldiers, but it does represent a significant change to the status quo, which could eventually, in less than a decade, result in a European front-line that's more European and less NATO, for the first time since that immediate post-WWII period.This meeting also featured a reaffirmation of Article 5, which has always been there and in effect, but some analysis has questioned whether NATO allies, including the US, would actually step up if Russia were to attack the Baltics, for instance. This is a seemingly small move that serves to underline that stance of, if you attack one of us, you've attacked all of us, at a moment in which Russia seems to be toying with the idea of picking off pieces of the alliance, to see if they can get away with it, like they did with Crimea back in 2014.There were also announcements related to a fresh $50 billion in defense industry deals, NATO members investing heavily in US-made arms and new assets from elsewhere across the bloc, and a lot of that money is going to drone-war infrastructure and militarized AI models that they hope will prepare NATO for current and next-generation conflicts. Another $217 billion in additional financing commitments from banks across the bloc have also been announced.Ukraine scored some pretty big wins at this year's NATO summit, getting a license from the US to build Patriot interceptors, the lack of which have resulted in big gaps in the country's defense system, and about $80 billion in military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukrainian forces was committed by the bloc. There was also a verbal commitment that NATO and its allies “stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.” Which isn't nothing, at a moment in which the US is led by Trump, a person who has frequently sided with Putin in Ukraine-related matters.Ukraine has also signed some bilateral drone deals with NATO member states, reaffirming that Ukraine has become one of the most in-demand experts on this subject, at a moment in which it's becoming clearer and clearer that low-cost, high-impact drones and similar technologies are likely to dominate battlefields for the foreseeable future.There were also some tensions, mostly sparked by Trump, over his administration's desire to buy Greenland, which is not a notion that's supported by anyone else in the bloc, and the lack of NATO support for the US's war in Iran.Overall, though, there was a decent sense of unity and progress, and Ukraine, again, not a NATO member state, but a nation that hopes to eventually join NATO, received a warm welcome and a bunch of support, which hasn't always been the case at recent summits.Part of that warmth is likely the consequence of Ukraine's recent victories on and off the battlefield.Russian continues to pummel Ukrainian cities and kill Ukrainian soldiers and civilians en masse, but Ukraine has managed to keep them from gobbling up territory on scale, and in some recents months, has actually taken territory back. They've also gotten very good at successfully attacking Russian infrastructure, especially energy infrastructure, like oil refineries, cargo tankers, and energy storage facilities, across the entire expanse of Russia; something few experts would have predicted that Ukraine would be capable of doing at the beginning of this conflict. This has dramatically weakened Russia's economy, at least in the short-term.Ukraine now has a thriving defense industry, predicated on the rapid iteration of inexpensive but disproportionately sophisticated arms, especially drones and other aerial weapons, but also autonomous speed boats and other such asymmetric systems. Russia has been frantically upgrading its systems, too, but now that Ukraine has figured out methods for bypassing or overwhelming Russian defenses, it's been able to strike, quickly and repeatedly, high-value targets that have brought the war home to normal Russians who live far from the front lines, even in Moscow. That combined with strategies and weapons that have turned the frontlines into a meat-grinder for Russian soldiers has weighed heavily on Russian morale, at least for those with boots on the ground.As a consequence of those energy infrastructure attacks, the Russian government has been forced to ration some types of energy product—a huge embarrassment for a country that has at times been called a gas station run by a mafia, their energy products are fundamental to who they are, and their economy—and Russians in Crimea, which was taken from Ukraine more than a decade ago, have been fleeing, as this peninsula is close to Ukraine, is part of Ukraine, just occupied by Russia right now, and has several vulnerable arteries through which people and supplies are shipped from Russia, and those arteries have been frequently attacked and are difficult to protect.Ukraine is still persistently on the back foot, then, and still facing an enemy that has essentially every advantage, from money to manpower to foreign support to the size of its arsenal.Against all odds, though, Ukraine continues to not just hold its ground, but to build up its military capabilities, innovate on existing models, and perform high-leverage attacks against its in every way superior invader; which is, in turn, netting it more support from outside allies that have, at times, wavered—and that's especially true of the US under the Trump administration, but until recently the EU's support has also been hamstrung by the recently usurped Hungarian leader, and Putin ally, Viktor Orbán. Following Orbán's ouster, the EU was able to move forward with paused support commitments, though, and while Trump is still holding back on much of the same from the US, there's a chance that more success by Ukraine will continue to tip the balance away from total freeze-out, to more, and more substantial, if perhaps still grudging, support.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATOhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Ankara_NATO_summithttps://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-occupation-update-july-9-2026/https://acleddata.com/monitor/ukraine-conflict-monitorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_war_(2022%E2%80%93present)https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/world/europe/a-license-to-make-patriot-defense-systems-may-be-a-big-boost-for-ukraine.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/world/europe/ukraine-russia-patriot-air-defense.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/07/04/world/europe/ukraine-russia-crimea-war-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/world/europe/ukraine-patriots-trump-russia.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/08/world/europe/russia-nato-europe-ukraine.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/world/europe/nato-trump-rutte-ankara-turkey.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/03/world/europe/putin-ukraine-donbas-battlefield-visit.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/03/world/europe/russia-gas-shortages.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/02/world/europe/russia-ukraine-military-battlefield.htmlhttps://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-oil-trump-zelenskyy-putin-6cb5602f1cf309533ed0cf5c734e19d8https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70yd1g67z5ohttps://www.france24.com/en/russia-bans-oil-exports-as-ukraine-strikes-cause-fuel-shortageshttps://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-creates-long-range-military-071810180.htmlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/10/ukraine-russia-crimea-fuel-oil.htmlhttps://www.dw.com/ru/reuters-rf-perekryla-azovodonskoj-kanal-posle-atak-bpla/a-77913327https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/10/politics/senators-agreement-trump-administration-russia-sanctionshttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/10/ukraine-war-briefing-kyiv-reaches-political-agreement-with-us-on-patriot-interceptor-production-licenceshttps://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/nato-trump-rutte-ukraine-russia-us-iran.htmlhttps://www.atlanticcouncil.org/dispatches/eleven-takeaways-from-the-nato-summit-in-ankara/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/five-key-takeaways-from-the-nato-summit-in-ankarahttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/8/nato-pledges-70-billion-euros-for-ukraine-as-trump-praises-peace-progress This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Nine post-Soviet states now sell residency to foreign investors, and Belarus could soon become the first in the former USSR to sell citizenship outright. IMI covers all nine, from the EU passport routes in the Baltics to an underperforming program in Moscow to newer golden visa options in Central Asia.Read the full analysis here.Access a suite of powerful tools and the world's #1 private investor community as an IMI Sovereign. Use code SOV10 for 10% off your first month.

NATO's future remains in doubt as Donald Trump again threatens to pull U.S. troops from Europe. But the practical stakes of these debates aren't always clear. What military capabilities does Europe stand to lose? How long would it take to replace them? And how might Russia exploit any gap?  Sophia Besch, a German expert on European defense policy who has worked inside NATO, joins The World Unpacked to explore U.S. pullout scenarios — up to and including Russian attacks on the Baltics. She and host Jon Bateman dig into Europe's historic rearmament, its chance to invent a new way of war, and why peace in Ukraine could unleash new dangers.  Find the episode transcript and streaming audio, and get the show direct to your inbox, here: https://carnegieendowment.org/preview/podcasts/the-world-unpacked/how-europe-fights-russia-without-the-us  Host: Follow Jon on X: https://x.com/JonKBateman  Guest: Sophia Besch: https://x.com/SophiaBesch

Behind the political theatre $50bn worth of procurement plans were announced at the NATO summit, from artillery shells to airlift and space capabilities.Sitrep explains who's buying what and why with the help of the UK's first Director of Joint Warfare, retired Air Marshal Greg Bagwell.Professor Michael Clarke assesses whether this will improve Europe's defences, or simply turn into a game of whack-a-mole filling gaps left by the US. And the alliance has rebranded its air-policing mission in the Baltics to “air-defence”. What practical difference does that make, and will it require the RAF to contribute more?

As NATO leaders gather for the annual summit in Turkey today, the thorniest issue is off the agenda: fractures within the alliance. Our correspondent travels to the Baltics, where a strategic shift is already evident. First there was vibe coding, now vibe lawyering is coming to courtrooms. And day two of our great American roadtrip down Route 66.  Guests and host:Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editorAnna Kerr, senior audience editorJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: NATO, Ukraine, AnkaraVibe lawyering, vibe coding, courtroomRoute 66, CaliforniaListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As NATO leaders gather for the annual summit in Turkey today, the thorniest issue is off the agenda: fractures within the alliance. Our correspondent travels to the Baltics, where a strategic shift is already evident. First there was vibe coding, now vibe lawyering is coming to courtrooms. And day two of our great American roadtrip down Route 66.  Guests and host:Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editorAnna Kerr, senior audience editorJon Fasman, senior culture correspondentRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence”Topics covered: NATO, Ukraine, AnkaraVibe lawyering, vibe coding, courtroomRoute 66, CaliforniaListen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to The Economist.For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,589.Russia's fuel crisis continues, to the intense frustration of ordinary Russians, and to the delight of Ukrainians, who are trolling Russians by flooding a fuel availability app with fake reviews. After Ukraine's attack on the NORSI oil refinery in Kstovo, 800km inside Russia, Alex Nichol reports on how Kyiv is shutting down more energy facilities in occupied areas. Adelie dives into reports that Moscow is planning an attack on Poland and the Baltics to test Nato. Plus, authorities in Germany have just accused Kyiv of sanctioning the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline attack. Finally we hear from Dr Jade McGlynn, occupied territories expert, on what comes next for Crimea – isolation or liberation?Contributors:Adelie Pojzman-Pontay (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @Adeliepjz on X.Alex Nichol (Telegraph journalist).Dr Jade McGlynn (Occupied Territories Expert, King's College London).Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Tom SteedStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Russia planning attack on Poland to test Nato resolve, US warns (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/03/russia-planning-attack-on-poland-test-nato-resolve-us-warns/Ukrainian refugees face eviction amid Poland and Kyiv spat (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/02/ukrainian-refugees-face-eviction-amid-poland-kyiv-spat/EU shipyard races to service Putin's LNG fleet before sanctions bite (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-shipyard-races-to-service-russia-vladimir-putin-lng-fleet-before-sanctions-bite/The ‘Waze of Petrol', according to Dr Jade McGlynnhttps://estbenzin.ru/Ukrainian Digital Media Archivehttps://duma.org.ua/EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.Thumbnail image credit: Unmanned Systems Forces of UkraineHIGHLIGHTS:Russia planning attack on Poland to test Nato, US warns as Ukraine strikes shut down oil refineries in occupied territories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this edition of The World According to Irina Tsukerman, the bi-weekly geopolitical series on The KAJ Masterclass LIVE, host Khudania Ajay (KAJ) examines a series of fragile agreements and escalating tensions across multiple fronts with Irina Tsukerman, a US-based national security and human rights lawyer, renowned geopolitical analyst, and Editor-in-Chief of The Washington Outsider. Together, they explore the rapidly evolving Iran-US situation, the trilateral Israel-Lebanon-US framework agreement and whether it can truly disarm Hezbollah, the deepening Poland-Ukraine diplomatic feud, Russian provocation warnings in the Baltics, and Trump's planned 2027 India visit announced far in advance.

Day 1,585.After a weekend that saw Ukraine's Constitution Day celebrated with yet more lengthy queues at petrol stations in Russia and Crimea – a situation not helped by Russian oil refineries continuing to self-sanction – Putin shrugs that these ‘difficult' days are just a speed bump on the road to inevitable victory. Dom and Francis ponder on Alexander Lukashenko's slightly odd weekend jaunt to China via Putin's lakeside retreat in Valdai – at least we now know what all the extra air defence was shipped in for – and ask, is he looking for a new best friend? And finally, after news of a mass shooting in the northern German city of Stade, they speak to Berlin correspondent James Rothwell who has been reporting on NATO preparations for a possible future Battle of the Baltics.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Host on Ukraine: The Latest). @DomNicholls on X.James Rothwell (Berlin Correspondent). @JamesERothwell on X.Producer: Rachel PorterSenior Producer: Lilian FawcettVideo Producer: Sophie O'SullivanSocial Producer: Gabby ColvinStudio Director: Meghan SearleExecutive Editor: Francis DearnleyCreated by David KnowlesNOW IN FULL VIDEO WITH MAPS & BATTLEFIELD FOOTAGE:Every episode is now available on our YouTube channel shortly after the release of the audio version. You will find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@UkraineTheLatest CONTENT REFERENCED:Putin: Russia is facing problems in Ukraine war (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/putin-russia-is-facing-problems-in-ukraine-war/ Nato prepares for the Battle of the Baltics (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/23/nato-prepares-battle-baltics/ We're ready to fight Russia tonight, vows head of German air force (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/15/luftwaffe-chief-warns-russia-german-ready-to-fight-for-nato/ How German trains became the shame of a nation (James Rothwell for The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/28/how-german-trains-became-the-shame-of-a-nation/ Germany considers return of military conscription (The Telegraph)https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/06/27/germany-considers-compulsory-conscription-defence-russia/ Turkey Offers to Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks (Kyiv Post)https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79139 Putin Says Expecting US Negotiators Once US Less Busy With Iran (Kyiv Post)https://www.kyivpost.com/post/79177 Serbian President Vučić says he will resign within ‘weeks' (Politico)https://www.politico.eu/article/serbian-president-vucic-says-he-will-resign-within-weeks/ Stray Ukraine drones worth the price of hitting Russia, says Estonian minister (Financial Times)https://www.ft.com/content/f487526b-9646-456b-bccb-001f31090919?syn-25a6b1a6=1 EMAIL US:Contact the team on ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk. We continue to read every message, and seek to respond to as many as possible.HIGHLIGHTS:Putin confesses 'problems' in Ukraine war for first timeReports of fuel hoarding across Russia after long-range Ukrainian strikes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone hosts while Chuck Warren is out of studio for a packed episode covering artificial intelligence, personal autonomy, NATO's eastern flank, government fraud, gun rights, true crime, and the economy. First, Dr. Keith Ablow joins the show to discuss the psychological impact of AI technologies like ChatGPT and what happens when people outsource creativity, critical thinking, and even their sense of reality to machines. Dr. Ablow is a New York Times bestselling author, mental health expert, and co-founder of Help22. He has appeared across national media to discuss psychology, culture, and personal growth. He also runs Pain-2-Power, a counseling and life coaching platform focused on personal and organizational empowerment. Dr. Ablow warns that technological dependence can weaken individual autonomy, increase groupthink, and make it harder for people to stay grounded in truth. Follow Dr. Keith Ablow on X @keithablow Check out his counseling and life coaching platform dedicated to personal and organizational empowerment Pain-2-Power: www.pain-2-power.com Then, Alex Welz of the Washington Free Beacon joins Sam to share what he learned from his recent trip to NATO's eastern flank, including Finland, the Baltics, and Poland. Welz explains how Ukraine's resilience has shifted the center of gravity inside NATO, why Eastern Europe is taking security more seriously, and how Russia, China, and Iran are all influencing the region's future. Follow Alex Welz on X @WelzAlex Later, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen joins the show to discuss his participation in the Trump administration's Anti-Fraud Roundtable, the fight against Medicaid and federal program fraud, Biden-era gun policies, cooperation with ICE, and Montana's new citizenship marker program for driver's licenses and ID cards. You can follow Attorney General Austin Knudsen on X @MTAGKnudsen In B's Crime Corner, B breaks down the 1997 Heaven's Gate cult suicide, where 39 members died in a California mansion after leaving behind exit interviews, detailed instructions, and one of the most disturbing chapters in modern true crime history. Finally, Gary Gygi of Gygi Capital joins Sam to talk about inflation, work-from-home policies, productivity, and the future of SpaceX and Starlink. You can follow Gary Gygi on X @GaryGygi Website: gygicapital.com Listen now to Breaking Battlegrounds for conversations on Arizona politics, campus unrest, election integrity, national campaigns, and the true crime cases everyone is talking about. Tune in to Breaking Battlegrounds, the radio show covering the latest news, politics, culture, crime, and the stories shaping America. Catch Breaking Battlegrounds live on 960 AM in Phoenix every Saturday at 9:00 AM, with full episodes and exclusive podcast-only segments dropping every Friday wherever you get your podcasts or watch on Youtube. Stay connected with Breaking Battlegrounds: • Substack: https://substack.com/@breakingbattlegrounds • Website: https://breakingbattlegrounds.vote • News: https://breakingbattlegrounds.news • X: https://x.com/breaking_battle • Instagram: @breakingbattlegrounds • Facebook: Breaking Battlegrounds If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review and share it with a friend. Your support helps keep the podcast growing. Breaking Battlegrounds is one of the top 2.5% most popular shows out of 3,779,399 podcasts globally. We interview policymakers, elected officials, and nationally and world-recognized reporters about the opportunities and hurdles the United States faces

Anatol Lieven discusses NATO's top US commander, General Grynkewich, who states Russia is not looking for conflict despite European concerns about US military withdrawals. Lieven agrees, noting that the Russian army is bogged down in Ukraine, making a deliberate attack on NATO members like the Baltics appear militarily absurd. (1)1919

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-11-26.1900 BRUSSELSAnatol Lieven discusses NATO's top US commander, General Grynkewich, who states Russia is not looking for conflict despite European concerns about US military withdrawals. Lieven agrees, noting that the Russian army is bogged down in Ukraine, making a deliberate attack on NATO members like the Baltics appear militarily absurd. (1)Anatol Lieven examines rising anti-immigrant tensions in the United Kingdom, where violent demonstrations in Belfastand England highlight growing public anger toward sudden demographic changes and crimes allegedly committed by asylum seekers. Lieven suggests these tensions are politically explosive, potentially forcing a leadership change in the Labour Party if right-wing parties continue to gain ground. (2)Leila Philip discusses the ancient Algonquin legend of Great Beaver, an environmental parable about resource hoarding and the creation of the Connecticut River Valley. The story reflects traditional ecological knowledge, emphasizing the beaver's immense power to control the water cycle and shape resilient landscapes. (3)Cliff May argues that Qatar utilizes its vast energy wealth to buy influence through professional sports, media platforms like Al Jazeera, and university campuses. He argues these investments allow the state to manipulate Western academic discourse and hedge political bets while hosting major US military assets. (4)Jack Burnham discusses China and North Korea's strategic alignment, noting that Xi Jinping's festive visit to Pyongyang signals China's willingness to de-emphasize denuclearization in favor of regional stability and strategic balancing against the US. North Korea, now an "arsenal of tyranny," leverages its military experience from the Ukrainian front lines to strengthen its regime. (5)Jack Burnham examines the Pentagon's 1260H list, which identifies Chinese companies allegedly assisting the PRC's military-industrial base, signaling increased regulatory scrutiny for these entities. Burnham recommends streamlining government lists to prevent companies from exploiting gaps and advises retail investors of the national security risks these firms pose. (6)Andrea Ferrara describes using the James Webb Space Telescope to investigate a mysterious red light source initially thought to be the most distant galaxy. By observing luminosity changes over two years, he determined it is likely a rare pair-instability supernova, resulting from the explosion of a massive primordial star. (7)Andrea Ferrara proposes building a 40-meter telescope on the lunar surface to succeed the James Webb Space Telescope. This moon-based facility would avoid atmospheric interference, allowing scientists to directly detect the universe's first stars and resolve long-standing mysteries regarding the aftermath of the Big Bang. (8)Mickey Trescott explains that autoimmune diseases occur when the body's immune system attacks its own organs, a condition affecting a high percentage of women. The protocol is a diet and lifestyle experiment designed to help individuals identify personal triggers and manage their chronic health symptoms. (9)Mickey Trescott describes how the core autoimmune protocol involves a strict 30-to-90-day elimination phase removing common triggers like grains, dairy, and nightshades. This "detective work" calms the immune system, allowing patients to systematically reintroduce foods to discover which specific ingredients negatively impact their health. (10)Mickey Trescott introduces a modified autoimmune protocol that includes rice and coffee, making it more accessible and affordable than the core version. A successful transition requires tracking baseline symptoms and preparing the kitchen to handle the nutritional demands of the upcoming elimination and reintroduction phases. (11)Mickey Trescott emphasizes consuming nutrient-dense foods like bone broth and fatty fish to resolve inflammation and support the microbiome. During reintroduction, patients identify specific food "villains" by monitoring symptom flare-ups, ultimately empowering them to choose a diet that maintains their long-term vitality. (12)Evan Ellis discusses Bolivia's severe instability as blockades led by supporters of Evo Morales disrupt the capital's supply of food and oxygen. Morales is described as a dangerous figure using cocaine-related funds to destabilize the democratically elected government, posing a significant risk to regional US allies. (13)Evan Ellis highlights a razor-thin election in Peru between Keiko Fujimori and Roberto Sanchez, exposing deep national divisions over corruption and wealth distribution. The outcome is geopolitically significant, as China already maintains a massive foothold in Peru through control of critical infrastructure, including major ports, mines, and electricity. (14)Evan Ellis notes how public frustration with rising crime and President Petro's "total peace" plan has fueled the rise of hardline political candidates in Colombia. As the country grapples with internal conflict, many Colombians seek a "strong hand" to restore security, mirroring historical law-and-order movements seen in neighboring South Americannations. (15)Evan Ellis discusses how a banking scandal involving Flavio Bolsonaro has impacted Brazilian polls, giving Lula da Silva a temporary lead. Meanwhile, El Salvador's President Bukele remains highly popular due to a dramatic security transformation that has revitalized urban life, despite international concerns regarding due process and human rights. (16)Four name/term corrections: (1) Grinkovich → Grynkewich (General Alexus Grynkewich, current SACEUR) (2) Labor Party → Labour Party (UK spelling per house style) (3) Laya Philip → Leila Philip (the actual author of Beaverland) (6) 126H list → 1260H list (Section 1260H of the NDAA — the standard reference)

Send us Fan MailNødnett, 2G, 5G og snart 6G – hva betyr egentlig alt dette? I denne episoden av Digitaliseringspodden tar vi for oss telekom og sikkerhetskritisk kommunikasjon, et tema podden aldri har vært innom før.Gjesten er Oliver Ossege, Regional Sales Director Nordic & Baltics i Frequentis – og en av dem som virkelig kan dette feltet. Med nesten sju år i sikkerhetskritisk telekom og en bakgrunn helt tilbake til utbyggingen av det norske nødnettet, forklarer han hvordan mobilnettene henger sammen, forskjellen på frekvenser og rekkevidde, og hvorfor Norge har bygget et eget nødnett basert på Tetra-teknologi. Du får historien fra prosjektstart i 2007 til den offisielle åpningen i Kirkenes i 2015 – og hvorfor teknologien allerede regnes som utdatert.Med sin dybdekunnskap loser Oliver oss også gjennom neste generasjon nødnett: MCX (Mission Critical Services), som bygger på de kommersielle 5G-nettene. Hva betyr det for robusthet, dekning og kostnader? Og hva åpner ny teknologi som video, droner, satellittkommunikasjon og kunstig intelligens for når liv skal reddes? Underveis kommer han også inn på europeisk teknologisuverenitet, cybersikkerhet og det krevende arbeidsmiljøet på operasjonssentralene.En lyttevennlig og lærerik prat om infrastrukturen vi tar for gitt – helt til vi trenger den.Programledere er Jens Christian Bang og Dag Rustad. Produsert i samarbeid med Frequentis.Digitaliseringspådden lages av Already On og CW.no. Besøk oss på digitaliseringspodden.alreadyon.com. Du finner Digitaliseringspådden på alle plattformer – lytt via Spotify, Apple Podcasts eller YouTube Podcasts. 

After Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in late 2024 for the heavyweight championship, the Ukrainian boxer held up a sabre that once belonged to the 17th Century Ukrainian Cossack Hetman,  Ivan Mapeza, who this episode is dedicated to.    Usyk's fortitude spoke to Ukraine's resilience against a larger foe who initiated the type of vainglorious War Tolstoy condemns, with all of his soul, in W&P.Showcasing the weapon was a transcendent moment of Usyk bringing history to Life.  This ability is something Tolstoy shares given who often he reaches into the past to make literary points. In W&P, for example, Tolstoy cites the Classical world and more recent influences. He skillfully adapts the famous quote from Voltaire: "If god did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." The Frenchman also had a well-known correspondence with Catherine II, who some of W&P's characters look to as illustrative of an idealized past. Yet part of her reputation involves keeping so many under serfdom. Voltaire urged her to release her serfs.Quite forgotten is how Voltaire contributed to Mazepa becoming an icon of the Romantic age. Victor Hugo, Lord Byron & Franz List, also elevated Mazepa to a status Tolstoy himself briefly references in his 1857 work “Youth.” Tolstoy wrote that if he reaches the age of 70, he envisions that a lovely young woman could love him as easily as she could love….a Mazeppa.Mazepa was born to a noble Cossack family near Kyiv. His father was a town otaman (leader) and his mother instilled in her son a deep devotion to God and Cossack culture. Mazepa received a European education and served at the Polish royal court.  While quite young, he is said to have fallen in love with the wife of a Polish nobleman and to have been punished through being tied to a wild horse and carried back to the Land of the Cossacks, where he was adopted by one of their communities and rose to leader.  He was Hetman from 1687 – 1709.    Mazepa remains a key figure in Ukrainian-Russian relations given he decided to turn his allegiance to Sweden over the Czar during  the Great Northern War. This conflict was fought between Sweden and an anti-Swedish coalition led by Moscow. This intermittent affair lasted about 20 years and involved control over Northern Europe and the Baltics.  Sweden initially did well causing Peter to move his troops inward and draw Charles to invade.The conflict made its way to Mazepa's Cossacks,  whose status and allegiance greatly changed over the previous generation. Since 1654, many were uneasy allies with the Czar after withdrawing support for Poland.  They now felt subject to excessive demands for troops to be used in projects like building canals and fortresses, where they could be worked to sickness and death and used as proverbial “cannon fodder”Thus, in 1708, Mazepa aligned with Charles, giving him 5,000 Cossacks.  Mazepa felt he was choosing the lesser of two evils. Later that year, there was a race of belligerents to Mazepa's home city of Baturyn.  20,000 Russian soldiers commanded by Alexander Menshikov overwhelmed this military arsenal and food store. When the city fell, there was this infamous slaughter of the civilian population.   A number were tied to makeshift crosses or boards and floated down the local river.The next summer, on June  27, 1709, the armies faced off near Poltava, where Peter & Charles were on-hand directing troops. The Czar prevailed and this turn in history explains why Sweden never became a great power. This battle also had a major role in propelling Russia to their status. Yet that fire in the hearts of Ukrainians for independence was not extinguished over the next few centuries. Today, a Ukrainian state exists which exacts quite the toll on Russian aggression.  Ukrainians revere Mazepa for making the best choice he could.Mazepa was excommunicated from the Russian Orthodox Church and Czar Peter also ordered all portraits of the man destroyed. Similarly, Tolstoy,  was separated from the Orthodox Church in 1901 through a Church Proclamation.  Tolstoy's writing on religion led to the church to declare him as a “false teacher” imbued with “intellectual pride.”   This leads me to the second reference to I have found from Tolstoy on Mazppa, which is the  book “Life of Tolstoy” by Tolstoy's long-time English friend and translator,  Alymer Maude.  Maude describes how Tolstoy studied the life of Mazepa upon a friendly wager as a law student.

The number of inter-state conflicts around the world doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year, we discuss why. Then: why does the majority of Europe no longer see the US as an ally? Plus: the Baltics join financial forces and Alexis Bittar on buying back his jewellery business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Today's show starts with review of latest US GDP, inflation and income numbers showing inflation accelerating and GDP slowing sharply in latest 2nd GDP numbers. Rest of show focuses on dangerous new events in the Ukraine war as Europe pushes drone attacks deep inside Russia and Russia public opinion demands more aggressive action by Putin. Russia warns 'get out of Kiev' as something big coming soon. Russia talks directly about attacking Baltics sites where drones are being launched into northern Russia and warns will target drone production in the EU. EU NATO political leaders keep saying they're preparing for war with Russia inevitably by 2030. 

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss prospect of a US-Iran ceasefire deal after both sides exchange fire; Israel ramps up strikes on Hezbollah in South Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza; Russia pounds Ukraine, warning foreigners to leave Kyiv lest they be targeted as a Russian drone overshoots Ukraine to hit an apartment building in Romania; Moscow ramping up of threats and intimidation against the Baltics as America shifts its force posture in Europe and reduce capabilities devoted to NATO; Ukraine's decision to buy Saab's Gripen fighter as Stockholm opts for French frigates and Canada buys Swedish radar planes; what to expect from the International Institute for Strategic Studies' 24th annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore; South Korea's decision to pursue nuclear attack submarines; the Quad — America, Australia, India and Japan — launches its first security organization, the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative; and the latest rift between the Israel and the UN.

In this explosive episode, Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna delivers a stark warning about Russia's growing instability and the escalating battle over the Baltic Sea. He explains how Moscow accidentally exposed its direct ties to the shadow fleet used to evade sanctions, why Russia is reacting “painfully” to Ukrainian deep strikes, and why Putin may now be more vulnerable than at any point since the war began. Tsahkna also discusses NATO, the weakening Russian economy, rising tensions inside the Kremlin, disinformation operations targeting the Baltics, and why Europe believes strategic patience, not rushed negotiations, is the key to ending the war.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Europe Today this Thursday, Méabh Mc Mahon is joined by Euronews correspondents across Europe, including live reports from Madrid and Finland, as NATO stages military drills near the Russian border amid growing security fears in the Baltics. Plus: exclusive interviews with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol, and European Commissioner Michael McGrath on democracy, corruption and big tech. Europe Today is Euronews' daily podcast hosted by Maria Tadeo and Méabh Mc Mahon, broadcasting directly from Brussels, at the heart of Europe. Every morning, we deliver the top and exclusive stories shaping the European Union (EU) and beyond.Stay ahead with the key news and insights that matter in Europe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live May 27, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show(Season 12, Episode 94)Deal?; Fraud; Paxton Win; Immigration & Trust; Russia War; Speech EU; Achievement | Yaron Brook ShowIran Deal Disaster, Immigration Myths, NATO Panic & the Fight for Free Speech | Yaron Brook UnfilteredIs the Iran “deal” already collapsing before it even begins? Is the West sleepwalking into weakness, censorship, and economic decline? And why are politicians obsessed with billionaires and “fraud” while ignoring the real drivers of prosperity?In this explosive episode of The Yaron Brook Show, Yaron tears into Trump's Iran strategy, the growing risks of nuclear proliferation, Europe's crackdown on free speech, immigration myths, rent control insanity, and the disturbing inability of the West to defend liberty with confidence.Plus: the return of the Human Achievement segment featuring breakthroughs in cancer treatment, food innovation, dementia decline, and brain-aging research that prove human progress is still alive.Watch now: https://youtube.com/live/Rp4dsvOkVdETimestamps00:00 – Introduction: Is the Iran deal already doomed?02:34 – Saudi fears and geopolitical uncertainty05:35 – Iran's military actions and regional instability06:25 – Trump, the Abraham Accords, and American weakness11:41 – Why Trump's Iran policy may backfire14:51 – Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon19:35 – US weakness, military spending, and global consequences22:04 – Nuclear proliferation risks among US allies24:05 – Is America repeating pre-WWII mistakes?27:59 – Billionaires, immigration, and political scapegoating30:16 – Stephen Miller, fraud claims, and government waste35:06 – Illegal immigrants and Social Security realities40:57 – Immigration panic vs economic reality45:17 – Ken Paxton's victory and the future of the Right51:58 – Could Russia invade the Baltics?58:33 – Europe's military capabilities vs Russia1:00:02 – Europe's hate speech convictions and censorship1:05:12 – The growing battle for free speech1:06:01 – Sponsor: HumanProgress.org1:07:31 – Human achievement: food innovation & abundance1:11:42 – Nutrition breakthroughs transforming humanity1:14:16 – Advances in cancer research and treatment1:17:03 – Brain-aging reversal nasal spray research1:19:00 – Why dementia rates are decliningLive Audience Questions1:21:44 – Why the achievement segment matters more than ever1:28:52 – Did Mamdani accidentally destroy the case for rent control?1:31:22 – Why does altruism so often become cruelty?1:32:53 – Why can't the West find an alternative to fascism or the left?1:34:01 – Marbella, Spain: proof capitalism still works in Europe?1:36:41 – What would President JD Vance actually do?1:38:16 – NYC housing collapse: economics strikes again1:38:52 – Is East of Eden worth reading today?1:39:57 – “If you're lonely when alone…” — what does it mean?1:40:13 – Is Ayn Rand popular in China or Japan?1:41:28 – Why viewers love the Human Achievement segment1:41:33 – Beauty, cars, and appreciating civilization1:42:38 – Irish folk techno and the “Waymo Jig”1:43:01 – Are Ukrainian drone strikes changing the war?1:43:44 – Could a world government ever protect liberty?1:44:32 – The Austrian critique of communism explainedSee pinned comment for more questions.#IranDeal #Trump #Immigration #FreeSpeech #RussiaUkraineWar #NATO #Capitalism #HumanAchievement #AynRandThe Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by[The Ayn Rand Institute](https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)[Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein](https://alexepstein.substack.com/)[Express VPN](https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)[Hendershott Wealth Management](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) &(https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/)[Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project](https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)[Support the Show]( / yaronbrookshow )[Sponsor the Show](askyaron@yaronbrookshow.com/)[One-time donation](https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ)Join the [Yaron Brook Show YouTube channel]( / @yaronbrook )Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the [Yaron Brook Show](https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx)Continue the discussion by following Yaron on [Twitter](https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and [Facebook](https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the [Ayn Rand Institute](https://bit.ly/35qoEC3)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand's Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

In Part 1 of our massive 2.30 Double-Feature, we aren't looking at the frontlines—we are looking at the multi-organ failure of the Russian state. Terminal gangrene has set in.While Washington think-tanks and Senator Marco Rubio panic over a conventional Russian ground invasion of the Baltics, the reality on the ground is mathematically absurd. We kick things off by roasting the American hockey machine (Latvia 4, USA 2) before diving into the absolute, sweating desperation of the Kremlin. From dropping $80-million "Oreshnik" tungsten crowbars on Ukrainian garages, to the eradication of 25% of Russia's oil refining capacity, the empire is bankrupting itself.We break down the Chinese betrayal in Beijing, the Russian oligarchs begging the FSB for "rules," the looming bank run outlined by Igor Lipsits, and the absolute mutiny happening in the comments of the heavily censored Yandex Dzen. The social contract is dead, and the elites are fighting over the pirate treasure while the ship goes down.The Eastern Border is an entirely independent, listener-supported journalism project operating 22km from the Russian border. If you want to keep the servers humming and the moonshine flowing, please consider supporting us:Become our patron:https://www.patreon.com/theeasternborderMerch store + another option for memberships:https://theeasternborder-shop.fourthwall.com/Follow what's going on here in the very border of Eastern Europe:https://bsky.app/profile/theeasternborder.lvDownload all episodes for free on our website; pictures accompanying certain episodes can be found there as well!http://theeasternborder.lv/Donate to the Ukrainian army so that they can get the trucks that they need:https://car4ukraine.com/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, sponsored by L3Harris, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon Comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss outlook for reconciliation as Senate GOP lawmakers rebelled against President Trump's $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies prosecuted for their actions and $1 billion to pay for a new White House ballroom after the president backed Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in Texas and Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his Louisiana primary in Louisiana; prospect of a deal between Washington and Tehran as Iran continues efforts to formalize its control over the Strait of Hormuz; Vladimir Putin's escalating provocations against the Baltics as Washington reconsiders its obligations to NATO and shifts troops in Europe; reverberations of Trump's summit with Xi Jinping as the Chinese leader hosted Putin; Washington's move to shift more operational control to South Korea as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Taikichi hold a landmark meeting; Seoul and New Delhi strike a security agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rome to ink another security deal; and Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he would evict Palestinian Bedouins from a West Bank village in retaliation for an ICC warrant seeking his arrest.

Washington warns Moscow over its escalating rhetoric toward Latvia as Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, rejects Russia’s claims that Baltic states could soon allow Ukrainian drone attacks from their territories. Plus: how rebel groups and Isis-backed insurgents are hampering efforts to contain the new Ebola outbreak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the conflict between the West and Putin's Russia escalates without guardrails, would the Kremlin dare to launch a military incursion into NATO territory in coming years? With the mercurial Donald Trump at the helm of NATO's most consequential power, how might NATO react to an attack against a member state? These were the questions addressed in a German war game, Ernstfall, co-hosted by Die Welt newspaper and the German Wargaming Center, which has sparked a lively policy debate inside NATO. Alexander Gabuev, who played Vladimir Putin in the exercise, is joined by the two main architects of the war game to take listeners backstage and discuss the making of Ernstfall and its policy implications. Check out the Politico article about the war game, and read Alex Gabuev's New York Times piece about it here. Excerpts from the Ernstfall podcast are copyrighted by Die Welt and are reproduced here with permission. Listen to that podcast here.

Trumps disastrous foreign policy on Iran and Ukraine isolates the U.S and the UK!In this latest Lowdown podcast, Nick Cohen talks to distinguished defence expert, Phillips O'Brien from St. Andrews University, about military developments in Ukraine and Iran, focusing on how drone technology is changing the nature of warfare. Phillips explains how Ukraine's use of cheap, mass-produced drones has transformed battlefield dynamics, making traditional heavy armour systems obsolete and causing significant Russian casualties. Phillips and Nick discuss Trump's Iran strategy, with Phillips analysing Trump's psychological dependence on Putin and his desire for a quick military victory that hasn't materialised. They also examine the declining U.S.-Israel relationship in American politics and discussed Britain's post-Brexit foreign policy challenges, particularly regarding the special relationship with the United States and potential rejoining of the European Union.The so-called Special Relationship" is dead - The UK's sucking up to the U.S. will achieve nothing!Phillips says, "King's Charles' visit, sadly, might've unfortunately turned the clock back to make people believe that the special relationship still exists when it doesn't. That, Britain's future security wise and political wise is in Europe and the Europeans now are far more down that road."The Germans now are, are understanding that the United States is not reliable, not trustworthy, and Europeans have to look after themselves. States like the Baltics, the Nordics, all of them are farther down this road. The British might have been going down this road."I'm not sure they will now after the the Charles visit, but hopefully they, they do, because that is something Britain has to admit. Brexit was a disaster. It was stupid. It weakened Britain. It's put it outside of the tent. For now. Britain has to try and get inside the European tent because that's where its future is."Read all about it!Read Phillips' own regular Substack column - Phillips's Newsletter. Phillips is also professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews.Nick Cohen's @NichCohen4 regular Substack column Writing from London on politics and culture from the UK and beyond is another must-read. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we talk about the Strait of Hormuz, oil, and Russia.We also discuss Patriot missiles, expensive weapons, and peer rivals.Recommended Book: Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le CunffTranscriptDuring 2025 and early 2026, about 20 million barrels of crude oil and other petroleum products was shipped through the Strait of Hormuz every day. That's about a quarter of the world's total seaborne oil, and essentially all of that oil, and gas, and those other energy products that pass through this strait are from Middle Eastern suppliers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, and Iran.Beginning at the tail-end of February 2026, however, the Iranian military has shut down the Strait by threatening to take out or capture any vessels that attempt to pass through it. This has had the practical effect of initially reducing tanker traffic through the Strait by about 70%, but in recent weeks traffic has dropped to nearly zero. As of April 2026, about 2,000 ships are stranded in the area as a result of this closure.As a result of this shutdown, though, other energy product suppliers have seen demand for their oil and gas and the like increase, and that's led to higher prices for these products.Russia, for instance, which doesn't rely on the Strait to get its oil and gas out to its customers, has seen its oil tax revenue double in April, and the price of one grade of oil that it sells increased by 73% from February, alone.That's a big windfall for Russia, which has had trouble selling its oil and gas at a significant profit, due in part to heavy sanctions that have resulted from its invasion of Ukraine. It's continued to sell to countries like China and India, but those customers have been able to pay lower prices due to the lessened demand for what Russia is selling.This increased demand has thus goosed profits for Russia at a moment in which it could really use those sorts of profits—its economy is not doing terribly well, again because of its invasion of Ukraine, which has also not been going terribly well—so while inflation caused by this gas price-spike has been near-universally not great for much of the world, because energy cost increases tend to increase the price of just about everything, Russia's government, at least, has been pretty happy with the shutdown of the Strait, and would probably love to see it continue.Another moderate benefactor of this shutdown has been the United States government. The US is the number one exporter of liquified natural gas, and one of the top exporters of oil and petroleum products. US export numbers are poised to hit new records with the closure of the Strait, too, because, just like with Russia, fewer products of this kind available on the global market means those who have such products to sell can charge higher prices for them.There's a good chance this disruption, even if it ended today, for good, will have permanently rewired at least some of the global petroleum industry, as companies and countries that have been left in the lurch have adjusted their risks analyses and determined that it makes more sense to buy from different suppliers, to sell to different customers, or, in some cases, to use fewer of these products and invest more enthusiastically in renewables, like solar and wind—so while the US and Russia and a few other players are somewhat pleased with how things are going, oil and gas price-wise at least, long term this could actually harm them, the most, as more of their customers decide to stop paying irregular prices for what they're selling and to opt for less turbulent solar and wind power, instead.What I'd like to talk about today is another knock-on effect of the war in Iran that could have significant international, possibly even military implications.—Since Trump first stepped into office, winning the US presidency back in 2016, allies have openly wondered whether the US could be relied upon as a military ally, should push come to shove.Trump has repeated said that he thinks NATO is a rip-off for the US, as the US has long provided the vast majority of funding and weapons for the alliance, and he's pushed European NATO members to step up their own investment, lest he decide to just led Russia or whomever else attack them; he's openly speculated that he might do exactly that.As a result of the US's pivot away from happily playing the role of world police and invasion deterrent, European governments have been hastily putting together contingency plans that don't include the US: if Russia turns its attention away from Ukraine and starts attacking the Baltics or Poland, they want to be ready, and they don't want to have to rely on the unreliable Trump administration for their survival.Other governments that have long assumed they would be protected, at least in part, by the overwhelming force of the US military, have also been rethinking things, based on Trump's stated, if not always practiced, isolationism.Taiwan, for instance, which is persistently menaced by China, which considers Taiwan to be a rebel asset that it will someday reclaim, has also been investing in its own defenses, no longer certain that the US will step up and help them out at their moment of greatest need, despite historical assumptions.Adding to that uncertainty, though, is the increasingly depleted state of the US military following its attack on Iran, which began in earnest in late February of this year.Since February, the US has expended around 1,100 long-range stealth cruise missiles, more than a thousand Tomahawk cruise missiles, more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles, and more than a thousand Precision Strike and ATACMS ground-base missiles.For context, those Patriot missiles cost $4 million apiece, and again, 1,200 of them have been used since February, and the US military only buys about 100 Tomahawks a year, so the military has spent 10-years worth of them already during this new conflict in Iran. And those 1,100 stealth cruise missiles were built for a potential war with China, but now they're gone.This rapid depletion of armaments, weapons that take a long time to make and which are very expensive to procure, has required that stockpiles from elsewhere around the world be quickly packed up and shipped to the Middle East; and while the majority of what's been fired so far by the US have been missiles, these shipments include all sorts of bombs, vehicles, and personnel equipment like guns and bullets, too, because they have to be ready for anything.The military has also redirected assets, like missile systems and carrier strike groups, from other theaters, like the Pacific Ocean, to the Middle East, which leaves allies, like Taiwan and South Korea, less well-defended against potential incursions.The US has refused to release any estimates as to the cost of the attack on Iran so far, but a pair of independent groups have estimated that price tag to be somewhere between $28 and $35 billion, which is about a billion dollars a day.What's more, it's estimated that it will take about six years just to get armament stores back up to where they were in February, before this attack; it's not just costly, it also takes a long time to produce that many missiles and rockets. And notably, a lot of these weapons were already considered to be in short supply before this conflict, at levels not suitable for a full-on shootout with an enemy like China, according to military experts. So six years plus whatever would be necessary to get up to more suitable levels.This shortfall is partly the result of how the US military deals with defense contractors, and there are efforts by new military startups to remedy this sort of situation, making manufacturing a lot more nimble, while also shifting to cheaper weapons, like drones and inexpensive interceptors, to replace the pricy, conventional ones that the country has long relied on.This expanded production hasn't begun in earnest, though, and conventional military hardware suppliers have been slow to spin up new production because new funding hasn't yet been confirmed by the Pentagon.So the US military is currently low on the weapons it would need to defend its allies in Europe or the South China Sea against attacks by rival, near-peer nations, at a moment in which such nations are making big moves, like China's persistent expansion into the South China Sea, and Russia's adventurism in Ukraine.What's more, these stockpiles are unlikely to be resupplied any time soon, the capacity to produce what's needed simply doesn't exist, not in the US, anyway, and next-step options, like mass-scale drone production, also haven't kicked off in earnest, yet, and might not arrive for another 5 or 10 years.This already precarious moment has been made all the more precarious by the US government's decision to attack Iran, then, and that decision still hasn't been fully explained, the actual end-goal unknown. Consequently, there also doesn't seem to be a clear end-point to aim and plan for.Show Noteshttps://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/iran-war-complicates-contingency-plans-to-defend-taiwan-some-u-s-officials-say-4384f7c1http://nytimes.com/2026/04/16/world/middleeast/iran-war-cost-congress.htmlhttps://www.aei.org/foreign-and-defense-policy/epic-fury-costs-as-of-the-april-8-cease-fire/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/23/us/politics/iran-war-cost-military.htmlhttps://gulfnews.com/world/mena/is-the-iran-war-depleting-us-weapons-too-fast-1.500517800https://www.moneycontrol.com/world/iran-war-drains-us-munitions-raises-taiwan-defence-concerns-report-article-13898019.htmlhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-rearms-iran-ceasefire-advanced-munitions-supplies/https://www.ft.com/content/1a5a2502-a45a-40c1-af6f-b30ecc34bacbhttps://archive.is/20260424042150/https://www.ft.com/content/1a5a2502-a45a-40c1-af6f-b30ecc34bacbhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/24/world/europe/europe-defense-nato-trump-eu.htmlhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/23/aircraft-carrier-bush-iran/https://archive.md/T9tD1https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2026-03-31/trump-s-iran-war-is-accelerating-the-global-energy-transitionhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/apr/18/fossil-fuel-trump-green-revolution-us-iran-renewable-energyhttps://www.axios.com/2026/04/24/trump-oil-export-ceiling-iran-strait-hormuz This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

If you think you already know the Cambridge Five story, think again. In this episode of Spybrary, Shane Whaley is joined by journalist and author Antonia Senior to discuss her powerful new book, Stalin's Apostles: The Cambridge Five and the Making of the Soviet Empire— a major re-examination of Kim Philby, Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Anthony Blunt and John Cairncross. But this is not the familiar story of clubland betrayal, old boys' networks. ping gins and establishment embarrassment. Instead, Antonia asks a darker and more important question: what did Stalin actually want from his greatest spies and what was the human cost? From Poland, the Baltics, Albania and Ukraine to the corridors of Whitehall and Washington, this conversation explores the real human cost of the Cambridge Five's betrayals — and why they were far more than 'Robin Hood' types embarrassing the British establishment. In this episode, we discuss: Why the Cambridge Five knew far more about Stalin's crimes than many like to admit Kim Philby's role in betraying anti-Soviet operations How Donald Maclean helped Stalin see the West's diplomatic hand The fate of partisans and resistance fighters in Eastern Europe Anthony Blunt, Poland, and the brutal realities behind the myth The enduring mystery of Philby in Beirut: did he run, or was he allowed to go? If you enjoy spy books, espionage history, and serious conversations about the moral consequences of intelligence work, this one is for you. Buy Stalin's Apostles: https://geni.us/XcUoM2 Join the Spybrary Community Support Spybrary Sign up for The Dead Drop newsletter

Emmanuel Macron's updated French nuclear doctrine represents an unprecedented effort by Paris to coordinate with European partners as U.S. security commitments decline. Rym Momtaz, Sophia Besch, and Ulrich Kühn discuss France's evolving role in European nuclear deterrence and the political and material credibility gaps that persist. [00:00:00] Intro, [00:01:26] Macron's Update to France's Nuclear Doctrine, [00:09:13] The Role of the Baltics in Europe's Defense, [00:22:47] European Alternatives to the U.S. Extended Deterrence. Rym Momtaz, April 7, 2026, “On NATO, Trump Should Embrace France Instead of Bashing It,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe. Rym Momtaz (ed.), March 12, 2026, “Taking the Pulse: Is France's New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe. Ulrich Kühn, February 24, 2026, “The Unintended Consequences of German Deterrence,” Global Policy vol. 17, issue S1: 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.70134. Sophia Besch, Erik Brown, and Rafaela Uzan, December 22, 2025, “Rebalancing the Transatlantic Defense-Industrial Relationship: Regional Pragmatism in Northeastern Europe,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Sophia Besch and Jamie Kwong, December 11, 2025, “Unpacking Europe's Deterrence Dilemmas,” Strategic Europe, Carnegie Europe. Ulrich Kühn, May 1, 2025, “Is Europe Moving to an Independent Nuclear Deterrent?,” Arms Control Today, Arms Control Association.

We look at Slovak PM Robert Fico’s spat with the Baltics over Moscow and Slovenia’s coalition talks collapse. Plus: How Iran is affecting aviation, China-Japan tensions over Taiwan and Salone del Mobile’s first preview day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Talk Eastern Europe news roundup, Adam Reichardt, Alexandra Karppi, and Nina Panikova break down the latest developments across the region.We start with Ukraine, where growing tensions with the United States over potential peace conditions raise serious questions about future security guarantees and military support. With the war in the Middle East reshaping global priorities, the episode explores how shifting geopolitics may be weakening Ukraine's position while strengthening Russia's hand.The discussion then turns to wider regional security concerns, including whether NATO could face a real test in the Baltics and how countries like Poland are preparing for a potential escalation. We also look at Moldova's newly declared energy state of emergency following Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, highlighting how the war continues to impact the broader region.Finally, we head to the Balkans to unpack local elections inSerbia, where reports of irregularities and political pressure raise fresh concerns about democratic standards under Aleksandar Vučić.Don't forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and check outour full episodes and bonus content.

Michael speaks with Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, following his recent trip to Ukraine. Admiral Montgomery explores the warfare strategies currently defining the conflict, as well as the evolving "gray zone" tactics Russia is employing against the Baltics. He also identifies critical weak spots in the Russian military machine, from logistical vulnerabilities to strategic anxieties, and provides a sobering assessment of the "ground situation" in Ukraine. Finally, Admiral Montgomery explains why the war could realistically continue for another three years and what the US must do to maintain the defense of its allies in the face of persistent Russian aggression.  

We examine the Russian moves into the Baltic regions, and what their plans are for the coming years ahead. Also, we take a look at Iran. What are the actual objectives that are being put forward? We ask the questions. Donation Support - https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/FGHPVTVAPRUNU Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3Wr4XHfLds Follow us on X: @Anderson10x3 @KLWNews1

Kyle White is the CEO & Founder of Refinery, an AI-powered affiliate technology solution. He brings a rare blend of experience across affiliate management (Overstock, Uber), product development, and data-driven experimentation. He previously built tools at Impact, led global affiliate/ambassador programs at Uber, and now focuses on making affiliate programs smarter, more automated, and more profitable using AI.In this conversation, Kyle breaks down how AI is transforming affiliate marketing, how brands can adopt product‑led growth principles, and why relevancy—not payouts—is the strongest signal in partner matchmaking. He shares lessons from scaling Uber's Ambassador Program from a 7% to an 80% activation rate, what most brands get wrong about affiliate recruitment, and how to design tests that actually produce meaningful insights.The episode also covers trends shaping the future: the threat of AI search bypassing the affiliate channel, the rise of pay‑per‑performance TV & audio partners, and why the next era will require filtering through more noise to find true value. Kyle also shares personal stories—building a company with a newborn, being featured in South Park, speaking Russian from missionary service in the Baltics, and his love of film photography.

While the physical fires are kept burning with a metric ton of heating pellets here in the freezing Latvian buffer zone, the geopolitical cesspool has officially overflowed. In this massive, fast-paced dispatch, we tear apart the outbreak of the largest Middle Eastern war since 2003—Operation Epic Fury.As American stealth bombers dance through the Iranian skies, the myth of the "Multipolar World" burns to the ground. Russia and China have completely abandoned Tehran, triggering an absolute panic among the Z-Patriots. We break down the delusion of the exiled Russian opposition, deliver the brutal pragmatic truth from the Baltics, and explain how Iran's asymmetric terror strategy is dragging the global economy into the abyss.Meanwhile, the Russian economy is actively cannibalizing itself. We look at the 30 trillion ruble crater in the budget, the Orwellian trap being laid to freeze civilian bank deposits, and the hardline military faction explicitly citing the UN to justify a "holy mutiny" against Vladimir Putin. Finally, we end on a darkly comedic note: watching Solovyov's top propagandist accidentally admit to the Holodomor on live state television, only to get accused of being a Banderite.The cardboard armor of the authoritarian world is violently catching fire.Support the show and keep the Gonzo journalism alive:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheEasternBorderMerch Store: https://theeasternborder-shop.fourthwall.com/Help the frontline units in Ukraine who are fighting in the mud:Donate a truck: https://car4ukraine.com/en-US/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-the-eastern-borderHappiness is mandatory.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theeasternborder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Inside Business, we hear the argument for scrapping mandatory retirement here.Host Cliff Taylor is joined on the line by Irish Times contributor John Fitzgerald who thinks Ireland should follow the lead of Scandinavia, the Baltics and the Netherlands, where three-quarters of the population aged 60-64 are in the labour force. He makes the case that such a move could not only reduce the numbers on the State pension, ease the cost of ageing to the exchequer, but also help alleviate the housing crisis.Also on this episode, we look at the German economy, which is frequently referred to as the Engine of Europe, but has begun to sputter quite a bit in recent times.A lack of much-needed reform, low levels of foreign investment and ineffective fiscal stimulus measures are just some of the reasons the German Chancellor Freidrich Merz is under increasing pressure to revive the economy, and quickly.But what needs to be done before that revival can start? And is there any cause for positivity in the economic outlook for Germany this year? Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally offers some insights.Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean McMeekin details how Stalin replaced Litvinov with Molotov to signal realignment with Hitler, leading to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, arguing Stalin was an opportunist seeking territorial expansion in Poland, Romania, and the Baltics while Western powers failed to intervene.1900 THE RUSSIA BEAR, "RECKLESS DEFIANCE" OF THE ENGLISH TOMMIES

Victoria Coates warns that the Kremlin may use the presence of Russian-speaking populations in the Baltic states as a justification for future aggression, replicating the strategy currently deployed against Ukraine. She notes that this established pattern, which claims that Russian speakers belong to Russia, poses a threat not only to the Baltics but also to Moldova, although she expresses concern that European powers like Germany are failing to heed these warning signs.1923 PETROGRAD

FILE 2. THE PURGE OF LITVINOV AND THE MOSCOW PACT. GUEST AUTHOR SEAN MCMEEKIN. On May 3, 1939, Stalin ordered the arrest of Foreign Minister Maxim Litvinov and his Jewish staff, replacing him with Molotov to signal a diplomatic shift toward Nazi Germany,. This maneuver paved the way for the Moscow Pact, allowing Stalin to opportunistically seize territory in Poland, Finland, and the Baltics while Western powers remained passive,.1928

FILE 3. THE MOLOTOV-RIBBENTROP PACT AND TERRITORIAL AMBITION. GUEST AUTHOR SEAN MCMEEKIN. McMeekin explains that the 1939 appointment of Molotov signaled Stalin's shift toward collaboration with Hitler, leading to the Moscow Pact. Stalin used this alliance opportunistically to reclaim imperial Russian territories in Poland, Finland, and the Baltics, while British leadership, including Churchill, largely accepted these aggressive moves as a necessary buffer against Germany,.1943 TEHRAN

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Venezuela's new leader Delcy Rodríguez abruptly softens her tone following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, signaling possible cooperation with Washington—but her past record and the power structures still in place raise doubts about whether a real political transition is underway. Alarm bells ring across the Baltics after a sixth undersea cable outage in less than a week, as authorities investigate suspected sabotage and Western allies warn the pattern may point to coordinated Russian interference. Russia strikes an American-owned oil facility in Ukraine, triggering a massive oil spill in the city of Dnipro and underscoring the expanding scope of Moscow's targeting. And in today's Back of the Brief—President Trump pushes back on Kremlin claims, saying U.S. intelligence shows Ukraine did not target Vladimir Putin's residence during a recent drone strike. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.  Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief ZBiotics: Visit https://zbiotics.com/PDBfor 15% off American Financing: Call American Financing today to find out how customers are saving an avg of $800/mo. NMLS 182334, https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.196% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-885-1881 for details about credit costs and terms. Visit http://www.AmericanFinancing.net/PDB. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2026-01-04 | UPDATES #088 | Let's carve up the world. It's January 3rd, 2026, and the new year has arrived with the subtlety of guided bomb. In this episode we ask – Caracas today, possibly Taiwan, The Baltics and Greenland tomorrow? The new world disorder didn't wait for Christmas trees and lights to be taken down – it's impatient to assert its power and influence and rewire the world. Overnight, explosions hit Caracas. Power outages. Panic. And then the headlines that we had half expected, but which still feel surreal: The U.S. has invaded Venezuela full-scale, and President Trump claims President Nicolás Maduro — and his wife, Cilia Flores — were captured and flown out of the country. It's being during touted as a “large scale strike” but seems to be so much more than that. (The Washington Post)----------SOURCES: Reuters (Jan. 3, 2026) — U.S. strikes / Trump claim / Venezuela response. Associated Press (Jan. 3, 2026) — strikes, capture claim, legal reservations. Washington Post (Jan. 3, 2026) — live updates, official U.S. response status. The Guardian (Jan. 2–3, 2026) — Maduro interview; strike/capture reporting. Time (Jan. 3, 2026) — escalation context; casualty figure in prior strikes. CBS News (Jan. 3, 2026) — Petro quote calling for UN meeting. The Moscow Times (Jan. 3, 2026) — Russia MFA condemnation (“armed aggression”). Kyiv Independent (Jan. 3, 2026) — recap and framing for Eastern Europe audience. ----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain- The 38th Marine Brigade, who alone held Krynki for 124 days, receiving the Military Cross of Honour.- The 1027th Anti-aircraft and artillery regiment. Honoured by NATO as Defender of the Year 2024 and recipient of the Military Cross of Honour.- 104th Separate Brigade, Infantry, who alone held Kherson for 100 days, establishing conditions for the liberation of the city.- 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar", Black Raven Unmanned Systems Battalion ----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

SHOW 12-9-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1916 MONTENEGRO THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE HUBBLE CONSTANT. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Baltic Defenses and NATO's Uncertain Resolve: Colleague Blaine Holt discusses the Baltics preparing defensive "Mino lines" and bunkers fearing a potential Russian attack, noting Baltic citizens feel trapped between NATO bureaucracy and Russian hybrid warfare while doubting NATO's resolve to intervene, arguing diplomatic solutions are necessary as Europe lacks resources for a cohesive defense. 915-930 NATO's Viability and Europe's Demographic Shifts: Colleague Blaine Holt questions NATO's viability through 2050, citing rising US sentiment to withdraw and Europe's demographic shifts due to mass migration, warning that diverging values and economic instability could lead to civil unrest or new geopolitical alignments between Russia, China, and the US. 930-945 European Leaders Meet Zelenskyy Amid Strategic Dilemmas: Colleague Judy Dempsey discusses the "Big Three" European leaders meeting Zelenskyy, questioning their ability to resolve the war without wider coalitions, noting the EU is bypassing unanimity rules to seize Russian assets but struggles with the dilemma of offering Ukraine EU membership while demanding territorial concessions. 945-1000 Europe's Lack of Self-Confidence Facing Global Challenges: Colleague Judy Dempsey criticizes Europe's lack of self-confidence and ambition when facing Trump's transactional administration and Chinese aggression, arguing European leaders complain about US criticism rather than leveraging their own economic power, noting they are "sleepwalking" regarding the auto industry and dependencies on China. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 The National Security Strategy and the First Island Chain: Colleague Steve Yates analyzes the National Security Strategy's focus on the "first island chain" and deterrence against China's bullying of Japan and the Philippines, noting the CCP's obsession with WWII-era Japan for propaganda fails to resonate regionally as neighbors face modern Chinese aggression and grey zone tactics. 1015-1030 Nvidia Chip Sales to China Raise National Security Concerns: Colleague Brandon Weichert reports on the Trump administration approving Nvidia H200 chip sales to China while taking a 25% cut, warning this transactional approach compromises national security by aiding China's military AI, signaling a shift from hawkish policies to favoring business interests like soybeans. 1030-1045 SpaceX Dominance and the Golden Dome Defense Project: Colleague Bob Zimmerman highlights SpaceX's dominance with record-breaking booster reuse and launch frequency compared to rivals, discussing the secretive "Golden Dome" defense project, defects on the Orion capsule's hatch threatening the Artemis mission, and Airbus surprisingly choosing a Chinese satellite constellation for in-flight internet. 1045-1100 Cosmological Crises and Mars Rover Progress: Colleague Bob Zimmerman details cosmological crises including the "Hubble tension" where expansion rates conflict and a baffling 7-hour gamma-ray burst, reporting on Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS images confirming it is a comet rather than a spacecraft, and the Perseverance rover moving toward promising mining terrain on Mars.           THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The 1605 Gunpowder Plot and Catholic Desperation: Colleague Claire Jackson explains the 1605 Gunpowder Plot as a desperate attempt by Catholics, frustrated by James I's retention of penal laws and peace with Spain, to destroy the Protestant establishment, with the plotters aiming to kill the king and install a puppet Catholic monarch amidst the ensuing chaos. 1115-1130 The Mirror of Great Britain and James I's Violent Childhood: Colleague Claire Jackson explains the "Mirror of Great Britain" jewel symbolizing James I's union plans, though it was destroyed during the Civil Wars, detailing his violent childhood in Scotland, his father Darnley's murder, and his separation from his mother Mary Queen of Scots, which shaped his intellectual upbringing. 1130-1145 The Hampton Court Conference and the King James Bible: Colleague Claire Jackson describes how James I convened the Hampton Court Conference to resolve religious differences, resulting in the King James Bible, highlighting his unique role as an author of works like Basilikon Doron, using print to converse with subjects and establish the divine right of kings. 1145-1200 James I as Ecumenicist Amid Confessional Complexity: Colleague Claire Jackson portrays James I as an ecumenicist seeking accommodation, provided Catholics recognized his temporal authority via an Oath of Allegiance, noting he faced a "confessional complexity" ruling Protestant Scotland and England alongside Catholic Ireland, aiming to isolate radical Jesuits from the loyal majority. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Commodities Update from France: Colleague Simon Constable reports from France on unseasonably warm weather and rising copper prices driven by tech demand, noting cocoa prices dropped while coffee remains expensive, discussing farmers' effective non-violent protests in Europe and contrasting European energy shortages with the electricity needs of AI development. 1215-1230 UK Labour's Struggles and the Workers' Rights Bill: Colleague Simon Constable analyzes the UK Labour Party's struggles despite a large majority, citing Keir Starmer's low approval, warning that the return of "Red Rayner" and a new workers' rights bill preventing easy firing could stifle economic growth and deter foreign investment, worsening Britain's debt. 1230-1245 The National Security Strategy as Transatlantic "Divorce Papers": Colleague Blaine Holt argues the National Security Strategy resembles "divorce papers" for a perilous transatlantic relationship, contending Europe, having de-industrialized, refuses Trump's diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, fearing the aftermath of a conflict they cannot sustain against a re-industrialized Russia. 1245-100 AM Penang's Boom Contrasts with China's Decline: Colleague Charles Ortel contrasts Penang's economic boom and diverse hardworking culture with China's decline, discussing China's suppressed financial data and property crisis with Gordon Chang, arguing Western elites were "bought off" by Beijing while investors should demand transparency regarding assets trapped in ChiNA.

Baltic Defenses and NATO's Uncertain Resolve: Colleague Blaine Holt discusses the Baltics preparing defensive "Mino lines" and bunkers fearing a potential Russian attack, noting Baltic citizens feel trapped between NATO bureaucracy and Russian hybrid warfare while doubting NATO's resolve to intervene, arguing diplomatic solutions are necessary as Europe lacks resources for a cohesive defense. 1848

SHOW -25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1942 THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT the peace plan. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Economy, Fed Rates, and the AI Productivity Boom — Liz Peek — Peek examines the U.S. economy, noting mixed retail sales data alongside recent strength in credit card spending. She anticipates the Federal Reserve will likely reduce interest rates in December due to softening labor market conditions, despite traditional employment reporting lags. Peekemphasizes that the Fed fails to account adequately for AI's significant, though currently unmeasured, impact on productivity gains, employment displacement, and escalating electricity consumption, even as AI demonstrates substantial benefits in diagnostics and medical analysis. 915-930 930-945 Ireland's Exposed Western Flank and Europe's Ukraine Stance — Judy Dempsey — Dempsey examines how Ireland's steadfast neutrality and limited defense capabilities leave its critical undersea communication cables vulnerable to Russian eavesdropping and potential sabotage. Despite maintaining budget surpluses, Ireland prioritizes social issues, including housing, over defense investments. Dempsey notes that European powers view the U.S.-Russia peace proposal for Ukraine with skepticism, characterizing it as a "Russian wish list," while German leadership remains publicly committed to sustained Ukrainian military support. 945-1000 SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Unorthodox Ukraine Diplomacy and Geopolitical Realism — Mary Kissel — Kissel analyzes the "exceedingly odd" U.S. approach to Ukraine peace negotiations, wherein businesspeople framed initial proposals while bypassing traditional State Department channels. This transactional negotiating style concerns European allies because it appears to reward Russia and establishes an unfavorable initial bargaining position. Kissel suggests the conflict will likely persist while diplomatic discussions protract. She commends Marco Rubio for prioritizing economic growth and countering Chineseand Iranian influence throughout the Western Hemisphere. 1015-1030 1030-1045 Escalating Conflict: Hezbollah Strike, Turkish Influence, and Fragile Ceasefires — Jonathan Schanzer — Schanzer discusses the chaotic status of regional ceasefires, highlighting Israel's major strike against Hezbollah's de facto military commander in Beirut. Iran and Turkey are actively exploiting smuggling routes into Lebanon via Syriato sustain Hezbollah operations. Schanzer addresses the dysfunction of the Lebanese government, the fragility of the Gaza truce agreement, and the complex geopolitical competition involving Russia, Turkey, and external actors competing for influence over the nascent Syrian state. 1045-1100 THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 China's Debt Dilemma and Keir Starmer's Political Trouble — Joseph Sternberg — Sternberg analyzes China'scritical economic vulnerabilities, noting that its $2.2 trillion in global lending—partly channeled through the Belt and Road Initiative—faces mounting pressure from defaults and political resistance to Chinese asset ownership. Domestically, China restricts capital inflows to manage inflation and stabilize exchange rates. Sternberg also examines UK politics, noting that Labour leader Keir Starmer faces mounting political difficulties ahead of a challenging budget that lacks an articulated economic growth strategy. 1115-1130 1130-1145 AI Regulation: The Danger of Fear and the Need for a National Framework — Kevin Fraaser — Fraser critiques the regulatory rush surrounding AI, faulting the EU's approach to establishing guardrails based on "speculative fears" rather than documented harms. He warns against allowing "robophobia"—unfounded fear of artificial intelligence—to drive policy, advocating instead for regulatory focus on beneficial applications including healthcare diagnostics and educational access. Fraaser advocates for a unified U.S. regulatory framework to prevent a fragmented patchwork of state laws and excessive litigation that stifles technological innovation. 1145-1200 FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War Games — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the opaque U.S.-Russia Ukraine peace talks, which initially involved non-traditional negotiators rather than career diplomats. European powers are seeking inclusion in discussions but maintain conflicting strategic objectives. The discussion covers NATO's eroding relevance, particularly regarding Ireland's vulnerability to Russian surveillance and potential sabotage of critical undersea communication cables. Copley assesses a war game scenario in which Russia directly challenges NATO's Article 5 collective defense commitment in the Baltics. 1215-1230 1230-1245 1245-100 AM

1/4.  Ukraine Diplomacy, NATO Defense Gaps, and Baltic War Games — Gregory Copley — Copley analyzes the opaque U.S.-Russia Ukraine peace talks, which initially involved non-traditional negotiators rather than career diplomats. European powers are seeking inclusion in discussions but maintain conflicting strategic objectives. The discussion covers NATO's eroding relevance, particularly regarding Ireland's vulnerability to Russian surveillance and potential sabotage of critical undersea communication cables. Copley assesses a war game scenario in which Russia directly challenges NATO's Article 5 collective defense commitment in the Baltics.

PREVIEW — Gregory Copley — NATO's Inconsistencies and Future Existence. Copley examines the fractured and inconsistent state of NATO, noting overwhelming enthusiasm from threatened eastern flank members, including Poland, the Baltics, and Finland, who prioritize collective defense. This contrasts sharply with tepid commitment from wealthy western members and explicit antagonism toward the U.S. from Germany and France. Copley highlights concerns regarding western flank exposure, particularly Ireland's vulnerability, and the critical dependence of eastern defense on central European cooperation and coordination. 11930 County Waterford coastal artillery

HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: The "When Russia Wins" War Game and NATO's Empty Shell. Gaius and Germanicus continue their discussion, reflecting on how Woodrow Wilson's 14 points led to catastrophe. They then play the "paranoid NATO dream" war game, "When Russia Wins." The scenario posits that in 2028, after the 28-point plan is implemented, Russian forces occupy Narva, Estonia, but remain static. NATO fails to invoke Article 5 due to a lack of consensus, especially after Washington washes its hands of the conflict, effectively ending the alliance. Germanicus argues NATO is an "empty shell," designed only for nuclear confrontation, not hybrid warfare or lesser contingencies. While Ukraine has made peace with not joining NATO, Russia accepts Ukraine pursuing EU membership for its necessary economic connection. Russia's goal in the Baltics is primarily the protection of ethnic Russians and access to the Baltic Sea. 1940

PREVIEW Gerald R. Ford Super Carrier Deployment to the Caribbean Atlantic. Rebecca Grant of the Lexington Institute discusses the Gerald R. Ford super carrier's rapid transit to the Caribbean Atlantic off Venezuela. The carrier had recently concluded exercises with NATO in the Baltics, including tracking the Russian shadow fleet. Grant notes that the transit took about a week for the Ford to join Southern Command. The segment highlights that aircraft carriers are constantly needed at global "hot spots," reinforcing the argument that more of these ships should be built. Guest: Rebecca Grant. 1910 USS MASSACHUCETTS 

8. The Misreading of Russia: Ideology and the Insufficiency of Alliances The debate over whether Ukraine should join the EU or NATO fundamentally misses the core issue: Russia's unwavering ideological belief that it must dominate and control Ukraine. If Russians are driven by this revanchist, neo-imperialist ideology, they will continue to seek control regardless of Ukraine's alliances, potentially through misinformation or political interference. American administrations (including Obama, Trump, and Biden) and many Western European powers have consistently misread Russia, treating it as rational or transactional, and thus failed to take its ideological goals seriously. This lack of understanding about Russia's commitment to control Ukraine means that any proposed "settlement" that does not acknowledge Ukraine as an independent state is doomed. Countries like the Baltics and Poland, which have hands-on experience dealing with Russia, correctly recognized the persistent threat but were often dismissed as overly dramatic.1855 CRIMEA Retry