Podcasts about Hezbollah

These are the top headlines from Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily, on Saturday August 1st at 6pm GMT.    - Israel says it killed several Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon - Israeli strikes in Gaza kill two, hit medical supply warehouses: medical sources - US embassies urge citizens to consider departing Middle East - Egypt captains recount scramble to stop disaster after drone strike - Kuwait says hostile drones destroyed after debris damages property   Check out the latest updates on arabnews.com

For review:1. Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, by sea and possibly including a ground operation, The Guardian reported Thursday. 2.  The United States and Israel are planning what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure in Iran, multiple sources told CBS News, with strikes possible throughout the weekend. 3.  The Israeli military blew up a Hezbollah tunnel system beneath the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced late Thursday night in a joint statement. They said the Israel Defense Forces used 700 tons of explosives to demolish the subterranean facility.  4. US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that his Board of Peace had reached an agreement on the “complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza.” 5. USMC F-35B crasheded today  in California, according to the service. The pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local medical facility, the service said in a statement. The pilot is being treated and evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries, the statement added. No additional details were immediately available. 

It has been five months since the US and Israel launched their war with Iran, and the conflict has never really been contained. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Jordan have all been hit by Iranian missiles and drones, Hezbollah drew Lebanon into a fight that is still going on, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, with neither talks nor military action producing a lasting reopening. Right now, though, no front is moving faster than the one closing in on Saudi Arabia, and it is coming from two directions at once. In Yemen, a strike on Sanaa airport and Houthi accusations against Riyadh in July reignited a conflict that had been largely dormant, leading within days to attacks on Saudi shipping, a Saudi strike on Hodeidah port, and a Houthi claim to have hit oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu, potentially the first direct strike on Saudi oil infrastructure since 2022. In Iraq, months of accusations that Iran-backed militias were launching drones from Iraqi soil culminated this week in Saudi Arabia joining the US in direct, public strikes for the first time, a move Riyadh justified as an exercise of its right to self-defence under the UN Charter. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher is joined by Douglas Silliman, former US Ambassador to Iraq and now President of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, Hasan Alhasan, senior fellow for Middle East Policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Elizabeth Dent, senior fellow at the Washington Institute, to look at how Saudi Arabia's escalation fits into the broader trajectory of the US-Iran war.

-Rob unloads on New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, joking that publishing wealthy homeowners' addresses is less "tax policy" and more "please bother these people," before comparing the Democratic Socialists to full-blown communists. -Brigitte Gabriel joins the show to discuss the escalating conflict with Iran, the growing cooperation between the U.S. and key Arab allies, the Abraham Accords, Lebanon's Hezbollah problem, and why she believes Zohran Mamdani should not attend New York City's 9/11 commemoration. Today's podcast is sponsored by : PARAMOUNT PLUS - Don't Miss “Lioness” - all episodes streaming August 2nd on Paramount Plus RELIEF FACTOR - You don't need to live with aches & pains! Reduce muscle & joint inflammation and live a pain-free life by visiting http://ReliefFactor.com  GHOSTBED - I used to think a mattress was just furniture, until I got my GhostBed! GhostBed is offering my audience their lowest prices of the season, plus an extra 10% off. Go to http://GhostBed.com/CARSON and use promo code CARSON To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday… Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (http://patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) You can now WATCH and chat with The Rob Carson Show LIVE on Newsmax's social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Rumble) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. A drone hit a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta yesterday. No party has claimed responsibility, and authorities are continuing their investigations; however, two unnamed Iranian sources are quoted by The New York Times as heavily implying that Tehran was behind yesterday’s attack, marking the first targeting of that country in the current war. As Iran flexes, Fabian describes the role of CENTCOM in the region and discusses recent cooperative strikes held by the US and Saudi Arabia. We explore the concept of Israeli air supremacy and learn what US assets are currently on Israeli soil -- and flying off of it. Fabian updates on the Hezbollah drone that hit an Israeli armored bulldozer stationed in the IDF’s south Lebanon buffer zone overnight Tuesday, in violation of the ongoing truce. We next turn to Gaza, where the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday struck a mosque in Gaza City, saying Wednesday that it was one of several Hamas weapons depots in the central and northern Gaza Strip that it destroyed this week. In the second half of the program, we turn to the case of an Israeli civilian who previously served in the military in a classified unit who has been arrested and charged with spying on behalf of Iran. Fabian touches on similar recent cases and explains that perhaps these would-be spies are not only in it for the money. And finally, yesterday IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir again said that the military must expand its ranks and draft more ultra-Orthodox soldiers, as data showed an increase in Haredi enlistment over the past year. We learn about whether the new Haredi brigade is meeting expectations. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Drone strikes US-owned gas tanker in Egyptian port, in possible expansion of Mideast war Hezbollah drone hits IDF bulldozer, violating Lebanon truce, IDF says, days ahead of talks IDF strikes Gaza City mosque, claims it was used for weapons storage ‘I know a lot’: Veteran of secret IDF unit charged with spying for Iran IDF chief tells Haredi commanders army must grow, as data shows uptick in enlistment Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Thursday, July 30th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Iranian Muslim authorities shut down oldest Protestant church Iranian officials recently shut down the oldest Protestant church in the country. Christians have held worship services at St. Peter's Evangelical Church in Tehran for 150 years. Authorities have now seized the property and banned church gatherings there. They also ordered 28 families living on the church compound to leave. Iran has been seizing Protestant church properties for years. Mansour Khajehpour previously served as an elder at St. Peter's Church. He told Christianity Today that the church in Iran grows despite persecution. He said, “This is the dynamic reality of the church. The church will not die. The church will grow, and we are a part of that church.” In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” United States launched strikes on Iran last night Speaking of Iran, the United States began launching strikes on Iran at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 29th, according to the U.S. Central Command. The U.S. attacks were “a powerful response to [Tuesday's] attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East.” The attacks by Iran on U.S. forces did not get past U.S. defenses. And The Western Journal reports that foreign governments are taking part in the fighting now, where they hadn't before. For the first time, the Saudi Arabian military joined with the U.S. in striking Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, reports the Associated Press. Retired Navy Vice Adm. Robert Harward, a retired SEAL and former deputy CENTCOM commander, said, “You see the Lebanese government making an agreement with Israel to undermine and try to get rid of Hezbollah.” He added, “You're seeing the pressure build on Iran on all fronts.” Ukrainian refugees have planted 160 churches across Europe Millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes since Russia invaded the country in 2022. Despite this, these refugees have planted churches across Europe.  European Christian Mission International reports displaced Ukrainians have started 160 churches in Europe in the last four years.   A report from the organization stated, “Increasingly, Ukrainian believers are refusing to see themselves only as refugees. Instead, many are embracing a different calling - missionaries sent by God into the nations of Europe.” Canadian labor board ruled in favor of COVID-shot rejecter LifeSiteNews reports that a Canadian labor board ruled in favor of a Christian man who objected to the COVID-shot mandate. The Canadian Revenue Agency suspended Steven Porter without pay after denying his religious exemption. The agency must now pay $5,000 in damages to Porter.  He wrote in his exemption request, “Christ is my supreme King and Lord and I am subject to His final authority alone in all matters of life, faith and conscience.” In Acts 5:29, the apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Senator questions CDC's billion-dollar COVID-shot contract to Pfizer The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded $1.24 billion in COVID-shot contracts to Pfizer last month. Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin questioned this decision in a letter to Secretary of Health & Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  Johnson wrote, “The CDC's reported awarding of approximately $1.24 billion in new contracts to Pfizer for a vaccine linked to serious adverse events—including potentially the deaths of children—suggests [that the] CDC continues to fail to take its vaccine safety responsibilities seriously.” Pro-lifer Paul Vaughn got settlement over wrongful arrest Praise God! A pro-life, Christian father reached a $1 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The case involved his wrongful arrest under the Biden administration, reports Highlight Truth Ministries. Federal agents raided the Tennessee home of Paul Vaughn in 2022 and arrested him for his pro-life activism.  My family and I had the honor of meeting Paul Vaughn several years ago. He's an amazing Christian patriot. Steve Crampton, Senior Counsel at the Thomas More Society, said, “This settlement is not just about one family. It is a warning and a precedent. The weaponization of federal law enforcement against pro-lifers, against people of faith, against those who dare to stand for the unborn—that era is over.” Treasury has saved $99 million from going to dead recipients The U.S. Department of the Treasury implemented a new payment verification process.  The safeguard has already kept about $99 million from being sent to deceased individuals.  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “Treasury has delivered on a key promise of President Trump's mandate to stop improper payments and fraud before money leaves the Treasury, and strengthen the integrity of the federal payment system.” 70th anniversary of America's “In God We Trust” motto Today is the 70th anniversary of when “In God We Trust” became America's motto. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the law on July 30, 1956. The resolution also required the motto to appear on all U.S. currency.   Democratic Representative Charles Bennett of Florida introduced the resolution. He said, “Nothing can be more certain than that our country was founded in a spiritual atmosphere and with a firm trust in God. ... In these days when imperialistic and materialistic communism seeks to attack and destroy freedom, we should continually look for ways to strengthen the foundations of our freedom.” Texan mother shares that her kids have contributed Here at The Worldview in 5 Minutes newscast, Leticia in Blum Texas wrote, “Adam, we are so thankful for your radio newscast. It is a great encouragement to us! We listen to it on the road or when we're at home. It is great to hear stories that I know wouldn't normally make it into traditional newscasts. “The Worldview is concise and informative! Thankful for the work you are doing!  Our four children -- Fletcher (15), Halen (12), Beck (10), and Murphy (7) -- contributed some of their money to our donation.” McVeda kids' mother in Montana contemplates why sponsor this newscast And Melissa McVeda, the mother of the four kids under the age of 11 in Great Falls, Montana who have raised hundreds of dollars for The Worldview selling chocolate chip cookies, iced tea and hand crocheted puppets on their dairy farm, weighed in with her thoughts. She wrote, “Adam, there are so many ministries that I would like to donate to: earnest missionaries and people hurting from natural disasters, among others. In light of those needs, it has been difficult for me to reconcile giving to The Worldview. And I imagine I'm not alone in that. “Because of my kids' fundraiser, which naturally has come to involve the entire family, I've spent time considering if The Worldview is worth the effort and funds we're putting into it. This is the primary answer I have seen:  “I would not KNOW about many of the other needs if it weren't for The Worldview in 5 Minutes! Your newscast is a connection point -- a bridge, if you will - between Christians and people in need around the world.  “Because of this ‘bridge,' I heard about the dear brother in Uganda who lost both of his hands to his Muslim family's persecution. And God stirred me to pray for his faith not to be shaken! Because of The Worldview, I heard about the steadfast pro-life sister in Britain who recently was killed. I rejoiced to hear how God used her faithfulness and I was stirred to consider if she has family who are grieving.  “The Worldview IS an important ministry. It is connecting those who have a supply to those who have needs as 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 articulates. It is also building the Body of Christ as brothers and sisters across the world hear about each other and pray for and encourage each other as a result.  “I remember when I first heard about The Worldview in 5 Minutes back in 2018. Kevin Swanson was sharing how he had personally invested $30,000/year of his own money to fund it when it started in 2015.  He had recently reached out to this man, Adam McManus, a talk show host down in San Antonio Texas, to see if Adam would voice the newscast. Kevin, obviously, had a vision for how God would use The Worldview. “One final note. Yesterday, when my kids and I heard you cite some of the large donations coming in, where people were giving one-time donations of $500 and $1,000, I realized that those donors were not just donating for the benefit that they, themselves, receive from The Worldview. They were also donating so that someone else could have the same benefits.  I praise God for the work He's doing through this newscast.” 11 Worldview listeners gave $1,775.96 And finally, by Wednesday night at 8:00pm Central, 11 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the 6-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Augustine in Auburn, California and Ben in Eureka, California – both of whom gave $20 as well as Carri in Oro Valley, Arizona who gave $25, and Bethany in Austin, Texas who gave $50. We're grateful to God for an anonymous donor in Oxford, New York and David in Houston, Texas – both of whom gave $100, and the McVeda Kids in Great Falls, Montana who gave another $160.96! We appreciate Steven in Ulster Park, New York and James in Lancaster, South Carolina – both of whom gave $200 as well as Leticia and her kids Fletcher, Halen, Beck, and Murphy in Blum, Texas who also gave $200. And we were touched by the generosity of Karl in Grand Rapids, Michigan who gave $700. Those 11 gifts add up to $1,775.96. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $ 81,119.96 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $42,380.04 by midnight on Friday, July 31! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by tomorrow night, Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give a seemingly impossible amount of $42,380.04 in order for the 6-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. I see the finish line from here.  But, without God's help, we are not going to get across it! We still have matches open for the next 4 people who give a one-time gift of $500 because our friend in Naples, Florida will match your gift with another $2,000 of his own money. If those four donations come in, that would leave the difference of $38,380.  Listen. Could you be one of 38 people – just 38 -- to give a one-time gift of $1,000? Or, if that's not doable right now, would you consider a monthly pledge of $83.33? No gift is too big or too small.  We have received a $5 gift and a $2,400 gift.  If everyone does something, we can get there with the Lord's help. Just ask Him. “Lord, how has this newscast made a difference in my life?”  What is that worth to you?  We had a college student sacrificially give $500.  We've had Africans in Eswatini, who have very little funds, invest $10/month. And we've had kids raise hundreds of dollars through creative fundraisers selling cookies and hardboiled eggs and lemonade. Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  This newscast team champions the truth and uses the Bible as our plumbline.  Don't forget: The Worldview in 5 Minutes is commercial free. We have no sponsors. Nor do we have a pay wall.  Anyone who wants to access this newscast can get it for free. So, all we have is you! What is God prompting you to do right now? Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, July 30th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Two years ago, a Hezbollah rocket struck a soccer field in Majdal Shams, murdering 12 Druze children and teenagers. We remember their lives, and we confront what this attack revealed about Hezbollah and the terrorists it represents.There is also a battle being waged for the minds of our children. Influencers and activists are using trusted platforms to erase victims, sanitize terrorism, and teach young people to see Israel as the villain.

Why is Jordan all mixed up in these negotiations? Sen. Talent can give the lowdown on Hezbollah, and Jordan's role in all this Middle East turmoil.

Jonathan Schanzer discusses new UK–US talks focused on a maritime coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has an opportunity to reset the relationship with Donald Trump. The Iranian-backed Houthi threat remains a top concern for global oil analysts and regional powers like Egypt. Meanwhile, the US is signaling that Lebanon is "too big to fail" to counter Hezbollah's regional influence. (8)1920

SCHEDULE THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-28-26.1900 IDAHOLiz Peek reports the US economy remains robust, driven by strong consumer spending in rural areas like Connecticutand Lancaster County. Peek highlights rising small business and consumer confidence despite increasing gasoline prices. Attention shifts to new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, who may end "dot plot" forecasting. Warsh aims to be more "taciturn," forcing markets to rely on incoming data rather than Fed projections. (1)Liz Peek examines the Michigan Democratic Senate primary as a national test for the party's ideological direction. Moderate Haley Stevens faces Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a candidate favored by the Democratic Socialists of America. Peek notes the "shocker" UAW endorsement of El-Sayed, highlighting a shift toward "woke" politics among union members in higher education. This race evaluates if a far-left candidate can win a statewide swing-state contest. (2)Thaddeus McCotter and Judy Dempsey discuss Ukraine's strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which complicates global energy security for Europe. This inland sea is a vital source of non-Russian energy. Dempsey reports that Germany is carefully observing the implications of this new front. The strike underscores the deep military connection between Russia and Iran regarding equipment exchanges. Meanwhile, recent polls show seven out of ten Americans oppose the Iran war. (3)Thaddeus McCotter and Judy Dempsey turn to a deadly ramming attack at a Berlin parade that has put Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the defensive regarding his security credentials. The populist AfD party is exploiting the tragedy to criticize "uncontrolled immigration" ahead of crucial state elections. While Merz responded with calls for law and order, the incident underscores the difficulty police face in monitoring numerous terrorist suspects. The AfD utilizes these crises to offer simple solutions. (4)Mary Kissel notes diplomatic efforts with Iran currently involve "shuttling messages" through intermediaries like Omanand Qatar. Kissel argues that the Islamic Republic is a revolutionary regime with no interest in genuine strategic peace. The administration's lack of a cohesive strategy has led to declining public support for military action. Meanwhile, the Houthi threat in the Red Sea remains a dangerous Iranian-backed tool for disrupting international shipping. (5)Mary Kissel observes President Zelenskyy is receiving a warmer reception in Washington due to Ukraine's increasing military leverage. Innovative long-range drone strikes on Russian energy nodes have demonstrated Ukraine's utility to USstrategic interests. Unlike the situation with Iran, the US maintains active diplomatic channels in Moscow to discuss potential conflict resolutions. Kissel notes that influential voices on the right are beginning to shift their views on Ukraine. (6)Jonathan Schanzer reports the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East are merging as Russia, Iran, and Chinacoordinate their efforts. Schanzer notes that Ukraine's Caspian Sea strike has clarified this global partnership. The US is currently attempting to "keep a lid" on Israel to prevent a regional escalation. However, the US military faces a depletion of missile interceptors, making it difficult to sustain a long, high-intensity conflict. (7)Jonathan Schanzer discusses new UK–US talks focused on a maritime coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has an opportunity to reset the relationship with Donald Trump. The Iranian-backed Houthi threat remains a top concern for global oil analysts and regional powers like Egypt. Meanwhile, the US is signaling that Lebanon is "too big to fail" to counter Hezbollah's regional influence. (8)Gregory Copley reports the Trump administration has imposed tariffs on Australia, alleging "forced labor" practices—a claim Copley describes as spurious. This move antagonizes a loyal ally that has fought alongside the US for over a century. Consequently, Australia and Canada are beginning to lessen their strategic dependence on the US. Copley warns that such unilateral protectionism could weaken the long-term structure of the Western alliance. (9)Gregory Copley describes Cuba's total implosion as its infrastructure collapses and major blackouts occur. Copley describes a strategic failure in the Caribbean, where China has built significant influence over the last 20 years. The USmust decide whether to facilitate a rapid collapse or a managed transition of the regime. While the Cuban people suffer, the wealthy expatriate community remains ready to fund reconstruction. (10)Gregory Copley reports Xi Jinping faces significant internal opposition from Communist Party elders at the Beidaiheretreat. Despite his titles, Xi's operational power is waning as the Chinese economy evaporates and social unrest grows. A recent ballistic missile launch served as a show of strength before a state visit to the US. Copley notes that youth unemployment is high, and the PLA may eventually act independently. (11)Gregory Copley turns to the UK, where following the rise of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the country faces political uncertainty as Labour struggles with a lack of growth. Copley highlights King Charles III's vital role as a unifying force, focusing on British national identity and values. While the Burnham government is viewed as sclerotic and ideological, the King remains an egalitarian figure. His efforts to preserve heritage, like Dumfries House, bolster his standing. (12)Joseph Sternberg criticizes Prime Minister Andy Burnham's economic policy as ineffective against the cost-of-living crisis. Sternberg argues that the UK is trapped by net-zero regulations that prevent the use of vast North Sea oil and gas reserves. Burnham finds it politically difficult to cut taxes or reverse climate policies despite potential economic benefits. This paralysis makes his government a target for future replacement. (13)Joseph Sternberg notes Chairman Kevin Warsh is moving the Federal Reserve toward a "taciturn" style, ending the practice of "forward guidance." This reform aims to prevent the Fed from becoming locked into policies that may become inappropriate as data shifts. Sternberg suggests that saying less may protect the Fed from political conflict with the White House over tariffs. Markets must now interpret raw data rather than Fed signals. (14)Thaddeus McCotter describes the Michigan Democratic Senate primary as a "civil war" between establishment candidate Haley Stevens and progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. The candidates are sharply divided over AIPAC funding and support for Israel. Stevens is endorsed by high-profile figures like Gretchen Whitmer and Barack Obama. The result will indicate if the Democratic Socialists of America can succeed in a statewide race in a swing state. (15)Thaddeus McCotter notes Dr. Abdul El-Sayed denies being a socialist, claiming he merely wants to regulate "capitalism run amok." However, his platform includes radical proposals such as abolishing ICE. Haley Stevens frames him as a "celebrity candidate" and questions his appeal to women voters. McCotter notes that while the DSA lacks a ground model, identity politics may drive a high turnout among Michigan's large Muslim population. (16)Corrections applied throughout as directed: Thaddeus McCotter and Liz Peek.

Confira os destaques do Jornal da Manhã desta quarta-feira (29): O advogado de Jair Bolsonaro (PL), João Henrique de Freitas, disse na terça-feira (28) não ter sido do ex-presidente a decisão da exibição de um vídeo feito com inteligência artificial na Convenção Nacional do Partido Liberal (PL). No evento que oficializou a candidatura de Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) à Presidência. Também na terça-feira (28), o ministro Alexandre de Moraes, do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), deu 48 horas para a defesa explicar se houve permissão de Bolsonaro. Reportagem: Paulo Edson Fiori. O vice-presidente e ministro do Desenvolvimento, Indústria, Comércio e Serviços, Geraldo Alckmin, lamentou as falas do presidente da Argentina, Javier Milei, durante a Convenção Nacional do PL em São Paulo. Alckmin também afirmou que pretende dobrar o comércio com a Coreia do Sul como um caminho para driblar o tarifaço. O porta-voz da Casa Rosada emitiu uma declaração minimizando o desconforto entre Milei e Lula (PT), afirmando que a troca de insultos entre os governos do Brasil e da Argentina sempre existiu e que a Argentina nunca levou o fato para o campo diplomático. Em encontro com o embaixador do Brasil em Buenos Aires, Lula afirmou que não quer “transformar a situação em uma coisa maior do que é ou dar uma importância maior à Milei do que ele tem”. Reportagem: André Anelli. A Federação PSDB - Cidadania lançou Soninha Francine para o Senado por São Paulo. A legenda pleiteou uma candidatura ao Palácio dos Bandeirantes, mas reconheceu a dificuldade de enfrentar os extremos. Outros 95 nomes devem ser lançados como pré-candidatos à deputados estaduais. A Ucrânia advertiu o Irã para não retaliar um ataque feito à um navio persa no Mar Cáspio. O navio iraniano levava armamentos para Rússia, que abasteceriam o front contra cidades ucranianas. Teerã pediu ressarcimentos pelas perdas, enquanto Moscou classificou o ato como terrorismo. O Irã coopera com a Rússia vendendo equipamentos e drones em troca de informações de inteligência militar russa contra os EUA. Segundo o mais recente levantamento da Paraná Pesquisas, o governador Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) têm chances de vencer ainda no primeiro turno, onde lidera com 48,5%. O mesmo cenário mostra Fernando Haddad (PT) com 35%. Em um cenário de segundo turno, Tarcísio tem 51,8 % e Haddad com 38,5%. A mais recente pesquisa eleitoral para a Presidência da República realizada pelo instituto AtlasIntel em parceria com a Bloomberg mostra o presidente Lula (PT) liderando no primeiro turno com 44,9%, à frente de Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), com 35,8% e Renan Santos (Missão) com 7,8%. Já no segundo turno, o petista venceria o filho do ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro (PL) com 49,2% contra 42,9%. As Forças de Defesa de Israel confirmaram um ataque de drone realizado pelo Hezbollah na zona neutra entre os dois países. Atualmente está em vigor um cessar-fogo, entretanto, o Hezbollah atua de forma independente do Líbano, podendo re-aquecer as tensões na região. O Republicanos deve deixar para bater o martelo sobre o apoio à candidatura de Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) à Presidência da República para a véspera de sua convenção. A tendência do partido é optar pela neutralidade, mesmo com Daniella Marques (Republicanos) sendo um dos nomes cotados para a Vice-Presidência. Essas e outras notícias você acompanha no Jornal da Manhã. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

These are the top headlines from Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily, on Wednesday July 29th at 6pm GMT.   - Trump tells Fox: US to hit Iran ‘hard' after Jordan base attacks - Saudi Arabia, Italy call for maritime security in Hormuz, Red Sea - Drone hits gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port - Israel army accuses Hezbollah of truce violation, launching drone in south Lebanon - Lebanon probes prominent businessman's meeting with Netanyahu   Check out the latest updates on arabnews.com

Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter turn to Lebanon's attempt to establish humanitarian pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) replace withdrawing Israeli troops. Critics argue this model mirrors the failed Gazadisengagement, as Hezbollah remains entrenched and unwilling to disarm. Additionally, Hoenlein discusses a recent Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which signals a dangerous expansion of the regional conflict that may have broader retaliatory implications for the future. (6)

David Daoud and Bill Roggio report the IDF recently shot down an unarmed Hezbollah drone gathering intelligence over strategic ridges in southern Lebanon. Daoud highlights that Hezbollah continues to operate freely despite the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in pilot zones. The segment questions why Western leaders trust the Lebanesegovernment, given its failure to demand nationwide disarmament and its history of coordinating with Hezbollah to hide military infrastructure from international monitors. (7)

Headline: The Strategic Link Between the Lebanon Ceasefire and Iranian Interests Guest: David Daoud Summary: David Daoud explains that the Lebanon ceasefire persists primarily because of U.S. diplomatic pressure to reach a broader agreement with Iran. Although Israeli operations have decreased, Hezbollah remains armed and active, receiving weapons through Syria. The bond between Iran and Hezbollah is unbreakable due to shared ideology. Iran considers Hezbollah its most valuable asset, prioritizing the group's survival over nuclear or missile programs.  8

FILE 11. Headline: The Houthi-Iran Alliance and the Fragile Conflict with Saudi Arabia Guest: Edmund Fitton Brown Summary: Edmund Fitton Brown discusses the Houthis' motivation as a revolutionary Islamic force aligned with Iran's campaign against the West. While independent-minded, they share deep ideological ties with Hezbollah. The U.S. prematurely ceased military operations against them last year due to budgetary issues and Omani pressure, failing to stop Red Sea attacks. Recently, tensions escalated as Saudi Arabia challenged Houthi attempts to establish direct flights to Iran. 

SCHEDULE  JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-27-26Headline: Signaling Peace Amidst Conflict: The US and Iran Standstill Guest: Ambassador Hussein Haqqani and Bill Roggio Summary: John Batchelor discusses the current tensions between Iran and the United States following a sudden halt in American bombing. Ambassador Haqqani explains that both nations are seeking a diplomatic "off-ramp," though they face severe internal political constraints that prevent either a ground invasion or a total surrender. Bill Roggio adds that while secret talks are likely, reports of depleted US munitions might be influencing the decision to pause military action.Headline: The Threat of Escalation in the Caspian Theater Guest: Ambassador Hussein Haqqani and Bill RoggioSummary: This segment examines the potential for unconventional warfare escalation across Eurasia and the specific risks within the Caspian theater. Haqqani warns that Iran's ability to hold the global economy hostage through the Red Sea and Hormuz Strait creates a complex dilemma for the US. Bill Roggio concurs that limited aerial bombardment is insufficient for regime change and notes that neighboring countries like Kuwait remain hesitant to directly engage for fear of retaliation.Headline: Somalia's Unverifiable Victories: The Death of a Shabaab Founder Guest: Caleb Weiss and Bill RoggioSummary: Somali officials claim the death of Maalim Ibrahim, a co-founder of al-Shabaab and a key military planner who held many executive hats. However, guest Caleb Weiss cautions that such claims often lack third-party verification and may be false. The US is currently threatening to cut funding for the UN mission in Somalia due to a perceived lack of progress against the group and pervasive internal political corruption.Headline: Houthi Blockades and the Siege of Saudi Energy Ports Guest: Bridget Turner and Bill Roggio Summary: Houthi rebels have initiated a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabian ports, causing ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait to fall to its lowest level in months. While the Houthis cite local grievances, their actions align with Iran's broader strategy to pressure global energy markets. Despite the threat, Saudi Arabia has retaliated by bombing Houthi ports, even as the rebels receive targeting assistance from Iranian spy ships.Headline: High Stakes Diplomacy: Netanyahu's Visit and the Iranian Threat Guest: Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter Summary: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet with President Trump and attend the funeral of the late Senator Graham. The agenda focuses heavily on Iran's continued aggression, including reports of the "Pickaxe Mountain" facility containing thousands of centrifuges deep underground. Malcolm Hoenlein notes that despite the diplomatic pause, Iran continues to execute young dissidents and sponsor assassination plots in Israel and the United Kingdom.Headline: The Lebanese Pilot Zones: A Fragile Experiment in Peace Guest: Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotterSummary: Lebanon is attempting to establish humanitarian pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) replace withdrawing Israeli troops. Critics argue this model mirrors the failed Gaza disengagement, as Hezbollah remains entrenched and unwilling to disarm. Additionally, Hoenlein discusses a recent Ukrainian attack on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, which signals a dangerous expansion of the regional conflict that may have broader retaliatory implications for the future.Headline: Hezbollah's Surveillance and the Ineffectiveness of the LAF Guest: David Daoud and Bill Roggio Summary: The IDF recently shot down an unarmed Hezbollah drone gathering intelligence over strategic ridges in southern Lebanon. David Daoud highlights that Hezbollah continues to operate freely despite the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in pilot zones. The segment questions why Western leaders trust the Lebanese government, given its failure to demand nationwide disarmament and its history of coordinating with Hezbollah to hide military infrastructure from international monitors.FILE 8: Not provided in the sources.Headline: Brazil's Transnational Politics: Lula vs. the Conservative Alliance Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa Summary: President Lula da Silva of Brazil has shifted toward an anti-American stance, aligning himself with "criminal socialism" and the São Paulo Forum. Former Foreign Minister Araújo describes a growing transnational alliance between Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Flavio Bolsonaro to counter communist penetration in Latin America. The upcoming Brazilian election is seen as a critical battleground for the future of economic freedom and regional stability against organized crime.Headline: The Venezuelan Transition and the Shield of the Americas Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña EsclusaSummary: Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez has received unexpected praise from President Trump, causing concern among opposition members who view her as a gangster. Alejandro Peña Esclusa argues that Rodriguez is a repressive figure and suggests a reconstruction government of experts instead. Meanwhile, Brazil's Flavio Bolsonaro seeks to join the "Shield of the Americas" to combat regional criminal gangs and support a democratic transition in Venezuela.FILE 11: Not provided in the sources.Headline: Iran's Drone Test: Challenging the US Strategic Pause Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill RoggioSummary: Following a US suspension of airstrikes, Iran launched drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq to test the Trump administration's resolve. Edmund Fitton-Brown explains that Iran aims to prove it decides when pauses occur, not the US. The segment warns that without consistent US pressure, Iran could establish a "regional protection racket," leaving Arab states to seek separate accommodations with the bully on the block.Headline: Starship Test 13: Success and Challenges in Reusability Guest: Doug Messier Summary: SpaceX's Starship Test 13 achieved a controlled landing of the spacecraft in the Indian Ocean, though the Super Heavy booster exploded during its Gulf landing. Doug Messier explains that while the mission successfully deployed Starlink satellites, the FAA remains concerned about future overland flights. The ultimate goal is full reusability for NASA's upcoming lunar missions and upgrading the capacity of the Starlink network for laser communications.Headline: Decapitating Hamas: Targeted Strikes in Gaza Guest: Samuel Benner and Bill Roggio Summary: The IDF has conducted targeted strikes against Hamas's internal security commanders, including the head of the police force in central Gaza. Samuel Benner reports that while the upper military echelon has been largely eliminated, Israel is now targeting those responsible for imposing rule on Gazans. Despite these strikes, Hamas continues to control food distribution, effectively using humanitarian aid as a "piggy bank" for the organization.Headline: The Iran War: A Strategy Stuck in Stalemate Guest: Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio Summary: After twelve days of intense US bombing, there is confusion regarding the long-term plan for achieving behavior change in Tehran. Jonathan Schanzer argues that the regime remains ideologically committed to power and is unlikely to offer concessions for money alone. Furthermore, Iran's capability to launch ballistic missiles remains significant, and the IRGC has not yet felt the impression that a total regime collapse is imminent.Headline: The AI Bubble: China's Strategic Intellectual Property Theft Guest: Brandon Ward and Gordon ChangSummary: China is allegedly using stolen American intellectual property to train its artificial intelligence models, such as Moonshot's Kimmy K3. Brandon Ward suggests this is a strategic move to collapse the inflated market value of the American AI sector. Gordon Chang warns that despite export bans, Chinese firms continue to acquire high-end Nvidia chips, complicating US strategic plans and economic dominance while threatening a potential future shooting war.

The Morning XTRA with Tug and Los delivers conservative talk on the biggest political, cultural, and news stories of the day. Smart analysis, unapologetic opinions, and real conversations every weekday morning. Every weekday from 6a to 10a! Tug and Los dive into Dr. Anthony Fauci's diary and why they believe his actions during the COVID era were harmful to all Americans. The guys also discuss Andrew Yang's comments suggesting Kamala Harris is positioning herself for a 2028 presidential run, and new polling on President Trump's handling of Iran. On today's show:• Braves get blown out in Game 1• Why Tug and Los say Fauci "sounds like a serial killer"• Flashback: When Hillary Clinton sounded surprisingly "MAGA"• Why the numbers show Americans trust President Trump on Iran• CNN and the Mainstream Media's relationship with Fauci behind closed doors• What Kamala's trying out ahead of 2028• How big Voter Fraud numbers across the country will look likeAtlanta's ONLY All Conservative News & Talk Station.: https://www.xtra1063.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Morning XTRA with Tug and Los delivers conservative talk on the biggest political, cultural, and news stories of the day. Smart analysis, unapologetic opinions, and real conversations every weekday morning. Every weekday from 6a to 10a! First thing to know: Fauci sounds like a Serial Killer Flashback: Hillary Clinton sounded pretty “MAGA” back in the day Commies love Terrorism Atlanta's ONLY All Conservative News & Talk Station.: https://www.xtra1063.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. After several nights without US strikes on Iranian targets, Israeli leaders still estimate that US President Donald Trump could soon be compelled to step up military action, according to Israeli reports. The US military has continued to send significant forces to Israel, including dozens of warplanes, refueling planes, air defenses and munitions — a similar deployment to the one that took place just before the US-Israeli war against Iran was launched in late February, according to the Kan broadcaster. At recording time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has boarded Israel's official Wing of Zion plane. Berman rolls out what he expects will be on the agenda for tomorrow's planned Trump-Netanyahu meetup. Netanyahu is set to attend the funeral of the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham. Yesterday, reports surfaced based on unaired footage seen by The Wall Street Journal that Netanyahu talked Graham out of convincing Trump to join Israel’s fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Berman shares other insights from the posthumously released excerpts from an upcoming documentary. Yesterday, after a deadly Friday shootout was sparked when settlers illegally entered a Nablus-area village, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed at a cabinet meeting to expand farming outposts and operations against Palestinian “terrorist strongholds” in the West Bank. This promise was made soon after leaked reports were published of Netanyahu's March condemnation of extremist settler violence. How do these conflicting statements play on the international stage? Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: As Trump pauses Iran strikes, Israel said to believe he’ll soon be forced to escalate Netanyahu says he’ll fly to DC for Tuesday meet with Trump, Graham memorial service; Trump confirms visit Netanyahu talked Graham out of lobbying Trump to join war on Hezbollah – report Netanyahu vows expanded operations against West Bank ‘terrorist strongholds’ Report: Cabinet quietly okayed plan to curb settler violence; PM called phenomenon ‘cancer’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’re listening to American Ground Radio with Stephen Parr and Louis R. Avallone. This is the full show for July 23, 2026. We open with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Tallarico's reparations proposal — made at a July 20 campaign event in DeSoto — calling for tuition relief, homeownership grants, and government-funded baby bonds for Black Texans, all in the name of repairing past harms. We walk through everything he left undefined: who qualifies, what the eligibility standard is, where the funding comes from, and what the total cost would be. We also walk through the genealogical reality of a multiracial nation — including the head of the NAACP who discovered she had an ancestor on the Mayflower, and the uncomfortable question of what happens when the same family tree contains both slaveholders and slaves. We make the theological point that a grievance machine with no limiting principle is not a policy. It is a dependency engine. The debt of slavery was paid — Lincoln said so, and the Civil War proved it at a cost of more American lives than any conflict before or since. The answer is not racial accounting. It is equal citizenship, strong families, honest education, safe communities, and a culture that celebrates achievement instead of grievance. In our Top 3, first-time unemployment claims dropped to 187,000 — the lowest level since 1969 under Richard Nixon, coming in 22,000 below the prior week and well under what economists had projected. Fewer layoffs means steadier families. Then a member of Vice President J.D. Vance's Secret Service protective detail was suspended and placed under criminal investigation for allegedly leaking operational security information to the media — specifically complaining about unpredictable travel schedules. A Secret Service agent who can't keep a secret should not be in the Secret Service. And New York City landlords filed a lawsuit against the Mamdani administration's rent freeze — arguing that the Rent Guidelines Board was packed with political allies who then manipulated their own data to justify a two-year freeze on rents for more than a million tenants. We explain what rent freezes actually produce: slumlords, abandoned buildings, and a housing stock that deteriorates because owners cannot raise revenue to maintain it. We also cover two men stabbed in an unprovoked attack on New York City's Upper West Side — the attacker reportedly shouting Allahu Akbar — one victim Asian, one wearing a yarmulke. We note that Mamdani's response to antisemitic violence in his city is to promise to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. We connect the violence to a broader point: when leadership sets a tone of weakness, confusion, and ideological hate, this is the inevitable result. Our American Mamas Terry Netterville and Kimberly Burleson tackle the question of whether wives say things to their husbands that would devastate them if said in return — and the answer is an unambiguous yes. Terry admits she tells Kevin his hair is dirty, that he can't wear that outfit, and that mowing the lawn is his job — while acknowledging that if Kevin said any of those things to her it would ruin her day. The conversation becomes a warm, funny, and surprisingly insightful look at how different couples absorb criticism differently, why the way you're raised shapes what you can and cannot say to your spouse, and what happens when a wife goes on strike to make everyone appreciate what she does. We discuss Sophie Cunningham of the Indiana Fever — who has gone public in defense of women's sports, saying truth matters, biological sex has consequences in competition, and that protecting the integrity of women's athletics is not hatred of anyone. We make the point she is actually making: you can treat transgender people with dignity and still say that female sports should be reserved for biological women. Those two things are not in conflict. They are the only coherent position. In our Digging Deep segment, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave what may be the clearest explanation of the Trump Doctrine we have ever heard — summarizing it in one line: Iran says eye for an eye. Trump says a head for an eye. We unpack the game theory behind it — tit for tat with disproportionate response. If you are nice to Trump, he is nice back in equal measure. If you are mean to Trump, he will be worse to you than you could ever possibly imagine. Iran fires on one tanker, the U.S. takes out a port, a tower, and every radar site in reach. Iran fires on two tankers, the U.S. goes on a 12-day bombing campaign eliminating bridges in and out of the country. The mullahs keep acting confused. The reason is they have never seen anything like this from an American president. Rubio also shared that Iran is sending messages through third countries every day begging to make a deal — but every deal they make, they either break or try to renegotiate. They are not ready yet. They will be. We also cover Ted Cruz's prediction that Zoran Mamdani will become the next U.S. senator from New York — replacing Chuck Schumer, who Cruz believes can no longer win a Democratic primary in the state — and that Mamdani is the single most powerful Democrat in America right now. We connect it to AOC leading New Hampshire polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, and to DSA-backed candidates winning primaries across the country. For our Bright Spot, a new Empire Center for Public Policy survey — conducted in New York, one of the most left-leaning states in the country — found that only 24% of respondents prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions over lower energy prices, 63% oppose mandatory home heating electrification, and 60% oppose letting individuals sue oil companies for climate change. The noisy minority demanding zero fossil fuels, electric heat mandates, and climate lawsuits does not represent most Americans — even in New York. That is common sense, and common sense is always a bright spot. We also cover the Houthis attacking two Saudi oil tankers — Iran's last meaningful proxy after Hamas was decimated by Israel and Hezbollah was severely weakened — and make the strategic case that doing the hard thing now makes tomorrow easier. Letting Iran build nuclear weapons capable of reaching Europe would have made tomorrow catastrophically harder. And we close with two-year-old Lucy Moline, who heard that her five-year-old sister Emma needed a bone marrow transplant after a rare disease stopped her bone marrow from producing red blood cells — and volunteered to be the donor because she wanted to be brave and help her sister. The transplant worked. Emma is cured. Is there anything better than sisters? May your pursuit of happiness bring you joy. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts, visit AmericanGroundRadio.com, and join the conversation at 866-AGR-1776!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met US President Donald Trump in Washington this week with a historic proposal: end the war between Lebanon and Israel, force an Israeli withdrawal from the south, and disarm Iran's proxy group Hezbollah. Could it work? On today's bonus episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to Lama Amine, arts director at local charity Seenaryo, about the reality for civilians caught up in the conflict in Lebanon, how people are worried the latest escalation in Iran will spillover, and why Hezbollah would just be replaced by a similar group if it was disarmed. Plus, first-person accounts of what it's like to live under the shadow of war. Excerpts from pieces written for Seenaryo by Syrian refugee Eman Fisal Almodhi, read by Irish actor Jessie Buckley, and a WhatsApp conversation between Lebanese women displaced in south Lebanon, read by British-Lebanese-Palestinian actor Sirine Saba. HighlightsTrump's Lebanon dilemma: Why Israel can't win this warVoices from Lebanon on life under the shadow of warCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyLama Amine, director of arts at SeenaryoWATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Lebanon's leader seeks Trump's help to end occupation and insurrectionhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/21/lebanons-leader-seeks-trumps-help-end-occupation/ITL Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026The Telegraph Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026ITL Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026Producer: Max BowerVideo Producer: Peter ShevlinResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara Krinsky opens this IDF Live briefing by framing the region as dangerously unstable, with the U.S. striking Iranian targets, Iran retaliating against Arab neighbors, Israel on high alert, and Lebanon still active despite diplomacy. Lt. Col. (res.) Or Horvitz says the immediate U.S. focus is reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but warns that Iran's stubborn refusal to restore free navigation could trigger broader escalation between Washington, Tehran, and potentially Israel. He stresses that Israel's urgent priority remains Iran's roughly 500 kilos of enriched uranium, because if it is not diluted or removed, Iran could still use deception and secrecy to move toward a nuclear weapon. Horvitz argues the regime is fundamentally unstable—fragmented, financially strained, hated by much of its population, and unlikely to survive long-term—but says it will probably fall through domestic pressure rather than outside military force alone. On Lebanon, he sees a real but fragile opportunity: Hezbollah has been badly weakened, Lebanese leaders are speaking more boldly about demilitarization, and Israel should “trust but verify” while insisting on border, port, airport, and army reforms that cut off Iranian money and arms. He closes by warning that Gaza is still not solved because Hamas continues to control significant territory and ideology, and by thanking FIDF for strengthening the U.S.-Israel partnership and supporting Israeli society as a whole.

74 MinutesPG-13 The parents of Hunger the Dye Merchant left Lebanon and immigrated to the US. He frequently travels to Lebanon.Pete and Hunger discussed the various political and religious ideologies at work in Lebanon. He also discusses the tensions that have existed between Israel and Hezbollah for the past 60 years. This was episode 1126.Hunger on Twitter The Delaware Crossing SocietyThe Chatham House Version RecordingsPete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's Substack Pete's SubscribestarPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

While the world's attention has focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, another potentially transformative front has opened in Lebanon. Israeli attacks against the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah have left more than 4,000 people dead and displaced over a million. Now, a fragile ceasefire has raised a question diplomats have struggled with for decades: Can Hezbollah actually be disarmed? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer speaks with Lebanese-born journalist and Middle East expert Kim Ghattas about Iran's shrinking regional influence, Israel's possible plans for a long-term buffer zone, and Lebanon's best chance in decades to reclaim control of its territory. Hezbollah remains armed, but Ghattas argues that it is substantially weaker, while the fall of Syria's Assad regime has severed a crucial link in Iran's regional network. Forcing the Lebanese Army to confront Hezbollah could trigger another civil war. Instead, Ghattas says Lebanon must gradually constrain the group, strengthen state institutions, and show Hezbollah's supporters that diplomacy can deliver more than armed resistance. That will require Israeli withdrawals, international support, and difficult negotiations over the political future of Lebanon's Shia community. “You constrain their capacity to operate. You crowd them out,” Ghattas says. “You demonstrate that diplomacy works and delivers for the Lebanese people in terms of aid, in terms of improved relations with the US.” Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World, with host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, the head of Realign for Palestine, an Atlantic Council project that challenges entrenched narratives in the Israel and Palestine discourse. Alkhatib gives us an overview of the conditions on the ground right now in the Gaza Strip. We learn about an uptick in diseases such as chicken pox due to extreme unsanitary conditions and lack of vaccinations. There are new efforts to allow residents to open bank accounts -- but where is the money to be found even as paper bills are so worn they are disintegrating? Khalil al-Hayya has been elected to be the new leader of Hamas, the terror group announced Monday after months of speculation following a vote in the General Shura Council. We learn how, following the subjugation of protests in the Gaza Strip in late June, al-Hayya's annointing is another signal that the terror group is entrenching its ties with Iran and continuing consultations with Hezbollah. In the second half of the program, we discuss the intensity of support for Hamas in three population centers: the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan. Alkhatib's comment on the Palestinians living in the Hashemite Kingdom may surprise. Finally, Alkhatib describes his new short book, "Hamas and its Two Million Hostages." Part memoir, part explainer, the work is an attempt to offer an approachable take on the past almost three years of war and how Hamas's stranglehold is only tightening on the people in the Strip. And so this week, we ask Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what matters now? What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the world's attention has focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, another potentially transformative front has opened in Lebanon. Israeli attacks against the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah have left more than 4,000 people dead and displaced over a million. Now, a fragile ceasefire has raised a question diplomats have struggled with for decades: Can Hezbollah actually be disarmed? On the GZERO World Podcast, Ian Bremmer speaks with Lebanese-born journalist and Middle East expert Kim Ghattas about Iran's shrinking regional influence, Israel's possible plans for a long-term buffer zone, and Lebanon's best chance in decades to reclaim control of its territory. Hezbollah remains armed, but Ghattas argues that it is substantially weaker, while the fall of Syria's Assad regime has severed a crucial link in Iran's regional network. Forcing the Lebanese Army to confront Hezbollah could trigger another civil war. Instead, Ghattas says Lebanon must gradually constrain the group, strengthen state institutions, and show Hezbollah's supporters that diplomacy can deliver more than armed resistance. That will require Israeli withdrawals, international support, and difficult negotiations over the political future of Lebanon's Shia community. “You constrain their capacity to operate. You crowd them out,” Ghattas says. “You demonstrate that diplomacy works and delivers for the Lebanese people in terms of aid, in terms of improved relations with the US.” Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, Senator Tim Sheehy delivered a compelling Senate floor speech explaining the long-running war with Iran's radical Islamist regime in Tehran.  Sheehy stressed that the regime, which seized power 47 years ago through brutality and has never stopped, cares nothing about American politics or faith; it seeks to kill Americans and other atrocities it celebrates and rewards. The United States did not start the conflict but must finish it so another generation is not forced to fight the same murderous adversary. President Trump is acting preemptively to stop this enemy from obtaining or using nuclear weapons that could kill hundreds of thousands in multiple mushroom-cloud explosions, leaving no room for later regrets or mistakes. The regime has already killed and maimed enough Americans. Also, Erdogan of Turkey remains aligned with Iran, provides safe harbor to Hamas leaders, and has funded and supported Hamas and Hezbollah, which is why Turkey should receive no F-35s.  Civilian nuclear energy for Saudi Arabia should likewise be opposed given its vast oil reserves; the UAE's possession of such technology does not justify extending it to others, especially since the UAE was not involved in 9/11.  Later, rogue prosecutor Jack Smith faces accusations of lying under oath during a December 2025 deposition before the House Judiciary Committee. Smith's lawyers rejected the DOJ referral as meritless, asserting he testified fully aware of risks from the Trump Justice Department and that the questioning did not specifically cover text messages, while arguing the real motive is Trump's desire to prosecute him.  This is ironic given Smith's own alleged constitutional overreach and prosecutorial tactics against Trump and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

- Senator Tim Sheehy argues Iran has attacked Americans for 47 years and defends continued military pressure while rejecting claims that the conflict is an American-made war. - Elon Musk rejects claims that USAID cuts cause mass deaths, calling the agency politically driven and pointing to private foundations capable of replacing legitimate aid programs. - John Fetterman calls Zohran Mamdani a “clown,” dismisses his threats against Benjamin Netanyahu and condemns his refusal to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. - North Yarmouth officials vote to remove a Pride flag from a municipal building and reject a second proposal to display it throughout June. - Former CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin's candid comments about her sex life collide with clips of her emotional political coverage, fueling fresh accusations of media hypocrisy. You can now WATCH and chat with The Gerry Callahan Show LIVE on Newsmax's social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Rumble)  Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://Newsmax.com/Listen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://NewsmaxPlus.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://nws.mx/shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:              • Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://nws.mx/FB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠              • X/Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://nws.mx/twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠             • Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://nws.mx/IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠             • YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠              • Rumble: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠              • TRUTH Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠             • GETTR: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gettr.com/user/newsmax⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠             • Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠              • Telegram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://t.me/newsmax⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠               • BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠             • Parler: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://app.parler.com/newsmax⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Even for Israeli standards, it's been a pretty wild week in Israel's neighborhood. The ceasefire war between the US and Iran continues to escalate. The threats from US President Donald Trump against Iran grow ever more bombastic, but there is a real feeling that he might carry out a significant attack soon that goes well beyond the limited strikes that we have seen over the past two weeks. Of course, Iran is hitting back, primarily at Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, saying it is targeting US bases in those countries. The Iran-backed Houthis struck two Saudi oil tankers, as that conflict begins to heat up. Houthi threats to the Bab al-Mandeb would mean the Iranian axis is closing the two waterways connecting the Middle East and Europe to Asian markets. There was slightly better news to the north. After six rounds of direct talks and an agreement that envisions peace between Israel and Lebanon, Lebanese forces began moving into the first pilot zone vacated by Israeli forces. Joined by Times of Israel colleague Nava Freiberg, Lazar made sense of the interconnected but distinct theaters that Israeli leaders and citizens are paying close attention to. He explained what Iran is trying to do with its attack on Arab countries. It is determined to impose its reading of the MOU on the world, especially as it comes to control over the Strait of Hormuz. That is why it hasn't hit Israel. Iran knows that Israel, Lazar said, isn't about to run to Trump and ask him to give in to Iran's demands to get it stop firing. Instead, Israel would relish the opportunity to carry out some of the attacks that it had to call off in April, and would likely go well beyond what the Americans are doing. It doesn't make sense for Israel to go out of its way to get involved either. For now, Iran is being degraded, it isn't getting economic relief, and Trump is becoming increasingly frustrated with his Iranian interlocutors. Meanwhile, life is fairly normal in Israel, with flights returning to Ben Gurion Airport and citizens focusing on the election fight. Lazar also shed light on alternative energy pathways being developed in the wake of Iranian threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Israel might have an opportunity to be key element of some of these plans, but it has to change the tenor of relations with some of its Arab partners. Lazar explained why the Saudi-US nuclear deal is a problem for Israel. First of Israel, it shows that Israel is not being consulted by the White House on strategic decisions. In addition, it represents a potential proliferation risk, especially if the current regime in Riyadh is replaced. Turning to Lebanon, Lazar said that progress on the first pilot zone is undoubtedly a positive step. Still, the Lebanese army is incapable of taking on Hezbollah at this stage, and a lot will have to happen before disarming Hezbollah is a likely outcome. It will be important to help the Lebanese government show the public that negotiations with Israel achieve results, especially the return of some civilians to their homes. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special bonus episode, and a personal one. Ghost opens with some real life news of his own (nothing dramatic, just change on the horizon) before diving into Trump's Oval Office meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. They cover the new US Lebanon framework aimed at ending hostilities with Israel, why Ghost thinks the real standoff is between Trump and Netanyahu rather than Lebanon and Hezbollah, and why disarming Hezbollah remains, in Ghost's words, a pipe dream. From there it is a grab bag of asides straight from the press conference, covering the Abraham Accords, a brewing Saudi nuclear deal with an American vendor, a pointed exchange about Iran and Hormuz, and Trump's testy back and forth with a reporter over China. Ghost also breaks down a fiery attack on a federal building in Manhattan. A little bit of everything, wrapped up quickly before he heads out of town.

US President Donald Trump pledged his support for Lebanon this week during a visit to the White House by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A four-decade ban on US airlines flying to the country will be overturned, Mr Trump said, who also told of concrete plans to support the Lebanese Armed Forces. This comes at a time when the government in Beirut is under pressure to prove it can deliver on an agreement it signed with Israel and the US in June. The trilateral framework states that Lebanese forces must disarm Hezbollah and reassert control in areas dominated by the group, before Israel “redeploys” its troops from areas it occupies in Lebanon. Critics say the deal imposes the heavier obligations on Lebanon. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people remain forcibly displaced from their homes in southern towns and villages, where Israeli attacks have caused mass destruction. In this episode of Beyond the Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks at the opportunities and challenges the country faces as it tries to bridge the gap between dialogue and the reality on the ground. She speaks to Nada Homsi, The National's correspondent in Lebanon, and Paul Salem, senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

President Donald Trump approves a landmark energy deal that will establish a civilian nuclear programme in Saudi Arabia. US lawmakers and Israel warn that if the agreement allows the Gulf state to enrich its own uranium, it could pave the way for it to build its own nuclear weapons - but the US insists the deal upholds the "highest standards of nuclear safety". Saudi Arabia has long wanted US nuclear technology, while the US gets a leg up in the competition with China and Russia to develop civilian nuclear infrastructure in the region.Also: A Florida teenager who sued Meta claiming that he was addicted to and harmed by his use of social media platforms, has dropped his lawsuit. Our correspondent in Lebanon travels to the so-called pilot zones in the south, where residents are trying to return home while the army vows to disarm Hezbollah. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo becomes the third largest on record with more than 1,000 people dead. In India, the youth-led 'cockroach' party supporters protesting in Delhi ramp up their demands for education reform. How young Nigerians are using AI tools to learn new languages in pursuit of a life abroad. And Christopher Nolan's Odyssey movie is boosting sales of the book versions.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud attend the Keynote Address at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 13 May 2025. Credit: ALI HAIDER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mary welcomes back historian William Federer to bring us the sweeping history of Iran, from Genesis 10 to modern times. And it’s a wild ride. Who were those Persians? Dating back to Elam, grandson of Noah, they have occupied a huge part of world history, biblical and secular alike. We will look at those biblical skirmishes, the middle ages, and the rise of the British Empire when Islam was forced to grapple with the then-Christian element of Europe. As we look at the Ottoman Turks, who started out as friends of the Jew following their expulsion from Spain, we find that just when the Ottoman Empire started to disappear from the world scene, Zionism arose and -surprise! – oil entered the picture as nation states began to industrialize. Then it’s on to shahs and ayatollahs and the 1970s under Jimmy Carter who gave us Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis, simply by campaigning for the Ayatollah over the Shah. Didn’t I warn you it’s a wild ride? And all of it valuable history as we try and make sense of our world. There is no one quite like Bill Federer and his wealth of knowledge about just about everything.     Stand Up For The Truth Videos: https://rumble.com/user/CTRNOnline & https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgQQSvKiMcglId7oGc5c46A

SCHEDUKE JBS 7-21-26Elizabeth Peek joins John Batchelor to discuss how rising gasoline prices act as a talisman for consumer sentiment and presidential approval. Despite low unemployment and rising real wages, the public remains fixated on energy costs. Peek criticizes Republican messaging and highlights the massive AI-driven investment boom currently occurring. (1)Elizabeth Peek discusses New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's inability to define the "working class." She argues the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) primarily represent white, college-educated liberals rather than manual laborers. They also discuss Kevin Warsh as a potential Fed chairman and the independence of interest rate decisions. (2)Peter Berkowitz examines Vice President JD Vance's views on restoring Christianity in America. Berkowitz highlights the ambiguity in Vance's stance regarding government involvement in religion. They contrast Vance's rhetoric with James Madison's historical opposition to state-funded religion, emphasizing the constitutional separation of church and state. (3)Ahmad Sharawi reports on Syria's interception of sophisticated Iranian weapons—including cruise missile components—destined for Hezbollah. The weapons were concealed in Iraqi oil tankers. This move is seen as Al-Shara's attempt to gain international trust and investment by demonstrating a commitment to containing Hezbollah's rearmament. (4)Mary Kissel discusses the ongoing conflict with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. She argues there is no diplomatic overlap because Iran views nuclear weapons as essential for survival. Kissel notes the lack of a broad international coalition and warns that regional allies might seek accommodation with Tehran. (5)Mary Kissel turns to NATO's lack of unity regarding the Ukraine war. Kissel argues that while Eastern Europeannations feel the threat, Western Europe focuses on domestic politics. She highlights the emergence of a "new alliance" of Russia, Iran, and China, which poses a significant hybrid threat. (6)Joseph Sternberg analyzes China's struggling economy, noting that official growth targets are likely overstated. Facing a real estate crater and demographic decline, China is reverting to an export-heavy model. Unlike Japan's past recovery, China's adversarial stance makes trading partners less willing to absorb its gluts. (7)Joseph Sternberg discusses the transition to Prime Minister Andy Burnham in the UK. Burnham, who took office without an election mandate, faces a heavily taxed economy and bond market skepticism. Sternberg critiques Burnham's big-government agenda and resistance to market reforms, suggesting it may drive away wealth. (8)Gregory Copley evaluates Prime Minister Andy Burnham's new cabinet, specifically John Healey as Chancellor and Wes Streeting as Defense Secretary. While the government aims to boost defense spending and support Ukraine, Copley questions its legitimacy without a fresh mandate and notes a lack of long-term global strategic planning. (9)Gregory Copley covers the alienation of Canada under the Trump administration. Copley explains how Canada is diversifying its defense procurement—buying Swedish aircraft and Australian radar—rather than relying on the US. This shift threatens the NORAD partnership and results in billions of dollars lost for US aerospace industries. (10)Gregory Copley explores the "balance of ignorance," where declining literacy and social media lead to a loss of national identity. He argues that governments make poor strategic decisions because they no longer understand their own history or adversaries, citing the current US conflict with Iran as a primary example. (11)Gregory Copley explains King Charles III's role in forming Andy Burnham's government. The King's "blessing" provides constitutional legitimacy to the transition. Copley notes Burnham is the first practicing Roman Catholic Prime Minister and highlights the King's departure to Glasgow to open the Commonwealth Games. (12)Former Congressman Thaddeus McCotter discusses how rising gas prices and inflation hurt Republicans in swing states. They also examine the Trump administration's use of the Smoot-Hawley Act to threaten tariffs on Canada. McCotter views these as punitive measures that weaken the broader argument for necessary trade protections. (13)Thaddeus McCotter comments on a recent presidential address regarding the 2020 election. He argues that claiming the system is "rigged" is counterproductive for Republican turnout. McCotter suggests that voters care far more about the "price of gas" and groceries than relitigating past elections that the party lost. (14)John Batchelor and Peter Huessy review classic nuclear war films like Godzilla, On the Beach, and Dr. Strangelove. Huessy argues that while these films highlight the horrors of nuclear use, real-world focus has evolved toward deterrence and sophisticated safety systems designed to prevent accidental or unauthorized missile launches. (15)Peter Huessy continues the discussion of nuclear films like Fail Safe and The Day After. Huessy disputes claims that The Day After motivated Ronald Reagan's arms control efforts, noting Reagan was a committed advocate for nuclear reductions long before the movie's massive 1983 television broadcast. (16)Corrections applied silently: Ahmad Sharawi (4) and Thaddeus McCotter (13, 14) per the log.

Ahmad Sharawi. Ahmad Sharawi reports on Syria intercepting sophisticated Iranian weapons components smuggled via oil tankers from Iraq to Lebanon. This effort by the al-Sharaa government aims to build international trust and secure investment, despite retaliatory terror plots and rocket attacks within Syria from a disgruntled Hezbollah. (4)1833

STREAMING THE MAKING OF The JOHM BATCHELOR SHOW, 7-21-261903This transcript captures a discussion between John Batchelor and former Congressman Thaddeus McCarter regarding the geopolitical and domestic challenges facing the United States as it nears a midterm election. Internationally, the dialogue covers a variety of crises, including the outbreak of Ebola in Africa, military tensions with Iran and Hezbollah, and brewing trade disputes involving Canadian tariffs. Domestically, the speakers analyze how rising gasoline prices and inflation are shaping voter sentiment and impacting Republican strategy. They also address the internal fractures within both major parties, specifically the influence of MAGA loyalists on the right and Democratic Socialists on the left. Finally, the conversation critiques President Trump's fixation on the 2020 election, questioning whether such rhetoric hinders the party's future viability.

Former CIA Targeter: 18,000 Terrorists & Al-Qaeda Sleeper Cells Are Already Inside the US | Sarah Adams Former CIA targeting officer Sarah Adams spent her career hunting terrorists and hostile regimes for the U.S. government—including serving at the CIA annex during the 2012 Benghazi attack. In this explosive episode of Keeping It Real, Jillian Michaels sits down with Adams to examine a grave national security threat: over 18,000 known Islamist extremists and active Al-Qaeda sleeper cells allegedly operating inside the United States. KEY UNCOVERED THREATS & EXCLUSIVES: Unprecedented Terrorist Alliances: How former rival groups—Al-Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban, and al-Shabab—are actively unifying, running joint training camps, and coordinating pipelines across Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan. Homeland Security Crisis: How porous borders, FBI intelligence failures, and foreign funding created the exact conditions for coordinated sleeper cell attacks on American soil. October 7th "Dress Rehearsal": Why the attack in Israel was a joint operation used as a practice run for the next attack on US soil. Foreign Infiltration & Funding: The truth behind political influence from the Muslim Brotherhood, DSA-backed candidates, Qatar's funding of U.S. universities, and escalating conflict with Iran. Taxpayer Taliban Payments: Why hundreds of millions in U.S. taxpayer dollars are allegedly reaching Taliban hands as extortion money every single week. Benghazi Cold Case: Deep-dive revelations from Sarah's book, "Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy." ABOUT SARAH ADAMS Sarah Adams is a former CIA targeting officer and co-author of "Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy." She also hosts her own podcast, The Watch Floor, on YouTube.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: After eleven consecutive nights of U.S. airstrikes, American intelligence agencies are warning that airpower alone may not be enough to force Iran to change course. Protests continue in Ukraine following the dismissal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, as new details reveal a deepening rift over how the war against Russia should be fought. Washington and its allies are quietly considering bold new plans to disarm Hezbollah after two years of war—but every available option carries major risks. In today's Back of the Brief, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega declares that the country will never hold another election, cementing his grip on power and shutting out the political opposition. 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 Wild Alaskan Company: Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/PDB Goldbelly: Impress your family and friends - get free shipping and 20% off your first order at https://GOLDBELLY.com with code PDB. Poncho Outdoors: Gear up for summer with Poncho and grab $10 off plus free shipping at https://ponchooutdoors.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic reporter Nava Freiberg joins host Gabriella Jacobs for today's episode. Following an 11th consecutive night of US strikes on Iran and Iranian strikes on its Gulf and Arab neighbors, Freiberg offers possible paths forward in the war. Freiberg analyzes US President Donald Trump's claim Tuesday that the US will be striking Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain “probably pretty soon,” amid reports that Tehran has moved nuclear centrifuges, and possibly even enriched uranium, to the secretive underground enrichment site. Is this bombastic threat just part of Trump's strategy to keep Iran guessing or could the US be prepping a ground invasion? Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, where Aoun declared that his country will permanently end hostilities with Israel. Freiberg comments on Trump's remark at the meeting that he is open to speaking directly with the Iran-backed terror group -- if Beirut asked -- after Aoun requested backing in his efforts to disarm Hezbollah. In the second half, we move on to discuss Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which nine months ago was hailed as an end to the war in the Strip and the beginning of Gaza's reconstruction. Freiberg explains why the framework is only moving forward in “baby steps.” The episode closes with a special visitor, Sarah Tuttle-Singer, curator of the Peoples of Israel project, who introduces us to her work and the project's goals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marco Rubio just laid out the framework for the elimination of Hezbollah. If this plan is successful, Lebanon, Israel and the entire Middle East will experience a massive shift towards peace and stability. But in what seems like a contradiction, President Trump said that he is willing to meet with Hezbollah directly.    This announcement comes on the heels of media accusations that Israel is building a barrier wall separating what is left of Hamas controlled Gaza from the area that the IDF currently holds. The timing is interesting on this as 10,000 Israelis just marched towards IDF positions demanding the Israeli government rebuild Jewish settlements in Gaza.    Are we about to see peace in Lebanon and the Israeli reclamation of Gaza? Ben Hilton breaks it down for you on today's video.    Purchase your Temple Mount patch here! https://israelguys.link/IDFpatch-0722    Follow The Israel Guys on X: https://x.com/theisraelguys  Join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/theisraelguys   Source Links: Lebanon Pilot Zones  https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-lebanese-army-deploys-in-southern-pilot-zone-after-israeli-withdrawal/ Meeting between Trump and Aoun           https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/430530 Live blog of Tuesday 7/21 events            https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-21-2026/ Israelis march on Gaza                                  https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902980 IDF constructing a barrier along the Yellow line in Gaza https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903208 More on the barrier https://www.timesofisrael.com/photos-show-israel-building-miles-long-earthen-barrier-inside-area-it-holds-in-gaza/ Image of area where the barrier is being raised https://www.newarab.com/news/israel-building-miles-long-earthen-barrier-inside-gaza Hamas' new leader                                         https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903114  

In Indonesia, 19 people are convicted of trafficking at least 34 babies. The leader of the group, a 70 year-old woman, was sentenced to seven years in prison. The trafficking ring illegally bought babies in West Java and sold them for adoption in Indonesia and Singapore. Also: a deal to secure an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah faces its first test on the ground. US military says it struck at Iran's ability to launch attacks into the Strait of Hormuz, on the tenth night in a row of US strikes. A mansion in north London, which provided vital intelligence during the Second World War, opens to the public for the first time. The deadly Ebola outbreak continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo, affecting several provinces across the country. Why no Italian tour guides will be taking visitors up Mont Blanc this week. And we look at the rise of live shopping on TikTok. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: Indonesia sentences members of a baby trafficking syndicate up to 7 years in prison, Bandung - 21 Jul 2026 Credit: EPA/Shutterstock

David Daoud. Israel has begun a phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon, testing whether the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) can effectively disarm Hezbollah in "pilot zones." David Daoud expresses skepticism, noting Lebanon is already attempting to backtrack on its legal commitments and reverse agreed-upon sequences. Success depends on whether the U.S. will hold Lebanon's feet to the fire or permit Israel to retake territory if the LAF fails. (16)2012

Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus Marta. An experiment with "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon involves Israeli troop withdrawals and replacement by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. In Washington, 103 Democrats signed a resolution to deny aid to Israel, a move Hoenlein attributes to political intimidation rather than violations of law. Furthermore, a reported detention of Ro Khanna in a military zone was characterized as a "concocted" confrontation. (6)1968

Samuel Ben-Ur and Bill Roggio. The Hamas political bureau has relocated to Istanbul, choosing Khalil al-Hayya as a leader closely aligned with Iran and Hezbollah. Inside Gaza, Hamas continues to obstruct food distribution and hijack aid supplies. While Israel successfully eliminated several military commanders, the organization has yet to name replacements. New "pilot zones" are being explored to distribute aid through Palestinian alternatives, potentially bypassing Hamas control. (10)1962 YEMEN

David Daoud. Iraq has issued a circular to banks to comply with U.S. sanctions against Hezbollah financiers and pro-Syrian politicians. However, David Daoud argues this measure is largely symbolic, as it does not touch powerful local militias like Kata'ib Hezbollah. Furthermore, Iraqi religious shrines continue to provide financial support to Hezbollahthrough various media and charitable branches, allowing Iraq to remain a significant financial channel. (15)1994

During a landmark visit by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the US, President Donald Trump vowed to help Lebanon "a lot" as the country sought Washington's backing for a fragile effort to disarm Hezbollah and forge a path to peace with Israel. Also on the programme: Ebola in the DRC spreading faster than any other outbreak according to health officials; and what is really to blame for Italy's obese children? (Photo: President Trump welcomes Lebanese President Joseph Aoun upon his arrival at the West Wing Portico of the White House in Washington, DC on July 21, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Israeli intelligence has reportedly assessed that Iran has moved thousands of nuclear centrifuges into a site in the Natanz area known as Pickaxe Mountain, burying them deep underground and making them harder to target in aerial strikes. We hear from Fabian about the IDF's current assessment of Iran's capabilities. Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh this morning after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, the Lebanese Armed Forces said in a statement, in line with a US-brokered plan for “pilot zones” in the south. We learn which areas are in the pilot program and the IDF's readiness to step back into the vacuum. Hezbollah launched over 400 rockets from the Beaufort Ridge toward northern Israel during the current round of fighting, mainly at the border community of Metula, according to the IDF. Fabian visited a massive warren inside the mountain that the terrorists carved out over more than a decade. We get a sense of the scope of the underground base. An analysis by Fabian has found that, despite the ceasefire, the IDF has in the past few months stepped up a large-scale retribution campaign with the avowed aim of hunting down and eliminating every single terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre. Fabian unwinds the competing narratives surrounding these targeted killings. After the Knesset voted to extend the mandatory military service period for males to 32 months, the chief of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate said Friday that the move did not replace the army’s immediate need for more troops. Fabian explains why. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Iran says it’s in ‘full-scale war’ with US as mediators said to proffer 10-day truce Israeli intel said to show Iran has moved centrifuges to Natanz’s Pickaxe Mountain US indicates Lebanese army deploying to ‘pilot zones,’ including one IDF will withdraw from Beneath Beaufort’s strategic bulwark, a Hezbollah lair built to attack Israel is unearthed Israel steps up campaign to kill all 5,000 Oct. 7 terrorists; 1,200 were killed on the day, 1,500 so far since IDF says it killed terrorist who attacked Nova festival, abducted Inbar Haiman on Oct. 7 IDF manpower chief: Extension of service period doesn’t replace need for more troops Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ralph welcomes back his old running mate, Native American activist, Winona LaDuke, who has devoted her life to advocating for Indigenous control of their homelands, natural resources, and cultural practices to talk about her latest incarnation: hemp farmer. Then, we'll speak to Hal Weitzman, from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, about how Elon Musk's feud with Delaware may transform corporate America. Plus, we tick off Robert Reich's ten policy prescriptions the Democratic Party should fight for to beat the GOP in the upcoming midterms.Winona LaDuke is an activist, economist, and author, who has devoted her life to advocating for Indigenous control of their homelands, natural resources, and cultural practices. She is also a two-time vice-presidential candidate with Ralph Nader. Ms. LaDuke lives and works on the White Earth Ojibwe reservation in northern Minnesota, where she runs Winona's Hemp & Heritage Farm. She is also a member of the Indigenous Hemp & Cannabis Farmer's Cooperative.I'm looking first at seed sovereignty. We're growing [European hemp] varieties and then we're growing these feral hemp varieties. They're called feral varieties (which of course, that's something that I love) which means that when they eradicated hemp in the 1930s with the Marijuana Prohibition Act—well, they missed some spots. And those guys kept growing. And so 80 years of being illegal—isn't that great? Something that's illegal for 80 years is still with us, rocking out. And so I figure if you grew illegally for 80 years, you are really a tough hemp plant…And so we are growing out these hemp varieties and built a cooperative because we want to own the seeds and we want to own the technology (the value-added processing), and we want to use this hemp as a part of our future as tribes.Winona LaDukeMy grandsons are farming. I don't know who else can say their grandchildren are farming—let me know. My grandchildren are farming. They're running the horses. They're running the farms. You know, that's a retirement plan. My 401k will be worth nothing, but my grandchildren will feed me. This is my strategy.Winona LaDukeHal Weitzman is Executive Director for Intellectual Capital at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, editor-in-chief of Chicago Booth Review, and host of The Chicago Booth Review podcast. A former Financial Times editor and foreign correspondent, he is the author of Latin Lessons: How South America Stopped Listening to the United States and Started Prospering and What's the Matter with Delaware?: How the First State Has Favored the Rich, Powerful, and Criminal—and How It Costs Us All.There is a race to the bottom. There's been a race to the bottom for many decades. That's not new. I think it's accelerated somewhat. Delaware has joined that race from having been something of a “premium product” in terms of incorporating companies—Delaware has become a bit more “cut-price” I would say, and in that sense has followed Texas and Nevada. So the conclusion that we have a race to the bottom and it may be worse than Delaware—actually I think Delaware's already there. So it's not that it's getting worse outside of Delaware, it's getting worse including Delaware.Hal WeitzmanThe trend I think we're seeing is the exclusion of small shareholders completely—regardless of the status of your shares, this is about how big you are. And if you're a small shareholder there is no corporate democracy for you… It was practice in the past for activist groups, campaigning groups, to buy one share of a company and then to go to the shareholder meeting so they could make the point that they wanted to make. Now that kind of shareholder democracy is being encroached on. And the extent now is to say: unless you have a large position (regardless of the size of the company and the cost of the shares), you will not be allowed to bring suits against the executives for the correct running of the company.Hal WeitzmanNews 7/17/26* Our top story this week is New York Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to impose a one-year “pause” on the construction of AI data centers across the state. ABC7 reports that this is the first such moratorium in the nation, despite similar attempts in several states, most notably Maine where Governor Janet Mills vetoed a bill to this effect. Hochul argues that the pause is necessary so lawmakers and regulators can formulate “Guardrails to reduce the risk to our energy grid, minimize land disruption, noise pollution, and protect our natural resources, especially our water supply.” Hochul's move comes amidst a broader push against AI data centers from the left. Semafor reports Senator Bernie Sanders proposed a nationwide ban in March and many progressives running for state and local office in the midterms have made this a cornerstone of their campaigns. According to this piece, “In February, polling from Marquette Law School found 70% of all Wisconsinites agreeing that ‘the costs of the data centers outweigh the benefits.' Among Democrats, the number was 85%.”* Another progressive Member of Congress quite literally stepped into another hot-button political issue this week. While visiting a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank Wednesday, Al Jazeera reports armed settlers stopped the van of Representative Ro Khanna and were “later joined by Israeli soldiers who continued to block the road.” In a video, Khanna points out, settlers can be seen “brandishing M4s [rifles], kicking the tyres of our van, laughing at us, mocking at us, videotaping us.” This continued for over an hour and was only resolved when he reached out to the American Embassy, according to Khanna. Israel has responded to this fiasco by blaming Khanna, accusing the congressman of failing to coordinate his trip with the Israeli government; Khanna retorted that “The [Israeli military] is lying” and called for the arrest of the violent settlers. Conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson excoriated U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, writing “An American member of congress is threatened by foreign terrorists carrying American rifles, backed by a foreign military paid for by American taxpayers, and the US ambassador to that country says not a word in defense of his own countryman…It's too much, too insulting and humiliating to America.”* Following his return from occupied Palestine, Khanna again teamed up with Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky to sponsor an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would have removed the “United States-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative” from the must-pass legislation. Responsible Statecraft describes the initiative as “an unprecedented integration of the U.S. and Israeli military industrial complexes,” by creating “an executive agent within the Department of Defense whose sole responsibility is furthering U.S. and Israeli military tech integration across nearly every facet of the defense process.” This article also notes that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described this shift in the U.S.-Israel relationship as ‘my plan.'” However, House leadership is not backing this commonsense, bipartisan amendment. In a letter, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he would vote against the amendment, calling it “overly broad” and claiming the amendment would “restrict our country's ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel,” per the Times of Israel. However, Jeffries pledged not to whip votes against the amendment and indeed the House Minority Whip, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, voted for the amendment as did Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, despite the opposition of Jeffries and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. The Congressional Progressive Caucus reportedly whipped votes in favor of the amendment.* In more Israel-related news, this week Marco Rubio – who serves as Secretary of State as well as the acting National Security Advisor – announced that the State Department will launch a “sweeping campaign to dismantle…the International Criminal Court.” CNN observes that “The administration's ire against the ICC goes back to President Donald Trump's first term, when it targeted the ICC for seeking to investigate alleged war crimes committed by US forces in Afghanistan,” and that since taking office for the second time, the Trump administration has “imposed a slew of sanctions against ICC officials for their attempts to investigate the US and Israel.” CNN also quotes a State Department official who said that top officials, including Secretary Rubio and US ambassadors, “are calling countries as part of a campaign to diplomatically isolate the International Criminal Court.” It is worth noting that “all American presidents since the ICC's ratification have maintained that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over Americans,” and that Congress even passed a law calling for an invasion and occupation of the Hague if any American serviceman was ever prosecuted by the ICC, implying that this crackdown on the court is not about American sovereignty at all but rather the prosecution of Israeli officials for their war crimes in Gaza.* In another stunning story starring Marco Rubio, the New York Times reports the Secretary of State is functionally “running Venezuela from afar.” The Times story characterizes Rubio's position as the “de facto viceroy of Venezuela,” effectively controlling the country's “finances, the distribution of its natural resources and its government.” This story makes clear that while Delcy Rodríguez, the former Vice President of Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro, nominally occupies the presidency, Rubio is the one really calling the shots, with Rubio setting the conditions on what Venezuela's export revenue “can be spent on, and by whom,” and having the authority to approve or deny key governmental appointments in the country, such as the minister of defense. In short, the United States has established a shocking explicitly neo-colonial regime in the country, fulfilling the gravest prognostications of anti-imperialist critics of American intervention in the Bolivarian Republic.* Closer to home, Bloomberg reports the federal government has officially launched a grand jury investigation into the United Auto Workers and the union's outspoken president, Shawn Fain. The investigation stems from accusations made by the union's Vice President, Rich Boyer, who alleged that Fain used his position to secure benefits for his fiancée and her sister – and when Boyer refused to approve the benefits, Fain retaliated by stripping Boyer of his duties as chief negotiator with Stellantis NV. Fain has called the allegations “false” and is accusing Boyer of seeking to influence the upcoming UAW leadership election. Fain also claims that Boyer is the one retaliating after Fain “refused the vice president's request to hire family members to positions in the union.” Fain has long maintained that the Justice Department, and specifically the DOJ-appointed monitor, Neil Barofsky, has a political grudge against him because “the UAW took an anti-war stance about what was happening in Gaza.” According to Bloomberg, “Both Fain and Boyer have slates running and each is accusing the other of attempting to abuse their positions to benefit family.”* This week, another victim of harassment by the federal government, student activist Mahmoud Khalil, filed a landmark civil rights suit alleging that the government conspired with a number of private groups – including the Heritage Foundation, Betar, and Canary Mission – to “suppress criticism of Israel through a coordinated campaign to dox, jail and ultimately deport student activists.” According to the lawsuit, said activists were “nearly automatically targeted by the Federal Defendants for arrest and removal.” Khalil's lawyers argue that this “public-private partnership” could violate the “Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction-era law that sought to restrict government coordination with vigilante groups.” The suit is led by the Center for Constitutional Rights. The AP reports “Soon after his arrest, both Canary Mission and Betar boasted of their role in flagging Khalil's noncitizen status to the government.” Since Khalil's arrest, Betar has agreed to “dissolve its nonprofit status,” following a lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James accusing Betar's members of harassing Palestinians.* Turning to the state level, this week 12 state attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, filed an antitrust lawsuit seeking to block the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance, controlled by the Trump-aligned David Ellison. The proposed, $110 billion merger was approved by the Antitrust Division of the Justice Department last month, which reached the dubious conclusion that the merger is “not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.” In the filing, Bonta and the state AGs for Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Washington allege that the merger “would extinguish competition between Paramount and Warner Bros. and inflict substantial harm on movie theatres, basic cable distributors, and, ultimately, audiences nationwide.” This from Reason.* In the world of philanthropy, CNBC reports Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, has “excluded the Gates Foundation from his sizable annual charitable donations.” As this report notes, the Gates Foundation has been among the top recipients of his annual Berkshire donations, totaling $47 billion worth of Berkshire stock since 2006. The reason for the exclusion of the Gates Foundation has been much speculated upon, in particular, whether it was due to the recent revelations about Gates' relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Asked about this, Buffett said that he had “read a great deal…in terms of what happened, with Bill and Epstein,” calling their relationship “distasteful,” but also saying that he “found nothing in there that was beyond what [he] could picture [himself] doing.” Instead of the Gates Foundation, all of this year's donations will go to foundations linked to the Buffett family.* Finally, British multinational diamond conglomerate De Beers, famous for coining the “A Diamond is Forever” tagline in 1947, reported this week that they plan to halt work at their “flagship” Venetia mine in South Africa as demand for the stones wanes. The BBC highlights both slackening consumer demand as well as competition from lab-grown diamonds, particularly those produced in China. That said, the closing of the Venetia mine – the biggest in South Africa, accounting for over 40% of the country's diamond production – will send shockwaves through that country's already shaky economy. That mine alone employs more than 4,000 people, while the mining sector employs nearly half a million. De Beers said they plan to reopen the mine in two years; in the meantime, they are looking to expand copper mining to keep up with demand from AI data centers.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe