Best podcasts about houthis

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Latest podcast episodes about houthis

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep439: Guests: Bill Roggio and Bridget Toomey. The Houthis maintain improved military capabilities despite a temporary lull in attacks, remaining a persistent threat to Red Sea shipping and eager to support Iran if conflict erupts.

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 8:58


Guests: Bill Roggio and Bridget Toomey.  The Houthis maintain improved military capabilities despite a temporary lull in attacks, remaining a persistent threat to Red Sea shipping and eager to support Iran if conflict erupts.1969 yemen

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep440: SHOW SCHEDULE 2-9-2026

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 4:02


SHOW SCHEDULE 2-9-20261828 BANK OF ENFGLAND Guests: Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani. Al-Qaeda has grown significantly since 9/11, maintaining a long-term vision for a global caliphate and establishing safe havens in Afghanistan and Syria, unlike the more isolated ISIS. Guests: Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. Al-Qaeda veteran Ahmed al-Shara's presidency in Syria highlights the group's diplomatic manipulation and Western naivety in accepting jihadists who adopt modern suits and polished personas. Guests: Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Conservatives gathered in Brussels to champion freedom of speech and consolidate the "Foro Madrid," a transatlantic alliance uniting Latin American and Europeanleaders against socialism. Guests: Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Venezuelan regime factions clash over detaining opposition figures, while Brazilian conservative Flavio Bolsonaro seeks international support to combat totalitarianism ahead of the upcoming national election. Guests: Bill Roggio and Jonathan Schanzer. Reports indicate Iran's regime has killed thousands to suppress ongoing unrest, feigning diplomatic willingness while maintaining a paranoid grip on power and refusing real concessions. Guests: Bill Roggio and David Daoud. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem pledges loyalty to Iran, threatening asymmetric attacks on global U.S. assets if the "mothership" is struck, while organizing for Lebanese elections. Guests: Gordon Chang and Peter Huessy. China reportedly conducted secret underground nuclear tests to develop battlefield weapons for coercion, ignoring arms control treaties while the U.S. struggles to modernize its own deterrents. Guests: Gordon Chang and Brandon Weichert. NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission faces indefinite delays due to SLS rocket flaws, leading experts to urge replacing the bureaucratic program with SpaceX's efficient Starshipsystem. Guests: Bill Roggio and Bridget Tumi. The Houthis maintain improved military capabilities despite a temporary lull in attacks, remaining a persistent threat to Red Sea shipping and eager to support Iran if conflict erupts. Guests: Bill Roggio and John Hardie. Trilateral peace talks regarding Ukraine show limited progress on core issues, while Russia faces communication disruptions from Starlink denials and continues striking Ukrainianenergy infrastructure. Guests: Marianna Yarovskaya and Lyuba Sobol. Filmmaker Yarovskaya and activist Sobol discuss their documentary "Lyuba's Hope," highlighting the severe repression in Putin's Russia and the struggle of exiles fighting for democracy. Guests: Marianna Yarovskaya and Lyuba Sobol. Lyuba Sobol represents democratic Russian forces at the Council of Europe, aiming to delegitimize Putin, while facing continued threats and surveillance alongside other exiled activists. Guests: Bill Roggio and Ahmed Sharawi. Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara secures resources by integrating the Kurdish SDF into his forces, while the U.S. watches for red lines regarding threats to Israel or regional stability. Guests: Bill Roggio and Edmund Fitton-Brown. The U.S. deploys military assets to pressure a defiant Iran, but the weakened regime refuses concessions to avoid looking vulnerable, relying on bluster and proxy distractions. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Berkowitz argues that "National Conservatism," which seeks to root public life in a specific Christian vision, contradicts America's founding principles of religious pluralism and constitutional liberty. Guest: Craig Unger. Unger details Donald Trump's early alleged ties to Russian state security and the mob, beginning with the Commodore Hotel deal and continuing through real estate money laundering.E

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep437: PREVIEW: Bridget Toomey discusses the resilience of the Houthis in Yemen following the end of active campaigns in Gaza. She explains that the Houthis are difficult to target due to their mountainous geography and their status as both an Iranian

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2026 3:07


PREVIEW: Bridget Toomey discusses the resilience of the Houthis in Yemen following the end of active campaigns in Gaza. She explains that the Houthis are difficult to target due to their mountainous geography and their status as both an Iranian proxy and an indigenous movement. While Israeli strikes successfully targeted some political leadership, Toomey notes that the group has largely recovered and replaced those figures, though they have become significantly more paranoid and repressive internally as a result.1800 YEMEN

The Libertarian Institute - All Podcasts
Netanyahu to Meet Trump Wednesday to Discuss Iran

The Libertarian Institute - All Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2026 5:46


Listen to the article with analysis from the author:  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to travel to the US to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The discussion will center on Iran. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump this Wednesday in Washington, and will discuss with him the negotiations with Iran,” a statement posted to the Israeli Prime Minister’s account on Saturday said. Prime Minister’s Office announcement: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump this Wednesday in Washington, and will discuss with him the negotiations with Iran. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 7, 2026 The meeting was requested by Netanyahu, and it will be the seventh with Trump in the past year. The Israeli leader wants to ensure the American President reaches an agreement with Tehran that does not cross Tel Aviv's red lines.  The statement was posted following US and Iranian talks held in Oman. “They had a very good meeting with a very high representative Iran, of Iran, and we'll see how it all turns out,” Trump said on Air Force One on Friday.  “We're going to meet again early next week, and they want to make a deal, Iran, as they should want to make a deal.” He continued, “They know the consequences if they don't. If they don't make a deal, the consequences are very steep. So we'll see what happens.” Trump has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran in recent weeks over the country's nuclear and missile programs, as well as Tehran’s crackdown on demonstrators. The President has ordered a massive military buildup in the Middle East and instructed the Department of War to create military plans for a “decisive” attack on Iran.  Even if Tehran agrees to a deal with Washington, Israeli officials have told Trump that Tel Aviv may decide to unilaterally attack Iran if the agreement does not meet Israel's redlines on Iranian ballistic missiles. “We told the Americans we will strike alone if Iran crosses the red line we set on ballistic missiles,” a source told The Jerusalem Post.  An Israeli defense official told the outlet that Tel Aviv had a “historic opportunity” to strike a blow to Tehran's missile program. Another Israeli official said Tel Aviv was concerned Trump may decide to strike Iran, but it will not be expansive enough to eliminate the threat posed by Iran's ballistic missiles.  “The worry is he might choose a few targets, declare success, and leave Israel to deal with the fallout, just like with the Houthis,” they explained.  A source explained to Axios that Netanyahu “intended to send a message to Iran that Trump has other options if the negotiations fail.” In June, Israel attacked Iran, knowing that the US would have to be drawn into the conflict for Tel Aviv to achieve its goals. After about a week, Trump ordered the US to attack three Iranian nuclear facilities that Israel lacked the military capability to destroy.  On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran was unwilling to negotiate on its missile program. Tehran has said it’s willing to negotiate additional inspections and limitations on its civilian nuclear program. 

The Libertarian Institute - All Podcasts
The Kyle Anzalone Show: Should We Believe Trump's Truth Social Threats?

The Libertarian Institute - All Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2026 41:44


War planners love simple stories. Threaten, strike, and watch a “decisive” blow topple a hated regime. Today we peel back the layers on the rush toward Iran—what a decisive strike actually means, what the timelines look like from the Pentagon and Tel Aviv, and why air defenses are being surged across the Middle East. We connect the dots between public threats, carrier deployments, and leaked briefings that point to leadership-targeting plans paired with an oil blockade. Then we stress-test the assumptions: Iran's missile and drone arsenal, Israel's interceptor stockpiles, and the uncomfortable reality that U.S. bases from Iraq to Qatar sit squarely within range. Diplomacy flickers at the edges with Turkish backchannels and whispered sit-downs, but Israeli “red lines” demanding zero enrichment and broader curbs on missiles and partners make agreement unlikely. We walk through the regional escalation ladder—Hezbollah in the north, Iraqi militias at home, the Houthis stretching air defenses from another axis—and explain how a “limited” strike becomes a map-wide conflict overnight. This isn't an abstract war game; it's a risk ledger for U.S. troops, Israeli civilians, and millions of people caught between missile arcs and sanction-induced scarcity. Then we pivot to Cuba. The script feels eerily familiar: choke oil flows, squeeze the economy, court insiders, promise a clean transition. We unpack why decades of embargo failed to topple Havana, how sanctions can cement regimes by shifting blame, and why the most likely export of a forced collapse is a new migration wave to Florida, not a stable democracy. If the goal is real security, we argue for smarter off-ramps—credible diplomacy with Iran that sets achievable constraints, and calibrated engagement with Cuba that prioritizes humanitarian access and measured leverage. If you care about avoiding a wider war and the blowback from brittle regime-change bets, this one's for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who follows foreign policy, and leave a review with your take: what's the off-ramp leaders keep missing?

Foreign Podicy
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Houthis But Were Afraid to Ask

Foreign Podicy

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 69:40


“God is great. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.”The Houthi slogan isn't just a chant — it's a worldview. To understand who they are and what they want, Cliff is joined by former British ambassador to Yemen and FDD senior fellow Edmund Fitton-Brown, who gained firsthand experience dealing with senior Houthi leaders while serving as ambassador.

Verdict with Ted Cruz
Islamist Terrorists Tipping Point in Iran & Netflix Trying to Buy Warner Bothers

Verdict with Ted Cruz

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 35:09 Transcription Available


1. U.S. Government & Political Context The podcast opens with a brief discussion of the government shutdown that ended quickly, and is evidence of political posturing rather than substantive conflict. The transition sets the stage for broader national security concerns rather than domestic legislative issues. 2. Emergence of the Polisario Front as a National Security Threat The Polisario Front, a separatist group in Western Sahara founded in 1973, is presented as an underrecognized but growing terrorist threat. Iran is funding, training, and supplying the group, attempting to turn it into a West African proxy similar to the Houthis. Alleged activities include: Collaboration with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah Use of drones, weapons transfers, and regional destabilization Labeling the group as a terrorist organization is essential, this represents a dangerous blind spot in U.S. counterterrorism policy. 3. Accusation of Institutional Caution and “Deep State” Resistance State Department officials are portrayed as intentionally evasive during Senate testimony. The analysis claims this reluctance stems from: Ongoing diplomatic efforts in Africa Desire to avoid disrupting negotiations involving Morocco and Algeria 4. Iran at a “Tipping Point” Iran has become internally fragile, facing: Widespread protests Mass casualties allegedly ranging from 10,000–40,000 protesters The Iranian regime’s actions (e.g., drones near U.S. naval assets, attempted tanker seizures) are interpreted as provocations meant to rally domestic support and distract from internal collapse.: Negotiations with Iran are a delaying tactic The U.S. should support Iranian protesters directly, including by providing weapons Regime change is framed as: Preferable if carried out by Iranians themselves Potentially the largest positive national security shift since the Cold War if successful. 5. Global Domino Effect Narrative Iran is grouped with Venezuela and Cuba as regimes allegedly near collapse. Simultaneous democratic transitions in all three would represent a historic geopolitical realignment in favor of U.S. interests. 6. Netflix–Warner Bros. Merger & National Security Concerns The proposed $83 billion Netflix–Warner Bros. merger is criticized on two main grounds: Cultural and ideological influence The entertainment industry is portrayed as overwhelmingly left‑leaning and hostile to conservative or pro‑American perspectives. Concern that increased market power could amplify ideological “propaganda.” Foreign influence Alarm over foreign (especially Middle Eastern and Chinese) capital shaping American entertainment content. Content has been altered or censored to appease foreign governments. The merger is not merely an antitrust issue but as a matter of national sovereignty and cultural security. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep407: PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains Saudi Arabia denies airspace to U.S. forces to offer Iran a "fig leaf," signaling neutrality to maintain a fragile ceasefire with the Houthis.

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2026 1:15


PREVIEW FOR LATER TODAY Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains Saudi Arabia denies airspace to U.S. forces to offer Iran a "fig leaf," signaling neutrality to maintain a fragile ceasefire with the Houthis.1890 caravan

The Take
Who controls Yemen now and why it matters

The Take

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 20:06


Yemen’s conflict is entering yet another volatile chapter, not towards peace, but into a sharper power struggle. Former partners Saudi Arabia and the UAE are drifting apart, local factions are recalculating, and control of the south and east hangs in the balance, while the Houthis hold firm in the north. As alliances fracture and air power looms, millions of civilians remain hungry and displaced. What future is being decided over their heads? In this episode: Abubakr Al-Shamahi, Al Jazeera Editor Episode credits: This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Melanie Marich with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Sarí el-Khalili, Tuleen Barakat, Maya Hamadeh, and our guest host, Kevin Hirten. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker and Alexandra Locke. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhemm. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Mark Levin Podcast
1/26/25 - Inside the Chaos: How Agitators Mobilize for Protest

Mark Levin Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 108:47


On Monday's Mark Levin Show, Democrats and the media create violent, riotous situations through their rhetoric and positions, leading to deaths for which they take no responsibility, instead they blame others like President Trump while ignoring organizers behind the unrest.  This strategy is how they aim to win elections and the presidency, as they cannot win on the issues. There are organized far-left networks in Minnesota coordinating via encrypted chats, alerts, and databases to interfere with ICE operations, mobilizing agitators to obstruct arrests of criminal illegal immigrants, making enforcement extremely difficult amid non-cooperation from local/state officials and lack of media coverage. Also, tens of thousands of people slaughtered in Iran in a few weeks, and the slaughter goes on day after day, because they want to be free, and the world takes no action against a regime that is weaker than it has ever been. What have we become Meanwhile, over the past couple of weeks, the Saudis have attacked the UAE as infidels and Zionist stooges.  At the same time, the Saudis have announced ties with Pakistan. They opposed the Israelis dealing with Yemen and the UAE supporting opposition to the Iranian-backed Houthis. They opposed Israel aligning with Somaliland. And they have built strong ties with Qatar and Turkey. They have lobbied us against attacking Iran -- joining with Qatar and Turkey. They've also made their conditions for joining the Abraham Accords so absurd as to make their membership impossible. Saudi Arabia has learned much from their previously hated enemy, but new friend, the Qatar terror regime. Later, Gordon Chang calls in to discuss significant but opaque developments in Communist China, particularly the reported arrest and investigation of General Zhang Youxia, the top uniformed military officer, along with another senior general. Amid conflicting rumors—including claims of a coup, gunfire involving Xi Jinping's bodyguards, and Zhang's possible release—little is definitively known due to the regime's secrecy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FreightCasts
3PLs dominate industrial leasing, Alaska Airlines vs. Amazon & C.H. Robinson's AI fix | The Daily

FreightCasts

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 5:58


The logistics sector is sending mixed signals in early 2026, with some data pointing to a boom while other indicators suggest fragility. On the growth side, 3PLs are dominating industrial leasing as corporations aggressively outsource their complex supply chains. Financial metrics back up this optimism, with Triumph Financial reporting rising invoice sizes and the addition of major fleets like J.B. Hunt to their network. This consolidation suggests big players are circling the wagons around platforms that provide stability and value. Operational efficiency is also improving, as C.H. Robinson uses AI agents to automate ready-checks and reduce unnecessary return trips by 42%. These technological advancements are helping stabilize networks by cutting out pure waste like fuel and driver time. However, friction remains in the air cargo sector, where Alaska Airlines is dissatisfied with its Amazon contract due to pilot scheduling issues and thin margins. The airline is looking to renegotiate terms or exit the deal as it struggles to optimize utilization between passenger and cargo operations. Regulatory and geopolitical risks are also mounting, highlighted by a court decision denying a reprieve for non-domiciled CDL renewals in California. Furthermore, global trade lanes face renewed uncertainty after Houthis threatened new attacks in the Red Sea, potentially forcing ships back around the Cape of Good Hope. Follow the FreightWaves NOW Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HaYovel | The Heartland Connection

Last Call for March Heartland Experience Trip https://israelguys.link/israel-trip-86ew4cj2t Tensions remain high across Israel.  The U.S. continues to ramp up its military presence in the region amid internet blackouts and mass casualties inside Iran. We also look at new threats facing Israel, including IDF  preparations for extreme scenarios such as a possible Houthi infiltration through the Jordanian border and coordinated terror attacks in Judea & Samaria. We also cover major developments in Gaza, where the IDF has launched a sensitive and dangerous operation to recover the body of Israel's last remaining hostage, Staff Sgt. Maj. Ran Gvili — a mission that reflects Israel's commitment to bring every soldier home. *UPDATE* The IDF has confirmed that they have successfully recovered the body of Staff Sgt. Maj. Ran Gvili. Ran Gvili was the final hostage from Oct 7 who remained in Gaza. Finally, we discuss Israel's controversial decision to partially reopen the Rafah Crossing in accordance with President Trump's 20-point peace plan, and why many Israelis fear this could strengthen Hamas once again. Follow us on Telegram: https://t.me/theisraelguys      Follow Us On X: https://x.com/theisraelguys    Follow Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theisraelguys  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theisraelguys  Heartland Tumbler: https://theisraelguys.store/products/heartland-tumbler  "Israel" Leather Patch Hat: https://theisraelguys.store/products/israel-1948-cap  

CBC News: World Report
Monday's top stories in 10 minutes

CBC News: World Report

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 10:08


Prime Minister Mark Carney announces GST credit top-up for lower-income Canadians, as Parliament returns from winter break. In Minneapolis, demonstrators continue to demand an end to federal immigration operations. Two federal court judges will hear arguments today about ICE operations in Minneapolis, days after Alex Pretti was shot and killed by officers. Houthis in Yemen threaten new attacks on ships in Red Sea, as USS Abraham Lincoln sails in Middle East. Radon gas may be giving more Canadians lung cancer; Scientists are racing to save lives. Police warn people to take precautions when using gay dating apps, following two high-profile killings in British Columbia. B.C. man who uses wheelchair says he is shut out of accessible seating as venues — including Vancouver's Rogers Arena — fail to stop abuse of honour system

Supply Chain Secrets
Rates Roll Over, Indexing Gets Real, and Red Sea Risk Returns

Supply Chain Secrets

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2026 15:24


Freight markets are turning earlier than usual. In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down sharp declines in quoted rates, early signs that the Chinese New Year peak has already passed, and what actual paid spot rates are signaling across key trades.Lars also walks through a real-world example showing how choosing the wrong index in an index-linked contract can materially impact costs, underscoring why detail matters as indexing gains traction. The conversation then turns to tariffs and the Red Sea, where new signals—from carrier routing decisions to a fresh Houthi warning—suggest risk may not be fully behind us yet.A practical discussion on what shippers should watch as volatility continues into 2026.

Real Life French
Alerte rouge en Mer Rouge (Red Alert in the Red Sea)

Real Life French

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2026 2:35


Les rebelles houthis du Yémen reprennent les attaques contre les navires israéliens, ce qui aggrave les tensions dans la région maritime stratégique.​Traduction : Yemen's Houthi rebels resume attacks against Israeli ships, escalating tensions in the strategic maritime region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louis French Lessons
Alerte rouge en Mer Rouge (Red Alert in the Red Sea)

Louis French Lessons

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2026 2:35


Les rebelles houthis du Yémen reprennent les attaques contre les navires israéliens, ce qui aggrave les tensions dans la région maritime stratégique.​Traduction : Yemen's Houthi rebels resume attacks against Israeli ships, escalating tensions in the strategic maritime region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dial P for Procurement
Cautious Optimism in the Suez Canal

Dial P for Procurement

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026 17:15


In late 2023, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints effectively broke. After Hamas' October 7th attack on Israel, Houthi militants began targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Initially, their target was Israel-linked vessels, then they increasingly started targeting anything that passed through. What followed was a near-collapse of confidence in the Suez Canal, a route that normally handles roughly 10–12% of global seaborne trade. Ocean carriers rerouted thousands of ships around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks, cost, fuel burn, and complexity to global supply chains. Fast forward to late 2025 and early 2026, and something quietly significant happened: Maersk, the world's second-largest container carrier, sent ships back through the Red Sea. It wasn't a full return or a declaration of victory, but it was a meaningful test. In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers:  Why Maersk's Red Sea test voyages matter more than they may appear The economic and capacity pressures pushing carriers back toward Suez Why a "safe reopening" may still create winners and losers What procurement and supply chain leaders should be watching for next Links: High Stakes in the Red Sea Kelly Barner on LinkedIn Art of Supply LinkedIn newsletter  Art of Supply on AOP Subscribe to This Week in Procurement  

Let's Know Things
Venezuelan Protests

Let's Know Things

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 15:45


This week we talk about war, inflation, and currency devaluation.We also discuss tyrants, police violence, and social media threats.Recommended Book: Post-Growth Living by Kate SoperTranscriptBack in mid-June of 2025, a shooting war erupted between Iran and Israel, with Israeli military forces launching attacks against multiple Iranian military sites, alongside sites associated with its nuclear program and against individual Iranian military leaders.Iran responded to these strikes, which left a lot of infrastructural damage and several military leaders assassinated, with large waves of missiles and drones against both Israeli and allied military targets, and soon after, later the same month, both sides agreed on a ceasefire and that was that.Following that blip of a war, though, Iran's economy suffered greatly. It already wasn't doing well, in part due to the crippling sanctions enforced by the US government for years, but also because of persistent mismanagement by Iran's ruling regime, and the resultant deterioration of local infrastructure, both physical and bureaucratic.Millions of people fled Iranian urban centers during the war with Israel, and while most of them returned when the ceasefire was brokered, the pace of life and other fundaments of these cities never got back up to where they were, before, as there have been fairly consistent blackouts that have kept people from being able to function as normal, and these outages have also kept businesses from getting back on their feet. That, in turn, has resulted in closures and firings and an overall reduction in economic activity.The general hamhandedness of the government has amplified these issues, and the countless other issues of trying to exist within a country that is being so persistently targeted—both in the sense of those crushing sanctions from the US, but also in the sense of being periodically struck by Israel—has dramatically increased uncertainty throughout Iran these past several years.Even before that brief war, Iran was already on the backfoot, having suffered the loss of their local proxies, including the Assad regime in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip—all of which have been either severely weakened by Israel in recent years, or functionally wiped out—and that in turn has more directly exposed them to meddling and attacks from their key opposition, which includes the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.That new vulnerability has put the Iranian government on high-alert, and the compounding effects of all that infrastructural damage, mismanagement, and the need to reallocate more resources to defense has left the country suffering very high levels of inflation, a severely devalued currency, regular blackouts, mass unemployment, a water shortage, and long-time repression from a government that is in many ways more paranoid and flailing than in any time in recent memory.What I'd like to talk about today is a recent wave of protests across Iran and why the US government is apparently considering taking action to support protestors against the Iranian government.—Iran has long suffered all sorts of issues, including regular efforts by ethnic secessionists to pull it apart into pieces they periodically occupy and want to govern, themselves, and concerns from citizens that the government spends a whole lot of their time and the nation's resources enriching themselves, oppressing the citizenry, funding what seems to be a pointless nuclear program, and prioritizing their offensive efforts against Israel and their other regional enemies, often by arming and funding those aforementioned, now somewhat defunct proxy militias and militaries.On top of all that, as of October 2025, inflation in Iran had surged to 48.6% and the Iranian currency, the rial, dropped in value to 1.45 million per dollar. The government tried to artificially boost the value of the rial to 1.38 million per dollar in early January of 2026, but it dropped further, to 1.5 million per dollar a few days later, hitting a record low. This combined with that wild inflation rate, made the basic fundamentals of life, food, electricity, and so on, unaffordable, even for those who still had jobs, which was an ever-shrinking portion of the population.For context, the drop of the rial to a value of 1.38 million per dollar, the boosted value, represented a loss of about 40% of the rial's value since June of 2025, just before that war with Israel, which is a staggering loss, as that means folk's life savings lost that much in about half a year.When currency values and inflation hit that level of volatility, doing business becomes difficult. It often makes more sense to close up shop than to try to keep the doors open, because you don't know if the price you charge for your product or service will make you a profit or not: there's a chance you'll sell things at a loss, because the value of the money you receive and the cost of goods you require, both to survive and to keep your business functioning, will change before the day ends, or before the sale can be completed.Iran's economic crisis has further exploded in the past few weeks, then, because all those issues have compounded and spiraled to the point that simply selling things and buying things have become too risky for many people and entities, and that means folks are having even more trouble getting food and keeping the lights on than before; which becomes a real survival issue, on top of the regular crackdowns and abuses by the government that they've suffered in various ways for decades.In 2022, those abuses and limits on personal rights led to large protests that were catalyzed by the death of a 22-year-old woman named Mahsa Amini, who was in police custody for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Those 2022 protests were historically large—the biggest in the country, by some estimates at least, since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.On December 28 2025, a group of shopkeepers in Iran's capital city, Tehran, went on strike, closing their shops in protest against what's been happening with Iran's economy; again, it's basically impossible to safely do business in a country with that much inflation and currency devaluation happening.Other shopkeepers followed suit, and large protests formed around these closed shops. Those protests flooded social media platforms in short order, protestors shouting slogans that indicated they were pissed off about all the economic mismanagement in the country, and then eventually that led to anti-government slogans being shouted, as well.Things remained peaceful at these protests, at first, and they expanded across the country within the next few days, shops closing and people filling the streets.By the fourth day, police had started to use live ammunition and tear gas against protestors, some of the protestors were killed, and things spiraled from there.By December 31, the government ordered a total, nationwide business shutdown, to try to get ahead of these protests, which again tended to revolve around the shutdown of businesses in protest—the government said they were making this call because of cold weather, but the writing was kind of on the wall at this point that they were scrambling to make it look like businesses were shutting down because they said so, not in protest of the government.The government also announced that they would start cracking down on protestors, hard, and on the first day of 2026, things escalated further, police using even more force against those who gathered, which of course led to more protests in more places, more angry slogans being shouted, and more protestor deaths at the hands of government forces.Protests had spread to all 31 Iranian provinces by early January of 2026, and at this point there were only 17 confirmed deaths.US President Donald Trump got involved around this time, maybe feeling confident following the successful nighttime grab of Venezuelan President Maduro; whatever the case, he warned the Iranian government not to shoot protestors, or the US government might have to get involved, coming to the protestors' rescue.Iran's government responded by saying the rioters must be put in their place, suppressing the funerals of protestors, and muffling local internet service, slowing down access speeds and increasing the number of outages by about a third. They threatened to execute hundreds of protestors by hanging, then said they wouldn't. Trump declared this to be a personal victory, though the Iranian government has used his insinuation of himself into the matter to position the fight as Iran against the US, the protestors backed by their great enemy, which has shown itself to be responsible for these protests.The government then started forcing captured protestors to make confessions on video, which only seemed to further anger the non-arrested protestors, and some protestors began to fight back, in one case setting a police officer on fire, and in other cases local militia groups defended protestors against police, leading to several deaths.Iran's government shut down more communication services in an attempt to regain control, in some cities taking down the internet completely, though some information, photos and videos of police abuses of protestors still made it out into the wider world using satellite services like Starlink, and by the 9th of January, protests reached a scale that rivaled and maybe surpassed those seen during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and protestors began to set fire to buildings associated with the Islamic Republic, the government, and directly clashing with security forces in some cases.Hundreds of people were reportedly killed per day from that point forward, and thousands were rushed to hospitals, overwhelming local doctors.Thousands of people were also violently killed by police, under cover of the now complete internet blackout, and on January 10th, it was estimated that around 2,000 protestors had been killed in the past two days, alone, while other estimates from inside and outside Iran range from 12,000 to 20,000 protestors killed by the government. The most reliable source I could find, as of last weekend, indicated that the true number of dead is something like 3,300 people, at minimum.In the past week or so, the Iranian government has apparently figured out how to jam Starlink internet signals, making it even more difficult for protestors to share what's happening in the country, and President Trump posted on his social network, Truth Social, telling Iranian citizens that they should overthrow the government and that help is on the way.The Iranian government has arrested tens of thousands of people, has tanks patrolling their towns and cities, and seems to have successfully quashed protests for the time being; no protests at all were reported across the country as of mid-January, and so many people were killed and injured that hospitals and other institutions are still overwhelmed, trying to work through their backlog; much of the country is in mourning.Government forces are reportedly going door to door to arrest people who were spotted in CCTV and social media footage participating in protests, and they've set up checkpoints to stop people, look through their phones, and arrest them if any photos or videos are found that indicate they were at protests, deleting that digital evidence in the process.This remains a fast-moving story and there's a chance something significant, like the US striking Iranian government targets, or renewed, more focused protests will arise in the coming days and weeks.Some analysts have argued that it's kind of a no-brainer for the Trump administration to hit the Iranian government while it's strained in this way, because it's a long-time enemy of the US and its allies that's currently weak, and doing so would reinforce the narrative, sparked with the capture of Maduro, that Trump's administration is anti-tyrant; which is questionable by most measures, but again, this is a narrative, not necessarily reality. And narratives are powerful, especially going into an election year.It's also possible that, because economic conditions in Iran haven't changed, that this is just the beginning of something bigger; protestors and militias taking a moment to regain their footing and consider what they might do to have more of an impact when they start back up again.Show Noteshttps://www.iranintl.com/en/202601130145https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/31/we-want-the-mullahs-gone-economic-crisis-sparks-biggest-protests-in-iran-since-2022https://www.nytimes.com/article/iran-protests-inflation-currency.htmlhttps://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/06/25/mapping-the-protests-in-iran-2/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/us/politics/trump-iran-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/world/middleeast/iran-protests-death-toll.htmlhttps://www.reuters.com/world/china/iranian-mp-warns-greater-unrest-urging-government-address-grievances-2026-01-13/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/iran-is-hunting-down-starlink-users-to-stop-protest-videos-from-going-global-d8b49602https://archive.is/20260114175227/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/bank-collapse-iran-protests-83f6b681https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-protest-death-toll-over-12000-feared-higher-video-bodies-at-morgue/https://sundayguardianlive.com/world/did-irans-currency-collapse-rial-plummets-to-000-against-euro-while-inflation-protests-escalate-across-the-country-164403/https://archive.is/20260116034429/https://www.ft.com/content/5d848323-84a9-4512-abd2-dd09e0a786a3https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2jek15m8nohttps://theconversation.com/the-use-of-military-force-in-iran-could-backfire-for-washington-273264https://archive.is/20260114182636/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/14/iran-regime-protest-trump-strike/https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/world/middleeast/iran-protests-deadly-crackdown.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/17/world/middleeast/iran-ayatollah-khamenei.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%932026_Iranian_protestshttps://www.en-hrana.org/day-thirteen-of-the-protests-nighttime-demonstrations-continue-amid-internet-shutdown/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Iran_internal_crisishttps://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-trump-khamenei-fc11b1082fb75fca02205f668c822751 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

The Daily Beans
Refried Beans | Inside The Perfect Phone Call (feat. Simon Shuster) | 1/17/2024

The Daily Beans

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2026 49:58


Wednesday, January 17th, 2024Jury selection and opening statements kicked off day one of the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial in New York; Trump won the GOP Iowa caucus with embarrassingly low turnout; Capitol Police and the FBI have opened an investigation into Roger Stone's comments about assassinating Rep Swalwell and Rep Nadler; President Biden invites the top four congressional leaders to the White House to discuss Ukraine funding; the US will re-list Yemen's Houthis as global terrorists; Trump loses a string of appeals in court; the House Republicans are backing down on holding Hunter Biden in contempt. Plus Allison and Dana deliver your good news.More from our Guest:Simon ShusterThe Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelenskyhttps://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-showman-simon-shuster?variant=41083800682530https://twitter.com/shustrySimon Shuster | Time Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Proletarian Radio
Understanding the heroism of Yemen Part 1

Proletarian Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2026 19:37


https://thecommunists.org/2025/09/01/news/history/understanding-heroism-of-yemen-pt1/ It suits western imperialism that the origins and ideological underpinnings of the so-called ‘Houthi' movement should remain unknown. The Yemeni ‘Houthi' Ansar Allah movement shot to prominence in late 2023 when, following the beginning of the US-Israeli genocide of the Palestinians of Gaza, the movement's forces announced that they were shutting down access to the Red Sea through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait for all Israeli-linked shipping – a threat that they quickly proved they were totally capable of enforcing. Despite this sudden worldwide prominence, the ‘Houthi' movement's origins and ideological underpinnings remain largely unknown and under-studied – primarily because this suits the interests of western imperialism, which fears the movement becoming an example for other oppressed nations to follow. Based on a presentation delivered at Saklatvala Hall in London in June 2025, this in-depth article attempts to tear through the imperialist lies and explain the real origins of Yemen's dominant national-liberation movement. Subscribe! Donate! Join us in building a bright future for humanity! www.thecommunists.org www.lalkar.org www.redyouth.org Telegram: t.me/thecommunists Twitter: twitter.com/cpgbml Soundcloud: @proletarianradio Rumble: rumble.com/c/theCommunists Odysee: odysee.com/@proletariantv:2 Facebook: www.facebook.com/cpgbml Online Shop: https://shop.thecommunists.org/ Education Program: Each one teach one! www.londonworker.org/education-programme/ Join the struggle www.thecommunists.org/join/ Donate: www.thecommunists.org/donate/  

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep308: THE COLLAPSE OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains how the fall of the Iranian regime would devastate its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias, which depend on IRGC fundi

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 6:06


THE COLLAPSE OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains how the fall of the Iranian regime would devastate its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias, which depend on IRGC funding and training. Without Tehran's "big brother" support, these groups would likely be forced to make accommodations with local governments. He also notes Hezbollah's role as an international drug cartel. NUMBER 141921 ALEPPO

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep309: SHOW 1-12-26 THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW "The Making of the John Batchelor Show" is a live-streaming "beta" experiment launched by John Batchelor on Monday, January 12, 2026. The primary objective of this specifi

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 8:19


SHOW1-12-26"THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW""The Making of the John Batchelor Show" is a live-streaming "beta" experiment launched by John Batchelor on Monday, January 12, 2026. The primary objective of this specific program is to demonstrate "total transparency" by allowing the audience to see the behind-the-scenes process and technical "bumps" involved in producing the show.GLOBAL CHAOS AND THE EROSION OF STABILITY Colleagues Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani. The guests discuss worldwide instability, arguing that the US has abandoned its traditional role in maintaining global order. They examine conflicts in Iran, Syria, and Venezuela, suggesting US actions are often driven by whims rather than strategic planning, leading to a state of heightened chaos. NUMBER 1FICTIONS IN SYRIA AND THE RISKS OF INTERVENTION Colleagues Bill Roggio and Husain Haqqani. The discussion focuses on the Syrian conflict, criticizing the US for maintaining "fictions" about local actors and security forces. Haqqani warns against military intervention in Iran, citing past failures like Vietnam and Iraq, noting that military force cannot solve misunderstood political problems. NUMBER 2CHINA'S GREAT HEIST OF AMERICAN SECRETS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. David Sheddoutlines China's extensive cyber espionage campaigns, including "Salt Typhoon," which successfully hacked US Congressional committees. These operations aim to steal sensitive communications and embed sabotage tools within USinfrastructure, highlighting a critical failure in American defensive preparedness. NUMBER 3REGIME CHANGE AND SHIFTING POWER IN THE AMERICAS Colleagues David Shedd and Bill Roggio. Shedd details the removal of Nicolas Maduro and a regional shift toward center-right governments. This transition aims to end Russian and Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, the US is demanding stricter security cooperation from Mexico to dismantle powerful drug cartels. NUMBER 4IRANIAN PROTESTS AND THE COLLAPSE OF REGIME CONTROL Colleague Malcolm Hoenlein. Protests across Iran have turned deadly, with reports of hundreds killed by live fire and hospitals refusing wounded demonstrators. Malcolm Hoenlein highlights a communication blackout and a collapsing economy where the currency has plummeted. A new minority coalition of Baluchis and Kurds is now supporting rebellion. NUMBER 5THE SHIFTING BALANCE OF FEAR IN IRAN Colleague Malcolm Hoenlein. As the regime faces potential implosion, discussions involve a return of the Shah's son as a symbolic figurehead, though no clear path to collective leadership exists. Revolutionaries are now tagging the homes of officials, signaling that the balance of fear has shifted from the people to the leadership. NUMBER 6RUSSIA'S ORESHNIK MISSILE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERRENCE Colleague John Hardy. Russia is utilizing the Oreshnik missile to strike Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving thousands without heat. John Hardy explains these strikes serve as psychological intimidation to deter Western nations from providing security guarantees or ground troops. Recent strikes likely targeted an aircraft repair plant, not gas storage. NUMBER 7ESCALATING CONFLICT BETWEEN SYRIAN FORCES AND KURDISH ALLIES Colleague Akmed Khari. Clashes have erupted in Aleppo between the Syrian government and the Kurdish SDF after a failed integration agreement. Akmed Khari notes the complexity of the US coordinating with Syrian security forces that remain riddled with jihadists. The conflict is expected to expand into other contested regions. Analogy: The situation in Syria is like a shaky alliance between rival firefighters who, while ostensibly trying to put out the same blaze, begin turning their hoses on each other while the fire continues to spread. NUMBER 8THE US-MANAGED TRANSITION IN POST-MADURO VENEZUELA Colleague Ernesto Araújo. John Batchelor and Ernesto Araújo discuss the US-led operation that captured Nicolas Maduro. Araújo describes the current situation as a well-managed transition where the US is navigating internal power struggles among military factions and criminal gangs rather than allowing a power vacuum to form. NUMBER 9REGIONAL SHIFTS: COLOMBIA'S DIPLOMACY AND BRAZIL'S POLITICAL FUTURE Colleague Ernesto Araújo. The discussion focuses on Gustavo Petro's pivot toward the United States and the historical concept of "Grand Colombia." In Brazil, they evaluate Lula da Silva's potential re-election bid against the enduring popularity of the imprisoned Jair Bolsonaro and the influence of new nationalist political forces. NUMBER 10REGIONAL REACTIONS TO MADURO'S CAPTURE AND THE ISOLATION OF CUBA Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Alejandro Peña Esclusa reports that Venezuelans are celebrating Maduro's capture while the Trumpadministration halts oil shipments to Cuba. He explains that regional left-wing leaders fear a trial will reveal their corrupt ties to Maduro, while the Cuban regime faces collapse without Venezuelan energy. NUMBER 11THE FOUR FAMILIES OF CARACAS AND THE END OF THE REGIME Colleague Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Esclusa analyzes the four mafias currently competing for power in Caracas: the Rodriguez siblings, Diosdado Cabello, Padrino Lopez, and Maduro's remnants. He argues that overwhelming US military force has rendered local weapons irrelevant and that the dismantling of these groups is necessary for elections. NUMBER 12ESCALATING IRANIAN PROTESTS AND POTENTIAL US INTERVENTION Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Edmund Fitton-Brown describes the current Iranian protests as a movement that has shifted into a repression phase characterized by internet blackouts and rising casualties. He argues that US military force targeting repression organs could tip the balance in favor of the protesters, who are increasingly calling for a constitutional monarchy. The regime is reportedly attempting to negotiate following US strike threats. NUMBER 13THE COLLAPSE OF THE AXIS OF RESISTANCE Colleague Edmund Fitton-Brown. Fitton-Brown explains how the fall of the Iranian regime would devastate its regional proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militias, which depend on IRGC funding and training. Without Tehran's "big brother" support, these groups would likely be forced to make accommodations with local governments. He also notes Hezbollah's role as an international drug cartel. NUMBER 14THE ZOMBIE REGIME AND STRATEGIC TARGETS Colleague Jonathan Sai. Jonathan Sai labels the Islamic Republic a "zombie regime" facing an existential threat despite its brutal crackdowns. He reports that the IRGC and foreign militias are using automatic weapons against protesters in cities like Tehran and Mashhad. Sai suggests that USintervention should prioritize striking repression centers and state-run propaganda machines to dismantle the regime's control. NUMBER 15HEZBOLLAH'S SURVIVAL AND THE LOSS OF REGIONAL LIFELINES Colleague David Daoud. David Daoud characterizes Hezbollah as an ideological extension of Iran currently in survival mode as its lifelines in Syria and Venezuela weaken. While Hezbollah wants the regime to survive for power projection, Daoud suggests Iraqi militias are more likely to be physically assisting Tehran's crackdowns due to their proximity and lower combat losses compared to Hezbollah. To clarify the current state of the Iranian government, Jonathan Sai uses the metaphor of a "zombie regime": it may appear to be moving and in control, but it is functionally dead because it can no longer sustain its support base or provide basic necessities for its people. NUMBER 161832 PERSIAN GIRL, SKETCHED ON STONE BY JAMES ATKINSON

Ask a Jew
Israel and Somaliland, Sitting in a Tree...

Ask a Jew

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2026 65:34


Iran who? Venezuela what? The hottest place you need to know about right now is a little Muslim democracy in the horn of Africa called Somaliland. Recently, Israel just became the first country to recognize Somaliland as it cements its independence from Somalia, and we are now all in the honeymoon phase. We invited our new best friend Saeed Ibrahim, founder and editor of Somaliland Chronicle, to answer our hard-hitting geopolitical questions like “where is Somaliland?” and “what do you eat there?” Saeed took us through the history of the region, the longstanding bond with Israel, the reactions on the street (they like us! They really like us!), the relationships with their not-so-nice neighbors, and why countries should be on their oxygen masks first before they help others. But first, where are we?Also:* How are the daycare centers?* Come for the camels, stay for the sea cucumbers.* Oh, a real genocide. * Houthis be maaaadddd.* Location, location, location.* Any kosher hotels?* How can we be good allies?* Do you know who Mandy Patinkin is?* A Hebrew lesson - Um Shmum! * The African Union? Please. Good for the Jews is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Here are some celeberations on the streets of the capital Hargeisa after the recognition:Thanks for reading Good for the Jews! This post is public so feel free to share it.And a visit from Israel's Foreign Minister:Thank you for listening! If you made it this far, it is your duty to the people of Israel and Somaliland to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It will really help us gain independence. Just click on the button below and hit those 5 stars. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit askajew.substack.com/subscribe

The Land of Israel Network
Land of Israel Guys Podcast: Is Iran About to Fall and Does Russia Know Something Israel Doesn't?

The Land of Israel Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2026 53:46


The world is shifting fast and this episode dives straight into the heart of the storm. As mass protests erupt across Iran, shocking footage shows Iranian students openly rejecting regime slogans like “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.” At the same time, Russia is reportedly evacuating its embassy from Israel, signaling that something far bigger may be unfolding behind the scenes. In this powerful episode of The Land of Israel Guys Podcast, we unpack: What the Iranian protests really mean—and whether the regime is losing control Why Russia's embassy evacuation from Israel could signal an imminent escalation How Israel, the United States, and President Trump may be coordinating major strategic moves The collapse of Iran's proxy network, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Venezuela The rise of a spiritual and ideological war beneath the military conflict How foreign funding, media influence, and cultural shifts in the West are shaping this global battle Why biblical prophecy may be converging with modern geopolitics in real time This is not just another Middle East update. It's a deep conversation about power, ideology, faith, and the future of Israel and the world and why the next few weeks could change history.

Le Nouvel Esprit Public
Le grand vide des partis politiques / Où va la « doctrine Donroe » ?

Le Nouvel Esprit Public

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2026 69:11


Vous aimez notre peau de caste ? Soutenez-nous ! https://www.lenouvelespritpublic.fr/abonnementUne émission de Philippe Meyer, enregistrée en public à l'École alsacienne le 11 janvier 2026.Avec cette semaine :Jean-Louis Bourlanges, essayiste, ancien président de la Commission des Affaires étrangères de l'Assemblée nationale.David Djaïz, entrepreneur et essayiste.Antoine Foucher, consultant, spécialiste des questions sociales, auteur de Sortir du travail qui ne paie plus.Lucile Schmid, présidente de La Fabrique écologique et membre du comité de rédaction de la revue Esprit.LE GRAND VIDE DES PARTIS POLITIQUESLe système institutionnel français, organisé pour structurer une alternance entre deux blocs, fonctionne désormais avec trois forces irréconciliables. Résultat : aucune majorité stable, aucun mandat clair et la porte ouverte à la démagogie puisque personne n'est responsable. Tandis que le Parlement s'enlise, l'exécutif temporise, l'opinion se lasse. Cette résignation est liée à une fatigue démocratique, sur fond de décomposition politique, dont l'Assemblée nationale fragmentée est le reflet. Fin décembre, le Cevipof et l'Obsoco (Observatoire société et consommation) ont publié les résultats d'une enquête réalisée par l'Ifop : « Priorités françaises ». Les Français ne placent plus en tête de leurs priorités le pouvoir d'achat ou l'inflation mais le fonctionnement du système politique. L'enquête montre une délégitimation personnelle du chef de l'État, une remise en cause institutionnelle et un rejet de la classe politique. Les Français ont des mots très durs et parlent des responsables politiques comme d'une « caste » dénoncée notamment pour sa « surdité ». La mobilisation agricole fait écho à ce désarroi de l'opinion face à un pouvoir qu'il juge « autoritaire ». Selon un sondage Ipsos/Cevipof, 34% des Français pensent que « d'autres systèmes politiques peuvent être aussi bons que la démocratie ».Au très fort degré de défiance dont souffrent aujourd'hui l'exécutif et le Parlement s'ajoute la difficulté qu'éprouvent les partis de gouvernement à apporter une réponse crédible aux bouleversements en cours : déclin démographique, réchauffement climatique, extrême vulnérabilité du continent européen face au retour des tensions militaires et commerciales, révolution de l'intelligence artificielle. La politique se limite de plus en plus à la gestion, la France paraît privée de récits fédérateurs, observe le politologue Brice Soccol qui rappelle que pendant des décennies, la vie politique française s'est structurée autour de visions du monde fortes : le progrès, la révolution, la nation, l'État-providence, la lutte des classes, la justice sociale … Aujourd'hui, ni la gauche de gouvernement ni la droite classique ne racontent plus d'histoire. Elles administrent, ajustent, corrigent. Leur horizon s'est rétréci au calendrier budgétaire et parlementaire amplifié par la dissolution ratée de 2024. Engluées dans leurs divisions internes et leurs obsessions du casting présidentiel, les forces politiques ne parviennent pas à structurer le débat public avec de nouvelles idées, à dessiner des raisons d'espérer. Si mercredi, le président des Républicains, Bruno Retailleau a présenté des mesures économiques pour encourager le travail, elles ont un air de déjà-vu. Dans la perspective desPrésidentielles de 2027, alors que les partis protestataires – le Rassemblement national et La France Insoumise sont quasiment en ordre de marche, le grand flou règne du côté des partis de gouvernement, tant sur le candidat, les programmes que sur le mode de désignation. Un grand flou sur un grand vide.OÙ VA LA « DOCTRINE DONROE » ?Avec l'enlèvement du président vénézuélien Nicolás Maduro, à l'aube du 3 janvier, Donald Trump entend désormais régir l'ensemble du continent américain et avoir la main sur l'« hémisphère occidental », mis au service de la prospérité et la sécurité des États-Unis. Des élections au Vénézuéla ne semblent à ce stade pas à l'ordre du jour : « nous attachons de l'importance à la démocratie. Mais ce qui nous importe avant tout, c'est la sécurité, le bien-être et la prospérité des États-Unis », a précisé le secrétaire d'État américain Marco Rubio. Les États-Unis réactivent ainsi la doctrine Monroe de 1823 selon laquelle l'hémisphère occidental devait être la chasse gardée exclusive de Washington.La Stratégie nationale de sécurité des États-Unis publiée en novembre dernier se réfère explicitement à ce précédent, tandis que la presse américaine l'a déjà baptisée « doctrine Donroe », condensé de Donald et Monroe. Les autres pays de la région, qu'ils soient amis comme le Mexique ou ennemis comme Cuba, ont été mis en garde : ils devront coopérer avec les Etats-Unis ou en subir les conséquences. Les gouvernements latino-américains de gauche, comme celui du Brésil, se sont déclarés particulièrement alarmés par la violation de la Charte des Nations unies. Ceux de droite, comme celui d'Argentine se sont montrés plus favorables. Ceux d'autres régions du monde, notamment en Europe, ont plaidé en faveur de la stabilité.Sur la « liste des envies » de Trump figurent également le Canada, le canal de Panama, et le Groenland. Dès le lendemain de l'enlèvement du président vénézuélien, Donald Trump est revenu sur l'idée d'annexer le Groenland, jugeant qu'il « nous le faut absolument, pour des raisons de sécurité nationale ». Cette sortie a déclenché de nombreuses protestations des Européens. La Première ministre danoise en a été réduite à invoquer l'article 5 de l'Otan pour protéger le royaume contre … le leader de l'Otan. Les Européens semblent pris au dépourvu par l'accélération des événements. La doctrine Donroe marque le retour explicite d'un monde où l'appartenance à une sphère d'influence l'emporte sur la souveraineté. Une sphère d'influence américaine extensible bien au-delà du continent américain : en mars 2025 Donald Trump avait ordonné une campagne de frappes contre les rebelles Houthi au Yémen, en juin contre les installations nucléaires iraniennes et en décembre au Nigéria contre des militants du groupe Etat islamique. Le président américain menace de nouveau d'intervenir en Iran si la répression des manifestations se poursuit. Il confiait vendredi au New York Times, « je n'ai pas besoin du droit international » assurant que sa « moralité » est son unique limite pour agir dans le monde.Chaque semaine, Philippe Meyer anime une conversation d'analyse politique, argumentée et courtoise, sur des thèmes nationaux et internationaux liés à l'actualité. Pour en savoir plus : www.lenouvelespritpublic.frHébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep295: THE OCTOPUS STRATEGY: IRAN'S PROXIES AND ISRAEL'S COUNTERATTACK Colleague Seth Frantzman. Frantzman employs the "octopus" metaphor to describe Iran as the central brain directing proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis to enci

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2026 12:36


THE OCTOPUS STRATEGY: IRAN'S PROXIES AND ISRAEL'S COUNTERATTACK Colleague Seth Frantzman. Frantzman employs the "octopus" metaphor to describe Iran as the central brain directing proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis to encircle Israel. He details Hamas's October 7 strategy: massacre civilians, seize hostages, and retreat to human shields and tunnels to await international pressure on Israel. The conversation outlines the IDF's counter-strategy, which involved cutting Gaza in half via the Netzarim corridor and systematically clearing areas from north to south. Frantzman notes the extensive tunnel network discovered in Khan Yunis, which served as a learning ground for IDF anti-tunnel operations. OCTOBER 7 WAR BY SETH FRANTZMAN NUMBER 31868 NAZARETH

TRENDIFIER with Julian Dorey
#372 - “NIGHTMARE!” - Somali Pirate Hostage on 977 Days Inside HELL HOLE | Michael Scott Moore • 372

TRENDIFIER with Julian Dorey

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 178:27


SPONSORS: 1) MOOD: Get 20% off your first order of federally legal, hemp-derived cannabis gummies, flower, edibles, and more at https://mood.com with code JULIAN at checkout. 2) GHOST BED: Get an extra 10% off already-great prices at https://GhostBed.com/julian with promo code JULIAN. 3) MARS MEN: For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at https://mengotomars.com (***TIMESTAMPS in description below) ~ Michael Scott Moore is a novelist and journalist, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates and spent two and half years in captivity. His book "The Desert and the Sea: 977 Days Captive on the Somali Pirate Coast" is available below. MICHAEL's LINKS - BUY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Desert-Sea-Captive-Somali-Pirate/dp/0062449176- IG: https://www.instagram.com/michaelscottmoore1/?hl=en FOLLOW JULIAN DOREY INSTAGRAM (Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/juliandoreypodcast/ INSTAGRAM (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/julianddorey/ X: https://twitter.com/julianddorey JULIAN YT CHANNELS - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Clips YT: https://www.youtube.com/@juliandoreyclips - SUBSCRIBE to Julian Dorey Daily YT: https://www.youtube.com/@JulianDoreyDaily - SUBSCRIBE to Best of JDP: https://www.youtube.com/@bestofJDP ****TIMESTAMPS**** 0:00 – Intro 1:54 – Michael Name, Somali Piracy Origins, Hamburg Trial, Navy History, Houthis, Captain Phillips 12:16 – How Somali Piracy Changed, Mercenaries, Suez Route, Order Collapse, Pirates vs Al Shabab 22:18 – Piracy Law Gaps, International Waters, Der Spiegel, Why Michael Followed the Story 33:52 – Back to the Somali Trial, Traveling to Somalia, Interviewing a Pirate Boss, Warning Signs 46:52 – Grey Markets, Clan Soldiers, Somali Regions, Clan Justice vs Sharia, Terror Group Cycles 53:44 – The Kidnapping, Time Slows Down, Captured Alone, Beaten, Prison House 01:05:50 – Day Two Care, First Week, Friend “Rolly,” First Phone Call 01:24:17 – Daily Life in Captivity, Food, Vatican Radio Homily, Why He Didn't Grab a Gun 01:39:26 – Empathy for Pirates, Al Shabab vs Piracy, Six Months on Hijacked Ship, Captain's Body 01:50:56 – Failed Escape Attempt, Jumping Ship, BBC Escape Stories, Chinese Captives 02:06:46 – Writing, Yoga, Guards Joining, Losing Hope, Forgiveness Shift 02:14:41 – Ransom Begins, June 2014, $1.6M Fund, The Morning of Freedom 02:24:46 – Pilot Derek, Re-acclimating to Freedom, Physical Recovery 02:35:38 – Reuniting with Mother, PTSD, Father's Suicide, Alcoholism 02:45:59 – Hostage US Nonprofit 02:53:01 – Michael's Work CREDITS: - Host, Editor & Producer: Julian Dorey - COO, Producer & Editor: Alessi Allaman - https://www.youtube.com/@UCyLKzv5fKxGmVQg3cMJJzyQ - In-Studio Producer: Joey Deef - https://www.instagram.com/joeydeef/ Julian Dorey Podcast Episode 372 - Michel Scott Moore Music by Artlist.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ThePrint
CutTheClutter: Why allies Saudi Arabia & UAE are fighting in Yemen,& how it's linked to influence contest in Africa

ThePrint

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 31:01


Allies Saudi Arabia and Yemen have turned rivals in Yemen. From 2 December, 2025 when UAE-backed STC forces started taking over key provinces to now- Saudi-led coalition regaining control, Yemen has witnessed key developments. In Episode 1781 of #CutTheClutter, ThePrint Editor-In-Chief Shekhar Gupta explains why Yemen has become a battleground for Saudi Arabia & UAE, the areas controlled by different forces in Yemen including Houthis, and how this rivalry is linked to the race for influence in Africa.

Real Life French
Tensions au Yémen (Yemeni Turmoil)

Real Life French

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 2:23


Les États-Unis ont mené des frappes "décisives" contre les Houthis au Yémen, tuant neuf civils selon les rebelles, attisant les tensions régionales.​Traduction:The United States conducted "decisive" strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, killing nine civilians according to the rebels, exacerbating regional tensions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louis French Lessons
Tensions au Yémen (Yemeni Turmoil)

Louis French Lessons

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 2:23


Les États-Unis ont mené des frappes "décisives" contre les Houthis au Yémen, tuant neuf civils selon les rebelles, attisant les tensions régionales.​Traduction:The United States conducted "decisive" strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, killing nine civilians according to the rebels, exacerbating regional tensions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tara Show
H2: They Came Here First: Iran, Venezuela, and the War Inside Our Hemisphere

The Tara Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 29:28


In this intense, unfiltered episode, Tara lays out a chilling timeline — from the brutal torture of Iranian protesters to cartel-backed gangs taking territory inside the United States. This isn't theory. This isn't abstraction. This is a coordinated pressure campaign spanning Iran, Venezuela, China, and the U.S. homeland. Tara connects the dots between secret cash transfers, sanctions relief, drug trafficking regimes, election interference, and why the Monroe Doctrine suddenly matters again. From Iranian street protests to Venezuelan gangs operating in American cities, this episode explains why this is not foreign meddling — it's war, and why pretending otherwise is no longer an option. ⚠️ This is not Iraq. ⚠️ This is not Afghanistan.

The Tara Show
Iran on the Brink: How Sanctions, Street Protests, and Trump Changed Everything

The Tara Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 11:55


In this explosive episode, Tara breaks down the brutal reality of life under Iran's mullah-led regime, the horrifying treatment of protesters, and how Western money kept that regime alive for years. From secret cash pallets and broken sanctions to the return of hope under Donald Trump, Tara connects the dots between Iran, Venezuela, global terror networks, and America's own national security. With protests reigniting and dictators reportedly preparing exit plans, this episode explains why Iran is shaking again, how sanctions are biting, and why the stakes couldn't be higher — not just for the Middle East, but for the United States itself. This is history, geopolitics, and hard truth — unfiltered. ⚠️

The Jimmy Dore Show
The REAL Story Behind Minnesota's Somali Welfare Scandal!

The Jimmy Dore Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2026 64:35


The widely publicized Somali daycare fraud scandal in Minnesota is being deliberately amplified now to stoke outrage while obscuring larger geopolitical moves involving Israel, Somaliland, and the Middle East. As Jimmy points out, the fraud storyis linked to claims that Israeli intelligence, U.S. officials, and Gulf states are coordinating around recognizing Somaliland, building military facilities near the Red Sea, and countering Houthi activity tied to Yemen and Iran.  Jimmy shares past statements from General Wesley Clark, allegations about redirected U.S. aid money, and accusations that elite corruption and pardons for large-scale Medicare fraud receive far less scrutiny. These claims, he says, serve as a "distraction" narrative, suggesting the scandal serves broader strategic interests rather than being an isolated case of domestic fraud. Plus segments on President Trump saying he'll bomb Iran, Alex Jones' recent unhinged attacks on Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson's questions about the FBI's investigation into Charlie Kirk's assassination. Also featuring Stef Zamorano!

S2 Underground
The Wire - December 30, 2025

S2 Underground

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 4:55


//The Wire//2300Z December 30, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: SAUDI ARABIA BOMBS EMIRATI WEAPONS SHIPMENT IN YEMEN. RAIL DELAYS SPREAD AROUND EUROPE AFTER INCIDENT IN CHANNEL TUNNEL. CROWBAR ATTACK REPORTED AT BRITISH HOSPITAL.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE----- -International Events-Yemen: Overnight tensions escalated sharply between several nations as the conflict in Yemen threatens to become more serious. Colonel Turki Al-Malki, the Saudi Air Force Colonel that serves as the spokesman for the Saudi mission to Yemen stated that two vessels departed the UAE without permission this morning, and sailed without turning their AIS transponders on before arriving in Yemen. Onboard these vessels were weapons and armored vehicles that the UAE was allegedly trying to smuggle to the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a faction that threatens the Saudi border.As a result, Saudi Arabia conducted a few airstrikes within the Yemeni port of Mukalla, targeting the combat vehicles to be used by the STC. After the strikes, Saudi Arabia also called for the UAE to leave Yemen entirely. A few hours after this morning's scuffle, the UAE announced a cessation of their already-reduced mission in Yemen, and are withdrawing all public support for the STC, per Saudi demands.United Kingdom: This morning an Afghan migrant was arrested for conducting an attack at the Newton-Le-Willows Hospital in Merseyside, a small village halfway between Liverpool and Manchester. The attack began after the man was denied an appointment after entering the lobby with a crowbar in hand. After being told there were no appointments, the man began attacking staff with the crowbar. 5x people were wounded during the attack.Europe: This morning a "major disruption" was reported in the Channel Tunnel, halting train services between London and Paris. The cause of the disruption was two-fold, resulting from several power lines being downed in one tunnel, and a train stuck in the other tunnel, blocking service both ways under the English Channel.Analyst Comment: This sounds like it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but due to the importance of this one tunnel (and the nature of rail logistics), passenger train services were halted from Amsterdam to Paris, all during one of the most heavily-trafficked travels season of the year. Delays have been reported all day, and EuroStar has recommended travelers to avoid trains which use cross-Channel routes until repairs are made.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The situation in Yemen has always been a tangled web of factions, and thing's aren't as simple as "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". This latest development is no different, and throughout the day the statements from all parties reflect more of the plot of a soap opera than traditional diplomacy.The STC is a separatist movement in Yemen that is opposing the Houthi's, but also opposing the Saudis. The Saudis know that if the STC were to win the Civil War in Yemen and actually dominate the Houthis, the STC would probably sidestep the formal Yemeni government and succeed in their goal of creating a new state (what they call South Arabia), which the STC has been working toward for some time. The UAE provides materiel support to the STC for several reasons. For one, the UAE and the Saudis have bad-blood between them on cultural grounds, but both the Emirates and the Saudi royal family also don't want the Houthi's to control most of Yemen, thus the reason for both nations teaming up to form the security coalition in Yemen.However, the Saudis also don't want the Houthi's adversaries (the STC) to get too much control either...which the UAE *does* want so as to apply pressure to the Saudis because the UAE and Yemen don't share a land border, so they don't care.In short, the Saudis and Emirates don't actually like each other, but work together to control the dozens of

Global News Podcast
Saudi Arabia bombs Yemeni port over alleged UAE weapons

Global News Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 30:11


The United Arab Emirates says it will end its operations in Yemen, after Saudi Arabia conducts a strike on the southern port of Mukalla. Riyadh claims the target was a UAE-linked weapons shipment, intended for separatists. The attack marks the most significant escalation in a widening rift between the two Gulf powers, who once cooperated in a coalition against the Houthis. Also: protests are spreading in Iran, sparked by rising prices and the plummeting value of the currency. China has launched rockets on a second day of large-scale military exercises around Taiwan. South Korea announces steep fines for companies found guilty of price fixing. BBC analysis suggests Russian losses in the war with Ukraine have been growing faster than at any time since the start of the full-scale invasion. Nepalese authorities are scrapping a clean-up scheme that was meant to encourage climbers to bring down their waste from Mount Everest. A new search for the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH-370 begins in the Indian Ocean. We speak to the dinosaur hunters who discovered a spiky “punk rock" dinosaur. And why the Danish Postal Service will stop delivering letters, ending centuries of service.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

Invité Afrique
Soudan: «les FSR ne sont pas isolées», mais «les grandes puissances sont avec l'armée régulière»

Invité Afrique

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2025 10:06


Au Soudan, l'année 2025 a été encore plus sanglante que les deux années précédentes. Après bientôt trois années de guerre, on estime que 150 000 personnes ont été tuées. Et dans les deux camps, du côté du président du Conseil de souveraineté de transition le général al-Burhan comme du côté du général Hemedti, les soutiens extérieurs se livrent une compétition de plus en plus féroce. C'est le cas notamment de l'Arabie saoudite et des Émirats arabes unis. Roland Marchal est chercheur à Sciences Po Paris et il pense que la toute récente reconnaissance du Somaliland par Israël n'arrange rien. Il s'en explique au micro de Christophe Boisbouvier. RFI : Est-ce qu'on peut dire qu'au Soudan, l'année 2025 a été encore pire que les deux années précédentes ? Roland Marchal : Elle a été pire en effet, dans la mesure où des batailles stratégiques se sont menées et ont été gagnées par un camp ou l'autre et ont beaucoup plus impliqué la population civile, qui a payé un prix très élevé, non seulement en termes de déplacement, mais directement dans les combats qui étaient menés. Oui, tout à fait. Et on parle de 150 000 morts depuis deux ans et demi. Le début de cette année 2025 a été marqué par des succès des Forces armées soudanaises, notamment à Khartoum et la fin de l'année par des victoires des Forces de soutien rapide, notamment à El-Fasher. Est-ce à dire qu'il n'y a pas un camp plus fort que l'autre ? Je crois qu'on est arrivé dans une situation où, grâce aux appuis internationaux qui ont été mobilisés par chacun des protagonistes, disons, il y a une espèce d'équivalence stratégique, c'est-à-dire que la modernité des armes octroyées à un camp est contrée par de nouvelles livraisons de l'autre côté, ce qui évidemment pose des questions importantes sur les enjeux véritables d'une guerre qui est fondamentalement soudanaise, mais qui aujourd'hui renvoie à des compétitions régionales qui sont en train de monter aux extrêmes, sans commune mesure avec ce que la population souffre. Quel est le fond de la querelle entre le président Abdel Fattah al-Burhan et le général Hemedti, qui appartiennent tous deux à la communauté arabe du Soudan ? Alors d'abord, sur cette question ethnique, je crois que le Soudan, depuis son indépendance, n'a jamais été en paix et que l'armée soudanaise a été fondamentalement une armée de guerre civile, c'est-à-dire réprimant des populations à l'intérieur des frontières nationales du Soudan. Ça a été pendant très longtemps les Sud-Soudanais qui étaient partie intégrante jusqu'en 2011, mais aussi la région du Nil Bleu, et puis évidemment le Darfour et le Kordofan dont on parle plus aujourd'hui. Donc il y a une question sur pourquoi cela ? Et la thèse qu'il faudrait affiner, évidemment, est d'expliquer que les classes dirigeantes et l'État soudanais fonctionnent largement au profit des groupes arabes qui sont de la vallée du Nil et de Khartoum, contre tout le reste. Et de ce point de vue-là, un Arabe du Darfour ne vaut pas plus qu'un Zaghawa ou qu'un Four du Darfour qui ne sont pas arabes, dans la mesure où simplement, régionalement, ils sont considérés comme des périphéries, donc qui n'ont pas vocation à faire partie de l'élite politique, militaire et économique du pays. Et les chefs Zaghawas du Darfour, Jibril Ibrahim et Minni Minnawi, étaient alliés aux Forces armées soudanaises contre le général Hemedti. Qu'est-ce qu'ils deviennent depuis la prise d'El-Fasher par Hemedti ? Alors il faut rappeler que ces groupes militaires avaient été défaits notamment par les Forces de soutien rapide, mais que, en 2019, lorsque le gouvernement civil prend forme après l'arrestation d'Omar el-Béchir, il y a une volonté de normaliser les relations avec la communauté internationale et d'envoyer des signaux positifs sur la volonté de la nouvelle direction du pays de résoudre les problèmes, notamment le Darfour. Donc, en octobre 2020 est signé un accord – l'accord de Juba – qui permet à ces groupes politico militaires de revenir sur la scène soudanaise. Donc dans un premier temps, ces groupes étaient plutôt proches d'Hemedti. Mais le fait que Hemedti apparaisse soudainement comme un acteur incontournable et peut-être premier s'ils gagnaient la guerre contre l'armée soudanaise, cela a fait que ces groupes-là ont décidé, pour leur intérêt bien compris, de s'allier avec le gouvernement contre les Forces de soutien rapide. Et donc ce sont eux, fondamentalement, qui ont lutté pour défendre la ville d'El-Fasher et qui ont été battus d'une façon extrêmement sanglante à la fin du mois d'octobre. Depuis, ces groupes-là essayent de se réorganiser. Alors, vous avez deux choses qui sont en train de se passer. La première, c'est les combats qui étaient autour d'El-Fasher se dirigent aujourd'hui vraiment sur le territoire Zaghawa soudanais, mais à la frontière avec le Tchad. Et il y a de nombreux incidents de frontière dont on commence à parler, et également la possibilité de nouveaux combats dans l'extrême nord du Darfour, mais qui touche aussi la frontière du Tchad, donc avec des possibilités de déstabilisation. Et puis l'autre élément dont on parle moins, c'est le fait que ces groupes-là essayent de se réorganiser militairement et jouent déjà un rôle militaire significatif dans les batailles qui ont lieu au Kordofan, notamment autour de la ville d'El-Obeid. À lire aussiSoudan: «On a l'impression que le monde n'est pas assez horrifié par ce qui se passe», déplore l'Ocha Dans cette guerre sanglante et interminable, chacun compte ses alliés. Le général al-Burhan est soutenu par les islamistes et le général Hemedti par les Émirats arabes unis. Quel est le camp qui a le plus de profondeur stratégique ? Je dirais fondamentalement l'armée soudanaise. Pour quelle raison ? C'est que vous avez listé au niveau intérieur les islamistes, mais surtout, quand vous regardez la coalition internationale qui est derrière pour des intérêts qui sont tout à fait égoïstes, globalement, mettre la main sur un accès à la mer Rouge, vous avez la Russie, vous avez l'Iran, vous avez la Turquie, vous avez le Qatar. J'allais oublier l'Égypte, qui est un pays extrêmement important. Et donc ces pays-là ont des intérêts sécuritaires ou des ambitions économiques au Soudan et s'efforcent de soutenir le général Burhan. Parce que l'autre camp – c'est-à-dire soutenu par les Emiratis, est inacceptable parce que c'est le camp émirati, et donc ces États sont liés. Du côté des Forces de soutien rapide, vous avez, disons, une alliance régionale qui est largement celle des clients et des affidés des Émirats arabes unis, c'est-à-dire évidemment le Tchad de Mahamat Kaka, ce qui lui pose et va lui poser de plus en plus de problèmes. La Libye de Khalifa Haftar, donc ce n'est pas toute la Libye, mais c'est quand même cette Libye qui est au sud et qui permet l'approvisionnement et la logistique des Forces de soutien rapide. C'est le Soudan du Sud qui officiellement est neutre, mais finalement autorise les Forces de soutien rapide à utiliser le territoire pour des approvisionnements militaires. C'est le Kenya et l'Ouganda qui sont en affaire avec Abou Dhabi. C'est également l'Éthiopie de Abiy Ahmed, qui est un client tout à fait important des Émirats. Donc on voit que d'une certaine façon, régionalement, les Forces de soutien rapide ne sont pas du tout isolées. C'est une des raisons qui lui donnent la capacité de rebondir militairement et de trouver chaque fois les routes logistiques pour son approvisionnement militaire. Mais d'un autre côté, les grandes puissances sont plutôt du côté des Forces armées soudanaises, ce qui évidemment indique que d'une certaine façon, cette guerre ne pourra pas être gagnée militairement. Le problème aujourd'hui, c'est que personne dans la communauté internationale, y compris les États-Unis, n'ose marteler ça publiquement et de façon privée à tous les acteurs qui approvisionnent et qui alimentent cette guerre de l'extérieur. Alors, dans ce grand jeu entre puissance africaine et moyen-orientale, est-ce que la reconnaissance de l'État du Somaliland par Israël vendredi dernier est un élément important qu'il faut prendre en compte ou pas ? Oui, je crois que c'est un élément essentiel. Ce qui s'est passé jusqu'à présent, c'est que l'Arabie saoudite a toujours maintenu une position de relative neutralité, quand bien même on sentait bien que l'Arabie saoudite avait plus d'atomes crochus avec les militaires et les cadres civils du régime de Port-Soudan qu'avec les Forces de soutien rapide. Malgré tout, disons, l'aide qui a été fournie au général al-Burhan a été très limitée et ça a été largement une espèce de reconnaissance du fait que ce n'était pas un régime fantoche et que donc il fallait les considérer. Ce qui est en train de changer, c'est effectivement des événements qui se passent non seulement au Soudan, mais au sud Yémen, et avec l'éruption d'Israël au Somaliland qui change complètement la donne régionale et où tous les acteurs de la région voient les Émirats arabes unis en embuscade. Les combats au sud Yémen, dont on a peu parlé en France, marquent quand même le retour de la guerre, malgré un cessez-le-feu précaire dans une zone du pays qui avait été relativement calme et la prise de contrôle d'une région du Sud Yémen qui s'appelle le Hadramaout, qui est la région frontalière avec l'Arabie saoudite, et la milice créée et sponsorisée depuis par les Émirats arabes unis, n'a pu mener ces opérations sans le soutien et sans le feu vert des Émirats. Donc c'est un message très clair des Émirats. Certains analystes pensent que c'est un signe de mécontentement envoyé à Riyad, puisque c'est Mohammed Ben Salmane qui, en visite à Washington, avait fortement suggéré au président Trump de s'impliquer dans une nouvelle médiation au Soudan et avait également publiquement, sur le sol américain, critiqué très violemment les Forces de soutien rapide. La reconnaissance par Israël du Somaliland, indépendamment du contenu réel, ça montre la possibilité, évidemment pour les Israéliens, à terme, je ne dis pas demain matin, mais à terme, d'avoir des facilités militaires sur la côte somalienne ou somalilandaise, comme vous voudrez, et de pouvoir frapper les Houthis du Yémen. Mais ça montre aussi que les Émiratis ont d'autres ambitions, sans doute plus grandes que ce qu'on imaginait jusqu'à présent, à la fois dans leur alliance avec Israël. Une alliance qui dure et perdure en dépit de ce qui s'est passé à Gaza et également avec, à terme, une implication de l'Éthiopie, puisque l'Éthiopie a émis le 1er janvier 2024 l'idée que le Somaliland pourrait lui octroyer un territoire qui serait sous souveraineté éthiopienne sur la côte, qui servirait à la fois de port militaire et de port commercial. Donc tout ça est vu, en tous les cas par les acteurs de la région Djibouti, le gouvernement à Mogadiscio, l'Égypte et le Soudan, comme en sous-main, un appui des Émiratis qui fait que les relations entre Riyad et Abou Dhabi vont se tendre et que le soutien nominal, si vous voulez, largement diplomatique et formel qu'il y avait vis-à-vis de la junte au Soudan, va sans doute changer de forme et prendre des aspects beaucoup plus pratiques et beaucoup plus destructeurs pour la population soudanaise. Ce sera sans doute de l'aide militaire via le Pakistan ou la Turquie. L'Arabie saoudite achetant du matériel qui sera livré au Soudan et utilisé contre les Forces de soutien rapide et la population qui aurait la mauvaise idée de soutenir les Forces de soutien rapide. À lire aussiSoudan: après trois ans de guerre, quels espoirs pour 2026?

Kan English
The strategic depth of recognizing Somaliland

Kan English

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2025 8:35


Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has a mutuality of interests. For Somaliland it’s important diplomatic recognition and for Israel it could provide strategic depth in the conflict with Iran and Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. This according to Gerald Steinberg, a professor emeritus of political science from Bar Illan University. He told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan the tradition of not creating new countries is no longer a reality and Somaliland may be a breakaway, but it is a stable country and it was in Israel’s vital interest to recognize it. (photo: Abdirahman Aleeli/AP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bible in the News
Events in Israel - An Overview of 2025

Bible in the News

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2025 6:34


An overview of 2025It’s striking to recall that just last year, Joe Biden was still president, Iran had an intact nuclear program, Hamas held nearly 100 hostages, and Israel was actively at war in Gaza, with soldiers dying regularly. Israel’s home front also endured frequent Houthi missile attacks.

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep232: SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate s

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 9:55


SHOW 12-22-25 THE SHOW BEGINS WITH DOUBTS ABOUT FUTURE NAVY. 1941 HICKAM FIELD 1. Restoring Naval Autonomy: Arguments for Separating the Navy from DoD. Tom Modly argues the Navy is an "underperforming asset" within the Defense Department's corporate structure, similar to how Fiat Chrysler successfully spun off Ferrari. He suggests the Navy needs independence to address critical shipbuilding deficits and better protect global commerce and vulnerable undersea cables from adversaries. 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-value assets. 3. British Weakness: The Failure to Challenge Beijing Over Jimmy Lai. Mark Simon predicts Prime Minister Starmer will fail to secure Jimmy Lai's release because the UK mistakenly views China as an economic savior. He notes the UK's diminished military and economic leverage leads to a submissive diplomatic stance, despite China'sdeclining ability to offer investment. 4. Enforcing Sanctions: Interdicting the Shadow Fleet to Squeeze China. Victoria Coates details the Trump administration's enforcement of a "Monroe Doctrine" corollary, using naval power to seize tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. This strategy exposes China's lack of maritime projection and energy vulnerability, as Beijingcannot legally contest the seizures of illicit shadow fleet vessels. 5. Symbolic Strikes: US and Jordan Target Resurgent ISIS in Syria. Following an attack on US personnel, the US and Jordan conducted airstrikes against ISIS strongholds, likely with Syrian regime consultation. Ahmed Sharawi questions the efficacy of striking desert warehouses when ISIS cells have moved into urban areas, suggesting the strikes were primarily symbolic domestic messaging. 6. Failure to Disarm: Hezbollah's Persistence and UNIFIL's Inefficacy. David Daoud reports that the Lebanesegovernment is failing to disarm Hezbollah south of the Litani River, merely evicting them from abandoned sites. He argues UNIFIL is an ineffective tripwire, as Hezbollah continues to rebuild infrastructure and receive funding right under international observers' noses. 7. Global Jihad: The Distinct Threats of the Brotherhood and ISIS. Edmund Fitton-Brown contrasts the Muslim Brotherhood's long-term infiltration of Western institutions with ISIS's violent, reckless approach. He warns that ISISremains viable, with recent facilitated attacks in Australia indicating a resurgence in capability beyond simple "inspired" violence. 8. The Forever War: Jihadist Patience vs. American Cycles. Bill Roggio argues the US has failed to defeat jihadist ideology or funding, allowing groups like Al-Qaeda to persist in Afghanistan and Africa. He warns that adversaries view American withdrawals as proof of untrustworthiness, exploiting the US tendency to fight short-term wars against enemies planning for decades. 9. The Professional: Von Steuben's Transformation of the Continental Army. Richard Bell introduces Baron von Steuben as a desperate, unemployed Prussian officer who professionalized the ragtag Continental Army at Valley Forge. Washington's hiring of foreign experts like Steuben demonstrated a strategic willingness to utilize global talent to ensure the revolution's survival. 10. Privateers and Prison Ships: The Unsung Cost of Maritime Independence. Richard Bell highlights the crucial role of privateers like William Russell, who raided British shipping when the Continental Navy was weak. Captured privateers faced horrific conditions in British "black hole" facilities like Mill Prison and the deadly prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor, where mortality rates reached 50%. 11. Caught in the Crossfire: Indigenous Struggles in the Revolutionary War. Molly Brant, a Mohawk leader, allied with the British to stop settler encroachment but became a refugee when the British failed to protect Indigenous lands. Post-war, white Americans constructed myths portraying themselves as blameless victims while ignoring their own Indigenous allies and British betrayals regarding land rights. 12. The Irish Dimension: Revolutionary Hopes and Brutal Repression. The Irish viewed the American Revolutionas a signal that the British Empire was vulnerable, sparking the failed 1798 Irish rebellion. While the British suppressed Irish independence brutally under Cornwallis, Irish immigrants and Scots-Irish settlers like Andrew Jackson fervently supported the Continental Army against the Crown. 13. Assessing Battlefield Realities: Russian Deceit and Ukrainian Counterattacks. John Hardie analyzes the "culture of deceit" within the Russian military, exemplified by false claims of capturing Kupyansk while Ukraine actually counterattacked. This systemic lying leads to overconfidence in Putin's strategy, though Ukraine also faces challenges with commanders hesitating to report lost positions to avoid forced counterattacks. 14. Shifts in Latin America: Brazilian Elections and Venezuelan Hope. Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Peña Esclusapredict a 2026 battle between socialist accommodation and freedom-oriented transformation in Brazil, highlighted by Flavio Bolsonaro's candidacy against Lula. Meanwhile, Peña Esclusa anticipates Venezuela's liberation and a broader regional shift toward the right following leftist defeats in Ecuador, Argentina, and Chile. 15. Trump's Security Strategy: Homeland Defense Lacks Global Clarity. John Yoo praises the strategy's focus on homeland defense and the Western Hemisphere, reviving a corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. However, he criticizes the failure to explicitly name China as an adversary or define clear goals for defending allies in Asia and Europe against great power rivals. 16. Alienating Allies: The Strategic Cost of Attacking European Partners. John Yoo argues that imposing tariffs and attacking democratic European allies undermines the coalition needed to counter China and Russia. He asserts that democracies are the most reliable partners for protecting American security and values, making cooperation essential despite resource constraints and political disagreements.

AP Audio Stories
Yemen's sides agree to release 2,900 detainees in war's largest exchange

AP Audio Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 0:44


AP's Fay Abuelgasim, reports on a new agreement between Yemen and the Houthi rebels.

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep231: 2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advoc

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 5:25


2. Future Fleets: Decentralizing Firepower to Counter Chinese Growth. Tom Modly warns that China's shipbuilding capacity vastly outpaces the US, requiring a shift toward distributed forces rather than expensive, concentrated platforms. He advocates for a reinvigorated, independent Department of the Navy to foster the creativity needed to address asymmetric threats like Houthi attacks on high-value assets. 1918 SEVASTOPOL

The Tara Show
Full Show - “Global Chaos, Political Damage & Trump's Defense: From Susie Wiles to Venezuela”

The Tara Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 119:53


Tara dives into today's most explosive political and global stories: Susie Wiles' eleven Vanity Fair hits and the fallout on Trump allies ⚡ Trump's intervention in Venezuela-Iran oil trade and defense against assassination plots

CONFLICTED
The 2026 Middle East Forecast

CONFLICTED

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 52:58


What does the future hold for the Middle East — and the world — in 2026? In this special episode of Conflicted, Thomas instructs Aimen to peer into his crystal ball and offer his forecasts for the year to come. In this episode, Aimen and Thomas discuss: How professional geopolitical analysts make forecasts The impossibility of foreseeing Black Swan events Why an end to the war in Ukraine could reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics The likelihood of a U.S. war against the Houthis in Yemen Renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon The strategic importance of the Gulf states Iran's nuclear programme, proxy network, and the risk of renewed confrontation Add your predictions to your 2026 Forecast Card here: https://forms.gle/sMCbRFmFTBdcfEDd8  Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. Produced by Thomas Small and edited by Lizzy Andrews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep177: SHOW 12-8-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT the federal reserve board of governors. FIRST HOUR 9-915 The DC Shooter, the Zero Units, and the Tragedy of the Afghan Withdrawal: Colleagues Husai

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 6:51


SHOW 12-8-2025 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1895 KHYBER PASS THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE FEDERAL RESERVE  BOARD OF GOVERNORS. FIRST HOUR 9-915 The DC Shooter, the Zero Units, and the Tragedy of the Afghan Withdrawal: Colleagues Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss recent violence in Washington, D.C. involving an Afghan immigrant that has drawn attention back to the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021; the shooter, Ramanula Lakanal, was a member of the elite "Zero Units" of the Afghan National Army, a force that demanded priority evacuation for their families in exchange for providing security at the Kabul airport during the U.S. retreat, and while these units were stalwart allies against enemies like al-Qaeda and ISIS, they fought a "dirty war" and were accused of human rights violations, highlighting the broader failure of the withdrawal which occurred because political will faded across multiple administrations. 915-930 The Vetting Failure and the Lack of an Exit Strategy in Afghanistan: Colleagues Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggioexplain that the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was exacerbated by the lack of a methodical exit strategy, unlike the British who organized their departure and evacuation lists well in advance; critics argue that the U.S. imported significant security risks by rushing the evacuation, bringing in over 100,000 Afghans without adequate vetting, and while there was a moral obligation to help those who served, experts suggest that wholesale importation of citizens from a war-torn country was not the only solution and that better vetting or resettlement in third countries should have been considered. 930-945 Martial Law in South Korea and the Shadow of the North: Colleagues Morse Tan and Gordon Chang discuss South Korea facing severe political turmoil following President Yoon's declaration of martial law, a move his supporters argue was a constitutional response to obstructionist anti-state forces; the opposition, led by figures previously sympathetic to North Korea, has been accused of attempting to paralyze the government, while accusations of "insurrection" against President Yoon are dismissed as nonsensical, with the political infighting fracturing the conservative party and leaving South Korea vulnerable to the North Korean regime in a way not seen since the Korean War. 945-1000 Japan Stands Up for Taiwan While Canada Demurs: Colleagues Charles Burton and Gordon Chang report that Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi recently declared that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a "survival threatening situation" for Japan, authorizing the mobilization of self-defense forces; this statement has triggered a massive propaganda campaign from Beijing demanding a retraction, as a successful invasion of Taiwan would likely require violating Japanese sovereignty, while in contrast Canada remains reluctant to support Tokyo or criticize Beijing, hoping to secure trade benefits and diversify exports away from the U.S., leaving Japan isolated by its allies. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 The Survival of UNRWA and the Flow of Terror Finance: Colleagues Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotterreport that despite investigations revealing corruption and ties to terrorism, the UN has renewed the mandate for UNRWA for another three years; the organization's facilities have been used by Hamas and its schools have been implicated in radicalizing children, yet international efforts to replace it have stalled, while Hamas leadership refuses to disarm or accept international oversight, demanding a Palestinian state as a precondition for any change, with financial support for terror groups continuing to flow through networks in Europe and the Middle East. 1015-1030 Greece's "Achilles Shield" and Israel's Iron Beam Laser Defense: Colleagues Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter report that Greece is undertaking a historic modernization of its armed forces, unveiling a new national defense strategy focused on long-range missiles and a modernized air defense system dubbed "Achilles Shield," allowing Greece to project power more flexibly in the Eastern Mediterranean and counter threats from Turkey; in Israel, a major defensive breakthrough is imminent with the deployment of the "Iron Beam," a laser defense system capable of intercepting threats at approximately $50 per shot, expected to rewrite the rules of air defense by effectively countering drone swarms and missiles. 1030-1045 Hezbollah's Quiet Regeneration Under Naim Qassem: Colleagues David Daoud and Bill Roggio report that since the ceasefire began, Hezbollah has received at least $2 billion from Iran and is actively rearming and regenerating its forces in Lebanon; the terror group is focusing on acquiring drone swarms and other asymmetrical weapons that are cheap to produce and difficult for Israel to counter, while Hezbollah's new leader Naim Qassem is leveraging his "bookish" and underestimated persona to lower the temperature and allow the group to rebuild without attracting the same level of scrutiny as his predecessor. 1045-1100 Fragmentation in Yemen: The Southern Transitional Council Advances: Colleagues Bridget Tumi and Bill Roggio report that the civil war in Yemen is fracturing further as the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for southern secession, advances into eastern governorates to secure territory and combat smuggling; this move has heightened tensions within the anti-Houthi coalition, as the STC is backed by the UAE while other government factions are supported by Saudi Arabia, weakening the collective effort against the Houthis who control the capital Sanaa and maintain ambitions to conquer the entire country. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The Druze National Guard and Internal Strife in Southern Syria: Colleagues Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio report that instability is growing in Syria's Druze-majority Suwayda province, where a newly formed "National Guard" militia has begun arresting and killing political opponents; the militia is spiritually guided by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who has consolidated power by sidelining other Druze leaders who were open to reconciliation with the Assad regime, with Turkey expressing support for the anti-Assad Druze factions against both the Syrian government and Kurdish forces, while recent violence suggests a hardening of anti-regime sentiment. 1115-1130 The "Variable Geometry" of the Muslim Brotherhood and Its Global Affiliates: Colleagues Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio explain that the Muslim Brotherhood operates as a "mothership" for various Islamist movements, utilizing a strategy of "variable geometry" to adapt to local political environments while aiming for a global caliphate; Hamas functions as the Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood and despite being severely damaged by the war with Israel remains the dominant force in Gaza, with the Brotherhood finding state sponsorship primarily in Qatar, which provides funding and media support via Al Jazeera, and Turkey, where President Erdogan acts as a leader for the organization. 1130-1145 Ukraine Negotiations Hit a Cul-de-Sac Amidst Infiltration Tactics: Colleagues John Hardie and Bill Roggio report that peace talks regarding Ukraine are currently at a standstill, with the U.S. and Ukraine at odds over Russia's demands for territory in the Donbas versus Ukraine's need for meaningful security guarantees; while the U.S. has pressured Ukraine to concede territory, the security assurances offered are viewed skeptically by Kyiv, and Russia refuses to accept any Western military presence in Ukraine, while on the battlefield Russia employs infiltration tactics using small groups, sometimes single soldiers, to penetrate deep into Ukrainian positions. 1145-1200 The Trump Corollary: Reviving the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America: Colleague Ernesto Araújo discusses a new "Trump corollary" to the Monroe Doctrine reshaping U.S. policy in the Americas, signaling a more assertive stance against foreign influence and authoritarian regimes; this shift is evident in Venezuela, where President Maduro appears to be negotiating his exit in the face of U.S. pressure, while in Brazil the administration of Lula da Silva faces significant instability due to a massive banking scandal linking the government to money laundering and organized crime, with the new application of the Monroe Doctrine suggesting the U.S. will favor political figures aligned with its security strategy. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Devil's Advocates: Robert Stryk, Rudy Giuliani, and the Business of Influence: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel discusses how in the power vacuum created by Donald Trump's arrival in Washington, unconventional lobbyists like Robert Stryk rose to prominence by marketing access to the new administration; Stryk, described as an "anti-hero" with a checkered business past, hosted a lavish event at the Hay-Adams Hotel to legitimize the regime of Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully delivering Rudy Giuliani as Trump's personal attorney, signaling a new informal channel for foreign diplomacy and highlighting how foreign regimes utilized large sums of money and unconventional intermediaries to seek favor. 1215-1230 The Accidental Diplomat: Robert Stryk and the New Zealand Connection: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel explains that Robert Stryk's rise in the lobbying world was fueled by serendipity and bold bluffs, exemplified by a chance encounter with a New Zealand diplomat at a cafe; the diplomat revealed that New Zealand, having prepared for a Clinton victory, had no contacts within the incoming Trump team and could not arrange a congratulatory call between their Prime Minister and the President-elect, and Stryk, leveraging a connection to a former Trump campaign field director, provided a phone number that successfully connected the embassy to Trump's team, establishing his credibility and launching his career in high-stakes foreign lobbying. 1230-1245 Hunter Biden, Chinese Spies, and the Monetization of Political Connections: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel reports that following his father's departure from the vice presidency, Hunter Biden faced financial pressure and sought lucrative foreign clients, leading to risky entanglements; one venture involved a corrupt Romanian real estate magnate who hired Hunter along with former FBI Director Louis Freeh and Rudy Giuliani to resolve his legal troubles, with the proposed solution involving selling land including the site of the U.S. Embassy in Romania to a Chinese state-linked fund, and Hunter Biden was aware of the nature of his associates, referring to one as the "spy chief of China." 1245-100 AM FARA: From Fighting Nazi Propaganda to Modern Transparency: Colleague Kenneth P. Vogel explains that the Foreign Agents Registration Act was originally enacted in 1938 to counter Nazi propaganda in the United States before World War II; at the time, the Third Reich was paying well-connected American consultants to whitewash Hitler's image and keep the U.S. out of the war, operating without public knowledge, and Congress passed FARA to create transparency, requiring those paid by foreign principals to influence the U.S. government or media to register their activities, with the law remaining today the primary vehicle for accountability in foreign lobbying

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep176: Fragmentation in Yemen: The Southern Transitional Council Advances: Colleagues Bridget Tumi and Bill Roggio report that the civil war in Yemen is fracturing further as the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for southern secession, ad

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 9:10


Fragmentation in Yemen: The Southern Transitional Council Advances: Colleagues Bridget Tumi and Bill Roggio report that the civil war in Yemen is fracturing further as the Southern Transitional Council, which advocates for southern secession, advances into eastern governorates to secure territory and combat smuggling; this move has heightened tensions within the anti-Houthi coalition, as the STC is backed by the UAE while other government factions are supported by Saudi Arabia, weakening the collective effort against the Houthis who control thYEMEN800 e capital Sanaa and maintain ambitions to conquer the entire country. 1800 YEMEN

Start Here
Pentagon Watchdog's "Signalgate" Report

Start Here

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 27:36


Sources tell ABC News the Pentagon's watchdog has issued a report critical of Defense Secretary Hegseth's Signal chat use to discuss military attacks targeting Houthi rebels. In a surprise move, President Trump says he's pardoning Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, who was facing a bribery indictment. And, a doctor who admitted to distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry weeks before he died is sentenced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN Tonight
WH: Trump “Stands By” Hegseth After Watchdog Report

CNN Tonight

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 48:03


Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth risked compromising sensitive military information, which could have endangered American troops and mission objectives, when he used Signal in March of this year to share highly-sensitive attack plans targeting Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to four sources familiar with the contents of a classified Inspector General report. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PBS NewsHour - Segments
Hegseth’s Signal chat put U.S. personnel at risk, Pentagon watchdog finds

PBS NewsHour - Segments

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2025 3:11


A Pentagon watchdog report has found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put U.S. service members at risk when he used the Signal messaging app to discuss a military strike in Yemen earlier this year. His use of Signal came to light when a journalist was accidentally added to a chat that gave sensitive, real-time updates about a strike against Houthi militants. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep153: Pro-Iran Militias Dominate Iraqi Elections; Iran Losing Control of Houthis — John Batchelor, Thaddeus Martin, Malcolm Hoenlein — Batchelor reports that pro-Iran militias and their political front organizations consolidated unprecedented powe

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2025 4:17


Pro-Iran Militias Dominate Iraqi Elections; Iran Losing Control of Houthis — John Batchelor, Thaddeus Martin, Malcolm Hoenlein — Batchelor reports that pro-Iran militias and their political front organizations consolidated unprecedented power in Iraq's recent election, generating concern among American officials regarding Iranian regional influence expansion. Martin documents a counterintuitive development: Iran appears to be losing operational control over the Houthis in Yemen, its most strategically critical proxy force in the region. Hoenlein concludes with positive news regarding the Bene Manasseh, descendants of the ancient lost Israelite tribe, returning to Israel and establishing community and cultural presence.

The John Batchelor Show
S8 Ep136: Segment 7 — The Arsenal of Resistance: North Korea's Role in Ukraine and the Middle East Conflicts — Bruce Bechtol — Bechtol analyzes North Korea's critical contributions to Russia's war effort in Ukraine, providing approximately 60% of

The John Batchelor Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2025 11:55


Segment 7 — The Arsenal of Resistance: North Korea's Role in Ukraine and the Middle East Conflicts — Bruce Bechtol — Bechtol analyzes North Korea's critical contributions to Russia's war effort in Ukraine, providing approximately 60% of Russian artillery ammunition and one-third of Russian ballistic missiles since 2023. North Koreaalso proliferates weapons systems and military training to Iran's regional surrogates, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and has constructed a 45-kilometer tunnel network supporting Hezbollah operations throughout Lebanon. 1953