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Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Everyone seems to have an opinion on AI. Today, we interviewed Levi Gundert, the Chief Security and Intelligence Officer for Recorded Future. He thinks that AI gives federal leaders an opportunity to fight back. For example, one aspect of cybersecurity is velocity; the number of attacks has expanded exponentially. Gundert thinks this is an opportunity to match this attack's velocity. Many will balk at this opinion. They will describe federal data as challenged in cross-domain sharing, data labeling, and data trapped in PDFs or legacy systems. During the interview, in a refreshing observation, Gundert observes that defenders have always been on the back foot. Always in defense. Finally, AI can give tools that level the playing field. One application of AI is the ingestion of the data provided to federal systems. AI can be used to provide actionable intelligence. In some systems, this deluge can result in false alerts. When used properly, AI can filter through the signal and identify what is critical. Gundert emphasizes the need for automation and decision advantages in threat intelligence, the challenges of data fragmentation and legacy systems, and the urgency of upgrading systems to address vulnerabilities. They also touch on the role of AI in insider threats, the potential of Mythos to increase vulnerabilities, and the importance of sharing threat information to enhance cybersecurity.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The two discuss black Americans being stripped of their political power following the recent Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court ruling. President Weingarten also previews a ten-point speech she'll be giving on how to properly educate our children in the age of AI. She describes how teachers are seeing the 'muscle of learning' atrophying, and how we need to respond by changing education so that we're building active learning. She also shares how instead of leading this charge, Trump's Department of Education is instead busy undermining civil rights. Finally, she and Brad discuss a huge issue on the minds of the American people as they head to November's midterm elections, affordability. She shares what could be done to change the U.S. tax code to help with this issue. Then, Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Col. Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The pair talks about President Trump's recent trip to China, and his refusal to commit to defending Taiwan if China attacked them. Next, they shift the conversation to the Iran war. Col. Leighton highlights how President Trump failed to articulate why he was sending our nation to war with Iran. The President also never sought the authorization to use military force from Congress, or even notified the 'gang of eight' before launching military strikes with Israel against Iran. Finally, Col. Leighton updates the audience on Ukraine's recent success in penetrating Russia's missile defense system in a way that hadn't yet been done in the war. Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. Their website is www.AFT.org and their handle on BlueSky is @aftunion.bsky.social. Randi's handle is @rweingarten.bsky.social. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social. Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). The two discuss black Americans being stripped of their political power following the recent Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court ruling. President Weingarten also previews a ten-point speech she'll be giving on how to properly educate our children in the age of AI. She describes how teachers are seeing the 'muscle of learning' atrophying, and how we need to respond by changing education so that we're building active learning. She also shares how instead of leading this charge, Trump's Department of Education is instead busy undermining civil rights. Finally, she and Brad discuss a huge issue on the minds of the American people as they head to November's midterm elections, affordability. She shares what could be done to change the U.S. tax code to help with this issue. Then, Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Col. Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The pair talks about President Trump's recent trip to China, and his refusal to commit to defending Taiwan if China attacked them. Next, they shift the conversation to the Iran war. Col. Leighton highlights how President Trump failed to articulate why he was sending our nation to war with Iran. The President also never sought the authorization to use military force from Congress, or even notified the 'gang of eight' before launching military strikes with Israel against Iran. Finally, Col. Leighton updates the audience on Ukraine's recent success in penetrating Russia's missile defense system in a way that hadn't yet been done in the war. Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. Their website is www.AFT.org and their handle on BlueSky is @aftunion.bsky.social. Randi's handle is @rweingarten.bsky.social. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social. Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Michael Janich is a lifelong martial artist, combat trainer, and internationally respected authority on personal defense whose career spans military intelligence, edged weapons, and practical self-protection. A U.S. Army veteran and former Intelligence Officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael also served as a POW/MIA Investigation Team Leader in Vietnam and Laos, experiences that helped shape his deeply practical and reality-based approach to conflict, survival, and personal security. Within the martial arts world, he is widely regarded as one of the leading modern experts in handgun point shooting and is one of the select few instructors personally trained by the legendary Colonel Rex Applegate. His decades of contributions to martial arts and self-defense education earned him induction into the prestigious Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame. Many people also know Michael as the co-host and subject matter expert on the long-running Outdoor Channel series The Best Defense, where for 11 seasons he shared practical, accessible self-defense training with viewers around the world. Michael is also the founder and lead instructor of the Martial Blade Concepts and Counter-Blade Concepts systems, innovative programs focused on edged-weapon awareness, defense, and combative application. In addition to his work as an instructor and educator, he is a prolific author and knife designer who has developed more than 20 production knives for some of the most respected companies in the industry. In this episode, we discuss Michael's martial arts journey, his experiences in military intelligence, the evolution of modern self-defense training, the realities of edged-weapon encounters, and the importance of developing practical skills rooted in awareness, efficiency, and adaptability. Please enjoy my interview with Michael Janich Martial Blade Concepts International Close Combat Instructors Association – International Close Combat Instructors Association Amazon.com: Michael D. Janich: books, biography, latest update The Best Defense – Outdoor Channel Janich Custom
A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF JEFF'S BOOK DISCERNMENT HERE Former covert CIA intelligence officer Andrew Bustamante sits down with Jeff Dudan for one of the most fascinating conversations ever featured on the Unemployable Podcast. Andrew reveals how he was recruited into the CIA, the brutal realities of covert operations, how intelligence agencies identify moles, and the terrifying moment he realized he had been made during a high-stakes operation inside a hostile foreign country. This episode goes far beyond spy stories. Andrew and Jeff break down: how terrorist cells inspired CIA operational structure, why espionage operates like a franchise model, how the CIA recruits and trains officers, the psychology behind manipulation, loyalty, and secrecy, and the surprising similarities between intelligence work and entrepreneurship. Andrew also shares the real story behind Shadow Cell, the covert operation he and his wife built inside the CIA to expose a mole leaking secrets to a foreign adversary. If you're interested in: CIA tradecraft, entrepreneurship, leadership, psychology, surveillance, risk management, counterintelligence, or human behavior… …this episode is packed with insights you won't hear anywhere else. Watch until the end for the unbelievable arcade surveillance story where Andrew realizes, in real time, that the operation may have been compromised. Andrew Bustamante https://everydayspy.com https://andrewbustamante.org https://www.youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante https://www.instagram.com/everydayspy/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everydayspy-podcast/id1441789630 Jeff Dudan https://www.jeffdudan.com/ https://homefrontbrands.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdudan https://www.jeffdudan.com/podcast A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF JEFF'S BOOK DISCERNMENT HERE Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF JEFF'S BOOK DISCERNMENT HERE Former covert CIA intelligence officer Andrew Bustamante sits down with Jeff Dudan for one of the most fascinating conversations ever featured on the Unemployable Podcast. Andrew reveals how he was recruited into the CIA, the brutal realities of covert operations, how intelligence agencies identify moles, and the terrifying moment he realized he had been made during a high-stakes operation inside a hostile foreign country. This episode goes far beyond spy stories. Andrew and Jeff break down: how terrorist cells inspired CIA operational structure, why espionage operates like a franchise model, how the CIA recruits and trains officers, the psychology behind manipulation, loyalty, and secrecy, and the surprising similarities between intelligence work and entrepreneurship. Andrew also shares the real story behind Shadow Cell, the covert operation he and his wife built inside the CIA to expose a mole leaking secrets to a foreign adversary. If you're interested in: CIA tradecraft, entrepreneurship, leadership, psychology, surveillance, risk management, counterintelligence, or human behavior… …this episode is packed with insights you won't hear anywhere else. Watch until the end for the unbelievable arcade surveillance story where Andrew realizes, in real time, that the operation may have been compromised. Andrew Bustamante https://everydayspy.com https://andrewbustamante.org https://www.youtube.com/@Andrew-Bustamante https://www.instagram.com/everydayspy/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/everydayspy-podcast/id1441789630 Jeff Dudan https://www.jeffdudan.com/ https://homefrontbrands.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffdudan https://www.jeffdudan.com/podcast A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF JEFF'S BOOK DISCERNMENT HERE Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Today on the show, it's been more than a month since the U.S. and Iran began a shaky ceasefire, and a peace deal is under active consideration. Fareed is joined by Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies and former head of the Iran branch of Israel's military intelligence, to discuss what a real negotiated peace might look like. Then, this July marks the 250th anniversary of America's founding. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Beverly Gage went on a road trip across the country visiting historic sites, museums, and national monuments to better understand America's complex past. She tells Fareed what she learned. Her new book chronicling her trip is “This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History.” GUESTS: Danny Citrinowicz (@citrinowicz), Beverly Gage (@beverlygage) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
James Wolff is the pseudonym of a former British intelligence officer who now writes espionage novels. His latest, Spies and Other Gods, follows the Head of British Intelligence at the tail end of a long and successful career who feels that his mental acuity is beginning to slip away. In the midst of this brain fog, Sir William Rentoul must join forces with intelligence teams across Europe to track down an anonymous assassin. In today's episode, Wolff joins NPR's Mary Louise Kelly for a conversation about the personal cost of spying and Wolff's cast of Iranian characters.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedaySee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
A former CIA officer suspects Iran's regime will be allowed to remain in power at the end of the conflict - more hardline than ever. The US President claims Iran's leadership is fractured and needs more time to produce a proposal. Donald Trump's continuing to blockade Iranian ports, saying it will continue until Iran comes to the table with a plan. Glenn Carle says the best deal we can hope for now, is for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen and inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. "Trump, whatever happens, will of course declare a victory. And since he won't invade, he'll basically walk away, I'm afraid." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-forty-sixth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by MAJ Marc Howle, the Brigade Senior Engineer / Protection OCT for Brigade Command & Control (BDE HQ), on behalf of the Commander of Ops Group (COG). Today's guests are subject matter experts across JRTC: CW3 Michael Horrace is the Senior Targeting OCT, MAJ Edward Pecoraro is the BDE S-2 Intelligence Officer-in-Charge OCT, and MSG Randell Conway is the BDE S-2 Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge for BC2. This episode explores the relationship between intelligence, fires, and the targeting process, centered on the question of whether intelligence has become overly focused on targeting at the expense of broader situational understanding. The discussion highlights that while targeting is a critical function—especially in a sensor-rich, time-compressed battlefield—intelligence must first and foremost enable decision-making and understanding of the operational environment, not just feed the fires enterprise. Overemphasis on target production can lead to a narrow focus on high-payoff targets while neglecting the development of a holistic enemy picture, including disposition, capabilities, and intent. The episode reinforces that effective intelligence drives both maneuver and fires, not just the latter. The conversation also emphasizes the need to rebalance intelligence efforts through disciplined integration within MDMP and continuous refinement via running estimates. Best practices include aligning collection with commander's critical information requirements (CCIRs), ensuring IPOE/SPOE is thorough and continuously updated, and maintaining a clear linkage between intelligence assessments and decision points—not just target lists. Additionally, the targeting process is framed as a commander-driven, staff-enabled function that requires synchronization across warfighting functions, rather than being owned solely by fires or intelligence sections. Ultimately, success depends on maintaining a balance: leveraging intelligence to enable precise and timely targeting, while preserving its primary role in building shared understanding and informing operational decisions across the formation. Part of S13 “Hip Pocket Training” series. For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center. Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format. Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future. “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.
An intelligence expert's looking at Donald Trump's reputation of walking back on threats. An expletive laden social media post from the President over the the weekend warned Iran the US would destroy power infrastructure if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz by tomorrow. Former CIA intelligence officer, Glenn Carle, says Trump often turns up the heat with ultimatums - before turning it down again. "I wouldn't dismiss it - obviously, he lost the attack, but I find it hard to imagine that even he would obliterate the infrastructure of the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, journalist and author Puja Mehra speaks with Safi Rizvi, National Security Expert, Risk Analyst, Former top Intelligence Officer and Former IPS officer, about how the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and its allies is reshaping the foundations of the global economic and geopolitical order. They discuss how the post-Cold War system—built on multilateral institutions, bilateral diplomacy and a broadly rules-based framework—is now giving way to a more fragmented, power-driven world.Rizvi explains how the erosion of multilateralism and the breakdown of negotiation channels are altering the way conflicts unfold, making them longer, less predictable and more economically disruptive. He also examines how recent wars—from Ukraine to West Asia—are exposing gaps in military strategy, accelerating shifts in defence technologies, and strengthening the global military-industrial complex.They explore how the centre of gravity in energy markets has shifted from the West to Asia, and why disruptions around critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz now pose far greater risks for countries like India, China, Japan and South Korea.What does this mean for energy security, global trade flows and the ability of emerging economies to navigate prolonged geopolitical instability?Tune in for insights into how this conflict could reshape markets, energy dynamics and the global balance of power.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction (01:05) Rise of De-multilateralization (04:12) AI Targeting and Failures (06:01) Military Intelligence Gap Concerns (07:10) Attritive vs Attritable Munitions (08:20) Global Energy Buyer Shifts (10:45) Ground War Damage Risks (12:40) Breakdown of Negotiation Trust (14:20) Oil and Gas Predictions (16:44) Conditions for Peace Deals (18:25) Proposed Buyer OPEC Plus (19:58) India's Measured Peace Call (22:25) Strait of Hormuz Miscalculations (23:01) Leveraging Financial Trade Power (25:02) Trump's Aggressive Defensive Strategy (27:25) Future Republican Leadership Shifts (28:30) Market Adjustments and Tariffs (30:08) Iranian Resilience and Nationalism For more of our coverage check out thecore.inSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on:Twitter |Instagram |Facebook |Linkedin |Youtube
n this explosive interview, we sit down with M.D. Selig, a decorated Marine Corps combat pilot and Intelligence Officer. During Operation Desert Storm, while flying high-stakes missions every night, Selig was simultaneously reading worldwide Top Secret intelligence briefs. What he discovered in those secure rooms changed his life forever—and revealed a "parallel universe" of covert operations that the public was never supposed to see.From the existence of Majestic 12 and the suppression of zero-point energy to the reality of a hollow Moon used as a galactic monitoring station, Selig breaks down the specific mechanisms used by a global elite to control every government on Earth since 1947.Is the CIA a government agency, or the enforcement arm of a private cabal? Why was Eisenhower banned from his own military bases? And what is the "Level 17" clearance that sits above the Commander-in-Chief?Prepare to have your worldview dismantled. This is the history they kept out of the textbooks.
Michael was converted around 9 years old and grew up in a very small church in Utah. After graduating from the University of Utah, Michael served in the U.S. Air Force as an Intelligence Officer stationed primarily in Japan. He left the Air Force in 2007 to go to seminary. In 2013 Heritage Baptist Church of Owensboro, KY ordained Michael and commissioned him and his wife to serve as church planters in Ireland. They were able to leave for Ireland in November of 2014.https://reformedbaptistnetwork.com/missions/michael-emadi/Visit us at https://reformedbaptistnetwork.com/Other socials:instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reformedbaptistnetwork/facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reformedbaptistnetworkX: https://x.com/RefBapNet
The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the one-hundredth-and-fortieth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.' Hosted by LTC Trevor Jones, the Battalion Commander of 1-509th IN (OPFOR) on behalf of the Commander of Operations Group. Today's guests are members of JRTC's intelligence community: Mr. Jason McAnally, MAJ Will Montoya, and CPT Graham Gifford. Mr. McAnally is the JRTC G-2 Intelligence Officer. MAJ Montoya is the Multi-Domain Effects Cell Chief for Geronimo. And CPT Gifford is the S-2 Intelligence Officer for Geronimo. This episode centers on how the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) is actively working to close the gap between training and the rapidly evolving realities of modern warfare by replicating a more lethal, complex, and peer-driven operational environment. The discussion highlights how lessons from contemporary conflicts—particularly the Russia-Ukraine war—are driving a shift toward incorporating realistic threat capabilities such as massed UAS, electronic warfare, and precision fires into OPFOR replication. Emphasis is placed on ensuring that rotational units encounter these threats in training first, rather than in combat, by exposing them to continuous surveillance, contested electromagnetic environments, and the persistent threat of unmanned systems operating across depth. The conversation also explores how OPFOR (Geronimo) is evolving its tactics, organization, and capabilities to better mirror near-peer adversaries like Russia and China. This includes replicating multi-domain effects across disruption, battle, and support zones, integrating emerging technologies such as FPV drones, robotic systems, and AI-enabled targeting, and experimenting with new forms of mass that combine traditional fires with unmanned and electronic effects. A key theme is the transition toward “machines first” contact—leveraging robotics and UAS to initiate engagements—while forcing units to adapt to degraded communications, contested airspace, and high-casualty environments. Ultimately, the episode reinforces that closing the gap requires continuous adaptation, iterative experimentation, and translating lessons learned into behavioral change across the force. Part of S11 “Conversations with the Enemy” series. For additional information and insights from this episode, please check-out our Instagram page @the_jrtc_crucible_podcast. Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the latest warfighting TTPs learned through the crucible that is the Joint Readiness Training Center. Follow us by going to: https://linktr.ee/jrtc and then selecting your preferred podcast format. Again, we'd like to thank our guests for participating. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you listen or watch your podcasts — and be sure to stay tuned for more in the near future. “The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Col. Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The two discuss the military and foreign policy aspects of the Trump administration's airstrikes against Iran, the decision to kill their leader, whether the President had the authority to start this war despite being unprovoked, and more. Then, Sarah Jones, Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA, is our special guest for the second half of the show. She and Brad cover the domestic repercussions of the new U.S. war with Iran, including rising gas prices, which experts say could surge to $4 dollars per gallon. Sarah also breaks down the Paramount purchase of Warner Bros., which includes CNN, and the dangers of media consolidation. This is the same group that recently blocked Stephen Colbert's interview with Democratic politician James Talarico. Paramount was in position to do this because they recently acquired CBS News, the network that airs Colbert's show, in a recent merger deal. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Col. Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The two discuss the military and foreign policy aspects of the Trump administration's airstrikes against Iran, the decision to kill their leader, whether the President had the authority to start this war despite being unprovoked, and more. Then, Sarah Jones, Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA, is our special guest for the second half of the show. She and Brad cover the domestic repercussions of the new U.S. war with Iran, including rising gas prices, which experts say could surge to $4 dollars per gallon. Sarah also breaks down the Paramount purchase of Warner Bros., which includes CNN, and the dangers of media consolidation. This is the same group that recently blocked Stephen Colbert's interview with Democratic politician James Talarico. Paramount was in position to do this because they recently acquired CBS News, the network that airs Colbert's show, in a recent merger deal. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The US and Israel's accelerating battering of Iran is wreaking havoc in the Middle East. More than 1200 Iranian targets have been bombed, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is warning harder strikes are yet to come. Iran's responded with attacks targeting US assets in surrounding states, including the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia. It's also blocking the Strait of Hormuz - an important oil shipping route. Former CIA intelligence officer Glenn Carle says blowing up the air defence systems is one thing, but without US forces on the ground, there will still be armed revolutionary guards. "What do the United States and Israel do, to force whoever's holding the guns out, or to do what the United States wants?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
*Is the Military Working With Aliens? UFO Tech, PsyOps & Love Frequency
Today on the Driven by Data Dilemmas Show, host Catherine Dowden-King is joined by Tim Lum, Global Chief Intelligence Officer, WPP | Ford | VML In this episode, they discuss three key stories surrounding when it all goes wrong. From deleting 11 years' worth of data, to a business unit causing the data servers to screech.Tim walks us through how to manage data teams when it's all gone a bit pear-shaped.Remember, you can send your own dilemmas to community@orbitiongroup.com, and Catherine will gladly read them to our expert guests to answer and provide their own insight on.Driven by Data Dilemmas is the spin-off show from the Driven by Data Podcast! Catherine Dowden-King is joined by some of our best-loved senior leaders in the data, analytics and AI space to ask them to share their experiences, advice and thoughts on data dilemmas.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The two discuss Trump's capture of the Venezuelan President on their soil, and whether or not the action was lawful. Additionally, they posit whether this move by Trump undercuts the U.S. argument that China should keep its hands off of Taiwan. They also analyze the prospect of invading Cuba or Greenland, and the impact of a more Western Hemisphere-centric foreign policy on the security of the U.S. Lastly, the pair details Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's continued retribution against Senator Mark Kelly, a U.S. military veteran, for a video he was part of encouraging military members only to follow lawful orders. Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA. The pair discusses the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, as well as Jack Smith's recent testimony to Congress on how culpable President Trump is for the attack on our Capitol. Next, they preview the incoming cost increases for Americans' health insurance, thanks to the changes that Trump and Congressional Republicans have made to the Affordable Care Act. Finally, Sarah evaluates how possible it seems for Democrats to retake the House during this year's midterms, and whether the Senate could be attainable. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The two discuss Trump's capture of the Venezuelan President on their soil, and whether or not the action was lawful. Additionally, they posit whether this move by Trump undercuts the U.S. argument that China should keep its hands off of Taiwan. They also analyze the prospect of invading Cuba or Greenland, and the impact of a more Western Hemisphere-centric foreign policy on the security of the U.S. Lastly, the pair details Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's continued retribution against Senator Mark Kelly, a U.S. military veteran, for a video he was part of encouraging military members only to follow lawful orders. Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA. The pair discusses the anniversary of the January 6th insurrection, as well as Jack Smith's recent testimony to Congress on how culpable President Trump is for the attack on our Capitol. Next, they preview the incoming cost increases for Americans' health insurance, thanks to the changes that Trump and Congressional Republicans have made to the Affordable Care Act. Finally, Sarah evaluates how possible it seems for Democrats to retake the House during this year's midterms, and whether the Senate could be attainable. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton.bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Yes we're still off on our Christmas/New Year holidays but never fear! We have ANOTHER bonus subscriber episode for you to enjoy.BUT CRUCIALLY, DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London's Soho.
A fourteen-year prison sentence for a former intelligence officer, the government's takeover of a steel plant, the extension of Poland's military mission in Iraq, the tightening of punishments for illegal street races, updating the country's national symbols, and much more!Thanks for tuning in!Let us know what you think and what we can improve on by emailing us at info@rorshok.com. You can also contact us on Twitter & Instagram @rorshokpolandLike what you hear? Subscribe, share, and tell your buds.“The Round Table in the Dustbin of History: Karol Nawrocki as a Great Therapist” by Jakub Dybek: https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2025/12/23/okragly-stol-na-smietniku-historii-karol-nawrocki-jako-wielki-terapeuta/Check out our new t-shirts: https://rorshok.store/We want to get to know you! Please fill in this mini-survey: https://forms.gle/NV3h5jN13cRDp2r66Wanna avoid ads and help us financially? Follow the link: https://bit.ly/rorshok-donate
In this conversation, Anthony Vinci explains that "AI is going to be able to do more and more of what people do." He describes a future where "AI is going to get better and better at doing what people do," and highlights that leaders must understand "how do you figure out what AI is good at and then implement it to do that" and "how do you manage your workforce so that they are able to partner with that AI." He warns that leaders often "overestimate what AI can do and underestimate it at the same time," and stresses the importance of "getting that balance right." As he shared, "sometimes they can sense that, oh, AI can do anything," while others say "it will never do that," and both assumptions can mislead decision making. He offers direct guidance for staying relevant: "The number one thing I would recommend is literally to just go use AI for thirty minutes a day." He urges leaders to "push the envelope" and "see where the holes are, what it won't do." Vinci describes how workflow—not just technology—defines whether AI succeeds. Implementation requires understanding "the process and the workflow," recognizing that AI adoption "is going to be small parts," and building "those pieces over time." He explains the subtle dangers of influence, noting that AI can "change your mind" without you realizing it. The threat is not dramatic deepfakes but "what if it just changes one word?" or "an adjective and makes something seem slightly different." To stay resilient, he urges people to "think like a spy," recognize that "there might be a bad actor on the other side," and build habits of "triangulating information." He emphasizes cognitive agility: "We still need to learn to do it so that you can think about mathematics and understand mathematics," and he connects this to thinking and writing in an AI-driven world. Even with powerful tools, "you're still going to have to keep yourself sharp." Vinci closes by discussing perspective, explaining how "living abroad" showed him how much people assume about how the world works. He encourages listeners to embrace the belief that "maybe this assumption that you have in life is wrong," because "the difference between being okay or good at something you do and being great is this ability to take a step back and question whatever you see in the world." Get Anthony's book, The Fourth Intelligence Revolution, here: https://shorturl.at/rjpNF Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift
Andrew is a 2017 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as Class President before commissioning as an Infantry and Intelligence Officer. A proven leader, he completed U.S. Army Ranger School and Airborne School, going on to lead hundreds of soldiers across multiple operational assignments. He later became the 14th Commander of the Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and served as a White House Military Aide to both the 45th and 46th Presidential administrations. After transitioning from active duty, Andrew moved into national security strategy consulting. An avid adventurer, Andrew has completed over 2,300 parachute jumps from planes, helicopters, bridges, and cliffs. Most recently, he summited Mount Everest on May 15th of this year. He is currently an MBA candidate at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, where he is building two ventures: Katalyze LLC, a defense contracting firm he co-founded with his brother Matthew and Dream to Summit, an alpine, adventure, and character-building camp for the next generation of young leaders Across his military, entrepreneurial, and expedition experiences, Andrew has developed powerful lessons rooted in Confidence, Direction, and Community. He believes the greatest growth occurs in the gap between expectations and reality—and by tapping into that space, he continues elevating his mindset higher than any mountain he's climbed. @andrewpkatz
Send us a textIn this thought-provoking episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we sit down with MD Selig, a decorated Marine jet attack pilot, author, and cinematic storyteller. MD shares his extraordinary journey from a small town in Arkansas to the skies over the Persian Gulf, where he flew combat missions during the first Gulf War. With a background in history and a passion for storytelling, he delves into the world of UFOs, discussing his belief in advanced alien technologies and the existence of a 'Cabal' manipulating humanity. Listeners will be captivated by his insights on the Prime Directive, the concept of living conveyances, and the implications of benevolent versus malevolent alien interactions. MD also introduces his novel, "Hush: A Covert Evil Volume 1," where he masterfully blends fact and fiction to explore covert historical events surrounding UFOs. Join us for a riveting conversation that challenges perceptions of reality and encourages listeners to lead with their hearts as we navigate the complexities of our world. Discover more about MD and his work at mdselig.com.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Mabinty Quarshie, White House Reporter for the Washington Examiner. The two analyze President Trump's 36% approval rating in the new Gallup poll, which is the lowest of his term, and just two points shy of his lowest ever. They also discuss Trump's handling of the press, and what his low approval rating could mean for Republicans in next year's midterm elections. Then, Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The two discuss the Washington Post report that Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, authorized a highly unusual strike to kill all survivors of one of the Trump administration's attacks in recent months on boats allegedly carrying drugs in international waters. Next, they talk about Senator Mark Kelly's message to military service members about their duty to the U.S. constitution to not follow unlawful orders. Lastly, they discuss the prospects for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Mabinty Quarshie's handle on X is @MabintyQ. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Mabinty Quarshie, White House Reporter for the Washington Examiner. The two analyze President Trump's 36% approval rating in the new Gallup poll, which is the lowest of his term, and just two points shy of his lowest ever. They also discuss Trump's handling of the press, and what his low approval rating could mean for Republicans in next year's midterm elections. Then, Brad is joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton (USAF-Ret.). The two discuss the Washington Post report that Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, authorized a highly unusual strike to kill all survivors of one of the Trump administration's attacks in recent months on boats allegedly carrying drugs in international waters. Next, they talk about Senator Mark Kelly's message to military service members about their duty to the U.S. constitution to not follow unlawful orders. Lastly, they discuss the prospects for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. Mabinty Quarshie's handle on X is @MabintyQ. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
A former U.S. intelligence officer, Allan Starkie, publicly said he was willing to swear under oath that Prince Andrew really didn't sweat — or at least appeared not to — on a night they spent together dancing in a London nightclub. Starkie described the scene: despite warm conditions and heavy fabrics, and despite others perspiring heavily, Prince Andrew allegedly remained “bone-dry” even after repeated dances. This anecdote was cited as potential corroboration for Andrew's claim that he suffers or suffered from a condition preventing him from sweating.However, the claim triggered skepticism — especially among medical experts and critics — because sweating (or lack thereof) under such circumstances is highly unusual. While true medical conditions like anhidrosis (lack of sweating) do exist, many experts say a temporary inability to sweat, invoked by Andrew via a traumatic “adrenaline overdose” from combat, doesn't comport with known physiology. As a result, Starkie's recollection stirred public debate over whether the sweating-claim was a credible alibi or a desperate dodge — casting further doubt on Andrew's denials of the abuse allegations.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.
A former U.S. intelligence officer, Allan Starkie, publicly said he was willing to swear under oath that Prince Andrew really didn't sweat — or at least appeared not to — on a night they spent together dancing in a London nightclub. Starkie described the scene: despite warm conditions and heavy fabrics, and despite others perspiring heavily, Prince Andrew allegedly remained “bone-dry” even after repeated dances. This anecdote was cited as potential corroboration for Andrew's claim that he suffers or suffered from a condition preventing him from sweating.However, the claim triggered skepticism — especially among medical experts and critics — because sweating (or lack thereof) under such circumstances is highly unusual. While true medical conditions like anhidrosis (lack of sweating) do exist, many experts say a temporary inability to sweat, invoked by Andrew via a traumatic “adrenaline overdose” from combat, doesn't comport with known physiology. As a result, Starkie's recollection stirred public debate over whether the sweating-claim was a credible alibi or a desperate dodge — casting further doubt on Andrew's denials of the abuse allegations.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.
U.S. Cyber Command has a new chief artificial intelligence officer. Brig. Gen. Reid Novotny, who was tapped to serve in the role, said his priority will be ensuring that AI strengthens the nation's cyber forces and improves decision-making advantage. Novotny previously served as the National Guard Bureau's director of intelligence and cyber effects operations and most recently as the Office of the National Cyber Director's senior military policy adviser. Novotny steps into the role amid leadership turnover and other turmoil at the military's top cyber enterprise.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) provides his expert analysis on President Trump restarting U.S. nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years. They also discuss Trump and Pete Hegseth's missile attacks on fishing boats in foreign waters, the President's East Asia trip, a potential trade deal with China, and more. Brad is then joined by New York Times investigative reporter Kenneth P. Vogel. The two discuss Ken's new book, "DEVILS' ADVOCATES: The Hidden Story of Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and the Washington Insiders on the Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interest." The book shines a spotlight on one of the most shadowy and impactful industries in U.S. politics—the foreign influence business. Drawing on exclusive sources, thousands of documents, and on-the-ground reporting, Vogel pulls back the curtain on this billion-dollar business that spans the partisan spectrum and secretly shapes U.S. foreign policy, while often flouting American values like human rights and democracy. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. You can purchase Ken's new book, "DEVILS' ADVOCATES," here. His handle on Blue Sky is @kenvogel.bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) provides his expert analysis on President Trump restarting U.S. nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years. They also discuss Trump and Pete Hegseth's missile attacks on fishing boats in foreign waters, the President's East Asia trip, a potential trade deal with China, and more. Brad is then joined by New York Times investigative reporter Kenneth P. Vogel. The two discuss Ken's new book, "DEVILS' ADVOCATES: The Hidden Story of Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and the Washington Insiders on the Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interest." The book shines a spotlight on one of the most shadowy and impactful industries in U.S. politics—the foreign influence business. Drawing on exclusive sources, thousands of documents, and on-the-ground reporting, Vogel pulls back the curtain on this billion-dollar business that spans the partisan spectrum and secretly shapes U.S. foreign policy, while often flouting American values like human rights and democracy. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. You can purchase Ken's new book, "DEVILS' ADVOCATES," at https://bookshop.org/p/books/devils-advocates-the-hidden-story-of-rudy-giuliani-hunter-biden-and-the-washington-insiders-on-the-payrolls-of-corrupt-foreign-interests-kenneth-p/a0a75dbc3b3a6de0?ean=9780063341210&next=t. His handle on Blue Sky is @kenvogel.bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
We're joined by Daniella Mestyanek Young, the author of Uncultured. She was born a third generation member of an influential family, within The Family International, better known as the Children of God cult. She escaped at fifteen, put herself through school, and graduated from college as valedictorian. Daniella joined the Army, became Captain, and she received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. She was an Intelligence Officer in one of the Army's first Female Engagement Teams. In two tours and six years, she saw patterns in the military that were just like her experiences in the Children of God. Here are Daniella's 10 characteristics of a cult that we talk about: 1. Has a charismatic leader (and a skinny white woman) 2. A sacred assumption 3. The transcendental mission 4. Self-sacrifice of members 5. Limits access to the outside world 6. Distinguishable vernacular 7. Us versus them mentality 8. Exploits members' labor 9. High exit costs 10. Ends justify the means mentality Find Daniella online: https://twitter.com/daniellamyoung https://www.instagram.com/daniellamyoung_ https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellamestyanekyoung By Daniella's book UnCULTured https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250280114 We're also excited to announce that our long promised merch is here!! We know it's tough sometimes to express your leftist feelings in public. Your ratty Che Guevara and CCCP t-shirts seem better left at home. Now you can fly your crypto-leftist flag and still be completely under the radar with our personal love letter to Juan José Arévalo, philosopher and socialist president of Guatemala, and the airline he nationalized. wetwired.printful.me/ Subscribe on Patreon to support making this show, get premium only episodes, and listen to our entire back catalog. patreon.com/wetwired
HEADLINE: China's Coordinated Aggression in the South China Sea: Analyzing the Philippine Vessel Ramming Incident GUEST NAMES: John Batchelor (Host) and Jim Fanell, Retired US Navy Intelligence Officer 1000-WORD SUMMARY: The program featured an in-depth discussion between host John Batchelor and Jim Fanell, a retired United States Navy intelligence officer, focusing on a recent and troubling ramming incident in the contested waters of the South China Sea's Spratly Islands. This incident involved Chinese vessels deliberately ramming a Philippine resupply ship that was en route to a Philippine outpost, marking another escalation in the ongoing territorial disputes that have made the South China Sea one of the world's most volatile maritime flashpoints. Fanell provided expert analysis that fundamentally reframes how this incident should be understood. Rather than viewing it as an isolated action by an overzealous ship captain acting independently or a spontaneous confrontation that escalated beyond control, Fanell argues that the ramming was a carefully coordinated operation directed from the highest levels of the Chinese Communist Party. This assessment carries significant implications for understanding China's strategic intentions and the level of state control exercised over what might otherwise appear to be tactical-level maritime incidents. The coordinated nature of the operation becomes evident when examining the composition and deployment of Chinese forces involved in the incident. Fanell detailed that the ramming was not carried out by a single vessel but was instead supported by a substantial flotilla of Chinese maritime assets. This included vessels from China's maritime militia—ostensibly civilian fishing vessels that operate under state direction and serve paramilitary functions—multiple Coast Guard cutters representing China's official law enforcement presence at sea, and significantly, a warship from the People's Liberation Army Navy, representing the direct involvement of China's military forces. This multi-layered deployment of assets from different organizational structures within China's maritime forces demonstrates a level of coordination and planning that could only originate from centralized command authority. The presence of military, paramilitary, and quasi-civilian forces operating in concert reveals a sophisticated strategy designed to apply overwhelming pressure while maintaining some degree of plausible deniability about the military nature of the confrontation. Fanell emphasized that this incident is not an isolated occurrence but rather part of a consistent and identifiable pattern of Chinese operations concentrated in several key areas of the South China Sea. He specifically mentioned Scarborough Shoal, Sandy Cay, and Second Thomas Shoal as focal points of these coordinated Chinese activities. Each of these locations represents a contested feature in the South China Sea where the Philippines maintains claims and, in some cases, physical presence through grounded vessels or small outposts that serve as territorial markers. Scarborough Shoal, located approximately 120 miles from the Philippine coast, has been under effective Chinese control since a 2012 standoff, despite lying well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone as defined by international law. Second Thomas Shoal has become particularly contentious because the Philippines deliberately grounded a World War II-era vessel, the Sierra Madre, on the shoal in 1999 to serve as a permanent outpost. The vessel houses a small garrison of Philippine marines, and China has repeatedly attempted to prevent resupply missions to this outpost, creating recurring confrontations. The pattern Fanell describes reveals a strategy of incremental pressure designed to exhaust the Philippines' ability and willingness to maintain its presence in these disputed areas. By consistently interfering with resupply operations, China aims to make it prohibitively difficult, dangerous, and expensive for the Philippines to sustain its outposts, potentially forcing their eventual abandonment and allowing China to assert de facto control. Fanell's analysis places this aggressive maritime behavior within the broader context of China's strategic objectives in the South China Sea. The Chinese Communist Party's ultimate goal, according to Fanell, is to establish complete sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, despite the overlapping claims of multiple neighboring countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, and despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that rejected China's expansive claims as having no legal basis under international law. Control of the South China Sea would provide China with several strategic advantages. The region contains vital shipping lanes through which approximately one-third of global maritime trade passes, including substantial energy shipments to East Asian economies. The area is believed to contain significant oil and natural gas reserves, though estimates vary widely. Additionally, control of the South China Sea would extend China's defensive perimeter far from its mainland coast and provide greater ability to project power throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Fanell also contextualized the ramming incident within the current state of US-China relations, suggesting that China's aggressive actions are partly designed to apply pressure on the United States during a period of heightened economic tensions between the two powers. The United States has maintained that it has a national interest in preserving freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and has conducted regular "freedom of navigation operations" to challenge what it views as excessive Chinese maritime claims. The United States also maintains a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, though the precise circumstances under which this treaty would be invoked in response to incidents in disputed waters remains a subject of ongoing strategic ambiguity. The incident and Fanell's analysis raise critical questions about the trajectory of tensions in the South China Sea and the potential for escalation. If China continues to employ increasingly aggressive tactics, coordinated at the highest levels of government, the risk of a serious confrontation—whether with the Philippines directly or with the United States in its role as a treaty ally—increases substantially. The international community faces the challenge of responding to Chinese actions that systematically erode the rules-based international order while stopping short of the kind of overt military aggression that would trigger clear and immediate responses. 1939 REUBEN JAMES
Marcell Strbich is a US Air Force combat veteran and retired Intelligence Officer who is running for Ohio Secretary of State in the 2026 election. The Republican primary takes places May 5, 2026. Learn more at https://strbichforohio.com
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) provides his expert analysis on Venezuela and the Trump administration's ill-considered attack on the purported drug boat and what that might mean for how the current regime uses our military. The two also posit the political and diplomatic implications of Trump's “name change” from the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Col. Leighton also breaks down the significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un joining Xi Jinping in a show of strength as China unveiled new weapons at a huge military parade. Finally, the Colonel gives the latest updates on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, the Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA. The two examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) again handing President Trump a bleak set of jobs numbers, just one month after he fired the agency's commissioner over weak employment data. They also detail the specific damage the President's tariffs have done on the U.S. economy, as well as a new report from Goldman Sachs estimating that 86% of the tariff revenue collected so far has been paid by American businesses and consumers. Additionally, the pair talks about the latest news surrounding the Epstein files. Finally, they discuss the chilling implications as Trump continues working to turn the military into his own police force, which he seeks to unleash in predominantly Democratic-led American cities. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Last time we spoke about the surrender of Japan. Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender on August 15, prompting mixed public reactions: grief, shock, and sympathy for the Emperor, tempered by fear of hardship and occupation. The government's response included resignations and suicide as new leadership was brought in under Prime Minister Higashikuni, with Mamoru Shigemitsu as Foreign Minister and Kawabe Torashiro heading a delegation to Manila. General MacArthur directed the occupation plan, “Blacklist,” prioritizing rapid, phased entry into key Japanese areas and Korea, while demobilizing enemy forces. The surrender ceremony occurred aboard the Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, with Wainwright, Percival, Nimitz, and UN representatives in attendance. Civilians and soldiers across Asia began surrendering, and postwar rehabilitation, Indochina and Vietnam's independence movements, and Southeast Asian transitions rapidly unfolded as Allied forces established control. This episode is the Aftermath of the Pacific War Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two and much more so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945. The Pacific War has ended. Peace has been restored by the Allies and most of the places conquered by the Japanese Empire have been liberated. In this post-war period, new challenges would be faced for those who won the war; and from the ashes of an empire, a defeated nation was also seeking to rebuild. As the Japanese demobilized their armed forces, many young boys were set to return to their homeland, even if they had previously thought that they wouldn't survive the ordeal. And yet, there were some cases of isolated men that would continue to fight for decades even, unaware that the war had already ended. As we last saw, after the Japanese surrender, General MacArthur's forces began the occupation of the Japanese home islands, while their overseas empire was being dismantled by the Allies. To handle civil administration, MacArthur established the Military Government Section, commanded by Brigadier-General William Crist, staffed by hundreds of US experts trained in civil governance who were reassigned from Okinawa and the Philippines. As the occupation began, Americans dispatched tactical units and Military Government Teams to each prefecture to ensure that policies were faithfully carried out. By mid-September, General Eichelberger's 8th Army had taken over the Tokyo Bay region and began deploying to occupy Hokkaido and the northern half of Honshu. Then General Krueger's 6th Army arrived in late September, taking southern Honshu and Shikoku, with its base in Kyoto. In December, 6th Army was relieved of its occupation duties; in January 1946, it was deactivated, leaving the 8th Army as the main garrison force. By late 1945, about 430,000 American soldiers were garrisoned across Japan. President Truman approved inviting Allied involvement on American terms, with occupation armies integrated into a US command structure. Yet with the Chinese civil war and Russia's reluctance to place its forces under MacArthur's control, only Australia, Britain, India, and New Zealand sent brigades, more than 40,000 troops in southwestern Japan. Japanese troops were gradually disarmed by order of their own commanders, so the stigma of surrender would be less keenly felt by the individual soldier. In the homeland, about 1.5 million men were discharged and returned home by the end of August. Demobilization overseas, however, proceeded, not quickly, but as a long, difficult process of repatriation. In compliance with General Order No. 1, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters disbanded on September 13 and was superseded by the Japanese War Department to manage demobilization. By November 1, the homeland had demobilized 2,228,761 personnel, roughly 97% of the Homeland Army. Yet some 6,413,215 men remained to be repatriated from overseas. On December 1, the Japanese War Ministry dissolved, and the First Demobilization Ministry took its place. The Second Demobilization Ministry was established to handle IJN demobilization, with 1,299,868 sailors, 81% of the Navy, demobilized by December 17. Japanese warships and merchant ships had their weapons rendered inoperative, and suicide craft were destroyed. Forty percent of naval vessels were allocated to evacuations in the Philippines, and 60% to evacuations of other Pacific islands. This effort eventually repatriated about 823,984 men to Japan by February 15, 1946. As repatriation accelerated, by October 15 only 1,909,401 men remained to be repatriated, most of them in the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, the Higashikuni Cabinet and Foreign Minister Shigemitsu Mamoru managed to persuade MacArthur not to impose direct military rule or martial law over all of Japan. Instead, the occupation would be indirect, guided by the Japanese government under the Emperor's direction. An early decision to feed occupation forces from American supplies, and to allow the Japanese to use their own limited food stores, helped ease a core fear: that Imperial forces would impose forced deliveries on the people they conquered. On September 17, MacArthur transferred his headquarters from Yokohama to Tokyo, setting up primary offices on the sixth floor of the Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Building, an imposing edifice overlooking the moat and the Imperial palace grounds in Hibiya, a symbolic heart of the nation. While the average soldier did not fit the rapacious image of wartime Japanese propagandists, occupation personnel often behaved like neo-colonial overlords. The conquerors claimed privileges unimaginable to most Japanese. Entire trains and train compartments, fitted with dining cars, were set aside for the exclusive use of occupation forces. These silenced, half-empty trains sped past crowded platforms, provoking ire as Japanese passengers were forced to enter and exit packed cars through punched-out windows, or perch on carriage roofs, couplings, and running boards, often with tragic consequences. The luxury express coaches became irresistible targets for anonymous stone-throwers. During the war, retrenchment measures had closed restaurants, cabarets, beer halls, geisha houses, and theatres in Tokyo and other large cities. Now, a vast leisure industry sprang up to cater to the needs of the foreign occupants. Reopened restaurants and theatres, along with train stations, buses, and streetcars, were sometimes kept off limits to Allied personnel, partly for security, partly to avoid burdening Japanese resources, but a costly service infrastructure was built to the occupiers' specifications. Facilities reserved for occupation troops bore large signs reading “Japanese Keep Out” or “For Allied Personnel Only.” In downtown Tokyo, important public buildings requisitioned for occupation use had separate entrances for Americans and Japanese. The effect? A subtle but clear colour bar between the predominantly white conquerors and the conquered “Asiatic” Japanese. Although MacArthur was ready to work through the Japanese government, he lacked the organizational infrastructure to administer a nation of 74 million. Consequently, on October 2, MacArthur dissolved the Military Government Section and inaugurated General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, a separate headquarters focused on civil affairs and operating in tandem with the Army high command. SCAP immediately assumed responsibility for administering the Japanese home islands. It commandeered every large building not burned down to house thousands of civilians and requisitioned vast tracts of prime real estate to quarter several hundred thousand troops in the Tokyo–Yokohama area alone. Amidst the rise of American privilege, entire buildings were refurbished as officers' clubs, replete with slot machines and gambling parlours installed at occupation expense. The Stars and Stripes were hoisted over Tokyo, while the display of the Rising Sun was banned; and the downtown area, known as “Little America,” was transformed into a US enclave. The enclave mentality of this cocooned existence was reinforced by the arrival within the first six months of roughly 700 American families. At the peak of the occupation, about 14,800 families employed some 25,000 Japanese servants to ease the “rigours” of overseas duty. Even enlisted men in the sparse quonset-hut towns around the city lived like kings compared with ordinary Japanese. Japanese workers cleaned barracks, did kitchen chores, and handled other base duties. The lowest private earned a 25% hardship bonus until these special allotments were discontinued in 1949. Most military families quickly adjusted to a pampered lifestyle that went beyond maids and “boys,” including cooks, laundresses, babysitters, gardeners, and masseuses. Perks included spacious quarters with swimming pools, central heating, hot running water, and modern plumbing. Two observers compared GHQ to the British Raj at its height. George F. Kennan, head of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff, warned during his 1948 mission to Japan that Americans had monopolized “everything that smacks of comfort or elegance or luxury,” criticizing what he called the “American brand of philistinism” and the “monumental imperviousness” of MacArthur's staff to the Japanese suffering. This conqueror's mentality also showed in the bullying attitudes many top occupation officials displayed toward the Japanese with whom they dealt. Major Faubion Bowers, MacArthur's military secretary, later said, “I and nearly all the occupation people I knew were extremely conceited and extremely arrogant and used our power every inch of the way.” Initially, there were spasms of defiance against the occupation forces, such as anonymous stone-throwing, while armed robbery and minor assaults against occupation personnel were rife in the weeks and months after capitulation. Yet active resistance was neither widespread nor organized. The Americans successfully completed their initial deployment without violence, an astonishing feat given a heavily armed and vastly superior enemy operating on home terrain. The average citizen regarded the occupation as akin to force majeure, the unfortunate but inevitable aftermath of a natural calamity. Japan lay prostrate. Industrial output had fallen to about 10% of pre-war levels, and as late as 1946, more than 13 million remained unemployed. Nearly 40% of Japan's urban areas had been turned to rubble, and some 9 million people were homeless. The war-displaced, many of them orphans, slept in doorways and hallways, in bombed-out ruins, dugouts and packing crates, under bridges or on pavements, and crowded the hallways of train and subway stations. As winter 1945 descended, with food, fuel, and clothing scarce, people froze to death. Bonfires lit the streets to ward off the chill. "The only warm hands I have shaken thus far in Japan belonged to Americans," Mark Gayn noted in December 1945. "The Japanese do not have much of a chance to thaw out, and their hands are cold and red." Unable to afford shoes, many wore straw sandals; those with geta felt themselves privileged. The sight of a man wearing a woman's high-buttoned shoes in winter epitomized the daily struggle to stay dry and warm. Shantytowns built of scrap wood, rusted metal, and scavenged odds and ends sprang up everywhere, resembling vast junk yards. The poorest searched smouldering refuse heaps for castoffs that might be bartered for a scrap to eat or wear. Black markets (yami'ichi) run by Japanese, Koreans, and For-mosans mushroomed to replace collapsed distribution channels and cash in on inflated prices. Tokyo became "a world of scarcity in which every nail, every rag, and even a tangerine peel [had a] market value." Psychologically numbed, disoriented, and disillusioned with their leaders, demobilized veterans and civilians alike struggled to get their bearings, shed militaristic ideologies, and begin to embrace new values. In the vacuum of defeat, the Japanese people appeared ready to reject the past and grasp at the straw held out by the former enemy. Relations between occupier and occupied were not smooth, however. American troops comported themselves like conquerors, especially in the early weeks and months of occupation. Much of the violence was directed against women, with the first attacks beginning within hours after the landing of advance units. When US paratroopers landed in Sapporo, an orgy of looting, sexual violence, and drunken brawling ensued. Newspaper accounts reported 931 serious offences by GIs in the Yokohama area during the first week of occupation, including 487 armed robberies, 411 thefts of currency or goods, 9 rapes, 5 break-ins, 3 cases of assault and battery, and 16 other acts of lawlessness. In the first 10 days of occupation, there were 1,336 reported rapes by US soldiers in Kanagawa Prefecture alone. Americans were not the only perpetrators. A former prostitute recalled that when Australian troops arrived in Kure in early 1946, they “dragged young women into their jeeps, took them to the mountain, and then raped them. I heard them screaming for help nearly every night.” Such behaviour was commonplace, but news of criminal activity by occupation forces was quickly suppressed. On September 10, 1945, SCAP issued press and pre-censorship codes outlawing the publication of reports and statistics "inimical to the objectives of the occupation." In the sole instance of self-help General Eichelberger records in his memoirs, when locals formed a vigilante group and retaliated against off-duty GIs, 8th Army ordered armored vehicles into the streets and arrested the ringleaders, who received lengthy prison terms. Misbehavior ranged from black-market activity, petty theft, reckless driving, and disorderly conduct to vandalism, arson, murder, and rape. Soldiers and sailors often broke the law with impunity, and incidents of robbery, rape, and even murder were widely reported. Gang rapes and other sex atrocities were not infrequent; victims, shunned as outcasts, sometimes turned to prostitution in desperation, while others took their own lives to avoid bringing shame to their families. Military courts arrested relatively few soldiers for these offenses and convicted even fewer; Japanese attempts at self-defense were punished severely, and restitution for victims was rare. Fearing the worst, Japanese authorities had already prepared countermeasures against the supposed rapacity of foreign soldiers. Imperial troops in East Asia and the Pacific had behaved brutally toward women, so the government established “sexual comfort-stations” manned by geisha, bar hostesses, and prostitutes to “satisfy the lust of the Occupation forces,” as the Higashikuni Cabinet put it. A budget of 100 million yen was set aside for these Recreation and Amusement Associations, financed initially with public funds but run as private enterprises under police supervision. Through these, the government hoped to protect the daughters of the well-born and middle class by turning to lower-class women to satisfy the soldiers' sexual appetites. By the end of 1945, brothel operators had rounded up an estimated 20,000 young women and herded them into RAA establishments nationwide. Eventually, as many as 70,000 are said to have ended up in the state-run sex industry. Thankfully, as military discipline took hold and fresh troops replaced the Allied veterans responsible for the early crime wave, violence subsided and the occupier's patronising behavior and the ugly misdeeds of a lawless few were gradually overlooked. However, fraternisation was frowned upon by both sides, and segregation was practiced in principle, with the Japanese excluded from areas reserved for Allied personnel until September 1949, when MacArthur lifted virtually all restrictions on friendly association, stating that he was “establishing the same relations between occupation personnel and the Japanese population as exists between troops stationed in the United States and the American people.” In principle, the Occupation's administrative structure was highly complex. The Far Eastern Commission, based in Washington, included representatives from all 13 countries that had fought against Japan and was established in 1946 to formulate basic principles. The Allied Council for Japan was created in the same year to assist in developing and implementing surrender terms and in administering the country. It consisted of representatives from the USA, the USSR, Nationalist China, and the British Commonwealth. Although both bodies were active at first, they were largely ineffectual due to unwieldy decision-making, disagreements between the national delegations (especially the USA and USSR), and the obstructionism of General Douglas MacArthur. In practice, SCAP, the executive authority of the occupation, effectively ruled Japan from 1945 to 1952. And since it took orders only from the US government, the Occupation became primarily an American affair. The US occupation program, effectively carried out by SCAP, was revolutionary and rested on a two-pronged approach. To ensure Japan would never again become a menace to the United States or to world peace, SCAP pursued disarmament and demilitarization, with continuing control over Japan's capacity to make war. This involved destroying military supplies and installations, demobilizing more than five million Japanese soldiers, and thoroughly discrediting the military establishment. Accordingly, SCAP ordered the purge of tens of thousands of designated persons from public service positions, including accused war criminals, military officers, leaders of ultranationalist societies, leaders in the Imperial Rule Assistance Association, business leaders tied to overseas expansion, governors of former Japanese colonies, and national leaders who had steered Japan into war. In addition, MacArthur's International Military Tribunal for the Far East established a military court in Tokyo. It had jurisdiction over those charged with Class A crimes, top leaders who had planned and directed the war. Also considered were Class B charges, covering conventional war crimes, and Class C charges, covering crimes against humanity. Yet the military court in Tokyo wouldn't be the only one. More than 5,700 lower-ranking personnel were charged with conventional war crimes in separate trials convened by Australia, China, France, the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Of the 5,700 Japanese individuals indicted for Class B war crimes, 984 were sentenced to death; 475 received life sentences; 2,944 were given more limited prison terms; 1,018 were acquitted; and 279 were never brought to trial or not sentenced. Among these, many, like General Ando Rikichi and Lieutenant-General Nomi Toshio, chose to commit suicide before facing prosecution. Notable cases include Lieutenant-General Tani Hisao, who was sentenced to death by the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal for his role in the Nanjing Massacre; Lieutenant-General Sakai Takashi, who was executed in Nanjing for the murder of British and Chinese civilians during the occupation of Hong Kong. General Okamura Yasuji was convicted of war crimes by the Tribunal, yet he was immediately protected by the personal order of Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-Shek, who kept him as a military adviser for the Kuomintang. In the Manila trials, General Yamashita Tomoyuki was sentenced to death as he was in overall command during the Sook Ching massacre, the Rape of Manila, and other atrocities. Lieutenant-General Homma Masaharu was likewise executed in Manila for atrocities committed by troops under his command during the Bataan Death March. General Imamura Hitoshi was sentenced to ten years in prison, but he considered the punishment too light and even had a replica of the prison built in his garden, remaining there until his death in 1968. Lieutenant-General Kanda Masatane received a 14-year sentence for war crimes on Bougainville, though he served only four years. Lieutenant-General Adachi Hatazo was sentenced to life imprisonment for war crimes in New Guinea and subsequently committed suicide on September 10, 1947. Lieutenant-General Teshima Fusataro received three years of forced labour for using a hospital ship to transport troops. Lieutenant-General Baba Masao was sentenced to death for ordering the Sandakan Death Marches, during which over 2,200 Australian and British prisoners of war perished. Lieutenant-General Tanabe Moritake was sentenced to death by a Dutch military tribunal for unspecified war crimes. Rear-Admiral Sakaibara Shigematsu was executed in Guam for ordering the Wake Island massacre, in which 98 American civilians were murdered. Lieutenant-General Inoue Sadae was condemned to death in Guam for permitting subordinates to execute three downed American airmen captured in Palau, though his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1951 and he was released in 1953. Lieutenant-General Tachibana Yoshio was sentenced to death in Guam for his role in the Chichijima Incident, in which eight American airmen were cannibalized. By mid-1945, due to the Allied naval blockade, the 25,000 Japanese troops on Chichijima had run low on supplies. However, although the daily rice ration had been reduced from 400 grams per person per day to 240 grams, the troops were not at risk of starvation. In February and March 1945, in what would later be called the Chichijima incident, Tachibana Yoshio's senior staff turned to cannibalism. Nine American airmen had escaped from their planes after being shot down during bombing raids on Chichijima, eight of whom were captured. The ninth, the only one to evade capture, was future US President George H. W. Bush, then a 20-year-old pilot. Over several months, the prisoners were executed, and reportedly by the order of Major Matoba Sueyo, their bodies were butchered by the division's medical orderlies, with the livers and other organs consumed by the senior staff, including Matoba's superior Tachibana. In the Yokohama War Crimes Trials, Lieutenant-Generals Inada Masazumi and Yokoyama Isamu were convicted for their complicity in vivisection and other human medical experiments performed at Kyushu Imperial University on downed Allied airmen. The Tokyo War Crimes Trial, which began in May 1946 and lasted two and a half years, resulted in the execution by hanging of Generals Doihara Kenji and Itagaki Seishiro, and former Prime Ministers Hirota Koki and Tojo Hideki, for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes against peace, specifically for the escalation of the Pacific War and for permitting the inhumane treatment of prisoners of war. Also sentenced to death were Lieutenant-General Muto Akira for his role in the Nanjing and Manila massacres; General Kimura Heitaro for planning the war strategy in China and Southeast Asia and for laxity in preventing atrocities against prisoners of war in Burma; and General Matsui Iwane for his involvement in the Rape of Nanjing. The seven defendants who were sentenced to death were executed at Sugamo Prison in Ikebukuro on December 23, 1948. Sixteen others were sentenced to life imprisonment, including the last Field Marshal Hata Shunroku, Generals Araki Sadao, Minami Hiro, and Umezu Shojiro, Admiral Shimada Shigetaro, former Prime Ministers Hiranuma Kiichiro and Koiso Kuniaki, Marquis Kido Koichi, and Colonel Hashimoto Kingoro, a major instigator of the second Sino-Japanese War. Additionally, former Foreign Ministers Togo Shigenori and Shigemitsu Mamoru received seven- and twenty-year sentences, respectively. The Soviet Union and Chinese Communist forces also held trials of Japanese war criminals, including the Khabarovsk War Crime Trials, which tried and found guilty some members of Japan's bacteriological and chemical warfare unit known as Unit 731. However, those who surrendered to the Americans were never brought to trial, as MacArthur granted immunity to Lieutenant-General Ishii Shiro and all members of the bacteriological research units in exchange for germ-w warfare data derived from human experimentation. If you would like to learn more about what I like to call Japan's Operation Paper clip, whereupon the US grabbed many scientists from Unit 731, check out my exclusive podcast. The SCAP-turn to democratization began with the drafting of a new constitution in 1947, addressing Japan's enduring feudal social structure. In the charter, sovereignty was vested in the people, and the emperor was designated a “symbol of the state and the unity of the people, deriving his position from the will of the people in whom resides sovereign power.” Because the emperor now possessed fewer powers than European constitutional monarchs, some have gone so far as to say that Japan became “a republic in fact if not in name.” Yet the retention of the emperor was, in fact, a compromise that suited both those who wanted to preserve the essence of the nation for stability and those who demanded that the emperor system, though not necessarily the emperor, should be expunged. In line with the democratic spirit of the new constitution, the peerage was abolished and the two-chamber Diet, to which the cabinet was now responsible, became the highest organ of state. The judiciary was made independent and local autonomy was granted in vital areas of jurisdiction such as education and the police. Moreover, the constitution stipulated that “the people shall not be prevented from enjoying any of the fundamental human rights,” that they “shall be respected as individuals,” and that “their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall … be the supreme consideration in legislation.” Its 29 articles guaranteed basic human rights: equality, freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin, freedom of thought and freedom of religion. Finally, in its most controversial section, Article 9, the “peace clause,” Japan “renounce[d] war as a sovereign right of the nation” and vowed not to maintain any military forces and “other war potential.” To instill a thoroughly democratic ethos, reforms touched every facet of society. The dissolution of the zaibatsu decentralised economic power; the 1945 Labour Union Law and the 1946 Labour Relations Act guaranteed workers the right to collective action; the 1947 Labour Standards Law established basic working standards for men and women; and the revised Civil Code of 1948 abolished the patriarchal household and enshrined sexual equality. Reflecting core American principles, SCAP introduced a 6-3-3 schooling system, six years of compulsory elementary education, three years of junior high, and an optional three years of senior high, along with the aim of secular, locally controlled education. More crucially, ideological reform followed: censorship of feudal material in media, revision of textbooks, and prohibition of ideas glorifying war, dying for the emperor, or venerating war heroes. With women enfranchised and young people shaped to counter militarism and ultranationalism, rural Japan was transformed to undermine lingering class divisions. The land reform program provided for the purchase of all land held by absentee landlords, allowed resident landlords and owner-farmers to retain a set amount of land, and required that the remaining land be sold to the government so it could be offered to existing tenants. In 1948, amid the intensifying tensions of the Cold War that would soon culminate in the Korean War, the occupation's focus shifted from demilitarization and democratization toward economic rehabilitation and, ultimately, the remilitarization of Japan, an shift now known as the “Reverse Course.” The country was thus rebuilt as the Pacific region's primary bulwark against the spread of Communism. An Economic Stabilisation Programme was introduced, including a five-year plan to coordinate production and target capital through the Reconstruction Finance Bank. In 1949, the anti-inflationary Dodge Plan was adopted, advocating balanced budgets, fixing the exchange rate at 360 yen to the dollar, and ending broad government intervention. Additionally, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry was formed and supported the formation of conglomerates centered around banks, which encouraged the reemergence of a somewhat weakened set of zaibatsu, including Mitsui and Mitsubishi. By the end of the Occupation era, Japan was on the verge of surpassing its 1934–1936 levels of economic growth. Equally important was Japan's rearmament in alignment with American foreign policy: a National Police Reserve of about 75,000 was created with the outbreak of the Korean War; by 1952 it had expanded to 110,000 and was renamed the Self-Defense Force after the inclusion of an air force. However, the Reverse Course also facilitated the reestablishment of conservative politics and the rollback of gains made by women and the reforms of local autonomy and education. As the Occupation progressed, the Americans permitted greater Japanese initiative, and power gradually shifted from the reformers to the moderates. By 1949, the purge of the right came under review, and many who had been condemned began returning to influence, if not to the Diet, then to behind-the-scenes power. At the same time, Japanese authorities, with MacArthur's support, began purging left-wing activists. In June 1950, for example, the central office of the Japan Communist Party and the editorial board of The Red Flag were purged. The gains made by women also seemed to be reversed. Women were elected to 8% of available seats in the first lower-house election in 1946, but to only 2% in 1952, a trend not reversed until the so-called Madonna Boom of the 1980s. Although the number of women voting continued to rise, female politicisation remained more superficial than might be imagined. Women's employment also appeared little affected by labour legislation: though women formed nearly 40% of the labor force in 1952, they earned only 45% as much as men. Indeed, women's attitudes toward labor were influenced less by the new ethos of fulfilling individual potential than by traditional views of family and workplace responsibilities. In the areas of local autonomy and education, substantial modifications were made to the reforms. Because local authorities lacked sufficient power to tax, they were unable to realise their extensive powers, and, as a result, key responsibilities were transferred back to national jurisdiction. In 1951, for example, 90% of villages and towns placed their police forces under the control of the newly formed National Police Agency. Central control over education was also gradually reasserted; in 1951, the Yoshida government attempted to reintroduce ethics classes, proposed tighter central oversight of textbooks, and recommended abolishing local school board elections. By the end of the decade, all these changes had been implemented. The Soviet occupation of the Kurile Islands and the Habomai Islets was completed with Russian troops fully deployed by September 5. Immediately after the onset of the occupation, amid a climate of insecurity and fear marked by reports of sporadic rape and physical assault and widespread looting by occupying troops, an estimated 4,000 islanders fled to Hokkaido rather than face an uncertain repatriation. As Soviet forces moved in, they seized or destroyed telephone and telegraph installations and halted ship movements into and out of the islands, leaving residents without adequate food and other winter provisions. Yet, unlike Manchuria, where Japanese civilians faced widespread sexual violence and pillage, systematic violence against the civilian population on the Kuriles appears to have been exceptional. A series of military government proclamations assured islanders of safety so long as they did not resist Soviet rule and carried on normally; however, these orders also prohibited activities not explicitly authorized by the Red Army, which imposed many hardships on civilians. Residents endured harsh conditions under Soviet rule until late 1948, when Japanese repatriation out of the Kurils was completed. The Kuriles posed a special diplomatic problem, as the occupation of the southernmost islands—the Northern Territories—ignited a long-standing dispute between Tokyo and Moscow that continues to impede the normalisation of relations today. Although the Kuriles were promised to the Soviet Union in the Yalta agreement, Japan and the United States argued that this did not apply to the Northern Territories, since they were not part of the Kurile Islands. A substantial dispute regarding the status of the Kurile Islands arose between the United States and the Soviet Union during the preparation of the Treaty of San Francisco, which was intended as a permanent peace treaty between Japan and the Allied Powers of World War II. The treaty was ultimately signed by 49 nations in San Francisco on September 8, 1951, and came into force on April 28, 1952. It ended Japan's role as an imperial power, allocated compensation to Allied nations and former prisoners of war who had suffered Japanese war crimes, ended the Allied post-war occupation of Japan, and returned full sovereignty to Japan. Effectively, the document officially renounced Japan's treaty rights derived from the Boxer Protocol of 1901 and its rights to Korea, Formosa and the Pescadores, the Kurile Islands, the Spratly Islands, Antarctica, and South Sakhalin. Japan's South Seas Mandate, namely the Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, and Caroline Islands, had already been formally revoked by the United Nations on July 18, 1947, making the United States responsible for administration of those islands under a UN trusteeship agreement that established the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. In turn, the Bonin, Volcano, and Ryukyu Islands were progressively restored to Japan between 1953 and 1972, along with the Senkaku Islands, which were disputed by both Communist and Nationalist China. In addition, alongside the Treaty of San Francisco, Japan and the United States signed a Security Treaty that established a long-lasting military alliance between them. Although Japan renounced its rights to the Kuriles, the U.S. State Department later clarified that “the Habomai Islands and Shikotan ... are properly part of Hokkaido and that Japan is entitled to sovereignty over them,” hence why the Soviets refused to sign the treaty. Britain and the United States agreed that territorial rights would not be granted to nations that did not sign the Treaty of San Francisco, and as a result the Kurile Islands were not formally recognized as Soviet territory. A separate peace treaty, the Treaty of Taipei (formally the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty), was signed in Taipei on April 28, 1952 between Japan and the Kuomintang, and on June 9 of that year the Treaty of Peace Between Japan and India followed. Finally, Japan and the Soviet Union ended their formal state of war with the Soviet–Japanese Joint Declaration of 1956, though this did not settle the Kurile Islands dispute. Even after these formal steps, Japan as a nation was not in a formal state of war, and many Japanese continued to believe the war was ongoing; those who held out after the surrender came to be known as Japanese holdouts. Captain Oba Sakae and his medical company participated in the Saipan campaign beginning on July 7, 1944, and took part in what would become the largest banzai charge of the Pacific War. After 15 hours of intense hand-to-hand combat, almost 4,300 Japanese soldiers were dead, and Oba and his men were presumed among them. In reality, however, he survived the battle and gradually assumed command of over a hundred additional soldiers. Only five men from his original unit survived the battle, two of whom died in the following months. Oba then led over 200 Japanese civilians deeper into the jungles to evade capture, organizing them into mountain caves and hidden jungle villages. When the soldiers were not assisting the civilians with survival tasks, Oba and his men continued their battle against the garrison of US Marines. He used the 1,552‑ft Mount Tapochau as their primary base, which offered an unobstructed 360-degree view of the island. From their base camp on the western slope of the mountain, Oba and his men occasionally conducted guerrilla-style raids on American positions. Due to the speed and stealth of these operations, and the Marines' frustrated attempts to find him, the Saipan Marines eventually referred to Oba as “The Fox.” Oba and his men held out on the island for 512 days, or about 16 months. On November 27, 1945, former Major-General Amo Umahachi was able to draw out some of the Japanese in hiding by singing the anthem of the Japanese infantry branch. Amo was then able to present documents from the defunct IGHQ to Oba ordering him and his 46 remaining men to surrender themselves to the Americans. On December 1, the Japanese soldiers gathered on Tapochau and sang a song of departure to the spirits of the war dead; Oba led his people out of the jungle and they presented themselves to the Marines of the 18th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Company. With great formality and commensurate dignity, Oba surrendered his sword to Lieutenant Colonel Howard G. Kirgis, and his men surrendered their arms and colors. On January 2, 1946, 20 Japanese soldiers hiding in a tunnel at Corregidor Island surrendered after learning the war had ended from a newspaper found while collecting water. In that same month, 120 Japanese were routed after a battle in the mountains 150 miles south of Manila. In April, during a seven-week campaign to clear Lubang Island, 41 more Japanese emerged from the jungle, unaware that the war had ended; however, a group of four Japanese continued to resist. In early 1947, Lieutenant Yamaguchi Ei and his band of 33 soldiers renewed fighting with the small Marine garrison on Peleliu, prompting reinforcements under Rear-Admiral Charles Pownall to be brought to the island to hunt down the guerrilla group. Along with them came former Rear-Admiral Sumikawa Michio, who ultimately convinced Yamaguchi to surrender in April after almost three years of guerrilla warfare. Also in April, seven Japanese emerged from Palawan Island and fifteen armed stragglers emerged from Luzon. In January 1948, 200 troops surrendered on Mindanao; and on May 12, the Associated Press reported that two unnamed Japanese soldiers had surrendered to civilian policemen in Guam the day before. On January 6, 1949, two former IJN soldiers, machine gunners Matsudo Rikio and Yamakage Kufuku, were discovered on Iwo Jima and surrendered peacefully. In March 1950, Private Akatsu Yūichi surrendered in the village of Looc, leaving only three Japanese still resisting on Lubang. By 1951 a group of Japanese on Anatahan Island refused to believe that the war was over and resisted every attempt by the Navy to remove them. This group was first discovered in February 1945, when several Chamorros from Saipan were sent to the island to recover the bodies of a Saipan-based B-29. The Chamorros reported that there were about thirty Japanese survivors from three ships sunk in June 1944, one of which was an Okinawan woman. Personal aggravations developed from the close confines of a small group on a small island and from tuba drinking; among the holdouts, 6 of 11 deaths were the result of violence, and one man displayed 13 knife wounds. The presence of only one woman, Higa Kazuko, caused considerable difficulty as she would transfer her affections among at least four men after each of them mysteriously disappeared, purportedly “swallowed by the waves while fishing.” According to the more sensational versions of the Anatahan tale, 11 of the 30 navy sailors stranded on the island died due to violent struggles over her affections. In July 1950, Higa went to the beach when an American vessel appeared offshore and finally asked to be removed from the island. She was taken to Saipan aboard the Miss Susie and, upon arrival, told authorities that the men on the island did not believe the war was over. As the Japanese government showed interest in the situation on Anatahan, the families of the holdouts were contacted in Japan and urged by the Navy to write letters stating that the war was over and that the holdouts should surrender. The letters were dropped by air on June 26 and ultimately convinced the holdouts to give themselves up. Thus, six years after the end of World War II, “Operation Removal” commenced from Saipan under the command of Lt. Commander James B. Johnson, USNR, aboard the Navy Tug USS Cocopa. Johnson and an interpreter went ashore by rubber boat and formally accepted the surrender on the morning of June 30, 1951. The Anatahan femme fatale story later inspired the 1953 Japanese film Anatahan and the 1998 novel Cage on the Sea. In 1953, Murata Susumu, the last holdout on Tinian, was finally captured. The next year, on May 7, Corporal Sumada Shoichi was killed in a clash with Filipino soldiers, leaving only two Japanese still resisting on Lubang. In November 1955, Seaman Kinoshita Noboru was captured in the Luzon jungle but soon after committed suicide rather than “return to Japan in defeat.” That same year, four Japanese airmen surrendered at Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea; and in 1956, nine soldiers were located and sent home from Morotai, while four men surrendered on Mindoro. In May 1960, Sergeant Ito Masashi became one of the last Japanese to surrender at Guam after the capture of his comrade Private Minagawa Bunzo, but the final surrender at Guam would come later with Sergeant Yokoi Shoichi. Sergeant Yokoi Shoichi survived in the jungles of Guam by living for years in an elaborately dug hole, subsisting on snails and lizards, a fate that, while undignified, showcased his ingenuity and resilience and earned him a warm welcome on his return to Japan. His capture was not heroic in the traditional sense: he was found half-starving by a group of villagers while foraging for shrimp in a stream, and the broader context included his awareness as early as 1952 that the war had ended. He explained that the wartime bushido code, emphasizing self-sacrifice or suicide rather than self-preservation, had left him fearing that repatriation would label him a deserter and likely lead to execution. Emerging from the jungle, Yokoi also became a vocal critic of Japan's wartime leadership, including Emperor Hirohito, which fits a view of him as a product of, and a prisoner within, his own education, military training, and the censorship and propaganda of the era. When asked by a young nephew how he survived so long on an island just a short distance from a major American airbase, he replied simply, “I was really good at hide and seek.” That same year, Private Kozuka Kinshichi was killed in a shootout with Philippine police in October, leaving Lieutenant Onoda Hiroo still resisting on Lubang. Lieutenant Onoda Hiroo had been on Lubang since 1944, a few months before the Americans retook the Philippines. The last instructions he had received from his immediate superior ordered him to retreat to the interior of the island and harass the Allied occupying forces until the IJA eventually returned. Despite efforts by the Philippine Army, letters and newspapers left for him, radio broadcasts, and even a plea from Onoda's brother, he did not believe the war was over. On February 20, 1974, Onoda encountered a young Japanese university dropout named Suzuki Norio, who was traveling the world and had told friends that he planned to “look for Lieutenant Onoda, a panda, and the abominable snowman, in that order.” The two became friends, but Onoda stated that he was waiting for orders from one of his commanders. On March 9, 1974, Onoda went to an agreed-upon place and found a note left by Suzuki. Suzuki had brought along Onoda's former commander, Major Taniguchi, who delivered the oral orders for Onoda to surrender. Intelligence Officer 2nd Lt. Onoda Hiroo thus emerged from Lubang's jungle with his .25 caliber rifle, 500 rounds of ammunition, and several hand grenades. He surrendered 29 years after Japan's formal surrender, and 15 years after being declared legally dead in Japan. When he accepted that the war was over, he wept openly. He received a hero's welcome upon his return to Japan in 1974. The Japanese government offered him a large sum of money in back pay, which he refused. When money was pressed on him by well-wishers, he donated it to Yasukuni Shrine. Onoda was reportedly unhappy with the attention and what he saw as the withering of traditional Japanese values. He wrote No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War, a best-selling autobiography published in 1974. Yet the last Japanese to surrender would be Private Nakamura Teruo, an Amis aborigine from Formosa and a member of the Takasago Volunteers. Private Nakamura Teruo spent the tail end of World War II with a dwindling band on Morotai, repeatedly dispersing and reassembling in the jungle as they hunted for food. The group suffered continuous losses to starvation and disease, and survivors described Nakamura as highly self-sufficient. He left to live alone somewhere in the Morotai highlands between 1946 and 1947, rejoined the main group in 1950, and then disappeared again a few years later. Nakamura hinted in print that he fled into the jungle because he feared the other holdouts might murder him. He survives for decades beyond the war, eventually being found by 11 Indonesian soldiers. The emergence of an indigenous Taiwanese soldier among the search party embarrassed Japan as it sought to move past its imperial past. Many Japanese felt Nakamura deserved compensation for decades of loyalty, only to learn that his back pay for three decades of service amounted to 68,000 yen. Nakamura's experience of peace was complex. When a journalist asked how he felt about “wasting” three decades of his life on Morotai, he replied that the years had not been wasted; he had been serving his country. Yet the country he returned to was Taiwan, and upon disembarking in Taipei in early January 1975, he learned that his wife had a son he had never met and that she had remarried a decade after his official death. Nakamura eventually lived with a daughter, and his story concluded with a bittersweet note when his wife reconsidered and reconciled with him. Several Japanese soldiers joined local Communist and insurgent groups after the war to avoid surrender. Notably, in 1956 and 1958, two soldiers returned to Japan after service in China's People's Liberation Army. Two others who defected with a larger group to the Malayan Communist Party around 1945 laid down their arms in 1989 and repatriated the next year, becoming among the last to return home. That is all for today, but fear not I will provide a few more goodies over the next few weeks. I will be releasing some of my exclusive podcast episodes from my youtube membership and patreon that are about pacific war subjects. Like I promised the first one will be on why Emperor Hirohito surrendered. Until then if you need your fix you know where to find me: eastern front week by week, fall and rise of china, echoes of war or on my Youtube membership of patreon at www.patreon.com/pacificwarchannel.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) provides his expert analysis on Venezuela and the Trump administration's ill-considered attack on the purported drug boat and what that might mean for how the current regime uses our military. The two also posit the political and diplomatic implications of Trump's “name change” from the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Col. Leighton also breaks down the significance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un joining Xi Jinping in a show of strength as China unveiled new weapons at a huge military parade. Finally, the Colonel gives the latest updates on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Then, Brad is joined by Sarah Jones, the Editor-in-Chief of PoliticusUSA. The two examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) again handing President Trump a bleak set of jobs numbers, just one month after he fired the agency's commissioner over weak employment data. They also detail the specific damage the President's tariffs have done on the U.S. economy, as well as a new report from Goldman Sachs estimating that 86% of the tariff revenue collected so far has been paid by American businesses and consumers. Additionally, the pair talks about the latest news surrounding the Epstein files. Finally, they discuss the chilling implications as Trump continues working to turn the military into his own police force, which he seeks to unleash in predominantly Democratic-led American cities. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Sarah Jones' handle on BlueSky is @politicussarah.bsky.social and the website for PoliticusUSA is www.PoliticusUSA.com. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
: John Batchelor 09-03 segment 7.mp3 Guests: Gordon Chang and Captain James Fanell, United States Navy retired, intelligence officer for the Seventh Fleet and for the Indo-Pacific Theater. Pacific Tensions: Philippines, China, and US Naval Strategy Captain James Fanell and Gordon Chang analyze China's strategic ambition to subjugate the Philippines, building militarized islands in the South China Sea. Fanell highlights Scarborough Shoal as a critical "cork in the bottle," potentially used by China as a military base. He notes the Philippines' new forward operating base with anti-ship missiles in the Bashi Channel as a counter. Fanell suggests a reinvigorated US Navymorale and a shift in the Pentagon's approach to deter China. 1918 PEKING UNIVERSITY
This episode is sponsored by MASA and Wayfair! -Ready to give MASA a try? Go to MASAChips.com/HARLAND and use code HARLAND for 25% off your first order. T - Get organized, refreshed, and back to routine for way less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home. Join The Harland Highway Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/HarlandWilliams Thanks for watching the Harland Highway. More Harland Williams: Harland Highway Podcast Video: https://www.youtube.com/c/HarlandHighwayPodcast Harland Highway Podcast Audio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-harland-highway/id321980603 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harlandwilliams Harbling Shirts: https://www.harbling.com Official Website: https://www.harlandwilliams.com Twitter :https://twitter.com/harlandhighway?lang=en #podcast #harlandwilliams More Andrew Bustamante: Website: https://everydayspy.com/about-andrew X: https://x.com/EverydaySpy?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 3082 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about Vietnam Vet John J. Ruszkiewicz. The featured story appeared in the Pike County Courier. It was titled: ‘I served my country'. Fifty years after the end of … Continue reading →
This week on The Feds, we welcome Sam Shoemate, retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer and Intelligence Officer, renowned for advocating military accountability and supporting whistleblowers. We discuss the reasons behind and implications of the recent investigation into U.S. Navy Commander Rob Green. Why now? Sam also examines whether there will be arrests—or any accountability—for the alleged treasonous acts of former President Obama, as outlined in a recent report by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Finally, we explore how Americans can drive change locally and rebuild trust, given the federal government's critical need for reform.Sam Shoemate is the COO of Our Country Our Choice (OCOC). Check our OCOC: https://www.ourcountryourchoice.com/Follow Sam:https://x.com/samosaurhttps://www.instagram.com/terminalcwo/Check out Feds For Freedom's SubstackListen to The Feds on all platforms: https://taplink.cc/fedsforfreedomVisit our Website: FedsForFreedom.org Follow Feds For Freedom on Instagram/X (Twitter)/Facebook: @feds4freedomusa
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) gives the latest updates on Iran's nuclear program following missile strikes on their nuclear enrichment facilities by the Trump administration. He and Brad also discuss the U.N. nuclear agency disagreeing with the administration that the strikes have fully disabled Iran from enriching uranium for a nuclear weapon in the near future. Then, Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, joins Brad to break down Congressional Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' and why it's so intensely unpopular with Americans. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. The 'Social Security Works' website is www.socialsecurityworks.org and their handle on BlueSky is @socialsecurityworks.org. Alex's handle there is @alaw202.bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) gives the latest updates on Iran's nuclear program following missile strikes on their nuclear enrichment facilities by the Trump administration. He and Brad also discuss the U.N. nuclear agency disagreeing with the administration that the strikes have fully disabled Iran from enriching uranium for a nuclear weapon in the near future. Then, Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, joins Brad to break down Congressional Republicans' 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' and why it's so intensely unpopular with Americans. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. The 'Social Security Works' website is www.socialsecurityworks.org and their handle on BlueSky is @socialsecurityworks.org. Alex's handle there is @alaw202.bsky.social. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
PREVIEW: Colleague Jim Fanell, veteran intelligence officer USN, answers the question of PLA Navy air readiness for 2027. More. 1932 RANGER, LEX, SARA
William Lyne of the UK's National Crime Agency joins us live at Infosecurity Europe to talk ransomware, AI threats, and the future of cybercrime disruption.When the UK's top cyber intelligence strategist sits down with you in London, you listen — and you hit record.At Infosecurity Europe 2025, the ITSPmagazine podcast team — Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin — sat down with William Lyne, Deputy Director and Head of Cyber Intelligence at the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA). This is the guy who not only leads cyber strategy for the NCA, but has also represented the UK at the FBI in the U.S. and now oversees national-level ransomware disruption efforts. It's not just a conversation — it's a rare front-row seat into how one of the world's most serious crime-fighting agencies is tackling ransomware 3.0.The message? Ransomware isn't just a cyber issue. It's a societal one. And it's evolving faster than we're prepared for — unless we change the game.“It went from niche to national threat fast,” Lyne explains. “The tools were always there. It just took a few threat actors to stitch them together.”From banking malware to fully operational cybercrime-as-a-service ecosystems, Lyne walks us through how the underground economy has industrialized. Ransomware isn't just about tech — it's about access, scale, and business models. And most importantly, it's no longer limited to elite coders or closed-door Russian-speaking forums. The barrier to entry is gone, and the dark web is wide open for business.Sean brings up the obvious: “Why does this still feel like we're always reacting?”Lyne responds: “We've shifted. We're going after the ecosystem — the people, the infrastructure, the business model — not just the payload.” That includes disrupting ransomware-as-a-service, targeting marketplaces, and yes, investing in preemptive intelligence.Marco flips the script by comparing today's cyber landscape to something deeply human. “Extortion is nothing new — we've just digitalized it. This is human behavior, scaled by tech.”From there, the conversation takes a future-facing turn. Deepfakes, AI-powered phishing, the commoditization of generative tools — Lyne confirms it's all on their radar. But he's quick to note that cybercriminals aren't bleeding-edge innovators. “They adopt when the ROI is right. But AI-as-a-service? That's coming. And it will reshape how efficient — and damaging — these threats become.”And then the real insight lands:“You can't wait to be a victim to talk to law enforcement. We may already have access to the infrastructure. The earlier we hear from you, the better we can act — and fast.”That kind of operational openness isn't something you heard from law enforcement five years ago. It signals a cultural shift — one where collaboration is not optional, it's essential.William also highlights the NCA's partnerships with private sector firms, academia, and international agencies, including the Kronos operation targeting LockBit infrastructure. These kinds of collaborations prove that when information moves, so does impact.Why does this matter?Because while most cybersecurity media gets stuck in product buzzwords and vendor hype, this is the real stuff — how ransomware groups behave, how law enforcement thinks, and how society can respond. It's not theory. It's strategy, lived on the front lines.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton. Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) gives the latest updates on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. He also discusses President Trump having tanks roll into Washington D.C. for the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army (but also for his own birthday, which is the same day as the parade). Finally, the two discuss the Trump administration siccing 2,000 National Guard troops on protesters who were demonstrating against the administration's deportation tactics. Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, the host of the podcast, 'TARABUSTER.' The two discuss the meltdown between President Trump and Elon Musk, as well as how the mainstream media now seems to cover Billionaires like the third branch of Government. They also discuss the Trump administration siccing 2,000 National Guard troops on protesters who were demonstrating against the administration's deportation tactics. Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. Tara Devlin is a New York City based comedian, writer, and host of the unapologetically-liberal podcast "TARABUSTER.” Tarabuster is 5-star viewer-reviewed and 100% viewer-supported. Help keep the REAL liberal media going – and growing – by becoming a Patron of Tarabuster at Patreon.com/TaraDevlin. You can follow Tara on BlueSky at @tarabuster.bsky.social and on Instagram at @Taradackty. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
My special guest is John Guerra who's here to discuss his new book about U.S. Air Force Major George Filer who was among the generation of pilots and airmen who first became aware of the strange aircraft showing up in the Earth's atmosphere after World War II. About the book: These men - military professionals who flew planes, commanded ships, served as radar operators and air traffic controllers at air fields around the world - began to whisper amongst themselves about encounters with suspected extraterrestrial aircraft. During secret debriefings at U.S. bases, pilots and air crew told their commanders of seeing strange lights at night and in the daylight, groups of saucer- or cigar-shaped craft that easily paced them just a few yards off their plane's wingtip.Award-winning investigative reporter John Guerra spent four years interviewing Filer, a decorated intelligence officer. From objects in the skies over Cold War Europe to a UFO overflight during the Cuban Missile Crisis to strange lights over the DMZ during the Tet Offensive, Filer leaves nothing out about his Air Force UFO encounters, providing Guerra all the amazing details of his six decades investigating extraterrestrials and their craft. Filer's most memorable case - the shooting of an alien at Fort Dix Army Base in 1978 - is fully recounted for the first time in this book.Filer – who readers have seen on countless UFO documentaries – is also a member of the Disclosure Project, the famous panel of military experts, astronauts, and scientists that urges the U.S. government to release all it knows about UFOs to the public. Then, in the fall of 2017, the Pentagon released the F-18 gun camera footage of what can only be described as an extraterrestrial vehicle outperforming U.S. Navy fighters off San Diego. For the first time, after decades of denying what its intelligence officers, pilots, base commanders and air traffic control personnel know to be true, the military finally admitted to what Filer describes in this incredible book. If you're enjoying Mysterious Radio, now is the time to join Patreon. Soon, you'll only be able to access episodes by being part of our community there. You'll enjoy every episode ad-free, and we can share our episodes with you without censorship. Plus, joining us unlocks over 1000 bonus segments and episodes that will blow your mind! While the price is set to rise to $9.99, you can jump on board right now for just $5, and that's forever! Join The Brain Trust Now. Follow Our Other Shows Follow UFO Witnesses Follow Crime Watch Weekly Follow Paranormal Fears Follow Seven: Disturbing Chronicle Stories Join our Patreon for ad-free listening and more bonus content. Follow us on Instagram @mysteriousradio Follow us on TikTok mysteriousradioTikTok Follow us on Twitter @mysteriousradio Follow us on Pinterest pinterest.com/mysteriousradio Like us on Facebook Facebook.com/mysteriousradio]
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