Podcasts about Iranians

David Daoud reports on Hezbollah's regeneration in Lebanon, aided by Iranian funding and weapons. He criticizes the Lebanese government's inaction and the international community's appeasement strategy. Daoud argues that failing to disarm Hezbollah to avoid civil war only guarantees Lebanon's slow deterioration into a failed state. 1950

Malcolm Hoenlein condemns the Bondi Beach terror attack as part of a global pattern of Islamist violence fueled by appeasement. He highlights the Australian government's failure to address warning signs, including anti-Semitic marches, and notes Iranian influence, warning that ignoring these threats invites further radicalization and violence. 1905 Sydney

0:30 - A day of terror 13:14 - Aussie Hanukkah Bondi Beach shooting 36:33 - Brown U shooting 54:25 - Assisted suicide 01:15:46 - Steven Bucci, visiting fellow at The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, unpacks the ISIS killing of Americans in Syria, the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker bound for Cuba, and Nicolás Maduro’s strange—and telling—reaction to the tanker seizure at a rally in Venezuela. 01:34:22 - Ronald D. Vitiello, Senior DHS/CBP Advisor and former ICE leader, highlights the dangers of mass asylum under Biden — calling out a Democratic-run immigration system lacking integrity. 01:51:34 - Theodore Dalrymple, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor at City Journal, questions immigration, terrorism, and whether the BBC can still be trusted. Theodore is the author of many books, including Buried But Not Quite Dead: Forgotten Writers of Père Lachaise 02:10:18 - FBI veteran and Unabomber profiler James Fitzgerald on the chilling Reiner murders and the nationwide hunt for the Brown University shooter. James is also co-host the “Cold Red” podcast coldredpodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Iran's most celebrated filmmakers, Jafar Panahi, has spent the last quarter of a century in conflict with the Iranian government, which objects to his films' criticisms of their actions and the wider social conditions in the country, and has both arrested him several times and banned him from making films for twenty years - which hasn't stopped him. His latest, It Was Just an Accident, won the 2025 Palme d'Or, and tells the story of former political prisoners who capture a man they suspect was their torturer. It's a brilliant thriller which, despite the gravity and darkness of its subject matter, is energetic and entertaining. It effortlessly raises both moral and practical questions - What's the right thing to do with their captive? Have they become the torturers? If they let him live, won't he just come after them again? - without entering morality play territory, neither pretending to have the answers nor admonishing its characters for their choices and emotional responses. It's a vivid expression of the lasting effect the actions of the Iranian regime have had on its people, for whom merely the suggestion that they might be able to exact revenge on their torturer causes instant emotional outbursts. We discuss all this and more, including the depiction of a lawless culture in which you're constantly expected to give bribes to get by; the filmmaking, in which no filming permits were provided and Panahi had to once again violate his filmmaking ban; the question of how ambiguous the end might be and what that means; and a comparison with American cinema in Trump's America and the question of what might be happening under ICE, the immigration enforcement agency that's expanded into a neo-paramilitary force over the last year. It Was Just an Accident is a magnificent film. See it. Recorded on 10th December 2025.

Nitzan Nuriel, a reserve brigadier general and former head of the counter terrorism bureau, said that the full responsibility to protect Jews in Australia was up to their government and security forces and they failed. Turning to Lebanon, Nuriel told reporter Arieh O’Sullivan that Israel will likely launch massive strikes against Hizbullah in Lebanon to delay their rearming since Lebanon couldn’t do it and the Iranian-backed terror group was determined to rebuild itself despite the ceasefire. (photo: Fathi Ibrahim/flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans accuse the Democrats of playing politics with release of photos from the estate of late sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, that feature rich and powerful people, including Donald Trump. Also: Thailand attacks what Cambodia describes as civilian facilities near their shared border; Iranian security forces use violence to detain Nobel Peace Prize winner, Narges Mohammadi; the curtain is about to come down on John Cena, one of the most celebrated wrestlers from the world of Sports Entertainment and analysis shows pop song lyrics are getting sadder. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Another Conservative crosses the floor to join the government -- and now the Liberals are one vote shy of a majority. A Conservative strategist discusses the winter of his party's discontent. It's been nine months since he was deported to a prison in El Salvador. Now, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is out of detention. But his lawyer says that, under the Trump administration, his client is not going to relax. Iranian security forces violently arrest Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi after releasing her a year ago; her brother tells us he's afraid of what might happen next. A U.S. medical student volunteers to get an ultrasound in front of her class -- and discovers she has a dangerously enormous kidney stone. A linguist in Wales tells us why he's putting together the world's first dictionary of ancient Celtic -- and shares a few of his favourite words.An Australian politician is out to dinner when he looks at his pet cam -- and sees his cow and horse are hoofing it around his living room.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that guesses they got tired of his stall tactics.

This Friday the teams looks at the Indiana map redistricting, reporter from The Lever Brock Hrehor tells us about his reporting on Beef Markets price fixing your burger to cost $20 dollars, and a journalist from Al Jazeera Hind Hassan breaks down her documentary on the aftermath of the strikes on Iran known as the 12 Day War. Sign up to see the 2nd half of the show at breakingpoints.com Brock Hrehror Article: https://www.levernews.com/the-secret-algorithm-behind-your-20-burger/Hind Hassan Doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLAXcKI9OV8 To become a Breaking Points Premium Member and watch/listen to the show AD FREE, uncut and 1 hour early visit: www.breakingpoints.comMerch Store: https://shop.breakingpoints.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UN says a powerful storm is sweeping through Gaza, leaving 800,000 people in danger from deluged camps and collapsed buildings. (130)   Long description (no character limit and should always end with the words below): The UN says a powerful storm is sweeping through Gaza, leaving 800,000 people in danger from deluged camps and collapsed buildings.Also: an Australian minister accuses Reddit of trying to protect its profits, after it launches a legal challenge against the country's landmark social media ban for under-16s; how a growing number of young women are challenging the Iranian authorities; why the low-budget French videogame "Clair Obscur" has seen off its bigger American rivals to sweep the Game Awards; why conservationists fear some of the world's rarest apes, the Tapanuli orangutans, may have been destroyed in a devastating cyclone; and how changes in polar bear DNA could help protect the Arctic animals from climate change.    The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

U.S. authorities, including the Coast Guard, FBI, Homeland Security, and Navy, seized the tanker in a coordinated operation. Video footage of the boarding was released publicly. Official Justification: The seizure was based on violations of U.S. sanctions and links to illicit oil networks supporting sanctioned entities, including Iran. Venezuelan Reaction: The Maduro government condemned the action as “international piracy” and a violation of sovereignty, vowing to raise the issue in international forums. Geopolitical Impact: The incident escalated U.S.-Venezuela tensions, contributed to rising global oil prices, and raised questions about potential military escalation. Media Coverage: CNN and Fox News-while some portray the move as controversial, analysts argue it is consistent with past U.S. actions against Iranian oil tankers. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 400 of Roqe, Jian reunites members of the original team - Groovy Shaya, Captain Reza and Smart Pegah - for a special roundtable reflecting on the five and a half years since the show launched in April 2020. The conversation explores how Roqe evolved from a pandemic-era experiment into a global program streamed over 45 million times; how Toronto has become the epicentre of a rapidly growing Iranian diaspora; and how events such as the Mahsa Amini uprising, mass executions in Iran, worsening economic and environmental crises and the Iran-Israel conflict have reshaped the tone and urgency of diaspora media. The team also discusses the rise of Iranian digital creators, shifting audience expectations and standout moments from 400 episodes of Roqe. Plus: Jian speaks about the upcoming Roqe Live 6. Meezoon basheen.

Iran is a large country with 78 ethnic groups and countless languages spoken throughout the nation. Very few of these people have access to a Bible that is written in a language they can understand. What's more, the Iranian government can execute anyone who departs from the state-sponsored religion of Islam. Lana Silk is the CEO of Transform Iran, a ministry that works hard to support and uphold the horribly persecuted yet thriving church body in Iran. Lana now lives in the United States, but her formative childhood years were spent in Iran. She has a deep love for the Iranian people and seeks to share the love of Christ with them. Iranians are brutally victimized by their own government, and they are hungrier than ever for the Gospel message. As Christians, it is our duty to reach out and support the persecuted church.TAKEAWAYSWe are living in a spiritual war, and the Lord has equipped us with the weapons we need to fight itReaching the Iranian people or Islamic people should always start by sharing the love of Jesus ChristMany Muslims have an authentic desire to serve God, although they misunderstand who God is because of the Quran's deceptionOur responsibility is to be like Christ to the people around us and to follow His teachings

Daniele Irandoost is the author of four books and may have guested on this show as many times. One of his books was vetted and can be found in the CIA's libraries. He's a citizen of the UK, recently relocated from Britain to Scotland, and an outspoken critic of the surveillance State. His heritage is half Iranian, half Romanian and he's earned several degrees.We discuss diplomacy in it's current state and embark on an in depth, and hopefully, interesting discussion on whether diplomacy needs to follow the old rules or whether blunt force diplomacy is the rule of the day. Listen in if you want to hear an expert humor me. You know, like most episodes.   

The Iranian leader said the water problem in the capital “cannot be solved” and has suggested evacuating the city's nearly ten million residents. Iran and Egypt, two countries that criminalise homosexuality, were picked to play the World Cup's Pride Match in Seattle. And some councils are now regularly paying more than £250,000 a year to support children with special educational needs.Rebecca Moore is joined by The Observer reporters Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Jessy Parker Humphreys, and Fronts Editor Evan Moffitt, as they battle it out to pitch the top stories of the day. **We want to hear what you think! Email us at: newsmeeting@observer.co.uk Follow us on Social Media: @ObserverUK on X @theobserveruk on Instagram and TikTok@theobserveruk.bsky.social‬ on bluesky Host: Rebecca MooreProducer: Amalie SortlandExecutive Producer: Gary MarshallTo find out more about The Observer:Subscribe to TheObserver+ on Apple Podcasts for early access and ad-free contentHead to our website observer.co.uk Download the Observer app – for a listening experience curated by our journalists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rising Tensions: Hezbollah's Rearmament and Hamas's Defiance: Colleague Jonathan Schanzer warns that Hezbollah has rebuilt its strength in Lebanon using Iranian weapons, prompting Israeli threats of a full-scale attack, noting that Hamas refuses to disarm in Gaza, supported by Turkey and Qatar, while the U.S. moves to designate Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations. 1953

Syria's Fragmentation and the Regional Arms Race: Colleague Jonathan Schanzer describes Syria as a chaotic mix of armed factions, including Al-Qaeda-led pragmatists and Iranian proxies, held together only by regime brutality, mentioning potential U.S. plans for a base to deter bad actors and highlighting rapid military expansions by Turkey and Egypt amid regional instability. 1955

SHOW 12-9-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1918 THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT THE FED CUT AND THE MARKETS. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Wall Street Bets on Rate Cuts Despite Mixed Economic Signals: Colleague Elizabeth Peek discusses the near certainty of a Federal Reserve rate cut, noting Wall Street's optimism despite steady inflation and mixed employment signals, highlighting strong holiday spending and arguing that fears regarding tariffs were overblown, while emphasizing that AI investment is reshaping, rather than reducing, corporate hiring. 915-930 Concerns Over New York City Mayor-Elect Mamdani's Appointments: Colleague Elizabeth Peek criticizes Mayor-elect Mamdani's controversial appointments, including an ex-convict as a criminal justice adviser and anti-car activists for transportation roles, arguing these ideological choices neglect the pragmatic needs of citizens concerned with safety and education, predicting administrative failure for the new administration. 930-945 Rising Tensions: Hezbollah's Rearmament and Hamas's Defiance: Colleague Jonathan Schanzer warns that Hezbollah has rebuilt its strength in Lebanon using Iranian weapons, prompting Israeli threats of a full-scale attack, noting that Hamas refuses to disarm in Gaza, supported by Turkey and Qatar, while the U.S. moves to designate Muslim Brotherhood branches as terrorist organizations. 945-1000 Syria's Fragmentation and the Regional Arms Race: Colleague Jonathan Schanzer describes Syria as a chaotic mix of armed factions, including Al-Qaeda-led pragmatists and Iranian proxies, held together only by regime brutality, mentioning potential U.S. plans for a base to deter bad actors and highlighting rapid military expansions by Turkey and Egypt amid regional instability. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 The Trump Corollary: Reasserting Influence in the Western Hemisphere: Colleague Mary Kissel analyzes the new National Security Strategy, praising its focus on the Western Hemisphere to counter Russian and Chinese influence in Venezuela and Cuba, warning against accepting separate global spheres of influence and emphasizing that the U.S. faces a coordinated threat from China, Russia, and Iran globally. 1015-1030 Europe's Defense Dilemma and Demographic Decline: Colleague Mary Kissel attributes Europe's inability to fund Ukraine's defense to decades of relying on U.S. protection while prioritizing generous welfare states, citing "scary statistics" regarding France's aging population and pension burdens, arguing that Europe must pursue economic growth rather than government handouts to survive security challenges. 1030-1045 Europe's Economic Stagnation and the Innovation Gap: Colleague Joseph Sternberg discusses Europe's economic decline relative to the U.S., driven by high energy costs and excessive regulation, noting a growing debate in Brussels about deregulation but arguing Europe lacks a unified vision to encourage the entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation seen in the American system. 1045-1100 Angela Rayner's Return and Labour's Economic Struggles: Colleague Joseph Sternberg analyzes the political return of Angela Rayner and her push for a "workers rights bill" despite Prime Minister Starmer's plummeting popularity, arguing this move highlights internal Labour Party conflict and risks imposing policies detrimental to an economy already struggling with inflation and stagnation.THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 Paul Manafort and the Origins of Modern Foreign Lobbying: Colleague Ken Vogel chronicles how Paul Manafort revolutionized the lobbying industry by merging political consulting with foreign representation, creating a model later adopted by Tony Podesta and others, explaining how the fall of Ukraine's Yanukovych and subsequent investigations exposed the industry's widespread failure to comply with FARA regulations. 1115-1130 Robert Stryk's Risky Lobbying Missions in Somalia and Venezuela: Colleague Ken Vogel details lobbyist Robert Stryk's dangerous mission to Mogadishu to secure U.S. aid for Somalia's President Farmajo during the Trump administration, also describing Stryk's controversial efforts to represent Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, illustrating the lucrative and often perilous nature of foreign influence peddling in unstable regions. 1130-1145 The Revolving Door: Democratic Insiders and Foreign Influence: Colleague Ken Vogel explains how Democratic operatives like Anita Dunn and Antony Blinken leveraged government experience for lucrative consulting roles at firms like SKDK and WestExec, also discussing Hunter Biden's pardon regarding Chinese business dealings and Robert Stryk's representation of sanctioned Russian defense executives. 1145-1200 The Decline of FARA Enforcement and Politicized Justice: Colleague Ken Vogel argues that enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act is weakening, citing Rudy Giuliani's work for sanctioned Balkan leaders and Attorney General Pam Bondi's potential decriminalization of FARA, suggesting the U.S. is returning to a "Wild West" era of unregulated foreign influence where laws are flouted. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 Reviving the Monroe Doctrine via the Trump Corollary: Colleague Gregory Copley analyzes the Trump administration's National Security Strategy, which reasserts the Monroe Doctrine to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the Western Hemisphere, arguing that "gunboat diplomacy" off Venezuela effectively restores U.S. sovereignty, signaling a shift toward self-reliance and away from traditional alliances like NATO. 1215-1230 European Leaders Scramble to Support Ukraine Amidst Domestic Crises: Colleague Gregory Copley discusses the meeting between UK, French, and German leaders with Zelenskyy, noting they are using the Ukraine war to distract from domestic political failures, tracing Europe's defense dependency to U.S. post-WWII policies and suggesting Zelenskyy is leveraging European fears against Washington to secure his future. 1230-1245 The Strategic Implosion of China and Global Realignments: Colleague Gregory Copley asserts that the People's Republic of China has strategically collapsed due to economic failure and demographic decline, claiming Xi Jinping is no longer effectively in power, noting that Russia is distancing itself from Beijing and Western leaders like Albanese are pivoting back toward Washington. 1245-100 AM King Charles, Environmental Realism, and UK Political Instability: Colleague Gregory Copley observes that King Charles avoids political climate statements despite Bill Gates' recent realism regarding environmental alarmism, discussing political instability in the UK and suggesting Prime Minister Starmer faces challenges from the left that could force new elections, potentially benefiting reformists like Nigel Farage.

Hormoz Shariat once chanted "Death to America!" in the streets of Tehran, Iran, but after doubts crept into his heart about Islam he was forced to reckon with what he truly believed about God. His conclusions and ensuing actions would eventually lead the Iranian government to branding him as an enemy of the state. Show notes: https://compelledpodcast.com/episodes/hormoz-shariat ++++++++++++ Compelled is a seasonal podcast using gripping, immersive storytelling to celebrate the powerful ways God is transforming Christians around the world. These Christian testimonies are raw, true, and powerful. Be encouraged and let your faith be strengthened! Want to help make new episodes? Either make a one-time gift, or become a Monthly Partner at: https://compelledpodcast.com/donate Perks of being a Monthly Partner include: EARLY ACCESS to each new Compelled episode 1 week early! FULL LIBRARY of our unedited, behind-the-scenes interviews with each guest... over 100+ hours of additional stories and takeaways! Become a Monthly Partner by selecting the "Monthly" option during check-out.  Show notes, emails, and more at: https://compelledpodcast.com Buy the Compelled book of testimonies, endorsed by Lee Strobel, Marvin Olasky, and more: ⁠https://compelledpodcast.com/book Compelled is a member of the Proclaim Podcast Network: https://proclaim.fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Russian-Israeli academic Elizabeth Tsurkov was freed from captivity in Iraq in September following two and a half years of imprisonment and torture, she returned to a very different Israel, she said in a wide-ranging interview on the Haaretz Podcast. Israelis “have changed in very fundamental ways,” she said. “After October 7, the circle of people towards whom Israelis feel compassion shrunk very significantly.” As she returns to public life as a researcher and commentator on Middle East affairs, while undergoing physical rehabilitation from injuries she suffered as the prisoner of Kata’ib Hezbollah, she has already been attacked by the Israeli right for social media posts in support of human rights and critical of Israel’s policies in Gaza. Despite being held in captivity, she said, her political views “have not substantially changed: I still see Arabs as human beings, which is an unpopular opinion, it seems.” In her conversation with host Allison Kaplan Sommer, Tsurkov discusses the politics of Iraq – the country where she was kidnapped and held – following their recent elections, calling it a “failed oil state” driven by the behavior of Iranian-backed militias with “no clear path for reform and change.” She also analyzes the impact of the new regime in Syria, praising the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump towards the year-old government. She also credits the president with her release. “Trump is the reason I'm free. This is not an interpretation, this is a fact. I know exactly how I came to be released: It was because of threats that were made on his behalf.” Read more: Right-wing Pundit Amit Segal: Tsurkov 'Should Do Some Soul-searching About the Price Her Stupid Adventures Cost Israel' 'Strung Up and Tortured': Elizabeth Tsurkov Recounts Over Two Years of Captivity in Iraq 'Things Weren't Easy': After Iraq Captivity, Elizabeth Tsurkov Tells Netanyahu She Was Tortured What Is Kata'ib Hezbollah? Opinion | Through My Friend Elizabeth Tsurkov, I Learned That Syrians and Israelis Desire the Same Thing Elizabeth Tsurkov's past writing for HaaretzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Cybersecurity Defenders Podcast, we discuss some intel being shared in the LimaCharlie community.For for more information about Cybersecurity Cares, visit cybersecurity-cares.comThe Tomiris cyber-espionage group, which has been under Kaspersky's watch since 2021, has evolved its tactics in a new wave of attacks observed in early 2025. Article #2.CISA has recently added CVE-2021-26829 to its known exploited vulnerabilities, or KEV catalog, marking it as a confirmed threat based on real world exploitation. Researchers at KOI Security have identified a malicious NPM package, which not only performs typical credential stealing behavior, but also includes a new, subtle tactic attempting to manipulate AI-driven security scanners via embedded prompt engineering. Article #2.Iranian state sponsored threat group MuddyWater has launched a new wave of cyber espionage attacks targeting Israeli organizations across sectors including academia, civil infrastructure, engineering, technology and utilities.Support our show by sharing your favorite episodes with a friend, subscribe, give us a rating or leave a comment on your podcast platform.This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io.

This episode comes from one of RENEW.org's National Gatherings. Interested in joining one of our events? Check out upcoming events here: https://renew.org/resources/events/  Get early access to all of the 2025 RENEW Gathering Breakout Tracks: https://reallifetheologypodcast.supercast.com/  Visit RENEW.org for great resources on Disciple Making and Theology.  The Power of Obedience: Embracing Scripture in Every Aspect of Life In this compelling talk, Reneé Sproles shares her experiences from homeschooling her children and participating in the School of Christian Thought. She highlights the inspiring stories of Miriam Ros Depor and Marza Amirta, two Iranian women who risked their lives to distribute true New Testament Bibles in Tehran. Reneé emphasizes the importance of obedience to scripture, explaining that true understanding and freedom come through living out the verses daily. She also discusses the challenges faced by different cultures in adhering to biblical teachings and stresses that obedience to God's word is essential for both children and adults. Join Reneé in exploring how a consistent commitment to scripture can transform lives and deepen one's relationship with God. Key Takeaways 00:00 Introduction and Speaker Background 01:02 Inspiring Story of Miriam and Marza 04:18 The Importance of Obedience in Faith 07:54 Parenting and Teaching Obedience 15:58 Cultural Challenges and Biblical Teachings 19:14 Conclusion: The Power of Obedience

Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia after deadly clashes, The Supreme Court weighs Trump's power to fire an FTC official, ECOWAS deploys forces after a foiled coup attempt in Benin, China's trade surplus tops $1 trillion, The U.S. deports over 50 Iranians in a second flight under a new deal, Nigeria frees 100 abducted schoolchildren, Syria marks the first anniversary of the fall of the Assad government, Over 100 UK MPs demand binding AI regulations amid government delays, Paramount launches a $108 billion bid for Warner Bros. amid a Netflix deal, A report finds that disability registrations are surging at elite US universities, and Iran arrests two marathon organizers over unveiled women runners. Sources:  Verity.News  

In this episode, we welcome Congressman Gabe Evans, a former law enforcement officer, who passionately defends the challenges faced by police in today's society. He discusses the alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths and how leftist ideologies are impacting law enforcement and community safety. Later, we confront the alarming situation in Iran as Ali Safavi from the National Council for Resistance of Iran shares a sobering update on the escalating executions and repression faced by the Iranian people. With over 1,900 executions reported in 2025 alone, including political dissidents and women, Ali discusses the dire state of the Iranian economy and the regime's desperate measures to maintain control. He emphasizes the need for the international community to stand with the Iranian people and support their fight for freedom while detailing the organized resistance and the potential for change. Finally, we address the alarming revelations about social media platforms and their impact on children's safety with technology expert Daniel Cochrane. Delve into the troubling findings from Meta's internal documents, which suggest a prioritization of profit over the well-being of young users.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

PREVIEW — David Daoud — Hezbollah's Ideological Bond and Financial Secrecy. Daoud explains that Hezbollah'sfinancial structures remain systematically opaque and untraceable, as the organization utilizes clandestine fundraising mechanisms and independent revenue streams rather than relying exclusively upon Iranian material support and financial transfers. Daoud characterizes the "genius" of the Hezbollah-Iran relationship as fundamentally ideological rather than transactional; Hezbollah maintains unwavering loyalty to Tehran rooted in shared religious conviction and revolutionary philosophy, meaning the organization would remain strategically faithful to Iran even if material support and financial subsidies were terminated, creating durable strategic partnership independent of fluctuating resource availability. 1960 BEIRUT

The discussion delves into the complex historical eras of Iraq, challenging binary understandings of its past and present. A professor at Haverford College and author of "Political Undesirables: Citizen Denaturalization and Reclamation in Iraq and Return to Ruin: Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia", Zainab Saleh discusses how the Iraq she grew up in—during the Ba'ath Party reign and under Saddam Hussein—was a time of fear and repression, despite the earlier period of high hopes and political aspirations in the 1940s and 1950s. She explores the concept of nostalgia for the Saddam era, which exists even among those who suffered under the regime, because of the basic services that were provided. The conversation offers a nuanced timeline of modern Iraqi history, from World War I's role in creating Middle Eastern nation-states through the Ottoman and British rules, the monarchy, and the Ba'ath Party. A key focus is placed on the 1990s as a major turning point, with the 1991 bombardment and subsequent sanctions leading to the rapid deterioration of infrastructure, increased social problems like begging and corruption, and environmental collapse. We consider the argument that the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the US invasion should be viewed as one long, continuous war. Saleh critiques the simplistic narrative that Americans brought to Iraq after 2003, arguing that it institutionalized a sectarian political system. She emphasizes that the American discourse—classifying Sunnis as loyalists and Shia or Kurds as oppressed—ignored the reality of mixed communities and complex political loyalties. Saleh explores the historical use of denaturalization in Iraq, a topic central to her latest book. She details how the British and subsequent Iraqi regimes used the pretext of "political undesirables" to strip citizens of their rights, citing examples such as Iraqi Jews in the 1950s and Iraqis of Iranian origin in the 1980s. 0:00 Introduction 1:50 When Did The Iraq You Grew Up In Start?2:54 The High Hopes of the 1940s and 1950s3:33 Nostalgia, Time, and Loss7:09 The Broad Phases of Iraqi History9:33 Cultural Renaissance Under the Monarchy10:00 Vibrant Leftist Politics in the Monarchy Era11:39 Nostalgia for the Monarchy13:00 The Largest Effect on Daily Life: 1991 Bombardment and Sanctions16:29 Connecting the Wars: One Long War17:59 The Lead-up to Saddam's Invasion of Kuwait19:33 The Vision of the Neoconservatives20:40 Misunderstandings about US Imperialism22:11 The Myth of Iraqi Sectarianism23:24 The Institutionalization of a Sectarian System25:27 The Role of the Iraqi Opposition Abroad28:29 Phases of Post-2003 Iraq29:12 The Civil War and Proxy War (2006-2008)30:20 Displacement and the Reorganization of Iraqi Society30:52 Social Mobilization: 2011 and the Tishreen Uprising (2019)31:24 The Catastrophe of ISIS34:29 The Problem with Nostalgic Photos40:14 When One Dictator Becomes a Source of Nostalgia41:16 The Book: Political Undesirables and Denaturalization41:59 The Deportation of Iraqis of Iranian Origin (1980)44:48 Denaturalization as a Systemic Pattern48:19 Issuing Passports After World War I51:00 The Expulsion of Iraqi Jews (1950)51:25 Iraqi Jews as an Integral Part of Society52:44 The Ancient History of Babylonian Jews55:20 The Basis for Expulsion58:19 Recommended Readings on Iraqi History Zainab Saleh is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Haverford College and the author of books "Return to Ruin: Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia" (2020) and "Political Undesirables: Citizenship, Denaturalization, and Reclamation in Iraq" (2025).Connect with Zainab Saleh

Episode 399 of Roqe features the return of Dr. Kayvan Mirhadi – “Dr. Kay” – the Chief of Internal Medicine at Clifton Springs Hospital in New York and one of the most trusted medical voices for Iranians around the world. He first gained widespread recognition during COVID-19 and again during the Mahsa Amini protests, when his clear guidance and steady presence became a lifeline for millions. In this special feature, Jian Ghomeshi puts 12 (although it ends up being more like 8!) of the most common and most sensitive audience questions to him – from Plan B to herpes panic, from anal sex myths to antibiotics, stress, fasting diets, Vitamin D, and more. A candid, informative, surprisingly funny conversation that cuts through fear, misinformation, stigma, and confusion. Also in this episode: A reveal of the first lineup for Roqe Live 6, happening February 19, 2026 at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets go on sale next Wednesday, Dec 10th at 9am ET, with early-bird pricing for the first 24 hours. This edition of Roqe is created with support from Quasar Homes. Follow for more interviews, essays, and conversations from across the Iranian diaspora. Instagram: @roqemedia @JianGhomeshi Meezoon basheen.

X: @RepFine @ileaderssummit @americasrt1776 @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia Join America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with U.S. Congressman Randy Fine. Randy Fine was elected to represent Florida's 6th Congressional District in April of 2025 and serves on the House Foreign Affairs and the Education and Workforce Committee. A third-generation Floridian, Randy built a career as a successful entrepreneur, founding and running businesses in retail, technology, and hospitality. At 40, he retired from the private sector to focus on raising his two sons, Jacob and David, with his wife, Wendy. Randy's retirement didn't last long. In 2016, he was elected to the Florida House - before moving on to the Florida Senate and then Congress. As the only Jewish Republican in the Florida Legislature, Randy led the fight to make Florida the safest state in America for Jewish families and people of faith. Randy graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a degree in government and later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. Topics: 1) Update on the U.S. economy, inflation, grocery prices and cost of gas. The inflation rate under President Biden's administration was 9.1% (year-over-year, as measured by the Consumer Price Index), which occurred in June 2022. This was the highest rate in approximately 40 years. Through President Trump's leadership on the economic front, the high inflation rate has dropped to 3%. The record high inflation under the Biden-Harris administration pushed up grocery prices to an all-time high. Congressman Fine addresses the concerns of the high cost of living with a clear explanation. Gas prices under the Biden administration surged to a high of $5.016 per gallon for regular unleaded, recorded on June 14, 2022. Today, gas prices have dropped to a national average of $2.93, with the average gas price in Mississippi dropping to around $2.57 per gallon of regular unleaded. Today, Democrats are running elections on "affordability" while facts clearly reveal that they created the economic crisis in the first place. It was the Biden administration's policies voted by Democratic Party members of Congress which have hurt American families and the US economy. The conversation focuses on how decent hard-working Americans will benefit from the tax cuts including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime and the removal of taxes on social security impacting retirees. 2) The rise of anti-Semitism in America with a focus on polling showing that anti-Israel sentiment is rising on the Republican side, especially among young voters. 3) President Trump's efforts to curtail the flow of drugs from Venezuela by targeting boats transporting cocaine to America. In the US, around 42 million people had used cocaine at some point in their lifetime as of 2024. An estimated 22,174 people died from a cocaine-involved overdose in 2024. 4) Bringing to the forefront how NATO member Croatia sold illicit Iranian oil stored in Croatian government facilities. The illegal scheme (operating between 2022 and 2024) where nearly one million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil were allegedly stored in a Croatian facility before being sold as Malaysian oil to evade U.S. sanctions. Report: "A civil forfeiture complaint was filed early this year in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that $47 million in proceeds from the sale of nearly one million barrels of Iranian petroleum is forfeitable as property of, or affording a person a source of influence over, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) or its Qods Force (IRGC-QF), designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). 5) The China threat. 6) Focusing on Congressman Randy Fine's effort in co-sponsoring the bill The Veterans' Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Service members (ACCESS) Act of 2025 with Chairman Mike Bost, House Veterans Affairs Committee, a Marine veteran. americasrt.com (https://americasrt.com/) https://ileaderssummit.org/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 X: @RepFine @ileaderssummit @americasrt1776 @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk @JTitMVirginia America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio program focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 68 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Tune into WTON in Central Virginia on Sunday mornings at 9:30 A.M. (ET). Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm

Lebanon's Demographic Decline and Political Stagnation: Colleague Hussain Abdul-Hussain reports that Pope Leo's visit highlighted Lebanon's diminishing Christian population, now estimated at perhaps one-quarter, with the government remaining weak and reluctant to disarm Hezbollah, fearing foreign deals that sacrifice national interests; while civil war is unlikely, the country remains dominated by an Iranian-backed militia. 1950 BEIRUT

SHOW 12-5-25 CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR 1940 PITTSBURGH THE SHOW BEGINS IN THE DOUBTS ABOUT INFLATION. FIRST HOUR 9-915 Infrastructure Booms and Business Exoduses in the West: Colleague Jeff Bliss reports that high-speed rail construction from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is accelerating in anticipation of the 2028 Olympics, while the Boring Company expands tunnel networks; conversely, California faces corruption scandals and business flights, and Oregon sees companies like Columbia Sportswear struggle with the business climate. 915-930 Milan Prepares for Christmas and the Olympics: Colleague Lorenzo Fiori reports that Milan celebrates St. Ambrose Day with traditional markets and lights, marking the start of the holiday season, as the city prepares to host the Winter Olympics in February 2026, with cultural events including the La Scala premiere of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk and the enjoyment of Panettone. 930-945 Supreme Court Enables Partisan Gerrymandering: Colleague Richard Epstein discusses the Supreme Court permitting Texas to redraw congressional districts for 2026, favoring Republicans, arguing that lack of oversight allows parties to entrench power, creating extreme polarization where "reds become redder and blues become bluer," making legislative compromise nearly impossible. 945-1000 Scrutiny Over Lethal Strike on Drug Boat: Colleague Richard Epstein examines Defense Secretary Hegseth facing pressure regarding a lethal strike on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean, with reports suggesting survivors may have been shot in the water, asserting that murdering surrendered individuals violates the laws of war, regardless of whether the targets were smugglers. SECOND HOUR 10-1015 Lancaster County Shows Consumer Fatigue: Colleague Jim McTague reports that retailers in Lancaster are using deep discounts to attract price-sensitive shoppers, noting that while weekend traffic is decent, weekdays are slow and high-end dining is struggling, with the job market tightening significantly as skilled labor demands vanish, suggesting consumers are "running out of disposable income". 1015-1030 Future Tech and Economic Shifts: Colleague Jim McTague predicts "creative destruction" where old industries fade, expressing bullishness on solar power due to data center demands and envisioning self-driving cars and useful humanoid robots revolutionizing daily life, with rate cuts expected in 2026 as consumers rebuild savings after a period of spending. C 1030-1045 Private Space Sector Challenges and Triumphs: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports that Jared Isaacman testified that private companies, not NASA, are driving space colonization; a Russian cosmonaut was removed from a SpaceX mission for spying, while China successfully tested a reusable rocket; additionally, Boeing faces legal challenges from crash victims' families, and activists oppose Blue Origin's operations. 1045-1100 New Discoveries Challenge Cosmic Models: Colleague Bob Zimmerman reports that ground-based telescopes have directly imaged exoplanets and debris discs, the James Webb Telescope found a barred spiral galaxy in the early universe defying evolutionary models, scientists discovered organic sugars on asteroid Bennu, and admits solar cycle predictions have been consistently incorrect. THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 The Early Church Headquarters on Mount Zion: Colleague James Tabor discusses archaeology on Mount Zion revealing a first-century foundation beneath a medieval church, likely the headquarters of the early movement, describing this as the home where James led the church and Mary hosted pilgrims, with Mary possibly living long enough to witness James's martyrdom. 1115-1130 The Historical Disappearance of Mary: Colleague James Tabor explains that following the crucifixion, Mary disappears from the biblical record, likely dying before the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem; while early Christians fled to Pella under Simon's leadership, traditions suggest Mary died on Mount Zion, with Tabor arguing she was "written out" of the story by later traditions. 1130-1145 The Talpiot Tomb and Ossuary Evidence: Colleague James Tabor discusses a tomb discovered in 1980 containing ossuaries with a unique cluster of names, including Jesus, Maria, and Jose, suggesting this could be the Jesus family tomb, supported by statistical analysis and an ossuary inscribed "James son of Joseph brother of Jesus," with new DNA testing underway. 1145-1200 Mary's Influence on Early Christian Teachings: Colleague James Tabor examines the "Q" source containing teachings shared by Matthew and Luke that parallel the words of James and John the Baptist, positing that Mary, as the mother, was the source of this shared wisdom, arguing that historians must reclaim her humanity and influence from theological erasure. FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 The Limits of AI and the Global Quantum Race: Colleague Brandon Weichert explains that current AI models are data crunchers rather than thinking entities, facing limits known as "The Bitter Lesson," while China is "nanoseconds" away from practical quantum computing aimed at decrypting military communications, with Switzerland and Singapore also pursuing sovereign quantum capabilities to ensure digital independence. 1215-1230 Lebanon's Demographic Decline and Political Stagnation: Colleague Hussain Abdul-Hussain reports that Pope Leo's visit highlighted Lebanon's diminishing Christian population, now estimated at perhaps one-quarter, with the government remaining weak and reluctant to disarm Hezbollah, fearing foreign deals that sacrifice national interests; while civil war is unlikely, the country remains dominated by an Iranian-backed militia. 1230-1245 Nuclear Ambitions in South Korea: Colleague Henry Sokolski reports that South Korea is requesting nuclear-powered submarines and enrichment rights, raising concerns about potential nuclear proliferation, with some arguing this could lead to a confederation with the North or US withdrawal, while others prefer Seoul invest in American nuclear facilities to strengthen the alliance. 1245-100 AM audi Arabia Seeks Nuclear Capabilities: Colleague Henry Sokolski explains that Saudi Arabia wants a nuclear power plant but resists signing US protocols allowing inspections; while Washington may view this as a hedge against Iran, a Saudi nuclear capability would threaten Israel's qualitative military edge, and the US has not yet granted advanced consent for enrichment.

Eugene Hasenfus died this week. He had been part of a covert operation to supply weapons to the anti-Sandinista group known as the "contras." As part of this activity, he was in an airplane shot down over Nicaragua while doing an arms delivery. His capture exposed a massive scheme by the U.S. government to sell arms to Iran in exchange for freeing U.S. hostages taken by pro-Iranian militias in Beirut and use the money to fund the contras war against the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. It became known as the "Iran-contra" affair, or "Iran-contraGate." It reached the highest levels in the U.S. government. And led to a number of convictions (and, later, presidential pardons.)In our latest, we look into the history of Reagan's wars in Central America, the Iran-contra scandal and subversion as foreign policy. ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave is joined by chef, food truck lifer, yakitori operator, and SNIBBS co-founder Daniel Shemtob for a run through hearts, food trucks, and what actually keeps you upright on a greasy kitchen floor. They start with skewers and offal: chicken hearts vs duck and beef heart, a Korean beef-heart “Heart & Soul” taco, tortilla engineering, and why overstuffed tacos are a design flaw. From there it's boiled peanuts, peanut butter nerdery, uncooked cranberry “relish” with horseradish, Thanksgiving recaps from LA, Milwaukee, and beyond, plus British Columbia saffron versus Iranian saffron and how Persian techniques layer saffron, rosewater, and pistachio. Quinn and Dave get into extraction temperatures for mushrooms and saffron, raising kids to eat more than grilled cheese, and where dishes like tofu stroganoff and meat-free mapo tofu do (and don't) earn the original name. In the back half, Daniel breaks down what 15 years on The Lime Truck have really taught him: why most of the money is in catering, how to design menus that can scale up and down, and how easy it is to gross big numbers and still make almost nothing if you don't control labor and food costs. He also walks through the origin of SNIBBS—his own career-changing slip-and-fall, working with an orthopedic surgeon, why chefs need firm soles and a small but real heel drop, and how he ended up building a chef-driven shoe brand backed by people like Nancy Silverton, Andrew Zimmern, and Michael Voltaggio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover Lafayette welcomes Hans Nelsen, known on air as “Fast,” who co-hosts the morning show on Big 102.1 from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. each weekday with CJ Clements. Pictured are CJ Clements and “Fast” (Hans Nelson), co-hosts of Big 102.1’s Morning Show Hans has been on the air in South Louisiana since 1985, starting as a USL student working the graveyard shift at a new urban contemporary station and going on to serve as on-air talent, program director, account executive, and sales manager at several top local stations. He also spent years as a stadium voice and play-by-play broadcaster, and his career has become intertwined with the story of local broadcasting in Acadiana. Hans was joined by his lifelong friend Sean Trcalek, General Manager of KATC TV-3, who was once known on radio as “Charlie Roberts.” The two reminisce about their early days as radio co-hosts and their lifelong friendship. Early Love of Music and the Magic of Radio Hans grew up in a home filled with very different kinds of music, from German organ to big show tunes, and a little boy's transistor radio became his portal to the wider world of sound. He recalls: “I grew up in a household where my dad listened to German organ music and would play it throughout the house on Sunday afternoons. We had to listen to it whether we wanted to or not. My mom was really into big show tunes. ‘I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” and “The Sound of Music.” But his own soundtrack lived on his bike: “As a little boy, I had a transistor radio that I taped to the handlebars of my bike, and I would listen to top 40 in one way or another. 1972.” He loved the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and pop hits like “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero.” As he got older, he says, “I really wanted to be a musician, and I wanted to be a singer, and I can’t really do any of that. I can play a little guitar, but radio was this next opportunity, though I didn’t really know you could turn it into a career. I just thought it would be something I did for fun.” Learning Radio on the Graveyard Shift Hans' first job was at an urban contemporary station, Foxy 106.3 (KFXZ). Growing up in New Iberia, he already knew some of the music: “It’s funny, you could be a rock guy, but also listen to the Gap Band and Kool and the Gang.” Even so, he had to go deeper into that catalog for a targeted audience: “This was deeper and a more targeted ethnic audience. But it was a piece of cake, because I loved music.” Being alone on the air at night was intimidating: “Well, I’d listen to so much radio. You try to imitate or emulate Casey Kasem, but I was so terrible. The fact that they let me stay past the first night…It was the middle of the night miracle.” He also remembers the mind games of that lonely studio: “You’re in a room by yourself and you can play mind games because you can either convince yourself that no one hears you, or that everyone’s listening. That one mistake, everybody’s going to hear it.” Hustling Through College Radio and 24-Hour Weekends Still in school, Hans got a weekend job at KVOL (1330 AM) and was quickly recruited by KSMB: “On my second shift, Scott Seagraves called me from KSMB and said, I’m listening to you. Do you want to come work for me?” He was “so hungry” to be on the air that he took on extraordinary hours. ““I would do six to noon on KSMB on Saturday and Sunday, and quickly added noon to six on weekends at KXKW. So, I worked 24 hours in two days and worked at a bar both nights. But I knew that I had the bug, and I turn it into a job!” That building is where he and Sean first truly connected and eventually became a morning team: “And Sean comes into that building, we end up being the morning team and here we are.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1XZVTbmikg Teaming Up with Sean: Voices, Characters, and Parodies Sean came in as a young newsreader, hired to do newscasts in the morning and afternoon. Their chemistry led to a two-man show that blurred the lines between straight news and wild characters. Sean explains: “It started as you and Debbie Ray and me in news. Well, when Debbie left, it was you and me doing news. And I think it was just kind of like. Why do we need a third guy? You know, I still did the newscast, but it was a two man show.” Hans recalls the “credibility issue”: “Sean's doing the ‘17 people were killed today' delivering the news and then he’s doing this crazy voice five minutes later and people knew it was the same guy. But we somehow just moved past that.” The two displayed a gift for spontaneous skits and song parodies: “We both could really rewrite song lyrics. We could make custom versions of big songs at the time. Remember Michael Johnson's ‘Give me wings, gimme wings.” It would end up, “Don’t give me legs. Breasts or thighs!” Hans says the creativity often felt effortless. “What was special about us? A special talent we both had was that there was no prep. We would sometimes do stuff and turn the microphone off. We’d look at each other thinking, that’s good. How did we just do that?” Hans Nelson (‘Fast’) and Sean Trcalek (‘Charlie Roberts’) pictured early in their broadcasting careers on the radio together. They have remained close friends over the decades. Humor, Changing Sensibilities, and Wanting Everyone to Feel Welcome Looking back at their 1980s material, Hans is candid about how much humor standards have changed: “Yeah, it was humor, but let’s just say sensibilities are different, right?” He offered a vivid analogy from pro wrestling to show how certain stereotypes were once normalized and now are not: “The character development in the 70s and 80s was the Iranian guy or the Nazi guy was the bad guy. It was what they did. You just don’t do that now, right?” Hans shared his personal compass: “I always wanted everybody to like me. I need as many listeners as I can get. They don’t have to look like me. They don’t have to vote like me. They don’t have to drive the same kind of car as me. But I want everybody to say, ‘I like listening to that guy on the radio.” Music, Memory, and Nostalgia of Radio For both Hans and Sean, music is deeply emotional and geographically specific; certain songs instantly bring them back to particular corners of their childhoods. Hans shared, “Some songs. What I’ve always been amazed by is when you hear a song and it brings you to a specific place. I mean, like a certain corner in your hometown and you’re like, why am I thinking of that when I hear Sammy John's “Chevy Van?” He offers another vivid memory: “Saturday in the Park by Chicago reminds me of standing in line at Saint Edward’s Catholic School for the cafeteria. I don’t know why.” Becoming “Fast Eddie” and Then Simply “Fast” A big turning point came when KSMB's sister station needed a music director and night disc jockey. The job came with a new name Hans disliked: “They tell me, your name is going to be Fast Eddie.” He tried to negotiate the name away, but wouldn't get the job if he didn't accept the on-air name. KSMB was too big to walk away from: Later, when he was put in charge of a new station and morning show, he pushed to shorten the name: “When we put the morning show on, it was the rude awakening with ‘Fast Eddie and Rob.' We could have done it. It just didn’t sound right. Fast is a speed, not a name, but it ended up being I can’t go anywhere and people yell it out like it’s normal. When I hear Hans, it’s heartwarming. I love being Hans, I wish I could be Hans on air.” The Power and Future of Local Broadcasting Both Hans and Sean describe themselves first and foremost as broadcasters: “What we have always had in common and still have in common is we’re broadcasters. People say, what do you do? I don’t say I’m the general manager of a TV station, or I’m a broadcaster. We’re local broadcasters and we’re passionate about it. We have been since the day we met, and to this day, we’re passionate about the impact that local radio and television can have on a market.” For Hans, that impact includes everything from playing nostalgia-filled music to public service in storms: “By impact, I mean moving people. When you play music, when you tell them what the weather’s going to be like, but also telling people where to go pick up sandbags.” Hans reminds us, “During a hurricane, we’re still the last man standing. TV stations may go down… but I have been on the air during hurricanes when I was the only voice available on the air in this market.” Sean highlights the advocacy role broadcasters have played in keeping AM radio in cars: “We are big advocates, and were successful this past year in advocating that automakers continue to be required to put AM radios in new cars. The reason to keep AM radio is that its infrastructure often remains operational when power grids fail and cell networks are overloaded or damaged, providing a core part of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). During events like hurricanes, AM stations became the primary way people received verified, real-time information, coordinated help, and connected with the outside world when phones and internet were down. They both reject the idea that streaming will wipe out local media: Hans says, “I’ll wrap that up with saying, Satellite radio and Netflix are not going to mean the end of local radio and local TV.” A Morning Show Today: Competing With Phones, Not Just Stations Hans reflects on what it's like doing a local morning show in 2020s Lafayette: “Technologically, it’s very different. Audience participation and reception is very different. We compete with many more things. I believe my biggest competitor in drive time is the telephone.” Listeners no longer call to check school closures, they get texts, but live local radio still plays a crucial role, especially in emergencies. Hans and his long-time friend CJ now host a show built on deep local roots: “We put this show together with almost a hundred years of Lafayette radio experience in one room for four hours a morning. There’s nothing that has happened here since the 60s that we don’t know about. We know where every street is. We know where the schools are. We know it. To me, it is a gift.” Big 102.1 has embraced app listening while staying “radio-first”: “On big 102.1, we've had over 1,000,000 hours of listening on our app. We’re still a radio station first. So if that many people are listening, that’s why we’re still effective… we do everything we can to stay connected to the audience, to do relevant things, provide relevant content and make it fun.” Voice of the Ragin' Cajuns From 2009 to 2017, Hans served as the stadium voice for UL Lafayette football and basketball, a role that grew out of his lifelong fandom: “I was such a fan. I was a Ragin Cajun as a kid. I wasn’t an LSU kid or a Tulane kid. It was USL.” Eventually, security protocols and family priorities pushed him to step away so he could watch games in the stands with his daughter: “Because of security protocol, she could not come in the press box. So when it was my weekend, I lost the whole Saturday and I said I would rather be in the stands with her watching the game.” His last act as stadium voice was a memorable one: “So my last duty was to introduce Billy Napier as the head coach. And I resigned that day.” Christian's Story, Organ Donation, and a Legacy of Life In one of the most moving parts of our conversation, Hans shares the story of his son Christian, who died after a workplace accident in 2013. Christian fell from a picker truck in a warehouse, and although doctors did everything they could, the injury was catastrophic. “He fell 20 feet. When you say 20 feet, you think broken ankle, maybe broken arm, but somehow, on the way down, his feet hit the forklift and flipped him. And he landed on his head.” At the hospital, after a brief brain surgery, the doctor came in and said, “Call your family.” When representatives from Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency arrived, Hans initially felt overwhelmed and resistant: “I’m like, heck no, I’m dealing with too much.” His ex-wife, Jenn, reminded him of Christian's own wishes when he got his license. “She said he would want to do it because he asked about it when he got his driver’s license.” That decision changed everything; “I realized he was going to save somebody’s life. We ended up saving four lives and it was life changing for us.” Christian's heart went to a teenage male that had been waiting for a heart for 18 months with time running out. Christian's right kidney and pancreas went to a female in her 30s. His liver went to a female in her 40s, and his left kidney went to a little boy. His corneas were donated, which gave sight to 2 people. Hans began speaking to civic groups and driver's ed classes about organ donation: “We would tell kids at Driver’s Ed like, they’re going to ask you about this when you get your license, you should know what it means. Most people can’t be an organ donor, even if they want to. You have to die a certain way.” He and Jenn started the Christian's Legacy Foundation to create awareness of the importance of organ donation and to provide support to donor families. Stories of other young donors continue to touch him deeply: “All these years later, those stories touch me in a different way. And I would not have read that story the same way had I not gone through that.” Is Broadcasting Still a Good Career? Asked if he would still recommend a career in broadcasting, Hans doesn't hesitate, though he acknowledges the landscape has changed: “I’m always going to recommend a career in broadcast. Sean explains that media sales in particular remain a strong path, even as technology and products evolve: “Your competition is different. Your products might be different. But of all we do, that’s probably changed the least.” There are fewer jobs, but better pay and more efficiency: “KATC had 100 employees not long ago. Our building was built for 120 people and we’ve got 52 now. And it’s not just because of efficiencies. Our cameras are robotic now Hans still longs to see young people with the same hunger he and Sean had: “I would love to see some young person who was like me or Sean who was willing to work 24 hours in two days when I was at KSMB. They fired the janitor, and for nine months I cleaned the building every night after I did my show, because I wanted them to see that I was willing to do anything to make it. And that’s not beneath me.” Through stories of late-night graveyard shifts, irreverent morning shows, hurricane coverage, stadium announcing, heartbreaking loss, and renewed purpose, Hans Nelson, “Fast,” reminds us why local broadcasting still matters. As he and Sean put it, they are, above all, local broadcasters, passionate about “the impact that local radio and television can have on a market” and the ways music, stories, and community can move people. You can contact Hans Nelson at Fast@big1021.com.

Tom and guests Arifa Akbar and Nick Hilton consider Paddington The Musical. It's the latest step for a beloved British institution... How does he work on stage? Is the bear believable? Are the songs memorable?Iranian director Jafar Panahi's latest film has won the Palme d'Or. It Was Just An Accident, straddles a difficult gap between political commentary and a lightly comic look at revenge. He had to make this film in secret and has just been sentenced - in absentia - to a prison sentence by the Iranian authorities for "propaganda activities" against the country.In The War Between the Land and the Sea, the latest offshoot of the Whoniverse, Russell Tovey plays a humble admin assistant who is promoted to humanity's Ambassador when the Sea Devils return and decide that humans need to be taught respect for their watery world. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe

From Portland to Minnesota to Washington and beyond, once again, Jim had much to share from the news desk. Here's a selection of stories from the first half hour: --The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments over the legality of President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship in the U.S. --After nearly 5 years, Brian Cole, Jr., of Woodbridge, Virginia, the alleged January 6th pipe bomber, was arrested by the FBI yesterday. --Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro has confirmed that he had a phone call with President Trump amid a major military build-up in the Caribbean and the threat of an attack on his country. He said the call, which occurred last month, was cordial. --Two people who survived the U.S. military's early September strike on an alleged drug carrying vessel were attempting to climb back onto the boat before it was hit a second time. --Russia has begun evacuating its citizens from Venezuela. --The White House has debuted a new page on its website aimed at lambasting media outlets over fake news coverage of the Trump administration. --Democratic Senator Mark Warner is facing a firestorm after suggesting he believes members of the U.S. armed forces should save us from President Trump. --Iranian-run, Soros-funded billboards, are urging soldiers to disobey orders. --Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is at the center of a widening scandal as federal prosecutors continue to unravel one of the nation's largest COVID-era fraud cases. --My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell has filed paperwork for a possible run as a Republican for the position of governor of Minnesota.

Listen to award-winning journalist, author, and activist Homa Sarshar as she reflects on her early life in pre-revolutionary Iran and her decades of work documenting the Iranian community in Los Angeles.

Join Dr. Ali Ansari, Professor of Iranian History and Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews, and Hoover Senior Fellow H.R. McMaster, as they examine the nature of the Islamic Republic, Western misunderstandings about the regime and why engagement strategies have repeatedly failed, and the widening gap between the regime's propagandized image of strength and the vulnerabilities revealed in recent conflicts. Drawing on recent events, including the 12-day Israeli campaign exposing profound intelligence and air-defense failures, Ansari examines the IRGC's struggles to reconstitute its terrorist and militia proxies in the region while confronting severe financial and economic crises at home, including shortages of electricity and a growing water crisis in the capital city of Tehran. Despite these mounting pressures, Ansari reflects on Iran's potential futures, from the emergence of new leadership to the enduring resilience of the Iranian people. For more conversations from world leaders from key countries, subscribe to receive instant notification of the next episode.  ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Ali Ansari is a Professor of Iranian History, the Founding Director of the Institute for Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews, and a Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. As a leading historian of modern Iran, Dr. Ansari combines archival research with a deep understanding of Iranian political culture and nationalism. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and President of the British Institute of Persian Studies. His books include Modern Iran since 1797 and Confronting Iran. H.R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. He was the 25th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

Today I am honored to speak with Nilo Tabrizy, co-author of a remarkable and powerful book, For the Sun After Long Nights: The Story of Iran's Women-Led Uprising. This interview complements another episode I did with her collaborator, Fatemeh Jamalpour. Ms Tabrizy tells us about her work in Visual Forensics, which she used to complement Ms Jamalpour's reporting on the ground. The two pieces together form a vivid account of the uprising, and the repression that preceded and followed it.  Nilo draws on other examples of Open Source reporting during the #BlackLivesMatter protests and in Palestine. Like her collaborator, Nilo Tabrizy also explains the ways this reporting was for her deeply personal. Nilo Tabrizy is an investigative reporter at The Washington Post. She works for the Visual Forensics team, where she covers Iran using open-source methods. Previously, she was a video journalist at the New York Times, covering Iran, race and policing, abortion access, and more. She is an Emmy nominee and the 2022 winner of the Front Page Award for Online Investigative Reporting. Nilo received her MS in Journalism from Columbia University and her BA in Political Science and French from the University of British Columbia.

Hooman Khalili's mission is to forge unity between the Iranian and the Jewish people, and he works toward this goal by creating beautiful and moving murals that honor the courage of Iran's first women-led revolution. As a former radio host turned independent artist and cultural activist, Hooman has worked hard to elevate the cause of unity and togetherness by highlighting the power of art, truth, and culture. He focuses on cultural engagement and art that uplifts the human spirit and challenges those from different walks of life to come together in love and kindness. He strives to find humanity in everything, especially in the wake of the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that inflicted horrific damage on Israel. Hooman is truly a humanitarian who is doing great work for America and beyond!TAKEAWAYSVisit Hooman.tv to learn more about Hooman's art and mission, and to help connect him with schools that are open to having a muralHooman would like to place more of his special murals on college campuses across AmericaHooman's murals are infused with scripture and sacrificeEveryone must come together to make the world a better place and set their differences aside

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo.  Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member‑only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind‑the‑scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor's Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time.  We have a bonafide film and TV legend in our midst this week: director of ‘Broadcast News', ‘Terms of Endearment' and ‘As Good As It Gets'—not to mention co-creator of The Simpsons—James L Brooks. He talks to Simon about his new comedy drama ‘Ella McCay'—his first film in 15 years. He unpacks the movie starring Emma Mackey (yes, the names are confusing), Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson and Jack Lowden—and tells us why he's nostalgic for 2008. Plus a bit of Simpsons chat—there are a few very familiar voices in this movie!   Mark reviews Eternity—the new A24 afterlife romcom that sees Elizabeth Olsen torn between two dead husbands, played by Miles Teller and Callum Turner. Plus we've got his verdict on the new film from exiled Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi too--'It Was Just an Accident'. This latest daring project has seen the banned filmmaker issued a jail sentence from the Iranian government. And finally, Five Nights at Freddy's 2....You might remember how much Mark loved the first one (not)... but could the sequel win him over? Spoilers: it doesn't—but strap in for a review that might be more entertaining than the movie.  All the box office top 10 news for you too, plus the weekly hilarity of the laughter lift. Enjoy!   Our LIVE Christmas Extravaganza at London's Prince Edward Theatre is this weekend! Join us on 7th December—with special guest Nia DaCosta, and Jason Isaacs beaming in from the USA. Tickets here: fane.co.uk/kermode-mayo      Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free)  Eternity review: 09:10  BO10: 19:50  James L Brooks Interview: 37:10  It Was Just An Accident review: 52:30 Laughter Lift: 1:02:32  Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: 01:07:32 Jay Kelly review: 01:14:41      You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey   EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!  A Sony Music Entertainment production.      Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts    To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is pushing their agenda across the country and world. They are now pushing their Universal Basic Income in Illinois, this will fail. US production is picking up. SEC is cracking down on ETF’s. Trump has now nominated Kevin Hassett to take over the position of Powell. This restructuring will begin soon and the alternative currency will show it. The [DS] knows they are running out of time and they are losing control over Zelensky, this is why they are now pushing a war with Russia. They do not want peace. Trump is exposing the corruption and pushing for elections to remove Zelensky. Trump has null and voided everything Biden/Obama have done over the last 4 years. It’s like everything they did doesn’t exist. The [DS] is boxed in, there is no escape. Economy https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1996238986650464720?s=20   government, and I’m here to help,”. (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); https://twitter.com/AwakenedOutlaw/status/1996060994892955661?s=20   logs, program letters, etc. weekly or be limited to 3-months of SNAP benefits in a 3-year period. US Industrial Production Sees Biggest Annual Gain In 3 Years Despite Slowing Capacity Utilization    Industrial Production rose just 0.1% MoM (as expected) up from the downwardly revised 0.3% MoM decline in August. On a YoY basis, production rose 1.62% – its best since Nov 2022… US Manufacturing output was unchanged in September (slowing from the 0.1% MoM rise in August), but, like IP, that supported a 1.5% YoY rise in output, its highest level since April 2022… Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1996217766366400884?s=20  registration of ETFs that seek to provide more than 200% (2x) leveraged exposure to underlying indices or securities,” the SEC wrote. Leverage is clearly out of control. Bessent says White House may ‘veto’ Federal Reserve presidents   Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday he would push a new requirement that the Federal Reserve’s regional bank presidents live in their districts for at least three years before taking office, a move that could give the White House more power over the independent agency.  Bessent said that “there is a disconnect with the framing of the Federal Reserve” and added that, “unless someone has lived in their district for three years, we’re going to veto them.” Source: msn.com https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/1995954684859941373?s=20   In a July 2025 interview, Hassett highlighted the Fed’s origins under the gold standard in 1913 to critique current practices: “When the Federal Reserve was created, we were under the Gold Standard—and the idea that the Fed could print money and then spend $2.5B on a building… I think that we’ve got a real problem of oversight and excess spending.”   This aligns with sound money ideals, where gold symbolizes disciplined, non-inflationary currency, but he stops short of calling for reinstatement.  Monetary economist Judy Shelton (author of Good as Gold) praised Hassett in July 2025 for referencing the gold standard, noting it as a reminder that “Fed has a lot to answer for” in deviating from that era’s stability.  Hassett views Bitcoin as “digital gold” for its scarcity and hedge qualities—echoing sound money without physical backing. Political/Rights https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1996252623209373754?s=20  created sweeping exemptions covering Afghans who worked for the Taliban during the first regime (1996-2001) and again after August 2021, enabling hundreds of individuals normally barred under terrorism laws to enter the U.S. TRIG waivers skyrocketed to 6,848 in FY 2024, the vast majority for refugees, including 374 Taliban civil servants and more than 3,000 individuals who provided “limited” support to Tier 1 or 2 terror groups. Now, after the ambush killing of a West Virginia National Guard soldier by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, critics say Biden knowingly imported massive security risks into American neighborhoods. OUTRAGE: Minneapolis Police Chief Urges Somali Community to Dial 911 on Masked ICE Agents — Promises Cops Will “Intervene” Against Federal Arrests Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara speaks at a press conference alongside city officials as he urges Somali residents to call 911 on masked individuals Police leadership in Minneapolis is urging the city's Somali community, and other immigrant residents, to call 911 if they spot masked individuals detaining people in their neighborhoods. He urged community members to call 911 if they were unsure whether those enforcing arrests were legitimate law enforcement — and pledged MPD would investigate and log every such call. He did not stop at documentation, however. “If there is anything that is … a violation of someone's human rights or civil rights, excessive force or anything like that, they absolutely have a duty to intervene as police officers,” O'Hara declared. https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1995956308902879320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995956308902879320%7Ctwgr%5E19002c76c52297fc2dd58664d00870448c39f149%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Foutrage-minneapolis-police-chief-urges-somali-community-dial%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com UNREAL: Mayor Jacob Frey Declares He Won't Cooperate With ICE… and Suddenly Starts Speaking Somali to His Audience Mid-Speech Minneapolis far-left Mayor Jacob Frey abruptly shifted a public address into Somali, all while promising that city police will refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. At a press conference held on Tuesday, Frey stood alongside St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Ward 6 Council Member Jamal Osman, Police Chief Brian O'Hara, and other city leaders, reacting to reports that the federal government is preparing a targeted immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota's Twin Cities. This is not the first time the far-left mayor has drawn backlash from conservatives for switching into Somali during public remarks. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1995991450530553880?s=20 https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995920756203516224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995920756203516224%7Ctwgr%5E7752673c29b3a4de82187485d2de8512019722ba%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Frusty-weiss%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Ftim-walz-gets-skewered-by-kristi-noem-over-visa-fraud-warns-minnesota-is-about-to-feel-the-wrath-of-ice-n2196746 https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1995918101200703814?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1995918101200703814%7Ctwgr%5E6e01980749bee6d0aabd2036c6c2b51da5cb194a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fredstate.com%2Fkatie-jerkovich%2F2025%2F12%2F02%2Fpam-bondi-proves-trumps-flipped-script-on-crime-in-us-n2196748 https://twitter.com/DiligentDenizen/status/1996268038895907125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1996268038895907125%7Ctwgr%5Efc686f6c13365f75910a196f3fa3620a5f168083%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2025%2F12%2Fbreaking-house-oversight-committee-dems-release-never-before%2F https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1996022839250461041?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1996173544884154529?s=20  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/1996233719469035734?s=20 https://twitter.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1996175636352700892?s=20  , and even Hezbollah have a presence in South America — and their anchor presence is inside Venezuela.” Let that sink in. 8 million Venezuelans displaced Spillover into Colombia, Brazil, the U.S. Cartels, trafficking networks, and Iranian intelligence embedded in the region Rubio isn't speaking hypothetically — he's confirming what U.S. intel has known for years: Venezuela is no longer just a failed socialist state. It's a forward operating base for Iran and Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere. This is why the situation is escalating. This is why Trump's ultimatum matters. This is why Maduro's regime cannot be ignored or “managed.” The threat isn't local — it's global. War/Peace https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1995724042285056018?s=20  that was left in unsecured parking lot in an industrial area near Burg in Saxony-Anhalt, according to the German Ministry of Defense. https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1996226688363979160?s=20   the beginning of the war for fossil fuels. Now we’re down to €1.5 billion per month…we aim to bring it down to ZERO.” “This is a good day for Europe and for our independence from Russian fossil fuels — this is how we make Europe resilient.”    “The European Union agreed on Wednesday to phase out Russian gas imports by late 2027 as part of an effort to end the bloc’s decade-long dependency on Russian energy.” – Reuters https://twitter.com/MyLordBebo/status/1996207752134488284?s=20 https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996197728167043438?s=20   text does not address our concerns.” Meaning: No legal cover, no political suicide. The plan was simple on paper – use immobilized Russian funds as collateral for loans to keep Ukraine afloat. But Belgium is the custodian of the largest chunk of those assets. If something goes wrong, they're the ones holding the radioactive bag. This isn't some bureaucratic squabble. It's the EU's financing strategy cracking in real time. Prévot's pushback signals the core fear: If Europe touches Russian state money without watertight legal armor, Moscow retaliates – economically, diplomatically, and possibly through countersanctions on European firms. And here's the thing: the Commission thought it had majority backing. Belgium saying “nope” on the morning of rollout is a political body-slam. Happening next? The EU will scramble to rewrite the legal plumbing. Germany and France will pressure Belgium quietly – nobody wants to admit the plan is wobbling. Russia will weaponize the hesitation as proof the West can't agree on how to bankroll Ukraine. And Kyiv? Still waiting for the money that was supposed to be “already there.” Another example of Europe discovering that seizing assets is easy. Using them? That's where the real war begins.    Ursula von der Leyen did not state that she received “permission” from the US to seize Russian assets. In a recent appearance at the GLOBSEC forum, she said that she informed the incoming Trump administration (specifically mentioning a conversation with Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent) about the EU’s proposal to use frozen Russian assets as collateral for a “reparations loan” to Ukraine, and that “it was positively received.” https://twitter.com/briefing_block_/status/1996241939931201801?s=20 https://twitter.com/Dubinsky_pro/status/1996242036417028176?s=20  regime. Now the system is falling apart. Yermak is out. The crackdown is collapsing. Ukraine must release all political prisoners. I call on everyone involved in peace talks to demand this from Zelensky. These people committed no crimes. They were jailed for their faith, political views and demanding peace. Zelensky built a dictatorship – and filled prisons with dissent. I know what I'm talking about: I spent 24 months behind bars under this system. https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996231792752287822?s=20  to Brussels to meet Zelensky, the team returned to Washington. No official reason was given, but the message is clear: there's no deal, yet. Putin's warning didn't help. He said Russia is “ready” for war in Europe and claimed any future conflict would be so fierce that “nobody will be left to negotiate with.” This setback casts doubt on whether a negotiated end to the war is possible anytime soon. It also suggests Kyiv isn't ready to engage on Moscow's terms. What's next: Watch for how Ukraine positions itself diplomatically in the coming weeks, and whether Trump's team will try again with a revised proposal. https://twitter.com/MJTruthUltra/status/1996059724173754525?s=20   situation may quickly arise where there is no one left for us to negotiate with” https://twitter.com/Panchenko_X/status/1996192741508645286?s=20  been given the black mark and is seen globally as corrupt. Many Ukrainian politicians are already quietly fleeing to Moscow in an attempt to negotiate. They hope that the Russians and Americans will come and shower everyone with money for the elections. It won’t happen that way. According to my information, the US and Russia are already discussing possible candidates for the position of President. I cannot make the names public. https://twitter.com/TimOnPoint/status/1995949121929138184?s=20   targets is the rule, not the exception. The physical status of possible survivors is not part of the consideration with stand-off weapons. This has been the norm under both Republican and Democrat administrations since the first Hellfire was mounted on a Predator years ago. Anyone who tells you otherwise, is lying or ignorant. The method is ugly, no doubt about it, but there's nothing new here except politics. https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/1996006625333727410?s=20 Medical/False Flags https://twitter.com/JoeLang51440671/status/1996048243516456967?s=20 Man in TSA Sues Feds for Not Allowing Him to “Pat Down” Women   A man who says he is a woman is suing the federal government over restrictions in his job at the Transportation Security Administration that do not allow him to “pat down” female travelers. That restriction followed an executive order from President Donald Trump against recognizing transgenderism claims in the federal government. The claim being made by Mittereder is that the policy violates federal civil rights law. According to the report on the recently filed lawsuit, Mittereder began working at the TSA in 2024 and now is stationed at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. He claims because he is not allowed to pat down women, his job prospects are being hurt. Source:  thelibertydaily.com  [DS] Agenda https://twitter.com/TheLastRefuge2/status/1996069477197451483?s=20   questioning people (McCord, Wolfe, Jones, Warner and various staff), not merely discussing them. Rather than talk about what XXX is doing, or what motivates XXX, they would simply be going to XXX asking questions (on/off camera) and then reporting on what XXX responds with. Instead, what we are getting is a screenplay, that the ‘journalists’ (battle for influence) sell through various platforms. From here on out when I see it, I will draw attention to it. After a few examples it will become obvious. https://twitter.com/LauraLoomer/status/1996183770790048092?s=20  1, 2025, Maxine's California residence remains in default with a redemption amount still due totaling $21,302.95, despite her recent payment of $19,033.94 on August 13, 2025. Maxine also is incurring a monthly penalty of $301.45. Maxine is not competent to serve as the ranking member on the House Financial Services Committee when she cannot even keep her own house in order. https://twitter.com/SBA_Kelly/status/1995846331202457607?s=20   executives implicated in these schemes. Despite Governor Walz's best efforts to obstruct, SBA continues to work to expose abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, full stop. https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1996237594514915451?s=20 https://twitter.com/TonySeruga/status/1996226960393957435?s=20 https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1995957774510162165?s=20 https://twitter.com/almostjingo/status/1996051371251155359?s=20 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1996222235783401610?s=20 So all of these people were installed. https://twitter.com/amuse/status/1996195848087384084?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/1995934359569007036?s=20 President Trump's Plan https://twitter.com/StateDept/status/1996218048458490302?s=20   imminent threat to the world and to the broader West, but especially the United States who they identify as the chief source of evil on the planet.” https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1996213829802307948?s=20  that received benefits more than twice – multiple people received benefits in 6 states – In February, for the first time ever, the Federal Government asked for alls rates to turn over their data to root out the fraud. —— 29 Red states said yes —— 21 Blue states said no “So as of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington https://twitter.com/MediasLies/status/1996279507079008317?s=20   states already share the data with zero privacy disasters. – USDA's own audits show $10–15 billion a year in improper payments and fraud. – The “court order” she keeps citing is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling. Refusing basic federal oversight of a fully federally funded program isn't about privacy. It's about protecting bloated rolls and hiding waste. BREAKING: In Stunning Development, President Trump Issues Full and Unconditional Pardon to Texas Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar  Biden's DOJ charged Cuellar, a nine-term Democrat Texas lawmaker who represents an area along the US-Mexico border, after he lashed out at both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for allowing illegal aliens to pour over the border.    the TRUTH. It is unAmerican and, as I previously stated, the Radical Left Democrats are a complete and total threat to Democracy! They will attack, rob, lie, cheat, destroy, and decimate anyone who dares to oppose their Far Left Agenda, an Agenda that, if left unchecked, will obliterate our magnificent Country. Because of these facts, and others, I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don't know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over! Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/MarioNawfal/status/1996053923820351745?s=20  despite recent disagreements: Senator Paul: “I know we have been at odds recently but in ur first term you signed an executive order to legalize Association Health Plans (that allow individuals to buy collectively health insurance via Costco, Amazon, or Sam’s Club). This collaboration brought us together and still holds the promise of lowering insurance premiums.” Paul noted the plan failed because Democrat AGs fought it in court, but it could now pass through Congress. Here’s why this matters: the current system forces individuals to buy insurance alone, giving them zero bargaining power against massive insurance companies. Association Health Plans let people band together through retailers or organizations to negotiate as a group, the same way large corporations do for their employees. More buyers in a pool means more leverage. More leverage means lower premiums. It costs nothing to implement and simply changes labor law. Competition works. Let Americans shop for insurance the same way they shop for everything else. https://twitter.com/EliseStefanik/status/1995856738994565416?s=20  Raskin against Trump Republicans to block this provision to protect the deep state. This is an easy one. This bill is DOA unless this provision gets added in as it was passed out of committee https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1996205447917781326?s=20 -The Director and I made a long series of important personnel changes. The new leadership team has produced dramatic results which we will produce for you, in detail, as the year wraps up. They will include a historic drop in the homicide rate, along with record disruptions, arrests and drug interdictions. Many of these personnel changes have upset a group of Comey-Wray era disgruntled former agents who prefer the old ways of operating. We are not going back -We have been working on an AI project to assist our investigators and analysts in the national security space. I received an update yesterday and I am happy to report that the product looks promising. More coming on this. – We are in the end stages of a redesign of the FBI crisis management process. The redesign is intended to make information more accessible and transparent in a crisis to enable quick and effective decision making. The project should be complete by the end of the calendar year. -We saved the taxpayers billions of dollars by scrapping the plan for an expensive new FBI headquarters building. We will be moving to the existing Reagan building after decades of fruitless haggling as the current FBI headquarters building crumbles. -We relocated over a thousand headquarters based personnel out of the Washington DC area and into the field to focus on violent crime, crimes against children, and terrorism. Those agents are now working on the mission in those regional offices. -In recognition of the growing threat, and in conjunction with the President's Executive Order, we designed, launched and completed the FBI's first-ever counter-drone school last month. Special thanks to Sebastian Gorka and DDCOS Regan for their help on the project. -The work force apprehended 4 of the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives, and we are hunting down the rest. -We produced unprecedented disclosures, and took action on documents related to January 6, Crossfire Hurricane, Arctic Frost, and more. -The new leadership team, and the work force, made a series of ANTIFA related arrests in multiple states and assisted in record numbers of deportations and apprehensions. -Some of the culture changes we implemented include eliminating DEI, reforming the physical fitness test, making promotions contingent on real world results, severing ties with the SPLC and ADL, and implementing a new training curriculum to reflect current mission requirements. We dedicated significant personnel and financial assets to streamlining FOIA reform to ensure responsiveness. -We shut down multiple open air drug markets nationwide and, in conjunction with the White House, had 12 fentanyl precursors from China listed. -We created CIO and CTO positions to work with the CFO to find efficiencies and implement new technologies to assist in our mission. We conduct bi-weekly meetings and we have found and eliminated tens of millions of dollars in duplicative contracts, unnecessary real estate, and outdated technology. These are real savings to the taxpayer and each budget dollar allocated is intensely scrutinized for value. -We vastly expanded the overseas biometrics program to stop bad actors before they board a plane or vessel to the US. This gives us the ability to expand the border outwards and prevent the problems from coming here. -We are in the end stages of a reform project on our intelligence analysis positions to make them more responsive to current mission needs. We have been working with the field on this and we're happy with the progress. -We implemented a technology working group to ensure our technology tools evolve with the mission. Thank you, and God bless America and all those who defend Her.  https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1995992366553981026?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");

The DOJ shuts down another scam center in Myanmar. OpenAI confirms a Mixpanel data breach. A new phishing campaign targets company executives. A bipartisan bill looks to preserve the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. Universities suffer Oracle EBS data breaches. India reports GPS jamming at eight major airports. Kaiser Permanente settles a class action suit over tracking pixels. The FTC plans to require a cloud provider to delete unnecessary student data. An international initiative is developing guidelines for commercial spyware. Our N2K Producer Liz Stokes speaks with Kristiina Omri, Director of Special Programs for CybExer Technologies about the cyber ranges for NATO and ESA. Iranian hackers give malware a retro reboot.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you'll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn. CyberWire Guest Today, we bring you a conversation our N2K Producer Liz Stokes and Kristiina Omri, Director of Special Programs for CybExer Technologies, had during Liz's  visit to Tallinn, Estonia about the cyber ranges for NATO and ESA. We are pleased to share that our N2K colleagues Liz Stokes and Maria Varmazis were in Tallinn, Estonia this week for the NATO Cyber Coalition 2025 Cyber Range Exercise. Their visit marks the CyberWire as the only United States podcasters invited to attend. We'll be sharing interviews and insights from the event, starting today with our producer Liz Stokes' conversation with  Kristiina Omri, Director of Special Programs for CybExer Technologies. Selected ReadingDOJ takes down Myanmar scam center website spoofing TickMill trading platform (The Record) OpenAI Confirms Mixpanel Data Breach—Was Your Data Stolen? (KnowTechie) New “Executive Award” Scam Exploits ClickFix to Deliver Stealerium Malware (GB Hackers) Hassan and Cornyn bring in bipartisan bill to keep state and local cyber grant program alive (Industrial Cyber) Penn and Phoenix Universities Disclose Data Breach After Oracle Hack (SecurityWeek) Indian government reveals GPS spoofing at eight major airports (The Register) Kaiser Permanente to Pay Up to $47.5M in Web Tracker Lawsuit (BankInfo Security) FTC settlement requires Illuminate to delete unnecessary student data (Bleeping Computer) Pall Mall Process to Define Responsible Commercial Cyber Intrusion (Infosecurity Magazine) Iran Hackers Take Inspiration From Snake Video Game (GovInfo Security) Share your feedback. What do you think about CyberWire Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.   Want to hear your company in the show? N2K CyberWire helps you reach the industry's most influential leaders and operators, while building visibility, authority, and connectivity across the cybersecurity community. Learn more at sponsor.thecyberwire.com. The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Yesterday, two soldiers were lightly injured in a stabbing attack near the northern West Bank settlement of Ateret. The attack came hours after a soldier was lightly hurt in a car-ramming near the city of Hebron. Both attackers were killed. Are we seeing an uptick in attacks on soldiers in the West Bank? At recording time, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, the Al Quds Brigades, said it was searching for the body of a hostage in northern Gaza with a team from the Red Cross. It has since been announced that remains will be handed over to Israel this evening. These announcements came a day after Hamas handed over remains to Israel via the Red Cross, which Israel said today did not belong to either of the two remaining hostages. Regardless of the full return of the deceased hostages, this morning Israel stated it will reopen the Rafah Crossing in the coming days for the exit of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt. We learn about the significance of this step. Yesterday evening, the IDF’s new Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox troops completed its first-ever squad commanders’ course, which the military says lays the groundwork for “the future generation of Haredi commanders in the army.” We learn more about the bridgade and whether it can overcome the strife surrounding the lack of Haredi enlistment. However, Fabian adds, according to Channel 12 news, the IDF is short of about 1,300 officers at the ranks of lieutenant and captain, and another 300 majors. The military on Tuesday completed a reorganization of its C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate, with a new artificial intelligence unit and an expanded electronic warfare array that will further enhance Israel’s defensive cyber capabilities, including countering drone attacks. We hear about the new units and learn about some practical applications for their work. Israel’s high-powered laser interception system, dubbed “Iron Beam,” will be delivered to the military at the end of the month, the head of the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development said Monday. Fabian explains where it could be used -- almost immediately. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Israel says remains handed over by Hamas are not of Ran Gvili or Sudthisak Rinthalak Three soldiers injured in West Bank stabbing, ramming attacks; assailants killed IDF’s Haredi brigade graduates its first squad commanders’ course IDF faces manpower crisis as fewer soldiers keen on military career, new data shows Focusing on AI and electronic warfare, IDF restructures computer service directorate IDF to receive ‘Iron Beam’ laser interceptors at the end of the month Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves. Image: Signals officers of the C4I and Cyber Defense Directorate are seen in an undated photo published by the army on December 2, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fatma Hassona was a Palestinian photographer from Gaza City who was killed with her family by an Israeli airstrike in April 2025. A year earlier, the Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi began recording video conversations with Hassona about her life and work under Israeli bombardment, which became the film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk. In this episode, Adam Shatz talks to Farsi about the process of making the film, the connection she formed with Hassona, and the practical and ethical challenges of documenting Israel's devastation of Gaza and its people. From the LRB Subscribe to the LRB: ⁠⁠https://lrb.me/subslrbpod Close Readings podcast: ⁠https://lrb.me/crlrbpod⁠ LRB Audiobooks: ⁠https://lrb.me/audiobookslrbpod⁠ Bags, binders and more at the LRB Store: ⁠https://lrb.me/storelrbpod⁠ Get in touch: podcasts@lrb.co.uk

From negotiating on the phone for some art to generating 10 Billion dollars a year, Pierre Omidyar built an empire out of other peoples stuff. Dave Young: Welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast, teaching business owners the not-so-secret techniques that took famous businesses from mom-and-pop to major brand. Stephen Semple is a marketing consultant, story collector and storyteller. I’m Stephen’s sidekick and business partner, Dave Young. Before we get into today’s episode, a word from our sponsor which is, well, it’s us, but we’re highlighting ads we’ve written and produced for our clients. So here’s one of those. [Travis Crawford Ad] Dave Young: [inaudible 00:01:32] and sold. eBay is the topic today. Oh, by the way, welcome to the Empire Builders Podcast. I’m Dave Young, that’s Steve Semple in your other ear. Is that how this works, are we each in one ear? Stephen Semple: I’m not sure. Dave Young: I don’t think that’s how this works. Stephen Semple: I don’t pay enough attention to things like that. Dave Young: As the countdown timer went down, Stephen told me we’re going to talk about eBay and I went immediately to the sound of the auctioneers of my youth back in my hometown. Stephen Semple: Oh, God. Dave Young: There’s cattle sales and estate sales. On any Saturday morning walking around in a small town, off in the distance you hear somebody with one of those cheap portable PA systems, “Give me five, give me five, give me five, give me five, five, five.” Aren’t you glad that eBay doesn’t have sound effects? Stephen Semple: Maybe it should. It might make it more entertaining. Dave Young: There’s some AI auctioneer going 24/7 for two weeks. Stephen Semple: Oh, my God, Dave, the fact you’ve now said it, you know what meme is going to happen. Oh, no, you put it out there. So when you come across this as a meme- Dave Young: There’s that little mute thing on the screen where if you turn it on, there’s some AI, “We’ve got $12.50. Since Tuesday, we have $12.50. Anyone, anyone?” Stephen Semple: So when this meme is driving us nuts on social media, you can blame Dave Young. Dave Young: I don’t see it happening. Oh, yeah, back. Oh, we’re going to talk about eBay. Stephen Semple: But talking about auctions for a second, here’s what I always find fascinating. Somebody will have something and they’ll go, “Okay, do I have an opening bid of $500?” Nothing. “Okay, do I have an opening bid at $200? Now do I have an opening bid of $100?” Somebody bids for 100 and then the damn thing ends up selling for 750. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And I’m like, “Wait a minute. It sold for 750 and no one was willing to open at 500. What the heck?” I don’t get it. Dave Young: I know. There’s a … Man, I’m not a big auction person. It stresses me to be in the bidding war. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: I don’t know why. Even on eBay. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: But there’s a psychology of auctions- Stephen Semple: Clearly. Dave Young: … that certain people … I don’t know for sure, I’m not a psychologist, Stephen, but I play one on a podcast. I think there’s a compulsion that’s similar to gambling and I think it’s just there’s a dopamine hit involved when you’re active in an auction. Stephen Semple: There probably is. Dave Young: And I think there’s a bit of a compulsion to it maybe. Stephen Semple: Maybe. Dave Young: Because it also, as long as you have the money to do it, it’s probably a little safer than gambling because if you lose, you don’t lose then. Stephen Semple: Right, right. Dave Young: If you win, hopefully you’ve won and purchased something that’s worth more than you paid. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: That’s the upside. The downside is that you didn’t get the thing that you wanted. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: But you didn’t lose any money. Stephen Semple: Cool. Well, let’s talk about eBay. Dave Young: Let’s do. Wasn’t Musk involved in it, and Thiel and those guys? Stephen Semple: No. Dave Young: Or am I thinking wrong? Stephen Semple: You’re thinking wrong. Dave Young: I get all my American oligarchs confused. Stephen Semple: They were over in the PayPal world. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: But the thing that’s interesting about eBay is it’s still a really important player in online retail. We can kind of forget about it because the growth has been stalled a little bit in the last bunch of years, but they still do $10 billion- Dave Young: That’s amazing. Stephen Semple: … in sales, which- Dave Young: I remember back when, probably in the first five or six years of eBay, you could use eBay, like if you had something you wanted to sell. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Not a garage sale, but just list somewhere to sell. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: You could actually scour eBay and see what it was probably going to get you, what would be a good way to price it. That was always a way to see what are these going for? Stephen Semple: Right, because you could see what things were bidding at. So they are a really important part of the history of online retailing. And they were founded by Pierre Omidyar who was born in France to Iranian parents, and immigrated to the United States as a kid. And the company was founded in March ’96. And he had worked at a startup that he had got bought out from, he did pretty well. And he set up a consulting business called Echo Bay Technology Group, so that was the first thing he had going on. Dave Young: Echo Bay, okay. Stephen Semple: Echo Bay, Echo Bay Technology Group. And one day, a friend noticed that he had bought these bunch of drawings and was like, “Oh, tell me about these drawings.” And he was like, “Well, I saw them listed in the newspaper and I gave the guy a call, and we backed-and-forthed a few times, and I got a really good price on it.” And this was a seed of an idea. He was like, “You know what? There’s lots of stuff listed in newspapers and classified ads.” And if we remember, back in the day, going way back in the mid-’90s. Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: The most profitable part of many, many newspapers was the classified ads. I remember being a portfolio manager and looking at one company called Torstar, it was a big newspaper group here in Canada. And yeah, literally, 25% of their revenue was classified ads. Massive part, massive, massive part of the business. But if you think about a classified ad, you’ve got to call up the newspaper, you’ve got to create the ad, you’ve got to send the ad over, and then somebody’s got to phone you, and then you’ve got to back-and-forth on price. There’s lots of friction there. There’s lots of touchpoints. Dave Young: Well, and you have to go pay the newspaper even before you could pay them online, right? Stephen Semple: Oh, right, you had to go … Yeah. Dave Young: You had to pay for that ad. I think most of those were probably in. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Unless the newspapers take a payment over the phone. Stephen Semple: So he looked at it and he went, “Not only is there all these touchpoints to creating the ad and paying for the ad, there’s all these touchpoints in terms of the selling process.” And he looked at it and he went, “I think there’s a way for technology to eliminate all of that, and it’s clearly a big business because people spend lots of money-“ Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: “… on classified ads.” So this was the seed, this was the seed of the idea. How do I make this easier, frictionless, and all this other stuff for customers? So he decided, “Well, I’ve got this consulting webpage, I’ll just do a page on my consulting site. On Echo Bay Consulting Services, I’m just going to put a page in there and I’m going to play around with it.” Because what he wanted to do was eliminate the need to contact the newspaper, make it easy to write the ad, and then basically make it easier to make the sale, and he really felt the internet could do this. Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: And he also wanted to facilitate the price negotiation because he felt like people don’t really want to do that whole back-and-forth. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And the model he looked at was auctions. He went, “Wow, what if I could do an online auction site?” Because now, now the buyer and seller don’t have to have this conversation. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And the marketplace will just set the price. Dave Young: And you know that they’re going to be paying attention as the time wears down. Stephen Semple: Yeah, all sorts of things with that. So he launches it with a really simple design, there’s no pictures or anything like that, which we look at that today. But then I thought about and I went, “Well, wait a minute, that’s not really a disadvantage,” because there was no pictures in the newspaper one either. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So the whole idea of requiring a picture, we were used to doing this stuff without pictures through the newspaper classifieds. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah. So he sets up the site and he calls it Auction Web. And he launches it on September 3rd, 1995. Dave Young: Okay. Auction Web. Stephen Semple: Sorry, I said the wrong date. I said the wrong date earlier, the date was when it really started making sales. But Auction Web launches September 3rd, 1995, not March ’96. He decides to do a test, and this is people of … This has test has been written up a whole pile of times. He’s looking around, he’s got this broken laser pointer. Dave Young: A broken laser pointer. Stephen Semple: It’s broken. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: And on the ad he even says, “This is broken.” And he puts it up and it sells after a few weeks for $14.83. Dave Young: Sweet. Better than throwing it away. Stephen Semple: He even calls the bidder because he’s like, “I got to make sure this guy know it’s broken. I don’t want to send this to him and have him ticked off.” And he goes, “Yeah, I know it’s broken, but I know how to fix these things and it’s cheaper to fix it.” So he’s like, “All right, I’ll send you my broken laser pointer.” So he starts advertising, he starts going to all these chat rooms because remember, this is back in the mid-’90s and there was these chat rooms all over the place. So he would be going to these chat rooms and he was promoting Auction Web on chat rooms. Now, the other thing he changed was newspapers would charge a fee to list. So the other friction point with people was, “It’s still going to cost me five bucks, whether this sells or not.” Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So he said, “There’s going to be no fee to list. What you’re going to do is you’re going to pay me a commission when it sells.” So he removed the fee, he replaced it with a commission. Now, here’s the crazy thing. Here’s the crazy thing. The commission was collected on the honor system. People mailed in the payments. Dave Young: Really? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: Stay tuned, we’re going to wrap up this story and tell you how to apply this lesson to your business right after this. [Using Stories To Sell Ad] www.UsingStoriesToSell.com Dave Young: Let’s pick up our story where we left off, and trust me, you haven’t missed a thing. Stephen Semple: Here’s the crazy thing. Here’s the crazy thing. The commission was collected on the honor system. People mailed in the payments. Dave Young: Really? Stephen Semple: Yes. Dave Young: He was I guess then not coordinating the payment either? Stephen Semple: Not at that point. Dave Young: So you sell something to me on eBay, I just get back with you and pay you, and then you ship it to me? Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: But you found your buyer. You were using the auction site to find your buyer. Stephen Semple: You were using the auction to find the buyer, the buyer paid you directly, you shipped it directly to the buyer, and then you would send me a payment for the commission because you go, “I owe Auction Web four bucks.” And it worked. They found most people paid. Most people paid. Now, I think what they also figured out- Dave Young: I would guess that the ones that didn’t, maybe the sale falls through or something. Stephen Semple: Right. Well, and I think the other thing they figured out is for a lot of people, especially sellers, they probably weren’t one-time sellers, so they also wanted to continue to potentially … Anyway. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: I just found it hurt my brain a little bit when I was like, “Really, that’s how it ran?” Dave Young: Yeah, wow. Stephen Semple: And it worked, and it’s nice to feel like things like this can happen. So in March 1996, they hit $1000 in revenue for the month. By May, it’s 5000. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: By October, they’re doing 1000 auctions a day. This thing when it took off- Dave Young: It took off like wildfire. Stephen Semple: Just took off like fricking wildfire. And Pierre realizes, “Man, I got a real business here and I really didn’t want to run a business. I’m a tech guy.” So he hires Jeffrey Skoll to be the president. He just goes out almost right away and hires him because he’s like, “This thing is going to the Moon.” Now, think about this. This site is hard to find. It’s still a page on Echo Bay Technology Group’s website. Dave Young: Oh, man. And it’s called Auction Web, or something. Stephen Semple: And it’s called Auction Web. So the first thing they realize is, “We got to change that.” And they go to get echobay.com and echobay.com is taken by a Canadian mining company. Dave Young: Oh, okay. Stephen Semple: So they shorten it to eBay. Dave Young: eBay. Stephen Semple: Which I actually think is in a lot of ways- Dave Young: Which is better anyway. Stephen Semple: It is better. It is better. Dave Young: Yeah, it’s four letters. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Try to buy yourself a four-letter domain name these days. Stephen Semple: So in September ’97, it changes from the wonderful name of Auction Web to eBay. Dave Young: And gets its own domain, yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah, and it gets its own domain. Now at this time, it’s mostly tech nerds looking for parts, that’s really what got it going. If you think about it, that also makes sense because he’s going to those early chat sites on the web. Dave Young: Those are the people that were online early. Stephen Semple: Well, it is. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: It was, and especially where you’re promoting it going to these chat groups. That would be mainly nerds in there. But what they figure out is they do want to make this a little bit more of a mass appeal. So they wanted to find things that were products that people already want, but were hard to get their hands on. And what they figured out was they wanted to do Beanie Babies. Dave Young: Oh, there you go. Stephen Semple: Because what they discovered was there was a community of Beanie Babies, collectors of Beanie Babies. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: So they reached out to them and because, let’s face it, they were limited number, they were not sold everywhere, and collectors loved them. So they actually created an auction category for this toy alone. They created a category for Beanie Babies. And very quickly, they sold $500,000 worth of Beanies Babies almost right out of the gate. Dave Young: Man. You know where my brain’s going with this? Stephen Semple: No, I don’t. Dave, I never know where your brain is going. Dave Young: Well, hang on. I rarely do. I know a little bit of the story of Beanie Babies, I think I watched the weird documentary or movie about it. But I’ll bet you this contributed to the demise of the Beanie Baby craze because now you could actually see the value of your Beanie Baby. Stephen Semple: Oh, maybe. Maybe. Dave Young: Right? You put your Beanie Baby on and, “Oh, God, it didn’t sell for as much as I thought it was worth.” And it turns out that you also just found a million other, yeah, you found a million other people that have one. Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: And you’re like, “Maybe this isn’t as valuable as I thought it was.” Stephen Semple: Maybe. That’s an interesting … Interesting. Dave Young: Whereas if you’re only going to little craft fairs and get togethers, a whole different deal. I don’t know. Stephen Semple: Maybe. Don’t know. Dave Young: That’s worth studying. Go ahead. Stephen Semple: Yeah, that’s an interesting thought. So they created this category for Beanie Babies and it explodes. So within four months, the whole collectibles part of the site- Dave Young: Oh, sure. Stephen Semple: … is just blowing up. By mid-1998, they have 750,000 users, which is a huge number. They’re rivaling AOL’s numbers in that day. They’re doing 400,000 auctions. Now, here’s the other thing that they discovered, the other innovation that they did, that they were the creators of. They were the first to do this. They would get people calling in complaining. So what they decided to do was create a feedback form that is public. Now, what made this one different, it was ranking the seller and ranking the buyer. Dave Young: Right, right. Stephen Semple: Which no one had done before. Dave Young: Yeah. You go into it and you’re a shitty buyer, so the seller says … Yeah. Stephen Semple: Yeah, “Be careful if you’re selling to this guy, or don’t buy from this person.” Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: And it was less about ranking the product, because everything before was about the product, but this was about the ranking of the buyer and the seller in a public format. Look, that’s one of the cornerstones of our whole review system today, much of it is person-to-person. Much of it is person-to-person. Dave Young: Yeah, yeah. Stephen Semple: And these guys innovated that and were the first to do that. So they’re really growing, they end up hiring Meg Whitman as CEO, and she really brought a strategy to the business which turned it into profitable business. And by fall of 1998, so you think about it, they’re just at it for a couple years, they end up going public at a $2 billion valuation. Dave Young: Amazing. Stephen Semple: The growth on them was really spectacular. And here’s the thing that I loved about this story is he bought something through the traditional manner. Saw it in the newspaper, bought it, and then looked at it and went, “The web is ideal for just making this,” I know we use the word friction, but I just prefer, “making this whole thing easier. I can make it easier to post. I can make it easier to sell because there’s less back-and-forth. I can just make this whole process easier.” Dave Young: Sure. Stephen Semple: “And I already know lots of people are doing it, it’s super profitable for newspapers. So clearly, lots of people are doing it.” I love that thought process. And I also love the fact that he ran an experiment. Let’s just do something and test this out. The other thing I really liked was once it got going and it’s in that niche, they immediately went, “What’s something I can do to expand across it?” And what they recognized was where this fit was with something that lots of people are doing, but is hard to connect people together. Dave Young: Yeah, yeah. Stephen Semple: Right? So what they actually recognized was we are actually a facilitator. Dave Young: Absolutely. Stephen Semple: “And what is something that we can facilitate? Collectibles. Where are we going to start? We’ll start with Beanie Babies. What the heck, that’s where we’ll start.” I thought that that was a really great starting point because their whole thing was, “How do we make things easier?” And I find not enough businesses think about the whole how do I make things easier for my consumer? How do I bundle things so it’s a fixed price? How do I do this? How do I do it? And any time a business makes things easier for the consumer, it wins. And look, eBay went from nothing to a few years being a couple billion-dollar business. Dave Young: Yeah, amazing. Stephen Semple: Yeah, and they’re still doing, as I said, 10 billion in revenue today. Dave Young: I rarely go there. Stephen Semple: Yeah, I don’t use them either. Dave Young: We sold some things on eBay years ago. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Right? We just said, “Oh, we have this stuff and we know that there’s people out there that want it.” I’m thinking of homeschool books that our kids are now grown. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: That was a good place to list things like that. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Because you may not know somebody in town that’s got a kid the right age for it. Stephen Semple: Well, and today there’s more competition. You’ve got Facebook Marketplace. Dave Young: Absolutely. Stephen Semple: And I think Amazon has an auction site as well. There are other options, but clearly there’s still things eBay’s doing really correctly for them- Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: … to still, as I said, to be a $10 billion business. Dave Young: How much of what they do now is true auction versus just true commerce? Stephen Semple: You know what? I did not research the breakdown. I didn’t research the breakdown of that. Dave Young: Because when they put the buy it now button on. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: You could list something and then let people bid on it, but you could also just say, “If it goes below this, I’m not selling it.” Stephen Semple: Right. Dave Young: Put a buy it now button up there and if it doesn’t sell, maybe relist it down the road. Stephen Semple: Again, and I think it’s more around this collectible space. Dave Young: Yeah. Stephen Semple: I know there’s certain spaces that they are still pretty big on. Dave Young: It’s the place. Stephen Semple: And one of them oddly enough is auto parts. Dave Young: Okay. Stephen Semple: Let’s say you’ve got a ’65 Corvette and you’re looking for an old Corvette part, seemingly a pretty popular place to go is eBay. Dave Young: Okay. What if you have a ’65 Dodge Dart? Probably the same. Stephen Semple: Probably the same. Dave Young: Probably the same. Stephen Semple: Just one is really cool. Dave Young: Yeah, right? The parts are going to be a little rusty. Stephen Semple: And I’ll let the audience decide based on their preferences which one is really cool. Dave Young: That’s how the market- Stephen Semple: And let the argument begin. Dave Young: That’s how the market works. That’s how the marketplace works. Well, I’m glad to hear the story of eBay, Stephen. Stephen Semple: Yeah. Dave Young: Thank you for bringing it to the Empire Builders Podcast. Stephen Semple: Yeah, it was kind of fun. And you’re bidding at the beginning was awesome. Dave Young: Oh, thank you. Really, when I was young, I figured out that the way to emulate an auctioneer is just to make noise with your mouth and then rub your finger over your lips while you’re doing it. [inaudible 00:22:44]. That’s it, that’s it. Now you’re an auctioneer. Thanks, Stephen. Stephen Semple: Alright. Thanks, David. Dave Young: Thanks for listening to the podcast. Please share us, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and leave us a big, fat, juicy five-star rating and review at Apple Podcasts. And if you’d like to schedule your own 90-minute Empire Building session, you can do it at empirebuildingprogram.com.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Presence in Syria and Iranian Ties — John Batchelor, Bill Roggio, Akmed Sharawari — Sharawari documents that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) maintains operational presence in Syria, conducting activities from refugee camps adjacent to Damascus, maintaining historical organizational relationships with the Assadregime structure. Roggio emphasizes that PIJ functions as a crucial Iranian proxy organization, receiving weapons, financial resources, and operational guidance from Tehran's security apparatus. Batchelor notes that although PIJ was a major participant in the October 7th attacks on Israel, Shara's current government is reluctant to provide full institutional sponsorship due to significant associated political and security risks from Israeli retaliation. 1920 DAMASCUS

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

Iran's Aggressive Posture, Sanctions Evasion, and 'Fake Reform' — John Batchelor, Bill Roggio, Jonathan Sayeh— Sayeh characterizes Iran as an active predator state, systematically seizing commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and progressively advancing its nuclear weapons program toward weapons-grade fissile material production. Batchelor documents that despite US sanctions regimes, Iran currently exports more petroleum than during the previous administration, suggesting inadequate enforcement rigor and possible sanctions evasion through intermediary nations. Sayeh characterizes Iranian regime tactics as employing "fake reform," superficially tolerating hijab violations while simultaneously intensifying internal security crackdowns, executions, and suppression of political dissent, creating a facade of liberalization masking deepening authoritarianism. 1870 TEHRAN

For the sixth time this year, President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is meeting with President Putin in Moscow, presenting a revamped proposal agreed upon by both the White House and Ukraine. Meanwhile, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal alleges the White House may be prioritizing business interests with Russia over a just peace for Ukraine. The newspaper's chief foreign affairs correspondent, Yaroslav Trofimov, joins the show from DC.  Also on today's show: Andrey Kurkov, author, "Three Years on Fire: The Destruction of Ukraine"; CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman; Iranian women's rights activist Mahnaz Afkhami    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the one-hundred-and-eighty-sixth episode, we take another look at Moving the Goalposts, starting with Trump and Hegseth talking about the missile strike on the Iranian nuclear facility, and the shifting stories around Trump's association with Epstein.In Mark's British Politics Corner, we talk about the ever-changing age for retirement in the UK, an LBC listener struggling to justify her racism, and a Tory farming minister blaming badgers for moving goalposts themselves.In the Fallacy in the Wild section, we check out examples from Futurama, Battlestar Galactica, and Selma.Jim and Mark go head to head in Fake News, the game in which Mark has to guess which one of three Trump quotes Jim made up.Then we include the full episode of The Body of Evidence podcast that Jim recently guested on. You can hear more at https://www.bodyofevidence.ca/And finally, we round up some of the other crazy Trump stories from the past week.The full show notes for this episode can be found at https://fallacioustrump.com/ft186 Subscribe to Fallacious Trump to make sure you never miss a logical fallacy. Rather than just mindless anti-Trump rhetoric, we apply skepticism and critical thinking to our Donald Trump analysis by exploring his liberal use of logical fallacies and cognitive biases, along with a bit of humor and news about US politics. (But there is also some of that much needed anti-Trump rhetoric.)You can contact the guys at pod@fallacioustrump.com, on BlueSky @FallaciousTrump, Discord at fallacioustrump.com/discord, or facebook at facebook.com/groups/fallacioustrumpYou can support us at Patreon.com/ftrump, and you can buy our T-shirts here: https://fallacioustrump.com/teeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/fallacious-trump/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Israel's spy agencies are the stuff of legend. From domestic intelligence gathering to rooting out terrorism in its own backyard, to disrupting and dismantling Iranian-backed terrorist armies entrenched in neighboring Arab states, Israel has led the world in both covert and overt operations. One leader of its foreign intelligence agencies, the Mossad, had the foresight to see how gathering intelligence and using it to act quickly could benefit not only Israel but also its allies and, at times, its adversaries, and could be a political tool used to forge peace. His name was Meir Dagan. Not only did his leadership provide Israel and allies like the United States with the means to stop conflict, but his work and ideas also helped reshape how the world gathers and uses intelligence. His story is just now being made known. Samuel Katz, a New York Times bestselling author, joins the FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition to discuss the Mossad's incredible history and his new book, a biography of Meir Dagan titled 'The Architect of Espionage'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices