Podcasts about Iraq

From December 23, 2024: On today's podcast, Lawfare Executive Editor Natalie Orpett talks with Michael Posner, a professor of business and human rights at New York University, about the landmark verdict last month in Al-Shimari v. CACI. The case involved claims against a government contractor for its role in the abuse of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib detention facility in Iraq in 2004. It became the first case of its kind to make it to trial—and now a jury has returned a verdict finding the company liable and imposing $42 million in damages. They discuss how the case will affect private companies, government contractors, and the future of human rights litigation. Please note that this episode contains content that some people may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ralph welcomes international human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber to discuss the U.S. and Israel's illegal war on Iran. Then, Ralph speaks to investigative reporter David Cay Johnston about the finances of Donald Trump.Craig Mokhiber is an international human rights lawyer and activist, and a former senior United Nations human rights official. A human rights activist in the 1980s, he would go on to serve for more than three decades at the United Nations, with postings in Switzerland, Palestine, Afghanistan, and UN Headquarters in New York. In October of 2023, he left the United Nations, penning a widely read letter criticizing the UN's human rights failures in the Middle East, warning of unfolding genocide in Gaza, and calling for a new approach to Palestine and Israel based on international law, human rights, and equality.Anyone who pays attention knows that Iran wasn't attacked because it has nuclear weapons. It was attacked because it doesn't have nuclear weapons, and was therefore viewed by Israel and the U.S. as being a state that could be overcome militarily. But what really is, I think, most telling about this is the hypocrisy of the claims, because the only party in the region that has stockpiles of nuclear weapons (which are entirely undeclared and unsupervised) is the Israeli regime, not the Iranian. And the Israeli regime was joined in attacking Iran by another nuclear power—the United States.Craig MokhiberIsrael (which has attacked the United Nations throughout its entire life and declared that the United Nations is an anti-Semitic terror organization) fights like hell to stay in the United Nations, pays its dues every year to make sure that it stays in…and renews its treaty obligations as a member of the United Nations (that, of course, it violates with impunity). So it's very funny that Israel calls the UN an anti-Semitic terror organization, yet it insists on being a member and paying its dues to fund that so-called anti-Semitic terror organization.Craig MokhiberI don't think that putting Iran in an existential crisis is the best way to tell them you don't need nuclear weapons. I think stopping attacking them, their economy, their currency, their scientists, their political leaders, their military personnel, their civilians, their girls' schools—if you want a country to believe that it doesn't need to arm itself, this is not the way to go about it.Craig MokhiberDavid Cay Johnston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter, specialist in economics and tax issues, and a professor of practice teaching law, public policy, and journalism at Rochester Institute of Technology. He is the author of several books, including The Making of Donald Trump and It's Even Worse Than You Think: What The Trump Administration Is Doing To America. He is also the co-founder of DCReport, a nonprofit news service that reports what the President and Congress DO, not what they SAY.Convicting Donald Trump of tax fraud would be very easy. You establish these corporations [reporting major losses] don't exist. You establish that he took tax losses from these multiple corporations (in all, about 60 entries over the six years of tax returns). And there's no defense for that. It's flat-out fraud. It's blatant fraud. So Trump has gotten away with this because we don't seriously treat high-level tax fraud in this country.David Cay JohnstonNews 3/20/26* Our top story this week concerns a new study titled “Inequality, not regulation, drives America's housing affordability crisis.” As summarized in Hell Gate, this study demonstrates that the precipitous rise in rent prices are not primarily the result of insufficient housing supply or of vacancy rates. Moreover, contrary to the claims of the so-called Abundance movement, reducing regulations to spur new construction is unlikely to create significantly more housing. Even if it did, that would probably fail to bring down rents, because the real cause of the rental spike is “Steep national inequality.” So, what can be done to bring down rents? Maximilian Buchholz, the lead author of the study, puts it bluntly in this interview: “rent control, tenant protection policies like just cause eviction, and income supports for people toward the bottom.” Simply put, the best policies to lower rents are policies that lower rents. This has been demonstrated time and time again in different policy areas, yet on the whole, Democrats still seem to prefer byzantine policy formulae instead of straightforward policy solutions to the glaring issues facing the American people. * Speaking of rising costs, Washingtonian magazine is out with a new story on the Washington Post hiking prices for subscribers. Yet apparently not all subscribers are created equal. According to this story, these increases are accompanied by a simple yet insidious message: “This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data.” This is the latest deployment of what has become known as algorithmic – or “surveillance” – pricing. This piece notes other examples of surveillance pricing, ranging from the Princeton Review charging more for the same SAT tutoring package in areas with higher Asian populations (they called it the “tiger mom tax”) to Amazon charging local school districts vastly different prices for the same supplies. However, this new policy from the Post is especially brazen given the straits the paper has recently found itself in, declining by a million subscribers between 2021 and 2026 and hemorrhaging key reporters to a new rival paper sponsored by Robert Albritton, including Dana Milbank, Jeff Stein, Paul Kane and Paige Cunningham, among others, per the Hill.* In more media news, Variety reports that ratings for CBS Evening News are cratering, falling back to where executives at the news division behind the show “hoped never to return.” The nightly news program, anchored by Tony Dokoupil, has fallen below 4 million viewers; when the previous iteration of the program anchored by Maurice DuBois and John Dickerson fell to this nadir, Paramount Skydance pulled the plug. While this is perhaps just a symptom of the collapse of cable news, Variety notes that ABC's “World News Tonight,” averaged nearly 8 and a half million viewers and “NBC Nightly News” scored just over 6 and half million. Dokoupil did score a slight uptick in viewership when he took over the Evening News, but that seems to have been nothing more than a flash in the pan. This pathetic showing seems to confirm what seemed obvious all along: there is simply little audience for the editorial viewpoint espoused by CBS's new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.* The bad news for Bari doesn't end there, either. According to the Wrap, the new chief is locked in contentious negotiations with the unionized staff of CBS, specifically the 60-person unit behind the network's streaming service, “CBS News 24/7.” These workers staged a 24 hour walkout earlier this week. Their grievances include everything from new grueling 12-hour weekend shifts – despite no weekend-specific live programming – as well as CBS News' reported plans to lay off 15% of staff. CBS News already laid off roughly 100 people in October after Paramount merged with Skydance and many believe more layoffs will come if the merger with CNN, which is not unionized, goes through as part of the Paramount Warner Bros. deal.* In other news, a recent study reveals a fascinating disconnect between the self-description of Democrats and their policy preferences. The study, conducted on behalf of the New Republic by Embold Research, gave respondents five choices to describe their ideology: conservative, moderate, moderate-to-liberal, liberal, and progressive. Only 12% identified as moderate, but another 21% called themselves moderate-to-liberal. Yet, among this combined group, approximately 70% said Democrats are “too timid” on taxing the rich and corporations, and cracking down on corporate criminals. Fewer than 5% of moderates said Democrats are “too aggressive” on these issues. In a word, even the moderates among the Democratic base think the party should take a more strident economic populist line. This tracks with polling conducted during the Texas Democratic Senate primary which found that 47% of voters who identified as socialists also identified as moderates.* Our next several stories this week have to do with the intersection of foreign policy and energy. The AP reports that on Tuesday, Cuba reconnected its energy grid following a 29-hour long nationwide blackout. This story notes that this reconnection will only provide scant and temporary relief, because not enough power is being generated. The energy crisis in Cuba has gotten progressively worse since the beginning of the year, as the new government in Venezuela and the newly reinforced sanctions regime have both served to cut off the island from energy imports. That said, cracks in this blockade are beginning to form. Bloomberg reports that a “tanker carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude is expected to arrive in Cuba by the end of the month,” and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her administration is “looking into different possibilities” to resume fuel shipments to Cuba as well. Sheinbaum stressed that Mexico is “sovereign” and able to “have trade agreements with any country in the world,” per the Latin Times. The U.S. government has already eased sanctions on Russian oil sales to India, but has now announced that they will not allow the Russians to send oil to Cuba, per Bloomberg. As the ship is already on its way, it is an open question of how far the U.S. will go to prevent Russia from sending lifesaving resources to the country that has held out against American pressure for so long.* Next, a stunning story in the Wall Street Journal documents how the Trump administration settled on their final course of action in Venezuela. According to this piece, the Central Intelligence Agency consulted former Chevron executive Ali Moshiri, described as the oil company's man in “Man in Venezuela—and a CIA Informant.” Apparently, Moshiri warned that if the U.S. government tried to oust the Chavista government of Nicolás Maduro and install María Corina Machado and her exile comrades in its place, the country would turn into “another quagmire like Iraq.” Moshiri specifically warned that Machado did not have the support of the country's security services or control of its oil infrastructure. For their part, Chevron issued a statement claiming that “between spring of 2025 and the removal of Maduro, Chevron did not authorize anyone working for, or on behalf of, the company to engage with the CIA related to Venezuela's leadership, including assessments of government officials or opposition leaders.” Moshiri, formally left Chevron in 2017 and ended his consulting relationship with the company in 2024. Unlike many other oil companies, Chevron maintained a presence in Venezuela over the years, positioning the company to benefit most from the new extraction political environment under the leadership of upjumped Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.* Meanwhile, a story from NOTUS highlights why this kind of outside advice is likely more heeded than ever in the halls of power: the publication reports that six months ago, the State Department under the leadership of Secretary Marco Rubio, fired its in-house oil and gas experts, including laying off staff who “would have been responsible for gaming out possible scenarios if the Strait of Hormuz was closed” and “staffers with close professional relationships at oil and gas companies in the Middle East and experts tasked with maintaining diplomatic contacts at foreign energy bureaus.” This is a final nail in the coffin for the misguided logic of Elon Musk's DOGE initiative and serves as a crystal clear example of why it is so dangerous to purge experts with significant institutional knowledge from the federal bureaucracy.* Another consequence of this lack of diplomatic expertise is the ultimate cost to the taxpayer – $200 billion in additional Pentagon funding, to be exact, per CNBC. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, defending the request in typically childish terms, said “It takes money to kill bad guys.” In similarly childish terms, President Trump, asked why the Pentagon is seeking so much money, said, “We're asking for a lot of reasons,” and while he told a reporter he would not send U.S. troops to the region, he added, “If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you.” Beyond the flippant attitude towards the immense sums of taxpayer money they are requesting from Congress, to say nothing of the cost in American and Iranian lives, the American people would do well to remember how casually the political class treats $200 billion when it is to be spent on war instead of social programs. All this as gas prices spike, with price increases rippling out to all other consumer goods.* Finally, the BBC reports a Belgian court has ruled that a former diplomat, Etienne Davignon, can stand trial in connection with the 1961 killing of Congo's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Davignon, 93, is the “only surviving member of the 10 Belgians accused in a criminal case brought by Lumumba's family in 2011.” At the time, Davignon was a diplomat in training. He would go on to become a vice-president of the European Commission. Lumumba meanwhile was ousted in a Belgian and U.S.-backed coup led by Mobutu Sese Seko, who would rule Congo (renamed Zaire) until 1997. In 1961, Lumumba was executed by a Belgian-backed Congolese firing squad and his body was dissolved in acid. Lumumba's grandson, Mehdi Lumumba, is quoted saying “We are all relieved…Belgium is finally confronting its history.” Many have remarked that while this has taken over 50 years, it sets a powerful precedent that justice can be found even after so many decades. Many of the war criminals that walk the Earth today are far younger than Mr. Davignon.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Megyn Kelly is joined by Joe Kent, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, to speak out for the first time about the reports he's being investigated by the FBI for leaking to the media during his time in the Trump administration, whether he leaked info about Mark Levin to Tucker Carlson, the allegation he leaked about Charlie Kirk to Candace Owens, and more. They also discuss what really happened behind-the-scenes in the Trump administration in the weeks leading up to the Iran war, the influence of neocons and foreign officials in Trump's decision-making, critiques about him speaking out against the president during a war, how VP JD Vance and DNI Tulsi Gabbard fit with Trump's current Iran policy, Kent's interactions with Vance, Gabbard, and Trump the night before his resignation letter, whether he was frozen out of meetings with President Trump and other top officials, why Kent believes there's much more to investigate related to the Charlie Kirk assassination, why the FBI could take the lead on the potential "transtifa" connection, whether foreign actors were involved in any way, what drew him to President Trump during the 2016 GOP primary, why his past foreign policy “moral clarity” on Iraq and Middle East was so appealing, Kent's lengthy military service, and more.   More from Kent - https://x.com/joekent16jan19   Done with Debt: https://www.DoneWithDebt.com & tell them Megyn Kelly sent you! ARMRA: go to https://tryarmra.com/MEGYNto get 30% off your first subscription order PureTalk: Save on wireless with PureTalk visit https://PureTalk.com/MEGYNKELLY     Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKelly Twitter: http://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShow Instagram: http://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShow Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow  Find out more information at:https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From the White House to Iran's former crown prince, proponents of the U.S.–Israel war on Iran sell it to the American people — and Iranians themselves — as a crusade for liberation. Instead, the regime remains in place as the death toll grows, environmental hazards proliferate, and civilian infrastructure is decimated. As if the destruction inside Iran itself wasn't enough, the war is starting to have serious ramifications for the global economy and, more to the point, expanding into neighboring countries.Lebanon, in particular, has come into Israel's crosshairs, with increasing Israeli incursions and missile strikes deeper into the country. The number of dead there is approaching 1,000 with Israeli missiles razing entire apartment blocks in central Beirut this week and a ground invasion getting underway. More than 1 million Lebanese people have been displaced.“I think the Lebanese are suffering now, and there's not really anyone who's trying to save them,” says Afeef Nessouli, a Beirut-based journalist, speaking to The Intercept Briefing. “They know that, and they know that they're just political pawns who are always at the worst end of the stick along with Palestine.” He adds, “The fear is that [Israel] will occupy south of Litani [River] ... and just take people's homes, take their land, and never give it back, make settlements for their country.”“It's been really stunning to watch that so many people fall for this idea of ‘This is a human rights intervention' — and yet it's accomplished through massive human rights violations,” says Ali Gharib, a senior editor at The Intercept. Commenting on Israel's strategy of making failed states out of its adversaries in the region, he notes, the Israelis “don't need [Reza] Pahlavi to work. They don't need him to go in there and become this democratic leader. They just need him to lead a movement that damages the regime enough to put Iran into some kind of fractured state or state failure where it's not a threat to Israel anymore.”“We've had in the last 20 to 25 years, especially since the Iraq War in 2003, a lobby pushing for regime change in Iran,” says Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini, a veteran peace strategist. “The Iraq version of regime change ended up being a catastrophe from a U.S. perspective, but actually from an Israeli perspective and from a Saudi perspective, and even from a UAE perspective, the decimation of Iraq has been a success because if Iraq had turned out to be a liberal democracy, it would've challenged Israel on the question of Palestine. It would've challenged Saudi Arabia on the question of Islam and what is Islam.”It's a region in upheaval, and at the center are Israeli and American fictions about liberatory bombs.“I've been on podcasts with Israeli journalists where they're telling me the Iranians wanted us to go in and liberate them,” says Naraghi-Anderlini, “And my response to them is: Liberate their bodies from their souls?”Listen to the full conversation of The Intercept Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.Keep our investigations free and fearless at theintercept.com/join. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Driftglass and Blue Gal compare Bush's Iraq debacle with Trump's Iran war—the lying, the cover-ups, the profiteering, the attacks on critics—revealing Trump isn't a break from the Republican past but a continuation of it, just bigger, dumber, and louder. The episode also discusses how the New York (effin') Times deliberately cleans up Trump's incoherent rambling while adding "uhs" and "ums" to try to make AOC look stupid. All this plus Illinois primary results and the national media's desperate hunt for "Democrats in Disarray." It's about fake WMDs then and now, and a very, very complicit media sanitizing fascism.  More at proleftpod.com. Link for this episode:  Catch Driftglass on The Bob Cesca Show:  https://www.bobcesca.com/the-bob-cesca-interview-driftglass-3-18-26/Stay in Touch! Email: proleftpodcast@gmail.com Website: proleftpod.com Support via Patreon: patreon.com/proleftpod or Donate in the Venmo App @proleftpodMail: The Professional Left, PO Box 9133, Springfield, Illinois, 62791Support the show

The Iran war is entering a more dangerous phase, not because of troop movements, but because energy infrastructure is now a target and the price tag is starting to match the escalation. At the same time, artificial intelligence is emerging as the next political battlefield, shaping both policy debates and the broader information environment.What stood out to me immediately is how the war is evolving. We are no longer just talking about missile launches and leadership strikes. Energy infrastructure has become fair game. Iran hitting a liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar, after Israel struck Iranian gas fields, is a complete and total shift in what counts as a legitimate target.Once you start targeting gas fields and LNG infrastructure, you are no longer just fighting a regional war. You are influencing global markets, allies, and supply chains all at once. Energy itself is global. That is usually the phase where conflicts either spiral or move toward negotiation.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.My instinct is that this is the point where talks at least become more likely. Not guaranteed, but more likely. Because once energy becomes the battlefield, the costs stop being theoretical.Then you get to the update, and this is where things get real. The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a $200 billion supplemental request for the Pentagon.That number doesn't match the messaging. You don't ask for $200 billion if this is a clean, four-to-six week operation. That's a number that suggests duration just as much as it suggests uncertainty. It suggests that, whatever the original plan was, the current expectation is something longer and more complicated.And politically, that is where the ground starts to shift. Democrats are obviously not going to support that. But more importantly, there are plenty of Republicans who will not put their names behind this action either — epecially the faction that already believes this war risks turning into another Iraq-style commitment.So now the question is not just “are we winning?” It is “how long are we staying?” And those are very different political questions.Militarily, the signals are still positive for the United States and Israel. There have been clear tactical wins. Iran has taken significant damage. There are even hints of internal instability within the regime. But strategically, it's still murky.We do not know how close the regime is to collapsing. We do not know whether continued strikes accelerate that collapse or entrench resistance. And we do not know whether the administration actually wants regime change or just behavioral change.That gap between battlefield success and strategic clarity is where wars tend to get complicated. And when you pair that with a nine-figure funding request, that's how skepticism starts to grow — and fast.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:02:09 - Senate Draft Begins00:04:13 - 2026 Senate Draft Round One00:28:39 - Iranian Negotiations00:30:50 - White House AI Framework00:32:35 - 2026 Senate Draft Round Two00:49:34 - 2026 Senate Draft Round Three01:04:19 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

After decades of conflict, Iraqis have enjoyed increased political stability and a promising future, even embracing a unified national identity. But attacks by Iran, the United States, and homegrown militias are tugging at the divides that had held Iraq back. Also: today's stories, including how MAGA voters are throwing their support behind the Iran war, despite strident criticism from some conservative commentators; how government UFO records and films exploring out-of-this-world connections are renewing attention on the question of whether humankind is truly alone in the universe; and how Haiti's 'Resistance Artists' believe in new beginnings. Join the Monitor's Audrey Thibert for today's news.

Send us Fan MailIn this compelling episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we welcome Chris Rivers, a former US Army officer and combat veteran whose journey spans military leadership, US diplomacy, and corporate strategy. Chris shares his insights from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, his education at West Point and Georgetown, and his experience running for state office, where he knocked on an impressive 9,000 doors. Through his book, *You Shouldn't Have to Kill to Get Ahead*, Chris delves into the harsh realities of the American dream and the systemic issues that hinder true meritocracy. He discusses the disconnect between hard work and economic mobility, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and rebuilding trust in our institutions. Tune in to learn how we can all be part of the change, the significance of belonging in leadership, and practical steps to reconnect with our communities for a brighter future. Discover how Chris's experiences can inspire you to take action and make a difference in your own life and the lives of others.Want to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600Support the showwww.chrisrivers.comSupport the show

Behnam Ben Taleblu joins Bridget to offer his expertise on Iran. They discuss who's actually in charge in Iran right now, what Americans need to understand about the Islamic Republic's ideology, why the plight of Iranian women gets ignored by Western feminists, and why this conflict is fundamentally different from Iraq 2003. They cover how the regime destroyed Iran's environment to fund the Revolutionary Guard, how they worked with Mexican drug cartels and Canadian biker gangs to target dissidents on US soil, how AI-generated propaganda muddies the water in favor of the regime, why Hollywood actors completely miss what's happening by lumping Iran with Palestine and Iraq, the regime's scorched earth strategy of burning countries to rubble to survive, Iranian sleeper cells already on US soil, the strategic importance of not giving this regime a premature off-ramp, and why Americans Googling “how far is Iran from the United States” shows how much work remains in explaining the stakes of this conflict.

PODCAST LAS NOTICIAS CON CALLE DE 19 DE MARZO DE 2026 - El petróleo a 115, el WTI en 98 FED decide dejar la tasa de interés igual Irán ataca zonas de Kuwait, Atar y Arabia Saudita tras Israel atacar Pars y su zona de gas  Trump jura que no bombardearán zonas de Irán si deja Irán de atacar en Qatar Grupos ambientalistas en PR se oponen a mega proyectos de energía renovable - WUNO Trump considera enviar miles de tropas adicionales a zona de Irán para garantizar pasar tanqueros por Hormuz - Reuters Investigan posible preparación terrorista en donde viven Marco Rubio y jefe del Ejército tras detectar drones extraños - Washington Post Trump busca tener moneda de oro con su cara para celebrar los 250 años de Estados Unidos Afghanistán y Pakistán están en detente de guerra mañana por un día por fiesta musulmana - Economist Jefe de terrorismo de USA bajo investigación del FBI por filtrar información - Axios Vienen carros sin guía - Axios Jueza Swain ordena que se negocie en serio para reestructurar deuda de la AEE - Elk Vocero Se queda cargo especial para pagar pensiones en factura de la AEE - El Vocero Mañana empiezan vistas de centros de inspección, pero no se sabe si Ciary si va o no - El Vocero Esta Isla estrena en cines y alegan que es el mejor filme de PR en mucho tiempo, premiado y reconocido por entidades internacionales - El Vocero Bestiales filas de TSA, increíble cierre federal continúa - Primera HoraJueza le da un break a PR y le dice que no a bonistas para cargo especial - Primera HoraProponen un parque con el nombre a Maga Nevárez en Arecibo - Primera HoraProponen proyecto para sepultar a perritos con sus amos Aparenta haber dos muertes por ahogamientos en playa, uno en San Juan y otro en Vieques - Primera Hora Tumban 200 mil en residencia de Morovis - Primera Hora Jueza presidenta contra proyecto que limita su poder - El Nuevo Día Eliminación de leyes de cabotaje solo representa un centavo del litro de gasolina - NYTCapitana boricua murió en Iraq, familia crearía beca a su nombre Reconocen a Chik Starr y a El Profe en el Capitolio - Noticel Incluye auspicio 

Former Green Beret and Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center Joe Hook suddenly resigned. Today, we are going to go over his resignation letter, the administration's response, and try to honestly assess what the hell is going on.------SPONSOR: Good Ranchers Good Ranchers is the only meat company fully dedicated to America at every step, sourcing exclusively from local American farms and handling everything—from packaging to customer support—right here in the U.S.Get 25$ off HERE: https://www.goodranchers.com/discount/NICK-----GET YOUR MERCH HERE: https://shop.nickjfreitas.com/BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IC: https://NickJFreitas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickjfreitas/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickFreitasVATwitter: https://twitter.com/NickJFreitasYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickjfreitasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nickfreitas3.000:00:00 – Surprise resignation of NCTC Director Joe Kent00:01:23 – Kent's resignation letter claims regarding Iran war00:03:14 – Karoline Leavitt responds to Kent's false claims00:08:05 – Analyzing Joe Kent's previous statements on Iran00:10:16 – Contradictions between Kent's past rhetoric and resignation00:16:56 – Debunking myths about Israel and Iraq War00:18:03 – Historical evidence of Ariel Sharon's Iraq warnings00:23:43 – Why nuclear Islamism threatens all Western civilization00:25:31 – Comparing foreign lobbying influence of various nations00:28:45 – Trump's consistent stance against a nuclear Iran00:30:44 – Why the resignation letter was strategically ineffective00:33:00 – Rejecting oppressor versus oppressed logic on right00:36:54 – Analyzing Joe Kent's claims with Tucker Carlson00:41:03 – Debunking the fatwa against Iranian nuclear weapons00:43:53 – Cost benefit analysis of current Iranian conflict00:47:11 – How resignation timing impacts America First agenda00:51:20 – Why foreign affairs require evidence based logic

-Joe Kent's weird texts and the “Israel did Iraq” brainworm-The Jews are so fucking clever-Iraq 2003, back from the dead yet again-There's always a new monster to destroy-Iran, nukes, and the problem with crazy people holding civilization hostage-A Ron Paul guy with a war boner-Don't you realize you're losing America?-Norman Finkelstein has no phone-Mearsheimering, Robert Pape, and the incentives to go full crank-Megyn Kelly, the anti-Israel turn, and the warm bath of total nuttiness-Mark Levin's penis size enters the chat-Louis CK and a Michael Barbaro hit job-the origin of Tough CrowdPrefer to watch & chat live with other members of the Fifdom? This episode premieres over on our YouTube channel at 12PM EST.After 10 years, we've finally found a sponsor we actually like. Ground News pulls coverage of the same story into one place so you can compare headlines across sources and see how framing changes depending on the outlet.Subscribe for 40% off our Vantage plan using our unique link https://groundnews.com/fifthThe Fifth Column (A Podcast) is a reader/viewer supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Follow The Fifth ColumnYouTube: @wethefifthInstagram: @we.the.fifthX: @wethefifthTikTok: @wethefifthFacebook: @thefifthcolumn This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

The National Security Hour with Brandon Weichert – Iran, like so many asymmetric adversaries before it, never intended to fight America straight up. Its real strategy is to endure, decentralize, and retaliate indirectly—through drones, missile salvos, proxy capabilities, and above all by threatening global energy flows through chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and...

In this episode of Coffee Talk with Bryan and Marie, we sit down with Steven Nihipali — father of five, musician, and U.S. Army veteran whose story carries both pride and pain. Steven served seven years in the Army as a 42R (saxophone player), but his path took a sharp turn when he was assigned to convoy security in Mosul, Iraq during OIF 5–6. His deployment ran from August 2008 to September 2008, a period that left a lasting impact on his life and health.Nearly a decade after returning home, Steven medically separated from the military and was eventually rated 100% by the VA, with support from the Wounded Warrior Project. His journey is one of resilience, identity, fatherhood, and learning to rebuild after service.Join Bryan and Marie for a grounded, heartfelt conversation about music, war, recovery, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward.

Iran is retaliating for the killing of its top security chief with strikes across the region overnight, and Iranian are crossing into Iraq just to buy food they can no longer afford at home. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Cuba needs new people in charge, raising questions about what the Trump administration is actually planning for the island. And the Federal Reserve meets today facing a scrambled economic outlook with energy prices are soaring because of the war and the job market is weakening.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Hannah Block, Rebekah Metzler, Rafael Nam, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas.Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.(0:00) Introduction(01:55) Life Inside Iran(06:15) Trump and Cuba(10:10) Fed Interest RatesTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Tonight there are new strikes on the U.S. embassy in Iraq, and the U.S. military dropped 5,000-pound, GPS-guided bombs to blow up Iranian missile sites threatening ships in the Gulf. Back home, top national security official Joe Kent became the first senior administration member to quit over the war. Quoting now from his resignation letter to the president: "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This time, John discusses Joe Kent who resigned as the head of the National Counterterrorism Center, which is part of Tulsi Gabbard's office. Kent cited the war with Iran as his reason for leaving. John also talks about the ongoing conflict in Iran, emphasizing the internal divisions within the Republican party and the implications for American foreign policy. He raises important questions about accountability and the potential consequences of military action, encouraging listeners to think critically about the narratives presented in the media. Then, he interviews Elizabeth Vartkessian who's been investigating the life histories of those facing the most severe penalties possible in the U.S. They talk about her new book "The Deserving: What the Lives of the Condemned Reveal About American Justice". Next, John speaks with Tony Box who served as a Judge Advocate General officer while being deployed to Iraq. His career experience includes working as an investigator with the Congressional Commission on Wartime Contracting, for the Department of Defense, as a special agent and member of the SWAT team with the FBI, as an assistant U.S. Attorney, and in private practice. Having operated in both military and federal law enforcement leadership roles for decades, Tony brings a unique perspective on whether we're heading down a familiar and risky path. And finally, John jokes with comedian Keith Price and they talk listeners off the edge and calm their fears about voting, gas prices, and the War in Iran.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The United States embassy in Baghdad is under attack again as Israel issues a new threat to against Iran's new supreme leader. Plus, an American warship believed to be carrying 2,000 Marines now heads to the Middle East. Plus, a key member of Trump's team, the National Counterterrorism Center director, resigned from his post today saying Iran posed no imminent threat to the US.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They're dragging a disproved Iraq War storyline out of storage to sell a new war with Iran, and it matters because it's the kind of myth that can get people killed. We sit down with Captain Matt Ho to dissect the EFP hoax: what explosively formed penetrators were, how they were used in Iraq, and how the claim of Iranian direction or supply turned into a convenient political talking point. We also name the bigger pattern: when leaders need a clean villain, they rewrite messy history into a simple slogan. From there, we get into the competence problem driving today's Iran war narrative. Trump points to advice from Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and we explore what happens when personal loyalty replaces subject-matter expertise, especially around Iran's nuclear program. Mixed messages about goals like regime change, “unconditional surrender,” or vague “imminent threats” aren't just sloppy, they're dangerous, because they blur the line between deterrence and escalation. We also zoom out to the strategic fallout: US military readiness, munitions constraints, and the real-world risk of energy shock tied to the Strait of Hormuz. Add in Lindsey Graham pressuring allies and the growing influence of religious nationalism, including Christian nationalism inside parts of the US military, and you get a conflict that can expand fast while staying politically incoherent. If you care about foreign policy, the Iraq War legacy, Iran war analysis, and the future of the US empire, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who still remembers the Iraq War messaging, and leave a review telling us what claim you want fact-checked next.

How much power does The New York Times really have , and what happens when that power is used to shape narrative instead of pursue truth? In this episode of The Curious Middle, we speak with Ashley Rindsberg, author of The Gray Lady Winked, about the Times' reporting on some of the most important stories of the last century: the Nazi invasion of Poland, Stalin's Soviet Union, the Holocaust, Israel, the 1619 Project nd more. Ashley Rindsberg is an investigative journalist and author focused on media malfeasance, information warfare, and the hidden systems influencing public discourse. Ashley joins us to explain why he believes the paper has repeatedly protected power, buried inconvenient truths, and helped shape public opinion in ways that changed history. We also talk about the Sulzberger family, the culture inside elite newsrooms, the collapse of trust in journalism, and how listeners can build a healthier media diet today. Follow Ashley's Substack In this episode: What first inspired Ashley to write The Gray Lady Winked Why the New York Times is unlike any other media institution The Times' Holocaust coverage and what was buried Soviet propaganda, Stalin, Hitler, Cuba, Iraq, Israel and the Intifada, The 1619 Project and narrative-driven reporting The Tom Cotton op-ed controversy, safe spaces, silencing dissent and newsroom ideology Why media trust has collapsed How to find better journalism in a fractured media environment Key Quotes "They set cultural agendas, they set the news agenda, they influence politics, they influence culture." "They didn't want to appear to be the Jewish newspaper that was advocating for Jewish lives or Jewish people. So they did the exact opposite." "You don't bury a story about tens of thousands of people being murdered in Europe by accident." "The narrative was so overpowering for them that it obliterated what was in front of their faces." "It became a culture of silence."   Follow @thecuriousmiddlepod Contact us: thecuriousmiddlepod@gmail.com

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

On tonights live, Andy & DJ are joined in the studio by Andy Stumpf. They discuss Americans being urged to leave Iraq immediately by the US Embassy in Baghdad, gunfire at a crowded Flordia beach during spring break and the woke Canadian school banning children from eating in its cafeteria and lunch room to avoid offending Muslim students during Ramadan.

It's a proper News Day Tuesday today on the Majority Report   On today's program:   Today is primary day in Illinois and AIPAC is pouring millions in as the scramble to beat the anti-genocide candidates.   Trump claims no expert could have known that Iran would retaliate by targeting neighboring countries' infrastructure. But Nate Swanson, a 20-year State Department veteran focused on Iran, had already outlined this exact scenario. Swanson was later pushed out after Laura Loomer urged Trump to remove officials she viewed as disloyal.   Trump Claims to have predicted that Iran would weaponize the strait of Hormuz, just like he "predicted" that Osama Bin Laden would knock down the World Trade Center towers.   We take a look back at when Michael Moore was booed at the Oscars for speaking out again Bush and his illegal war in Iraq.   Trump says that it will be his honor to "take" Cuba saying whether he "frees it or just takes it...I can do whatever I want".   Trump is asked about Israel's planned ground invasion in Lebanon to which he responds with a rambling story about how he is confused about how people live in places that get bombed so much.   In the Fun Half:   Tim Pool attempts a hit piece on Mamdani but falls flat. He claims Mamdani is telling the working class they're no longer welcome in New York, a fundamental misreading of Zohran's platform, which has centered on affordability from the very beginning.   Trump unleashes a HIPPA violation on a Florida congressman by revealing gruesome details about his health issues during a press conference at the Kennedy Center.   RFK, Jr releases an AI generated video of him wrestling a twinkie. Very cool.   all that and more   To connect and organize with your local ICE rapid response team visit ICERRT.com The Congress switchboard number is (202) 224-3121. You can use this number to connect with either the U.S. Senate or the House of Representatives. Follow us on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase Check out today's sponsors: ZOCDOC: Go to Zocdoc.com/MAJORITY and download the Zocdoc app to sign-up for FREE and book a top-rated doctor COZY EARTH: Go to cozyearth.com/MAJORITYREPORT for up to 20% off. SUNSET LAKE:  30% off all CBD tinctures for people and pets with code Spring26 at  SunsetLakeCBD.com  Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech On Instagram: @MrBryanVokey Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on YouTube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com

10. Joe Truzman (SEG 10): Truzman describes the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" as a front for Iran-backed militias launching information warfare. He discusses Houthi readiness to join the conflict and Iranian proxies attacking Jewish institutions across Europe. (11)1746

SHOW SCHEDULE 3-16-261902 ROME1. Bill Roggio and Hussein Haqqani (SEG 1): Haqqani discusses global resistance to President Trump's Strait of Hormuz mission and the economic impact of Iran's strategy. Roggio analyzes the administration's goal of regime change and notes they underestimated Iranian resilience. (2)2. Hussein Haqqani and Bill Roggio (SEG 2): Haqqani notes European and Arab reluctance to join the U.S. coalition due to past diplomatic friction. Roggio discusses the lack of a viable Iranian resistance and the failure of air-only military strategies. (3)3. David Daoud (SEG 3): Daoud analyzes the IDF's difficulty in permanently eliminating Hezbollah and its shift toward creating a security buffer zone. He argues that regime change in Iran would weaken but not destroy the group. (4)4. David Daoud (SEG 4): Daoud reports on Hezbollah's continued use of drone swarms and short-range rockets to harass Israel. He notes that while their command structure is degraded, IRGC officers are filling leadership gaps in Beirut. (5)5. Malcolm Hoenlein (SEG 5): Hoenlein details the chaos surrounding Iranian succession, including reports that Mojtaba Khamenei is wounded. He describes regional economic devastation from the Strait of Hormuz closure and the use of destructive cluster munitions. (6)6. Malcolm Hoenlein (SEG 6): Hoenlein reports on IDF operations in Lebanon, noting Hezbollah defections and command-and-control breakdowns. He critiques European nations for "waffling" and refusing to provide escort vessels for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. (7)7. Edmund Fitton-Brown (SEG 7): Fitton-Brown explains the international "digging in of heels" against Trump's Hormuz mission, with allies fearing Iranian retaliation. He notes that the U.S. failed to foresee Iran's predictable move to shut the waterway. (8)8. Edmund Fitton-Brown (SEG 8): Fitton-Brown discusses the global economy being held hostage by Iran and potential strategies like seizing Kharg Island. He analyzes Houthi restraint and the potential for a dangerous "fourth front" in Yemen. (9)9. John Hardy (SEG 9): Hardie details how the Iran war benefits Russia through increased oil revenue and the depletion of Western munitions needed by Kyiv. He reports that the U.S.-led peace process in Ukraine is fizzling. (10)10. Joe Truzman (SEG 10): Truzman describes the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" as a front for Iran-backed militias launching information warfare. He discusses Houthi readiness to join the conflict and Iranian proxies attacking Jewish institutions across Europe. (11)11. Ernesto Araújo (SEG 11): Araújo discusses the Iran war's economic ripple effects in Latin America, including rising gas prices. He reports on potential democratic transitions in Cuba and Venezuela as Russian and Chinese regional influence diminishes. (12)12. Ernesto Araújo (SEG 12): Araújo reports on the deteriorating health of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro and political suppression in Brazil. He highlights a diplomatic rift caused by visa denials for a U.S. special envoy. (13)13. Ahmed Sharawi (SEG 13): Sharawi tracks Iranian drone and missile strikes against the UAE and Saudi Arabia intended to pressure Washington. He notes Iran's strategy of attacking NATO sites in Turkey to create regional chaos. (14)14. Greg Scarlatoiu (SEG 14): Scarlatoiu explains Romania's decision to host U.S. military equipment despite threats from Tehran. He emphasizes that Romania views the Iran and Ukraine conflicts as existential threats to its own national security. (15)15. Rick Fischer (SEG 15): Fischer provides evidence of direct Chinese assistance to Iran's drone and missile programs, including guidance systems and satellite surveillance. He notes that these attacks would be impossible without Beijing's support. (16)16. Greg Scarlatoiu (SEG 16): Scarlatoiu analyzes the public appearance of Kim Jong-un's daughter, Kim Ju-ae, and speculation regarding her being groomed for succession. He discusses the ruthless political environment within the Kim family dynasty. (17)

President Trump says the fighting will be "wrapped up soon," even as the repercussions of it grow and strikes by Iran continue. One of the world's biggest gas fields in the United Arab Emirates was hit today, and Iranian drones also hit an oil tank farm near the Dubai airport this morning.  When the president was asked whether he was surprised he wasn't briefed that Iran could strike neighboring countries, he told reporters, “No, the greatest experts, nobody thought they were going to hit.” Plus, Anderson speaks to a friend and mentor of U.S. Air Force Captain Ariana Savino, one of the six crew members killed when their refueling plane went down in Iraq.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's Strategy Series program, sponsored by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Dr. Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, joins Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss US and worldwide opinion on the US-Israel war on Iran; impact on the war on America and Israel's reputational standing; China's standing as nations worldwide hedge their economic and security bets; whether America's reputation will heal after these rifts as it did from discord in the wake of the Iraq war; a look ahead to the US elections in November; the reality that foreign policy matters less to voters than economic and other social issues; and Prime Minister Mark Carney's popularity a year into his tenure.

Political Undesirables: Citizenship, Denaturalization, and Reclamation in Iraq (Stanford UP, 2025) considers the legal making and unmaking of citizenship in Iraq, focusing on the mass denaturalization and deportation of Iraqi Jews in 1950–51 and Iraqis of Iranian origin in the early 1980s. Since the formation of the modern state of Iraq under British rule in 1921, practices of denaturalization and expulsion of citizens have been mobilized by ruling elites to curb political opposition. Iraqi politicians, under both monarchical and republican rule, routinely employed the rhetoric of threats to national security, treason, and foreignness to uproot citizens they deemed politically undesirable. Using archival documents, ethnographic research, and literary and autobiographical works, Zainab Saleh shows how citizenship laws can serve as a mechanism to discipline the population. As she argues, these laws enforce commitment to the state's political order and normative values and eliminate dissenting citizens through charges of betrayal of the homeland. Citizenship in Iraq, thus, has functioned as a privilege closely linked to loyalty to the state, rather than as a right enjoyed unconditionally. With the rise of nativism, right-wing nationalism, and authoritarianism all over the world, this book offers a timely examination of how citizenship can become a tool to silence opposition and produce precarity through denaturalization. Zainab Saleh is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Haverford College. She is the author of Return to Ruin: Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia (Stanford, 2020). Geraldine Gudefin is a modern Jewish historian researching Jewish migrations, family life, and legal pluralism. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Asian Legal Studies at the National University of Singapore, and is completing a book titled An Impossible Divorce? East European Jews and the Limits of Legal Pluralism in France, 1900-1939. Mentioned in this episode: Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism (San Diego: Harcourt, Brace, 1967), 296-298 (on the concept of “the right to have rights”). Orit Bashkin, New Babylonians. A History of Jews in Modern Iraq (Stanford University Press, 2012). Zainab Saleh, Return to Ruin: Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia (Stanford University Press, 2020). Avi Shlaim, Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew (OneWorld, 2024). Ella Shohat, On the Arab-Jew, Palestine, and Other Displacements (Pluto Press, 2017), 4 (on “emotional belonging”). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/jewish-studies

The conflict between Iran and Iraq continues into its third week. ABC News correspondent Jordana Miller reports on the latest as Iran and Iraq continue to strike each other.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Conrad Thorpe grew up immersed in East Africa's wildlife and communities, which shaped a lifelong intellectual passion for the ethnography and cultures of the region. Conrad served 21 years in the Royal Marines, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and specialising in maritime and amphibious operations. He is very modest about his achievements and operations yet had a highly distinguished career in the Royal Marines, serving on operations around the world, including in Iraq, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan. In 2001, he led the first UK forces team into Afghanistan to secure the British embassy building in Kabul, a high‑risk mission in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and also the Kuwaiti Embassy in Iraq. After retiring from the Royal Marines, Conrad founded Salama Fikira (now part of the SF Group), a pan‑African and Asian risk management company based in Nairobi. Through this firm, he was responsible for managing the recovery of more than 50 commercial ships seized by Somali pirates during the height of piracy off the Horn of Africa in the 2000s and 2010s. These operations involved complex kidnap‑for‑ransom negotiations, maritime security planning, and coordination with navies and shipping companies, all conducted with a perfect safety record: no fatalities or serious incidents among the crews or his teams. His work in this space is widely recognised as a benchmark in maritime risk management and crisis response, and he continues to speak and advise on the resurgence of piracy threats in the region. Conrad is now Chairman of the Salama Fikira Group, a leading risk management and security provider with a presence across 80% of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. The company specialises in enterprise risk, operational design, and security in complex environments, often in fragile or conflict‑affected states. He is also deeply involved in conservation and community development in East Africa, particularly in Kenya. In January 2026, he was gazetted by the Government of Kenya as an Honorary Warden under the Kenya Wildlife Service, a practical, frontline role in wildlife protection, anti‑poaching, and human‑wildlife conflict management. He is a director of Tsavo Trust and supports community‑centred initiatives such as a Sikh‑inspired “Zero Hunger for Langar” school feeding programme, reflecting his belief that conservation must be rooted in community engagement. In 2025, he and his team (Stephen White, Craig Howorth and Jamie Gillespie) repeated this feat, becoming the only all‑amputee team in history to cross the Channel twice. The 2025 swim, completed in 14 hours 40 minutes through rough seas and jellyfish, raised funds and awareness for Blesma, challenging perceptions of disability and inspiring other injured veterans.He is particularly interested in the social structures, traditions, and histories of East African communities, and how these intersect with conservation, governance, and development. This deep cultural understanding informs both his business and conservation work, allowing him to design risk and security strategies that are culturally sensitive and community‑led. In conversation, he brings a rare blend of military precision, strategic business thinking, and anthropological insight into African societies, making him a compelling and passionate interviewee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we're talking about the Iran war spilling into Iraq; a standoff in Congress over President Trump's Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act; a big night for “One Battle After Another” at the Oscars; and other top news for Monday, March 16. Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over. Looking to support us? You can choose to pay ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Check out our sponsors! We actually use and enjoy every single one. Cru Wild Alaskan HelloFresh Safe House Project QAVA CCCU Upside Mosh LMNT Bible Gateway Plus Life Application Study Bible Unto Compelled Podcast I Choose Love TPO Corrections Page

Today's Headlines: Three weeks into the Iran "excursion" — Trump's word, not ours — and there's no end in sight. Trump claimed Iran asked for a ceasefire; Iran said that didn't happen. Either way, 5,000 more marines and three more warships are headed to the region, joining the 50,000 U.S. troops already there. Oil is stuck at $100 a barrel, every country Trump asked to help escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz said no, and the U.S. bombed Iran's Kharg Island oil hub — which Trump said he might hit "a few more times just for fun," as one does. Iran fired a missile at an Italian base in Iraq's Kurdistan region, a drone killed a French soldier in the same area, and Emmanuel Macron had to call Tehran to say that's unacceptable. At home, a federal judge blocked the DOJ's attempt to criminally investigate Fed Chair Jerome Powell, ruling it was a pretext to pressure the Fed on interest rates — the Trump administration is appealing. The FCC chair threatened to pull local TV licenses over Iran war coverage he doesn't like, and Trump threatened media outlets on social media for the same reason. Neither has real teeth yet, but that's sort of the point. Meanwhile, a viral six-hour deposition of two former DOGE employees revealed they used ChatGPT to identify 1,400 grants to cut — including ones for Black civil rights documentaries and Holocaust research — with zero government or academic experience between them. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration will collect a $10 billion fee from the TikTok deal — on an app valued at roughly $14 billion total. Palantir's CEO went on CNBC to brag that his AI will shift economic power away from educated women who vote Democratic. Kash Patel announced the FBI will now train with UFC fighters. Marco Rubio is on the witness list in his close friend's federal trial for acting as an unregistered foreign agent of Venezuela. A Florida Democrat won the Boca Raton mayoral race by one vote, and the Republican loser said he'd "sleep on" whether to accept the results. And a UCLA study found that diverse film casts outperform at the box office — which landed the same weekend the Oscars completely snubbed Sinners. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: The Guardian: Middle East crisis live: Israel says it has launched ‘extensive strikes' on Iran as Trump says US ‘not ready' to make a deal to end war NYT: More Marines and Warships Being Sent to Middle East, U.S. Officials Say Reuters: Airstrike on Italian base in Iraq was deliberate, defence minister says Bloomberg: Oil Erases Gains as Traders Gauge Supply Impact of Kharg Attack CNBC: Iran sends millions of oil barrels to China through Strait of Hormuz even as war chokes the waterway The Sun: Russians ‘forced to use walkie-talkies and paper maps' after Putin's internet blackout as Kremlin intensifies crackdown CNN: FCC chair threatens TV networks amid Iran war coverage — but his warning rings hollow Politico: Court blocks probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, DOJ to appeal WSJ: Trump Administration Set to Receive $10 Billion Fee for Brokering TikTok Deal The New Republic: Palantir CEO Makes Shocking Confession on Disrupting Democratic Power 404 Media: I Watched 6 Hours of DOGE Bro Testimony. Here's What They Had to Say For Themselves Deadline: Kash Patel Confirms UFC Fighters Will Train FBI Agents: "Historic Opportunity" Vanity Fair: Marco Rubio's Florida Bestie Is an Accused ‘Foreign Agent' Set to Go on Trial— With Rubio On the Witness List Palm Beach Post: Recount makes Andy Thomson new Boca mayor. Liebelson may fight result Variety: Audiences Prefer Films With Diverse Casts, UCLA Study Finds Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we unpack the long road to the Iraq War, from the 1953 CIA-backed coup in Iran and U.S. support for Saddam Hussein during the Iran–Iraq War to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the Gulf War, sanctions, weapons inspections, and the Bush administration's false claims about weapons of mass destruction. We dig into how 9/11 reshaped U.S. foreign policy, how figures tied to PNAC pushed for regime change, and how intelligence around WMDs, yellowcake uranium, and Curveball helped sell the 2003 invasion of Iraq. We also cover shock and awe, Abu Ghraib, torture, Halliburton, Blackwater, civilian deaths, veteran trauma, and the trillions of dollars lost in a war that destabilized the region and left behind questions that still have not been answered.

It's Monday, March 16th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus 400 Christians murdered in Congo in one year Christians are being attacked, murdered, and abducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo every week, and the violence appears to be worse than ever, reports International Christian Concern. Between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, the Institute for International Religious Freedom reported that nearly 400 Christians were murdered in the African nation of Congo. And this is only a fraction of the total violence being perpetrated. Rebel militias have gained vast influence over the Christian-majority nation due to extremist Islamist ideologies, years-long civil wars, and political upheaval. According to Open Doors, Congo is the 29th most oppressive country worldwide for Christians. The persecuted Christians in Congo are no doubt praying Psalm 91 which says, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.' Surely, He will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. … You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day. … A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” (verses 2,3,5, 7-8) Missile strikes U.S. Embassy in Iraq A missile has struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq as President Donald Trump's war on Iran heads into its third week, reports The Daily Mail. Plumes of smoke were seen above the U.S. embassy in the Iraqi capital. The missile landed within the embassy's boundaries. Pentagon sending assault ship & 2,500 Marines toward Iran The Pentagon is deploying the U.S.S. Tripoli and 2,500 Marines to the Middle East after President Trump vowed Friday to unleash “unparalleled firepower,” reports the New York Post. On Friday morning, War Secretary Pete Hegseth gave this overview. HEGSETH: “With every passing hour, we know, and we know they know, that the military capabilities of their evil regime are crumbling. They can barely communicate, let alone coordinate. They're confused, and we know it.  Our response? We will keep pressing. We will keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.” Iran's blocking Strait of Hormuz leading to global oil price spike The deployment of the amphibious assault ship comes as the American military admits it's currently unable to break Iranian influence over the vital Strait of Hormuz as global oil prices spike.  The Strait of Hormuz is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. The expected two-week voyage from East Asia matches Energy Secretary Chris Wright's prediction of reopening the crucial waterway “by the end of the month.” Secretary Hegseth was perturbed by a CNN report that Iran's stranglehold of the Strait of Hormuz was a surprise. HEGSETH: “More fake news from CNN. Reports that the ‘Trump administration underestimated the Iran war's impact on the Strait of Hormuz.' “Patently ridiculous, of course! For decades, Iran has threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This is always what they do: Hold the Strait hostage. CNN doesn't think we thought of that. It's a fundamentally unserious report.” Idaho House urges Supreme Court to invalidate homosexual “marriage” The Idaho House of Representatives has voted to reject the Supreme Court's 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges and urged the justices to reconsider the decision legalizing homosexual marriage nationwide, reports the Herzog Foundation. Lawmakers approved House Joint Memorial 17 last Tuesday in a 44-26 vote. All Democrats voted against the measure, and a small number of Republicans joined them. The resolution now heads to the Idaho Senate. The memorial states the Legislature “rejects the Obergefell decision” and “calls upon the Supreme Court of the United States to reverse Obergefell and restore the natural definition of marriage.” Supporters say the 2015 ruling overrode the authority of states and ignored the will of voters who had already defined marriage in state law. The resolution says Obergefell “is at odds with the Constitution of the United States and the principles upon which the United States is established.” It also says the ruling “arbitrarily and unjustly” cast aside the historic understanding of marriage, which “has been recognized as the union of one man and one woman for more than 2,000 years.” Idaho Republican State Rep. Tony Wisniewski sponsored the memorial. He said supporters oppose “the debasing of the term of marriage to that of something that is abhorrent to many of us.” The memorial also points to Idaho voters' earlier decision on the issue. In 2006, 63% of voters approved Amendment 2, which added language to the state Constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Supporters argue the Supreme Court brushed aside that vote when it issued the Obergefell ruling. The resolution also states the decision “may have been illegitimately adjudicated” because two justices in the majority, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan, had previously officiated homosexual weddings and did not recuse themselves. The memorial now moves to the Idaho Senate. The governor does not play a role because joint memorials do not require a signature. “Educated for Liberty” film urges Christian parents to wake up And finally, the rise of government-controlled schools and secular education has produced a decline of moral and academic excellence, which has led to a loss of liberty, reports The Providence Foundation. Schools have become progressively dangerous. Some of the most negative influences that young Americans can face today are found in public schools. Exposure to drugs, assault, rape, and murder are becoming more and more common. Radical transgender and homosexual ideology is promoted in classrooms, and reinforced by biological males having access to girls' restrooms and being allowed to compete in girls' sports. Well, there's a new Christian documentary out entitled Educated for Liberty. It urges Christian parents to pull their kids out of public schools and homeschool them or place them in private Christian schools instead. DAVID BARTON: “If you can't think biblically, then what you have is a bunch of secular-thinking people who attend church which will never change a community in the right direction.” RHONDA THOMAS: “We're not, as a church, raising up parents that understand their responsibility in the education of their children.” CAROL SWAIN: “Sunday School is fine. It's good. Vacation Bible School: Fine and good, but it's not enough.” CAROLE ADAMS: “Education is discipleship -- one way or another. Discipling our children in a secularized society, or it's discipling them to Christ.” CASEY GORDON: “How could you possibly segregate the concept of education from the duty and responsibility of the Christian faith, and that they should be trained in the Christian faith and in a Christian way?” ALEX NEWMAN: “For hundreds of years in this country, the Bible was the essential book. It was the foundation of everything. And yet, here we are where it's actually controversial that we should have the Bible in education. It's truly astounding.” MRS. SAM SORBO: “Give your children the Bible, and you give them an understanding of God, which is education. Then the world will become clear to them, and they'll be world changers.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Watch the film, Educated for Liberty, for free through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, March 16th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

As tensions with Iran escalate, Democrats suddenly claim to care about rising gas prices—despite years of supporting policies designed to increase them. Tara breaks down the political messaging war happening alongside the military conflict and explains how Iran's strategy relies on weakening American public support for President Trump. Meanwhile, reports suggest Iran's leadership may be in chaos, missile attacks are dropping, and U.S. operations are hitting key Iranian infrastructure. Tara also reflects on the tragic loss of U.S. service members after a KC-135 crash in Iraq and what the latest military moves around Kharg Island could mean for the next phase of the conflict. SUMMARY This episode examines the political and military narratives surrounding the U.S. conflict with Iran. Tara argues that Iran cannot defeat the United States militarily and is instead focusing on shaping American public opinion through political pressure and media narratives. Democrats are now warning about rising gas prices caused by the war—despite years of advocating policies designed to raise fuel costs to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Tara contrasts today's fuel prices with the record highs during the Biden administration, when inflation peaked and gasoline exceeded five dollars per gallon. The episode also explores reports of chaos within Iran's leadership after the death of the Ayatollah and the possible incapacitation of his successor. With Iranian missile attacks reportedly declining and key energy infrastructure under pressure, analysts suggest the U.S. campaign has been strategically effective so far. However, risks remain. The U.S. may deploy several hundred Marines to secure Kharg Island, a critical Iranian oil export hub. Tara warns that any American casualties could quickly become political leverage for critics of the war at home. Finally, the show honors the American service members lost in the KC-135 crash in Iraq and reflects on the sacrifices made by the military during ongoing operations in the region. KEY TALKING POINTS Democrats warn about gas prices after years of supporting higher fuel costs Iran's strategy may rely on political pressure inside the U.S. Gas prices today compared to Biden-era inflation peaks Reports that Iran's leadership may be unstable or incapacitated Declining Iranian missile and drone attacks Strategic importance of Kharg Island operations Potential Marine deployment and risks on the ground Remembering the service members lost in the KC-135 crash SOCIAL MEDIA BLURB Democrats suddenly care about gas prices—but only after war with Iran begins. Tara exposes the political messaging battle happening at home while U.S. forces strike key Iranian targets abroad.

In this every-other-month presentation, Professor Wolff presents insights and analysis on six key topics leading up to, and lasting beyond, the current war on Iran; including: the history of U.S. military involvement in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, the economic trends throughout U.S. history that lead up to war, the role of oil and natural gas as an excuse for conflict, the relevance and importance of the Straight of Hormuz, the reality of the U.S. empire's decline and Israel's gamble, and the prospects and consequences of renewed global conflict.    Presented by Democracy at Work and the Left Forum   Special messages to our audience:  Please help sponsor Global Capitalism by becoming a monthly donor to Democracy at Work. Go to our website to learn more (www.democracyatwork.info/donate). Follow Democracy at Work on X (Twitter) and YouTube.   Our four Democracy at Work books, three by Richard Wolff (Understanding Marxism, Understanding Socialism, and The Sickness is the System: When Capitalism Cannot Save Us from Pandemics or Itself) are for sale on Lulu.com.   Find direct purchase links on our website ( www.democracyatwork.info/books ), or find them directly on Lulu ( www.lulu.com/spotlight/democracyatwork )   Your support helps to produce and distribute these talks. Thank you.   Follow us on X (formally known as Twitter) at: @ProfRDWolff @DemocracyAtWrk2:13 

Fully & Completely: Redux"In Between Evolution"Hosts: jD & Greg LeGros | Guest: Toronto Mike | Fully & Completely: ReduxThe EpisodeThere are records you fall into immediately - and then there are the ones that sneak up on you. "In Between Evolution" is absolutely the second kind. The Tragically Hip's 2004 record is one of their most slept-on, most politically charged, and - depending on who you ask - one of their very best. jD and Greg LeGros dig in track by track, joined by Toronto's favourite podcast man, Toronto Mike.It's feisty. It's got punk energy. And for a record that got passed over in 2004, it holds up like an absolute bruiser. So there's that.Guest SpotlightToronto Mike from Toronto, OntarioToronto Mike is the podcaster and blogger behind torontomic.com and Toronto Miked - a fiercely independent Toronto-centric podcast that's been going longer than most people can remember. He's a passionate Hip fan who - full disclosure - once had serious plans to launch his own Tragically Hip album-by-album podcast series. He abandoned those plans specifically because jD and Greg were doing it too well. That's not spin. That's what he said on mic."I went into the podcast kind of tiny bit hoping it would suck."- Toronto Mike, on hearing Fully & Completely for the first timeWhat's In This OneA full track-by-track of "In Between Evolution" plus the cultural context of June 2004 - which, as it turns out, is a lot. Here's some of what you're getting into:Why this is probably The Tragically Hip's most overtly political record - and why it had no choice but to be (they recorded it in Seattle, surrounded by American media, one year after the U.S. went into Iraq)'Heaven Is a Better Place Today' - a tribute to Dan Snyder built on funeral clichés and sports colloquialisms that somehow makes you cry. Every time.'Summer's Killing Us' - the song Greg would play for anyone who's never heard of this band. Not even officially released as a single. Absolutely should have been.'Gus the Polar Bear from Central Park' - a slow burn. Toronto Mike did not like it at first. He's come around. We dig into why.'Vaccination Scar' - the actual lead single, and a song that gets a bit more complicated the more you think about it'It Can't Be Nashville Every Night' - the one with the la-la-oos in the chorus that should not work, and absolutely does. Possibly a Toby Keith thing. Possibly a Dixie Chicks thing. Definitely a great song.'One Night in Copenhagen' - band turmoil, Gord's solo career pulling on the seams, and that one line about a payphone in the snow that Greg still talks about'Goodnight Josephine' - the closer that sounds like late-period Springsteen and contains some of the most beautiful lyrics Gord ever put down on tapeThe Stanley Cup Final, the Grey Cup halftime show (yes, The Hip played it), a commemorative Tragically Hip CD, and how the 2004 Leafs playoff run ended a sketch troupe's road trip to LAThe Cultural Climate: June 2004Greg always brings the goods on context, and June 2004 is a rich one. "In Between Evolution" landed in the middle of a musical year that included American Idiot, College Dropout, Funeral, Hot Fuss, and Songs for the Deaf. Commercially, the charts were a very different story - Usher, Evanescence, Josh Groban, and a lot of stuff these three would rather forget. It's a great time to be a music fan if you knew where to look. This was a record that knew exactly where it was looking.Pocket SongsAt the end of every record, we each pull one track to carry forward to the playlist.jD: 'Goodnight Josephine'Greg: 'It Can't Be Nashville Every Night'Toronto Mike: 'Are We Family'Why This Record MattersBecause it got slept on. Even in the band's own documentary, this one gets two seconds. And that's bananas - because it is a deep, huge favourite, and it is one of their very best. It's a hard rocker. It's a protest record. It's a record about loss, and change, and what happens when the things you love don't get to stay the same. It's the most guitar-forward record they ever made, and it has the audacity to rhyme its chorus with la-la-oos.Spend time with this album. This album is waiting for you.About Fully & Completely: ReduxFully & Completely: Redux is the reunion of the original Fully & Completely podcast - the show that started it all in 2018. jD and Greg LeGros go back through The Tragically Hip's full catalogue, album by album, track by track. Same DNA. Same chemistry. Not a sequel - a reunion.Part of The Tragically Hip Podcast Series, a network raising funds for the Downie Wenjack Fund, The Gord Downie Fund for Brain Cancer Research, and CAMH. Over $35,000 raised and counting.Find UsFacebook: facebook.com/groups/tthpodsInstagram: @tthpodsYouTube: youtube.com/@tthpodsEmail: tthpodcastseries@gmail.comListen via your podcast app of choice. Search: Fully & Completely Redux.#TheTragicallyHip #InBetweenEvolution #GordDownie #FullyCompletely #TragicallyHip #CanadianRockPodcastMeta Description (for podcast platforms)jD, Greg LeGros & Toronto Mike go track by track on The Tragically Hip's "In Between Evolution." Hipstories, fandom, and Canadian rock - TTH Podcast Series.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/tthtop40/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Our latest episode is loaded: we break down the escalating conflict spilling into Iraq and what it means as the wider war continues to shake the region, including the real-world impact it's already having on Iraq's oil and stability. We also recap the biggest storylines from NFL free agency and what the early moves are telling us about contenders and pretenders. From there we react to the disturbing news of gunfire hitting Rihanna's home and the latest updates on the case, plus the viral controversy involving Dwight Howard after drug allegations circulated online and his response to them. And on the hoops side, we talk Bam's outrageous 83-point performance and the backlash/discourse that came with it. We wrap with the uplifting Ron Blake story and the reminder of how one moment can change everything for more,

Dani Beckstrom reports from New York on the powerful cross-country storm — slamming the Midwest and now barreling toward the East Coast. More than 100 million Americans on alert for severe weather — Dani has the latest forecast; Faith Abubey at Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport, where crews are struggling to keep up with cancellations and delays — from the weather and the partial government shutdown; James Longman in Iraq as the war with Iran enters week three — the Pentagon now saying U.S. strikes have reduced Iran's missile capacity by 90 percent. All of that and more tonight on World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The National Security Hour with LTC Sargis Sangari – Drones change the math of conflict. A weapon worth tens of thousands can force defenses that cost far more. Criminal cartels and state actors exploit that gap. Countermeasures are emerging, from directed energy to electronic measures. Those tools must be fielded at scale and priced for use, not hoarded as luxury tech. There is no simple path to...

In an age of grinding wars, nuclear brinkmanship, and political volatility, what does strategy really mean - and how do leaders make decisions when the world feels chaotic? In this episode, Lawrence Freedman draws on decades of scholarship and his experience as official historian of the Falklands War and adviser to the UK's Iraq inquiry to explore how strategy evolves under pressure. Together with Adam McCauley, Freedman discusses the long arc of the Russia–Ukraine conflict and the opportunities seized and missed along the way. They examine the uneasy balance between rational calculation and irrational impulse in global conflict, whether Putin could be serious about nuclear escalation, and whether Donald Trump's unpredictable actions on the world stage represent the absence of strategy - or a strategy in itself. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1. No Endless War or Ground Occupation Strong emphasis that this is not Iraq or Afghanistan: No large ground invasion No nation-building No long-term occupation Military strategy described as rapid, overwhelming, air-dominant action. Confidence that U.S. casualties will be minimal and duration short. 2. Military Action Against Iran Is Justified as Self-Defense The conflict is framed as a response to 47 years of Iranian aggression, including: Sponsorship of terrorism Killing nearly a thousand Americans Attempted assassinations of U.S. officials Iran is described as an irrational, theocratic death cult, making deterrence unreliable. Nuclear capability in Iran is portrayed as an existential threat to U.S. cities. 3. This Is “America First,” Not a War for Israel Repeated rejection of claims that the war is driven by Israel or Jewish influence. Such claims are labeled dishonest, antisemitic, and propaganda. The stated motivation: protecting American lives and national security. 4. Gas Prices Are a Short-Term Political Weapon Gas price increases are framed as temporary and expected due to Middle East conflict. Democrats are accused of exploiting gas prices the same way they previously focused on egg prices. The speaker argues prices are still lower than under Biden, despite rising from recent lows. Long-term expectation: Iran’s collapse would lower global gas prices. 5. Strong Leadership vs. Weak Appeasement Trump is decisive and feared by adversaries. Obama and Biden are criticized for appeasement and failed nuclear deals. Past diplomatic failures (North Korea, Iran nuclear deal) are cited as evidence diplomacy failed. 6. Harsh Criticism of Tucker Carlson and Isolationists Tucker Carlson is accused of: Spreading anti-American propaganda Echoing Islamist narratives Undermining U.S. troops His statements about unconditional surrender and nuclear escalation are called: False Dangerous Morally grotesque Isolationist conservatives are grouped with progressive Democrats as a shared threat to U.S. foreign policy. 7. Iranian Regime Change Is Seen as Necessary The appointment of a new Iranian leader (son of the former Ayatollah) is rejected. Any continuation of clerical Islamist rule is deemed unacceptable. Regime collapse is framed as the only path to lasting security. 8. Deterrence Fails with Religious Extremism Comparison between North Korea and Iran: North Korea: dangerous but rational Iran: irrational due to religious ideology Argument: Traditional nuclear deterrence does not work with actors who glorify martyrdom. 9. Public Opinion Depends on Duration and Casualties Acknowledgment that support would collapse if: War drags on for years U.S. casualties rise significantly Confidence expressed that this outcome is “near zero.” 10. Closing Shift to Religion and AI Ends with an unexpected, uplifting segment: An AI-generated Christian apologetic is quoted at length. The response argues Christianity is intellectually compelling, historically grounded, and uniquely truthful. Used to: Provide hope amid global uncertainty Reinforce moral clarity and worldview coherence Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From September 26, 2024: Steve Coll's latest book, “The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq,” seeks to explain why Saddam Hussein would put his regime at risk over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) that didn't exist. Saddam ultimately lost his regime, and his life, in part because he saw America as an omniscient puppeteer seeking to dominate the Middle East. The United States put thousands of troops in harm's way in pursuit of a rogue WMD program that turned out to be a fiction. Were these outcomes inevitable?Lawfare Student Contributor Preston Marquis sat down with Coll, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, to explore this question. “The Achilles Trap” is unique in that it relies on Saddam's secret tapes and archives to unpack twists and turns in the U.S.-Iraq bilateral relationship dating back to the Cold War. The full review is available on the Lawfare website.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight On The Last Word: Six U.S. Service members have been killed in a crash over Iraq. Plus, a judge blocks DOJ subpoenas of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Also, an ex-DOGE staffer can't find the words to define "DEI" in new deposition footage. And Democratic momentum builds heading into November midterms. Rep. Eugene Vindman, Robert Reich, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Skye Perryman, and Rep. Chris Pappas join Ali Velshi. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

March 13,2026Trump administration lifts sanctions on shipments of Russian oil, Oil prices skyrocket with closing of Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine sends interceptor drones at request of the US, Six American service members die in Iraq, Pete Hegseth is sending about 5,000 Marines and sailors to the Middle East, Arms Control Association suggests US lacked expertise in diplomatic talks with Iran, Previous administrations foresaw what is happening in the Iran War, White House is concerned about the unpopularity of the Iran War, Trump threatens a takeover of Cuba, Democrats file legislation to stop a war against Cuba without congressional approval. Watch today's recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/g9TUa1Rwd6U?si=T8_KKcHQZElhpnZ-Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribeYou can also find me:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe

"God, where are You working in aviation that I can participate?" Throughout his life, Steve Russell, CEO and President of Jungle Aviation and Relay Service (better known as JAARS) has asked the Lord what He had in store next. That pattern continued when he earned his pilot's license; he wondered how the Lord would use that new skill to open doors for Kingdom impact. Little did he know God would use it to move him toward leadership in a global missions effort! Long before Russell arrived at JAARS, God was giving him experiences to prepare him for this season of service. Steve will share how the Lord led him from ministry as a youth pastor to the military, including leading a U.S. Army unit involved in the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Later, God moved him into government service, including in the State of Oklahoma and the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, at JAARS, he leads a worldwide mission working to facilitate delivery of God's Word into the hardest-to-reach places in the world.  Steve will also explain JAARS' history and its historic connection to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Hear how you can pray for JAARS' pilots, mechanics, and technicians, and other aspects of the ministry of JAARS. Also check out their podcast, Uncharted.  The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria, Iran, and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content, and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Krystal, Ryan, Emily and Mac discuss US plane crashes in Iraq, US aircraft carrier on fire, munitions rapidly deplete, Israel drops charges against IDF soldiers who abused detainee, Brad Lander joins to discuss his campaign. Brad Lander: https://www.bradlanderforcongress.com/ Mac's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GoodPoliticGuy 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.

Breaking: Four U.S. service members killed in air crash in Iraq To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

US officials have said a KC-135 refuelling plane that went down in western Iraq was not the result of hostile or friendly fire. They said it had involved a second refuelling aircraft that landed safely. Six crew members were reported to be on the plane that crashed. We also hear from Lebanon where a BBC correspondent has been spending time in the south of the country which is under constant Israeli attack. In other news, a man who was shot dead by armed guards when he drove his truck into a synagogue in the US state of Michigan has been identified as a naturalised US citizen who was born in Lebanon; a satirical cartoonist has been freed from prison in Eritrea after fifteen years without charge; and the chef behind Copenhagen's Noma restaurant steps back after multiple accusations of abuse by staff.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