Podcasts about Iraqi

Today's Headlines: Iran shot down a US Army helicopter yesterday, the US responded with strikes on Iranian air defense systems, both crew members are stable, and stock futures dropped immediately — so the ceasefire is going great. Meanwhile, the World Cup starts tomorrow and the Trump administration is already making it a disaster: the best male referee in Africa was denied entry despite a valid visa, the Iraqi team's vice captain was detained for seven hours at O'Hare, the team photographer was turned away entirely, and Trump is preemptively blaming Europe for any Ebola outbreaks despite zero confirmed cases there. Meanwhile, the House voted to give ICE and Border Patrol $70 billion more for immigration enforcement — $38 billion to ICE, $26 billion to Border Patrol, and a breezy $5 billion for "unforeseen costs." Anthropic's cofounder published a blog post asking leading AI labs to consider pausing frontier AI development, comparing it to nuclear nonproliferation — the response was a collective "no," with some calling it self-serving given everyone's upcoming IPOs — and this comes as Anthropic is reportedly preparing to release Claude Fable 5, a model it deemed too dangerous for public release just six months ago. Epstein assistant Lesley Groff testified before the House Oversight Committee claiming she "never saw anything improper" after two decades of keeping Epstein's entire schedule, which the committee found highly inconsistent. Tom Steyer conceded the California governor's race, Trump kept pushing election fraud conspiracies about California to the point that a congressman reported a friend canceling their voter registration over Spencer Pratt, and Ken Paxton's own former impeachment attorney endorsed Democrat James Talarico in the Texas Senate race, saying Paxton is too focused on appeasing Trump to be a good senator. And finally, NASA announced the Artemis III crew of four astronauts who will orbit Earth practicing lunar lander docking in preparation for a 2028 moon landing — assuming Blue Origin delivers its lander on time, which is uncertain after one of its rockets exploded during a test. Resources/Articles mentioned: AP News: US and Iran launch airstrikes after Trump blamed Tehran for downing Army helicopter CNBC: Stock futures slip after U.S. launches ‘self-defense strikes' against Iran: Live updates NYT: U.S. Denies Entry to World Cup Referee From Somalia NYT: Iraq World Cup star Aymen Hussein questioned for ‘seven hours' by U.S. immigration officials Axios: Scoop: Trump admin pre-blames Europe for any World Cup Ebola AP News: House passes $70B bill to fund immigration enforcement for 3 years, sending to Trump MS Now: Longtime Epstein assistant denies knowledge of his crimes to House Oversight Committee Business Insider: What smart people are saying about Anthropic suggesting a global AI pause WSJ: Anthropic Releases Fable 5, a ‘Mythos-Class' AI Model With Guardrails WaPo: Maine Senate primary election live results: Graham Platner runs X: X | Ro Kanna  AP News: Ken Paxton's attorney in his impeachment trial endorses James Talarico in US Senate race AP News: NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for a future moon landing 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

GET HEIRLOOM SEEDS & NON GMO SURVIVAL FOOD HERE: https://heavensharvest.com/wam USE Code WAM to save 25% plus free shipping! USE Code WAM50 for 50% off on select items like the #10 cans & MRE packs! Pledge here! Just a dollar a month can help keep us alive! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2652072&ty=h&u=2652072 EXCLUSIVE replays of hour plus long live shows are available here at $5 a month or more! BUY GOLD HERE: https://firstnationalbullion.com/schedule-consult/ Avoid CBDCs! GET 10% OFF ON SHILAJIT FROM DR. KAUFMAN WHEN YOU USE CODE WAM10 HERE: https://medauthentica.com/discount/WAM10?redirect=/products/authentica-shilajit%3Fsca_ref=10867124.wrNV3jkYSaMg9 HELP SUPPORT US AS WE DOCUMENT HISTORY HERE: https://gogetfunding.com/help-keep-wam-alive/# Josh Sigurdson reports on the shooting down of a U.S. apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz following the continuation of bombings between the U.S., Israel and Iran. Israel struck Beirut, Lebanon with a massive attack on civilians. This led Iran to strike back. However, the claims are that Iran struck the Kuwait International Airport. This, according to Iran is false. In fact, Iran claims that the attack was a U.S. false flag. This can be used interchangeably with Israel considering they're coordinating with each other. This attack came on the eve of a so-called "ceasefire" which we all knew wasn't going to happen. Hours before Iran and the United States were set to "make a deal," they want us to believe that Iran decided to attack Kuwait. This is as silly as the claims that Assad gassed his own people 3 days after making a peace deal with the United States back in April of 2017. Everything points to this being a false flag. It's also interesting to consider that Ben Gvir has been calling for Israel to "stop an Iran peace deal" by any means. Following the attacks day ago, Ben Gvir responded by saying, "Tonight, Tehran must burn!" Oil is once again skyrocketing and the food supply continues to be in serious danger due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. The "7 Country Plan" has been in play for decades. It wasn't about to suddenly go away overnight because Trump "said so." Now, militias are facing off against the US in Northern Iraq around Kurdistan and the entire Middle East is on alert with Iraqi and Syrian airspace closed. But still... President Trump claims he "never said no new wars" during the campaign. This is something else we easily and thoroughly debunk with video clips. Stay tuned for more from WAM! GET YOUR WAV WATCH HERE: https://buy.wavwatch.com/WAM Use Code WAM to save $100 and purchase amazing healing frequency technology! Get Your SUPER-SUPPLIMENTS HERE: https://vni.life/wam Use Code WAM15 & Save 15%! Life changing formulas you can't find anywhere else! Get local, healthy, pasture raised meat delivered to your door here: https://wildpastures.com/promos/save-20-for-life/bonus15?oid=6&affid=321 USE THE LINK & get 20% off for life and $15 off your first box! DITCH YOUR DOCTOR! https://www.livelongerformula.com/wam Get a natural health practitioner and work with Christian Yordanov! Mention WAM and get a FREE masterclass! You will ALSO get a FREE metabolic function assessment! GET YOUR APRICOT SEEDS at the life-saving Richardson Nutritional Center HERE: https://rncstore.com/r?id=bg8qc1 Use code JOSH to save money! PayPal: ancientwonderstelevision@gmail.com FIND OUR CoinTree page here: https://cointr.ee/joshsigurdson PURCHASE MERECHANDISE HERE: https://world-alternative-media.creator-spring.com/ JOIN US on SubscribeStar here: https://www.subscribestar.com/world-alternative-media For subscriber only content! BITCOIN ADDRESS: 18d1WEnYYhBRgZVbeyLr6UfiJhrQygcgNU World Alternative Media 2026

Today's guest is Anne Speckhard, Director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism. She's an expert in rehabilitation and repatriation of terrorists and their families, and has consulted with foreign governments on issues of terrorist prevention, interventions and repatriation; and the rehabilitation and reintegration of ISIS foreign fighters, wives and children. Her latest book, Homegrown Hate, examines the deepening threat of domestic violent extremism in the US through in-depth interviews with current and former members of domestic hate groups. In this episode, Alon and Anne discuss the psychosocial dimensions of violent extremism, what attracts people to these ideologies, how terrorists and violent extremists have been able to utilize social media to draw people in, and what can be done to try to prevent people from falling into extremist ideologies. Anne Speckhard, Ph.D., is Director of the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE) and served for over 2 decades as Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine as well as an Affiliate in the Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University. She has interviewed over 800 terrorists, violent extremists, their family members and supporters around the world. Over the past 5 years, she has conducted in-depth psychological interviews with 275 ISIS defectors, returnees and prisoners, as well as 16 al Shabaab cadres, studying their trajectories into and out of terrorism, and their experiences inside ISIS and al Shabaab. Speckhard developed ICSVE's Breaking the ISIS Brand Counter Narrative Project from these interviews, which includes over 250 short counter narrative videos that mimic ISIS recruitment videos but contain actual terrorists strongly denouncing ISIS as un-Islamic, corrupt and brutal. Beginning in 2020, she launched the ICSVE Escape Hate Counter Narrative Project, interviewing 54 white supremacists and members of hate groups, developing counternarratives from their interviews, and creating anti-recruitment videos. She has also conducted rare interviews with five Antifa activists. Dr. Speckhard is also an expert in rehabilitation and repatriation of terrorists and their families. In 2007, she designed the psychological and Islamic aspects of the Detainee Rehabilitation Program in Iraq to be applied to 20,000+ detainees and 800 juveniles. This work led to consulting with foreign governments on issues of terrorist prevention, interventions and repatriation; and the rehabilitation and reintegration of ISIS foreign fighters, wives and children. She has also worked on these issues with NATO, OSCE, UN Women, UNCTED, UNODC, the EU Commission and EU Parliament, and to the US Senate & House, Departments of State, Defense, Justice, Homeland Security, Health & Human Services, and the FBI. Dr. Speckhard actively trains key stakeholders in law enforcement, intelligence, elite hostage negotiation teams, educators, and other professionals in countering violent extremism, locally and internationally, focusing on the psychology of terrorism, the effective use of counter-narrative messaging materials produced by ICSVE, as well as studying the use of children as violent actors. Her consultations and trainings include US, Australian, German, Swiss, Belgian, Iraqi, Jordanian and Thai national police and security officials, among others. She also serves as an expert witness, testifying on a variety of topics pertaining to trauma, loss, dissociation, violent extremism and terrorism. Dr. Speckhard is the author of 5 books & has appeared on CNN, BBC, NPR, Fox News, CTV, CBC, and in the New York Times, London Times, TIME Magazine, Daily Beast and more. She regularly writes a column for Homeland Security Today. Her research has been published in Global Security: Health, Science and Policy, Journal of African Security, Journal of Strategic Security, Journal for Deradicalization, Perspectives on Terrorism & more.

Send us Fan MailThe Second Battle of Ramadi, fought in 2006 during the Iraq War, saw the US military and Iraqi Security Forces come together to drive insurgent groups out of the city of Ramadi. In a tense and difficult battle, coalition forces sought to capture key areas of the city, allowing them to take control. This 8-month conflict is considered one of the most decisive battles in the overarching Iraq War and many in the military believe it led to the formation of the Anbar Awakening, which saw Iraqi tribal groups reject al-Qaeda and cooperate with US forces. Join us for this documentary as we examine the Second Battle of Ramadi. Welcome to Wars of the World.Support the show

The Israeli military has carried out strikes on the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, a day after Iran called for attacks on Lebanon to stop. Thousands of people have fled the city. Also: medical sources say Taliban forces in western Afghanistan have killed two people demonstrating against the detention of women who'd ignored religious dress codes; Honduras approves a series of reforms to tackle the high rate of femicide in the country; rescuers in the Philippines are working to reach isolated areas after an earthquake struck Mindanao; a BBC investigation reveals hundreds of Iraqi migrants were kidnapped and threatened with forced organ removal in Libya; and Japanese wildlife officials have caught a bear that had been roaming a city, causing widespread school closures.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Smoke billows following an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon Credit: Reuters

Watch every episode ad-free & uncensored on Patreon: https://patreon.com/dannyjones Scott Horton (@scotthortonshow) is director of the Libertarian Institute, host of 'The Scott Horton Show', co-host of “Provoked” with Darryl Cooper, and author of several books. SPONSORS https://dupe.com - Check out their 100% free 'research for me' comparison shopping tool. https://shopify.com/dannyjones - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today. https://hexclad.com/dannyjones - Get 10% off your forever cookware today. https://quo.com/danny - Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months. https://whiterabbitenergy.com/?ref=DJP - Use code DJP for 20% off EPISODE LINKS Scott's YouTube Show:  @scotthortonshow https://scotthortonacademy.com https://x.com/scotthortonshow FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/dannyjones https://twitter.com/jonesdanny OUTLINE 00:00 - What Scott learned from 6,000 interviews 06:10 - Bush Sr.'s "New World Order" 09:24 - Oklahoma City Bombing cover-up 17:08 - Who's really pulling the strings 23:32 - Skull & bones society 28:36 - U.S. interest payments on national debt 31:34 - What's Israel going to do without America? 39:00 - Israel's end time prophecy 41:19 - Wolfowitz Doctrine 50:08 - Iraqi exile Ahmed Chalabi's scheme 59:34 - The idiotic thinking behind the 2nd Iraq war 01:10:03 - Mossad agents dancing during 9/11 01:14:13 - What Netanyahu said on September 11th 01:18:25 - Bin Laden's manifesto 01:25:42 - The timeline of Middle East interventions 01:27:39 - The U.S. is still funding the Taliban 01:30:17 - Why Scott never believed in Trump 01:37:58 - How the Iran conflict will end 01:45:52 - Trump's path out of Iran conflict 01:46:51 - Iran's nuclear program 02:02:08 - Iran's top nuclear target 02:09:00 - Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapons program 02:15:47 - Iran's best military advantage 02:21:03 - Why Trump might be innocent in Epstein scandal 02:26:04 - Trump's loyalty problem 02:33:28 - Palestine 02:44:54 - Israel's army of Palestinian slaves 02:52:41 - Adolf Hitler vs. Winston Churchill 02:54:26 - WW2 was Woodrow Wilson's fault 03:03:31 - The pact Hitler & Stalin made 03:09:19 - Why Hitler declared war on the United States 03:10:47 - How Trump's Iran attack is like Pearl Harbor 03:14:26 - "Trump is enslaved to Netanyahu" 03:18:32 - The FBI's secret Epstein files Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Alex explores the intersection of soccer and politics through Iraq's remarkable return to the World Cup after a four-decade absence. Alex examines how Iraq's qualification journey reflects the country's broader recovery from decades of war, instability, and regional turmoil, while also discussing the recent detention of Iraqi team members upon arriving in the United States. 

Our Midlands Correspondent Sinead Hussey spoke to Mr Pether's family.

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Helen Benedict, “The Soldier's House,” Iraqi Refugees in the United States Helen Benedict, Columbia Profesysor of Journalism and author of the novel, “The Soldier's House,” about the lives of Iraqi refugees in America in 2010, in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky. “The Soldier's House” tells the story of a refugee from Baghdad, Naemi, who comes to America in 2010, sponsored by an American soldier whose translator was killed after the invasion. She, her young son Tariq and her mother in law have come to the United States, to the Albany area, after a time in Damascus, hoping to find a new life. A pediatrics physician over there, she can only gain the lowest levels of employment in America. Helen Benedict has focused her literary career on the plight of refugees in America and Europe as she teaches young journalists the ways to keep digging for the truth and for justice. In this interview, she discusses how Iraqi and Afghanistani refugees have fared in this country and talks in detail about the legacy press and the challenges young journalists face as they come into the profession.   Review of “The Lunchbox” at Berkeley Rep Roda Theatre through July 5, 2026.           The post Bookwaves/Artwaves – June 4, 2026: Helen Benedict, Journalism Professor & Novelist appeared first on KPFA.

(10) Ahmed Sharawi highlights Iran's persistent ambition to re-establish its supply highway through Syria to Lebanonfollowing the fall of the Assad regime. Sharawi reports that Iran continues to target Kurdish groups in Iraq, making Iraqi Kurdistan the second most targeted area by Iran after the UAE. In Syria, the government's recent local elections are described as a "selection" process aimed at showcasing a false political process to the West. This centralization of power under President Al-Shara is criticized for failing to represent the actual needs of the Syrian people and refugees.1914

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Kamiran Yousif could be cheering for Iraq or Australia's Socceroos. But that's not his style. Known to friends as “Cameron van Oranje,” Kamiran lives and breathes Dutch football. He might even be the biggest Netherlands supporter in Australia. His devotion to "Oranje" goes far beyond match days. For the upcoming World Cup, his Sydney home is a sea of orange, inside and out, and his passion has even inspired the names of his three sons: Cruyff, Kluivert, and Basten, named after legendary Dutch football icons. We visited this one-of-a-kind superfan, to discover what caused his love for the Netherlands. - Kamiran Yousif zou deze FIFA World Cup 2026 kunnen gaan voor het Irakese team of de Socceroos, maar daar wil hij niets van weten. Zijn team is namelijk Nederland en Kamiran, beter bekend als Cameron van Oranje, is misschien wel de grootste Oranjefan van Australië. Zijn passie voor het Nederlands elftal gaat veel verder dan alleen supporteren tijdens wedstrijden. Zijn huis in Sydney is voor het WK van binnen én van buiten in het oranje versierd, en zijn drie zoons dragen de namen van Nederlandse voetbalhelden: Cruyff, Kluivert en Basten. Wij gingen langs bij deze bijzondere superfan.Mis niets van SBS Dutch! Abonneer je op onze feed in Spotify of Apple Podcast.

Disregard the US, European, Iraqi, and Gulf states' rejection of Iran's insistence that it will control the Strait of Hormuz no matter what. The fact of the matter is that Middle Eastern states are factoring in permanent Iranian control into their longer-term thinking about shaping the region's post-war balance of power and security architecture, even though they may not admit as much publicly. Already, the public US, European, and Gulf state consensus rejecting Iran's imposition of fees on ships transiting the Strait appears to be fracturing.

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In this week's episode documentary photographer and photo editor Cengiz Yar takes on our ‘Proust Photo Quiz'. The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust. Proust answered the questionnaire in a confession album, a form of parlour game popular at the end of the 1890s. The album, titled An Album to Record Thoughts, Feelings, etc. was found in 1924 and published in the French literary journal Les Cahiers du Mois. Our ‘Proust Photo Quiz' is an adaption of the original text. Cengiz Yar Yar is a New Jersey born documentary photographer and editor now based in El Paso, Texas who has worked in visual journalism for over a decade. He currently works as a visuals editor at ProPublica, where he edits, photographs, and art-directs stories across the site focusing on the visual coverage of projects in the US Midwest, Southwest, and Texas. Before joining ProPublica, Yar edited for publications such as Rest of World, Roads & Kingdoms, and the Guardian. As a photographer his work has primarily focused on human migration and the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. He is the inaugural recipient of the James Foley Award for Conflict Reporting, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a Dart Center Ochberg Fellow in Journalism and Trauma. His photography clients include Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, WIRED, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Instagram, Google, UNHCR, and The New York Times among others. He is a HEFAT, RISC, and FAA drone certified pilot and his first monograph, This Alabaster Grave, exploring the overwhelming destruction faced by the Iraqi city of Mosul was published in 2025. Dr.Grant Scott After fifteen years art directing photography books and magazines such as Elle and Tatler, Scott began to work as a photographer for a number of advertising and editorial clients in 2000. Alongside his photographic career Scott has art directed numerous advertising campaigns, worked as a creative director at Sotheby's, art directed foto8 magazine, founded his own photographic gallery, edited Professional Photographer magazine and launched his own title for photographers and filmmakers Hungry Eye. He founded the United Nations of Photography in 2012, and is now a Senior Lecturer and Subject Co-ordinator: Photography at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, and a BBC Radio contributor. Scott is the author of Professional Photography: The New Global Landscape Explained (Routledge 2014), The Essential Student Guide to Professional Photography (Routledge 2015), New Ways of Seeing: The Democratic Language of Photography (Routledge 2019), and What Does Photography Mean To You? (Bluecoat Press 2020). His photography has been published in At Home With The Makers of Style (Thames & Hudson 2006), Crash Happy: A Night at The Bangers (Cafe Royal Books 2012) and Inside Vogue House: One building, seven magazines, sixty years of stories (Orphans Publishing 2024). His film Do Not Bend: The Photographic Life of Bill Jay was premiered in 2018. © Grant Scott 2026

Chuck Todd opens with a brutal verdict on the emerging Iran "deal": it's just a worse version of the Obama agreement Trump once tore up, Iran has effectively avoided every stated goal Trump and Israel set out to achieve, and Tehran retains control of the Strait of Hormuz — meaning this is unambiguously a loss for the United States, no matter how the administration tries to spin it. He argues Trump bit off far more than he could chew, that Bibi Netanyahu put his faith into Donald Trump (which never ends well), and that America's standing has been diminished in ways that will reverberate for years. Iran's regime won't be able to repress its own people forever, He notes, but the window to actually topple it during the protests was missed — and Gulf state allies will now be dealing with the Iranians for much longer than they bargained for, having quietly hoped the U.S. and Israel would do their dirty work for them. The political damage at home is just as severe. He cites the Wall Street Journal christening the past seven days as "the week that broke Trump's hold on Congress," with the president now underwater on every single issue, consumer confidence unlikely to recover before the midterms, the Senate unable to fund DHS through reconciliation because Trump makes bipartisan solutions impossible, and his January 6th slush fund producing a backlash that won't go away — with Republican senators visibly wavering. Chuck's verdict on the lame duck arriving early: this is a failed first two years of the Trump presidency, and the stronger his grip on the party, the weaker that party becomes in general elections. He blasts Todd Blanche for turning the DOJ into Trump's personal legal team (Blanche should be impeached, Todd argues, and nothing coming out of this DOJ can be trusted), tears into the long-awaited DNC autopsy of the 2024 loss as paralyzed, tone-deaf, and poorly thought-out — naming Ken Martin as the wrong person to lead the DNC and noting that the simple truth Democrats can't bring themselves to face is that the party is perceived as too liberal in a country with more conservatives than progressives. He flags Mike Duggan dropping out of the Michigan governor's race after his hoped-for contentious Democratic primary never materialized, and Tulsi Gabbard's resignation as DNI proving that the position itself was never really necessary Then, former Marine sniper AJ Pasciuti — author of the new book Dark Horse and host of the Combat Story podcast — joins the Chuck Toddcast for one of the most riveting and clear-eyed conversations about military service, leadership, and the realities of modern war. Pasciuti was 16 years old on September 11th, enlisted at 17, and eventually became the Marine who led the team that killed "Juba" — the notorious Iraqi sniper who uploaded videos of his American kills to the internet to taunt the U.S. military. He walks listeners through the entire hunt: how Marines studied Juba's uploaded footage to identify his patterns, how the team set a trap, how Pasciuti spotted Juba in his hide by catching the glint off the lens of a Sony Handycam, and how he knew within minutes that they'd gotten him — while emphasizing that he may have pulled the trigger but it was an entire team that brought Juba down. Pasciuti reflects on the strange experience of fighting enemies who saw themselves as freedom fighters rather than terrorists, why attention to detail is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates, and how snipers are ultimately meant to combat the enemy emotionally as much as physically. The conversation broadens into a sweeping meditation on what military service teaches you about America — and where Pasciuti worries the country is heading. He calls the military one of the last bastions of the American dream, where opportunity is real but has to be earned, and argues that a culture promoting service to the greater good over the accumulation of wealth would make America measurably healthier.. Pasciuti is openly worried about political leadership infecting the values of the military, makes the case that empathy must be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness in military leadership, and insists his book is political but not partisan — it's about values. He offers a vital warning that the Taliban proved asymmetrical warfare can defeat a stronger foe, that drone warfare is dangerously dehumanizing combat by reducing casualties to dollars and cents, and that the most important thing any soldier carries home is their soul intact — something he says becomes harder every year as the social contract between America and its veterans erodes. Pasciuti describes seeing fear rather than hatred in the eyes of a dying enemy combatant, a moment that has stayed with him, and explains why he can't support any politician who describes a political opponent as an enemy. He shares his experience running for city council and personally knocking on thousands of doors, his frustration with the financial barriers to entry in modern politics, and his belief that current discourse simply doesn't allow for real dialogue. He closes with the most powerful observation of the episode, made for Memorial Day: the holiday isn't about those who came home — it's about those who didn't — and anyone calling for war should be required to first sit down and have a conversation with a Gold Star family. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine for a thoughtful Memorial Day reflection on how countries honor their war dead — and how the rituals they choose reveal who they understand themselves to be. He traces Memorial Day back to its actual origins in the Civil War and its 600,000 American dead, including the powerful and often-forgotten story of formerly enslaved people who reburied Union soldiers from a mass grave to give them the dignified resting place their country had failed to provide. He explains that the date was chosen not because of a specific battle but because of when flowers bloom, that Southern states kept parallel remembrance traditions for the Confederacy, and that Memorial Day's secondary role as the unofficial start of summer has always made it a uniquely American hybrid of grief and gathering — which, Chuck argues, is actually one of its virtues, because coming together is how communities find common ground. He surveys how other nations approach the same task: WWI created a uniquely Canadian identity around remembrance, Russia centers its V-Day celebrations on WWII triumph as the foundation of national identity, Germany approaches its war dead cautiously and somberly with a deep awareness of historical responsibility, and Japan frames remembrance through loss, peace, and explicit anti-war reflection. His larger argument is that the story and tone of a country's remembrance day reveals exactly how it understands itself — what it celebrates, what it confronts, and what it would rather not look at. He closes with the smallest but most important reminder of the day: you don't say "Happy Memorial Day." He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Predict the action all the way through the finals. Sign up now for your twenty-five dollar bonus on https://fanduel.com/predicts Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 04:00 Pending Iran deal looks like a worse version of Obama’s deal 04:45 Iran looks to have avoided all of Trump + Israel’s stated goals 05:15 Iran retains control of Strait, that means this is a loss for Trump 06:15 Trump is capitulating, and this diminishes America’s standing 07:15 Administration hoping to sweep Iran under the rug in time for the midterms 08:00 Normally, America would be leading Ebola response. Trump destroyed USAID 08:45 Helping with disease outbreaks was about protecting us at home 10:00 Unlikely the Iranian regime will be able to repress their people forever 11:00 Trump bit off more than he could chew and needs an offramp 11:45 Bibi put his faith into Donald Trump, which never goes well 13:00 Trump hires flawed people that could only work for him. Makes them loyal 14:15 Politics infects every decision Trump makes 15:45 Gulf state allies will have to deal with Iran for much longer now 16:30 Missed the window to topple the regime during the protests 18:00 Gulf states were hoping U.S. and Israel would do their dirty work 18:30 Trump was worst possible commander in chief for this moment 19:30 It’s a big loss for Trump, but he had no choice but to end the war 22:00 New polling shows Trump approval tanking, huge generic Dem advantage 23:45 WSJ dubs the past week, “The week the broke Trump’s hold on Congress” 25:00 Trump is underwater on every issue 26:00 It’s highly unlikely consumer confidence will rise before the midterms 27:00 Trump is directly responsible for higher inflation and cost of living 28:00 Senate cannot find way to fund DHS through reconciliation 29:30 Trump makes any bipartisan solution impossible 30:15 Todd Banche is making DOJ Trump’s personal attorneys 31:45 Can’t trust anything this DOJ says. Blanche should be impeached* 33:15 Trump’s J6 slush fund is likely illegal and has GOP senators wavering 34:15 Backlash to slush fund isn’t going away 35:45 The stronger Trump grips the party, the weaker it is in general elections 36:30 The lame duck is here. This a failed first two years of Trump’s presidency 37:15 DNC finally releases autopsy of 2024 election loss 37:45 Ken Martin is the wrong person for the DNC chair. In over his head 38:15 The simple fact of the matter is the party is perceived as too liberal 40:45 There are more conservatives than progressives, need to win the moderates 42:00 Autopsy offering gubernatorial wins as a counterpoint is tone deaf 43:45 Trump’s electoral strength doesn’t translate when he isn’t on ballot 44:30 DNC was in a no-win situation with the autopsy 45:15 Seems like the autopsy was just going through motions, poorly thought out 46:30 DNC is paralyzed, in need of new leadership 48:30 Mike Duggan drops out as independent in MI governor’s race 50:00 Duggan counted on contentious primary & that didn’t happen 52:00 Duggan didn’t want a Republican elected and dropped out 52:30 Tulsi Gabbard resigns. DNI post shown to not be necessary 53:00 The CIA has won the “turf battle” amongst intel agencies 54:30 Gabbard isn’t the first DNI that’s been marginalized. 55:15 It’s easy to eye roll Don Jr & Hunter Biden… Their fathers screwed them up 1:03:30 AJ Pasciuti (Dark Horse) joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:05:30 If you wrote the book 10 years ago, how would it have been different? 1:07:00 You gain extra perspective about “why” when more time has passed 1:07:45 Leadership is currently in very short supply 1:09:45 The book is a love letter and thank you to people who shaped AJ’s life 1:11:45 The military is one of the last bastions of the American dream 1:12:45 Was 16 years old on 9/11 and the attack inspired AJ to enlist at 17 1:13:45 How did you identify that you had the skills to be a sniper? 1:15:15 Gunnery Sgt. Jackson helped set AJ on his trajectory 1:16:00 What is training for a sniper like? 1:17:00 Attention to details is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates 1:17:45 Snipers have to be self-dependent, must rely on yourself for survival 1:19:00 Snipers are meant to combat the enemy emotionally, scare them 1:19:45 “Juba” may not have been just one enemy sniper & hunted Americans 1:20:15 Juba uploaded videos of sniper kills of Americans to the internet 1:21:00 Watching the videos allowed marines to understand Juba’s patterns 1:21:30 Set up a trap for Juba and Juba fell into it 1:22:30 AJ knew they had killed Juba within minutes 1:23:30 Caught a glint of the lens of a Sony handycam to spot Juba 1:24:45 AJ may have pulled the trigger, but it was an entire team that got him 1:26:15 Marines were shocked that people would fight for a tyrant like Saddam 1:27:00 We viewed the enemies as terrorists, they viewed themselves as freedom fighters 1:28:45 Does the message to the troops today seem different than when you served? 1:29:45 When we send Americans into conflict, it must be for a just cause 1:30:15 There’s a responsibility that comes with having the greatest military in history 1:31:15 Are you worried political leadership is infecting the values of the military? 1:32:15 Leadership needs to project values people are inspired to defend 1:34:00 Military leadership needs to view empathy as a strength, not a weakness 1:35:00 The book is political but not partisan. It’s about values 1:36:45 A culture that promotes services to the greater good is healthier 1:38:30 If the culture promotes service over wealth, we’d be better off 1:39:00 Mandatory service in Israel has helped to bond their society 1:41:30 Service strips away the illusion that we succeed alone 1:42:45 Veterans aren’t easily categorized in their politics 1:43:30 Military provides an opportunity, but you have to earn it 1:45:30 Competitive advantage for the military is to think, adapt & react quicker 1:46:45 Marine culture should create soldiers that are problem solvers 1:47:45 Taliban found that asymmetrical warfare could defeat a stronger foe 1:50:00 We have to better prepare for asymmetrical warfare 1:50:45 The American Revolution was fought with asymmetrical warfare 1:51:30 Drone warfare dehumanizes war. Casualties counted in dollars and cents 1:52:45 War is a chess game, and modern tech has leveled the playing field 1:54:45 Have to avoid being dehumanized by war 1:55:30 Saw an enemy combatant dying, saw fear in his eyes, not hatred 1:56:15 Wrote the book not to glorify war, but to tell the realities of it 1:57:45 The hardest part of coming home was doing so with your soul intact 1:59:00 The social contract with our soldiers must be protected 2:00:15 How are you able to publicly express your experience when many can’t? 2:02:30 Can’t support someone that says a political opponent is an enemy 2:03:30 Tell us about your podcast “Combat Story” 2:05:00 Ran for city council, personally knocked on thousands of doors 2:06:30 Our current politics doesn’t allow for dialogue 2:08:45 There’s a financial barrier to entry into politics 2:11:30 Memorial Day is tough, it’s about those who didn’t come home 2:12:00 Anyone calling for war should have a conversation with a gold star family 2:15:15 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with AJ Pasciuti 2:16:00 ToddCast Time Machine 2:16:30 Every country honors war dead, but don’t do it the same way 2:17:15 Memorial Day was borne out of the civil war and 600k Americans dead 2:18:00 Formally enslaved people reburied union soldiers from mass grave 2:18:45 Holiday is also about who gets remembered in our national story 2:19:15 Date was chosen due to flowers blooming & not a specific battle 2:20:30 Southern states kept remembrance traditions for the confederacy 2:21:15 Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer 2:21:45 Gathering together is an important way to find common ground 2:22:45 Different memorial traditions & rituals in other countries 2:23:30 WW1 created a unique identity in Canada 2:24:00 Russia celebrates V-Day, triumph in WW2 central to identity 2:24:45 Germany remembers war cautiously and somberly 2:25:30 Japan remembers war through loss, peace and anti-war reflection 2:26:15 Other memorial rituals around the world 2:27:45 Story and tone of remembrance days are how countries view themselves 2:28:45 You don’t say “Happy Memorial Day” 2:30:00 Ask Chuck 2:30:15 Isn’t it odd that we know so little about attempted Trump assassins? 2:37:00 Why didn’t Dems lean into “Trump Lie Trackers” more in campaigns? 2:41:00 Does the “Epstein Class” framing feel stronger than the “1%”? 2:45:00 Did “No Child Left Behind” do real damage to civics education? 2:51:15 Does the 2.5 swing in presidential elections show most voters are locked in?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Marine sniper AJ Pasciuti — author of the new book Dark Horse and host of the Combat Story podcast — joins the Chuck Toddcast for one of the most riveting and clear-eyed conversations about military service, leadership, and the realities of modern war. Pasciuti was 16 years old on September 11th, enlisted at 17, and eventually became the Marine who led the team that killed "Juba" — the notorious Iraqi sniper who uploaded videos of his American kills to the internet to taunt the U.S. military. He walks listeners through the entire hunt: how Marines studied Juba's uploaded footage to identify his patterns, how the team set a trap, how Pasciuti spotted Juba in his hide by catching the glint off the lens of a Sony Handycam, and how he knew within minutes that they'd gotten him — while emphasizing that he may have pulled the trigger but it was an entire team that brought Juba down. Pasciuti reflects on the strange experience of fighting enemies who saw themselves as freedom fighters rather than terrorists, why attention to detail is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates, and how snipers are ultimately meant to combat the enemy emotionally as much as physically. The conversation broadens into a sweeping meditation on what military service teaches you about America — and where Pasciuti worries the country is heading. He calls the military one of the last bastions of the American dream, where opportunity is real but has to be earned, and argues that a culture promoting service to the greater good over the accumulation of wealth would make America measurably healthier.. Pasciuti is openly worried about political leadership infecting the values of the military, makes the case that empathy must be viewed as a strength rather than a weakness in military leadership, and insists his book is political but not partisan — it's about values. He offers a vital warning that the Taliban proved asymmetrical warfare can defeat a stronger foe, that drone warfare is dangerously dehumanizing combat by reducing casualties to dollars and cents, and that the most important thing any soldier carries home is their soul intact — something he says becomes harder every year as the social contract between America and its veterans erodes. Pasciuti describes seeing fear rather than hatred in the eyes of a dying enemy combatant, a moment that has stayed with him, and explains why he can't support any politician who describes a political opponent as an enemy. He shares his experience running for city council and personally knocking on thousands of doors, his frustration with the financial barriers to entry in modern politics, and his belief that current discourse simply doesn't allow for real dialogue. He closes with the most powerful observation of the episode, made for Memorial Day: the holiday isn't about those who came home — it's about those who didn't — and anyone calling for war should be required to first sit down and have a conversation with a Gold Star family. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 AJ Pasciuti (Dark Horse) joins the Chuck ToddCast 02:00 If you wrote the book 10 years ago, how would it have been different? 03:30 You gain extra perspective about “why” when more time has passed 04:15 Leadership is currently in very short supply 06:15 The book is a love letter and thank you to people who shaped AJ’s life 08:15 The military is one of the last bastions of the American dream 09:15 Was 16 years old on 9/11 and the attack inspired AJ to enlist at 17 10:15 How did you identify that you had the skills to be a sniper? 11:45 Gunnery Sgt. Jackson helped set AJ on his trajectory 12:30 What is training for a sniper like? 13:30 Attention to details is the trait that weeds out most sniper candidates 14:15 Snipers have to be self-dependent, must rely on yourself for survival 15:30 Snipers are meant to combat the enemy emotionally, scare them 16:15 “Juba” may not have been just one enemy sniper & hunted Americans 16:45 Juba uploaded videos of sniper kills of Americans to the internet 17:30 Watching the videos allowed marines to understand Juba’s patterns 18:00 Set up a trap for Juba and Juba fell into it 19:00 AJ knew they had killed Juba within minutes 20:00 Caught a glint of the lens of a Sony handycam to spot Juba 21:15 AJ may have pulled the trigger, but it was an entire team that got him 22:45 Marines were shocked that people would fight for a tyrant like Saddam 23:30 We viewed the enemies as terrorists, they viewed themselves as freedom fighters 25:15 Does the message to the troops today seem different than when you served? 26:15 When we send Americans into conflict, it must be for a just cause 26:45 There’s a responsibility that comes with having the greatest military in history 27:45 Are you worried political leadership is infecting the values of the military? 28:45 Leadership needs to project values people are inspired to defend 30:30 Military leadership needs to view empathy as a strength, not a weakness 31:30 The book is political but not partisan. It’s about values 33:15 A culture that promotes services to the greater good is healthier 35:00 If the culture promotes service over wealth, we’d be better off 35:30 Mandatory service in Israel has helped to bond their society 38:00 Service strips away the illusion that we succeed alone 39:15 Veterans aren’t easily categorized in their politics 40:00 Military provides an opportunity, but you have to earn it 42:00 Competitive advantage for the military is to think, adapt & react quicker 43:15 Marine culture should create soldiers that are problem solvers 44:15 Taliban found that asymmetrical warfare could defeat a stronger foe 46:30 We have to better prepare for asymmetrical warfare 47:15 The American Revolution was fought with asymmetrical warfare 48:00 Drone warfare dehumanizes war. Casualties counted in dollars and cents 49:15 War is a chess game, and modern tech has leveled the playing field 51:15 Have to avoid being dehumanized by war 52:00 Saw an enemy combatant dying, saw fear in his eyes, not hatred 52:45 Wrote the book not to glorify war, but to tell the realities of it 54:15 The hardest part of coming home was doing so with your soul intact 55:30 The social contract with our soldiers must be protected 56:45 How are you able to publicly express your experience when many can’t? 59:00 Can’t support someone that says a political opponent is an enemy 1:00:00 Tell us about your podcast “Combat Story” 1:01:30 Ran for city council, personally knocked on thousands of doors 1:03:00 Our current politics doesn’t allow for dialogue 1:05:15 There’s a financial barrier to entry into politics 1:08:00 Memorial Day is tough, it’s about those who didn’t come home 1:08:30 Anyone calling for war should have a conversation with a gold star familySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No Film School's GG Hawkins speaks with writer-director Hasan Hadi and producer Leah Chen Baker about the development, financing, production, and release journey behind The President's Cake. The conversation traces the film from NYU and COVID-era writing sessions through the Sundance Labs, the challenge of building an aggressively independent financing plan, shooting on location in Iraq with non-professional actors, and the impact of winning both the Caméra d'Or and the Audience Award at Cannes. In this episode, No Film School's GG Hawkins, Hasan Hadi, and Leah Chen Baker discuss... How Hasan and Leah's collaboration began at NYU and grew through shorts, writing check-ins, and shared creative sensibilities Why film school was essential for Hasan as a filmmaker coming from a country with limited cinema infrastructure Developing The President's Cake before applying to the Sundance Labs How the Sundance Screenwriting, Directing, Producers Lab, and Catalyst Forum helped build confidence around the project Leading with the film's “risky” elements: a first feature, non-professional actors, no rehearsals, a period setting, and shooting in Iraq Building a financing plan through micro grants, institutional support, small stakeholders, and equity partners Why filming in Iraq was non-negotiable for the story's authenticity Creating an international crew while ensuring every department included Iraqi local crew The realities of shooting with limited infrastructure and a long production schedule What changed after the film won at Cannes How Iraqi and international audiences have responded to the film The importance of setting an end point for one project so the next one can begin Memorable Quotes: “But for me as a filmmaker who came from country that has almost no infrastructure in cinema. So my first film set when I was in film school almost, film school was necessary for me.” “There were a lot of do not do's on our pitch for our first feature.” “Even the failure sometimes was considered progress. It's not a success, it's a progress.” “Stories have DNAs and roots and they have, you know, fingerprints and this story has a very strong fingerprints that is in Iraq.” Guests: Hasan Hadi Leah Chen Baker Resources: The President's Cake on IMDb Find No Film School everywhere: On the Web: No Film School Facebook: No Film School on Facebook Twitter: No Film School on Twitter YouTube: No Film School on YouTube Instagram: No Film School on Instagram

“I am haunted by history: the history of dictatorship, the history of empire, history as a whole,” declares the Iraqi novelist, poet, scholar, and literary translator Sinan Antoon near the start of this conversation about his most recent novel, Of Loss and Lavender. Sinan, speaking with Magalí and critic Michael Allan, goes on to say that “the novel allows for a more wholesome, in-depth confrontation with history.” That confrontation, in turn, requires narrative forms that are complex, sometimes fractured, and often non-linear in order to braid together a range of different perspectives on a particular moment or event. As Sinan observes in a discussion of the Arabic term nisyān—“forgetting” or “forgetfulness,” although its nuances in Arabic are not easily rendered in English—even memory itself is not static. And yet, shared histories of empire and imperialism make it possible to draw connections between far-flung locations, as Sinan does in Of Loss and Lavender by drawing together Iraq and Puerto Rico. From here, the conversation turns to the pleasures and challenges of translation, including some of Sinan's choices when translating his own work into English. This includes the effort to make legible the nuances of race, class, and other forms of difference across contexts; although, as Sinan notes, much of his younger readership in the Arab world today is often well-versed in US culture. The conversation concludes with a discussion of Sinan's frequent use of poems and songs in the novel, a device that points back to the multi-genre experiments of the premodern Arabic tradition, and a moving portrait of a teacher who transmitted to his students ideas about justice and equality despite the dictatorship under which he worked. Mentioned in this episode: About Baghdad The Baghdad Eucharist Mahmoud Darwish, In the Presence of Absence Darwish's “Memory for Forgetfulness” (on nisyān) The Book of Collateral Damage Elias Khoury and the use of dialect in contemporary Arabic fiction Quebecois literature Breaking Bad Um Kulthoum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

“I am haunted by history: the history of dictatorship, the history of empire, history as a whole,” declares the Iraqi novelist, poet, scholar, and literary translator Sinan Antoon near the start of this conversation about his most recent novel, Of Loss and Lavender. Sinan, speaking with Magalí and critic Michael Allan, goes on to say that “the novel allows for a more wholesome, in-depth confrontation with history.” That confrontation, in turn, requires narrative forms that are complex, sometimes fractured, and often non-linear in order to braid together a range of different perspectives on a particular moment or event. As Sinan observes in a discussion of the Arabic term nisyān—“forgetting” or “forgetfulness,” although its nuances in Arabic are not easily rendered in English—even memory itself is not static. And yet, shared histories of empire and imperialism make it possible to draw connections between far-flung locations, as Sinan does in Of Loss and Lavender by drawing together Iraq and Puerto Rico. From here, the conversation turns to the pleasures and challenges of translation, including some of Sinan's choices when translating his own work into English. This includes the effort to make legible the nuances of race, class, and other forms of difference across contexts; although, as Sinan notes, much of his younger readership in the Arab world today is often well-versed in US culture. The conversation concludes with a discussion of Sinan's frequent use of poems and songs in the novel, a device that points back to the multi-genre experiments of the premodern Arabic tradition, and a moving portrait of a teacher who transmitted to his students ideas about justice and equality despite the dictatorship under which he worked. Mentioned in this episode: About Baghdad The Baghdad Eucharist Mahmoud Darwish, In the Presence of Absence Darwish's “Memory for Forgetfulness” (on nisyān) The Book of Collateral Damage Elias Khoury and the use of dialect in contemporary Arabic fiction Quebecois literature Breaking Bad Um Kulthoum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Forty years of waiting have finally ended in triumph. In this episode, we explore the tactical masterclass of Graham Arnold and how he forged a disciplined, high-pressing unit that conquered the inter-confederation playoffs. We break down the clinical finishing of Aymen Hussein, the creative spark of Zidane Iqbal, and the veteran leadership of captain Jalal Hassan. From the streets of Baghdad to the stadiums of North America, join us as we analyze how this resilient Iraqi squad became the ultimate underdog story of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iraq national football team, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Aymen Hussein, Graham Arnold, Zidane Iqbal

From invasion, through stabilisation and counter-insurgency to training Iraqi forces, Operation Telic involved more than 135,000 British servicemen and women from 2003 to 2011Fifteen years since the last troops left Sitrep talks to three veterans of Iraq to reflect on the jobs they did, the sacrifices made, and how the legacy looks today with more distance and time.In a special edition from the National Memorial Arboretum James Wharton, Duane Gardner, and Kevin Robinson share their stories and compare their experiences.And they explain how, despite the complex legacy of the Iraq war, it continues to shape todays armed forces from transformed kit to sharpened doctrine.

Iran has threatened to spread the war beyond the Middle East if Donald Trump starts bombing the country again. Is it an empty threat or should we be worried?Jonathan Hackett, a former US Marine Corps interrogator and special operations intelligence officer, joins the podcast again to discuss the state of Iran's military capabilities, their Mosaic Doctrine and what next for the war with Venetia Rainey, Sophia Yan and Roland Oliphant.They also discuss reports today that the US wanted to install former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Ali Khamenei's place, news of secret Israeli bases in the Iraqi desert, and the shady Iran-linked group known as HAYI behind a series of attacks on Jews in London. Plus, as Vladimir Putin visits Xi Jinping in China, Sophia looks at how the energy crisis caused by the war has boosted Moscow by forcing the UK and US to drop sanctions on Russian oil, and Venetia looks at JD Vance's latest comments on peace deal talks. HighlightsIran warns Trump: ‘We'll take war global if you bomb us again'A US Marine on Iran's terror war against the WestCONTRIBUTORS:Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiaraineyRoland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantSophia Yan, co-host and senior foreign correspondent @sophia_yanJonathan Hackett, former US Marine Corps @jonathanhackettCONTENT REFERENCED:Akhtar Makoii: Iran's plan to strike back in second round of warhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/05/19/iran-plan-strike-back-second-round-war/Badenoch: PM's sanctions U-turn will fund killing of Ukrainian soldiershttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/20/starmer-eases-sanctions-on-russian-oil/Producer: Peter ShevlinExecutive Producers: Venetia Rainey & Louisa Wells► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk ► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shownotes After five months of negotiations, Iraq's power brokers have agreed on a completely unknown compromise candidate for the country's new prime minister. Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman with no experience in politics or public administration, took over leadership of Iraq on May 14 as the country faces multiple emergencies. Iraq can't sell its oil because of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and is running out of money to pay salaries. Iraqi militias, beyond the government's control, have been attacking Saudi Arabia and targets inside Iraq. And Iraq just found out that its supposed ally, the United States, has been covering up the existence of multiple Israeli bases that were operating in the Iraqi desert. Zaidi, perhaps the weakest prime minister to take office since the U.S. invasion in 2003, faces a sovereignty crisis of epic proportions from his first day in office. Sajad Jiyad, Century International's fellow in Baghdad, analyzes the many challenges for Iraq's new prime minister. Participants Sajad Jiyad is a fellow at Century International.  Thanassis Cambanis is director of Century International.  Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Episode: Order from Ashes 113

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports the United Arab Emirates says drones targeting a nuclear power plant came from Iraq.

Today in 1946, the birthday of professional wrestling's Eighth Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant. What a movie they could make about this guy's life, and arguably the weirdest scene would be the time he came to Baghdad to wrestle in front of a future Iraqi dictator. Plus: it's Lettuce Month, which means it's time for the annual lettuce eating contest for the University of Minnesota's Lettuce Club. The Sheikh of Baghdad (from Weird Minnesota by Eric Dregni (via Google Books) Lettuce Club at University of Minnesota has lettuce eating contest (The Minnesota Daily)Anybody want a peanut? Or anybody want to back our show on Patreon?

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, US President Donald Trump says he delayed planned military strikes on Iran after appeals from Gulf leaders to allow more time for negotiations. Iran has submitted a new 14-point proposal aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz through talks mediated by Pakistan. Tehran has also unveiled plans for a new authority to manage passage through the strait using a cryptocurrency-based insurance platform, a move opposed by the US and Gulf states. Iraq is investigating an incident in which Saudi Arabia said drones entered its airspace from Iraqi territory on Sunday. In the UAE, authorities have launched plans to train 80,000 government employees in AI systems as part of a broader digital transformation strategy across federal services. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: U.S. officials are sounding the alarm over a potential new drone threat emerging just 90 miles off America's southern coast, after intelligence reports revealed Cuba has reportedly been stockpiling military drones supplied by Russia and Iran. Iranian forces have reportedly boarded and seized a Chinese-operated vessel described as a “floating armoury” in the Gulf of Oman, raising fresh questions about maritime security in the region following the recent conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. Federal prosecutors have charged a senior Iraqi militia figure tied to Iran with allegedly plotting attacks on Jewish sites in major U.S. cities, including New York and Los Angeles. And in today's Back of the Brief—after President Trump's trip to Beijing, White House staffers and reporters aboard Air Force One were reportedly ordered to throw away Chinese-issued gifts, badges, pins, and burner phones over ongoing espionage and surveillance concerns. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Acre Gold: Turn your pocket change into physical 24-karat gold and enter to win a limited-edition Hot Wheels gold bar at https://GetAcreGold.com/PDB Hexclad: Find your forever cookware @hexclad and get 10% off at https://hexclad.com/PDB ! #hexcladpartner #sponsored Chapter: Compare every medicare plan call 915-671-5252 today! Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan's contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don't directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact https://Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Monday Headline Brief of The Wright Report, Bryan opens with a major Iran-linked terror arrest in New York City, where an Iraqi national accused of working for the IRGC allegedly helped plan attacks against Jewish, Israeli, and American targets across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and beyond. He then breaks down the broader war picture, including new drone attacks on the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, President Trump's warning that Iran is running out of time for a peace deal, and a notable shift in the White House's position on Iran's enriched nuclear material. Bryan argues that Tehran is showing little interest in peace, while rising oil prices, market stress, and warnings about shortages of motor oil and lubricants show how the war is increasingly hitting Americans at home. Plus, Bryan covers China's tentative promises to buy more U.S. agricultural products, President Trump's successful move to oust Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, and AOC's growing push to rally Democrats around socialism, redistricting fights, and attacks on billionaires. He also highlights Texas Children's Hospital ending transgender procedures for minors, and closes with a look at America's 250th birthday, the Rededicate 250 event, and the renewed debate over faith, religion, and the future of the nation.   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: IRGC terror plot New York Mohammad al Saadi 2026, Iran terror attacks Jewish schools US Europe Canada, Trump Iran peace deadline nuclear material shift, UAE nuclear plant drone attack Iran war update, Strait of Hormuz oil prices motor oil shortages 2026, China US agriculture deal beef purchases Trump Xi, Bill Cassidy primary loss Trump revenge Louisiana Senate, AOC socialism redistricting Alabama rally 2028 Democrats, Texas Children's Hospital puberty blockers settlement detransition clinic, Rededicate 250 America religion faith founding fathers, Bryan Dean Wright podcast, The Wright Report

Radio and podcast host Craig Collins is in for Jim today. Join Craig and Greg for the Monday 3 Martini Lunch as they discuss a convicted Minnesota fraudster implicating Rep. Ilhan Omar, some major wins on the national security front, a red state Democrat trying to fool voters on ICE, and the coming Texas Senate runoff.First, they react to a key figure convicted in the Minnesota fraud scandal saying that Rep. Ilhan Omar is very much a part of the scandal. Craig and Greg don't believe we should automatically believe the convicted criminal's allegations, but they have other reasons for suspecting Omar is likely involved.Next, they applaud three key wins on the national security front, including the elimination of a top ISIS figure in Nigeria, and the arrests of a top Tren de Aragua cartel leader, and an Iraqi national suspected of helping terrorists target American citizens and interests.Then, they get a good laugh out of former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, who was voted out of office in 2024 and running for U.S. Senate again this year, claiming he doesn't know enough about the issues to say whether he supports abolishing ICE or cutting off military aid to Israel.Finally, in the wake of Louisiana Republican voters rejecting a third term for Sen. Bill Cassidy on Saturday, Craig reports on the intensity of the U.S. Senate runoff in his state of Texas with just a week to goPlease visit our great sponsors:Noble GoldDownload the free investor kit. No pressure. No obligation. Just the information.  https://noblegoldinvestments.com/3ml Better Help May is Mental Health Awareness Month- a reminder that whatever you're going through, you don't have to go through it alone. Find support and have someone with you in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at https://betterhelp.com/3ML  Brooklyn BeddingGet 30% off site wide at https://brooklynbedding.com and use Promo Code 3MLNew episodes every weekday. 

It's the deadline to register to vote in the June primaries, but if you miss it, you can still cast a ballot. The feds arrest an Iraqi man accused of targeting LA Jewish institutions. Long Beach's LGBTQ community shows off its Pride, despite the cancelation of a beloved festival. Plus, more from Morning Edition. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com

Headlines:Iranian drone attacks, whether launched by the regime or its Iraqi proxies, continue to plague the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.Remember the yellow zone in Gaza? You know, the territory that Israel controls and that surrounds the red zone that is still controlled by Hamas? Looks like Israel is slowly gaining ground on the terror group.The outrage continues over Nicholas Kristof's column in The New York Times accusing Israel of training dogs to r*pe Palestinians in jail.The Israeli government just passed a death penalty law for West Bank Palestinians convicted of murder.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Daniel Swift, a senior research analyst from FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief

THIS WEEK's BIRDS: new music from Lena Bloch, Andrew McKelvey, Dave Adewumi , & more; vintage West African  music from Bah Sadio, Cameyenne Sofa, Kassé Mady Diabaté; from Benin: Gnonnas Pedro w. His Dadjes Band; vintage song from Iraqi vocalist Sita (aka Seta Hagopian); ; oud player, singer, composer Natik Awayez; recent Iraqi pop from Sozan; raga on santur played by Pt. Bhajan Sopori; salsa from Celia Cruz w. Johnny Pacheco; Joe Arroyo from Colombia; Aniceto Molina from Colombia; Billie Harris (LA post-bop from Billie Harris; plus.... so much, much, much more... Catch the BIRDS live on Friday nights, 9:00pm-MIDNIGHT (EST), in Central New York on WRFI, 88.1 FM Ithaca/ 88.5 FM Odessa;. and WORLDWIDE online via our MUSIC PLAYER at WRFI.ORG. 24/7 via PODBEAN: https://conferenceofthebirds.podbean.com via iTUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conference-of-the-birds-podcast/id478688580 Also available at podomatic, Internet Archive, podtail, iheart Radio, and elsewhere. Always FREE of charge to listen to the radio program and free also to stream, download, and subscribe to the podcast online: PLAYLIST at SPINITRON: https://spinitron.com/WRFI/pl/22330233/Conference-of-the-Birds and via the Conference of the Birds page at www.WRFI.ORG https://www.wrfi.org/wrfiprograms/conferenceofthebirds/  Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/conferenceofthebirds/?ref=bookmarks Find WRFI on Radio Garden: http://radio.garden/visit/ithaca-ny/aqh8OGBR NEW MAILING ADDRESS:  Stephen Cope  @ Conference of the Birds, POBOX 428, Tivoli, NY, 12583, USA. 

"Not until those pictures came out... yeah, then the biggest rule was 'no fucking cameras.'"In January 2007, a user named Deathlyillington posted a video to YouTube. Roughly three minutes long, the video didn't feature any visually graphic content. It was just three guys - two in front of the camera, one behind it - chatting about one's experiences over in Iraq. Specifically, during his time stationed at Abu Ghraib, the notorious prison outside of Baghdad that had become synonymous with human rights abuses during the war.In this video, the young man details the casual dehumanization of Iraqis that had become routine to him, including the CIA's involvement in teaching interrogation techniques and physical torture. He also expresses a blanket contempt for all Iraqis, guilty and innocent alike. Then the cameraman asks him what the most fun thing he did over there was...To view the video on YouTube, check it out at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0jpU6a-toUIf you have any information about this video that you'd like to share, please reach through the following methods:Email: micheal@unresolved.meVoicemail or Text: +18312003550Learn more about this podcast at http://unresolved.meCheck out the podcast store at unresolved.dashery.comIf you would like to support this podcast, consider heading to https://www.patreon.com/unresolvedpod to become a Patron or ProducerBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unresolved-a-true-crime-mystery-podcast--3266604/support.

Stephanie Ramos has the latest on the massive explosion and fire at a lumber company in Maine that killed a firefighter and injured at least 10 others, and is being described as a “mass casualty incident;” Aaron Katersky has details on the Iraqi national in U.S. custody accused of orchestrating terror attacks around the world taking aim at American and Jewish targets in retaliation for the war in Iran; Pierre Thomas reports on sources telling ABC News about the possibility of Pres. Trump settling his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS in exchange for a $1.7 billion fund for allies of the president who claim they were targeted by the "weaponized" Biden DOJ; and more on tonight's broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our news wrap Friday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is commuting the prison sentence of 2020 election denier Tina Peters, the Justice Department announced the arrest of an Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in retaliation for the war in Iran and Africa's leading public health agency says an Ebola outbreak has killed at least 65 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Terrorist plot targeting synagogues and Jewish centers in New York, California and Arizona foiled with an Iraqi national in custody. At least 11 injured in Maine lumber mill explosion. President Trump makes his way home from what he calls a "successful" trip to China. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our news wrap Friday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is commuting the prison sentence of 2020 election denier Tina Peters, the Justice Department announced the arrest of an Iraqi national accused of plotting at least 18 terror attacks in retaliation for the war in Iran and Africa's leading public health agency says an Ebola outbreak has killed at least 65 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Help Persecuted Christians TODAY: https://csi-usa.org/quickstart/ Christian Solidarity International On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Donald Trump arrives in China for high-stakes talks with Xi Jinping as tensions over trade, AI, Taiwan, fentanyl trafficking, and Iran dominate the agenda. Plus, Hannah Harper turns the American Idol finale into a worship moment after boldly glorifying God on national TV. FOCUS STORY: New findings from Giving USA reveal troubling trends in charitable giving and what it could mean for churches and ministries across America. MAIN THING: Is biblical prophecy unfolding in real time? Iraqi officials warn the Euphrates River could run dry by 2040, sparking renewed discussion around Book of Revelation 16:12. Raj Nair and Billy Hallowell break it down. LAST THING: Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” SHOW LINKS Radical Revelations with Raj Nair https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-revelations/id1888511250 Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454

Süreya is a London-based, internationally recognized Turkish belly dancer, choreographer, and instructor known for her dynamic stage presence, strong musicality, and versatility across multiple Middle Eastern dance styles. Deeply connected to her Turkish cultural roots, she has trained extensively in Turkish, Egyptian, Lebanese, Iraqi, and Khaleegy dance, as well as ballet and theatrical fusion. A multi-award-winning performer, Süreya has taught and competed in over 10 countries, including Turkey and Egypt, earning recognition at major international festivals and competitions such as Rakkas Istanbul, the International Belly Dance Battle, and Dum Tak Festival. Alongside performing at prestigious venues and events across the UK and internationally, she is also known for her passionate teaching style, commitment to continuous learning, and dedication to sharing authentic oriental dance with new generations of dancers.In this episode you will learn about:- Growing up loving belly dance in Turkish culture while feeling pressured to hide it- How burnout affects dancers mentally more than physically—and ways to recover from it- Why nutrition, fitness, and structure become essential for sustaining a dance career- The importance of lifelong learning and studying with many different teachers- Competing in nine categories while unknowingly dancing with pneumonia—and the reality behind pushing too hardShow Notes to this episode:Find Süreya on Instagram, FB and her website, or contect her directly at sureyabellydance@gmail.com. For Moyolo (Egyptian Dance and Cultural Tours) visit www.moyolotravel.co.uk Details the BDE shows and training programs are available at www.JoinBDE.comFollow Iana on Instagram, FB, and Youtube . Check out her online classes and intensives at the Iana Dance Club.Find information on how you can support Ukraine and Ukrainian belly dancers HERE.Podcast: www.ianadance.com/podcast

Israel built a top secret military base in the Iraqi desert near Saudi Arabia before Operation Roaring Lion and Epic Fury even began. Everything about this project has been top secret until Israel just began releasing details this week. Which begs the question, why did Israel build this base, and why are they releasing the information on it to the public now? And how will this change relations with Iraq, and the Middle East… Also, there is a very weird genocide happening in Gaza right now. Justin Hilton breaks it down for you.  More information on the fake famine in Gaza: https://youtu.be/p3W1Epf14Tc  Purchase an "Exist" T-shirt here: https://israelguys.link/shirt-86exhtne5 Sign up for The Israel Guys Show Notes: https://theisraelguys.com/subscribe/ Follow The Israel Guys on X: https://x.com/theisraelguys Join our Telegram channel: https://t.me/theisraelguys Source Links: Israel Built Secret Base in Iraq During Iran War, WSJ Reports https://ground.news/daily-briefing/israel-built-secret-iraq-base-to-support-iran-war-struck-forces-that-nearly-exposed-it-wsj  More on Israeli base in Iraq https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-895709 Why the reveal of the secret of the Iraq base was a strategic reveal https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/analysis-opinion/artc-why-the-wsj-iraq-base-scoop-was-a-deliberate-strategic-reveal Palestine Marathon in Gaza and the West Bank  https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/palestine-marathon-returns-to-west-bank-and-gaza-with-thousands-taking-part/  'NYT' photographer wins Pulitzer for photo of 'starving' Gaza child who had cerebral palsy https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/nyt-photographer-wins-pulitzer-for-photo-of-starving-gaza-child-who-had-cerebral-palsy  IDF hits 40-plus Hezbollah targets, kills 100 terrorists https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/idf-hits-40-hezbollah-targets-kills-100-terrorists   

A CNN news crew arrives in Baghdad after the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, and ends up delivering the story of a lifetime.  

Edith Szanto's Twelver Shi'i Self-Flagellation Rites in Contemporary Syria: Mourning Sayyida Zaynab (Edinburgh UP, 2025) is a striking and deeply immersive ethnographic study that takes the reader into the shrine town of Sayyida Zaynab in Syria. This town was a vibrant center of Shi‘i life, pilgrimage, and healing, especially for Iraqi refugees until the 2011 Syrian uprising. By combining meticulous fieldwork conducted between 2004 and 2010 with rich historical and social context, Szanto shows how these contested rituals served as both spiritual expression and pathways to worldly and psychological healing. The book examines controversial Muharram practices, especially self-flagellation, not simply as ritual acts but as deeply meaningful responses to trauma, displacement, and the search for justice and healing. In doing so, Szanto pays close attention to how people actually live their religion: through relationships with saints, engagement with religious authorities, media, ritual performance, and forms of spiritual healing. In this conversation, Szanto and I explore specific Muharram practices, including self-flagellation, the wedding of Qasim, and other ritualized forms of mourning, as well as gendered dynamics in who participates and why. We discuss what these practices looked like on the ground—what Muharram in Sayyida Zaynab felt like, how different communities understood and debated these rituals, and what purposes they served for those who participated in them. We talk about the Zaynabiyya seminary and how changes in its physical and institutional structure reshaped how knowledge was taught and who held authority. We also discuss relationships with saints, spiritual healers like Shaykh Abu Ahmad, and the ways that media, music, and ritual performance mediate piety. Szanto also treats us to reflecting on some of her experiences observing and engaging with these rituals. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Islamic studies generally, Shi‘i studies, Middle Eastern religious life, or the ways that communities navigate devotion, trauma, and healing through ritual. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

7/16: Hussein Abdul-Hussein introduces Ali al-Zaydi, a political newcomer nominated for Iraqi Prime Minister by the Shia coordination framework. Al-Zaydi, a wealthy contractor, follows a pattern where "no-ones" are chosen when powerful factions cannot agree. Iraqi voters are increasingly favoring patriots over pro-Iran candidates.1920 YOKOHOMA

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 5-5-2026.1920 HONG KONG1/16: Liz Peek discusses the strong American economy, noting low unemployment and an AI-driven boom despite oil price spikes from the Iran war. While concerns about plummeted savings exist, record stock market highs and a robust labor market sustain growth. Peek also addresses political resistance to AI development.2/16: Liz Peek reflects on the successful American visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, noting the public's rehabilitated view of the royal couple. Despite past controversies, their visit reaffirmed the special relationship, and American affection for the British monarchy remains strong, reflected in high television ratings.3/16: Grant Newsham explores Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's diplomatic mission to Vietnam and Australia to counter Chinese aggression. Takaichi is shifting Japan from purely economic influence toward a professional military posture. This approach is welcomed by Southeast Asian nations facing maritime bullying from China.4/16: Rich Goldberg outlines a "blockade plus" strategy to bankrupt the Iranian regime by cutting off oil and petrochemical revenues. This economic pressure aims to spark internal fractures and popular uprisings. Goldberg also advocates for expanding Middle Eastern pipeline infrastructure to bypass the Strait of Hormuz permanently.5/16: Ivana Stradner reports that Vladimir Putin is living in a bunker, fearing a coup as he loses on the battlefield. To maintain control, the Kremlin has implemented severe internet blackouts and banned Western social media. Stradnersuggests the West should provide Russians with more VPN systems.6/16: Ivana Stradner discusses how American jazz symbolizes freedom and individualism, making it a threat to repressive regimes. Historically used as a "non-nuclear weapon" during the Cold War, jazz's improvisational nature counters state propaganda. She argues the U.S. should revitalize this tool to reach those lacking freedom.7/16: Hussein Abdul-Hussein introduces Ali al-Zaydi, a political newcomer nominated for Iraqi Prime Minister by the Shia coordination framework. Al-Zaydi, a wealthy contractor, follows a pattern where "no-ones" are chosen when powerful factions cannot agree. Iraqi voters are increasingly favoring patriots over pro-Iran candidates.8/16: Hussein Abdul-Hussein explains that the United States remains the biggest player in Iraq, wielding significant influence over leadership choices and economic policy. Washington is currently pushing to move Iraq from a cash-based to a digital economy to prevent Iran from siphoning funds and to ensure financial transparency.9/16: Gregory Copley highlights a major defense contract between Japan and Australia, involving the sale of Mogami-class frigates. The two nations are cooperating to bypass China's monopoly on rare earth processing and energy supply chains. This partnership builds on a long history of strategic trade.10/16: Gregory Copley examines the instability of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso after their withdrawal from ECOWAS. The region faces increasing jihadist threats and government paranoia regarding French interference. Meanwhile, Chinese influence in Africa is weakening as Russia's African Corps remains active but limited.11/16: Gregory Copley reports that Iran is effectively under a military government led by General Vahidi, as Ayatollah Khamenei remains incapacitated. Simultaneously, China's Xi Jinping faces internal strife and energy shortages, while India maintains a strategic, non-aligned posture between the United States, Russia, and the People's Republic of China.12/16: King Charles III visited the United States and Bermuda, receiving bipartisan acclaim in Congress for his defense of constitutional checks and balances. Despite health concerns, the King successfully revitalized the special relationship and was lauded by a Bermuda rabbi for his family's historical protection of Jews. Gregory Copley reports.13/16: Thaddeus McCotter analyzes how high gasoline prices and economic disruptions from the Iran conflict influence midterm elections. He notes that while minority parties usually have messaging advantages, the lack of clear strategic military objectives and persistent inflation create significant uncertainty for American voters and global markets.14/16: Thaddeus McCotter argues that while Wall Street performs well, the average worker remains anxious about healthcare, interest rates, and student loans. He describes the current economy as fragile and warns that failing to address these underlying domestic anxieties could lead to political repercussions during the midterm elections.15/16: Jack Burnham details the rare extradition and indictment of a Chinese national, Mr. U, for state-sponsored hacking. Operating under "Silk Typhoon," the group targeted American COVID-19 research. This operation demonstrates China's strategy of using private actors to steal scientific excellence and prepare the digital battlefield.16/16: Jack Burnham discusses how Chinese commercial satellite firms provide the IRGC with high-resolution imagery to direct attacks against American assets. He differentiates this from the state-led surveillance of the Chinese balloon incident over U.S. missile silos, emphasizing China's broad campaign to disrupt American societal morale.

9/16: Bridget Toomey and Bill Roggio discuss Ali Al-Zadei, a businessman elevated to Iraqi Prime Minister with Iranian support. While endorsed by Trump, his background in illicit finance raises concerns about ongoing militia influence.1920 BUSHER

Aimen's in the thick of it this week so isn't able to appear on the show. Sitting in for him is Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Russian-Israeli researcher and analyst, and a doctoral student at Princeton University. During field research in Iraq in 2023, she was kidnapped by Kata'ib Hezbollah and held in captivity for over two years, suffering torture and solitary confinement. In what we hope will be the first of many appearances on Conflicted, Elizabeth discusses: Saddam Hussein's faith campaign and the rise of Shia religious politics in Iraq The Sadrist movement in Iraq and Muqtada al-Sadr The politicisation of sectarian identity in post-2003 Iraq Iraqi militias as criminal-political enterprises engaged in in theft, extortion, oil smuggling, and dollar smuggling The difference between Iraqi militias and Lebanese Hezbollah The impact of militia rule on ordinary civilian life Iraq's extreme inequality despite its oil and gas wealth The 2003 Iraq War and the debate over American responsibility Iraqi elite agency and the failures of Iraq's political class The 2010 Iraqi election crisis and Nouri al-Maliki's return to power The Iraqi constitution and the failure of constitutional democracy Iraq's dependence on oil revenues and the Strait of Hormuz The impact of the current Iran war on Iraq's economy Iranian attacks on Iraqi oil exports and oil tankers The U.S. military presence in Iraq after ISIS American influence over Iraqi prime ministerial politics Nouri al-Maliki, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Ali al-Zaidi Fa'iq Zaidan and the power of Iraq's judiciary Join the Conflicted Community here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Elizabeth's personal website: https://elizabeth-tsurkov.net/en/ Find Elizabeth on X: https://x.com/LizHurra Find Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-tsurkov-79491b15/ Find us on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. Produced and edited by Thomas Small. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the first episode of a new series we're calling The Bullshit Detectorist. I'm joined by Starbaby Pietrucha, and the idea is simple—take some of the stuff you hear all the time about military aviation and see if it actually stands up. Stealth's dead, drones have changed everything, low-frequency radar can see anything… we get into all of it.0:00 Aurora1:00 welcome back Starbaby - series outline/premise3:55 super low freq/passive radars are the death of stealth11:15 other dimensions of lo-observable?15:11 collapsing the kill chain?16:40 HARM were used to maybe make the Iraqis duck a bit…… (Dan Hampton quote)

6. Headline: Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen and Iraqi Militia Aggression Guest: Bridget Toomey Summary: The UN has largely been pushed out of Houthi-controlled territory due to the illegal detention of 73 local staff members. Meanwhile, in Iraq, the U.S. has designated several militia commanders involved in attacks against energy infrastructure and American personnel in the region. 61958 YEMEN

There was an attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner this weekend. Paul opens with a clear-eyed take on what that means: this is not a new normal, this is the normal, and the silence from the president and Congress is its own kind of failure. Political violence is now a permanent feature of the American landscape, and we still don't have a national security strategy that treats it as one. Stay vigilant doesn't mean stay anxious — it means demand that the people we pay to protect this republic actually do the work. From there, Paul takes you inside his Morning Joe hit on the administration's plan to send roughly 1,100 Afghan allies — 400 of them children, 150 with relatives currently serving in the U.S. military — to Congo or back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. He puts names and faces on it: his own Iraqi interpreter Mohammed, now in Nashville, whose son plays football and whose daughter is thriving in school. Then he closes on the counter-story: Seth Bodnar in Montana, the rise of independent veteran candidates, and why 45% of the country is finally getting representation that doesn't wear a jersey for either failed party. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Ditch your expensive carrier and support Independent Americans! Make the switch to Noble Mobile. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Get some of Maine's finest gear - check out Loyal Citizen. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.