Podcasts about irgc

Israel and Iran are at war. To break down what's happening and what could come next, host Cliff May is joined by Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Behnam Ben Taleblu.They dissect Israel's targeted strikes on IRGC assets, the strategic pause before a possible U.S. strike on Fordow, and why this war isn't just Israel vs. Iran. It's the free world vs. the axis of aggressors. And it's about finishing the job—or risking another historic failure.

Israel and Iran are at war. To break down what's happening and what could come next, host Cliff May is joined by Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Behnam Ben Taleblu.They dissect Israel's targeted strikes on IRGC assets, the strategic pause before a possible U.S. strike on Fordow, and why this war isn't just Israel vs. Iran. It's the free world vs. the axis of aggressors. And it's about finishing the job—or risking another historic failure.

Dov Hikind, former NY State Assemblyman and pro-Israel advocate, calls in to preview tonight's "Pro-USA & Pro-Israel Rally" to protest against the IRGC outside the Iranian Consulate in New York City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 12, 2025, Israel launched a series of aerial strikes (codenamed Operation Rising Lion) into Iran, targeting nuclear facilities, Revolutionary Guard command centers, missile production sites, and officials — including nuclear scientists and senior IRGC leaders — citing an imminent nuclear threat. While Israel says the goal is to dismantle Iran's nuclear program and degrade its missile capabilities, Prime Minister Netanyahu has also hinted at destabilizing President Khamenei's regime and possibly provoking a broader regime change.    Iran has responded with missile barrages toward Israel, and the conflict has displaced many civilians in Tehran amid fears of escalation . Israel's broader strategy appears to combine military strikes, intelligence-driven sabotage, and political messaging aimed at weakening Iran's nuclear and military posture — and potentially its government.   And then there's, the involvement of the United States…   The U.S. has been involved diplomatically, urging de-escalation and expressing support for Israel's right to defend itself while also seeking to revive the nuclear deal with Iran, aiming to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities through negotiations. However, differing approaches and concerns from various political factions within the U.S. have complicated these efforts, with debates ongoing about the best course of action moving forward.   So how is this all going to shake out? Will it be over in a matter of days? Weeks? Years? Or will this further escalate into World War III?   Also, why are some Christians saying that the recent events are of prophetic significance, citing passages from Jeremiah 49?  

This week, the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes against Iranian military bases, nuclear enrichment sites, and IRGC military officials after reports that Iran was days away from creating nuclear devices.The Regime has retaliated, targeting civilians and striking a hospital. Pro-terror activists condemn Israel's actions, not realizing that Israel just did the world a monumental favor. Tune in to find out why.  The CUFI Minute is another way to enjoy CUFI's online newsand analysis segment, the CUFI Weekly. Featuring host Kasim Hafeez, this microcast is a quick yet in-depth topical segment you can listen to while commuting to work or making your afternoon cup of coffee. We should stand in solidarity against terrorism including when it happens in Israel.In under 10 minutes a week, learn about the history behindmany threats facing Israel, the significance of important holidays and anniversaries throughout the year, and what's happening in Israel and the broader Middle East.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Quds force and the Basij militias are back in the news due to the conflict between Israel and Iran. What are they, how do they operate and how have they become so influential? In this episode, we look at the origins, the branding and the ideological blueprint of the Tehran-led influence network that has been shaping events in the Middle East for decades.This bonus episode of The Documentary, comes to you from the Global Jigsaw, Looking at the world through the lens of its media.

Since Israel launched Operation Rising Lion—a precise and defensive military campaign aimed at preventing the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons—Iran has responded with a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones, indiscriminately targeting Israeli civilians. Dr. Matthew Levitt, director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and a leading expert on Iran's global terror network, explains what's at stake—and what could come next. Take Action: We must stop a regime that vows to murder millions of Israelis from gaining the weapons to do it. Urge your elected leaders to assure that Israel has all the necessary support to end Iran's nuclear threat. Resources and Analysis: Iranian Regime vs. Israel War Explained: What You Should Know AJC Advocacy Anywhere: Israel and Iran: Latest Updates, Global Responses, and the Path Ahead 5 Key Reasons Behind Israel's Defensive Strike on Iran's Imminent Nuclear Threat Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod: Latest Episodes: Why Israel Had No Choice: Inside the Defensive Strike That Shook Iran's Nuclear Program What Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' State of the Jewish World Teaches Us Today Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Israel's shadow war with the Iranian regime, the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, erupted into open conflict last week following a stunning report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that confirmed Iran was much closer to obtaining nuclear weapons than previously known. Since Israel launched a wave of attacks on nuclear sites and facilities, Iran has fired missiles toward Israel's most populated cities. Joining us to discuss what this all means is one of the foremost experts on Iran and its global threats, and a regular guest when trouble arises with Iran. Dr. Matthew Levitt, director of the Reinhard Counterterrorism Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.  Matt, welcome back to People of the Pod. Matthew Levitt:   It's a pleasure to be back, but I need to come sometime when the world's okay.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   That would be nice. That'd be nice. But what will we talk about? Matthew Levitt:   Yeah, just call me one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, you are one of the foremost experts on the dangers posed by Iran, especially its terror proxies. And you've written the definitive book on Hezbollah, titled Hezbollah: the Global Footprint of Lebanon's Party of God. And I say that whole title, I want to get in there, because we are talking about global threats here.  Can you explain the scale of Iran's global threat and the critical role that its terror proxies, like Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, play in advancing that strategy? Matthew Levitt:   So I really appreciate the question, because it's really important to remind listeners that the Israel Iran war did not start Thursday night US time, Friday morning, Israel time. In fact, it's just the latest salvo where the Israelis, after years and years and years of Iranian we call it malign activity, but that's too soft a term. We're talking about Iran sending weapons and funds to proxies like Hamas to carry out October 7, like Hezbollah to fire rockets at Israel almost daily for almost a year. Like the Houthis, who were much more than a thorn in the Saudi backside until the Iranians came and gave them more sophisticated capabilities.  We're talking about an Iran that a few years ago decided that instead of making sure that every gun that it sent to the West Bank had to go to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. They decided to just flood the West Bank with guns. Who cares who's shooting at the Israelis so long as somebody is. And an Iran that not only carries out human rights abuses of all kinds at home, but that threatens Israel and its neighbors with drones, low altitude cruise missiles, short range ballistic missiles, and medium and long range ballistic missiles.  And so the totality of this, much like the totality of Hezbollah's striking Israel for almost a year, ultimately led Israel to do what most people thought couldn't be done, and just tear Hezbollah apart, that the Israel war on Hezbollah is the prequel to what we've been seeing over the past few days in Iran. Similarly, for the Israelis, it got to be too much. It wasn't even really that President Trump's 60 days expired and Israel attacked on day 61. It wasn't only that the IAEA came out with a report saying that the Iranians have refused to explain certain activities that can only be explained as nuclear weaponization activities.  It was that the Israelis had information that two things were happening. One, that Iran was working very, very hard to rebuild its capability to manufacture medium, long range ballistic missiles that can hit Israel. After the Israeli reprisal attack last October took out a key component of that program, the mixers that are important for the solid propellant, without which you can't make ballistic missiles. And Iran is believed to have, at least the beginning of this recent round of the conflict –Thursday, Friday–about 2000 such missiles. Far fewer now, the Israelis say they've taken out about a third of them, plus launchers, plus radars, et cetera. But that Iran had a plan within just a few years to develop as many as 8000 of these. And that simply was not tolerable for the Israelis.  And the second is that the Israelis say that they compiled evidence that Iran had a secret, secret nuclear weapons program that had been going on predating October 7, but was fast tracked after October 7, that they were planning to maintain this program, even as they were negotiating over the more overt program with the Trump administration. President Trump has even taken issue with his own Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who testified in March that the US intelligence committee does not assess that Iran is weaponizing. And President says, I don't care what she says, I think they were very close to weaponizing.  The Israelis say they have shared this information at least recently with their US counterparts and that was not tolerable. So the primary goals that Israel has set out for itself with this campaign is beyond the critically important shattering the glass ceiling. Think where people in particular, in Iran thought this would never happen, was two things, one, addressing and significantly degrading and setting back the Iranian ballistic missile production program, and second, doing the same to the nuclear program. They've already carried out strikes at Isfahan, Natanz, even at the upper parts of Fordow. And there is an expectation that the Israelis are going to do something more. The Israeli national security advisor said on Israeli television today, We are not going to stop without addressing the nuclear activities at Fordow. Manya Brachear Pashman:   You know, you called it a prequel, Israel's operations against Hezbollah last year. Did you know that it was a prequel at the time and to what extent did it weaken Iran and leave it more vulnerable in this particular war? Matthew Levitt:   I'm going to be the last person in Washington, D.C. who tells you when he doesn't know. And anybody who tells you they did know is lying to you. None of us saw what Israel did to Hezbollah coming. None of us saw that and said, Oh, they did it to a non-state actor right across their border. So they'll definitely be able to do it to Iran, 1000+ kilometers away, big nation state with massive arsenals and a nuclear program and lots of proxies. One plus one does not equal three in this.  In other words, the fact that Israel developed mind boggling capabilities and incredible intelligence, dominance and then special tools, pagers and walkie talkies, in the case of Hezbollah, did not mean that they were going to be able to do the same vis a vis Iran. And they did. The same type of intelligence dominance, the same type of intelligence, knowing where somebody was at a certain time, that the protocols would be that certain leaders would get in a certain secret bunker once hostilities started, and they'd be able to take them out in that bunker. As they did to a bunch of senior Hezbollah commanders just months ago. Drone operations from within Iran, Iran being hit with missiles that were fired at Iran from within Iran, all of it. One case did not necessarily translate into the other. It is exponentially impressive. And Israel's enemies have to be saying, you know, that the Israelis are just all capable. Now you're absolutely right. You hit the nail on the head on one critical issue. For a very long time, Israel was at least somewhat deterred, I would say very deterred, from targeting Iran. Because Iran had made very, very clear if Israel or the United States or anybody else targeted Iran or its nuclear program, one of the first things that would happen would be that Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel, Iran's first, most important proxy would rain hellfire in Israel in the form of 1000s upon 1000s of rockets. Until Israel addressed the problem, Hezbollah is believed to have had 150 to 200,000 different types of projectiles, up to and including precision guided munitions.  Not only have the overwhelming majority of those been destroyed, Hezbollah still has 1000s of rockets, but Hezbollah leadership has been decimated. There's a new sheriff in town in Lebanon. There's a new government that immediately, when hostility started with Iran's, went to Hezbollah and said, You're not doing this, not dragging Lebanon back into a war that nobody wanted again. We are finally coming out of this economic crisis. And so Iran was faced with a situation where it didn't have Hezbollah to deter Israel.  Israel, you know, paved the way for a highway in the air to Iran, taking out air defense systems. It was able to fly over and through Syria. The Syrians are not shedding any tears as they see the Quds Force and the IRGC getting beaten down after what Iran did in Syria. And the Israelis have air dominance now. President Trump said, We, using the we term, air dominance now, earlier today. And they're able to slowly and methodically continue to target the ballistic missile program. Primarily, the medium and long range missiles that target Israel, but sometimes it's the same production lines that produce the short range missiles that Iran uses to target U.S. Forces in the region, and our allies in the Gulf. So Israel is not just protecting itself, it's protecting the region. And then also taking out key military security intelligence personnel, sometimes taking out one person, then a couple days later, taking out the person who succeeded that person, and then also taking out key scientists who had the know-how to potentially rebuild all the things that Israel is now destroying. Manya Brachear Pashman:   But Israel is also not hearing from the Houthis, is not hearing from Hamas. It's not hearing from other terror proxies either. Very few attacks from Iran's terror proxies in the aftermath of this wave. Why? Why do you think that is? Matthew Levitt:   The crickets are loud. The crickets are loud. Look, we've discussed Hezbollah. Hezbollah understands that if it were to do something, the Israelis will come in even harder and destroy what's left. Hamas is still holding hostages. This is still an open wound, but it doesn't have the capabilities that it once had, and so there have been a couple of short range things that they tried to shoot, but it's not anything that's going to do huge damage, and the Israeli systems can deal with those.  The Houthis did fire something, and it hurt some Palestinians near Hebron. You know, the Houthis and the Iranians in particular, in this conflict have killed Palestinians, and in one case, Syrians. They're continuing to hurt people that are not Israelis. One of the things that I think people are hopeful for is that as Iran tries to sue for peace, and it already is, it's been reaching out to Cyprus to pass messages, etcetera. The hope is that Iran will recognize that it's in a position whereby A) there has to be zero enrichment and the facilities have to be destroyed, whatever's left of them. And B) there's a hope that Israel and the United States together will be able to use this diplomatic moment to truly end the conflict in Gaza and get the hostages home. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, that was what I was going to ask. I mean, if Israel achieves its objectives in this war, primarily eliminating Iran's nuclear threat, how significant a setback would that be for Hamas and Iran's other terror proxies, and could it indeed pave the way for an end of the war in Gaza and the return of the hostages? Matthew Levitt:   Like everybody else, I'm so scarred, I don't want to get my hopes up, but I do see this as a distinct possibility, and here's why. Not Hezbollah, not the Houthis, not Hamas, none of them, and plenty of other proxies that don't start in the letter H, none of them could have been anywhere as capable as they've proven to be, were it not for Iranian money and weapons. Also some training, some intelligence, but primarily money and weapons.  And so Hamas is already on its back foot in this regard. It can still get some money in. It's still being able to make money off of humanitarian aid. Iran is still sending money in through money exchange houses and hawaladars, but not weapons. Their ability to manufacture weapons, their military industrial complex within Gaza, this is destroyed. Hezbollah, we've discussed, discussed, and a lot of their capabilities have been destroyed. And those that remain are largely deterred. The Houthis did shoot up some rockets, and the Israelis did carry out one significant retaliatory attack. But I think people are beginning to see the writing on the wall. The Israelis are kicking the stuffing out of Iran with pinprick attacks that are targeting the worst of the bad guys, including people who have carried out some of the worst human rights transgressions against Iranians. Let's not pretend that this is not affecting the average Iranian. It is. The president says, Everybody get out of Tehran. That's just not possible. People, average Iranians, good people. It must be just an absolute terror.  But Israel's not bombing, you know, apartment buildings, as Iran is doing in Israel, or as Russia is doing in Ukraine. And so it really is a different type of thing. And when the Houthis, when Hamas, when Hezbollah, look at this, you don't you don't poke the tiger when it's angry. I think they also understand now's the time to get into survival mode. What you want is for the regime in Iran not to be destroyed. This is no longer a moment, as it's been since long before October 7, but certainly since then, of how Iran as proxies, export Iran's revolution. This is now a question of how they maintain and preserve the revolution at home. And it's extremely important to the proxies that Iran remain, so that even if it's knocked down over time, hopefully, theoretically, from their perspective, it can regain its footing. It will still have, they hope, its oil and gas, etcetera, and they will get back to a point where they can continue to fund and arm the proxies in. Maybe even prioritize them as it takes them longer to rebuild their ballistic missile, drone, and nuclear programs. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Which is a scary prospect as well to know that terror proxies could be spread throughout the world and empowered even a little bit more. President Trump left the G7 summit a day early to meet with security advisors, and just a few hours ago, prior to this interview, President Trump called for Iran's, quote, unconditional surrender, saying that the US knows where the Supreme Leader is, and some other threatening language. But I mean, this appears to be a kind of a clear commitment to Israel. So I'm curious how you assess his administration's actions before and during the war thus far, and do you see the United States edging toward direct involvement? Matthew Levitt:   All politics is local, and there is a tug of war within the MAGA movement over whether or not the US should be getting involved. Not only in supporting an important ally, but in removing a critical threat. The President is clearly frustrated that Iran was not being more forthcoming in the negotiations. He said many times, we'd offered you a great deal, you should have taken the deal. He's very aware that his deadline ended, and they didn't particularly seem to care. There's also the background that once upon a time, they tried to assassinate him, I think, after the Israelis did what they did, the President appreciates capabilities. He appreciates success. He likes backing the winning horse. And so the New York Times is reporting that after getting off the phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump reportedly turned to some aides and said, maybe we need to help him. Now it's not clear that's what's going to happen, and my understanding is that the Israelis have plans of their own for things like the heavily fortified facility at Fordow, which is the most important and highly fortified, protected of the nuclear installations. The Israeli National Security Advisor spoke today and said, you know, we're not going to be done until we do something with Fordow.  The United States can do multiple things only the United States has the MOP: the Massive Ordinance Penetrator, and the airplanes to deliver it, and they could end Fordow if they wanted. Short of that, they could do other things to support Israel. There's been defensive support for the State of Israel already, but there's other things they could do, refueling and other things if they wanted to. And at a minimum, I don't see the president restraining Israel at all. Now, I've heard some people say that so far, the President has fired nothing more than some social media postings, some of them even in all caps.  But the truth is, those do have an effect, and so long as Israel is not restrained. I think the Israelis went into this with a plan. That plan is not necessarily to entirely destroy the entire nuclear program, but if the ballistic missile program and the nuclear program are sufficiently degraded so that it will take them years and a tremendous amount of time and money to rebuild, knowing that Israel has broken the glass ceiling on this idea of targeting Iran, that if the Israelis feel they need to, they will come back. If the Iranians rebuild their air defense systems, the Israelis will address them and create a new highway going if they need to. I think the Israelis are making that clear. Knowing that it's going to be a little bit of a road for Iran, especially when it will have to deal with some domestic issues coming out of this.  Finally, the Israelis have started signaling there's other things they could do. The Israelis have not yet fully targeted oil and gas fields and facilities. For example, they had one set of attacks where they basically knocked at the front door of some of these facilities without walking in the house. That's signaling, and I think it's one of the reasons you're seeing Iran quietly trying to reach out for some type of a ceasefire. Other signaling, for example, is the Israelis deciding to fly all the way to Mashhad, which is in far eastern Iran, to take out an airplane. That airplane was not particularly important. It was the message. There is nowhere in Iran we can't go. It's not a question of distance, it's not a question of refueling, it's not a question of air defense systems. We can do what we need to do. And I think the Iranians understand that now. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So we talked about the commitment to Israel, and how clear, how important it is to clarify that commitment to Israel. How important is it to clarify the United States commitment to Arab partners in the Middle East to help defend them in other words, if this conflict escalates? Matthew Levitt:   This is critically important. You know, one of the individuals who was taken out, for example, was the person who was in charge of the drone attack on the Abqaiq oil facility in Saudi Arabia. If you look, for example, at the Saudi statement condemning the Israeli actions, it was issued by the Foreign Ministry without a single name attached to it. Wasn't issued by the Crown Prince, wasn't issued by the foreign minister. So I think you should expect a whole lot of public criticism. I imagine there's a different conversation going on behind closed doors. It's not necessarily, you know, pom-poming. This makes the Gulf states very, very nervous, in part because they understand that one way Iran could try and get out of this is to expand the conflict.  And that the reason they haven't is because, short of trying to prevent Iranians from taking to the streets and potentially doing something to maybe overthrow the regime, short of that, the number one thing that the Iranian regime is most desperate to avoid is getting the United States involved militarily. And I think the Iranians really understand and the messaging's been clear. If you target US Forces in the region, if you target our allies in the region, we'll get involved. If you don't, then we might not.  Now the President now is talking about potentially doing that, and as a lot of maybe this, maybe that, nothing very clear. I think what is clear is that the Israelis are going to continue doing what they need to do for another one to two weeks. Even going so far as doing something, though they haven't made clear what to address the really complicated problem of the fortified facility at Fordow. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So how important is it for global security if Israel is successful in eliminating the nuclear threat in Iran? Matthew Levitt:   Look, Iran has been the single most destabilizing factor in the region for a long time now. Imagine a region without a destabilizing revolutionary regime in Iran without a regime that is supporting Shia militants in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.  Imagine the Shia militias in Iraq suddenly without a funder and a patron, enabling the Shia government in Iraq to actually be able to take control of the country and establish a monopoly over the use of force. At a time when the Shia militias, because of Iran's backing, are becoming more dangerous and more powerful in Iraq.  Imagine the Lebanese government being able to be more forward leaning in their effort to establish a monopoly over the use of force in that country, reclaim bases that Hezbollah has used for all this time, and establish a new Lebanon that is not beholden to Iran and Hezbollah.  And imagine an Israeli-Palestinian situation where you didn't have Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as spoilers. Recall that October 7 happened in large part because Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran could not tolerate the prospect of Israeli-Saudi normalization. For most Palestinians, this was great news. The Saudis were demanding real dividends for the Palestinians from the Netanyahu government, which was likely going to do them. This was great for Palestinians, bad for Hamas.  Imagine Hamas no longer getting that support from Iran. Imagine Iran no longer able to send or being interested in sending millions upon millions of dollars to its proxies, and instead spending what money it has on helping its population, instead of cracking down on it with human rights violations. You could have a very, very different region, let alone imagine Iran no longer carrying out acts of terrorism, kidnapping plots, abduction plots of dissidents and Jews and Israelis and others around the world of the type that we've seen throughout Europe and throughout the Middle East and even in the United States over the past few years. Manya Brachear Pashman:   That's quite an imagination you have. But I take your point. Let me ask you this then. Did you ever imagine that Israel would take this dramatic step?  Matthew Levitt:   What the Israelis have achieved, when you are so against the wall and you're forced to come up with solutions, because it's a matter of life or death – you make the impossible possible. And I think that perhaps the Iranians assumed that the Israeli post-October 7 doctrine applied to non-state actors only. And that doctrine is very simple. Israel will no longer allow adversaries who are openly committed to its destruction to build up weapons, arsenals that they can then use at some point to actually try and destroy Israel. They will not allow that to happen.  They allowed it to happen with Hamas. It was a mistake. They allowed it to happen with Hezbollah. It was a mistake that they corrected. And Iran is the biggest, arguably, really, the only existential threat as huge, as a tasking as that was, clearly they invested in doing it. And the question became, not, why can't it be done? What is it that has to be overcome? And I don't think sitting here with you right now, you know, what is it, 3:30 on Tuesday, the 17th, that we've seen the last of the tricks up Israel's sleeve.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   I only have one last question for you, and that is about the United States. The importance of the United States getting directly involved. I mean, we've talked about previously undisclosed nuclear sites, and who knows how many there could be. We're talking about more than what, 600,000 square miles of Iran. If the goal is a non nuclear Iran, can Israel finish this war without the United States, or does it even matter? I mean, is this just a step to force Iran back to the negotiating table with virtually zero leverage? Matthew Levitt:   So look, I don't think the goal here is completely destroying the Iranian nuclear program, or even completely destroying the Iranian ballistic missile program. The goal is to so degrade it that it is set back many, many years, and break that ceiling. People now understand if Israelis need to come back, they're coming back. I think they would like to do as much damage to these destructive programs as possible, of course, and I don't think we've seen the end of it. I think there are more tricks up Israel's sleeve when it comes to some of these complicated problems.  Judged by this yardstick, by the way, the Israeli operation is a tremendous success, tremendous success, even though there have been some significant casualties back in Israel, and even though this has caused tremendous trauma for innocent Iranians who have no love for the regime. This is a situation that the Iranian regime has brought down on all of us.  I do think that the Israelis have made very, very clear that this doesn't end until something is done to further disrupt and dismantle Fordow, which is the most important and the most heavily fortified, underground, under a mountain facility. It's not clear what the Israelis have in mind. It seems they have something in mind of their own. It's clear they would love for the United States to get involved, because the United States could do real damage to that facility and potentially end the Iranian nuclear program. But at the end of the day, if it can't be completely destroyed, I anticipate it's going to be damaged enough to significantly set it back. This phase of the Israel-Iran war, which didn't start last week, is not about pushing them back a week or a month or two months. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Well, Matt, thank you so much for your wise counsel and perspective on this matter, and yes, hopefully we can have you back another time to talk about peace and love and things that have nothing to do with war and conflict with Iran or its terror proxies. Matthew Levitt:   I would really look forward to prepping for that interview. In the meantime, I want to thank AJC for all the important work it does, and thank you guys for having me on the podcast. Manya Brachear Pashman:   If you missed last week's episodes, be sure to tune in for our crossover episode with Books and Beyond: The Rabbi Sacks Podcast, a podcast of the Rabbi Sacks Legacy, and my conversation with AJC's Jerusalem Director Avital Liebovich. During a special breaking news episode the day after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, the latest in Israel's ongoing war of self-defense against the Iranian regime.  

Senior Fellow Alex Vatanka joins hosts Alistair Taylor and Matthew Czekaj to examine the dramatic escalation between Israel and Iran following Israel's targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, infrastructure, and senior IRGC officials. Vatanka discusses how the Iranian regime is responding, the risk of wider regional conflict, and whether the current campaign could mark the beginning of the end for the Islamic Republic.   Recorded June 17, 2025

On The A.M. Update, Aaron McIntire covers a volatile weekend. Israel's “Rising Lion” operation escalates into a third day of war with Iran, with Tel Aviv enduring hypersonic missile barrages and Israel striking Tehran's nuclear sites, military bases, and oil facilities, killing key figures like the IRGC's intelligence chief. Netanyahu tells Fox News Israel aims to prevent Iran from arming proxies like the Houthis with nuclear weapons, while Trump, on Truth Social, denies U.S. involvement but warns Iran of severe consequences if attacked, urging a peace deal. McIntire sees Israel's goal as regime change, noting Netanyahu's calls to Iranians to rise up. In Minnesota, tragedy strikes as Democratic state lawmakers are targeted in politically motivated shootings; Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband are killed, while Sen. John Hoffman survives. The suspect, Vance Bolter, a bizarre figure with a varied past, allegedly impersonated a police officer. The “No Kings” protests, expected to spark riots, remain peaceful but draw “geriatric” crowds, with Randi Weingarten's flailing speech and a fear-mongering grandma highlighting media-driven hysteria. A Los Angeles chopper reporter's drunken rant about his divorce during a protest broadcast epitomizes California chaos. Senate Majority Leader John Thune endorses the “Big Beautiful Bill,” promising historic spending cuts. Reports of Trump pausing ICE raids on certain industries spark fears of a “generational sellout” among supporters. A Politico correction reveals journalistic incompetence, and a New York Times story about a woman's AI chatbot obsession leading to domestic violence raises alarms about AI's dangers. McIntire critiques partiality toward Israel, arguing Iran's nuclear ambitions justify action, and links Middle East destabilization to Western adventurism and Iran's terrorism sponsorship.   Israel Iran war, Rising Lion, Tel Aviv missile strikes, Tehran attacks, Netanyahu, Trump peace deal, Minnesota shootings, Melissa Hortman, Vance Bolter, No Kings protests, Randi Weingarten, Big Beautiful Bill, John Thune, Trump ICE raids, Politico correction, AI chatbot dangers, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Iran regime change, Middle East destabilization, Western adventurism, Islamists

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastCheck out Ark Media's other podcasts: For Heaven's Sake: https://lnk.to/rfGlrAWhat's Your Number?: https://lnk.to/rbGlvMFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us and sign up for updates visit: arkmedia.orgArk Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday's Episode:In the early hours of Friday, June 13th, the Israeli Air Force began major attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, as well as IRGC leaders and nuclear scientists. The attack prompted an Iranian retaliation which began later that night. Saturday, the second day of war with Iran, became the deadliest night for Israeli civilians since October 7th, after two massive barrages of Iranian rockets killed eleven Israelis and wounded over 200. Seven people were killed in Bat Yam, where a missile struck a residential building, and four were killed in the Arab city of Tamra, east of Haifa. As the Israeli offensive on Iran proceeds, the big question is; will the United States join Israel's offensive to destroy Iran's nuclear program?In this episode, Amit Segal, Call me Back Regular and senior political analyst for Channel 12, joins us to discuss Saturday night's attack on Israel, and the possibility of U.S. military action against Iran.CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

In the early hours of Friday, June 13th, the Israeli Air Force began major attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, as well as IRGC leaders and nuclear scientists. The attack prompted an Iranian retaliation which began later that night. Saturday, the second day of war with Iran, became the deadliest night for Israeli civilians […]

Click here to send Ryan a text message!Episode #374This week saw Israel launch a massive airstrike on Iran, killing top IRGC leaders and exposing major defense vulnerabilities, prompting Trump to warn Iran to “make a deal before it's too late.” RFJ Jr. purges the CDC Vaccine Advisory Board. 17 China-linked VPN's in Apple and Google App stores. Plus much more on this week's weekly briefing.This episode covers:Israel's Massive Airstrike on Iran – 200+ targets hit, top commanders killed, nuclear sites damaged.Trump Warns Iran: Make a Deal or Else – Post-strike pressure as diplomacy clock runs out.U.S. Military Parade Ignites “No Kings” Protests – Over 1,500 protests across all 50 states.RFK Jr. Removes All 17 CDC Vaccine Board Members – Major shakeup over Pharma ties.China-Linked VPNs Still in U.S. App Stores – Tech watchdogs sound alarm on privacy risks.Agroterrorism & Biolab Smuggling – Chinese worms, pathogens, and FDA-approved threats.Congressional Stock Trades Surge After “Liberation Day” – Insider advantage exposed again.Trump Regains Control of California National Guard – Legal clash during LA immigration riots.Greta Thunberg Detained Near Gaza – Climate activist intercepted aboard protest boat.India Plane Crash Kills 241 – One of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent memory.HowToGrowYourFaith.com >> Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Christians Make In Their Walk With God (and how you can avoid them!)Sharable Episode Links (scroll down or search for this episode):Ryan's Website Buzzsprout Link MORE FROM RYAN:FREE DOWNLOAD: 21 Days to a Spirit-Led Life Subscribe on YouTubeTwitter | Instagram | LinkedInSubmit a question or topic for the podcast at ryanshoward.com/contactGet Ryan's eCourse & Coaching ProgramsSupport the show

Israel-Iran War - More Than 100 Dead In 48hrs, Donald Trump Talks Toughhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/israel-iran-war-more-than-100-dead-in-48hrs-donald-trump-talks-tough/15/06/2025/#Issues #Iran #Israel #Netanyahu #Trump #UK #US ©June 15th, 2025 ®June 15, 2025 11:08 am Not less than 100 persons, mostly civilians have been confirmed dead less than 48 hours since on Friday early morning night Israel and Iran began new massive waves of offensive military campaigns that have forced commercial airplanes to avoid the troubled Middle east airspace as the two countries fly missiles of mass destruction in the air corridors, with local media confirming Iran ballistic missile killed 10 persons and injured more than 20 others at a single building struck at Bat Yam City in Israel as the angry Iranian Soldiers launched a massive all night continuous air bombardments campaign against the State of Israel that earlier on Friday began the new offensive military campaign when It flew fighter jets to strike Iranian military homes, nuclear weapon facilities, killing Iran nuclear weapon scientists, military leaders including Iranian Chief of Staff and Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, IRGC alongside almost 60 civilian death casualties, this, President Donald Trump of the United States, US in a statement issued on Friday shortly after Israeli attack via his personal verified social media handle on his own Truth Social media platform, praised and boasted about the military strength and capability of Israel, saying, things will only get worse for Iran because he gave them a chance to make a deal but they ignored the chance, adding with some level of mockery that the Iranian hardliners who spoke bravely are now dead as a result of the Israel attack on Iran, saying with emphasis that the US produces the best leathel military equipments any where in the world, and Israel already has alot of the US military leather equipments, adding that, Israel knows how to use the weapons and more will be giving to them, and in another statement issued also through the Truth Social media platform on Saturday shortly after the unprecedented military parades to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army, President Donald Trump threatened to unleash the full strength and might of the US Armed Forces to attack Iran at a level never seen before if Iran dare attack US in any way, shape or form, claiming that the US had nothing to do with the Israeli attack on Iran, reacting earlier, Iran Supreme Leader, Imam Sayyid Ali Khamenei said Iran will retaliate Israeli attack with a strong response of no mercy, just as Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian said Israeli attack on Tehran on Friday killed military commanders, nuclear scientists, women and children, while wishing President Donald Trump and US Armed Forces happy birthday on Saturday, Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that Iran made an attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump twice, adding that Israel attacked the military and nuclear facilities in Tehran on Friday because Iran was building Intercontinental nuclear weapons that could be used to destroy Israel and any other country in the world. #OsazuwaAkonedo

1. Immigration and Criminal Prosecution: The Ben and Senator Cruz discuss the indictment of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant accused of human trafficking and being a member of MS-13, a transnational criminal gang. They criticize Democratic politicians and media for previously portraying him as a harmless "Maryland dad" and for allegedly defending or sympathizing with him. The indictment claims Garcia trafficked thousands of undocumented immigrants, including gang members, over a nine-year period. 2. Media and Political Critique: The hosts strongly criticize mainstream media outlets (e.g., CNN, NPR, New York Times) for allegedly downplaying or misrepresenting violent protests and immigration issues. They accuse the media of spreading propaganda and being biased against conservative viewpoints and the Trump administration. 3. Civil Unrest and Law Enforcement: The conversation includes commentary on riots and protests, particularly in Los Angeles, and the deployment of the National Guard. The hosts mock media portrayals of the protests as “peaceful” and argue that Democratic leaders are undermining law enforcement. 4. Israel-Iran Conflict: The latter part of the transcript shifts to a breaking news segment about Israel launching a military strike on Iran, targeting nuclear facilities and IRGC leadership. The hosts express strong support for Israel and discuss the potential for Iranian retaliation, including threats to U.S. forces. They emphasize the strategic importance of the strike and the risks of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. 5. Personal Touch: A brief, heartfelt moment is included where a 10-year-old fan writes a letter to Senator Ted Cruz, expressing admiration and political aspirations, which the hosts read aloud. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and the Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. Thanks for Listening #seanhannity #hannity #marklevin #levin #charliekirk #megynkelly #tucker #tuckercarlson #glennbeck #benshapiro #shapiro #trump #sexton #bucksexton#rushlimbaugh #limbaugh #whitehouse #senate #congress #thehouse #democrats#republicans #conservative #senator #congressman #congressmen #congresswoman #capitol #president #vicepresident #POTUS #presidentoftheunitedstatesofamerica#SCOTUS #Supremecourt #DonaldTrump #PresidentDonaldTrump #DT #TedCruz #Benferguson #Verdict #justicecorrupted #UnwokeHowtoDefeatCulturalMarxisminAmericaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Friday's Mark Levin Show, President Trump is neither an isolationist nor an appeaser, unlike critics like Chatsworth Osborne Jr. (Tucker Carlson), who push confused ideologies. Trump transformed the Republican Party, but he and his supporters reject isolationism, which would mean yielding to Iran's terrorist regime that threatens the U.S. and its allies. Pacifist and unilateral disarmament policies, particularly opposing Israel's moves against Iran's nuclear program, are to be condemned.  What is the isolationist's plan to deal with Iran? They don't have one. Also, Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro calls in to address criticisms from Isolationists claiming to represent the MAGA movement, who oppose U.S. involvement in Israel's conflict with Iran. These groups misrepresent MAGA, as Trump has consistently opposed the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), criticized Iran's ballistic missile program, and supported Israel and Saudi Arabia against Iranian aggression. Most Americans, especially Republicans, support Israel's actions against Iran. Later, WABC's Sid Rosenberg called in to express his strong support for Israel's military actions against Iran, crediting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and asserting that Trump gave the "green light" for the operation. Rosenberg recounted a conversation with Trump two months prior, where he suggested Iran needed to "feel pain," and now views Israel's strikes as a response to Iran's non-compliance with a 60-day deadline. The Trump-Netanyahu partnership is a historic "one-two punch" for the U.S. and Israel. Afterward, Ambassador Michael Leiter calls in with an update on Israel's strike on Iran. He reports that Israel has eliminated key IRGC leadership. The operation also destroyed much of Iran's military leadership, ground-to-air defenses, the Natanz uranium enrichment plant, and a nuclear fuel conversion center, significantly disrupting Iran's nuclear weapons program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media's new podcast ‘What's Your Number?': https://lnk.to/DZulpYFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: https://arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: https://x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dansenorEarlier today, Iran launched approximately 100 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting multiple rounds of nationwide sirens. Some missiles landed in Tel Aviv and other areas in Central Israel, damaging buildings and wounding dozens of Israelis, with at least one reported fatality. This followed Friday's extensive Israeli Air Force attack on Iranian nuclear, military, and leadership targets. The attacks damaged nuclear enrichment sites and killed Hussein Salammi, the head of the IRGC, the Army Chief of Staff, other members of the Iranian military leadership, as well as leading nuclear scientists.Just minutes before the evening's sirens began, we wrapped up a conversation with Nadav Eyal, senior analyst at Yedioth Achronot and Call me Back regular, where he explained how the Israeli attack on Iran unfolded and what it took for the IDF to prepare. These historic developments are certain to evolve over the next few days. We'll be monitoring the situation closely, so stay tuned for more analysis. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Moynihan and Welch talk to Nadav Eyal, senior columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth and one of Israel's most prominent (and best-sourced) journalists. Typically, we would keep a bonus episode like this one behind the paywall. We were feeling generous today. But never rely on our continued generosity. So subscribe, cheapskate! * Meetings cancelled, meetings kept* How the attack on Iran unfolded* James Bond is a Jew* Taking out the IRGC leadership and partially neutering Iran's missile capabilities* Was Iran actually readying a nuclear weapon?* Was Trump part of an elaborate ruse? * Western Europe reacts…* Does Israel actually drive American foreign policy?* The Mossad stuff is impressive. But…* Nadav's Twitter thread* The first 48 hours are the easy part* Netanyahu's political prospects * And lots, lots more This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

-Host Rob Carson discusses Israel's surprise military strike on Iran, targeting the IRGC leadership and Natanz nuclear site, with guest Matthew Faraci, founder of Gideon 300, joining via the Newsmax Hotline. -Guest Mary Walter and Carson critiques Democratic figures like Tim Walz and JB Pritzker for their responses to questions about gender and immigration, accusing them of evading clarity and supporting absurdities. Today's podcast is sponsored by : BIRCH GOLD - Protect and grow your retirement savings with gold. Text ROB to 98 98 98 for your FREE information kit! INCOGNI – Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CARSON at the following link and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/CARSON To call in and speak with Rob Carson live on the show, dial 1-800-922-6680 between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday…E-mail Rob Carson at : RobCarsonShow@gmail.com Musical parodies provided by Jim Gossett (www.patreon.com/JimGossettComedy) Listen to Newsmax LIVE and see our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Make the switch to NEWSMAX today! Get your 15 day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Looking for NEWSMAX caps, tees, mugs & more? Check out the Newsmax merchandise shop at : http://nws.mx/shop Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media:  -Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB  -X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter -Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG -YouTube: https://youtube.com/NewsmaxTV -Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV -TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX -GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax -Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX  -Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax  -BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com -Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcastSubscribe to Ark Media's new podcast ‘What's Your Number?': lnk.to/DZulpYFor sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.orgTo contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorgDan on X: x.com/dansenorDan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenorToday's episode:Around 3AM in Israel, a nation-wide siren awoke Israelis to the news that the Israeli Air Force was conducting extensive strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran. As far as we know so far, the strikes have targeted nuclear enrichment sites, military sites, the IRGC leadership, including Hussein Salammi, the head of the IRGC, the Army Chief of Staff, and leading nuclear scientists. Shortly after the blitz began, the IDF Home Front Command announced immediate changes to its guidelines, prohibiting all gatherings for educational, social, and workplace purposes. Israelis have been instructed to remain near bomb shelters as they await the Iranian response. It is an extremely tense moment for Israelis and Jews around the world. For years we've discussed the danger of Iran inching closer and closer to a nuclear weapon. The IDF said in a statement that in recent months it had accumulated evidence that Iran's nuclear program was “approaching the point of no return.” Joining us to unpack the ongoing events that are reshaping the Middle East in real time is Ronen Bergman. Ronen is a staff writer for The New York Times and Senior Correspondent for Military and Intelligence Affairs at Yedhiot Ahronot. Ronen is the recipient of a Pulitzer price for his reporting on the Israel-Hamas war. CREDITS:ILAN BENATAR - Producer & EditorMARTIN HUERGO - Sound EditorMARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional EditingMAYA RACKOFF - Operations DirectorGABE SILVERSTEIN - ResearchYUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

Around 3 AM in Israel, a nationwide siren awoke Israelis to the news that the Israeli Air Force was conducting extensive strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran. As far as we know so far, the strikes have targeted nuclear enrichment sites, military sites, the IRGC leadership, including Hussein Salammi, the head of the IRGC, […]

Israel changed the course of Middle East history early this morning after launching a massive campaign to cripple Iran's nuclear program. Israel launched hundreds of strikes using drones and fighter jets to take out enrichment facilities, nuclear scientists, IRGC leadership and launch sites. The operation, named Rising Lion, is the first confirmed attack on Iranian nuclear sites by Israeli aircraft. A nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire world, but only tiny Israel has shown the resolve and will to directly confront the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism. Where will this next war lead?

Jacob Shapiro is joined by Middle East expert Kamran Bokhari to analyze the rapidly unfolding Israeli military strikes on Iran. They discuss the strategic implications of Israel's targeted attacks on IRGC leadership, the potential for regime instability in Tehran, and the calculus behind Washington's response. Bokhari introduces the concept of “evolutionary regime change” and outlines scenarios ranging from internal coups to regional realignment. Together, they explore whether Israel's aim is nuclear deterrence or regime collapse, and what options remain for an Iranian response. It's a fast-moving, high-stakes conversation on Middle Eastern geopolitics.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Episode Overview(02:09) - Initial Reactions to Recent Events(04:21) - Analyzing Israel's Strategy(08:11) - Potential Outcomes and Scenarios(27:01) - Regional Reactions and Implications(32:08) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts--Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap--The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today's volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Jacob Shapiro speaks with Iranian security expert Hamidreza Azizi to unpack Israel's unprecedented strikes on Iran. They explore the strategic implications of Israel's multi-phase assault, including the assassination of top IRGC commanders, the targeting of nuclear and missile infrastructure, and the collapse of Iran's proxy network. Azizi outlines Iran's limited options—from potential retaliation to a pivot toward nuclear armament—and discusses the psychological warfare at play. With U.S. involvement uncertain and regional dynamics shifting, this conversation offers a critical framework for understanding one of the most volatile escalations in the Middle East in recent memory.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction and Episode Overview(00:49) - Initial Reactions to Recent Events(03:33) - Iran's Military and Strategic Response(09:50) - Role of Proxies and US Involvement(18:01) - Potential Outcomes and Strategic Implications(27:42) - Conclusion and Farewell--Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShap--The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today's volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Why did Israel launch defensive strikes against Iran's nuclear sites — and what does this mean for regional security? AJC Jerusalem Director Lt. Col. (res.) Avital Leibovich joins from IDF reserve duty to explain Operation Rising Lion — Israel's precision military strikes aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. Find out why Israel saw this defensive action as vital to protect millions of lives and prevent Iran's nuclear breakout. Resources: 5 Key Reasons Behind Israel's Defensive Strike on Iran's Imminent Nuclear Threat Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  What Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks' State of the Jewish World Teaches Us Today AJC's CEO Ted Deutch: Messages That Moved Me After the D.C. Tragedy Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview: Manya Brachear Pashman  Late Thursday night, Israel launched a series of preemptive strikes against Iran in a military offensive dubbed Operation Rising Lion. The wave of strikes comes after the International Atomic Energy Agency censured Iran for obstructing its inspections after the revelation of a secretive nuclear site. What is happening on the ground, what's next, and what are the implications for Israel, Iran, and the broader Middle East? AJC Jerusalem director, Avital Leibovich, who also serves as Lieutenant Colonel in the IDF reserves, joins us now from reserve duty as counterattacks from Iran have begun. Avital, thank you for joining us with pleasure. Avital, negotiations for a new nuclear deal with Iran have been underway since April. There have been five rounds, maybe six, and another was going to begin on Sunday. President Trump also asked Israel to hold off on this preemptive operation. So why did Israel choose to launch these strikes? At this particular time, Avital Leibovich  Israel took a decision already to prepare for a preemptive attack on Iran. Since November, what happened in November? In November, Hezbollah lost the majority of its capabilities, of its military capabilities, and also of its leadership. Actually, a lot of his leaders, military leaders, have been eliminated, starting with Nasrallah, Hassan, Nasrallah, and going on to all the major generals of the organization. And basically the Shiite axis, as we call it here in Israel, was broken. Add to this, what happened a month later in December, when Assad's regime crashed, collapsed and was replaced by an anti Iranian man, jihadist, which jihadist background, by the name of Ahmed al Shara. So Iran was actually by on its own, really, because instead of circling Israel from the north, both from Syria and from Lebanon. Now it was circling in a very one dimension way, only from the east. So in order to do that, Iran figured out it needed to really upscale its nuclear capabilities, and for that, they sped up a few processes, for example, uranium enrichment, but not only that, also the weaponization of a potential nuclear bomb. And all of these steps actually brought us to a point that we are today, the point of no return. Iran will not be able to return to 20 years ago, 30 years ago, when it did not have those capabilities as it has today. For us in Israel, this is an issue of existence, either we exist or we don't, and that is the sole reason why the preemptive strike actually began today. This is according to Israeli intelligence, we have all the indications and data showing us this really major leap. And look the IAEA, you know, they issue reports every couple of months. It's their kind of responsibility for us. It's a matter of life and death. We cannot, you know, comply only with reports. And the reports sit on some shelf somewhere and and there's a lot of dust which is piling up on these reports for us, we needed action. So based on this very accurate intelligence, and some of this intelligence that has been accumulated for many, many years, you can see in the attack in Iran, you can see the very accurate attacks, the pinpointed strikes, which actually are directed at specific terrorists and not causing damage to uninvolved civilians, just To the locals. Yeah, Manya Brachear Pashman And how do you evaluate the Trump administration's response so far, given the diplomatic efforts underway? Well, Avital Leibovich I think that he is using the attacks to leverage and put pressure on Iran to resume the negotiation table in a few days. And as you know, there were six rounds of talks, and the best of my knowledge, there were huge gaps between the two sides, the American side and the Iranian side. I'm not sure these gaps can be bridged. We heard over and over again, President Trump say that Iran will never be able to enrich uranium. And then we heard Iranian leaders like Hamina say, this is the basic right of the Iranian people to enrich uranium. So I'm not sure how you can get you can bridge such a deep gap overall, I think that the President. Uh, has been congratulating Israel on its excellent attacks until now. But again, we are in the beginning. We're in the beginning phase of the attacks, although they're spread all over Iran. This is still the first day. We need to keep this in mind. Manya Brachear Pashman  The targets included more than nuclear sites. It included ballistic missile sites as well, and we're receiving word that Iran has fired ballistic missiles toward Israel as we speak, they fired ballistic missiles on Israel in April. If this counterattack continues, do you expect the United States to step in to defend Israel, and do you expect some of your neighbors to step in and help as well as they did in April the United Arab Emirates or Bahrain Avital Leibovich So as for the neighbors, I think that if their aerial space will be violated and breached by Iran, then of course, they have the right, like any other country, they're sovereign, to protect their own airspace. First of all, they will be protecting themselves and their people, not Israel, as for the US. This really depends on what Iran chooses to do next. The retaliation that Iran had practiced until now was launching 100 plus drones, explosive drones, to Israel. Almost all of these drones have been intercepted. This happened in the morning today. Now if Iran will decide that the ballistic missiles or the cruise missiles that it will launch here, will attack not only Israel, but also US bases across the region. Then here, there's a question, how will the US respond? Will the US retaliate as well? If that would happen, we could have even a more significant strike together the US and Israel. Manya Brachear Pashman  These attacks killed two lead scientists, IRGC commanders, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leaders. Is there a long-term goal of prompting a regime change? Avital Leibovich  So first of all, there are few types of targets in Iran, and you mentioned some of them. Physics and nuclear scientists are, of course, a critical human resource to the Iranian regime, as they rely on their long term knowledge and expertise on producing the bomb as soon as possible, as quick as possible, and by eliminating them in a way, you are removing the immediate threat. Other options are economic options. For example, really Iran relies on oil and buys it from China and maybe other countries as well. So obviously, Israel could decide to target its oil reserves, and this will be, of course, a significant economic blow. The third option is to target the government, leadership, politicians. Now, Israel, up to this moment, did not choose an economic target or a political target, but this may change in the future. The military targets, of course, are the most immediate targets that Israel is attacking, and the idea is to eliminate the immediate threat on Israel for the long range? Well, in the Middle East, in this part of the world, unfortunately, long range is something we can only put as a vision which is not bad. I'm happy to dream. I'm dreaming often Iran, which is similar to the Iran we knew before 1979 before the revolution, a moderate country, a human, loving country with values that I can share and adopt just the same. I'm looking at a different Middle East, maybe in a few years, with an expansion of the Abraham Accords, and creating an axis of moderate countries and other Shiite countries. So all of these changes that we're witnessing right now in the region and may still witness in the future, may all have an impact also on the long range outcome of the current war, which is unprecedented. Manya Brachear Pashman   I know Israel calls this a preemptive attack, but what do you say to countries who have already expressed concern about what they call an unprovoked attack? Avital Leibovich Well, I think it's enough for them just to look at the many kind of materials, which Israel and the Israeli. Army released today, showing what they have done, what Iran has done on its own soil. Now, when you follow the targets we just spoke about, you can see that these are not civilian targets. In other words, Israel is not attacking a school or a building just in the middle of Tehran for nothing. It's attacking deliberate military related sites. Actually, I think that, if I'm daring to dream again, I think that the people of Israel and the people of Iran have a lot in common. They're both people with deep heritage, with beautiful cultures. So I do envision one day a different regime in Iran, such a regime that could really bring the two countries together, opening a new page. And I think it will do a better Middle East here for all of us. Manya Brachear Pashman  We have talked about how Hamas embeds itself among the Palestinian civilians in Gaza. So no matter how precise Israel's attacks are, civilians are killed. Does Iran do the same thing? Or, I should say, does the Iranian regime do the same thing in Iran? Avital Leibovich  Obviously, Iran is not a democracy, and there is a similarity here with Hamas. We are talking about almost a fanaticist religious kind of aspect, which is also very similar to Hamas. Actually, Hamas and Iran have been connected for decades, for many, many decades, so they do share a lot of similarities. But unfortunately, the freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom of of culture, is not something which is of an ordinary situation in Iran. It's very unfortunate. You know, I'm sometimes following the social media in Iran, and I see how people speak about the regime. I see how they curse the regime. I see how they aspire for better lives. I see them organize parties in basements and so so the regime will not find out. I see them the women wearing jeans underneath hijabs long dresses, trying to conceal them for God forbid, so they would not be considered as not modest. So it's very unfortunate that the public is suffering in Iran, and we see that, not only in the general atmosphere, but also we see it with the standards of life, they have only electricity a couple of days of couple of hours a day. Water is scarce. The the prices of food, they are huge. Take, for example, today, one American dollar, it equals almost 1 million rials. For comparison, $1 equals three point 60 Israeli shekels. So yeah, they're suffering from many, many perspectives. Manya Brachear Pashman  Thank you so much for joining us stay safe.  Avital Leibovich   Thank you, Manya, and I'll just thank everybody for their support. I'm Israel. If Manya Brachear Pashman  you missed last week's episode, be sure to tune in for a special crossover episode between people of the pod and Books and Beyond, the podcast of the Rabbi Sacks legacy, Dr Tanya white, host of Books and Beyond, and Joanna benaroche, global, Chief Executive of the legacy, sit down with my colleague, Maggie wishegrad Fredman to discuss how the wisdom and perspective of the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks still endures today.  

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NEWS WEAKLY 163 – 14th June, 2025This week on News Weakly, it's bombs, bullets, and broadcast farewells as Israel goes full Mission: Impossible in Tehran, Donald Trump liberates LA from the tyranny of democracy, and Australian TV finally kills the panel show—freeing up at least 40 vaguely progressive journalists to start Substacks.Top Stories of the Week:Everything is fine in the Middle East! Israel totally didn't just bomb another country! Why are you even worried?Also, America invades LA!And, Australian TV forces more journalists on the dole! Quote of the Week:“If your security plan requires bombing five countries before breakfast, you might not be the victim—you might be the geopolitical equivalent of a guy who's been through five messy breakups but insists all his exes were crazy.”Sami Shah is a multi-award-winning comedian, writer, journalist, and broadcaster.For more: http://thesamishah.comTheme music 'Historic Anticipation' by Paul MottramThis podcast is written, hosted, and produced by Sami Shah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Morgan, Martha, Les, and Jess discuss Israel's launch of Operation Rising Lion—a sweeping strike against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, long-range missile sites, air defenses, and senior IRGC leadership. As the U.S. pulled personnel from the region, raising questions about prior coordination, President Trump claimed he had warned Iran of the consequences of refusing a deal. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the U.S. was not involved, calling the Israeli strikes a unilateral action.With the situation still unfolding, is the region now on the brink of a broader war? What does this strike mean for U.S. influence in the Middle East—and for the safety of American personnel on the ground? And has diplomacy with Iran reached a final breaking point, or is there still time to pull back from escalation?Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows' discussion: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-embassy-iraq-preparing-ordered-evacuation-due-heightened-security-risks-2025-06-11/ https://time.com/7293392/us-embassy-iraq-iran/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/06/11/us-israel-iran-attack-fears/ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c629yk5z07vo Follow our experts on Twitter: @morganlroach @marthamillerdc@lestermunson @NotTVJessJonesLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ablr_IEmgz8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Frank Gaffney with the Secure Freedom Minute. Literally overnight, the Mideast was transformed. Israeli forces conducted air and missile attacks against Iran, having determined that its regime – which had long declared the intention to destroy Israel and had repeatedly tried to do so, both directly and through myriad proxies – was poised to “go nuclear.”  Most importantly, Israel's preemptive, defensive strikes destroyed not only key parts of Iran's vast nuclear weapons infrastructure, but the IRGC security apparatus that ran it and kept the mullahs in power. It's, of course, too early to declare a permanent victory. But we can say now: Praise the Lord!  Israel has validated, yet again, that she has not only the power but the will to crush her enemies, and ours. And so has been the Trump Doctrine, whereby America wants our allies to play such a role, and will help defend them when they do.   This is Frank Gaffney.

Israel strikes Iran, kills top army and IRGC chiefs 11 Palestinians killed as Israel readies occupied West Bank siege India plane crash kills 265, one survivor Egypt detains 200+ before Gaza solidarity march UNGA backs Gaza ceasefire, isolating US and Israel

Israel has launched unilateral overnight airstrikes in Iran, targeting key nuclear infrastructure and military sites as well as killing the head of the army and the leader of the IRGC. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed ‘extreme punishment' against Israel. Tehran has launched up to 100 drones towards Israel in retaliation. Oil spikes to its highest level in almost 5 months as investors rush to safe-haven stocks amid the volatility. World leaders have reacted with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urging calm while Riyadh slams the move as a violation of sovereignty and international law.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Send us a textBreaking news from the heart of the Middle East delivers a shocking revelation: Israel has successfully infiltrated Iran at the highest levels, systematically eliminating senior IRGC leadership in what appears to be just the first phase of a larger operation. Drawing from sources close to the Iranian situation, we're hearing reports that have not reached mainstream media - including the stunning claim that Hezbollah has surrendered to Israel and refused to join the conflict.The ripple effects within Iran itself tell an equally compelling story. Military defections, citizen uprisings, and even pro-Israel graffiti appearing on walls suggest the decades-long grip of the oppressive regime might finally be weakening. What we're witnessing isn't just geopolitical maneuvering but potentially a divine dismantling of strongholds that have persecuted Christians and oppressed millions since 1979.These events provide profound spiritual insights about authority and alignment with God's purposes. When we cut off the head of evil through prayer and fasting, its influence scatters - but this requires our active participation. Examining Psalm 73's wisdom about the seeming prosperity of the wicked reminds us that true clarity comes only as we enter God's presence. The prosperity that matters isn't measured by external circumstances but by inner spiritual alignment. As global events accelerate toward prophetic fulfillment, our greatest need isn't more information but deeper spiritual discernment. Stay focused on truth, keep your heart pure, and remember - the King is coming.Support the show

For review:1. Israel Strikes Iran.

What if your political beliefs on Brexit, climate change or even gender identity were being subtly shaped by a foreign power?   From hostile state actors exploiting social media to the legal grey zone between terrorism and subversion, Jonathan Hall KC, the UK's Independent Reviewer of Terrorism and State Threat Legislation joins Double Jeopardy to unpack the expanding world of national security, free speech and democratic accountability.   Exploring whether new powers are needed or if Britain is on the brink of overreach with current political events involving Russian and Iranian interference, the proposal to "proscribe" state intelligence agencies like the IRGC, and the balance between politics and law when it comes to protecting democracy.   Jonathan makes the case for stronger laws with built-in judicial independence, while Ken Macdonald KC and Tim Owen KC raise critical questions about political accountability, freedom of expression and whether expanding surveillance risks undermining the very values the UK claims to defend.   Expect thoughtful legal system insights and bold discussion on UK law and politics in an age of growing foreign state threats, homing in on the rising tension between human rights law and national security. --- Covering the critical intersections of law and politics in the UK with expert commentary on high-profile legal cases, political controversies, prisons and sentencing, human rights law, current political events and the shifting landscape of justice and democracy. With in-depth discussions and influential guests, Double Jeopardy is the podcast that uncovers the forces shaping Britain's legal and political future.   What happens when law and politics collide? How do politics shape the law - and when does the law push back? What happens when judicial independence is tested, human rights come under attack, or freedom of expression is challenged? And who really holds power in Britain's legal and political system?   Get answers to questions like these weekly on Wednesdays.   Double Jeopardy is presented by Ken Macdonald KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, and Tim Owen KC, as they break down the legal and political issues in Britain. From high-profile legal cases to the evolving state of British democracy, Double Jeopardy offers expert legal commentary on the most pressing topics in UK law, politics, and human rights.   Ken Macdonald KC served as Director of Public Prosecutions from 2003-2008, shaping modern prosecutorial policy and advocating for the rule of law. He is a former Warden of Wadham College, Oxford, a crossbench member of the House of Lords, and a leading writer, commentator and broadcaster on politics and the rule of law.   Tim Owen KC has been involved in many of the most significant public, criminal and human rights law cases over the past four decades.    Both bring unparalleled experience from the frontline of Britain's legal and political landscape.   If you like The Rest Is Politics, Talking Politics, Law Pod UK and Today in Focus, you'll love Double Jeopardy.

For review:1.  Updated Info on Strike that Targeted Hamas Leader.  The strike that targeted and possibly eliminated Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar in Gaza earlier this month was made possible when the terror chief made the rare mistake of moving without a defensive “hostage belt” protecting him, according to a Friday report. 2.  Israel will receive a “devastating and decisive response” if it attacks Iran, the IRGC said on Thursday as Tehran vowed to defend its nuclear sites, days after two separate reports suggested Israel was making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. 3.  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that Tehran's discussions with the United States over its nuclear program were “complicated,” as the fifth round of talks concluded in Rome.  Asked about the negotiations, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said “we believe that we are going to succeed” in the talks and in Washington's push for no enrichment. 4. Russia & Ukraine Swap 390 Prisoners; More Expected in Coming Days. Russia will be ready to hand Ukraine a draft document outlining conditions for a long-term peace agreement once a prisoner exchange is completed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. 5.  A former leading Ukrainian official has been shot dead outside an American school in the Spanish capital Madrid, authorities have confirmed. 6.  German defense firm Rheinmetall and India's Reliance Defence announced a “strategic partnership” on ammunition supplies today after officials from both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).  A future production base in the Watad Industrial Area of Ratnagiri, will become one of the largest in South Asia and hold the capacity to manufacture up to 200,000 artillery shells, 10,000 tons of explosives and 2,000 tons of propellants annually. 7.  General Atomics is in talks to sell Saudi Arabia up to 200 MQ-9 unmanned systems, according to a company spokesperson. The discussions are part of the $142 billion in defense deals announced by President Donald Trump during last week's visit to the Gulf Region.8. USAF Test Launches Minuteman III Missile. Air Force Global Strike Command launched the Minuteman III at 12:01 Pacific time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. It flew about 4,200 miles, at a speed of more than 15,000 miles per hour, to a test site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.  The missile was randomly selected and came from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.9. Article from Military.com: Summary of Transformative changes to the Army. 10. US Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar early this morning as it headed home following an eight-month deployment. The carrier is westbound in the Atlantic Ocean, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News Friday. 11. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will travel to the Shangri-La Dialogue, the largest defense conference in Asia, where he will deliver a speech on the Pentagon's approach to the region under the second Trump administration. The 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue event will take place in Singapore on 30 May–1 June. 

For review:1. Israeli Defense Minister (Israel Katz) warned Iran of consequences for sponsorship of Houthi Rebels. Defense Minster Katz: “I also warn the Iranian leadership that funds, arms and operates the Houthi terror organization… You are directly responsible. What we did to Hezbollah in Beirut, Hamas in Gaza, to Assad in Damascus and the Houthis in Yemen, will also be done to you in Tehran.”  2. IRGC General Threatens to "open the gates of hell" if US & Israel Attack Iran.IRCG Chief Hossein Salami: “I'm issuing a serious warning. If you make one wrong move, we will open up the gates of hell on you. Sit down and stay in your place…we have made extensive preparations.” 3. Russia's Victory Day Parade in Moscow.4.  French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hit out at leaders and others who attended Moscow's Victory Day parade on Friday.  Mr. Macron and Mr. Tusk were in the French city of Nancy to sign a bilateral treaty, aimed at reinforcing defense and security cooperation between the two countries.5.  Denmark will allocate €830 million ($935 million) to the Ukrainian defense industry in 2025 on behalf of the European Union, using windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to buy Ukraine-made weapons.  Last year's equipment purchases using the Danish model included howitzers, long-range drones, anti-tank and anti-ship missile systems. 6.  Israel and Greece Collaborate on Large Underwater Drone. The "BlueWhale" sails at 7 knots (13 kilometers/8 miles per hour), has a depth range of 300 meters (984 feet), and can support endurance operations for up to four weeks. Applications of the system include acoustic reconnaissance, special force support, and as a conventional submarine wingman. 7.  Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has received its first five OA-1K Skyraider II close air support prop planes.  The program of record covers a total requirement for 75 aircraft, with deliveries slated to run through 2029. However, it is currently only budgeted for 62 aircraft.

VOV1 - Tư lệnh Vệ binh Cách mạng Hồi giáo I-ran (IRGC) tối qua cảnh báo, bất kỳ cuộc tấn công nào của Mỹ hoặc Israel nhằm vào nước này, cũng sẽ dẫn đến những hậu quả cực kỳ thảm khốc.

This week on “The Quad,” host Emily Schrader (filling in for Fleur Hassan-Nahoum) is joined by an all-star panel: Shoshanna Keats-Jaskoll , Barbara Heller, and Daniel-Ryan Spaulding. Together, they break down the week's most urgent news and hottest debates.First up, new revelations show Hamas leaders asked the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for $500 million - shocking proof of Iran's direct terror funding network. The panel discusses Iran's destabilizing influence across the Middle East and the West, U.S. sanctions and the latest American actions against IRGC proxies like the Houthis.

Follow us on X: @FleurHassanN @americasrt1776 @ileaderssummit @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk Join America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio co-hosts Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy with Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Israel's Special Envoy for Trade and Innovation and former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem. Fleur co-founded the UAE-Israel Business Council and the Gulf Israel Women's Forum in 2020. Since September 2023, Fleur has been serving as Israel's special envoy for innovation. Fleur Hassan-Nahoum is the first woman to be appointed as Secretary General for Kol Israel, the ideological successor to the General Zionist Party in the World Zionist Congress. Fleur recently joined the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy as a senior fellow and sits on the international advisory council. americasrt.com (https://americasrt.com/) https://summitleadersusa.com/ | https://jerusalemleaderssummit.com/ America's Roundtable on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-roundtable/id1518878472 X: @FleurHassanN @americasrt1776 @ileaderssummit @NatashaSrdoc @JoelAnandUSA @supertalk America's Roundtable is co-hosted by Natasha Srdoc and Joel Anand Samy, co-founders of International Leaders Summit and the Jerusalem Leaders Summit. America's Roundtable (https://americasrt.com/) radio program - a strategic initiative of International Leaders Summit, focuses on America's economy, healthcare reform, rule of law, security and trade, and its strategic partnership with rule of law nations around the world. The radio program features high-ranking US administration officials, cabinet members, members of Congress, state government officials, distinguished diplomats, business and media leaders and influential thinkers from around the world. Tune into America's Roundtable Radio program from Washington, DC via live streaming on Saturday mornings via 65 radio stations at 7:30 A.M. (ET) on Lanser Broadcasting Corporation covering the Michigan and the Midwest market, and at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk Mississippi — SuperTalk.FM reaching listeners in every county within the State of Mississippi, and neighboring states in the South including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Listen to America's Roundtable on digital platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Google and other key online platforms. Listen live, Saturdays at 7:30 A.M. (CT) on SuperTalk | https://www.supertalk.fm

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:     We'll begin today with an update on the war in Ukraine, as the Kremlin pushes back on President Donald Trump's peace proposals, suggesting diplomatic talks between Moscow and Washington may have stalled. Later in the show, tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to heat up, as the IRGC reportedly mulls strikes against a critical U.S. military outpost in response to President Trump's threats to bomb their nuclear sites. Plus, China launches a major military drill off Taiwan's coast and calls their president a "parasite" in the CCP's latest escalation. In our 'Back of the Brief—a tragic update out of Lithuania, where the bodies of four U.S. soldiers who were killed during a training exercise last week near the Belarusian border have been recovered. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.     YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report about to be released and the news about Bybit and the largest crypto hack in history, there is no better time than to discuss DPRK, sanctions evasion and the rise of crypto services used by illicit actors, including Huione Guarantee and Russian Instant Exchangers. In this episode, we feature our own national security and intelligence experts at Chainalysis, Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager) and Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence). The duo acknowledges the emerging networks and alliances among nations like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China and how blockchain technology is transforming sanctions enforcement, citing examples like Hamas and North Korea. The conversation also highlights Russia's legislative changes and cross-border transactions, while placing an important awareness of professionalization in the crypto crime ecosystem and the national security risks that the entire ecosystem faces. Minute-by-minute episode breakdown 2 | Sanctions and crypto and how to navigate geopolitical challenges 8 | Hamas and Al Qassam brigades use crypto donations for terrorist financing 11 | Emergence of Russian Instant Exchangers and Russian bank sanctions evasion 13 | Understanding “Secondary Sanctions” and how they apply to crypto  19 | Crypto networks and alliances forming amongst Russia, Iran, North Korea and China 23 | How Iran and Russia are using crypto to move conduct crypto cross border payments 27 | Southeast Asia and the surge of crypto crime and pig butchering schemes 29 | Exposing the Huione Guarantee service provider and why they are at the heart of the massive crypto crime ecosystem  Related resources Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key. Website: Chainalysis: Building Trust In Blockchains Report: The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report (Reserve Your Copy Today) Blog: Iranians Flock to Crypto Amidst Geopolitical Tension; International Sanctions Actions Disrupt Russia's War Machine Announcement: Chainalysis Integrates with Unichain Announcement: Welcoming Valentina Longo as Chief Financial Officer Blog: Russia's Cryptocurrency Pivot: Legislated Sanctions Evasion Blog: OFAC Highlights Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Cryptocurrency Transactions Related to IRGC-connected Houthi Financier Sa'id al-Jamal Report: The Chainalysis 2025 Crypto Crime Report (Reserve Your Copy Today) YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain Speakers on today's episode Eitan Danon *Host*  (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis) Andrew Fierman (Head of National Security Intelligence, Chainalysis) This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein. Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material. Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material.  Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chainalysis. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Chainalysis employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the views of the company.  

Producers Ali Golbaharan and Max Ashen are in post-production for their feature film, "Papa Sierra The Anthology” directed by Arash Sajadi.   The movie is centered around the tragic crash of Ukrainian flight PS752 on January 8, 2020.  "Papa Sierra” focuses on the painful chapter in the relationship between Canada and Iran.  The film takes us through the journey of three women whose lives are forever changed by the international incident.  "Papa Sierra” features actors, Rebecca Lamarche, Krystina Bojanowski, Shervin Esfandyari, Ali Golbaharan, Oksana Andrulis and child actress Antonina Battrick.  The crash of flight PS752 was intentionally carried out by missiles from the terrorist organization IRGC.  176+ people including a pregnant woman lost their lives, most were Canadian citizens of Iranian descent.  Headlines come and go, but for the families personally affected it becomes a part of their family legacy.   "Papa Sierra” tells their story.  "Papa Sierra” is inspired by three women. A Canadian, a Ukrainian and an Iranian, all who's families are affected by this tragedy.  Each of the women experiences their own compelling narrative. Each uniquely different but now share a pain that is one.   The women deal with profound pain and psychological impacts.  The film passionately explores loss, separation, love and sacrifice.  "Papa Sierra” explores the heartbreak and disbelief through the women as reality sets in.  With loss comes pain and the journey to hold on to what was our life.  Grief can be all consuming, this we know.  "Papa Sierra” shares how three very different women deal with their grief in this ripped from the headlines incident while trying to repair their lives …. and their hearts.   "Papa Sierra” was created collaboratively by Iranian émigrés in cinema and Canadian filmmakers, who worked together with a unique passion and motivation.    Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)

Send us a textIn this episode of State of the Nation, Phillip Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, tells us about the challenges facing the British Jewish community in the aftermath of October 7th. At just 38 years old, Rosenberg is the youngest leader in the organization's history and brings fresh perspectives to a community navigating a surge in antisemitism and political extremism in the UK.The conversation explores the rise of hate crimes, the role of interfaith alliances with British Muslims, and the fight to preserve Jewish identity amid mounting pressures. They delve into the geopolitical ramifications of Hamas's attack, UK-Israel relations, and the broader implications for British society. Rosenberg also shares his optimistic vision for combating extremism and building bridges across communities.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, Trump's incoming administration, and BRICS' exploration of de-dollarization, have compounded into what might be a pivotal year for alternative payments systems and geopolitics. In this episode, host, Eitan Danon (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis) sits down with Tom Keatinge, Director of the Center for Finance and Security (CFS) at RUSI to discuss the intersection of digital assets and geopolitics Tom shares his journey into crypto, highlighting a 2011 Bitcoin meetup in crypto OGs and explains RUSI's history and its focus on financial crime and state-based threats, emphasizing the role of alternative payment systems in geopolitical competition, particularly in the context of sanctions evasion. He highlights  the increasing state-based activity in financial crime and the strategic importance of the global payment system, including the weaponization of SWIFT, the development of CBDCs and the potential impact of the incoming Trump administration on international financial relations. Minute-by-minute episode breakdown 2 | Tom's early journey into crypto in 2012 as an academic  4 | The origins of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the creation of the Centre for Finance and Security (CFS) 6 | The strategic role of alternative payment systems in global security 10 | Sanctions and the impact it has on Russia and international alternative payment systems  14 | BRICs and the realities of de-dollarization in global markets 18 | Global financial alliances and increase of western strategic challenges 23 | The future of digital currencies and global economic shifts 27 |  Global financial threats and strategic economic security challenges 31 | RUSI's focus for 2025 on sanctions, terrorist financing and Europe's economic challenges Related resources Check out more resources provided by Chainalysis that perfectly complement this episode of the Public Key. Website: RUSI: The world's oldest and the UK's leading defence and security think tank Article: The Other Bitcoin Boom: Crypto Mining in Russia's Shadow Territories Article: Central Bank Digital Currencies and National Security: Policy Considerations Blog: OFAC Highlights Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Cryptocurrency Transactions Related to IRGC-connected Houthi Financier Sa'id al-Jamal Blog: 2025 Crypto Crime Report Preview: $2.2 Billion Stolen from Crypto Platforms in 2024, but Hacked Volumes Stagnate Toward Year-End as DPRK Slows Activity Post-July Press Release: Welcoming Hexagate to Chainalysis and Investing in Prevention YouTube: Chainalysis YouTube page Twitter: Chainalysis Twitter: Building trust in blockchain Tik Tok: Building trust in #blockchains among people, businesses, and governments. Telegram: Chainalysis on Telegram Book: Paper Soldiers: How The Weaponization of the Dollar Changed the World Order - by Saleha Mohsin Speakers on today's episode Eitan Danon * Host * (Content Marketing Manager, Chainalysis)  Tom Keatinge (Director, Centre for Finance & Security (CFS) at RUSI) This website may contain links to third-party sites that are not under the control of Chainalysis, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively “Chainalysis”). Access to such information does not imply association with, endorsement of, approval of, or recommendation by Chainalysis of the site or its operators, and Chainalysis is not responsible for the products, services, or other content hosted therein. Our podcasts are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to provide legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. Listeners should consult their own advisors before making these types of decisions. Chainalysis has no responsibility or liability for any decision made or any other acts or omissions in connection with your use of this material. Chainalysis does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, suitability or validity of the information in any particular podcast and will not be responsible for any claim attributable to errors, omissions, or other inaccuracies of any part of such material.  Unless stated otherwise, reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Chainalysis. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by Chainalysis employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the views of the company.   

I have observed people engaging in conflict outside the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, California. A film was screened at this museum about Hamas, shedding light on the group's genocidal ideology and their recent attack on Israel. I have been contemplating the spiritual significance of these times and how Satan aims to portray God as a liar. We discuss this and those individuals who are contributing to Satan's agenda. There is a temptation to say that things are getting worse. Maybe? But, God's plan is still unfolding. We delve into a poignant moment where the truth is revealed as a man fights to prevent children from being mutilated by the sexual Left.What does God's Word say?The Supernatural Fruit of Abiding in ChristHow to Put On the Armor of God | Devotional by Tony EvansFights erupt outside Museum of Tolerance after screening of film on Hamas“Hey nbd, just a black-clad mob beating Jews outside the Holocaust Museum on the eve the anniversary of Kristallnacht.”The Supernatural Fruit of Abiding in ChristRep. Omar: "Rashida will stand strong and the Palestinian movement will continue for liberationKarine Jean-Pierre on antisemitic protesters tearing down Israel hostage posters around the country:"I've sorta kinda seen the reporting ... I'm just not going to go into specifics on that particular thing"Photographers Without Borders: AP & Reuters Pictures of Hamas Atrocities Raise Ethical Questions; On October 7, Hamas terrorists were not the only ones who documented the war crimes they had committed during their deadly rampage across southern Israel. Some of their atrocities were captured by Gaza-based photojournalists working…Today at @Concordia in Montréal Jewish and Israeli students set up a table to call for the release of hostages currently held by HAMAS.They were attacked, berated and harassed, and this lovely young lady in particular decided to call a Jew a k*ke. Welcome to Canada in 2023.This is what happens when you get all of your knowledge on the Middle East from Tik Tok and Reddit conspiracy groups. Ignorance is not always bliss. It's sometimes extremely dangerous. That moment when "Pro-Palestine" protesters realize their ideologies are completely incompatible. Secular Leftist: "He's trying to tell children that they're not allowed to be trans." Muslims: "Yeah they're not. In our religion you can't do that." JD Vance: “For 30 years Washington DC has run on bipartisan foreign policy wisdom and it has run this country to the ground. War after war after war that has killed thousands of Americans and has not led to the strategic strength of this country.”Two U.S. F-15's carried out an airstrike on an IRGC affiliated facility in Syria, responding to 42 attacks on U.S. bases since Oct 17. The target was a weapons storage facility. Defense Secretary Austin said the U.S. military will take further action if attacks continueWisdom Nutrition https://trywisdomnow.com/toddStock up on Wisdom for 33% off plus free shipping. Visit trywisdomnow.com/todd.Alan's Soaps https://www.alansartisansoaps.comUse coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bonefrog https://bonefrogcoffee.com/toddMake Bonefrog Cold Brew at home!  Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark Capital Bulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com)Get a second opinion on the health of your retirement portfolio today.  Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review go to KnowYourRiskRadio.com today.My Pillow https://mypillow.com/toddUse promo code TODD to save big on the entire MyPillow classic Collection with the Standard starting at only $14.88.  Renue Healthcare https://renue.healthcare/toddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit renue.healthcare/Todd

#SYRIA: What of Hezbollah and the IRGC after Assad flight? David Daoud, Bill Roggio, FDD. 1910 Damascus 

Tomorrow, Republican Senators will determine who will lead them when the GOP becomes the majority party in January. The three contenders are Senators John Thune from South Dakota, John Cornyn from Texas, and Rick Scott from Florida. President-elect Trump has yet to reveal his preferred candidate, with many hoping he will keep from influencing this contest. Senator John Thune (R-SD) joins the Rundown to discuss his candidacy for Senate Majority Leader and what he thinks his party can accomplish after all its success in last week's election. Last week, federal prosecutors announced charges in a thwarted plot from the Iranian government to assassinate Donald Trump before Election Day. The IRGC is denying these charges; however, many in the intelligence community can confirm that Iran's targeting of the President-elect and those in his administration has been a problem since 2020. So how will President-elect Trump deal with Iran when he takes office? Former State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus explains the Iranian government's longstanding hostilities towards Trump and how a Trump White House would come down harder on Iran by enforcing sanctions. Plus, commentary by columnist David Marcus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GOOD EVENING: The show begins in the markets looking for the Trump Trade... 1927 NYSE Here are the key points from the CBS Eye on the World with John Batchelor program on October 22, 2024: First Hour: - 9-9:15 - Segment on "The Trump Trade" with Liz Peek from The Hill, discussing Fox News and Fox Business coverage. - 9:15-9:30 - Segment on Kamala Harris not explaining border issues, again with Liz Peek. - 9:30-9:45 - Segment on Moldova being in Russia's crosshairs, with Judy Dempsey of the Carnegie Endowment in Berlin. - 9:45-10:00 - Segment on Ukraine begging to join NATO, also with Judy Dempsey. Second Hour:  - 10-10:15 - "London Calling" segment blaming supply-siders for economic errors, with Joseph Sternberg of The Wall Street Journal. - 10:15-10:30 - "London Calling" segment on regulating dog walkers, again with Joseph Sternberg. - 10:30-10:45 - Segment on the situation in Gaza after Yahya Sinwar, with Jonathan Schanzer of FDD. - 10:45-11:00 - Segment on the search for the Pentagon document leaker, also with Jonathan Schanzer. Third Hour: - 11:00-11:15 - "New World Report" on the Netherlands' involvement with rogue Venezuela, with Evan Ellis of the U.S. Army War College. - 11:15-11:30 - "New World Report" on Tren de Aragua narco-terror links to Hezbollah and the IRGC, with Evan Ellis. - 11:30-11:45 - "New World Report" on Mexico City mayor Sheinbaum helping darken Havana, with Evan Ellis. - 11:45-12:00 - "New World Report" on Biden planning a trip to Manaus, Brazil in November, with Evan Ellis. Fourth Hour:  - 12:00-12:15 - "Nuclear Age 2.0" segment on blurred lines between strategic, tactical and counterforce nuclear weapons, with Gregory Copley. - 12:15-12:30 - Continuation of "Nuclear Age 2.0" segment. - 12:30-12:45 - Segment on China's struggles on its right flank, including Australia, with Gregory Copley. - 12:45-1:00 - "King Charles Report" on Canberra and Samoa, with Gregory Copley.

#NewWorldReport: Tren de Arigua narco terror transnational with connections to Hezbollah and IRGC.  Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis #NewWorldReportEllis 1924 Caracas

#IRAN: Moscow backs the Iran Army vs the Mullahs and the IRGC. Gregory Copley, Defense & Foreign Affairs 1923 PETROGRAD