Podcasts about Lebanese

Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus Marta. An experiment with "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon involves Israeli troop withdrawals and replacement by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. In Washington, 103 Democrats signed a resolution to deny aid to Israel, a move Hoenlein attributes to political intimidation rather than violations of law. Furthermore, a reported detention of Ro Khanna in a military zone was characterized as a "concocted" confrontation. (6)1968

David Daoud. Israel has begun a phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon, testing whether the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) can effectively disarm Hezbollah in "pilot zones." David Daoud expresses skepticism, noting Lebanon is already attempting to backtrack on its legal commitments and reverse agreed-upon sequences. Success depends on whether the U.S. will hold Lebanon's feet to the fire or permit Israel to retake territory if the LAF fails. (16)2012

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: Ukraine appears to have found a new pressure point inside Russia. We examine why Kyiv is now targeting Russia's largest commercial logistics companies—and how disrupting the country's supply network could become the next phase of the drone war. Yemen's Houthis are expanding the fight. We'll explain why the group's newly announced naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could threaten global shipping and energy markets. A U.S.-brokered plan enters a critical new phase in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops begin withdrawing from parts of the country and Lebanese forces move into areas long held by Israel. In today's Back of the Brief: Hamas has chosen a new leader. We introduce you to Khalil al-Hayya and examine what his leadership could mean for the future of the terrorist organization and the conflict with Israel. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Acre Gold: Turn your pocket change into physical 24-karat gold and enter to win a limited-edition Hot Wheels gold bar at https://GetAcreGold.com/PDB Wild Alaskan Company: Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/PDB  Poncho Outdoors: Gear up for summer with Poncho and grab $10 off plus free shipping at https://ponchooutdoors.com/PDB  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During a landmark visit by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the US, President Donald Trump vowed to help Lebanon "a lot" as the country sought Washington's backing for a fragile effort to disarm Hezbollah and forge a path to peace with Israel. Also on the programme: Ebola in the DRC spreading faster than any other outbreak according to health officials; and what is really to blame for Italy's obese children? (Photo: President Trump welcomes Lebanese President Joseph Aoun upon his arrival at the West Wing Portico of the White House in Washington, DC on July 21, 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. Israeli intelligence has reportedly assessed that Iran has moved thousands of nuclear centrifuges into a site in the Natanz area known as Pickaxe Mountain, burying them deep underground and making them harder to target in aerial strikes. We hear from Fabian about the IDF's current assessment of Iran's capabilities. Lebanese army troops began deploying in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh this morning after Israeli forces withdrew from the area, the Lebanese Armed Forces said in a statement, in line with a US-brokered plan for “pilot zones” in the south. We learn which areas are in the pilot program and the IDF's readiness to step back into the vacuum. Hezbollah launched over 400 rockets from the Beaufort Ridge toward northern Israel during the current round of fighting, mainly at the border community of Metula, according to the IDF. Fabian visited a massive warren inside the mountain that the terrorists carved out over more than a decade. We get a sense of the scope of the underground base. An analysis by Fabian has found that, despite the ceasefire, the IDF has in the past few months stepped up a large-scale retribution campaign with the avowed aim of hunting down and eliminating every single terrorist who took part in the October 7 massacre. Fabian unwinds the competing narratives surrounding these targeted killings. After the Knesset voted to extend the mandatory military service period for males to 32 months, the chief of the IDF’s Personnel Directorate said Friday that the move did not replace the army’s immediate need for more troops. Fabian explains why. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Iran says it’s in ‘full-scale war’ with US as mediators said to proffer 10-day truce Israeli intel said to show Iran has moved centrifuges to Natanz’s Pickaxe Mountain US indicates Lebanese army deploying to ‘pilot zones,’ including one IDF will withdraw from Beneath Beaufort’s strategic bulwark, a Hezbollah lair built to attack Israel is unearthed Israel steps up campaign to kill all 5,000 Oct. 7 terrorists; 1,200 were killed on the day, 1,500 so far since IDF says it killed terrorist who attacked Nova festival, abducted Inbar Haiman on Oct. 7 IDF manpower chief: Extension of service period doesn’t replace need for more troops Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of A Table in the Corner, I sit down with chef Clara Bubenzer, co-owner of The Lebanese Bakery, a certified halaal bakery and deli with branches in Claremont and Cape Town's East City. Clara trained in fine dining kitchens before finding her way into Middle Eastern food through a career that took her from Cairo to Jack Black Brewing Co., before an unexpected opportunity led her to the bakery.We talk about how the business evolved from a small bakery into a deli serving shawarmas, falafel, dips and Lebanese pantry staples, and how Covid unexpectedly accelerated that transformation. Clara explains the influence of Egyptian and Lebanese cooking on the menu, the importance of sourcing the right ingredients and why products like their pita breads and shawarmas have developed such a loyal following.We also discuss kitchen culture, leadership and hospitality. Clara reflects on rejecting the aggressive brigade system she experienced early in her career in favour of building a workplace based on respect, trust and positive reinforcement. It's a conversation about food, business and creating a neighbourhood bakery people return to week after week. www.rwm2012.comOn Instagram @a_table_inthecornerCover image sketched by Courtney Cara LawsonAll profile portraits by Russel Wasserfall unless otherwise creditedTitle music: 'In Time' by Olexy via Pixabay

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. US forces struck Iran for a ninth consecutive day on Monday as the number of confirmed American military deaths in the renewed fighting rose to three, and concerns grew over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which the Trump administration accused the Islamic Republic of seeking to control “as leverage against the world.” Yesterday, Israel launched interceptors after fragments from Iranian missiles fired at Jordan’s southern city of Aqaba potentially threatened the nearby city of Eilat. We discuss why the Iranians are trying to keep Israel out of the fray and why US President Donald Trump has not asked the Jewish state to join in the fight. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is in Washington, DC, this week in the first trip to the US capital by a Lebanese head of state since Michel Sleiman was received by Barack Obama in 2009. Aoun is slated to meet with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. We learn what is on the agenda and why Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not invited. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US strikes Iran for 9th night, confirms American servicemember killed in Iraq IDF fires interceptors over Eilat as Iranian missiles target nearby Aqaba in Jordan At meeting in DC, Rubio lauds Lebanon president’s ongoing push to disarm Hezbollah Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual film series ANA Contemporary Arab Cinema is back in New York, with screenings at BAM and the Jacob Burns Film Center. Hear a preview of the event from programmer and curator Lina Matta discusses the events. Plus, Lebanese writer and director, Cyril Aris talks about his film “A Sad and Beautiful World,” and what the series means to filmmakers like him. "A Sad and Beautiful World," is showing at BAM on July 23rd.  Cinematography by Joe Saade, image courtesy of the production Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah reignited in the days following Israel and the U.S. launching joint strikes on Iran earlier this year. In June, Israel and Lebanon reached a ceasefire agreement that Hezbollah ultimately rejected. This month, the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran effectively disintegrated, and there are fears that fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah will pick back up. The Lebanese president is expected to meet with Trump and other officials this week in Washington to reportedly talk about not only a stronger ceasefire, but Israel withdrawing troops from southern Lebanon. According to the UN, more than 3,500 people have been killed, thousands more have been injured, and approximately 1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon because of the conflict. President and CEO of Oxfam America Abby Maxman joined Brittany Lewis on "Forbes Newsroom" to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rising singer-songwriter ALANI delves into the making of her debut EP, Somewhere Between Saying It. The London-born singer-songwriter, whose French, Lebanese, and Brazilian roots inform her perspective, discusses overcoming writer's block, what she learned by appearing on  The Voice Kids UK, moving to New York to study at NYU's Gallatin School, and why the new EP unfolds like a diary.

These are the top headlines on Sunday 19th of July from Arab News, the Middle East's leading English-language daily, at 6am GMT. - US military launches new airstrikes to punish Iran for deaths of US troops - Iran's Supreme Leader warns of ‘unforgettable lessons' if US continues strikes - Kuwait reports injuries and damage to power and water plants after Iranian attack - GCC chief condemns Iranian attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan as ‘war crimes' - Lebanese soldier killed as army vehicle hits explosive in south Lebanon Check out the latest updates on https://arabnews.com

Dr. Natalie Khazaal is Associate Professor in the School of Modern Languages at Georgia Tech, where she directs the Arabic and Middle East & North Africa programs. Her work spans teaching Arabic, exploring the lives of atheists and apostates in Arab and Muslim communities, nonhuman animal ethics, and the media's role in normalizing speciesism and racism. Natalie is the co-creator of the MARS test (Media Analysis of Racism and Speciesism), an evaluative framework—similar to the Bechdel and DuVernay tests—that measures racism and speciesism in media.She joins Sentientism episode 248 to talk about growing up in a secular household in Bulgaria, the "pretty lies" media tell to avoid uncomfortable truths (the subject of her book on Lebanese television during the civil war), and how her research on the MARS Test reveals overlapping patterns of racism and speciesism in mainstream media, including Oscar-winning animations.We explore her naturalistic approach to reality and happiness, her path to veganism as a purely ethical decision, and her argument that racism and speciesism are structurally linked through slaughterhouse labour, environmental racism, dehumanising rhetoric about migrants, and the historical use of animals as instruments of racial violence.We close by asking how storytelling and material change together might shift humanity toward a less oppressive, more sentience-inclusive, more reality-based worldview.Here's Natalie's work applying the MARS (Media Analysis of Racism and Speciesism) test to the animated and short film Oscars: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1483941/full and here's Fox News attacking that work: https://www.foxnews.com/media/professors-claim-disneys-lion-king-other-animated-films-promote-white-privilege-new-study.Follow and read Natalie:- https://modlangs.gatech.edu/people/person/natalie-khazaal- https://modlangs.gatech.edu/featured-people/natalie-khazaal- "Nonbelievers, Apostates and Atheists in the Muslim World" (ed) https://uk.bookshop.org/a/15422/9781032484785- "Pretty Liar: Television, Language and Gender in Wartime Lebanon" https://uk.bookshop.org/a/15422/978081565451300:00 Clips01:00 Welcome03:03 Natalie's Intro06:08 What's Real?38:18 What Matters?45:25 Who Matters?01:03:12 A Better World?01:14:06 Follow Natalie and Her WorkFull show notes will be at: https://sentientism.info/In Sentientist Conversations we talk about the most important questions: “what's real?”, “who matters?” and "how can we make a better world?"Sentientism answers those questions with "evidence, reason, & compassion for all sentient beings." The video of our conversation is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.More at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sentientism.info⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Join our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠"I'm a Sentientist" wall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ via⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ this simple form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Everyone, Sentientist or not, is welcome in our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠groups⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The biggest so far is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here on FaceBook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Come join us there!

In this episode we sat down with Mai El-Sadany, Executive Director of the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, to discuss the escalating crisis in Lebanon and its implications for civilian protection and international law. Drawing on her experience as a human rights lawyer, Mai examines the humanitarian consequences of repeated military escalation, the erosion of ceasefire agreements and the urgent need to center Lebanese voices in discussions about the country's future. The conversation also explores the relationship between accountability, reconstruction and long-term peace, as well as the broader consequences of the erosion of international legal norms. This episode was recorded on 23 June 2026 and does not reflect subsequent developments or the most recent casualty figures in Lebanon. his episode was recorded on 23 June 2026 and does not reflect subsequent developments or the most recent casualty figures in Lebanon. For more information see this article co-authored by Mai here: What Does the Trilateral Framework Mean for Lebanon? https://timep.org/2026/07/01/what-does-the-trilateral-framework-mean-for-lebanon/

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. The US House on Wednesday defeated a vote to end Israel aid. Still, with nearly 50% of Democrats backing the measure, Magid notes the significance of the measure and the vote, which he says sends the message that Israel will not have the bipartisan support it used to have if it continues its current policies toward the Palestinians. Magid reviews the recent visit of US lawmaker Ro Khanna to the West Bank, where he was briefly detained in a Palestinian village by Israeli settlers. Magid examines whether the incident was later amplified by Khanna or constitutes another case of settler violence. He touches on the venting JD Vance did during a recent podcast hosted by Joe Rogan, in which the US vice president expressed frustration over an Israeli social media campaign that criticizes the Iran deal. The latest round of Israel-Lebanon talks ended in Rome, and while the tone was positive, Magid tells us that it's unclear whether Israel will be withdrawing anytime soon from the two agreed-upon pilot zones in southern Lebanon. He opines that Israel's reluctance is probably tied to the upcoming elections and notes that the lack of progress is a sore spot for the Lebanese. The Board of Peace is progressing with plans for Gaza, with its own set of pilot zones, says Magid, but those plans are still theoretical for now. And he tells us that the Palestinian Authority has brought in an outside consultancy to vouch for progress in its reform of West Bank prisoner payments, in an attempt to prove that it is no longer incentivizing attacks on Israelis. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: US House defeats amendment to end Israel aid, but nearly 50% of Democrats back measure US lawmaker detained by settlers says lack of punishment shows Israeli complicity ‘Go to hell’: Vance lashes out at reported Israeli-backed online campaign smearing Iran MOU Lebanon talks in Rome wrap up without specific timeline for pledged IDF withdrawals Board of Peace plans launch of pilot Gaza housing project, but green light elusive PA says external audit proves payments incentivizing attacks on Israelis have ended Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: US bureau chief Jacob Magid appears on the Daily Briefing podcast with host Jessica Steinberg (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, the conflict between the US and Iran shows no sign of easing as they exchange another round of strikes. The latest American attacks targeted Iran's military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran launched strikes on US-linked sites in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. We also examine the growing effects of the escalation on global shipping as only a handful of vessels sail through the strait. UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh tells The National that diplomacy remains the best path to reopening one of the world's most important trade routes. We also look at efforts to reduce the region's reliance on the waterway, as the US backs plans to revive the Iraq-Syria oil pipeline and President Donald Trump signals major energy deals with Baghdad. In Rome, Lebanese and Israeli negotiators take part in US-backed talks aimed at implementing last month's ceasefire. Disagreements over "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon remain at the centre of discussions. And Abu Dhabi's 2PointZero strengthens its global energy ambitions with a $2.25 billion acquisition of a major US natural gas company, expanding its presence in one of the world's largest energy markets. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

SCHEDULE JBS, 7-13-26.1914 PALESTINESamuel Ben-Ur — Israel controls 70% of Gaza, creating a buffer zone while Hamas remains on the coast; 98% of the population resides on the Hamas-controlled side, where the group exploits humanitarian aid for revenue, and the Board of Peace proposes a "pilot zone" in Tel Sultan for non-Hamas civilians. (1)Samuel Ben-Ur — The Board of Peace remains underfunded, with only $23 million confirmed of the $17 billion pledged; Hamas rejected an eight-month disarmament plan, its leadership has largely relocated from Qatar to Turkey, and Netanyahu's political standing depends on his hardline refusal to cede Gaza territory. (2)Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang — Rose Gottemoeller suggests Vladimir Putin nearly used tactical nuclear weapons in 2022 to stop a military rout, allegedly dissuaded by private pressure from the U.S., China, and India; reports indicate China is now providing covert military training to Russian forces. (3)Mark Simon and Gordon Chang — China released Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri following a request from Donald Trump, showing Xi Jinping can make concessions without losing face; however, billionaire publisher Jimmy Lai remains imprisoned for political crimes, viewed by the Chinese government as a significant threat and a "one-man wrecking crew." (4)Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter — Guests pay tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, highlighting his role in the Abraham Accords and US-Israel relations; Israeli elections are set for October 27th, and regional tensions rise as the U.S. reimposes a naval blockade on Iran following renewed attacks on Gulf neighbors. (5)Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddeus McCotter — Anti-Semitism is surging in the UK, leading to a £250 million government allocation for protection; Iran continues to act as an "octopus" of instability across the Middle East, and guests argue that dealing with Iran is the only way to achieve regional peace and allow the area to bloom. (6)David Daoud — Hezbollah fighters are integrated into southern Lebanese villages, making evacuation north of the Litani River unfeasible; while Lebanese law requires disarmament, the government lacks the will to confront Hezbollahdue to its significant social support, turning Lebanon into a hollowed-out, failed state. (7)David Daoud — Prime Minister Netanyahu uses theatrical tours of the border to project strength ahead of the October elections; he faces criticism for being unable to say "no" to President Trump, and ultimately the fate of Israeli military deployments in Lebanon and Gaza depends more on Washington than Jerusalem. (8)Bridget Toomey — Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa airport to prevent Iran from establishing direct flights to Houthi-controlled territory; the Houthis have vowed retaliation, potentially targeting Saudi oil infrastructure or airports with drones and missiles, though they have avoided attacking U.S. vessels to prevent renewed air campaigns. (9)John Hardie — President Trump signaled he will grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missile systems, though standing up production will take years; meanwhile, Germany is financing 50,000 AI-guided drones for Ukraine, which use terminal guidance to strike targets despite electronic warfare interference. (10)Edmund Fitton-Brown — The U.S. is reimposing a naval blockade on Iran after the collapse of the poorly drafted memorandum of understanding; Iran's economy is "choking to death" under these measures, and guests argue the U.S.must prioritize controlling the Strait of Hormuz through international cooperation and naval power. (11)Edmund Fitton-Brown — The truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis may be over following strikes on Sanaaairport, with retaliatory attacks potentially targeting major Saudi international airports and oil facilities; despite Iranianinfluence, the new Iraqi prime minister appears to be drifting toward the United States for security and stability. (12)Ahmad Sharawi — President Trump has agreed to review lifting Syria's state sponsor of terror designation to aid its economic recovery; however, the country remains unstable, with rampant ISIS activity and foreign leaders facing security risks in Damascus, while Turkey and Saudi Arabia position themselves to invest heavily in Syria. (13)Jonathan Schanzer — The naval blockade on Iran represents the "maximum pressure" campaign, effectively dropping Iranian oil exports to zero; this economic strangulation poses an existential threat to the regime, which struggles to pay its personnel, and recent direct missile exchanges suggest diplomatic understandings between the U.S. and Iran have collapsed. (14)Bob Zimmerman — China successfully recovered a reusable rocket stage, joining SpaceX and Blue Origin in the race for cheaper launches; on the ISS, a private company successfully manufactured human kidney and liver tissues, and SpaceX continues to break records, with boosters flying up to 36 times, significantly reducing satellite launch costs. (15)Bob Zimmerman — SETI has tightened protocols for announcing alien life to prevent "clickbait" claims lacking evidence, with scientists encouraged to be more transparent about mistakes and maintain anonymity during discoveries; future missions include deploying helicopters to Mars and launching the Habitable Worlds Observatory in the 2040s. (16)Corrections: Samuel Bener → Samuel Ben-Ur; Bill Girtz → Bill Gertz; Pastor Jyn / Ezra Jin Mingu → Ezra Jin Mingri; Jimmy Lie → Jimmy Lai; Thaddius McCotter → Thaddeus McCotter; Bridget Tumeh → Bridget Toomey; John Hardy → John Hardie.One question: the batch ended with "1-8" — I've numbered the full run (1)–(16), but if you wanted this split as tails (1)–(8) across paired segments, or only the first eight numbered, say the word and I'll renumber.

David Daoud — Hezbollah fighters are integrated into southern Lebanese villages, making evacuation north of the Litani River unfeasible; while Lebanese law requires disarmament, the government lacks the will to confront Hezbollahdue to its significant social support, turning Lebanon into a hollowed-out, failed state. (7)

Send us Fan MailIn this conversation, Ricardo Karam sits down with Lebanese actor and playwright Joe Kodeih in a dialogue that moves beyond theatre into the deeper terrain of identity, fragility, and what remains when life itself becomes an unpredictable stage.From his early beginnings in theatre, Joe reflects on the stage as both a mirror of society and a space of confrontation where language is pushed to its limits and silence often speaks as loudly as words.The conversation explores the delicate boundary between the actor and the human being, and how years of embodying characters can blur the line between performance and lived experience.Having carried Lebanese stories from Beirut to Paris and New York, he reflects on whether he was ultimately telling his own story, or the story of a country that never stops performing its own contradictions.The dialogue then turns toward a profound shift in his life, as illness enters the narrative and reshapes his relationship with control, presence, and meaning.In a profession built on precision, rhythm, and command of the body, Joe speaks about his battle with cancer, what it means when the body itself becomes uncertain, and strength is no longer defined by control but by acceptance.Ultimately, it becomes a reflection on the stripping away of roles, leaving only the human being behind and on what endures when all the scripts fall silent.Join Ricardo Karam and Joe Kodeih for a conversation on theatre, identity, and what it means to remain human when the stage disappears.في هذا اللقاء، يجلس ريكاردو كرم مع الممثل والكاتب المسرحي اللبناني جو قديح في حوارٍ يتجاوز الخشبة إلى مساحة أعمق تتعلق بالهوية، والهشاشة، ومعنى الإنسان حين تتحول الحياة نفسها إلى مسرح غير قابل للتوقع.من بداياته في المسرح، يتأمل جو كيف يمكن للخشبة أن تكون مرآةً للمجتمع ومساحةً للمواجهة، حيث تصل اللغة إلى حدودها القصوى، ويصبح للصمت حضورٌ لا يقل قوة عن الكلام.يناقش الحوار التداخل الدقيق بين الممثل والإنسان، وكيف يمكن لسنوات من تجسيد الشخصيات أن تخلق تداخلاً بين الأداء والحياة. وبين بيروت وباريس ونيويورك، يتساءل إن كان ما قدّمه هو رواية ذاته، أم رواية وطن لا يتوقف عن تمثيل تناقضاته.ثم ينتقل الحوار إلى تحوّلٍ عميق في حياته مع دخول المرض إلى النص، وما فرضه من إعادة تعريف لمعنى السيطرة والحضور والدلالة. في مهنة تقوم على التحكم بالجسد والإيقاع، يتحدث عن صراعه مع مرض السرطان، لحظة يصبح فيها الجسد نفسه خارج السيطرة، وتتحول القوة من الفعل إلى القبول.وفي النهاية، يتحول اللقاء إلى تأمل في الإنسان حين تُنزع عنه كل الأدوار، ولا يبقى إلا جوهره الحقيقي، وما يبقى بعد سقوط كل النصوص.انضموا إلى ريكاردو كرم وجو قديح في حوارٍ حول المسرح، والهوية، ومعنى أن تبقى إنساناً حين تسقط كل الأدوار.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, hostilities across the Gulf escalate again after Iranian missiles strike two UAE supertankers in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one sailor and injuring eight. The attacks follow a third consecutive night of US strikes on Iran, while President Donald Trump proposes a 20 per cent transit charge for vessels using the strait under US protection. We look at the wider impact on travel, as the UK updates its advice for visitors to the UAE, while airports across the Emirates continue operating with only limited disruption despite the latest military escalation. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia comes under renewed attack from Houthi rebels, with ballistic missiles intercepted after explosions at Sanaa International Airport, prompting UN calls to avoid a return to full-scale conflict. Lebanese and Israeli delegations are also due to meet in Rome for the latest round of US-backed negotiations, with the future of southern Lebanon and Israel's proposed withdrawal from pilot zones at the centre of discussions. And the European Union launches an €883.6 million ($1,000) recovery initiative for Gaza, bringing together 15 international partners to restore essential services and support reconstruction as the Palestinian Authority presses ahead with governance reforms. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans

In this episode I spoke with Lebanese comedian John Achkar who talked about Arabic comedy, reflection, connection, entrepreneurship and being part of something. "John Achkar: His Country is Collapsing..." at Edinburgh Fringe Instagram @johnachr YouTube @TheJohnAchkar www.johnachkar.com The Comedy Nerd Instagram @TheComedyNerd thecomedynerd.com Comedy in a Nutshell Instagram @ComedyInANutshell comedyinanutshell.podbean.com

The sermon explores the themes of Christian unity and the privilege of suffering by examining Paul's letter to the Philippian church. It highlights how believers must conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel, standing firm in one spirit while striving together for the faith. The message draws parallels between the ancient context of Philippi and the modern struggles of Christians in Lebanon, emphasizing that persecution is a divine gift that proves salvation and defeats adversaries. Through personal testimonies from Lebanese believers, the text illustrates how steadfast faith and mutual support sustain the church amidst intense opposition. Ultimately, the preacher calls for consistent boldness and love, urging the congregation to view hardship as an opportunity to magnify Christ.

For review:1. The US military is carrying out a new round of strikes on Iran, the third in recent days, in response to the Revolutionary Guards' announcement that it has attacked a vessel there and closed the waterway until further notice, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announces.2. US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had ordered the military to be prepared to launch major strikes against Iran if the Iranian government carries out or attempts an assassination of the president.3. A US military delegation met with Lebanon's army in Beirut to discuss the implementation of Israel's withdrawal fro6. m a “pilot zone” in occupied territory, a Lebanese military official told AFP on Saturday.4. Board of Peace officials have briefed reporters in recent days about their plans to establish a pilot humanitarian zone in the Rafah area of south Gaza.5. China could ​play a decisive role in pressuring Russia towards peace talks, helping end its war in ‌Ukraine, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said on Friday.6. Canada announced this week that it will purchase up to 12 attack boats from Germany following an intense bidding competition between Seoul and Berlin for the next-generation of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) submarines. 7. Germany will purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States and station them on German soil, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday.According to German government sources, Washington committed to granting approval in August for Germany to procure Tomahawk missiles and corresponding ground-based Typhon launchers.8. The Pentagon is planning to reroute roughly $4.3 billion from fiscal 2026 coffers in order to pay for “higher priority items,” including increased personnel and operational costs around the globe, the department told lawmakers in a new reprogramming notification. 

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. A few short weeks ago, US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran that was widely panned, especially in Israel. The bizarre agreement met none of the US or Israel war aims, extracted no concessions from Iran, and even gave it effective control over the fighting in Lebanon. Predictably, the MOU hasn't led to anything like peace. This week, Iran launched attacks on civilian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to US strikes, followed by Iran launching drones and rockets at Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan. Is the Trump MOU dead? If it's not, how should Israel ensure that its goals are met, even if returning to war in the short term is not possible? And what does this mean for Israel's fight against Iranian proxies on its borders? Dr. Eyal Hulata, a veteran of Israel's security services, served as National Security Adviser in the previous government under Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. As the figure who led Israel's inter-agency effort to confront the Iranian threat, Hulata is uniquely positioned to discuss Israel's long fight against the Islamic Republic. He said that Israelis should be proud of the effectiveness and accomplishments of the two air campaigns against Iran, which pushed back the Iranian nuclear program significantly. However, said Hulata, as long as the regime controls Iran, it will be almost impossible to solve the Iranian problem. Even though the US and Iran failed to topple the regime, Hulata stressed that the country is being led by new figures, and it is too early to say whether they will be more hardline than their predecessors. Regardless of the disappointing way the campaign ended, Hulata noted, what is important now is to look toward the next phase of the struggle against the Iranian threat. Iran's military and defense industry were badly degraded, but those achievements will be temporary if they are not followed up by ongoing pressure, sanctions, and intelligence operations. Israeli intelligence must remain intensely focused on Iran's nuclear sites, he said, in order to detect any attempts to return to nuclear enrichment. Israel will have to respond to such a development, Hulata emphasized. Ballistic missiles will continue to not only be a threat to Israel, but also to Iran's Arab neighbors. Israel must ensure that Iran's missile stockpile doesn't become too large for Israeli multi-layered air defenses, said Hulata. Any deal reached between Trump and Iran, even if that is unlikely, must not give Iran anything they don't have right now, said Hulata. Iran has not been able to enrich uranium for over a year, he noted, and should not be given permission to do so in an agreement. However, Iran will not make any concessions unless they are pressured into doing so, Hulata emphasized. "We shouldn't buy into this narrative that they have won in this military conflict," said Hulata. "They've suffered unprecedented amounts of of of damage, direct losses and indirect losses. The only way that they can recover from this is through the waivers that an American president will give them in exchange for a negotiated agreement." "This is why it is important that this negotiated agreement demands substantial outcomes," he continued. "Otherwise will be just kicking the can down the road and this will not be good in the long term." Turning to Lebanon, Hulata said the agreement signed with Beirut is the right approach, though Israel should not give anything up that compromises its security. The Lebanese government understands the Hezbollah threat, he said, but lacks capacity. In order for it to succeed, Beirut needs to commit to pushing back militarily against Hezbollah, with the firm backing of international partners. At the same time, Iran's financial support for Hezbollah must be cut off. On Syria, Hulata said that while Ahmed al-Sharaa is a jihadist, he shares the Israeli interest in reducing Iran's influence in Syria. At the same time, Turkish influence there is a serious problem, and Israel needs to keep a close eye on a growing threat from Ankara. Hulata said that while Israel could have done much more to break Hamas rule in Gaza, its best move now is to stick with Trump's 20-point plan, while bringing in partners like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. "Hamas is way weaker than it was before," Hulata said. "Hamas is disconnected from external lifelines of support. There is an ability to have a civilian rule in Gaza that would take power from Hamas and push it away." That would take creating safe civilian areas in the Israeli-controlled parts of Gaza in order to create new conditions in Gaza. Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht. Check out last week's Lazar Focus:See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the reason your restaurant isn't built to last is because you designed it to survive instead of dominate?Philippe Massoud opened ilili in November 2007, a 10,000 square foot Lebanese restaurant in New York City, nearly $7 million in debt, in the middle of a financial crisis, with critics questioning whether anyone wanted Lebanese fine dining at that scale. Nineteen years later, the restaurant is still breaking records.In this conversation, we get into why going smaller and safer is often the riskiest move an operator can make, how Philippe grew revenue 30% annually for five consecutive years after weathering the financial crisis, and why running a restaurant with two guests in mind changes everything.If you're building something real in a market that keeps getting harder, this episode is the one to hear.To learn more about ilili, visit ililirestaurants.com._________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

From hidden gems to global ambitions, we're serving up the best of Dubai's food scene. Zeena meets the chefs and founders redefining Mexican, Lebanese, Japanese and Filipino dining, while uncovering the stories behind the city's most-loved restaurants. Expect big flavours, bold ideas and plenty of recommendations to add to your must-visit list.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Women Emerging concludes its Journeys to Leadership series, this special re-release revisits one of the conversations that helped shape how we think about leadership.The episode brings together Rouba Mhassen, Erica Su, and Folawe Omikunle as they reflect on the moments that transformed how they understood themselves and the way they lead.Rouba shares how she did not recognise herself as someone leading until others named it, and how embracing that identity changed everything. Erica explores the importance of writing your own story, making decisions that are self-defining rather than self-limiting, and having the courage to say no. Folawe reflects on leading with love, building communities that lift one another up, and accepting that difficult conversations are part of the journey.Together, their stories explore confidence, responsibility, identity, relationships, courage, and the quiet moments that reshape how we see ourselves. The conversation reminds us that leadership is rarely a linear journey, and that the most significant turning points are often recognised only in hindsight.About the Guest:Rouba MhaissenRouba Mhaissen is an economist, activist, and development practitioner focused on the MENA region, particularly forced migration and the Syrian refugee crisis. She is the founder and director of the Sawa Foundation and Sawa for Development and Aid, organizations dedicated to working with Syrian refugees through an integrated development approach since 2011. Mhaissen has also worked with Lebanese, Iraqi, and Palestinian refugees and has been actively involved in lobbying for human rights, especially concerning Syrian refugees. Her expertise spans a range of issues, including education, gender, violence, conflict, household economics, forced migration, and activism.Erica SuErica is the EY Global Emerging Markets Leader for Strategy and Transactions, with 20 years of experience in cross-border M&A. She specializes in helping foreign companies expand in China and advising Chinese companies on international investments. Erica's expertise spans due diligence, M&A negotiation, financing, and post-merger integration. She has worked across industries like manufacturing, automobile, FMCG, and healthcare, focusing on enhancing value, competitiveness, and efficient resource allocation through M&A.Folawe OmikunleFolawe Omikunle is the CEO of Teach for Nigeria, where she leads efforts to address education inequity. She graduated with a bachelor's in international law and diplomacy from Babcock University and a master's from the Diplomatic Academy of London. Folawe's passion for education grew while working as a school administrator, particularly after helping an orphaned child. Influenced by Montessori's belief in every child's potential, she pursued further education in Montessori education. Folawe's work with Teach for Nigeria and the Association of Private Educators in Nigeria has focused on improving education for marginalized children and leading systemic change. She was recognized as one of the 100 most influential young Nigerians in 2017.

In today's episode of Trending Middle East, air raid sirens sound across Kuwait and Bahrain after the US renews strikes on Iran in response to attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices also climb as Washington restores sanctions on Iranian oil exports after the attacks in the waterway. We also report on the uncertainty surrounding the next round of negotiations between Israeli and Lebanese officials, after Israel announced talks in Rome that Lebanon says it has not yet been notified about. In the UAE, Abu Dhabi establishes a specialised court for human trafficking cases as part of wider efforts to strengthen legal protections for victims and to help tackle organised crime. Meanwhile, recruiters say the UAE jobs market is beginning to recover after weeks of geopolitical uncertainty, with employers expected to resume hiring more actively after the summer. Trending Middle East is AI-assisted, using original reporting published in The National and curated and edited by humans.

David Daoud. Daoud argues the Lebanese Armed Forces are unlikely to confront Hezbollah, potentially facilitating performative security checks. He stresses that Israel's primary objective in Lebanon is ensuring long-term security for its northern citizens. (7)1862 CRICKET MELBOURNE

In this episode, Dr. Khalil Diab sits down with physician and musician John Lebanon to explore growing up in Beirut, discovering music during Lebanon's power outages, balancing medicine with creativity, and the story behind his latest album, Kite Without a String. They discuss songwriting, Lebanese identity, independent music, live performance, and why success can simply mean creating something meaningful that connects with others. #JohnLebanon #KiteWithoutAString #LebaneseMusic #LebaneseArtists #PhysicianMusician #IndieMusic #Songwriting #MusicPodcast #LebaneseDiaspora #MiddleEastPhysiciansPodcast On YouTube @thelebanesephysicianspodcast and on all podcast apps

Trump and Netanyahu to meet this week or next week. Satellite photos show that Iran continues to work at nuclear facilities. Local leaders in Lebanese border area localities call on the government to provide promised tax benefits. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lebanon's Christian leaders are openly calling for Israeli annexation and Israeli citizenship. Following the fall of the Assad regime, Druze leaders in southern Syria made similar appeals. What does this reveal about Israel's role in the Middle East—and what should Israel do next?In this video, Avi Abelow explores why persecuted minorities are increasingly looking to Israel, not the United Nations, not Arab governments, and not the international community, for security, freedom, and hope.As Hezbollah tightens its grip on Lebanon and jihadist violence spreads in Syria, many Christian and Druze communities see Israel as the region's only stable democracy and the only country capable of protecting minority rights.Avi explains why these developments challenge the false narrative that Israel is an oppressor and instead highlight the Jewish state's unique role as a defender of freedom in the Middle East. He also examines whether Israel should apply sovereignty to strategic territories to protect both its own citizens and vulnerable minority populations.Could these unprecedented appeals signal a historic turning point for Israel? Are we witnessing the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, or simply the recognition of a geopolitical reality that much of the world refuses to acknowledge?Watch, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more analysis on Israel, the Middle East, biblical prophecy, geopolitics, and the future of the Jewish state.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/

Jen Ash is a Lebanese-French pop star. With a really interesting back story. She was born in Lebanon and raised in France. And listen to this - She was a professional basketball player for 14 years, and then she ditched that career for a career in music. She calls her music Afro fusion, mixing R&B, French Caribbean and Afro rhythms, together with her Lebanese roots. And she says she wants to be part of a rebellious era and raise her voice against injustice and conformity.   My featured song is “Redemption Road”, from the album PGS 7 by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link. —------------------------------------ The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries! Click here for Start Here Click here for All Episodes  Click here for Guest List  Click here for Guest Testimonials Click here for Pillars Click here for Robert's Project Grand Slam Click here to Subscribe  Click here to receive our Email Updates Click here to Rate and Review the podcast —---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH JEN:www.jenashmusic.com —---------------------------------------- ROBERT'S NEWEST RELEASE:“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Celo). Short, Sweet and Totally Different CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS —-------------------------------------- Audio production: Jimmy RavenscroftKymera FilmsConnect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comFollow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:Website - www.projectgrandslam.com    

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Lazar Focus. Each Friday, join host diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Israelis and many Americans -- not to mention Gulf Arabs -- were stunned by the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Trump administration and the Iranians last month. There was much to criticize in the MOU, but one of the most egregious elements was the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire deal. Although neither Israel nor the Lebanese government were signatories to a deal between Washington and Tehran, it specifically mandated a halt to Israel's campaign against Hezbollah, Iran's most powerful proxy. Then, last Friday, a reason for some hope. As a beaming US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looked on, the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington signed an agreement envisioning peace between the neighbors and the staged disarming of Hezbollah by the Lebanese army. Could this be the beginning of the end for Hezbollah, the tool of Iranian control of Lebanon? Can we expect a real peace deal that would see Israelis and Lebanese moving across the border? Or is this another half-baked Trump agreement that will lead nowhere, and will allow Israel's enemies to rebuild and keep their weapons? Hanin Ghaddar, a Shiite Lebanese scholar who grew up in southern Lebanon, says that even her community is sick of Hezbollah. The turn against the organization -- which claims to represent and protect the Shia -- began a decade ago, as they sided against anti-government protestors. With the country in a deep economic crisis and political stalemate, the organization dragged the country into war on October 8, 2023, in support of Hamas. The majority of Shiites in Lebanon, said Ghaddar, are done with Hezbollah. "The resistance is dead as a solution to everything," she posited. There's no belief in the resistance anymore. Hezbollah is still there with its arms, and people relate to it because of the factor of fear, not loyalty." Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into a war in support of Iran again this year. Lebanese citizens want Israel out, but see an agreement as the way to accomplish that goal. Ghaddar offered the possibility that the notoriously ineffective Lebanese military is actually more capable than Hezbollah after the Shiite militia was severely degraded by years of war with Israel. However, to disarm Hezbollah, she said, the Lebanese army must be willing to engage in armed conflict if necessary, with the backing of the US, Europe and Saudi Arabia. She made the point that while Israel's relationships with Arab countries are with their governments, the public continues to disdain the Jewish state. In Lebanon's case, the public wants an end to the conflict with Israel, while governments have been loath to act. "Lebanese are ready," she said. "Lebanese are definitely ready for peace." Lazar Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and video edited by Ari Schlacht.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SCHEDULE OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-30-261893 HMS INFLEXIBLEThe Sloppy Memo of Understanding and Iran's Control of the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer.Batchelor and Schanzer discuss a "sloppily" written Memo of Understanding that allows Iran to project control over the Strait of Hormuz. Schanzer notes that while shipping continues, markets remain anxious because Iran is effectively holding international energy hostage. He criticizes the international community's lack of response to this global threat. 1Indefinite IDF Deployments in the Levant and the Strengthening of Turkey. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Schanzer explains that the IDF will remain in Lebanon and Syria indefinitely to destroy Hezbollah's massive underground tunnel complexes. He notes that Marco Rubio negotiated a framework emphasizing Lebanese sovereignty. Additionally, Ambassador Tom Barrack is reportedly pressuring Israel while seeking to empower Turkey as Iran's regional influence weakens. 2Volkswagen Layoffs and the Debate Over German Military Conscription. Guest: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus McCotter. Judy Dempsey reports on the crisis at Volkswagen, where 100,000 workers face layoffs due to the global shift toward electric vehicles and Chinese competition. These layoffs will ripple through Germany's network of small suppliers. Thaddeus McCotter and Dempsey discuss how these economic shifts compare to the American auto industry's transformation. 3The Ankara NATO Summit and Ukraine's Offensive Against Russia. Guest: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus McCotter. Dempsey and McCotter preview the NATO summit in Ankara, which Donald Trump may attend to reward President Erdoğan with fighter jets. The conversation highlights Ukraine's successful drone strikes on Russian refineries and resupply lines. Putin faces pressure from both domestic hawks and a population suffering under war-induced rationing. 4The Escalating Persecution of Christians Within the Islamic Republic of Iran. Guest: Mariam Wahba. Mariam Wahba describes how the Iranian regime is using current regional tensions as a pretext to clamp down on domestic Christians. The regime specifically targets converts, labeling them as "Zionist" mercenaries and national security threats. Imprisonment of Christians has surged sixfold as the regime seeks scapegoats for its international military setbacks. 5Iranian Drones and the Proxy War in the Sudan Conflict. Guest: Mariam Wahba. Wahba reports that Iranian drones are fueling a stalemate in Sudan's brutal civil war. Iran sells these weapons for revenue and to gain potential port access on the Red Sea near the Houthis. Egypt is intervening to prevent Islamist victories on its border, while the conflict devolves into a multi-power proxy war. 6Critiquing the 14-Point Memo of Understanding and Operation Epic Fury. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Peter Berkowitz analyzes the 14-point Memo of Understanding, contrasting Secretary Marco Rubio's "peace through strength" approach with Vice President JD Vance's "restraint." He argues "Operation Epic Fury" failed because it did not secure the Strait of Hormuz before the ceasefire. Berkowitz notes that the administration's goals for the Iranian people became confused during operations. 7Diplomatic Failures and the Unsuccessful Campaign to Quell Iran. Guest: Peter Berkowitz. Berkowitz criticizes the administration for failing to prepare the American public for the Iranian conflict through major policy speeches. He highlights a split between Vance's negotiations with Iran and Rubio's Israel-Lebanon framework. Finally, he compares the current MOU to failed Gaza deals, suggesting the IRGC will never abandon its core mission of war. 8The UK's Changing Guard: Andy Burnham and the Defense Budget Black Hole. Guest: Gregory Copley. Gregory Copley discusses the rise of Andy Burnham in Britain following Keir Starmer's "complete detachment" from the electorate. Burnham must address a massive 45-million-pound black hole in the defense budget. The discussion also covers the intractable problem of illegal immigration across the English Channel and the lack of cooperation from France. 9Chilly Conflicts and Fractured Leadership in the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley describes the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz as a "chilly conflict" where Iranian leadership remains fractured and indecisive. While supertankers sail through, both the US and Iran are using the ceasefire to rebuild their depleted arsenals. Copley notes that the IRGC is increasingly taking power away from Iran's clerical leadership. 10Global Defense Shifts in a Multipolar World and the End of Intervention. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley examines the shift toward a multipolar world as countries like Canada and Turkey reduce their dependency on US weapon systems. This "reversion to sovereignty" allows middle powers to play a more independent role. Copley observes that the US is stepping back from its role as the "cop on the beat" except in existential matters. 11King Charles III and the Revitalization of the Royal Navy. Guest: Gregory Copley. Copley highlights King Charles III's personal connection to the Royal Navy and his efforts to revitalize the service. Despite budget constraints, the UK is building new capital ships and submarines to maintain maritime power. The King's involvement is seen as crucial for maintaining military morale and national defense during periods of governmental incompetence. 12Disparate Impact, Merit-Based Admissions, and Federal Contracting Reforms. Guest: Michael Toth. Michael Toth discusses the historical use of "disparate impact" as a mechanism for discrimination in university admissions. He details the current administration's efforts to root out racial preferences in federal contracting. Toth argues for a return to merit-based standards to restore the principle of equal justice. 13The Mystery of Third-Party Litigation Finance and its Taxation. Guest: Michael Toth. Toth explains the emergence of third-party litigation finance, where external financial institutions fund tort cases against American companies. He notes this practice is uniquely American and creates a new market for legal conflict. Toth recommends that the Treasurytax these business gains at ordinary income rates rather than treating them as capital gains. 14Domestic Politics, Midterm Perils, and the SAVE Act. Guest: Thaddeus McCotter. Thaddeus McCotter analyzes the upcoming midterms, noting that Democrats have reframed "inflation" as "affordability" to distance themselves from economic policies. He discusses the internal "civil wars" within both parties, including the rise of Democratic Socialists and divisions within the MAGA movement. The "SAVE Act" is highlighted as the president's primary political solution. 15Affordability, Energy Prices, and the Short-Term Gains of Midterm Politics. Guest: Thaddeus McCotter. McCotter observes that all foreign policy eventually becomes domestic, especially through the lens of energy costs. He warns that the administration might prioritize short-term gas price relief over long-term strategic interests in the Middle East. Consequently, providing sanctions relief to Iran could allow the regime to continue funding global terrorism and its nuclear program. 16

Indefinite IDF Deployments in the Levant and the Strengthening of Turkey. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Schanzer explains that the IDF will remain in Lebanon and Syria indefinitely to destroy Hezbollah's massive underground tunnel complexes. He notes that Marco Rubio negotiated a framework emphasizing Lebanese sovereignty. Additionally, Ambassador Tom Barrack is reportedly pressuring Israel while seeking to empower Turkey as Iran's regional influence weakens. 2

Israel keeps bombing tent cities full of already-displaced Lebanese civilians with nowhere left to run and flight logs for aircraft N102DZ — the Gulfstream previously owned by Charlie Kirk and now controlled by Erika Kirk — have been completely erased from Flight Radar. I sat down with Jeff Berwick and shared how the Tesla machine instantly wiped out my decades-old shoulder injury at Anarchapulco, giving me my life and energy back in one session. Hear the unbelievable healing stories of cancer vanishing, Bell's palsy gone, and chronic pain destroyed — get yours at TZLA.club.

Aaron Maté : Trump and Lebanese LiberationSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

David Daoud and Bill Roggio analyze "pilot zones" as a mechanism to hold Lebanon's feet to the fire regarding Hezbollah's disarmament. Daoud warns that if the US prioritizes quiet with Iran, these zones could become pressure tactics against Israel rather than mechanisms for actual Lebanese performance. 8ř979 Iran

SCHEDULE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-29-2026.1950Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio discuss the fragile US-Iran ceasefire and a flawed memorandum concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Roggio argues the agreement effectively grants Iran control, while Haqqani notes GCC countries feel excluded and wary of de-escalation on Iranian terms. The US lacks a plan to force Iranian understanding of consequences. 1Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio examine regional dynamics, noting the Iranian system remains unchanged despite the Supreme Leader's death. Haqqani describes the US-Iran memorandum as a "damp squib" that ignores fundamental security issues. Roggio suggests Saudi Arabia feels "stuck" with the US but may reconsider its primary regional backing. 2Ernesto Araújo addresses the Venezuelan earthquake and the Maduro regime's inability to manage the crisis, calling leadership a "gangster gathering." He sees international aid as a chance for accountability and renewal. He also questions why the US hesitates to allow democratic leader María Machado to return home. 3Ernesto Araújo discusses recent democratic victories in Colombia and Peru, characterizing them as a rejection of organized crime and socialism. He criticizes media bias for framing these shifts as a "right-wing drift" while ignoring the deep-seated corruption of regional leaders like Lula da Silva. 4Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio analyze Iran's perceived "escalation dominance" in the Strait of Hormuz after the US lifted its naval blockade. Schanzer argues Iran uses the waterway as leverage to derail nuclear talks. Roggio critiques the US admission that there is no military solution to the waterway. 5Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio investigate reports of damaged historic sites in Iran, suggesting they are Iranian information operations. Schanzer explains that many sites were actually torched by protesters rejecting Islamism. He also notes the morality police are doubling down on control following recent ceasefire stunts. 6David Daoud explores the Israel-Lebanon security deal and the IDF's destruction of a major Hezbollah arsenal. Daoud explains the concept of "pilot zones" where the Lebanese Armed Forces must perform demonstrably before territorial expansion. He notes Hezbollah wants a pragmatic end to pain but rejects normalization. 7David Daoud and Bill Roggio analyze "pilot zones" as a mechanism to hold Lebanon's feet to the fire regarding Hezbollah's disarmament. Daoud warns that if the US prioritizes quiet with Iran, these zones could become pressure tactics against Israel rather than mechanisms for actual Lebanese performance. 8Richard Epstein critiques the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision allowing the President to fire independent commission heads. Epstein argues this undermines the separation of powers between prosecution and adjudication. He warns that "presidential accountability" is an illusion in such a unitary power structure. 9John Hardie and Bill Roggio report on Russian fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on refineries. Hardie notes this crisis breaks Putin's "social contract" of stability for passivity. Despite economic trouble, Putin maintains maximalist war demands due to inflated military reports from his general staff. 10Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques the UN's "toxic obsession" with Israel and its lack of evidence regarding genocide claims. Fitton-Brown highlights how China and Russia manipulate the UN system to avoid scrutiny. He notes Israel is uniquely targeted by permanent commissions while worse regimes go free. 11Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio discuss the instability of the Iran MOU and the upcoming Doha talks. He contrasts this with a balanced Israel-Lebanon framework that aims to marginalize Hezbollah. However, the MOU's vague language allows Iran to claim legitimate control over the Strait of Hormuz. 12Henry Sokolski examines the stalemate over Iran's nuclear program following a previous B2 raid. Sokolski notes Iranrefuses IAEA inspections at damaged uranium enrichment sites. He warns of massive plutonium risks at the Bushehrplant and calls for public hearings on regional nuclear restraint. 13Ahmad Sharawi documents Hamas's presence in Turkey, where senior operatives enjoy sanctuary to plot attacks in the West Bank. Sharawi notes Turkey provides a permissive environment to weaken Israel's regional freedom. Hamas maintains leadership and financing networks despite being whittled down in Gaza. 14David Maxwell and Gordon Chang analyze North Korea's "salami slicing" strategy in the DMZ designed to normalize its activities. Maxwell warns Kim Jong-un seeks to divide the US-South Korea alliance. He urges a superior political warfare strategy to expose and strangulate North Korea's malign activities. 15Gordon Chang challenges China's manufacturing numbers as "science fiction" and the promotion of robotics to hide massive youth unemployment. Chang explains that Xi Jinping prioritizes manufacturing over consumption to keep the population dependent. He also warns of rising state-promoted xenophobia against foreigners. 16

David Daoud explores the Israel-Lebanon security deal and the IDF's destruction of a major Hezbollah arsenal. Daoud explains the concept of "pilot zones" where the Lebanese Armed Forces must perform demonstrably before territorial expansion. He notes Hezbollah wants a pragmatic end to pain but rejects normalization. 7v

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The U.S. and Iran are trading strikes once again, with Tehran now targeting American bases in the Gulf. We'll break down what's happening and what it reveals about the fragile ceasefire. Israel agrees to withdraw from two positions in southern Lebanon under a new U.S.-brokered framework agreement. But Hezbollah is already rejecting the deal as a surrender of Lebanese sovereignty. Plus, we'll have the latest on the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, where the death toll continues to climb as rescuers race against time to find survivors beneath the rubble. And in today's Back of the Brief, we'll tell you how Somali intelligence helped U.S. authorities arrest the alleged ringleader of a massive Minnesota fraud case after locating him in Mogadishu. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Goldbelly: Celebrate America's 250th with iconic foods delivered—get free shipping and 20% off your first order at https://GOLDBELLY.com with code PDB.  Lean: Get 20% off plus free rush shipping when you go to https://TAKELEAN.com and use code PDB  Wild Alaskan Company: Get $35 off your first box of wild-caught, sustainable seafood—delivered right to your door. Go to: https://www.wildalaskan.com/PDB  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

//The Wire//2300Z June 29, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: VEHICLE RAMMING ATTACK REPORTED IN LONDON. USA AND IRAN AGREE TO RESTART CEASEFIRE AFTER WEEKEND TARGETING EFFORTS. LEBANON INVASION CONTINUES. MASS SHOOTING REPORTED IN GERMANY. DISASTER AID TO VENEZUELA RAMPS UP AMID LOCAL TENSIONS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Persian Gulf: Over the weekend, the war continued as both Iran and the United States conducted mutual targeting efforts after the stock market closed on Friday. Several strikes were reported within Iran, along with the Iranian targeting of another merchant vessel on Saturday. Sunday morning, Qatar stated that a small merchant vessel was struck by an Iranian munition somewhere off their coastline, which resulted in one fatality. After these tit-for-tat targeting efforts, the U.S. and Iran have allegedly agreed that the ceasefire is back on.Lebanon: Following the signing of the agreement between the U.S./Israel and the Lebanese government, the IDF's invasion has continued within southern Lebanon. Lebanese citizens have continued fleeing the city of Nabatiyeh, with airstrikes being reported all along the eastern front over the past few days.United Kingdom: On Saturday a vehicle ramming attack was reported in London after a Somalian man rammed his vehicle into a crowd of people outside a row of shops on The Broadway. A total of five people were wounded during the attack, and the suspect has been identified as Timir Ahmed Mohamed. He has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder.Germany: This morning a mass shooting was reported in Stade, a small city in northern Germany west of Hamburg. At least one gunman conducted a small arms attack on Dankersstraße, in the residential sector of the town. A total of 5x people were killed during the attack, and the assailant was reportedly detained at the scene. In addition to the shooter, one other individual was also arrested at the scene. No further details have been provided, and the scene remains heavily locked down.Venezuela: Earthquake rescue and recovery efforts continue as the casualty count rises. Officially the death toll stands at over 1,719 confirmed fatalities, with tens of thousands of people either injured or displaced after their homes were destroyed. Several aftershocks with an estimated magnitude of M5.0 struck the disaster zone since the two main earthquakes devastated the region. This resulted in a few more building collapses, and has made rescue operations extremely dangerous for all involved.Analyst Comment: Concerning the American rescue efforts, U.S. Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 8, Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 365, and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit were on the ground immediately after the earthquakes, delivering aid and logistics as part of the American aid effort. The priority at the moment is the repair of Simón Bolívar Airport in Catia La Mar and Francisco De Miranda Airport in Caracas, both of which suffered significant damage which will need to be repaired for more heavy machinery and disaster aid to be flown in. -----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In Venezuela, local corruption complaints have also begun to manifest, which has complicated rescue and recovery efforts. Uniformed Bolivarian soldiers have allegedly been observed looting from collapsed buildings, and many local politicians and military leaders have also been accused of hindering recovery efforts so as to extract bribes.Corruption throughout South America is extremely engrained throughout all levels of governance and society, and as a result even the most devastating disasters ever seen also attract those seeking to capitalize on the chaos. This hits especially hard due to the sheer scale of the disaster, which has left many communities to fend for themselves. Disasters almost always bring out the very best and the very worst of society, and Venezuela was already struggling beforehand.These hardships have in turn lead to the population turning their anger toward government almost immediately after the dust settled, and the US operation to capture Maduro earlier this year has complicated the situation significantly. For instance, one of the government figures who is involved in disaster aid is Minister of the Interior Diosdado Cabello (Rondón), who has been observed allegedly hindering disaster aid. For context, Cabello is currently wanted by the United States, and has a $25 million bounty on his head, which is still active. Yet, American rescue agencies on the ground are being given the runaround by him and his staff.Even the Venezuelan politicians hand-picked by the White House to lead in Maduro's absence are having trouble. Delcy Rodríguez, the individual who became President after the United States captured Maduro, was not very popular even before the earthquakes and was simply the only leader that seemed like a feasible puppet for the United States to control in the wake of the Venezuelan conflict. Managing the current disaster would be a challenge for anyone, but in this case Rodríguez is new on the job and the government was already barely functioning due to the political infighting that always occurs when a dictator is suddenly removed from the equation. Rodríguez also showing up to talk to impoverished disaster victims while wearing luxury clothing that costs more than the average yearly salary for most Venezuelans did not do her any favors either. In the western world, this would be considered a political gaffe, or something that is generally in poor taste considering that the victims have lost everything they have. But in South America, this is the kind of misstep that usually results in more discontent than one might think. As a result, the situation is tenuous all around; political infighting, corruption, and power-plays are all on the table while tens of thousands of victims attempt to dig through the rubble, and try to figure out what to do next.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

In this episode, I unpack the Christian Zionist theme of Trump’s State Fair. I also share my perspective from growing up in Israel. I then discuss Elon Musk’s outrage over a Lebanese flag placed next to an American flag. I also cover updates with the U.S./Iran ceasefire.

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode. After Israel and Lebanon signed a deal that includes a partial IDF withdrawal from southern Lebanon, Fabian discusses the strikes against Hezbollah on Saturday and Israel's ability to continue acting against threats from the terrorist organization. For now, Israel will remain in the security zone it established in southern Lebanon, reports Fabian, withdrawing from only two trial areas as part of the agreement. Fabian notes that the deal's efficacy will depend on whether the Lebanese army will be able to exercise control over Hezbollah, which has already stated that it does not respect the deal. An IDF strike killed another Hamas terrorist, the nephew of the terrorist organization's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, reports Fabian, part of the ongoing Shin Bet effort to locate all Hamas members who took part in the bloody October 7, 2023 assault. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir utilized a televised cadet ceremony to make it clear that the army will not back down from a pilot program to bring women into the armored corps, says Fabian, given the need for more combat soldiers and the availability of women who want to serve in tank units. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: IDF says it struck terror operatives in south Lebanon, after framework deal announced PM: Iran, Hezbollah to have ‘no role in Lebanon’ under deal, Israel can maintain security zone IDF says strike killed Oct. 7 terrorist commander, nephew of ex-Hamas chief Haniyeh IDF chief says military needs ‘every male and female combat soldier’ Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Military correspondent Emanual Fabian joins host Jessica Steinberg for today's Daily Briefing (AP/ Mohammed Zaatari)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lebanese president says he will not accept any peace deal that does not include the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. The two sides met in Washington on Tuesday for a fifth round of talks. Hezbollah has accused Israel of violating the recently-agreed ceasefire claiming IDF soldiers opened fire on a group of civilians in Lebanon killing two people. Also in this podcast: A United Nations-backed commission accuses Israel of deliberately targeting and killing Palestinian children in what it calls a "genocide". Kim Jong Un announces that he's equipping North Korea's navy with nuclear weapons. People across western Europe brace for what's forecast to be the hottest day of the year. Researchers in Australia discover why some memories are more vivid than others. And we hear from the men being paid $50,000 to watch the World Cup. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun attends a press conference in February 2026 Credit: Reuters/Mohamed Azakir

────────────────────────────────────────[00:02:09]Trump Unilaterally Rewrites the MOU — Demands Iran Spend Frozen Funds Only on US Farm GoodsPoint 11 of the signed MOU says funds are released without conditions; Trump invented the escrow-for-American-corn clause after Kushner pressed him.────────────────────────────────────────[00:05:00]Senate Votes to Halt the Iran War — Resolution Has No Force of Law, White House Dismisses ItPassed 50-48; does not go to the president for signature or veto; four Republicans broke ranks including Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy.────────────────────────────────────────[00:10:18]Ben Gvir: All of Lebanon Must Be Our Playground — For Every Israeli Tear, a Thousand Lebanese Must WeepIsraeli finance minister refuses any restriction on Lebanese territory and demands it all burn; Netanyahu confirmed forces are not leaving.────────────────────────────────────────[00:46:01]Rand Paul's Wife Bought Gilead Stock During Remdesivir Push — Knight Says He Has No Credibility on FauciFauci declared remdesivir standard of care one day after a WHO trial showed it ineffective; Paul's wife held Gilead shares throughout.────────────────────────────────────────[00:47:41]Trump Orders Ford and GM to Make Bombs Instead of Cars — Same Defense Production Act Used for VentilatorsKnight: they don't want people to have independent transportation; commandeering auto production is the same playbook used in 2020.────────────────────────────────────────[00:56:37]VA Study Claims COVID Vaccine Lowers Cardiac Risk — Knight: They Caused the Heart Disease and Now Claim the CureSeven children confirmed dead from the jabs per FDA data; New England Journal of Medicine ex-editor said the journal lost all credibility.────────────────────────────────────────[01:29:16]Tulsi Gabbard's Entire Career Was Guided by a Hare Krishna Cult Leader Named Chris ButlerYear-long Washington Post investigation; former cult members handed over internal records showing Butler shaped her public decisions.────────────────────────────────────────[01:43:44]Ben Gvir Repeats: All of Lebanon Must Burn — No Distinction Between Hezbollah and Lebanese CiviliansSame doctrine applied in Gaza; Knesset member adds they want to drag Hamas leaders across Gaza in front of cameras before prison.────────────────────────────────────────[01:47:00]Jared Kushner Invented the Escrow-for-Farm-Goods Clause — JD Vance Selling It as a Trump DealMOU says nothing about escrow or American goods; Kushner and Qataris fabricated it after signing; Vance repeating the lie publicly.────────────────────────────────────────[01:51:28]Zionist Lobbyist Brags About Sanctioning UN Rapporteur Albanese, Freezing Her Bank Accounts, Demoting Her HusbandAfter boasting of controlling Albanese's finances and barring her from the US, lobbyist Hillel Neuer insists the Jewish lobby does not control America. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

Hezbollah's Shadow Banking System. Guest: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio. Ahmad Sharawi examines Al-Qard Al-Hassan, Hezbollah's financial arm that provides social services and interest-free loans outside the official banking system. Although Israel has targeted its branches, the Lebanese government is hesitant to shut it down, allowing it to sustain the group's operations through gold-backed financing. 141909 Cairo

Hezbollah's Shadow Banking System. Guest: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio. Ahmad Sharawi examines Al-Qard Al-Hassan, Hezbollah's financial arm that provides social services and interest-free loans outside the official banking system. Although Israel has targeted its branches, the Lebanese government is hesitant to shut it down, allowing it to sustain the group's operations through gold-backed financing. 141909 Cairo

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-22-26.1787The Fog of Diplomacy in the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. Guests discuss competing headlines regarding "progress" in US-Iran negotiations and ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ambassador Haqqani notes neither side has achieved its original war aims, while Bill Roggio argues the US lacks the military will to reopen the Strait, leaving Iran with the strategic advantage. 1Pakistan as a Strategic Mediator. Guest: Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. John Batchelor examines Pakistan's role as a mediator between the United States and Iran. Ambassador Haqqani explains that Pakistan provided an "exit ramp" for the Trump administration by utilizing its unique access to the IRGC and Iran's power structure to facilitate communication and avoid further military escalation. 2Hamas Sidelined in Regional Talks. Guest: Samuel Ben-Ur and Bill Roggio. Samuel Ben-Ur explains why Hamas has been sidelined in recent Iranian negotiations compared to Hezbollah. Relations soured when Hamas failed to support Iranian strikes against Qatari targets. Currently, Hamas remains funded by Qatar and Turkey while maintaining a brutal "reign of terror" over the portions of Gaza it still controls. 3The Legality and Lethality of Armed Conflict. Guest: Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski analyzes a public memo from Admiral Brad Cooper regarding the legitimacy of lethal force. They discuss the necessity of proportionality in conflict, arguing that avoiding civilian targets like nuclear reactors is a military requirement for success, as destroying essential infrastructure alienates populations and complicates future operations. 4Latin America's Shift to the Right. Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Guests discuss the right-wing political shift in Latin America following Abelardo De La Espriella's apparent victory in Colombia. They compare his security-focused platform to the Bukele model in El Salvador, emphasizing a mandate to combat the organized crime that has historically penetrated the region's political systems. 5The Slow-Motion Coup in Bolivia. Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. The segment addresses the crisis in Bolivia, where Evo Morales is accused of orchestrating a "slow motion coup" via blockades. Ernesto Araújo criticizes Brazilian President Lula's silence on the matter, while Alejandro Peña Esclusa suggests that regional support for the elected government may finally lead to Morales facing legal consequences. 6The Failure to Counter Chinese Influence. Guest: Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang. Bill Gertz details a GAO report revealing that the US spent $1.2 billion on countering Chinese influence without evaluating its impact. The discussion highlights the superior effectiveness of Chinese information warfare, which outspends the US significantly to shape global narratives while American efforts lack a cohesive strategy. 7The Crisis in Air Force Procurement. Guest: General Blaine Holt and Gordon Chang. General Blaine Holt critiques the broken US procurement system, specifically the Air Force's contradictory stance on retiring the A-10 Warthog while keeping the B-52 bomber for a century. He advocates for reform to break contractor monopolies, allowing the military to innovate faster and field cheaper equipment. 8Iran's Economic Demands in Switzerland. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio. Jonathan Schanzer argues that Iran is seeking a systemic economic lifeline through billions in unfrozen assets. He criticizes recent US oil waivers as a sign of caving to pressure. Iran aims to link a Lebanon ceasefire to negotiations to delay nuclear discussions and drive a wedge. 9Resurgent Piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Guest: Bridget Toomey and Bill Roggio. Bridget Toomey reports a resurgence of Somali piracy, with three ships recently captured for ransom in the Gulf of Aden. Bill Roggio links this spike to Al-Shabaab's growth and suggests that pirate networks may be coordinating with the Houthis to facilitate weapons smuggling and increase regional instability. 10The Flaws of the Iran Memorandum. Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio. Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques the current US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, calling it a failure of negotiation that incorporates "every Iranian trick." He argues Iran's core goals—the destruction of Israel and the expulsion of US influence—remain unchanged, and that the US has displayed a defeatist lack of patience. 11Eurasian Interests in Middle East Conflict. Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio. Guests discuss how Russia and China are benefiting from America's Middle East difficulties, often frustrating US objectives on the nuclear file. Fitton-Brown notes the Europeans have been "anemic," failing to coordinate a forceful naval presence to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains reliably open for global energy trade. 12Ukraine's Military Manpower Crisis. Guest: John Hardie and Bill Roggio. John Hardie discusses Ukrainian military reforms aimed at addressing the manpower crisis by clarifying pay and contract lengths. While intended to prevent desertion, there is skepticism that the government can fulfill promises to discharge long-serving troops without risking a collapse of the front lines against Russia. 13Hezbollah's Shadow Banking System. Guest: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio. Ahmad Sharawi examines Al-Qard Al-Hassan, Hezbollah's financial arm that provides social services and interest-free loans outside the official banking system. Although Israel has targeted its branches, the Lebanese government is hesitant to shut it down, allowing it to sustain the group's operations through gold-backed financing. 14The $216 Billion Rebuild of Syria. Guest: Josh Rogin and Bill Roggio. Josh Rogin reports that Syria requires $216 billion for reconstruction following the fall of the Assad regime. He explains that US "State Sponsor of Terrorism" sanctions prevent American businesses from bidding on contracts, leaving an opening for Chinese and Russian technology to dominate the new government's infrastructure. 15Recommendations for a New Syria Policy. Guest: Josh Rogin and Bill Roggio. Josh Rogin recommends that the US prepare to lift the terrorism designation on Syria to support reconstruction and counter adversarial influence. He argues the current Al-Shara government is the only viable partner for stability and that US bureaucratic inertia is currently benefiting China, Russia, and Iran. 16

President Trump has criticised Israel for continuing to strike Hezbollah targets ahead of the formal signing of a US-Iran deal in Switzerland on Friday. He said Israel didn't need to knock down an apartment block every time it was looking for someone from Hezbollah. Lebanese state media reported at least four deaths. Also: Britain's Ministry of Defence is investigating after a retired British couple said a Russian warship had fired warning shots near their yacht in the Channel on Tuesday; the US vice president JD Vance has a new memoir out - this time about religion; how illegal Iranian oil is smuggled across the mountains into Pakistan; and the Williams sisters return to Wimbledon at the ages of 44 and 46. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk Photo: A car and ambulance belonging to Hezbollah's health unit damaged during an Israeli strike on the village of Al Shaabiyeh in southern Lebanon Credit: EPA/Shutterstock