Podcast appearances and mentions of Michael R Gordon

P.M. Edition for Feb. 28. What started as a polite meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky grew contentious and ended abruptly. WSJ national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon tells us what that means for both countries. Plus, Trump is expected to sign an executive order making English the official language of the U.S. We hear from WSJ White House reporter Meridith McGraw about what this means on a practical level. And reporter Drew FitzGerald discusses how venture-backed companies see an opening for contracts with the Pentagon. Finally, a new generation of instant coffee passes the snob test. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A.M. Edition for Feb. 18. The Trump administration tries to reset relations with Moscow and lay the groundwork for an agreement to end the Ukraine war. WSJ correspondent Michael R. Gordon dials in from Riyadh, where the talks are under way. Plus, a Delta Air Lines regional jet crashes and flips over while landing in Toronto, but all passengers and crew survive. And WSJ's Take On the Week looks at what's behind Walmart's winning retail strategy. Luke Vargas hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/27/2025): 3:05pm- After the first week of his second term as president, Donald Trump mandated employees of the federal government work in-person, withdrew the nation from the Paris Climate Agreement, withdrew the nation from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing their willingness to cover-up China's COVID-19 transgressions, delayed enforcement of a national ban of TikTok, recognized two genders—male and female, pardoned 1,500 Americans arrested for their actions on January 6th, 2021, expanded domestic energy production, shut down the U.S. Southern border and began deportations of dangerous illegal migrants, and guaranteed free speech on social media. Trump also fulfilled a long-term campaign pledge to focus on meritocracy and pivot away from the prioritization of far-left policies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) within the federal government. Rich wonders, was this the most consequential first week in modern presidential history? 3:15pm- On Sunday, the Trump Administration arrested nearly 1,000 illegal migrants who have been accused of serious crimes. Comparatively, the Biden Administration averaged 310 arrests per day, according to Axios. The New York Post reports that in a raid over the weekend, federal agents arrested 50 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua in Denver, Colorado. 3:30pm- CIA Says Lab Leak the Likely Origin of COVID-19: Michael R. Gordon and Dustin Volz of The Wall Street Journal write: “The Central Intelligence Agency has now concluded that the deadly Covid-19 pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, lending credibility to a view that has been the focus of sharp debate among scientists and politicians for years. In doing so, the CIA has now joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Energy Department in identifying a laboratory mishap in Wuhan, China, as the probable source of the Covid virus. It has killed more than 1.2 million Americans and over seven million people worldwide.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/cia-now-favors-lab-leak-theory-on-origins-of-covid-19-eff4e67c. 3:40pm- After initially rejecting deportation flights containing Colombian citizens who entered the U.S. illegally, Colombian President Gustavo Perez reversed course—even providing the U.S. with his own presidential plane to assist in the process. After Perez's refusal, President Donald Trump announced he would slap Colombia with a 25% tariff, with the promise it would quickly increase to 50%. The United States is Colombia's largest trading partner. 4:00pm- Robert Bork Jr.—President of the Antitrust Education Project & President of the Bork Communication Group—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Federal Trade Commission in the Trump Administration. Will antitrust concerns persist over Microsoft's $13 billion investment in OpenAI? Could hypothetical overregulation of artificial intelligence harm American innovation—potentially allowing for foreign adversaries to better compete in the emerging industry? Plus, Bork reacts to Nvidia stock falling 17%, wiping out nearly $600 billion in market value. 4:30pm- Last week, prior to the NFC Championship game, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker misspelled “Eagles” while leading a chant to support the hometown team. Yesterday, the Eagles dominated the Washington Commanders, 55 to 23. But today, Parker spelled the team's name properly—did she just jinx the whole city right before the Super Bowl? 4:40pm- While appearing on NPR, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner stated that he is exploring the possibility of filing local charges against Pennsylvanians who unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 despite President Donald Trump's recent pardons. But how does Krasner have jurisdiction over federal offenses that were already reversed? 5:00pm- Last week, prior to the NFC Championship game, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Park ...

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: 3:05pm- After the first week of his second term as president, Donald Trump mandated employees of the federal government work in-person, withdrew the nation from the Paris Climate Agreement, withdrew the nation from the World Health Organization (WHO) citing their willingness to cover-up China's COVID-19 transgressions, delayed enforcement of a national ban of TikTok, recognized two genders—male and female, pardoned 1,500 Americans arrested for their actions on January 6th, 2021, expanded domestic energy production, shut down the U.S. Southern border and began deportations of dangerous illegal migrants, and guaranteed free speech on social media. Trump also fulfilled a long-term campaign pledge to focus on meritocracy and pivot away from the prioritization of far-left policies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) within the federal government. Rich wonders, was this the most consequential first week in modern presidential history? 3:15pm- On Sunday, the Trump Administration arrested nearly 1,000 illegal migrants who have been accused of serious crimes. Comparatively, the Biden Administration averaged 310 arrests per day, according to Axios. The New York Post reports that in a raid over the weekend, federal agents arrested 50 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua in Denver, Colorado. 3:30pm- CIA Says Lab Leak the Likely Origin of COVID-19: Michael R. Gordon and Dustin Volz of The Wall Street Journal write: “The Central Intelligence Agency has now concluded that the deadly Covid-19 pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, lending credibility to a view that has been the focus of sharp debate among scientists and politicians for years. In doing so, the CIA has now joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Energy Department in identifying a laboratory mishap in Wuhan, China, as the probable source of the Covid virus. It has killed more than 1.2 million Americans and over seven million people worldwide.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/cia-now-favors-lab-leak-theory-on-origins-of-covid-19-eff4e67c. 3:40pm- After initially rejecting deportation flights containing Colombian citizens who entered the U.S. illegally, Colombian President Gustavo Perez reversed course—even providing the U.S. with his own presidential plane to assist in the process. After Perez's refusal, President Donald Trump announced he would slap Colombia with a 25% tariff, with the promise it would quickly increase to 50%. The United States is Colombia's largest trading partner.

Over the course of 19 days, U.S. officials raced to contain escalating tensions between Israel and Iran amid a series of attacks. WSJ's Michael R. Gordon on what was going on behind the scenes as the White House worked to prevent a bigger conflict. Further Reading: -Inside the White House's Frenetic Scramble to Avert a Full-Blown Middle East War  -How the U.S. Forged a Fragile Middle Eastern Alliance to Repel Iran's Israel Attack  Further Listening: -A Deadly Strike on Aid Workers in Gaza  -A Deadly Drone Attack and Iran's ‘Axis of Resistance' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/30/2024): 3:05pm- According to a report from Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman, the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) for “misspending of federal security money.” The House Sergeant at Arms has been subpoenaed for records relating to the allegations. 3:10pm- In a New York Times editorial, Clark D. Cunningham—a law professor at Georgia State University—explains the legal consequences for the alleged improper relationship between lead prosecutor in the Donald Trump Georgia election interference criminal case, Nathan Wade, and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Cunningham writes: “Mr. Wade was very involved in both the special grand jury investigation and the current criminal case, despite an absence of obvious qualifications. Although Ms. Willis has defended her decision to hire Mr. Wade, his previous experience as a prosecutor appears to have been largely limited to misdemeanors. The amount paid to Mr. Wade so far is substantial yet Mr. Wade's billing invoices obtained by Mr. Roman's lawyer are not well documented and don't always offer, for example, itemized time worked in increments of less than one day. If Ms. Willis and Mr. Wade are dismissed by Judge McAfee, it will be up to a state agency, the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia, to appoint a prosecutor to take over from Ms. Willis. And that's where things could really go off the rails. Take one precedent: On July 25, 2022, Ms. Willis was disqualified from prosecuting Burt Jones, who was then a state senator, after she hosted a fund-raiser for Mr. Jones's eventual opponent in the race for lieutenant governor. Eighteen months later, the PACGA still hasn't appointed a special prosecutor, and Mr. Jones, now lieutenant governor, has not even been indicted. Delay is not even the worst possible outcome for the case if Ms. Willis is disqualified. A special prosecutor could decide to reduce or dismiss charges against some or all of the defendants, including Mr. Trump.” You can read the full editorial here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/24/opinion/fani-willis-trump-georgia.html 3:20pm- Michael R. Gordon of The Wall Street Journal writes: “Three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 were injured in an Iran-backed militia's drone strike on a base in northeast Jordan, U.S. officials said on Sunday, marking the first American troops killed in hostile action since the start of the Hamas-Israeli conflict in Gaza. A U.S. official said that the attack took place overnight at Tower 22, a small outpost near the Syria border. The drone struck living quarters for the troops, contributing to the high casualties, a U.S. official said. The strike, which was carried out by a one-way attack drone, signals an escalation in the fighting in the region. The president and secretary of defense said the U.S. would retaliate.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/three-u-s-troops-killed-in-drone-attack-in-jordan-b45ddb6b?mod=hp_lead_pos1 3:25pm- While speaking with Vice News in 2020, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden claimed that then-President Donald Trump would “get us into a war with Iran” as a way to distract from his reelection troubles. 3:30pm- Speaking with the press outside of the White House before boarding Marine One, President Joe Biden accused Iran of being responsible for Sunday's drone attack in Jordan which left three U.S. service members dead. 3:40pm- Zenebou Sylla and Elizabeth Wolfe write: “A Pennsylvania jury handed down a $2.25 billion verdict against Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer, after determining its Roundup herbicide product caused a man's cancer, the plaintiff's lawyers announced…The jury delivered its verdict, which includes $2 billion in punitive damages, in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court on Friday after concluding Roundup ‘is a defective cancer-causing product, that Monsanto was negligent, and that Monsanto failed to warn about the dangers' of the weed killer, the law firm [Kline & Specter] said.” You can read the full article here: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/us/roundup-cancer-verdict-philadelphia-bayer-monsanto/index.html 3:50pm- A Florida man is suing Combos snacks parent company Mars Inc. for deceptive marketing—arguing that there is not enough real cheese in the snack food. 4:05pm- Dr. EJ Antoni—Economist & Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation's Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest editorial, “The Fed's Powell Will Have to Play Politics to Keep His Job.” Dr. Antoni writes: “When [Chairman of the Federal Reserve Jerome] Powell was up for renomination, he dutifully kept interest rates below 1% percent and exploded the Fed's balance sheet, barely keeping it below $9 trillion in an unprecedented act of money creation. When asked about raising interest rates three-quarters of a percent in the face of 40-year-high inflation, Powell said such a move was off the table and called inflation ‘transitory'… Once the Senate confirmed him for a second term as chairman, however, Powell promptly delivered four of those three-quarter-percent interest rate hikes in a row and began reducing the Fed's balance sheet to belatedly fight runaway inflation.” You can read Dr. Antoni's full editorial here: https://www.heritage.org/monetary-policy/commentary/the-feds-powell-will-have-play-politics-keep-his-job 4:35pm- The Florida House of Representatives has passed legislation that would ban minors under the age of 16 from accessing social media. In response, Governor Ron DeSantis suggested he may veto the bill should it arrive at his desk, explaining: “To say that someone that is 15 just cannot have [access to social media] no matter what, even if the parent consents, that may create some legal issues.” You can read more here: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/26/desantis-concerned-over-breadth-of-house-social-media-legislation/72368316007/ 4:45pm- Should government ban children from being able to access social media? Or are parents responsible to monitor when, and how, their kids use social media? Listeners react to Florida's proposed legislation. 5:05pm- Robert Bork Jr.—President of the Antitrust Education Project & President of the Bork Communication Group—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Amazon's blocked acquisition of Roomba manufacturer iRobot. Progressives, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), had argued that the proposed acquisition would irreparably harm competing robot vacuum brands. Antitrust regulators in the European Union have helped American progressives successfully kill the $1.7 billion deal. Following the deals collapse, iRobot—a Massachusetts based company—was forced to lay off 350 employees. You can learn more about the Antitrust Education Project here: https://www.antitrusteducationproject.org/about-aep/ 5:20pm- During a recent House hearing, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) accused Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump—as well as House Republicans—of wanting to place alligator filled moats along the U.S.-Mexico border to deter people from crossing illegally. 5:35pm- Andrew C. McCarthy—Senior Fellow at National Review Institute & Author of “Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his latest article, “Record Number of Illegal Aliens Entered the U.S. in December.” McCarthy writes: “A mind-blowing 371,000 illegal aliens were ‘encountered' by border agents in December 2023, a new record. This includes nearly a quarter million illegal aliens apprehended crossing the southern border, also a new record that smashed the former high mark (achieved, of course, under Biden border policies) of 224,400 in May 2022. The December number is a 23.5 percent increase over the number of ‘migrants encountered' at the border in November.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/record-number-of-illegal-aliens-entered-the-u-s-in-december/. And you can find information about his book here: https://www.encounterbooks.com/books/ball-of-collusion/.   5:50pm- Where does buffalo mozzarella cheese come from? Henry and Rich debate. 6:05pm- While speaking with Vice News in 2020, then-presidential candidate Joe Biden claimed that then-President Donald Trump would “get us into a war with Iran” as a way to distract from his reelection troubles. 6:10pm- While speaking at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticized the court's conservative-lean and told students that “every loss truly traumatizes me in my stomach and in my heart. But I have to get up the next morning and keep on fighting.” You can read more here: https://www.mediaite.com/news/justice-sotomayor-laments-supreme-courts-right-turn-every-loss-truly-traumatizes-me/ 6:30pm- Brittany Bernstein of National Review writes: “The New York City Council voted to override Mayor Eric Adams's veto of a bill that will force police officers to document most interactions they have with the public. The bill will require officers to record details on the apparent race, gender, and age of people they stop, including when they are only asking for information from someone who may be a witness to a crime.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/nyc-council-overrides-mayors-veto-of-bill-requiring-police-to-document-public-interactions/ 6:40pm- According to a report from Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman, the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) for “misspending of federal security money.” The House Sergeant at Arms has been subpoenaed for records relating to the allegations. One of her security guards has claimed that he has the ability to create tornadoes and can strike his opponents with lightening—Rep. Bush has paid him nearly $150,000. 6:50pm- While appearing on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow, E. Jean Carrol awkwardly joked that she intends to spend Donald Trump's money on new clothes and a penthouse. Last week, a Manhattan jury awarded Carrol $83 million in a defamation suit she filed against the former president. Trump has vowed to appeal the verdict.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (01/29/2024): 3:05pm- Michael R. Gordon of The Wall Street Journal writes: “Three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 were injured in an Iran-backed militia's drone strike on a base in northeast Jordan, U.S. officials said on Sunday, marking the first American troops killed in hostile action since the start of the Hamas-Israeli conflict in Gaza. A U.S. official said that the attack took place overnight at Tower 22, a small outpost near the Syria border. The drone struck living quarters for the troops, contributing to the high casualties, a U.S. official said. The strike, which was carried out by a one-way attack drone, signals an escalation in the fighting in the region. The president and secretary of defense said the U.S. would retaliate.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/three-u-s-troops-killed-in-drone-attack-in-jordan-b45ddb6b?mod=hp_lead_pos1 3:15pm- While campaigning in South Carolina, President Joe Biden reacted to three U.S. service members being killed in an Iranian-backed drone strike, vowing: “we shall respond.” 3:30pm- A report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation claims that climate change—specifically heatwaves and cyclones—are having a negative impact on unborn babies, including an uptick in premature births. 3:40pm- Echoing sentiments made by President Joe Biden, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh explained that America will respond militarily to the Iranian-backed militia group responsible for the deaths of three U.S. servicemembers. Singh did not specify when the response would occur or what it would look like. 3:45pm- While speaking with reporters, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby denied that President Joe Biden will consider his polling numbers before retaliating against Iran. 3:50pm- While appearing on CNBC, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley blamed Iranian-backed militia aggression on the Biden Administration's decision to lift sanctions on Iran—resulting in greater economic success for the Iranian regime which has, consequently, led to greater funding of terror groups in the region. 4:05pm- According to a new poll from Redfield & Wilton Strategies, 18% of voters would significantly consider casting their ballot for a presidential candidate endorsed by singer Taylor Swift. In 2020, Swift accused Donald Trump of “stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism” and vowed to vote him out of office. 4:15pm- According to a report from Rebecca Kern of Politico, pro-Biden PACs like Priorities USA have been paying TikTok influencers to push messaging friendly towards President Joe Biden's reelection efforts. Interestingly, TikTok's official policy is to ban political advertising—so why are these ads permitted to run? In a video that has gone viral, TikTok influencer Trevor Abney alleges that a political group offered him $50,000 to post a video glorifying the Biden Administration's economy. You can ready Kern's article here: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/23/biden-campaign-social-media-influencers-00136389 4:25pm- The New York Times writes: “As former President Donald J. Trump speeds toward the Republican nomination, President Biden is moving quickly to pump energy into his re-election bid, kicking off what is likely to be an ugly, dispiriting and historically long slog to November between two unpopular nominees… Biden aides are drafting wish lists of potential surrogates, including elected officials, social media influencers and the endorsement of their wildest dreams: the global superstar Taylor Swift.” You can read the full article from Reid J. Epstein, Lisa Lerer, Katie Glueck, and Katie Rogers here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/29/us/politics/biden-trump-election-taylor-swift.html 4:40pm- In her Wall Street Journal editorial, Mary Anastasia O'Grady documents how Canadian officials have attempted to silence University of Toronto professor emeritus Dr. Jordan Peterson by threatening to remove his clinical license. O'Grady writes: “If only Mr. Peterson's treatment were an exception to the administrative state's modus operandi. In 2018 the law societies of Ontario and British Columbia refused to credential Trinity Western University's law school because the university makes students take a vow not to engage in sex outside marriage, traditionally defined. This would seem to be a matter of religious freedom. But the court said the regulator was acting in the public interest.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/canada-vs-jordan-peterson-free-speech-psychology-reeducation-d084d7ab?mod=opinion_lead_pos9 4:55pm- While speaking at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, Nevada, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said that if the U.S. were ever attacked by a foreign enemy, he is not certain North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) would help the country respond or recover. 5:05pm- Phil Kerpen—President of American Commitment—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the ongoing disaster at the U.S. Southern border, the Biden Administration's proclamation that they successfully saved the country's economy, and President Joe Biden's bizarre decision to ban liquid natural gas exports. Plus, according to a new study New Jersey's plastic bag ban has actually led to 3x as much plastic being used, as people regularly discard “reusable” bags. 5:20pm- NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit airs perhaps the most ridiculously woke episode in the history of television. 5:35pm- Karla Treadway—Business Coach for The Sovereign CEO—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to talk about Tucker Carlson's recent appearance in Canada where he called out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for routinely shutting down free speech and using the power of government to infringe upon civil liberties. For example, just recently a Canadian judge ruled that the state's decision to use “emergency powers” to stifle trucker protests during the Covid-19 pandemic was unconstitutional. You can learn more about The Sovereign CEO here: https://www.karlajoytreadway.com 5:50pm- In a hilariously terrible op-ed featured in Politico, Yale Law Professor Bruce Akerman claims that in order for the Supreme Court to preserve its own legitimacy, it must adopt an “originalist” perspective and ban Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 ballot. You can read Akerman's argument here: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/01/25/supreme-court-originalism-trump-ballot-eligibility-00137666 5:55pm- Will Taylor Swift be at Super Bowl LVIII? She has a performance in Tokyo, Japan. Will she make it to Las Vegas in time for kickoff? 6:05pm- Carl Campanile of The New York Post writes: “New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has been using taxpayer resources to promote his wife as she campaigns to become the Garden State's latest US Senator, according to records and critics. Gov. Murphy's press office has pumped out a slew of fawning press releases—which appear on the governor's website—about First Lady Tammy Murphy after she announced her Senate run on Nov. 15.” You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2024/01/29/metro/phil-murphys-office-using-taxpayer-resources-to-promote-wife-tammys-bid-for-us-senate/ 6:40pm- While speaking from a hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)—according to translations—called Somalia her number one priority while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. She also seemingly suggested that parts of neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia rest on land that belongs to Somalia.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: Michael R. Gordon of The Wall Street Journal writes: “Three U.S. service members were killed and at least 34 were injured in an Iran-backed militia's drone strike on a base in northeast Jordan, U.S. officials said on Sunday, marking the first American troops killed in hostile action since the start of the Hamas-Israeli conflict in Gaza. A U.S. official said that the attack took place overnight at Tower 22, a small outpost near the Syria border. The drone struck living quarters for the troops, contributing to the high casualties, a U.S. official said. The strike, which was carried out by a one-way attack drone, signals an escalation in the fighting in the region. The president and secretary of defense said the U.S. would retaliate.” You can read the full article here: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/three-u-s-troops-killed-in-drone-attack-in-jordan-b45ddb6b?mod=hp_lead_pos1 While campaigning in South Carolina, President Joe Biden reacted to three U.S. service members being killed in an Iranian-backed drone strike, vowing: “we shall respond.” A report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation claims that climate change—specifically heatwaves and cyclones—are having a negative impact on unborn babies, including an uptick in premature births. Echoing sentiments made by President Joe Biden, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh explained that America will respond militarily to the Iranian-backed militia group responsible for the deaths of three U.S. service members. Singh did not specify when the response would occur or what it would look like. While speaking with reporters, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby denied that President Joe Biden will consider his polling numbers before retaliating against Iran. While appearing on CNBC, Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley blamed Iranian-backed militia aggression on the Biden Administration's decision to lift sanctions on Iran—resulting in greater economic success for the Iranian regime which has, consequently, led to greater funding of terror groups in the region.

Subscribe to The Realignment to access our exclusive Q&A episodes and support the show: https://realignment.supercast.com/Michael's Great Power Conflict Essay: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-military-china-taiwan-russia-great-power-conflict-481f7756REALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail Us: realignmentpod@gmail.comFoundation for American Innovation: https://www.thefai.org/posts/lincoln-becomes-faiMichael R. Gordon, National Security Correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and author of Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, joins The Realignment. Michael and Marshall discuss how current era of Great Power conflict differs from the War on Terror, how the Pentagon is transforming the U.S. military to meet the moment, the legacy of America's involvement in Iraq from the Gulf War to the fall of ISIS in 2019, and why the U.S. campaign against ISIS, with its focus on enabling local allies on the ground offers a strategic model for future conflicts.

Nikki Haley's experience at the United Nations; what it means to be a US ambassador; Russia's statement about nuclear weapons in Belarus; the ICC's arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin; credibility in international institutions; the power of international law on the margins; and Marcus considers future podcast guestsSend us comments or questions at cheaptalkpod@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail.Further reading:Courtney Subramanian. 2023. “Garcetti sworn in as ambassador to India after two-year battle.” Los Angeles Times.American Foreign Service Association. “Ambassador Tracker.”Francesca Ebel. 2023. “West warns Putin against ‘dangerous' nuclear rhetoric but downplays threat.” Washington Post.Michael R. Gordon. 2023. “U.S. Stops Sharing Data on Nuclear Forces With Russia.” Wall Street Journal. Amy Mackinnon, Christina Lu and Jack Detsch. 2023. “Putin Wanted by ICC Over Alleged War Crimes.” Foreign Policy.See all Cheap Talk episodes

Today's show begins with an extremely difficult conversation under highly unusual circumstances. Siamak Namazi is an Iranian-American businessman who has been imprisoned in Iran for over seven years. While several American detained in Iran have been released as part of prisoner swaps with the US -- Namazi's own father was released on medical grounds last October -- Siamak continues to languish in prison, even going on a week-long hunger strike back in January and writing a letter to President Biden. Now he tells Christiane he feels so alone, abandoned, and out of options that he's decided to come to us, hoping to beseech Biden to help him and other imprisoned Iranian Americans.  Next, to dig a little deeper into the plight of Namazi and his fellow American detainees, Christiane speaks with Johns Hopkins professor Vali Nasr, himself an Iranian American and formerly a senior adviser at the US State Department.  Also on today's show: Michael R. Gordon, National Security Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (02/28/2023): 3:05pm- On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Biden v. Nebraska—which will determine whether the executive branch has the unilateral authority to cancel over $400 billion in student loan debt via power granted by the 2003 HEROES Act. 3:25pm- During oral argument for Biden v. Nebraska, Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether it was appropriate for anyone other than Congress to pick financial “winners and losers”—benefiting a small group of college graduates at the expense of everyone else. Meanwhile, Justice Clarence Thomas questioned the executive branch's authority to “cancel” debt. 3:45pm- Surprisingly, at one point during oral argument for Biden v. Nebraska, Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Sonia Sotomayor to question whether states had standing to challenge the executive order. In defending the Biden Administration, Justice Elena Kagan stated: “We deal with Congressional statutes every day that are really confusing. This one it not”—concluding that the executive branch has authority to cancel debt. 3:50pm- On Tuesday, outside of the Supreme Court, progressives—like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Ilhan Omar—rallied to implore the court to permit the cancelation of student loan debt, arguing that the Biden Administration undoubtedly possess the authority to act without Congressional input. 4:00pm- In a New York Post opinion editorial, Johns Hopkins professor Dr. Marty Makary documented the “10 myths told by COVID experts” that have now been debunked. You can read the full article here: https://nypost.com/2023/02/27/10-myths-told-by-covid-experts-now-debunked/ 4:15pm- Following the Department of Energy's conclusion that the COVID pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, comedian John Stewart recounted his 2021 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he famously joked about the pandemic being caused by a Wuhan lab leak. Though, he appears to have been vindicated, Stewart says he was initially labeled as “racist” and “alt-right.” 4:30pm- On Tuesday, outside of the Supreme Court, radical progressives Representative Ilhan Omar, Senator Bernie Sanders, and President of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten rallied to implore the court to permit the cancelation of student loan debt. 4:45pm- On Monday, ABC News “bemoaned” the end of food stamp distribution that expanded drastically during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 5:00pm- The Drive at 5: Andrew C. McCarthy—Senior Fellow at National Review Institute & Author of “Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency”—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments for Biden v. Nebraska, the bizarre statements made by the grand-jury forewoman in the Georgie Trump case, and his recent editorial, “America's Interests Are Not Necessarily the Same as Ukraine's.” McCarthy argues: “We should support Ukraine because Russia is our enemy, and because we owe that much to Ukraine, having in 1994 and 2006 persuaded Kyiv to divest itself of its nuclear and conventional weapons on the fantasy that Russia was no longer a threat. That support, however, is not without limits.” You can read the full article at: https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/02/americas-interests-are-not-necessarily-the-same-as-ukraines/ 5:20pm- During a press conference, Big Trial's Ralph Cipriano asked Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner if he will seek the death penalty for the murder of Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald. 5:25pm- Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony, and Rich Zeoli—the greatest feminists America has ever known! 5:40pm- Howard Husock—Senior Fellow of Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his most recent opinion editorial, “Biden's Latest Whack at the Suburbs Will Change Your Neighborhood for the Worse.” You can read the article at: https://www.aei.org/op-eds/bidens-latest-whack-at-the-suburbs-will-change-your-neighborhood-for-the-worse/ 6:00pm- Has insistence on in-person voting cost Pennsylvania Republican votes? State Representative Russ Diamond has implored Republicans to embrace mail-in balloting in order to level the playing field with Democrats. 6:25pm- President Joe Biden exaggerates his role in the Civil Rights movement. 6:45pm- According to a Wall Street Journal report, the United States Energy Department “has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.” Michael R. Gordon and Warren P. Strobel note, “[t]he Energy Department's conclusion is the result of new intelligence and is significant because the agency has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of U.S. national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research.” You can read the full report at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-origin-china-lab-leak-807b7b0a?mod=hp_lead_pos2

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (02/27/2023): 3:05pm- According to a Wall Street Journal report, the United States Energy Department “has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.” Michael R. Gordon and Warren P. Strobel note, “[t]he Energy Department's conclusion is the result of new intelligence and is significant because the agency has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of U.S. national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research.” You can read the full report at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-origin-china-lab-leak-807b7b0a?mod=hp_lead_pos2 3:20pm- Congressman Guy Reschenthaler—Representative for Pennsylvania's 14th District and Serves on the House Appropriations Committee & the House Committee on Rules—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Pennsylvania resident Marc Fogel's continued detainment in a Russian prison. Why hasn't the Biden Administration prioritized Fogel's safe return? Rep. Reschenthaler also discusses the U.S. Energy Department's conclusion that COVID-19 likely originated via a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China. 3:45pm- In a new opinion editorial in The New York Post, George Washington University Law Professor Jonathon Turley argues that one of the most important stories associated with the COVID-19 laboratory leak theory is the media's desperate attempt to censor it. 4:00pm- Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) remains voluntarily hospitalized and is receiving treatment for clinical depression. What is the status of his health? His aides say he is doing well and “on a path to recovery.” 4:10pm- Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs & White House Spokesperson John Kirby addressed the press on Monday—defending the Biden Administration's decision to continue to support gain-of-function research despite revelations from the Department of Energy that COVID-19 likely spread via a laboratory leak. 4:15pm- FLASHBACK: On February 8th, National Institutes of Health Acting Director Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak told a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that the viruses being studied at a laboratory in Wuhan, China, bore no resemblance to the one that is responsible for the worldwide pandemic. 4:20pm- FLASHBACK: The Daily Caller put together a montage of notable personalities and government officials dismissing the “lab leak theory” as a Donald Trump-initiated conspiracy theory. The montage includes Joy Reid, Joe Scarborough, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the New York Times' Maggie Haberman, and several experts from CNN and MSNBC. Will anyone admit they were wrong? 4:30pm- While speaking with Martha Raddatz on ABC, journalist Terry Moran stated that he believes President Joe Biden should visit East Palestine, Ohio as the community continues to deal with a toxic chemical spill resulting from a February 3rd train derailment. 4:40pm- When asked by White House press if he plans to visit East Palestine, Ohio, President Joe Biden said he already did a “Zoom” with the community and expressed no interest in visiting in-person. He also hilariously said the video conferencing application “Zoom” reminded him of the Aretha Franklin song, “Who's Zoomin' Who?” 5:00pm- “The Drive at 5” is BACK: Why did the media completely dismiss the possibility of a laboratory leak being responsible for COVID-19? FLASHBACK: In April of 2020, NPR claimed that science had “debunked” the theory. For months, media members claimed that anyone suggesting there was a possibility that COVID-19 originated via a laboratory leak was conspiratorial and xenophobic. Those lines of attack were initially iterated by a Chinese Ambassador attempting to shield Chinese leadership from criticism during an interview with Face the Nation in February of 2020. Why did American media do exactly what China wanted? 5:40pm- According to a report from Fox News Digital, the House Oversight Committee has learned that Hunter Biden considered one of his business partners a “close confidant and counsel” to then-Vice President Joe Biden in 2014. 5:50pm- Actor Woody Harrelson hosted this past weekend's episode of Saturday Night Live—joking about a film script he was given where drug cartels forced citizens into lockdowns until they take certain drugs. Unsurprisingly, the monologue ruffled feathers. 6:05pm- On Monday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that removed Disney's “special status” in Florida. Caroline Downey, of National Review, writes: “The bill gives the governor the authority to appoint all five governing board members for the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a departure from the previous arrangement in which Disney was able to appoint all board members, allowing the storied entertainment company control over services and development within the special district.” You can read Downey's recap at: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/desantis-signs-bill-to-take-control-of-disneys-special-district/ 6:10pm- While speaking with Brian Kilmeade, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Ron DeSantis for president in 2024. Does DeSantis really want Bush's endorsement? 6:20pm- Can President Joe Biden unilaterally cancel $400 billion in student loan debt? In 2021, even former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi stated, “it would take an act of Congress, not an executive order, to cancel student loan debt.” On Tuesday, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral argument in Biden v. Nebraska and will ultimately decide if the Executive Branch possesses this authority—or if it's exceeding its power. 6:40pm- REPLAY: Congressman Guy Reschenthaler—Representative for Pennsylvania's 14th District and Serves on the House Appropriations Committee & the House Committee on Rules—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Pennsylvania resident Marc Fogel's continued detainment in a Russian prison. Why hasn't the Biden Administration prioritized Fogel's safe return? Rep. Reschenthaler also discusses the U.S. Energy Department's conclusion that COVID-19 likely originated via a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 4: Has insistence on in-person voting cost Pennsylvania Republican votes? State Representative Russ Diamond has implored Republicans to embrace mail-in balloting in order to level the playing field with Democrats. President Joe Biden exaggerates his role in the Civil Rights movement. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the United States Energy Department “has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.” Michael R. Gordon and Warren P. Strobel note, “[t]he Energy Department's conclusion is the result of new intelligence and is significant because the agency has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of U.S. national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research.” You can read the full report at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-origin-china-lab-leak-807b7b0a?mod=hp_lead_pos2

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 1: According to a Wall Street Journal report, the United States Energy Department “has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.” Michael R. Gordon and Warren P. Strobel note, “[t]he Energy Department's conclusion is the result of new intelligence and is significant because the agency has considerable scientific expertise and oversees a network of U.S. national laboratories, some of which conduct advanced biological research.” You can read the full report at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-origin-china-lab-leak-807b7b0a?mod=hp_lead_pos2 Congressman Guy Reschenthaler—Representative for Pennsylvania's 14th District and Serves on the House Appropriations Committee & the House Committee on Rules—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss Pennsylvania resident Marc Fogel's continued detainment in a Russian prison. Why hasn't the Biden Administration prioritized Fogel's safe return? Rep. Reschenthaler also discusses the U.S. Energy Department's conclusion that COVID-19 likely originated via a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China. In a new opinion editorial in The New York Post, George Washington University Law Professor Jonathon Turley argues that one of the most important stories associated with the COVID-19 laboratory leak theory is media's desperate attempt to censor it.

P.M. Edition for Jan. 24. The Biden administration is leaning toward sending a significant number of U.S.-made Abrams tanks to Ukraine, according to U.S. officials. That would meet a condition set by Germany and help settle a disagreement between Western allies as the war nears the end of its first year. National-security correspondent Michael R. Gordon joins host Annmarie Fertoli to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/national-security

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/journalism

In Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump (FSG, 2022), Wall Street Journal national security correspondent Michael R. Gordon reveals the strategy debates, diplomatic gambits, and military operations that shaped the struggle against the Islamic State. With extraordinary access to top U.S. officials and military commanders and to the forces on the battlefield, Gordon offers a riveting narrative that ferrets out some of the war's most guarded secrets. Degrade and Destroy takes us inside National Security Council meetings at which Obama and his top aides grapple with early setbacks and discuss whether the war can be won. It also offers the most detailed account to date of how President Donald Trump waged war--delegating greater authority to the Pentagon but jeopardizing the outcome with a rush for the exit. Drawing on his reporting in Iraq and Syria, Gordon documents the closed-door deliberations of U.S. generals with their Iraqi and Syrian counterparts and describes some of the toughest urban battles since World War II. As Americans debate the future of using force abroad, Gordon's book offers vital insights into how our wars today are fought against militant foes, and the enduring lessons we can draw from them. Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. Caleb Zakarin is the Assistant Editor of the New Books Network (Twitter: @caleb_zakarin). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael R. Gordon is the national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and former chief military correspondent for The New York Times. He is also the co-author of three definitive histories of the United States' wars in Iraq: The Endgame, Cobra II, and The Generals' War. His latest book is titled Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump.

James M. Lindsay sits down with Michael R. Gordon, national security correspondent at the Wall Street Journal, to discuss the U.S. war against ISIS.    Mentioned on the Podcast   Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor, Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq, 2006   Michael R. Gordon, Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, 2022   Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor, The Endgame: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama, 2012   Michael R. Gordon and Bernard E. Trainor, The Generals' War: The Inside Story of the Conflict in the Gulf, 1996   Becca Wasser et al, “The Air War Against the Islamic State: The Role of Airpower in Operation Inherent Resolve,” RAND Corporation, 2021  

DOCUMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL READING PART 1 (0:0 - 13:51): ────────────────── U.S. State Department Declares That China’s Oppression of Uyghurs Is Genocide: Why Is This Formal Declaration So Important? NEW YORK TIMES (EDWARD WONG AND CHRIS BUCKLEY) U.S. Says China’s Repression of Uighurs Is ‘Genocide’ WALL STREET JOURNAL (MICHAEL R. GORDON AND EVA XIAO) U.S. Says China Is Committing Genocide Against Uighur Muslims PART 2 (13:52 - 22:10): ────────────────── The End of Girls’ Sports? The Transgender Revolution, Backed by the Biden Administration, Is on a Direct Collision Course with Female Athletics (And Much More) WALL STREET JOURNAL (ABIGAIL SHRIER) Joe Biden’s First Day Began the End of Girls’ Sports PART 3 (22:11 - 25:24): ────────────────── Biden Administration Ends Ban on Transgender Military Service, But the Moral Revolution Demands Even More WASHINGTON POST (GISELLE DONNELLY, DAVID BARNO AND NORA BENSAHEL) Biden has lifted the military ‘trans ban.’ But there’s more work to do.

Korea24 – 2020.07.20 (Monday) - News Briefing: Monday marks exactly six months since the day South Korea reported its first case of COVID-19. The number of daily new coronavirus cases in Korea fell to a month-low of 26, with only 4 local infections, the lowest in 73 days. Local infections have been in a continued decline though authorities continue to keep a watchful eye on imported cases. (Sam Len) - In-Depth News Analysis Part 1: Michael R. Gordon, national security correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, discusses the exclusive report that he wrote on the possible reduction of the USFK. - In-Depth News Analysis Part 2: J.P. Singh, Professor of International Commerce and Policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government of George Mason University, discusses the World Trade Organization(WTO)’s process of appointing a new Director-General from a list of eight candidates, including South Korea Minister for Trade Yoo Myung-hee. - Korea Trending with Jacco Zwetsloot: A worm-like creature is found in a Seoul apartment's bathroom(서울 수돗물 유충), the government is considers making August 17 a temporary holiday(8월 17일 임시공휴일 지정 검토), and the new K-pop boy group TREASURE is set to debut next month(트레저 8월 7일). - Sports: Yoo Jee-ho from Yonhap News Agency talks about the K League 1's Ulsan FC getting its third straight win, the NC Dinos looking to take first place as other squads battle it out for second, and pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin(류현진) who is set to start for the Toronto Blue Jays. - Morning Edition Preview with Mark Wilson-Choi: Mark shares an article from the Korea Times that features Korean-American celebrity chef Austin Kang and a Korea Herald article that covers the upcoming "Open Theater 2020" project.

This episode kicks off with a discussion of the national security implications of the mid-term elections. With the Democratic Party retaking control of the House of Representatives, we expect to see fights over Pentagon spending, and more oversight of the Trump administration across-the-board. The show then turns to the curious story of a 1,300-page Army study of the Iraq War that has gone unpublished for two whole years. The case raises broader questions about the entire defense establishment’s capacity for self-reflection and analysis. Recent moves to shield the Pentagon from public scrutiny only add to these concerns. We focus our grievances on President Donald Trump in Europe, the New York Times re: North Korea, and Woodrow Wilson (for lots of things), and we mark the 243rd anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps – or, as Bryan calls it, the Navy’s land force (Please direct your hate tweets to @ConsWahoo). Links Michael R. Gordon, "The Army Stymied Its Own Study of the Iraq War," Wall Street Journal, Oct. 22, 2018 Danny Sjursen, "Will Iraq Become Another 'Lesson Lost' Like Vietnam?" American Conservative, Nov. 6, 2018 Todd South, "Army's Detailed Iraq War Study Remains Unpublished Years After Completion," Army Times, Oct. 25, 2018 Adam Smith, "The Pentagon's Getting More Secretive – and It's Hurting National Security," Defense One, Oct. 28, 2018 Fred Kaplan, "Could House Democrats Cancel the Pentagon's Blank Check?" Slate, Nov. 07, 2018 Loren DeJonge Schulman and Alice Friend, "The Pentagon's Transparency Problem," Foreign Affairs, May 02, 2018 Eric Gomez, "The Revenge of Expectation: Trump's Rhetoric and Kim's Missile Bases," Cato Institute, Nov. 12, 2018 Paul Farhi, "What a Stupid Question: Trump Demeans Three Black Female Reporters in Three Day," Washington Post, Nov. 09, 2018 Ted Galen Carpenter and Malou Innocent, The Ties That Blind: How the U.S.-Saudi Alliance Damages Liberty and Security, (Cato Institute, 2018) Shawn Snow, "To Corps, Country, and Each Other: Top Marine's Birthday Message May Leave You Hiding Tears," Marine Corps Times, Nov. 01, 2018 Angelique Chrisafis and Ed Pilkington, "Trump Ramps Up Macron Spat by Mocking France in World Wars," Guardian, Nov. 13, 2018 Adam Rubenstein, "Did Steve King Just Refer to Immigrants as 'Dirt' ?" Weekly Standard, Nov. 06, 2018 Dylan Matthew, "Woodrow Wilson Was Extremely Racist – Even by the Standards of His Time," Vox, Nov. 20, 2015  Events Saudi Arabia's War in Yemen featuring Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), December 7th The Jones Act: Charting a New Course After a Century of Failure Music and Production by Tre Hester 

Michael R. Gordon, author of the 2013 Lionel Gelber Prize longlisted book “The Endgame: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Iraq, from George W. Bush to Barack Obama”, speaks with Robert Steiner, Director, Fellowships in Global Journalism at the Munk School of Global Affairs.