Podcasts about middle eastern

1. U.S. Government & Political Context The podcast opens with a brief discussion of the government shutdown that ended quickly, and is evidence of political posturing rather than substantive conflict. The transition sets the stage for broader national security concerns rather than domestic legislative issues. 2. Emergence of the Polisario Front as a National Security Threat The Polisario Front, a separatist group in Western Sahara founded in 1973, is presented as an underrecognized but growing terrorist threat. Iran is funding, training, and supplying the group, attempting to turn it into a West African proxy similar to the Houthis. Alleged activities include: Collaboration with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah Use of drones, weapons transfers, and regional destabilization Labeling the group as a terrorist organization is essential, this represents a dangerous blind spot in U.S. counterterrorism policy. 3. Accusation of Institutional Caution and “Deep State” Resistance State Department officials are portrayed as intentionally evasive during Senate testimony. The analysis claims this reluctance stems from: Ongoing diplomatic efforts in Africa Desire to avoid disrupting negotiations involving Morocco and Algeria 4. Iran at a “Tipping Point” Iran has become internally fragile, facing: Widespread protests Mass casualties allegedly ranging from 10,000–40,000 protesters The Iranian regime’s actions (e.g., drones near U.S. naval assets, attempted tanker seizures) are interpreted as provocations meant to rally domestic support and distract from internal collapse.: Negotiations with Iran are a delaying tactic The U.S. should support Iranian protesters directly, including by providing weapons Regime change is framed as: Preferable if carried out by Iranians themselves Potentially the largest positive national security shift since the Cold War if successful. 5. Global Domino Effect Narrative Iran is grouped with Venezuela and Cuba as regimes allegedly near collapse. Simultaneous democratic transitions in all three would represent a historic geopolitical realignment in favor of U.S. interests. 6. Netflix–Warner Bros. Merger & National Security Concerns The proposed $83 billion Netflix–Warner Bros. merger is criticized on two main grounds: Cultural and ideological influence The entertainment industry is portrayed as overwhelmingly left‑leaning and hostile to conservative or pro‑American perspectives. Concern that increased market power could amplify ideological “propaganda.” Foreign influence Alarm over foreign (especially Middle Eastern and Chinese) capital shaping American entertainment content. Content has been altered or censored to appease foreign governments. The merger is not merely an antitrust issue but as a matter of national sovereignty and cultural security. Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Love, sweetness, and deep cultural symbolism take center stage in this Valentine's season episode of The Modern Persian Food Podcast.

We’re talking about where faith & DNA collide. This is a throwback episode from my 2018 interview with Dr Simon Southerton. We’ll discuss how this former LDS bishop got excommunicated over his writings about DNA problems with the Book of Mormon and his book “Losing a Lost Tribe.” Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/N0pD5jz01OA Chapters 0:00 Faith & DNA Collision Result in Excommunication 18:41 Cohen Haplotype 36:06 DNA Shouldn’t Vanish 54:45 The Flood & Religious Beliefs Check out our other conversations on DNA & Book of Mormon: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/dna-book-of-mormon/ Faith & DNA Collision: LDS Bishop to Genetic Skeptic What happens when a molecular geneticist, serving as a faithful LDS Bishop, encounters scientific data that directly contradicts the keystone of his religion? I'm excited to release the full video of our 2018 interview with Australian researcher Dr. Simon Southerton. A former Senior Research Scientist with the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), Dr. Southerton's journey from devout leader to vocal critic is one of the most compelling narratives in the world of Mormon studies. Dr. Southerton utilizes his expertise in population genetics to tackle apologetic theories regarding the Book of Mormon, offering a hard-hitting look at DNA, history, and the cost of following his conscience. Global Flood and “Cognitive Dissonance” Dr. Southerton's transition didn’t begin with DNA, but with the Flood. While serving as a bishop, he read an Ensign article classifying those who believe in a “local flood” (rather than a global catastrophe 4,500 years ago) as effectively denying the faith. Knowing that a global flood is scientifically impossible due to geological and genetic evidence, he felt alienated. This prompted him to research Native American DNA, hoping to find evidence supporting the Book of Mormon. Instead, he found that 99% of Native American markers are derived from Asia, with the remainder being post-Columbus European or African admixture. The realization hit him during a family night: “We chose Book of Mormon stories… by the end of that song I was pretty deeply upset… I remember thinking at the time I’m never going to sing that song again with my children because it’s wrong.” “Vanishing DNA” Theory A major portion of the interview addresses the apologetic argument—promoted by scholars like Ugo Perego—that Lehi's party was so small their DNA “vanished” or was swamped by existing populations. Southerton rejects this as inconsistent with the text. He argues that the Book of Mormon describes massive civilizations and rapid population growth, not a small family that immediately disappeared into a dominant culture. He notes that whole-genome sequencing of ancient Mayans consistently shows Asian ancestry, not Middle Eastern. Cohen Haplotype vs. The X Lineage Dr. Southerton explains why DNA can track ancient migrations if they actually occurred. He points to the Lemba tribe in Africa, who claimed Jewish ancestry. Genetic testing revealed they carried the “Cohen Haplotype,” a specific Semitic Y-chromosome marker, vindicating their oral history. Conversely, he takes aim at the theories of Rodney Meldrum, whom he characterizes as a “snake oil salesman”. Meldrum argues the “X Lineage” in North America is evidence of Middle Eastern migration. Southerton clarifies that the X lineage is an ancient marker arriving roughly 15,000 years ago—long before the Nephites—and is distantly related to Middle Eastern markers, splitting off 30,000 years ago. The Viking Argument Apologists often argue that since we can’t find Viking DNA in the Americas (despite knowing they were there), we shouldn’t expect to find Nephite DNA. Southerton dismisses this parallel. He argues that Vikings were raiders and traders who didn’t establish massive, centuries-long civilizations comparable to the Nephites and Lamanites described in the scriptures. Excommunication and Life After Faith Finally, Dr. Southerton opens up about the “draconian” process of his excommunication. While the Church charged him with “inappropriate relationships” during a separation from his wife, Southerton asserts the true motivation was his book, Losing a Lost Tribe. He describes the disciplinary council as a “15th-century” process where the outcome is decided before the accused enters the room. Today, Southerton identifies as agnostic, finding peace outside of organized religion. He emphasizes that one does not need the Church to be a “delightful, decent, good human being.” Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

TCP's inaugural episode features Suraj Yengde and Anupama Rao, two scholars whose academic work and activism have helped to set the parameters of the contemporary debate on caste. In our conversation, we addressed the challenge of defining caste, their individual pathways into researching and writing on the caste question, and the virtues and limitations of comparing caste and race as two enduring forms of social stratification. We ended with a discussion of Isabel Wilkerson's Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, the runaway bestseller that made caste and its relationship to race a topic of mainstream debate in the United States. Guests: Suraj Yengde: scholar, public intellectual, and anti-caste activist. Anupama Rao: Professor of History and Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, Columbia University Mentioned in the episode: B.R. Ambedkar, Annihilation of Caste IITs: the Indian Institutes of Technology IIMs: the Indian Institutes of Management Reserved candidates: beneficiaries of India's system of affirmative action B.R. Ambedkar, “Castes in India” Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents Anupama Rao, The Caste Question Suraj Yengde, Caste Matters Suraj Yengde, Caste: A Global Story Shaadi.com: an Indian matrimonial website Phule: Jyotirao Phule was an anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. Periyar: E.V. Ramasamy Naicker, commonly known as Periyar, was a writer, social revolutionary, and politician who was one of the principal ideologues of the Self-Respect Movement. Begumpura, or “city without sorrow” expresses the notion of a casteless, classless utopia and was first formulated by Sant Ravidas (c. 1450-1520). Dalit Panthers was a revolutionary, anti-caste organization founded in 1972. It was based in Maharashtra and drew inspiration from the American Black Panther Party. Oliver Cox, Caste, Class, and Race: A Study in Social Dynamics (1948) Divya Cherian, Merchants of Virtue Meet the Savarnas: 2025 book by Ravikant Kisana Ramesh Bairy, Being Brahmin, Being Modern Dumont, Homo Hierarchicus Daniel Immerwahr, “Caste of Colony?” Nico Slate, Colored Cosmopolitanism W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction Ajantha Subramanian is Professor of Anthropology at CUNY Graduate Center and host of The Caste Pod. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

What if everything you were taught about history is not just incomplete but inverted? What if America is not the New World but the Old World? What if the Mississippi River is the real Nile and the Grand Canyon is the true Giza Plateau? What if Utah is Judah, the Great Salt Lake is the Dead Sea, and the Exodus did not happen in the Middle East but right here, on American soil? Tonight we enter territory that will challenge everything you think you know about where you live, who built the world around you, and why the truth has been buried. Taylor Durden, known online as Tao Lore, has spent years piecing together what he calls the hidden history. His research spans Tartaria, a worldwide civilization that mainstream historians barely acknowledge, to quantum biology, to the claim that at least five major resets have erased previous societies from memory, with a thousand years injected into the timeline to cover the deception. He connects the Moors, the A00 haplogroup, and the true builders of the magnificent architecture we see across the world. He asks why Ellis Island looks like a Moorish palace and why Middle Eastern city names are scattered across the United States. But Taylor goes further. He says the human body is the first quantum computer. He says parasites are inherited, feeding on fear and pride across generations. He says hospital birth severs us from past life memories and that the orphan trains of the 1800s were not charity but repopulation efforts after a reset wiped out the previous inhabitants. He speaks of clones, of NPCs walking among us without souls, of Archons who architect this dream reality we mistake for waking life. This is not comfortable territory. This is the deep end. And tonight, we are diving in.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit zeteo.comWith Iran having violently contained its protest movement and the US under Donald Trump having made violent threats against that country, the rest of us are now bombarded online with hot takes from right and left alike and endless and angry arguments over death tolls and foreign agitators.So in this ‘Mehdi Unfiltered' interview, Mehdi cuts through the noise and gets straight down to the facts with one of the world's leading authorities on Middle Eastern politics and Shia Islam – Vali Nasr.SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribeWATCH, LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO ‘WE'RE NOT KIDDING' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/were-not-kidding-with-mehdi-and-friendsFIND ZETEO:Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_newsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonewsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonewsFIND MEHDI:Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasanTwitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasanTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan

Judicial supremacy has been a frequent topic of conversation on the Anchoring Truths Podcast, but never before have we analyzed it from a comparative or international perpective. Yonatan Green, the author of Rogue Justice: the Rise of Judicial Supremacy in Israel, allows us to do both on the latest episode. Green's timely new book chronicles the experience of the Israeli Supreme Court's imposition of judicial supremacy on the Middle Eastern country and serves as something like a cautionary tale for Americans wary of living under judicial supremacy.Green is an Israeli-American attorney and Fellow at the Georgetown University Center for the Constitution. As the co-founder of the Israel Law & Liberty Forum, Green has been at the forefront of the debate over Israeli judicial reform.Buy the book from Amazon here.

Victoria Coates, VP of The Heritage Foundation & Former Deputy National Security Advisor, joins Sid to wish him a happy 10-year anniversary at WABC Radio, before she dives into all the news of the day pertaining to Middle Eastern affairs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HEADLINE 1: A delegation of Hamas officials arrived on Monday in…wait for it…Turkey.HEADLINE 2: This is not a parody: Hamas wants to be part of Gaza's new government.HEADLINE 3: The USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Middle Eastern waters yesterday.AND BONUS HEADLINE 4: The IDF is still hammering Hezbollah in Lebanon.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow Elliott Abrams, who formerly served as U.S. Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela.For all past episodes: https://bit.ly/3LENwPr--Featured FDD Pieces:"Israel's hostage agony finally ends — but its Gaza mission is far from over" - Mark Dubowitz, New York Post"Iranian Influence Operation Floods X With Anti-Protest Messaging" - Max Lesser and Maria Riofrio, FDD Policy Brief"Why Is Saudi Arabia Abandoning Peace?" - Hussain Abdul-Hussain, The National Interest

You're listening to American Ground Radio with Louis R. Avallone and Stephen Parr. This is the full show for January 27, 2026. 0:30 CNN reports new details in the fatal ICE shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota — but the real story may be what didn’t happen before his death. We break down how Pretti had already interfered with a federal ICE operation, suffered a broken rib during a prior confrontation, and was treated and released without apparent prosecution. We question why federal law enforcement didn’t arrest or detain him for obstructing officers. The lack of consequences emboldened him to return — this time armed. The discussion connects political rhetoric, anti-ICE messaging from elected officials, and the refusal to fully enforce the rule of law, warning that labeling federal agents as “fascists” or an “occupying force” doesn’t just inflame tensions — it authorizes defiance. A tragic death but not an unforeseeable one — and a stark example of how unchecked interference with law enforcement can turn deadly. 9:30 Plus, we cover the Top 3 Things You Need to Know. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled a lower court ruling that attempted to stop ICE from being able to operate when facing violent political opposition. President Trump has issued a new executive order designed to speed up the rebuilding process in California. A Texas woman has been arrested and charged with attempting to burn down a Republican Party Headquarters. 12:30 Get TrimROX from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 13:00 Trump’s proposed Board of Peace is sending shockwaves through the global diplomatic class — and that may be the point. We break down reports that dozens of countries are being asked to commit $1 billion each to join a Trump-led international coalition, bypassing the United Nations and traditional diplomatic institutions altogether. We explore what the money could fund, why many participating nations are Middle Eastern and Muslim countries with a direct stake in post-Hamas Gaza governance, and how the plan intersects with NATO, U.S. leverage, and even Trump’s surprising Greenland framework. The Board of Peace is a direct challenge to entrenched global bureaucracy — no UN committees, no lifetime ambassadors, no blank checks. Is Trump effectively dismantling the UN Security Council and replacing it with a results-driven alternative? 16:00 Should Don Lemon be in jail? The American Mamas don’t mince words. Teri Netterville and Kimberly Burelson react to video showing Don Lemon embedded with Black Lives Matter and anti-ICE activists as they disrupted a Christian church service in Minnesota. The discussion lays out why critics say Lemon wasn’t just “reporting,” but actively participating — from offering coffee and donuts beforehand to openly coordinating with BLM activist Nkeema Armstrong. As indictments are announced for protest ringleaders, we argue that interrupting a worship service violates the First Amendment, crosses into criminal obstruction, and terrorized families already on edge after recent church violence. We also question why conservative churches are targeted while mosques, synagogues, and black churches are left alone — and whether Lemon’s attempt to walk it back as journalism will hold up under the law. 23:00 A viral video featuring a registered nurse has ignited outrage and raised serious ethical questions about the medical profession. We react to a nurse who publicly wished medical harm on pregnant White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, invoking graphic childbirth trauma while claiming professional credibility. The discussion centers on the Nightingale Pledge, nursing ethics, and the duty of care that demands compassion over politics. This moment exposes how political rhetoric on the left has crossed from disagreement into dehumanization—where conservatives are no longer debated, but despised. As faith, morality, and professional standards collide, we warn this is not progress, but a dangerous moral regression with real-world consequences. 25:30 New 2025 crime data is turning the narrative on its head. According to the Council on Criminal Justice, violent crime is down across the board—with homicides dropping a stunning 21 percent nationwide, potentially marking the lowest murder rate in U.S. history. Gun assaults, robberies, and carjackings have all fallen by double digits, reversing the post-COVID crime surge and bringing rates back below 2019 levels. We Dig Deep into why crime is falling, rejecting claims that poverty drives violence and arguing instead that enforcement, certainty of punishment, tougher policing, National Guard deployments, and the deportation of violent gang members are making the difference. We give credit to a renewed focus on law and order under President Trump and warn the progress will only last if leaders continue to back police, prosecutors, and the rule of law. 32:00 Get Prodovite Plus from Victory Nutrition International for 20% off. Go to vni.life/agr and use the promo code AGR20. 32:30 A special guest joins us today, actor and faith advocate Kevin Sorbo, who’s launching a “Footsteps of Paul” Bible cruise through Greece and the Middle East. Sorbo explains how actually visiting places like Athens, Ephesus, Crete, and Mykonos brings the New Testament to life in a way no book or movie ever could. Reading Scripture in the very locations where the Apostle Paul preached, he says, changes everything. The discussion also gets real about modern culture: would Paul be celebrated today — or canceled? Sorbo doesn’t hesitate, arguing that faith, free speech, and basic morality are under attack, pointing to church disruptions, political extremism, and growing public apathy. It’s part travel, part Bible study, and part cultural wake-up call — a conversation that blends Christian faith, Western values, cancel culture, and spiritual revival. 9:30 Republicans just blocked a last-minute Democratic push to limit Donald Trump’s military authority in Venezuela, and the vote couldn’t have been closer. With a 215–215 tie in the House and a tie-breaking vote from J.D. Vance in the Senate, Trump’s ability to act without new congressional approval remains intact. It wasn’t really about constitutional checks and balances, but about Democrats trying to weaken Trump politically — even after what they call a successful operation against Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro with zero U.S. casualties. And we finish off with a story about how Barron Trump likely saved a friend's life. Articles: US President Donald Trump, world leaders sign Gaza Board of Peace's official charter Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds Dem judge rules only GOP district in NYC is 'unconstitutional' because it cuts out minority voters US Murder Rate Plunges To Lowest Level In Over 100 Years, Report Shows Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025 Update U.S. murder rate hits lowest level since 1900, report says Murders plummeted more than 20% in U.S. in 2025, study shows Hero Barron Trump ‘saved’ a woman’s life after learning she was being beaten by jealous man, court hears Follow us: americangroundradio.com Facebook: facebook.com / AmericanGroundRadio Instagram: instagram.com/americangroundradio See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the dramatic conclusion of this two-part special, Saul David and Patrick Bishop deconstruct the chaotic 99 minutes on the ground at Entebbe. The episode tracks the high-stakes assault from the moment the first Hercules landed in a tropical storm to the black Mercedes decoy and the controversial firefight that followed. Together they examine the tactical blunders and friendly fire tragedies that nearly jeopardised the mission, while featuring rare eyewitness accounts—including a startling claim that the German terrorists may have ultimately spared the hostages they were ordered to kill. Beyond the military feat, we explore the heavy price of the raid and its enduring political legacy. While the rescue of 101 hostages restored Israel's national pride and catapulted figures like the Netanyahu family into the political spotlight, it also left a trail of unanswered questions. From the secret diplomacy required to refuel the planes to the debate over whether this victory made regional peace harder to achieve, we analyse how a single hour in Uganda changed the face of special operations and Middle Eastern politics forever. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, Destiny Mohammad talks about her new album and why she calls herself a sound sculptress. And, KALW's Dore Stein shares some favorite songs by Middle Eastern artists.

Forget the hype - small merchants need tools that actually work when a line forms and a card won't tap. Andrew Helms, CEO USA at SumUp digs into a merchant-first approach that puts transparency, service, and growth at the center of payments. Andrew shares his unconventional path from Middle Eastern studies and consulting in Dubai to entrepreneurship, scaling Home Chef through acquisition, and ultimately leading SumUp's U.S. team from Boulder Colorado. That global lens shapes a practical strategy: localize for U.S. realities like tax complexity and tipping, keep pricing honest, and answer the phone when a sale is on the line.We unpack how SumUp's integrated ecosystem - payments, POS, invoicing, banking, lending, and loyalty - helps brick-and-mortar stores thrive. The spotlight is on inventory-heavy retail: convenience stores, liquor shops, toy and pet stores juggling large catalogs, aging stock, and tight margins. Andrew explains how POS plus loyalty surfaces what's expiring, what's stuck, and which promotions move units, turning shelf data into cash flow. He's candid about competitors' junk fees and makes the case for clear contracts and seven-day live support that's moving toward 24/7 coverage.Looking ahead, Andrew separates signal from noise on stablecoins, instant payments, and AI. Cross-border settlement and faster payouts hold real promise if they reach main street, while selective AI can power insights and smarter support without replacing the human layer. He also taps SumUp's global footprint for “crystal ball” learnings - from Brazil's Pix to London's kiosk boom - and shows how to translate those wins for U.S. merchants. We close with career advice to ask better questions and a call for ethics in payments: long-term success depends on enabling small businesses to build community, repeat revenue, and resilience. If you care about the future of main street retail, this conversation brings strategy you can use today.

Nathan and Ryan head into pure '60s pop chaos with Harum Scarum (1965), one of Elvis Presley's most baffling and colorful musical misfires. Cast as a reluctant action hero in a fictional Middle Eastern kingdom, Elvis sings, fights assassins, and stumbles through a plot that feels like a spy movie filtered through a Vegas revue. The hosts break down the film's camp appeal, questionable stereotypes, and why Harum Scarum often lands on “worst Elvis movie” lists—while still being weirdly fascinating as a time capsule of mid-'60s excess.

Performance and Works used with permission from the artist and venue. Pianist, guitarist and educator Ariel Kasler is a driving force behind the resurgence of jazz and classical music in Northwest Ohio in both his position as the pianist for the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and as the Artistic Director of the Orchard Guitar Festival. As the leader of his own quartet, he performs original jazz compositions and arrangements influenced by Middle Eastern, Jewish, and Israeli music as evidenced on 2015's Above the Sound, the 2022 release Make it Bloom and on this March 23rd, 2025 performance. Featuring Andrew Bishop on Saxophones, Jeff Halsey on Bass, Olman Piedra on Drums and Ariel Kasler on Guitar and Piano, it's the Ariel Kasler Quartet…Live at the Bop Stop.

Discover the Scriptures as they were first spoken, heard, and understood. The Bible Through Aramaic Eyes invites you to step beyond translation and into the living world of the language Jesus and the earliest believers used. Through careful linguistic insight, cultural context, and Semitic thought patterns, this course reveals depths of meaning often hidden in Greek and English renderings. You will encounter the Bible not as a distant text, but as a vibrant, Middle Eastern revelation—rich in nuance, rhythm, and sacred intention—transforming how you read, teach, and live the Word. For +200 in depth video teachings check our oline Video Academy  www.twinsbibilcalacademy.com/academy 

It's Friday, January 23rd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Iran makes large sums of money off the backs of persecuted Christians Iran has an open secret. Persecuting Christians is a booming business in the Muslim-majority nation, and the country is earning large sums of money from arresting Christ followers, reports International Christian Concern. Fines and bail amounts imposed by Iranian courts have reached hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years, financially crippling poor Christian families trying to keep their loved ones out of prison. For years, the Middle Eastern nation has targeted Christians for their faith in Christ through intimidation, physical abuse, and imprisonment. But what's often overlooked are the exorbitant bail amounts doled out to Christ followers simply to keep themselves out of jail. Joseph Shahbazian, leader of a Christian house church, was arrested in June 2020 for his Christian activities and given a bail amount of $163,000. After pleading with the court and handing over the deeds to his and his mother's apartments, the court accepted $109,000 on Shahbazian's behalf. Proverbs 22:22-23 says, "Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; For the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them." Shahbazian was released from prison in 2023 after serving a little more than a year in jail, but was rearrested in 2025 for his continued Christian activities and sentenced to an additional 10 years in jail. According to Open Doors, Iran is the sixth most difficult country worldwide for Christians. Trump ends all tax-funded research with aborted baby parts On January 22nd, the 53rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, President Donald Trump ended federal funding for research involving the use of aborted baby parts. It's a major victory for pro-life advocates that halts taxpayer support for such studies effective immediately, reports The Daily Wire. The National Institutes of Health announced the policy change on Thursday. The move prohibits the use of funds for research involving aborted baby parts obtained from elective abortions, while allowing ethical fetal tissue from sources such as miscarriages when donors consent. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said, “Someone who has had a miscarriage and wants to do a meaningful thing and they donate the tissue from the miscarriage to science, that's still allowed. The only ban is on, you have an abortion specifically to terminate the baby, and then the tissue then gets sold, that's what's being banned,” something he described as “morally abhorrent.” Rescue Resurrection protesters plead with Trump to ban abortion pill People from as far away as California and Georgia came to the nation's capital Thursday morning to plead with the Trump administration to ban the abortion kill pill, which is now easily available by mail and has led to a shocking increase of abortions following the Supreme Court's overturn of Roe v. Wade, reports LifeSiteNews.com. In the shadow of the U.S. Capitol dome, 20 people with Rescue Resurrection were arrested by United States Capitol Police outside the Health and Human Services headquarters as they sat down in the middle of the street. They were singing. RESCUE RESURRECTION: “Help us tell the nation we want a pro-life revolution. Help us tell the nation we want a pro-life revolution” POLICEMAN: “Everyone is now under arrest. You will be placed in handcuffs.” RESCUE RESURRECTION: “Ban the abortion pill!” POLICEMAN: “If you don't plan on being arrested, leave the street. If you don't plan on being arrested, you need to go onto the sidewalk.” Some of the members of Rescue Resurrection had been incarcerated under the F.A.C.E. Act by the Biden Justice Department and then pardoned by President Donald Trump. Elderly pro-life icon Joan Andrews Bell was kneeling before a group of police carried her off of the street and cuffed her. (Watch the video of the arrest through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com). Emily Berning, president of Let Them Live, said, “The chemical abortion pill has become the chemical coat hanger, and the bathroom has become the new back alley. The abortion pill is twenty-two times more dangerous than the FDA told the American people. When the truth is buried, women are the ones who bleed in silence. “And that is why we're standing here outside HHS. HHS is not a bystander in this. HHS has the authority to regulate and the power to act, [yet] they still have allowed a dangerous drug to remain on the market.” JD Vance & Second Lady announce they're expecting fourth child Second Lady Usha Vance announced she is pregnant and will deliver a boy  in late July, according to a Tuesday statement on social media. This will be the fourth child for Vice President J.D. Vance and Usha, and their third son. U.S. to gain “total access” to Greenland without payment On January 22nd, President Donald Trump said that the United States is negotiating an arrangement to secure full access to Greenland with no payment in return and unconstrained by any time limit, reports the Epoch Times. He appeared on Fox Business with Maria Bartiromo. Listen. BARTIROMO: “So, what are we talking about? An acquisition of Greenland? Are you going to pay for it?” TRUMP: “Essentially, it's total access. There's no end. There's no time limit. We're not doing, you know, the famous '99-year' deals that you hear about. Countries go on longer. I noticed the stock market went up pretty substantially after we announced it.” BARTIROMO: “The [Gross Domestic Product] of Greenland is like $3.3 billion, but people are valuing Greenland between $50 billion and almost a trillion [dollars]. So, what are you willing to pay for Greenland?” TRUMP: “Well, I'm not going to have to pay anything.” The president has described U.S control of the Arctic island as critical to both national and international security.  Indeed, Greenland will be an essential property to facilitate the much-anticipated Golden Dome, the U.S. missile defense system that will destroy enemy missiles before they launch or while they are in flight. It will be patterned after Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. TRUMP: “We're going to have total access to Greenland. We're going to have all military access that we want. We're going to be able to put what we need on Greenland. We're talking about national security and international security. We are building the Golden Dome, and it'll be Israel times probably a hundred.” 7 Democrats voted with GOP to pass DHS/ICE spending bill Seven Democrats voted with Republicans on Thursday to pass a Department of Homeland Security spending bill, despite opposition from their own Democratic leadership, reports Fox News. The DHS bill will be bundled alongside three other spending bills, totaling a combined $1.2 trillion in federal spending. The entire package's passing is a significant step toward averting a government shutdown come January 30th. It passed in a 220-207 vote with the help of seven Democrats. Only one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voted in opposition.  According to TheHill.com, the seven Democrats who sided with Republicans were Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Perez of Washington, Laura Gillen of New York, Don Davis of North Carolina, Tom Suozzi of New York and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas. Anniversary of hymnwriter deaths who wrote “Holy, holy, holy” and “Jesus Loves Me” And finally, we recognize the anniversary of the deaths of two Christian hymnwriters, both of whom died on January 22nd. John Dykes, who died on January 22, 1876, composed the music to the hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!"  sung here by Shane & Shane. SHANE AND SHANE: “Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in Earth, and sky, and sea; Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.” Isaiah 6:3 says, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole Earth is full of His glory.” And on January 22, 1915, Anna Bartlett Warner, the author of "Jesus Loves Me", died.  Listen to the lesser known second verse with the chorus, sung by Nathan Drake of Reawaken Hymns. (Learn more about him here). DRAKE: “Jesus loves me He who died Heaven's gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in. (Refrain) “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.” 1 John 4:19 says, "We love because [Christ] first loved us." Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, January 23rd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness says Massive Shortage: The nation faces a shortage of over 7 million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income renters. Income Gap Widening: Homebuyers need to earn significantly more than the average worker to afford a median-priced home, creating a substantial affordability gap.   Before starting his entrepreneurial journey, Jesse Sells had a remarkable career as a Combat Aviation Advisor and Intelligence Analyst in Air Force Special Operations. He spent years briefing three- and four-star generals and deploying alongside foreign military partners. Whether he was delivering strategic insights to high-ranking military leaders or sharing living quarters with Middle Eastern allies—where days were filled with Arabic conversation, tea rituals, and detailed mission planning—Jesse's experiences fostered a unique blend of leadership, cultural intelligence, and strategic communication. Sells is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Impact Growth Capital, where he manages the daily operations of a diverse portfolio of properties and companies. With a strong passion for creating meaningful change, Jesse connects strategic vision with concrete results. His focus ensures that each project not only achieves its goals but also positively impacts communities and the wider market.   For more information: https://impactgrowthcap.com/  LinkedIn: @JesseSells Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SEGMENT 14: EMERGING SUNNI OR ISLAMIC NATO IN ASIA Guest: Gregory Copley Copley explores the potential formation of a new security alliance among Sunni Muslim nations in Asia. Discussion covers the strategic drivers behind such a coalition, which countries might participate, how this Islamic NATO could reshape regional power dynamics, and implications for Western alliances and Middle Eastern stability.

SHOW SCHEDULE 1-20-20251907 GREENLANDSEGMENT 1: RETAIL SALES AND ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Guest: Liz Peek Strong retail sales signal consumer confidence as Trump takes office. Peek discusses holiday spending numbers, the stock market's performance, and economic expectations for the new administration. Conversation touches on inflation pressures, interest rate concerns, and whether the economy's momentum can continue under new policy directions.SEGMENT 2: MARKETS AND GREENLAND CONTROVERSY Guest: Liz Peek Peek analyzes market reactions to the incoming administration and addresses Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. Discussion covers the strategic importance of Greenland's resources and location, European responses to the proposal, and how this diplomatic imbroglio fits into broader economic and geopolitical considerations facing the new term.SEGMENT 3: EUROPEAN FRUSTRATION WITH TRUMP'S RETURN Guest: Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Berlin), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Dempsey assesses European anxiety as Trump begins his second term. Discussion covers EU economic stagnation, Germany's struggling industrial base, and widespread frustration among European leaders unprepared for renewed American pressure on trade, defense spending, and NATO commitments. McCotter joins from Detroit offering domestic political perspective.SEGMENT 4: EU ECONOMY AND TRANSATLANTIC TENSIONS Guest: Judy Dempsey (Carnegie Berlin), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Continued analysis of Europe's economic malaise and political uncertainty ahead of German elections. Dempsey examines how EU leadership plans to navigate Trump's transactional approach to alliances, concerns over tariffs and energy policy, and whether Europe can muster unified responses to American demands on defense and trade.SEGMENT 5: POWELL VS. TRUMP ON MONETARY POLICY Guest: Joseph Sternberg (London) Sternberg analyzes the brewing conflict between Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and President Trump over interest rate policy. Discussion examines Trump's public criticism of Powell, the Fed's independence, inflation concerns, and how this tension between the White House and central bank could shape economic policy and market confidence.SEGMENT 6: STARMER'S LEADERSHIP FAILURES AND CHINA EMBASSY CONCERNS Guest: Joseph Sternberg (London) Sternberg critiques Prime Minister Keir Starmer's struggling leadership and lack of clear direction for Britain. Discussion turns to Starmer's belated scrutiny of China's massive new London embassy complex, raising security concerns about the sprawling diplomatic compound and questions about why earlier governments permitted its construction without adequate review.SEGMENT 7: IRAN EXECUTIONS AND TRUMP'S PROMISE OF HELP Guest: Jonathan Schanzer (Washington, DC) Schanzer reports on the surge of executions inside Iran as the regime cracks down on dissent. Discussion covers Trump's remarks signaling support for the Iranian people, the brutal nature of the regime's repression, recent execution numbers, and whether American policy shifts could aid those suffering under Tehran's authoritarian rule.SEGMENT 8: GAZA CEASEFIRE AND POSTWAR GOVERNANCE Guest: Jonathan Schanzer (Washington, DC) Schanzer examines the fragile Gaza ceasefire and critical questions about who will govern after the fighting ends. Discussion analyzes the proposed makeup of any postwar governing board, the challenges of reconstruction, Hamas's continued presence, and regional players jockeying for influence over Gaza's future political arrangements.SEGMENT 9: GREENLAND STRATEGY AND ARCTIC AMBITIONS Guest: Mary Kissel (Former Senior Adviser to Secretary Pompeo) Kissel offers insider perspective on Trump's renewed push for Greenland, drawing on her State Department experience. Discussion examines the strategic rationale behind the proposal, Arctic security concerns, Danish and European reactions, and whether this represents serious policy or negotiating leverage for broader geopolitical objectives.SEGMENT 10: GAZA DIPLOMACY AND INVITATIONS TO ADVERSARIES Guest: Mary Kissel Kissel analyzes the peculiar diplomatic landscape surrounding Gaza negotiations, including controversial outreach to bad actors like Putin. Discussion questions the wisdom of engaging hostile powers in Middle East peacemaking, the signals this sends to allies, and how the new administration might reshape these diplomatic approaches going forward.SEGMENT 11: JAPAN'S SNAP ELECTION UNDER PM TAKAICHI Guest: Lance Gatling (Tokyo), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Gatling reports from Tokyo on Prime Minister Takaichi's decision to call snap elections. Discussion covers the political calculations behind this move, Takaichi's nationalist stance, implications for US-Japan relations under the new Trump administration, and how Japanese voters are responding to shifting domestic and regional dynamics.SEGMENT 12: CHINA'S GROWING THREAT TO JAPAN Guest: Lance Gatling (Tokyo), Co-Host: Thaddeus McCotter Gatling assesses the mounting Chinese military threat facing Japan, including naval provocations and airspace incursions. Discussion examines Japan's defense posture, increased military spending, the importance of the US-Japan alliance in deterring Beijing, and how Tokyo views the security landscape with Trump returning to the White House.SEGMENT 13: NATO'S DECLINE AND THE GREENLAND CRISIS Guest: Gregory Copley Copley argues the Greenland controversy reveals deeper fractures signaling NATO's erosion. Discussion examines how the alliance has weakened through neglect and diverging interests, European defensiveness over Arctic claims, and whether the transatlantic security architecture built after World War II can survive current political and strategic pressures.SEGMENT 14: EMERGING SUNNI OR ISLAMIC NATO IN ASIA Guest: Gregory Copley Copley explores the potential formation of a new security alliance among Sunni Muslim nations in Asia. Discussion covers the strategic drivers behind such a coalition, which countries might participate, how this Islamic NATO could reshape regional power dynamics, and implications for Western alliances and Middle Eastern stability.SEGMENT 15: GREAT POWERS VERSUS SMALL STATES IN STRATEGIC THINKING Guest: Gregory Copley Copley contrasts how great powers often act impulsively while smaller states analyze carefully before moving. Discussion examines the hubris of major nations shooting from the hip on foreign policy, the advantages smaller countries gain through meticulous strategic calculation, and lessons for American policymakers in an increasingly complex world.SEGMENT 16: THE CALMING POWER OF KINGSHIP Guest: Gregory Copley Copley offers praise for monarchical systems as stabilizing forces in nations facing discontent. Discussion examines how kingship provides continuity, national unity, and legitimacy that elected leaders often cannot muster, with examples of how constitutional monarchies successfully navigate political turbulence and maintain social cohesion during crises.

Three young boys are killed by a car bomb, their mother Doreen and older brother in the front seat are the only survivors. Detectives Goren and Eames learn Paul Whitlock developed a new kind of land mine and his wife had spotted some threatening-looking Middle Eastern men before the blast.  But there are indications the pipe bomb was built in their garage and someone swept it up. Bobby and Alex suspect the depressed Doreen blew up the car in a murder/suicide attempt.ADA Ron Carver insists the overbearing husband is their best suspect. The detectives find a space heater Doreen tampered with to leak carbon monoxide. The overwhelmed mother confesses she wanted to take the children to heaven with her, where she could be a better parent. But Goren and Eames discover the cold-blooded Whitlock knew Doreen wanted to die and was fine if she did - he just didn't know the children would get hurt. Enraged at his cruelty, the detectives insist Carver hold him legally responsible, but he says there's no crime in not stopping your wife from killing herself and her family.We're talking about Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 4 episode 7 “Magnificat.” Our returning guest is Katie from the A Date with Dateline podcast.Plot points in this episode are inspired by the 2001 case of Andrea Yates. For exclusive content from Kevin and Rebecca, sign up on Patreon.This show was recorded in The Caitlin Rogers Project Studio. Click to find out more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 459 of Hidden Forces is the twelfth episode in the Hundred Year Pivot podcast series. In it, Demetri Kofinas and Grant Williams speak with Kamran Bokhari, a strategic forecaster and geopolitical analyst who specializes on the Middle Eastern and Eurasia, about Iran's nationwide protests, what they reveal about the power and stability of the Iranian regime, and what the state of Iranian affairs portends for Iran's future, the region's geopolitics, and the strategic considerations and objectives of the United States. The conversation's opening hour traces Iran's modern formation—beginning in the early 1900s with the Constitutional Revolution, moving through the 1953 coup and the Shah's rule, and culminating in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and its aftermath. Kamran walks the audience through the evolution of Iran's dual military structure, explaining the critical distinction between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular armed forces (Artesh), and how the IRGC grew from an ideological militia into an oversized parallel state controlling everything from telecommunications to Iran's nuclear program, while becoming increasingly corrupt and internally divided. The second hour is devoted to analyzing the current protests engulfing Iran, how they differ from previous uprisings, and the implications for a severely weakened IRGC following Israel's dismantling of its proxy network, the relentless targeting of its commanders, and its failure to secure the safety of its own citizens from Israeli reprisals. They explore the regime's internal factionalization, the role of the merchant class in these protests, the potential pathways forward—from managed regime decay to military intervention to outright chaos—and the cascading effects that Iran's instability could have on its neighbors, from Turkey and Azerbaijan to Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Joining our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 01/15/2026

Episode 459 of Hidden Forces is the twelfth episode in the Hundred Year Pivot podcast series. In it, Demetri Kofinas and Grant Williams speak with Kamran Bokhari, a strategic forecaster and geopolitical analyst who specializes on the Middle Eastern and Eurasia, about Iran's nationwide protests, what they reveal about the power and stability of the Iranian regime, and what the state of Iranian affairs portends for Iran's future, the region's geopolitics, and the strategic considerations and objectives of the United States. The conversation's opening hour traces Iran's modern formation—beginning in the early 1900s with the Constitutional Revolution, moving through the 1953 coup and the Shah's rule, and culminating in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and its aftermath. Kamran walks the audience through the evolution of Iran's dual military structure, explaining the critical distinction between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular armed forces (Artesh), and how the IRGC grew from an ideological militia into an oversized parallel state controlling everything from telecommunications to Iran's nuclear program, while becoming increasingly corrupt and internally divided. The second hour is devoted to analyzing the current protests engulfing Iran, how they differ from previous uprisings, and the implications for a severely weakened IRGC following Israel's dismantling of its proxy network, the relentless targeting of its commanders, and its failure to secure the safety of its own citizens from Israeli reprisals. They explore the regime's internal factionalization, the role of the merchant class in these protests, the potential pathways forward—from managed regime decay to military intervention to outright chaos—and the cascading effects that Iran's instability could have on its neighbors, from Turkey and Azerbaijan to Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. Subscribe to our premium content—including our premium feed, episode transcripts, and Intelligence Reports—by visiting HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you'd like to join the conversation and become a member of the Hidden Forces Genius community—with benefits like Q&A calls with guests, exclusive research and analysis, in-person events, and dinners—you can also sign up on our subscriber page at HiddenForces.io/subscribe. If you enjoyed today's episode of Hidden Forces, please support the show by: Subscribing on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, CastBox, or via our RSS Feed Writing us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Joining our mailing list at https://hiddenforces.io/newsletter/ Producer & Host: Demetri Kofinas Editor & Engineer: Stylianos Nicolaou Subscribe and support the podcast at https://hiddenforces.io. Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @hiddenforcespod Follow Demetri on Twitter at @Kofinas Episode Recorded on 01/15/2026

How does Greece's Byzantine and Ottoman past shape its future? In this episode, Helen Carr speaks to journalist and author Sean Matthews about Greece's shifting geopolitical role and alliances. Caught between wars raging in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East, Greece is an island of relative stability. Popularly considered the cradle of Western civilization, this is a Christian Orthodox state on the edge of the Islamic world. And, after a half-century of integration into NATO and the EU, Greece is now reabsorbing into the Near East, as the West fractures and new Middle Eastern powers rise. As Greek-American journalist Sean Matthews argues, the country's importance as a cultural and geopolitical hybrid is growing. Sean is a Greek-American journalist who has covered a wide swath of the Middle East.  He is a correspondent with Middle East Eye, and has also written for The Economist and Al-Monitor, among others. The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East is his first book. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

 Donald Trump publicly praised Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa -- a former commander of the al-Qaeda-aligned al-Nusra Front -- during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, offering one of his most direct endorsements of the ex-jihadi leader to date. Trump has repeatedly acknowledged al-Sharaa's shift from a senior al-Nusra Front figure to Syria's transitional president, previously describing the Middle Eastern leader as "young" and "attractive" in public remarks.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trump freezes immigration from over 70 countries; Deranged Libs find a new low to stoop to; and the U.S. evacuates a major Middle Eastern military base amid tensions in Iran. Watch VINCE Live on Rumble - Mon-Fri 10AM ET ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://rumble.com/vince⁠ FBI Raids Home of Washington Post Reporter in Classified Docs Probe ⁠https://justthenews.com/accountability/media/washington-post-says-fbi-searched-reporters-home-classified-documents-probe⁠ Woke Democrats' Viral Anti-ICE Claim Gets Debunked With Video Footage ⁠https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/01/13/woke-tn-democrat-has-viral-claim-about-ice-debunked-after-dashcam-video-drops-n2198089⁠ Iran Uprisings Turn Deadlier as Regime Reportedly Targets the Wounded and Hospitals ⁠https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/01/14/iran-hospital-atrocities-n2669439⁠ Sponsors: Kalshi - ⁠https://kalshi.com/vince⁠ Patriot Mobile - ⁠https://patriotmobile.com/Vince⁠ Zippix - ⁠https://ZippixToothpicks.com⁠  code: Vince Bon Charge - ⁠https://boncharge.com⁠ code: VINCE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of The Truth In This Art, the guest is Phaan Howng!Who is Phaan Howng: Phaan Howng is a Taiwanese American multidisciplinary artist who lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland. Howng creates lush, vegetal paintings and installations that examine the various historical perplexities within human-plant relationships, particularly humans' desire to control and tame nature. Her work, Big Ass Snakes on a Plane, is currently on view publicly in the Station North Arts and Entertainment District in Baltimore as one of the installations in the public arts initiative Inviting Light. In this episode, Phaan shares her story. Phaan shares her start moving from Florida to North Carolina to settling in her current base of Baltimore all while explore art as a career. Howng discusses what it was like finding her multidisciplinary approach to making art and her curiosity with plants. Howng describes some highlights from 2025 including her work, Big Ass Snakes on a Plane, and her work curating EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS, which features the work of 25 artists of the APIMEDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, and Desi American)  diaspora who live and create in the Baltimore and the DMV area.  Be sure to check out Big Ass Snakes on a Plane in the Start North Arts district. Phaan's website is https://www.phaan.com/ Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★

Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with elements of the Saudi royal family has long hovered in the background of the scandal, rarely explored with the seriousness it deserves. Epstein moved easily within elite Gulf circles during the 1990s and early 2000s, cultivating relationships with Saudi businessmen, royals, and intelligence-adjacent figures under the same vague cover he used everywhere else: finance, philanthropy, and “advising” powerful people. His access was not casual. Epstein traveled repeatedly to Saudi Arabia, hosted Saudi nationals at his properties, and was known to facilitate introductions between Middle Eastern elites and Western political and financial figures. As with many of his relationships, the exact nature of the services he provided remains opaque, but the pattern is familiar: proximity to power, insulation from scrutiny, and an ability to operate across borders with little interference from U.S. authorities.The most disturbing and concrete piece of evidence tying Epstein to Saudi state-level protection surfaced after his 2019 arrest, when law enforcement discovered he was in possession of a Saudi passport. The passport listed a false name but included his photograph, raising immediate red flags about who issued it, why it existed, and how Epstein obtained it. This was not a novelty item or souvenir. Saudi passports are tightly controlled state documents, and possession of one by a non-citizen under an alias strongly suggests official facilitation rather than private forgery. Epstein claimed he used it for travel in the Middle East, yet no serious public accounting has ever been given for how a convicted sex offender and alleged intelligence-linked financier ended up holding sovereign identity documents from a foreign monarchy. Like so much of the Epstein story, the discovery was quickly noted, then quietly sidelined, leaving unanswered questions about foreign intelligence ties, diplomatic cover, and how deep Epstein's international protection network truly went.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with elements of the Saudi royal family has long hovered in the background of the scandal, rarely explored with the seriousness it deserves. Epstein moved easily within elite Gulf circles during the 1990s and early 2000s, cultivating relationships with Saudi businessmen, royals, and intelligence-adjacent figures under the same vague cover he used everywhere else: finance, philanthropy, and “advising” powerful people. His access was not casual. Epstein traveled repeatedly to Saudi Arabia, hosted Saudi nationals at his properties, and was known to facilitate introductions between Middle Eastern elites and Western political and financial figures. As with many of his relationships, the exact nature of the services he provided remains opaque, but the pattern is familiar: proximity to power, insulation from scrutiny, and an ability to operate across borders with little interference from U.S. authorities.The most disturbing and concrete piece of evidence tying Epstein to Saudi state-level protection surfaced after his 2019 arrest, when law enforcement discovered he was in possession of a Saudi passport. The passport listed a false name but included his photograph, raising immediate red flags about who issued it, why it existed, and how Epstein obtained it. This was not a novelty item or souvenir. Saudi passports are tightly controlled state documents, and possession of one by a non-citizen under an alias strongly suggests official facilitation rather than private forgery. Epstein claimed he used it for travel in the Middle East, yet no serious public accounting has ever been given for how a convicted sex offender and alleged intelligence-linked financier ended up holding sovereign identity documents from a foreign monarchy. Like so much of the Epstein story, the discovery was quickly noted, then quietly sidelined, leaving unanswered questions about foreign intelligence ties, diplomatic cover, and how deep Epstein's international protection network truly went.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Small Bites Radio Episode 201 - Passport to Flavor by Chef Abby Cheshire and Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes by Helen Goh This week on Small Bites Radio, we serve up a global, soulful, and very Philly centric packed with culinary inspiration and big city excitement. We kick things off celebrating Philadelphia's upcoming 250th anniversary, along with the incredible lineup of major events heading our way including FIFA World Cup matches, the MLB All-Star Game, and another triumphant year for Donato, who takes first place once again at the Mummers Parade. Our featured guest is social media sensation Chef Abby Cheshire, private yacht chef, culinary arts teacher, and creator behind the wildly popular @abbyinthegalley with over 4 million social media followers! Abby joins us to talk about her upcoming cookbook, Passport to Flavor: 100 Global Dishes You Can Make Anywhere published by Harper Celebrate, releasing January 20, 2026. Drawing from her years cooking aboard luxury yachts around the world, Abby shares how home cooks can create vibrant international dishes in any kitchen no matter the size. From the Mediterranean and Caribbean to Asia and Europe, her recipes are infused with regional flavors, fresh local ingredients, and practical tips for cooking in small spaces. We also chat about her life teaching high school students during the year, summers spent at sea, her love of global food culture, and even her dream of cooking for Ina Garten how she should meet Extreme Chef Terry French and her life cooking and living in Florida. The episode also features acclaimed pastry chef and writer Helen Goh, who joins us to discuss her highly anticipated debut solo cookbook, Baking and the Meaning of Life: How to Find Joy in 100 Recipes published by Abrams Books. Known for her longtime collaboration with Yotam Ottolenghi on Sweet and Comfort, Helen shares how her multicultural upbringing in Malaysia and Australia, her Mediterranean and Middle Eastern baking influences, and her work as a trained psychologist shape both her recipes and her philosophy. From showstopping celebration cakes to comforting everyday bakes and even savory treats Helen explores how baking fosters connection, community, and joy in life's biggest and smallest moments. It's an episode filled with travel, storytelling, meaningful food, and Philly pride only on Small Bites Radio. #ChefAbbyCheshire #AbbyInTheGalley #PassportToFlavor #GlobalCuisine #CookbookRelease #HelenGoh #BakingAndTheMeaningOfLife #Ottolenghi #BakingLife #CookbookLove #CulinaryTravel #FoodAroundTheWorld #YachtChef #GlobalEats #PhillyEats #PhillyFoodScene #Philadelphia250 #PhillyPride #FIFAinPhilly #MLBAllStarPhilly #MummersParade #DonatoWins Small Bites Radio is the WINNER of Metro Philly Newspaper Best of Philadelphia Arts & Entertainment 2023-2025, nominated by Metro Philly Newspaper 2022 Best of Arts & Entertainment, named Top Hospitality Shows on the Planet from 2020–2025, #Bluejeanfood.com named Top Philadelphia Best Philadelphia Lifestyle Blogs and Websites from 2021-2025, Best Philly Food Blogs and Websites 2023-25, and Top Philly Food RSS Feeds 2024-2025. Again, in 2025, Small Bites with Donato Marino and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com was blown away by winning the Best of the Best in the Philadelphia Region Arts & Entertainment category out of 80,000 votes tallied in total through Metro Philly's Best of Philadelphia for 2025. Truly appreciate everyone who voted for us. We would be thrilled if you voted for us again in 2026. As usual don't forget to listen to the #1 listed “Food Radio Show Philadelphia” and the #1 listed “Food Radio Show South Jersey” Small Bites Radio. For a list of guests who have appeared on the show and more information click below: http://www.bluejeanfood.com/smallbitesradio #foodradioshowphiladelphia #FoodRadioShowSouthJersey #tophospitalityshow #foodradio #foodradioshow #topphiladelphialifestyle #toplisted #bestfood #bestpodcast #bestofphilly #bestphillyblog #bestfoodfeed #bestphillyartsentertainment #metrophillybest

The Valley: Persian Style might be one of the best new shows out right now and we're breaking down exactly why. From the OGs they brought back to the spot-on casting, this show had us hooked immediately. We're already fully invested in every new person and couple, and the mix of Middle Eastern culture, real marriage struggles, tested friendships, over-the-top parties, and honest parenting dynamics makes it a 10/10 must-watch. On today's episode, we recap the first two episodes and give our unfiltered opinions on what each cast member is dealing with. We talk marriages under pressure, friendships being pushed to the limit, wrong moves that are already causing tension, and what we think is coming next. If you're watching The Valley: Persian Style or thinking about starting, this episode is for you. Follow Us On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Us On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon ⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: What is tramadol and how does it work? Tramadol is a Schedule IV opioid analgesic used for moderate pain and is often perceived as safer than other opioids due to lower abuse potential. It is a prodrug with weak direct μ-opioid receptor activity. The parent compound also inhibits serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, giving it SSRI/SNRI-like properties. Tramadol is metabolized by CYP2D6 into O-desmethyltramadol (ODT), which has significantly stronger μ-opioid receptor agonism than the parent drug. What are the concerns with tramadol? Ultrarapid CYP2D6 metabolizers (more common in Middle Eastern and North African populations) rapidly convert tramadol to ODT, increasing the risk of opioid toxicity. Poor CYP2D6 metabolizers generate little ODT and may experience primarily serotonergic effects, increasing the risk of serotonin syndrome, especially when combined with SSRIs or SNRIs. CYP2D6 inhibitors (e.g., bupropion, paroxetine, terbinafine, celecoxib) can block tramadol's conversion to ODT, potentially precipitating opioid withdrawal or increasing serotonergic toxicity. Tramadol is also associated with an increased risk of first-time seizures, even at therapeutic doses. Key takeaways Tramadol's effects are highly unpredictable, varying from minimal analgesia to exaggerated opioid effects depending on metabolism. Drug–drug interactions can lead to serotonin syndrome or opioid withdrawal. Despite its Schedule IV classification and reputation for safety, alternative analgesics may be preferable in many patients. References DailyMed - TRAMADOL HYDROCHLORIDE tablet, coated. Accessed January 10, 2026. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=61fb5ba7-6896-4ee4-83de-caee69b06a8e#ID57 Dean L, Kane M. Tramadol Therapy and CYP2D6 Genotype. In: Pratt VM, Scott SA, Pirmohamed M, Esquivel B, Kattman BL, Malheiro AJ, eds. Medical Genetics Summaries. National Center for Biotechnology Information (US); 2012. Accessed January 10, 2026. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK315950/ Aly SM, Tartar O, Sabaouni N, Hennart B, Gaulier JM, Allorge D. Tramadol-Related Deaths: Genetic Analysis in Relation to Metabolic Ratios. J Anal Toxicol. 2022;46(7):791-796. doi:10.1093/jat/bkab096 Summarized and edited by Dan Orbidan OMS2 Donate: https://emergencymedicalminute.org/donate/ Join our mailing list: http://eepurl.com/c9ouHf  

Donara Jaghinyan – Transformation and Integration Leader Donara Jaghinyan, returns for Part 2 of our conversation on what actually breaks integrations after the deal closes. This episode tackles the messy reality of post-merger execution: integration debt that piles up when long-tail items don't get done, change management as a practical framework (not corporate fluff), and the cultural friction that surfaces in cross-border deals. Donara shares firsthand experiences navigating gender-based hierarchy in Middle Eastern TSA negotiations, building trust across geographies, and managing the communication breakdowns that create employee uncertainty. If you missed Part 1, listen to that first—then come back for the operational realities that determine whether your deal actually delivers value. Things You'll Learn What integration debt actually is and why long-tail items get forgotten six months post-close without a formal tracking system Change management as a framework, not fluff—identifying friction points, enabling change agents, and communicating up to seven times before messages reach end users Cross-border cultural challenges that don't show up in diligence, including hierarchy-based decision-making and relationship-building strategies that work globally  _____________

The conversation covers the historical emergence of Algeria as a political and territorial unit, starting in the Ottoman period in the 16th century. Key pivotal moments in Algerian history are highlighted, including French colonialism beginning in 1830, which led to a settler colonial project, the rise of the modern mass nationalist movement in the interwar period, the War of National Liberation (1954–1962), and the decade of violence in the 1990s. The latter half of the conversation focuses on the "Worlds of Islam," emphasizing a polycentric history with no single center. A historian, professor at the University of Oxford, and author of books "A History of Algeria" and "The Worlds of Islam: A Global History", James McDougall details the diverse "technologies" of Islam's spread, including its compelling initial mission, the appeal of social mobility for non-Arabs, trade networks, and the influence of Sufism. He also discusses the historical roots of Islamophobia, which is traced to the 19th-century colonial moment. He discusses why he was drawn to studying Algeria, a country he notes is often ignored in Middle East studies and is known as "the land of a million martyrs" for its iconic history of resistance to colonialism.  0:00 Introduction2:08 Intellectual Curiosity and Addressing Poor Understanding of the Region7:37 When Did Algeria Begin to Exist? Debunking the Colonial Narrative12:38 Pivotal Moments in Algerian History13:48 The Ottoman Period (16th–19th Century) and Connection to the Levant16:29 Settler Colonialism Under the French (1830 Onwards)19:46 The War of National Liberation (1954–1962)20:41 The Violence of the 1990s21:35 Is the War of Independence Connected to the 1990s Civil Strife?23:34 The Legacy of French Colonial Misunderstanding and Racism31:27 Algeria as an Anti-Colonial Symbol Across the Arab World32:18 Leadership of the Algerian Revolution38:37 The Worlds of Islam: A Polycentric Global History46:05 Technologies of Islam's Spread49:18 Muslims as a Minority in the Middle East After the Early Conquests53:15 Why Islam Did Not Spread Everywhere Earlier55:20 The Historical Development of IslamophobiaReadings on Global history and Islamic history:Josephine Quinn, How the World Made the West: A 4000 Year History (2024)Cemil Aydin, The Idea of the Muslim World: A Global Intellectual History (2017) Readings on Algeria:Natalya Vince, The Algerian War, the Algerian Revolution (2020)Malika Rahal, Algérie 1962, une histoire populaire (2022)Jeffrey James Byrne, Mecca of Revolution: Algeria, Decolonization, and the Third World Order (2016)Thomas Serres, The Suspended Disaster: Governing by Crisis in Bouteflika's Algeria (2023)Muriam Haleh Davis, Markets of Civilization: Islam and Racial Capitalism in Algeria (2022)Christopher Silver, Recording History: Jews, Muslims and Music across 20th century North Africa (2022)Sara Rahnema, The Future is Feminist: Women and Social Change in Interwar Algeria (2023) Arthur Asseraf, Electric News in Colonial Algeria (2019) James Robert McDougall is a British historian and Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Oxford and Laithwaite Fellow in History at Trinity College, Oxford. His research mainly addresses the modern and contemporary Mediterranean; Middle Eastern, African and Islamic history, especially Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, but also the history of European imperialism in the Arab world, modern Arab intellectual and political history, and the global history of Islam since c.1700; the French colonial empire in Africa; the Sahara; nationalism and revolutionary movements in Asia and Africa; comparative imperial history; historiography and critical theory.  Hosted by: Mikey Muhanna

Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with elements of the Saudi royal family has long hovered in the background of the scandal, rarely explored with the seriousness it deserves. Epstein moved easily within elite Gulf circles during the 1990s and early 2000s, cultivating relationships with Saudi businessmen, royals, and intelligence-adjacent figures under the same vague cover he used everywhere else: finance, philanthropy, and “advising” powerful people. His access was not casual. Epstein traveled repeatedly to Saudi Arabia, hosted Saudi nationals at his properties, and was known to facilitate introductions between Middle Eastern elites and Western political and financial figures. As with many of his relationships, the exact nature of the services he provided remains opaque, but the pattern is familiar: proximity to power, insulation from scrutiny, and an ability to operate across borders with little interference from U.S. authorities.The most disturbing and concrete piece of evidence tying Epstein to Saudi state-level protection surfaced after his 2019 arrest, when law enforcement discovered he was in possession of a Saudi passport. The passport listed a false name but included his photograph, raising immediate red flags about who issued it, why it existed, and how Epstein obtained it. This was not a novelty item or souvenir. Saudi passports are tightly controlled state documents, and possession of one by a non-citizen under an alias strongly suggests official facilitation rather than private forgery. Epstein claimed he used it for travel in the Middle East, yet no serious public accounting has ever been given for how a convicted sex offender and alleged intelligence-linked financier ended up holding sovereign identity documents from a foreign monarchy. Like so much of the Epstein story, the discovery was quickly noted, then quietly sidelined, leaving unanswered questions about foreign intelligence ties, diplomatic cover, and how deep Epstein's international protection network truly went.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Mark Rubin, Jew of Oklahoma is an Okie making music that’s mostly Americana and Bluegrass with a hint of Klezmer, Eastern European, and Middle Eastern flavors. His songs are often political, seeking to reach people’s hearts and minds with messages of conscience.  His new album is Dispatches: Songs from a World Gone Mad. Mark is a direct communicator.  Talking with him, listening to his music, one never has to wonder what he’s saying, he is as clear as a bell in his messaging.  His intentions shine brightly! Musically he’s about as down home as you’re going to find anywhere. • Mark Rubin on YouTube Music by: Mark Rubin The post Mark Rubin – “Dispatches: Songs from a World Gone Mad” appeared first on Paradigms Podcast.

Ilay Karateke is the co-founder and CEO of Bezi, the labneh brand on a mission to make the Middle Eastern spreadable cheese a mainstream category in America. On this episode of ITS, Ilay walks Ali through the primary questions she continually asks herself as she's building Bezi, explains why she is turning down bigger distribution, and why slow and steady is key when you're working with constraints like the refrigerator and awareness.Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support In The Sauce by becoming a member!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A traumatizing, air travel experience is no stranger to the everyday Canadian. But it seems the TikToks and online posts of complaints seem to do little in terms of garnering real and sustainable change from our aviation sector. The federal government recently granted more access to Middle Eastern airlines to fly into Canadian airports in hopes of creating competition. It comes in response to a 2025 Competition Bureau report that called for less restrictions on foreign investment. Host Maria Kestane speaks to John Gradek, aviation expert and professor at McGill University to discuss what changes Canada's aviation industry should implement to restore consumer trust in air travel, and what progress has been made since the 2023 federal commitment of improving the air passenger protection regulations. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

President Donald Trump marked the new year by launching a military assault on Venezuela and abducting President Nicolas Maduro. Some 75 people in Venezuela were killed in the Saturday attack and 7 U.S service members were injured, according to the Washington Post. Many Democrats and some Republicans have denounced the act as unconstitutional, while Trump has followed up by threatening more military action against Cuba, Mexico, Columbia and Greenland. This week also marks the fifth anniversary of the January 6th insurrection on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters who were attempting to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential election. I spoke with Vermont Sen. Peter Welch about these escalating domestic and international crises under the Trump administration just before he returned to Washington. The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.David Goodman  Let's begin by getting your thoughts on the US actions against Venezuela this weekend.Peter Welch  It's reckless and it's wrong. I mean, let's acknowledge the military did a very professional job, but the decision the President made to depose the leader of another country, authoritarian that he was, and then to say that this is about us running Venezuela, and then to say that he wants our big oil companies like Exxon to take over Venezuelan oil brings us back to gunboat diplomacy. It's very, very dangerous. I'm adamantly opposed to what the President did.David Goodman  What did you as a United States senator know about this operation in advance?Peter Welch  Absolutely nothing. I'm a United States senator and the United States Senate is the institution that has the authority to authorize a military action. This was an act of war. We were never consulted. We were never involved. So we knew no more than any other citizen who woke up that morning. And what you're seeing is that the President is completely acting beyond the authority of an executive. In my view, Congress has to stand up and resist that. But we don't have Republican support, and we need that. I am a co sponsor of a resolution condemning this and I'm going to be urging my Republican colleagues that we not relinquish our authority and have a president who is exceeding the powers that the Constitution gives him.David Goodman  How is this supposed to work? For example, what happened when President George W. Bush invaded Iraq in 2003?Peter Welch  The President comes to Congress and asks for an authorization to use force, and in the case of President Bush, he did that before he went to Iraq. I was opposed to that and many members of Congress were, but a majority supported him. But the President did come to Congress. There's a reason for that. When we're going to put our men and women in harm's way, that's a major decision. Deciding to use military force is an easy decision for a president like Trump, but the consequences of it are paid for by our country and by men and women who are willing to serve at the call of the Commander in Chief. That decision should be deliberated. There should be a discussion, there should be a debate. There should be accountability by members of Congress that they said yes or they said no to this request by the President. What there shouldn't ever be is the arbitrary capacity of an individual who happens to be president to plunge us into a war.David Goodman  President Trump said in his address to nation on Saturday that this is all going to be free. It's going to be paid for by Venezuela. Do you believe that?Peter Welch  No, absolutely. He said that about the (border) wall too. Let's just discuss this. There is a decision that only the President made. Number one, the decision was to take out Maduro. Number two, everybody in Maduro's government is still in power. Number three, the President says we're going to run the country. How are we going to do that? Number four, he says our oil companies like Exxon are going to take over the Venezuelan oil fields. None of those things can happen and none of them should happen. So the President is saying, “they're going to pay for it.” This same president won't lift a finger to extend the health care tax credits that have already expired and where we're going to have about 25,000 Vermonters without health care as a result of that. No, this is bogus.David Goodman  Right now there are Vermonters in the Caribbean, the Vermont Air National Guard. What do we know about the role that they are playing in this operation?Peter Welch  First of all, we are all so impressed and appreciative of our Guard. They got 11 days notice right around the Christmas holidays and had to pick up and leave their families behind. There was no notice for them. What we do know is that none of them have been injured, and I am so pleased that that is the news that we have, and we are awaiting a report about what role they did play. But of course, we have the Air National Guard and they have air assets, and obviously those were a big part of this operation, so we'll find out. But I don't know exactly what they were requested to do.David Goodman  The President has described the strategic principle here as the “Donroe Doctrine,” his update of the 200 year old Monroe Doctrine. What do you understand Trump's doctrine to be?Peter Welch  The Monroe Doctrine was an assertion by President James Monroe that European powers could not colonize countries in this hemisphere. What the “Donroe” Doctrine is is the United States can impose its will on countries in this hemisphere. Totally different. It's more about gunboat diplomacy. It's more about imperialism. These are the President's words: “we're going to run the country in Venezuela,” “we're going to have our oil companies there.” That has absolutely nothing to do with the Monroe Doctrine. If the President is, in a kind of pathetic way, trying to make a new word of “Donroe,” the Don is more like a mob boss than it is a diplomat or a statesman.David Goodman  The United States does not have state-run oil companies, but President Trump is saying that private American oil companies are going to rebuild the infrastructure of Venezuela's oil industry. Does that make sense to you?Peter Welch  No, absolutely not. I first started getting interested in Latin America during the President Kennedy administration. There had been a history of the United States companies essentially toppling governments to their own advantage. United Fruit in Nicaragua, of course, the United States toppling an elected government in Guatemala in 1954. What President Kennedy did was really started moving us to where we were promoting democracy. The Alliance for Progress, the Peace Corps -- they became the United States engagement in Latin America and South America, which were more premised on the ideals of democratic participation and democratic rule. President Trump has repudiated that totally and completely. What he wants to do is have transactional engagements with these countries that benefit him or benefit American companies. The aspiration for democratic rule or facilitating the path to democracy is totally rejected by this President. It is completely the wrong way to go.David Goodman  In the first year of President Trump's second term, the United States has taken military action against seven different countries, including three that we've never waged war against. After attacking Venezuela, Trump threatened action against Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. What can or will constrain him?Peter Welch  It has to be Congress and the American people. But right now, the biggest dilemma we have in Congress is that my Republican colleagues have abdicated the constitutional authority that we have as members of Congress in so many areas that the President is acting more like a king. Under Article One of the Constitution, Congress has to vote on war making and authorize it in Appropriations. It's up to Congress, the power of the purse. The President is disregarding that. In area after area, my Republican colleagues have been willing to abdicate their authority and their responsibility and delegate it to the President. So you're having this undemocratic concentration of power in a president who knows no limits and thinks that because he is president, he can do whatever he wants. That's a real threat to our democratic governing system.David Goodman  This seems to have opened up some cracks in the MAGA coalition. We are hearing about opposition from Marjorie Taylor Greene and Representative Thomas Massie, also Senator Rand Paul, who have opposed this break with the idea of “America First.” Do you think this could cause other fractures within that coalition?Peter Welch  I do. Americans do not want us getting involved in foreign wars. They support our military, and we need our strong military to make certain that we're defended. But this action in Venezuela is not to protect us from a threat to our country from Venezuela. His talk about taking over Greenland is not to protect us from a threat by Greenland or Denmark, and likewise, Colombia. Most Americans know that asking our citizen soldiers to go to war for presidential preferences is absolutely wrong. We've got to take care of things that are really tough for everyday working people in our country. Right now, Vermonters are losing health care. The President hasn't lifted a single finger to extend those tax credits so that Vermonters and Americans won't lose health care. The president ran as a person who was against these “forever wars” and now he's embracing these wars, not just in Venezuela, but also the threats In Colombia, the threats in Greenland and in Cuba. Why?David Goodman  Why do you think he has pivoted in such a dramatic fashion from a core principle that he has run on?Peter Welch  The biggest support group he has is the billionaires. If Venezuelan oil is now suddenly run by American oil companies, they benefit. And I'm not even certain the oil companies want what he's doing. The President is very, very good as a politician in stoking division, but his real loyalty where his policies have consistently been applied is when it comes to enhancing the wealth of the very wealthy. The tax cut bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill went largely to billionaires. When he talks about foreign policy, he talks about getting American companies in Venezuela in on the oil. When he meets with leaders from Middle Eastern countries, they talk about crypto deals or meme coin deals that involve his family. That's an obvious motivator for the President. It's really tough for Vermonters now with health care, with the cost of housing, and our small businesses that are contending with these tariffs that are really punishing their ability to sell their products and compete. They don't have the telephone number of the Secretary of Treasury where they can call up and get an exemption like a lot of Trump friends can. Our job is to get us focused back on the well being of American citizens, of having a fair and square economy where people work hard, and if they do and they have a good product, they can get ahead and their success doesn't depend on whether they're connected to the President or whether they made a big fat campaign contribution.David Goodman  This week marks the fifth anniversary of the January 6 insurrection in which Trump supporters attacked the US Capitol. You were in the Capitol that day. How did that experience change you, and in your view, change the country?Peter Welch  I was shocked, as we all were. I was in the gallery in the House of Representatives about 30 feet from where the shot was fired. I was on the floor above, but it was right below me. I couldn't believe it. And I was there when the mob was breaking the doors down. They were ultimately unsuccessful, but they broke the glass. I was seeing our security people with guns drawn. And what to this day still stuns me is that even though I was there, even though in real time I was hearing the shot, I was seeing the glass being broken, I didn't believe it was happening. It couldn't happen because this is the United States of America, and we've never had an insurrection to stop the peaceful transfer of power. We've been so blessed with this tradition where the winner is certified as the winner, and where violence is not used to change the outcome of an election. That changed that day. And what was also painful was to see these Capitol Police officers who I see every day, and they're just wonderful people that work hard, and they then became vilified, as though they were the attackers and the people who attacked them, who kicked them, who spat on them, who bit them, who tried to rip their helmets off and nearly break their necks -- those people were pardoned for attacking a police officer. That continues to be shocking to me. And you've got President Trump trying to rewrite history. We can't on this fifth anniversary allow that to happen. And I'll be with many of my colleagues who will be on the Senate floor describing what happened that day, what we experienced, and what the true history is of that event.David Goodman  That's such a powerful image of you not believing your own eyes. For decades, you have believed in one kind of American story, and even though it was unraveling in front of you, you couldn't believe it. Do you feel like you still respond that way to some of what you're seeing?Peter Welch  It's changing. Our democracy is under threat with what Trump is doing. There's no question. But here's what is now animating me. I think about those police officers who reported for duty, and then even through what they've been through, they keep coming back. I still look at the Capitol when I walk to work, and I just think about the incredible commitment this country has had in its constitution, in its declaration of independence to the aspiration of equality of all men and women, and how so much of our history has been about the effort to achieve that, to make it more real, to make it more encompassing for more people. That's a worthy goal and it is under assault now. But I think about folks who came before me like John Lewis, and Martin Luther King, and how they devoted their lives to the perfection of our democracy. It'll never be perfect. But isn't it a worthy aspiration, even if it's under assault?David Goodman  Do you think something like January 6 could happen again?Peter Welch  It could happen again. This a jump-ball situation. What's going to be the outcome is not inevitable, and that's why it takes all of us to do whatever it is we can. We're in a very dangerous place in our democracy and what the outcome is going to be, I can't predict. But I can tell you this, we in Vermont are going to do every single thing we can. What Vermont does is (have) fierce debate about how to solve this or that problem, but also a shared sense that we're all in it together and that we have a shared obligation to the future of our state. We need more of that in Washington.

Dr. Zeev Maghen is an Israeli scholar and professor of Arabic and Islamic history at Bar-Ilan University, and a senior fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. He's a leading expert on Revolutionary Iran, Shi'a Islam, and Middle Eastern geopolitics, and the author of books and research on Iran's political and religious dynamics.PODCAST INFO:Podcast website: https://yishaifleisher.com/podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YishaiFleisherTVSUPPORT & CONNECT:Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/yishaiFight4Israel: https://fight4israel.givecloud.coTwitter: https://twitter.com/YishaiFleisherLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yishaifleisherFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/YishaiFleisher  Support the show

Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela and Iran from 2019 to 2021, joins the show to discuss Venezuela and what might happen next. ▪️ Times 02:04 Snatch and Grab 05:50 Intelligence Operations 12:04 Oil 16:50 Holding the Country Together  24:16 Risks & Mistakes 30:48 Blockade 33:54 Hard To Leave    39:11 Not Iraq 41:48 Cuba 42:21 The Iranian Regime Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

Discover why disciplined due diligence beats FOMO, how to wield AI without losing human insight, why “cash is king” again, and what the rise of lean micro-unicorns means for VCs, family offices, and startups.   In this episode of the Registered Investment Advisor Podcast, Seth Greene interviews Daniel Nikic, Global Investment Specialist and Founder of COHRES, who explains why disciplined due diligence beats FOMO, how AI should augment human insight, and why “cash is king” again. He shares how COHRES tailors research for VCs, family offices, and startups, forecasts durable trends in AI, energy, healthcare, and data, and explores the rise of lean micro-unicorns. Nikic also details the operational pivots behind scaling a boutique firm toward AI-enabled analysis while aligning execution with investor priorities.   Key Takeaways: → How the most expensive errors are chasing hype, skipping time-horizon work, and forgetting that once capital leaves your account, there's no guarantee it returns. → Why ChatGPT-level answers aren't enough for funds. → How big brands will stay big and emerging funds with DPI will struggle to raise. → Why direct on-call collaboration provides guidance when speed matters. → How having a global perspective allows for tailored insights to what each investor treats as a green flag or a deal breaker.   Daniel Nikic is a global investment research expert and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience advising investors, high-net-worth individuals, enterprises, and entrepreneurs. Raised in Canada and now based in Croatia, Daniel specializes in global markets, focusing on the U.S., European, and Middle Eastern financial landscapes. As the founder of COHRES, Daniel has analyzed over 15,000 companies across sectors like AI, software, and data. He delivers high-quality market research, financial management, due diligence, and AI data auditing to empower clients to make strategic, informed decisions. Known for his collaborative approach, Daniel builds long-term relationships rooted in trust and shared success. Daniel is also passionate about mentoring early-stage entrepreneurs, guiding them on market strategies, innovation, and business growth. His expertise in global markets and emerging trends makes him a trusted advisor in the financial sector.   Connect With Daniel:   Website: https://www.danielnikic.com/ https://cohres.com/ X: https://x.com/DNikic87 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Daniel-Nikic/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-nikic/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

December 31st, 2025 SPECIAL LIVE UPDATE with James Kaddis. So much has happened in the year 2025, and along the way, so much has been revealed to us according to what God has shown us in His Word. Tonight, we will be talking about subjects that range from artificial intelligence to Middle Eastern geopolitics, and every bit of it will be relevant, exciting, and even encouraging. Do not miss this special New Year's Eve service, as it promises to be a remarkable time as we examine the times we are living in through the truth of God's Word.

Denzember concludes as Journalist and host of the Turbulence podcast Séamus Malekafzali returns to the show to discuss Edward Zwick's 1998 geopolitical thriller The Siege, a film about a Muslim terrorist cell wreaking havoc on New York City, the resultant fear it stokes, and the vidictive results of martial law being enforced in an American city. Largely lost to time as an artifact of The End of History, the film nonetheless rings with a startling prescience as a pre-9/11 document of Hollywood's casual anti-Arab sentiments (even among well-meaning liberal sects), and trust in American institutions to disavow bad actors and preserve democracy.We begin by dissecting the films amorphous, byzantine, and *totally fabricated* understanding of Middle Eastern geopolitics, and how its obfuscations function as a tool of propaganda, making the threat of Muslim extremism feel omnipresent and unknowable. Then, we consider how the film contends with imperial blowback, individuating it as mistakes by discrete actors rather than the guiding policy of America's geopolitical meddling across the globe. Finally, we reckon with the film's countless contradictions, its liberal posturing toward the "right" kind of wariness toward extremism, and its unconscious buttressing of the same ideologies that lead to fascist persecution of The Other. Follow Séamus Malekafzali on Twitter.Listen and Subscribe to Turbulence Podcast. Subscribe to Séamus' Substack. Get access to the whole Denzember experience, all of our premium episodes and bonus content, and an invite to the Hit Factory Discord by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our Denzember Theme Song is "Funk" by Oppo.

Nothing says Christmas quite like talking about Iranians and drinking. On this Christmas Day edition of Roqe, we revisit one of our most compelling conversations - an exploration of alcohol's long, complicated, and often contradictory place in Iranian and Islamic history. While alcohol is officially forbidden under Islam, it has played a persistent and sometimes conspicuous role across centuries of Persian culture - from ancient wine traditions and mystical poetry, to royal courts, revolutions, and the underground drinking culture of modern Iran. Our guest is Dr. Rudi Matthee, professor of Middle Eastern history at the University of Delaware and a leading authority on early modern Iran. His new book, Angels Tapping at the Wine Shop's Door, examines the hidden, contested, and enduring history of alcohol across the Islamic world. This wide-ranging conversation looks at: The religious prohibition of alcohol and its interpretations Iran's ancient wine culture Alcohol in Persian poetry, art, and mysticism Drinking at royal courts and repeated attempts at prohibition Alcohol before and after the 1979 Revolution Smuggling, homemade wine, and modern contradictions Whether the Islamic world's relationship with alcohol is still evolving A conversation about pleasure and prohibition. Faith and culture. Public rules and private lives. This episode of Roqe is supported by Stellar Law and iWelcome.

Ty Gentile, James Rana, and David Hu share yuletide tales about Christmas carols, Black Santas, and of course, excretory health in our annual winter holidays special for 2025.

Eden Grinshpan is a TV food personality, author of the bestselling cookbook Eating Out Loud, and the creator of the vibrant online platform Eden Eats. Known for her relatability, raw sincerity, playful goofiness, and bold, veg-forward cooking, Eden brings joy and flavor to everything she touches. She earned her culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu in London before eating and adventuring her way across Europe, India, Southeast Asia, and Israel, where she spent summers growing up. Her passion for travel and food led to her breakout Cooking Channel series Eden Eats, which she both produced and hosted. She later went on to host Log On & Eat with Eden Grinshpan and serve as host of Top Chef Canada.Eden currently splits her time between New York and Toronto with her husband, Ido, and their two daughters, Ayv and Romi.Her latest cookbook, TAHINI BABY, is a joyful celebration of Middle Eastern– and Mediterranean-inspired, veg-forward cooking. Bursting with fresh flavors, approachable recipes, and Eden's signature flair, TAHINI BABY makes it easy—and fun—to cook like an It-girl in your own kitchen. From noshes and brunch staples to bold veggie mains and next-level sides, plus vibrant condiments, dips, and pickles, Eden invites everyone to roll up their sleeves, get a little messy, and fall in love with food all over again.We discuss: How Eden sets healthy boundaries with technology and social media to protect her well-being and stay present with her familyThe behind-the-scenes journey of writing her second cookbook, Tahini Baby, and why tahini and sesame seeds are the ultimate flavor enhancersEden's approach to balancing motherhood, marriage, and a thriving culinary career, with grace, humor, and honestyTips for bringing big flavor to every dish using fresh summer produce, pantry staples, and Eden's favorite condimentsReal talk about meal prep, and Eden's favorite ways to keep cooking exciting and stress-freeFollow Eden Grinshpan on Instagram: @edeneatsOrder Tahini Baby: https://www.tahinibabybook.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae2Q7rqrlp4teTHsLsH0if-JDpr6HReqHWj98QUiOtUsjLDIZE6v5ODkorWUg_aem_o1lGkeiglIKDBU_W6TrpAwLearn more about High Vibration Living with Chef Whitney Aronoff onwww.StarseedKitchen.com Get 10% off your order of Chef Whitney's organic spices with codeSTARSEED on www.starseedkitchen.com Follow Chef Whitney Aronoff on Instagram at @whitneyaronoff and@starseedkitchen

This week, we begin looking back on some of the most moving moments shared on The Voice of the Martyrs Radio in 2025:          Hope & Nagy have been called by God to live in some very difficult places. They were serving Him in Libya when civil war broke out; they stayed and thrived under the Lord's protection. Then they heard the Lord call them to a new and equally-challenging land.          Jerry Mattix has been banned twice from entering Türkiye, once in 2013 and again earlier this year. Jerry knows God is able to do His work among Turkish people without him in the country.          Nathan and Kari were raised differently, yet the Lord called them to Himself, and to missions, together. In South Asia, they are seeing the gospel on fire, not waiting for foreign missionaries but moving forward through the gospel fervor of national Christians.          John Samara knows the high cost of serving Christ in a place like Syria. He grew up there and continues to serve persecuted Christians in the Middle East and North Africa through Ananias House.          Eric Mock, from Slavic Gospel Association, shares how war between Russia and Ukraine has actually accelerated SGA's ministry as they provide aid and share the gospel with hundreds of thousands of people.          Teaching students in the UK and around the world, Dr. Michael Reeves has a passion for strengthening the faith of persecuted Christians in hostile and restricted nations. He served as a missionary on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan.          Ty Scott, leader of VOM's work in east and southern Africa, shares about Christians living in a country that has never been discussed on VOM Radio until this year — Comoros. He also shared how VOM handles Bible distribution in Africa.          Author of the book, Inside Afghanistan, John Weaver, shares what it looks like to be a Christian in Afghanistan today. Believers must carefully plant gospel seeds and seek out people of peace.          Abraham & Sara minister to Muslim refugees in the Middle East who are open to the gospel. They see the hunger to know Jesus, and the Lord is revealing Himself to these refugees through dreams, visions, and the love of Christ, as seen in the example of Abraham, Sara, and their team. After hearing these brief excerpts, you'll want to listen to the entire conversations with these guests from 2025. Click on the links below to listen at VOMRADIO.net or listen in the VOM APP.          Hope & Nagy, gospel workers to Libya and the Middle East          Jerry Mattix, long-time aid ministry worker and pastor in Türkiye          Nathan & Kari, gospel workers in South Asia with the International Mission Board (IMB)          John Samara, Founder and Executive Director of Ananias House          Eric Mock, the Senior Vice President of the Slavic Gospel Association          Dr. Michael Reeves, President of Union School of Theology in the United Kingdom          Ty Scott, VOM's Regional Leader for East and Southern Africa          John Weaver, long-time gospel worker in Afghanistan          Abraham & Sara serve refugees at a church in a Middle Eastern country We thank the Lord for allowing VOM Radio to encourage and challenge listeners all over the world this year. Thank you for faithfully listening and praying for our persecuted family in restricted nations and hostile areas around the world! We'd love to hear from you! Let us know what conversation in 2025 most inspired your faith or equipped you to pray. You can also give online to support persecuted Christians through the work of The Voice of the Martyrs. Next week, we'll have Part II of our look back to the most moving moments of 2025 on VOM Radio.

What does the future hold for the Middle East — and the world — in 2026? In this special episode of Conflicted, Thomas instructs Aimen to peer into his crystal ball and offer his forecasts for the year to come. In this episode, Aimen and Thomas discuss: How professional geopolitical analysts make forecasts The impossibility of foreseeing Black Swan events Why an end to the war in Ukraine could reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics The likelihood of a U.S. war against the Houthis in Yemen Renewed hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon The strategic importance of the Gulf states Iran's nuclear programme, proxy network, and the risk of renewed confrontation Add your predictions to your 2026 Forecast Card here: https://forms.gle/sMCbRFmFTBdcfEDd8  Join the Conflicted Community here: https://conflicted.supportingcast.fm/  Find us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHconflicted And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MHconflicted And Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conflictedpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Conflicted is a Message Heard production. Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren. Produced by Thomas Small and edited by Lizzy Andrews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The idea of “gay celibacy” on its face sounds like a reasonable idea our guest exposed the deception of it. On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week we spoke to a former gay man who is now on the front lines of this issue who explained the confusion that this idea is creating in the lives of people and why some Christian leaders are buying into this false narrative that discounts God’s clear guidance for feel good teaching that dismiss the truth. The transformation of lives in Iran is still going on and we shared more stories of God at work in that Middle Eastern nation. But these are still dangerous times in that part of the world and we spoke to a man who has served over there for many years as he shared stories of the persecution those who choose Jesus face and despite their persecution, there unwillingness to deny their faith. For many people Hanukkah is considered a “Jewish version of Christmas” because they don’t really understand the significance of the celebration. But just as Christmas focuses on the birth of Jesus, our guest a respected leader in Jews for Jesus, shared the true story of this celebration and how Jesus fits into it. Just as Jesus came once as a babe, He will return to earth but in a much different form with a much different purpose. We spoke to a highly respected pastor who says that believers should not fear His return but use its inevitability as motivation and drive to live out their faith with courage and boldness. From the challenges of A.I. to the dangers of social media, parents have to be vigilant watchmen on the wall for their families. And that requires a clear understanding of God’s guidance through His word. We invite you once again to join us for another examination of the news through the unchanging lens of scripture.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.