Podcasts about North Korea

This week on "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we're headed to January 2002 and the first State of the Union speech after the 9-11 attacks. In it, George W Bush referred to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an "axis of evil," signalling that the response to 9-11 would be a much larger campaign, and a moral fight. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how Bush landed on that phrase, what it was meant to evoke, and how it set the stage for the "War on Terror" period in American history.Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free to get the latest news and analysis of how America250 is playing out. Paying subscribers get access to early, ad-free versions of the show. Plus bonus features throughout the year. To support our work and get access to everything, subscribe now.This Day is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-winning stories.If you want to support the show directly, you can do so on our website: ThisDayPod.comGet in touch if you have any ideas for future topics, or just want to say hello. Follow us on social @thisdaypodOur team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

NK News CEO Chad O'Carroll joins the podcast this week to discuss why the Workers' Party of Korea still hasn't held its Ninth Congress, the lack of typical pre-event mobilization campaigns and what satellite imagery of parade preparations suggests about a possible timeline. The episode then turns to leadership dynamics in Pyongyang, including Kim Jong Un's dismissal of a senior official during an on-the-spot inspection, before turning to revelations about both North and South Korea's influence operations targeting a human rights advocate. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

Medal Of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer is here to tell his story, and of course Brandon is subjected to more forced valor. Watch this episode ad-free and uncensored on Pepperbox! https://www.pepperbox.tv/ WATCH THE AFTERSHOW & BTS ON PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/UnsubscribePodcast

Check out host Bidemi Ologunde's new show: The Work Ethic Podcast, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.In this episode, host Bidemi Ologunde pulls back the curtain on a fast-growing threat to U.S. remote hiring: applicants who claim they live in the United States, but are actually overseas, using semi-synthetic or fully legitimate personas complete with U.S. VOIP numbers, "real" apartment-complex addresses, credible degrees, and high-engagement LinkedIn profiles.Why are so many suspicious profiles tracing back to Nigeria, India, and Pakistan: is it simply population scale, or are there specific enablers that make these routes more common? What changes when the motive shifts from "get paid in dollars" to something darker—organized crime, state-sponsored access, or even sanctions-evasion tactics modeled after North Korea's fake IT worker playbook? And how might post-2024 policy shifts, including tighter visa and travel restrictions, be reshaping the incentives and tactics behind this trend?Bidemi explores what these schemes mean for insider risk, why traditional background checks can fail in a remote-first world, and what leadership teams should do now to harden hiring pipelines—before the next "perfect candidate" becomes the next breach.Email: bidemiologunde@gmail.comSupport the show

John Burrough, CEO of Partners International, is a former mission trip leader and played in the NFL—including playing in a Super Bowl. Listen as he shares how taking a mission trip completely changed his outlook and how that experience could impact and change your perspective in every area of life. Partners International began in the early 1940s with a missionary to China, Duncan Roberts, and from there continued to support and grow local leaders advancing the gospel in China. Later, the ministry's work expanded into Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The focus today is on reaching the unreached parts of the world for Christ. John will share how Partners International invests in local ministries and church networks advancing the gospel in the 10/40 window, and how they come alongside locals to help them go further and faster in achieving the mission God has given them. "All missions begins with prayer," John says, and shares how the Lord is mobilizing prayer for the unreached in restricted nations and hostile areas. Listen for the amazing story of a former Boko Haram member in West Africa who came to Christ while spying on a Christian leadership training session. The former terrorist is now advancing the gospel among the people he used to work with. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj9bGNUIFdY A delightful blend of adventure and emotional depth, reminiscent of films like “Finding Nemo,” where the bond between characters drives the narrative through perilous waters. I thought of “The Shape of Water” as well, with its unique exploration of relationships between humans and extraordinary creatures, creating a sense of wonder and connection. Additionally, “A Monster Calls” came to mind, as it beautifully intertwines fantastical elements Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about? The screenplay is about Gilly, a decades old, extremely intelligent Giant Pacific Octopus who lives in the Mermaid's Cave in Oahu where she has been gifted an information hub by her marine biologist friend. As time passes, Gilly enhances her ability to shape shift and learns how to communicate. In present day, she saves a government agent who is drowning in the ocean. Their relationship is at the center of the character driven story which unfolds like a chaotic, humorous, fast paced rollercoaster. It climaxes with Gilly and her new found friends saving the Arizona Memorial from attack from North Korea's marine biology program. What genres does your screenplay fall under? My story fits the following genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thriller, Comedy, with slight traces of Horror. It is suitable for all ages. It can be animated, use live actors, or be a combination of both. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? I have received extremely positive feedback from multiple industry evaluators. I will use the review by the International Screenwriters' Association to answer this question. “The project presents a distinctive blend of science fiction and emotional drama, anchored by the unlikely relationship between Slip, a disillusioned former agent, and an intelligent, shapeshifting octopus named Gilly. Their connection provides both the narrative's emotional center and its conceptual novelty, exploring trust, survival, and empathy in an unconventional yet interesting context. The tone operates in a deliberately hybrid register, merging high-concept science fiction with a light, often self-aware humor. In its best moments, this tonal elasticity creates a sense of discovery and curiosity, it allows for levity in scenes that might otherwise risk melodrama. The concept itself, an intelligent, shapeshifting octopus that engages with humanity, is imaginative and commercially distinctive, particularly in a cinematic landscape with familiar properties. What makes it notable is not simply its novelty but its potential for visual and tonal contrast, the serene oceanic imagery juxtaposed with covert operations, and the organic intelligence of a sea creature contrasted with human technology. Overall, this screenplay's originality and emotional core position it as a distinctive and engaging piece with strong cinematic potential.” Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Dr. Ria Roy, a scholar of modern Korea and East Asian history, joins the podcast to discuss the differences in language between the two Koreas, including contrasts in linguistic and ideological correctness. She examines the Soviet Union's influence on the Korean language in the DPRK and the importance of conveying information with the right tone. She also explores the use of profanity on North Korean state TV and why announcers often refer to specific groups of people in bespoke ways — whether using a motherly tone when discussing children or pausing before the name of leaders. Roy is a Kleinheinz Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and the author of the article “The Sacred Text and the Language of the Leader: ‘Cultured Language' and the Rhetorical Turn in North Korea.” About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

President Trump is asked how far he'll go to get Greenland. His answer as he heads off to a hostile reception in Europe: “You'll find out." Plus, how North Korea's state-run film industry is changing and taking a cue from Hollywood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you’re a seasoned team member or preparing for your first trip, short-term mission trips have the potential to make a meaningful global impact. In this conversation, we’ll highlight five key principles that help ensure our efforts contribute to lasting, sustainable change in the communities we serve.

This week, NK News Senior Analytic Correspondent Colin Zwirko delves into the large-scale conference marking the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, attended by Kim Jong Un.  He then turns to signals surrounding the timing of the upcoming Ninth Party Congress, as well as expectations for announcements on long-term economic planning, weapons development and broader strategic priorities, potentially including inter-Korean relations. Finally, Zwiro discusses new satellite imagery showing the demolition and reconstruction of a prison facility in Sariwon, the latest in a series of detention sites undergoing similar changes since 2023. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

Why do we really choose the churches we attend? In this episode of the McIntyre Inc. Podcast, Michael and Brianna McIntyre have an unfiltered conversation about Christianity, denominations, and the often-unspoken truth: many of us don't choose our church theologically—we choose it culturally. From Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian, Charismatic, and Episcopal traditions to underground churches in North Korea, persecuted believers in Nigeria, and the early house churches in Acts, this conversation explores how faith, power, comfort, and control have shaped modern Christianity. Go to themichaelmcintyre.com to find out what all we have going on!

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part two of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part two of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/13/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v72c1ui","div":"rumble_v72c1ui"}); Video Source Links (In Chronological Order): (20) RyanMatta

This week on the Mark Levin Show, the Iranian people desire freedom amid starvation and lack of water under a fundamentalist Islamic regime that spreads terrorism, including attempts to assassinate President Trump, and must be destroyed to prevent further threats, as either terrorists are killed or they kill others. Eliminating this regime aligns with U.S. national security interests, benefiting allies by impacting China, Russia, and Venezuela, without aiming to install democracy but occasionally aiding others when it serves mutual goals, countering the mindset of inaction. The young people in Iran are freedom fighters battling a genocidal regime and abandoning them worsens global threats like those from communist China, ultimately harming the United States. Regimes such as Iran, China, Cuba, and North Korea are fascistic feudal systems masquerading as people's revolutions, fueled by fraudulent ideologies like Marxism, socialism, and communism. There's a noticeable absence of U.S. protests by Marxist-Islamists and woke neo-fascists in support of the thousands slaughtered in Iran, despite their professed concern for rights. Also, the war on ICE is a war on American citizens, driven by illegal aliens who claim rights to residency, welfare benefits, tax subsidies, and jobs while refusing to leave. There are highly organized, radical, violent Marxists and ethnic front groups who are obstructing their removal, which undermines borders and leads to children of illegals becoming citizens who vote Democrat. There are also avenues for civil action against individual perpetrators. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Part 2 of our interview with Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour, he shares how his heart remained upbeat, even as the judge pronounced him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in prison. He'll talk about how reading the Bible is different inside prison than when you're free. Hassan says he experienced persecution as a blessing from God—a blessing that brought him tears of joy. "It is really a privilege to be persecuted," he says. Pastor Hassan recounted how fellow members of the Body of Christ in Sudan encouraged him in prison with faith that the Lord would release him. His prayer life also grew in prison, as he became a prayer warrior, quoting Bible verses as he prayed with tears. Your faith will be encouraged and you'll be challenged to pray for Sudan, Christians imprisoned for Christ, and their families as you hear Pastor Hassan's amazing testimony this week on VOM Radio. Hear Part 1 of our conversation here. Pastor Hassan was imprisoned alongside VOM's Africa regional director, Petr Jasek. You can hear Petr's side of the story here. Pastor Hassan's story was also featured in the I Am N virtual event, which you can watch online. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part one of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Slater confronts the spiritual dimensions of global Christian persecution, drawing from Ephesians 6:12 to expose how unseen "principalities and powers" manifest in earthly systems of oppression, authoritarian control, extremist ideologies, and societal rejection. This episode explores the ongoing realities in the world's most hostile regions, including North Korea—where faith can lead to immediate execution or labor camps—alongside escalating pressures in places like Somalia, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, and others marked by violence, discrimination, and restrictions on worship. Viewers are invited to grapple with these truths, recognize the spiritual warfare behind the headlines, and consider the call to vigilance, prayer, and faithful response in light of Christ's ultimate authority. This is part one of two. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Giacche di pelle, visite a siti militari, feste e gesti affettuosi. Sui media nordcoreani irrompe la figlia di Kim Jong-un, Kim Ju-ae: il cosiddetto “regno eremita” starebbe costruendo la sua successione davanti a tutti. O davanti a chi vuole vedere. O a chi ci crede. Le fonti degli inserti audio sono tratte da: Kim Jong Un's daughter kisses father during rare public appearance, The Indipendent, 3 gennaio 2026; N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits Kumsusan Palace of the Sun with wife, daughter on Thursday, canale Youtube Arirang News, 2 gennaio 2026; Ju-ae walks ahead of Kim Jong-un, canale Youtube KBS World News, 17 dicembre 2025; Kim Ju-ae Emerges as North Korea's Likely Successor with 600+ TV Appearances, canale Youtube MBN News, 26 novembre 2025; Kim Ju Ae: A rare look at North Korea's next likely leader, NBC News, 5 luglio 2025  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eddie Hobbs, once a fixture on RTÉ, says, “The mainstream media is the North Korea of Europe”.He was speaking on Steve Bannon's popular War Room podcast and it was a meeting of minds between one of the architects of Maga and the financial adviser-turned podcaster and campaigner.Bannon recently said he has been helping to form an Irish “national party”, working “behind the scenes” on “the Irish situation”.But has he? Where is the evidence for that? And how receptive would an Irish audience be to the former White House strategist's vision for the country?Meanwhile Hobbs told a conference in Athlone this month that those who want to see a new government in Ireland that would cut immigration and break ties with globalist elites need to “reach across the Atlantic” and seek help from the Irish diaspora in the US Maga movement.So could Hobbs be an Irish Trump? What are the other likely candidates?And why is Bannon so out of touch with the political system in Ireland.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher, an expert in the Irish far-right, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon. As we head into the New Year, The Irish Times wants to hear listener feedback on our two news podcasts; In The News and our more recently released sister podcast Early Edition.This survey is open to anyone who has listened to either In The News or Early Edition- whether you listen regularly, occasionally, or have listened in the past.This survey should take around 3-5 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plus a Stupid Milk Press Conference, America's Role, and Harbaugh to the Giants—Paul Rieckhoff with Connell McShane.  What's really happening on the streets of Iran? Is the regime conducting executions or not? Reports say yes. Trump says no. During a crazy press conference at the White House about changing the rules for milk in schools. Will Trump hit Iran again? Will Congress do anything?? What does it mean for America and the world? Rieckhoff explains why the protests feel like a potential tipping point, why organic, grassroots uprisings matter, and why the best move for President Trump may be to avoid military escalation while supporting those risking their lives for freedom.​ From reports of snipers on rooftops and internet blackouts to questions about executions, regime brutality, and U.S. intelligence, Rieckhoff and retired General Richard Newton dig into the realities on the ground and the risks of miscalculation. They explore how regime change in Tehran could ripple across Russia, North Korea, and beyond—and what true American leadership should look like in 2026.​ Rieckhoff also calls out Congress's responsibility to reassert its war powers, lays out non-military ways the United States can stand with Iranian protesters, and warns against turning a democratic uprising into a Trump-branded intervention. They examine how shifting U.S. assets, Israeli calculations, and a fraying global coalition reveal that America is no longer automatically trusted to “quarterback” world events—and what independent Americans should demand from their leaders now. Because every episode of Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff breaks down the most important news stories--and offers light to contrast the heat of other politics and news shows. It's independent content for independent Americans. In these trying times especially, Independent Americans is your trusted place for independent news, politics, inspiration and hope. The podcast that helps you stay ahead of the curve--and stay vigilant. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -Check the hashtag #LookForTheHelpers. And share yours.  -Find us on social media or www.IndependentAmericans.us.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  -Check out other Righteous podcasts like The Firefighters Podcast with Rob Serra, Uncle Montel - The OG of Weed and B Dorm.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Ways to listen: Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Podcasts  Ways to watch: YouTube • Instagram  Social channels: X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

North Korea is closely watching the situation in Venezuela after the U.S. captured President Nicolás Maduro, shaking up one of Pyongyang's few political friendships in the Western Hemisphere. In this episode, Gabriela Bernal and Camilo Aguirre Torrini delve into what happened in Venezuela, how North Korea has reacted in state media and what lessons Kim Jong Un may be drawing. The guests discuss why the DPRK-Venezuela relationship has been more symbolic than substantial, how sanctions and a shared anti-American ideology have shaped ties and what the future could look like if Caracas shifts further under U.S. influence. Dr. Gabriela Bernal is a North Korea analyst and non-resident fellow at the European Centre for North Korean Studies who writes on Pyongyang's external relations and information strategy. She recently wrote an analysis for NK Pro titled “Where North Korea-Venezuela ties stand after Nicolás Maduro's downfall.” Dr. Camilo Aguirre Torrini is a researcher whose work traces DPRK-Latin America ties and sanctions-era politics. He previously wrote a piece for 38 North titled “Can Venezuela and the DPRK Wipe the Slate Clean and Make a Fresh Start?” About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.

It's Thursday, January 15th, 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 Jonathan Clark North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, & Sudan top 4 persecuting countries Open Doors released its 2026 World Watch List yesterday. The report ranks the top 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Once again, North Korea is ranked the worst country for persecution followed by Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Eritrea. The remaining top 10 countries are Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, and Iran. One out of seven Christians are persecuted worldwide. Between October 2024 and September 2025, the report documented that 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith. Over 90% of the killings occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria.  Hebrews 13:3 says, “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.” 2,000 Iranian protestors killed by Islamic regime Millions of Iranians have been protesting against the country's Islamic regime since December 28. Activists report that 2,000 people have been killed as the regime has cracked down on protestors.  Listen to comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. TRUMP: “To all Iranian patriots, keep protesting, take over your institutions, if possible. … I've cancelled all meetings with the Iranian officials until the senseless killing of protesters stops. And all I say to them is ‘Help is on its way!' You saw that I put tariffs on anybody doing business with Iran. Just went into effect today.” During this unrest, please pray for the underground church in Iran to remain strong and find opportunities to minister.  Pentagon moving carrier strike group toward Middle East amid Iran tension In a related story, the Pentagon is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, which includes the Middle East, as tensions escalate between the Trump administration and Iran, reports NewsNation. Moving the carrier strike group — a naval formation centering around an aircraft carrier, with a variety of support from other vessels — is expected to take about a week. The significant transfer of American military hardware comes amid developments related to unrest in Iran and questions about whether the White House will offer support to opponents of Iran's autocratic, Islamicregime. Franklin Graham calls America to prayer and repentance In the Untied States, Evangelist Franklin Graham called for a time of prayer and repentance across the nation. The call came as “the streets of America boil over with hate, anger, crime, drugs, and just sheer hopelessness.” Listen to comments from Graham. GRAHAM: “I encourage people to pray. And first of all, we need to repent as a nation. We need to repent of our sins and turn from those sins. And we need to repent of our own sins, not just the nation's sins, but our personal sins, and ask God to forgive us.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Trump withdraws from 66 int'l groups, conventions, and treaties The Trump administration announced last Wednesday that the U.S. is withdrawing from 66 international organizations, conventions, and treaties. One of those organizations is the United Nations Population Fund, known for its support of abortion.  Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, said, “From DEI mandates to ‘gender equity' campaigns to climate orthodoxy, many international organizations now serve a globalist project. … These organizations actively seek to constrain American sovereignty.” State Department pauses immigrant visas from 75 countries Plus, the U.S. Department of State announced yesterday that it will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries.  Those nations include Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, and Nigeria.  The State Department said migrants from these countries “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” U.S. overdose deaths fell New federal data shows U.S. overdose deaths fell last year. Overdose deaths involving opioids and now fentanyl have been on the rise since the 1990s. An estimated 73,000 people died from overdoses during the 12-month period ending in August 2025. That's down 21% from the previous 12-month period.  Researchers suggest this drop is connected with recent regulation changes in China. These changes decreased the availability of chemicals used to make fentanyl.    4,000 U.S. Protestant churches closed in 2024 Lifeway Research reports more Protestant churches closed in the U.S. than opened. Four thousand churches were closed in America in 2024. Meanwhile, only 3,800 churches were started. That's better than 2019 when there were only 3,000 openings and 4,500 closings. Openings have not outpaced closings since 2014 when there were 4,000 openings and 3,700 closings. Christian/Gospel music ranked among top 10 genres And finally, Luminate released its 2025 year-end music report. Christian and Gospel music ranked among the top 10 genres in the U.S. last year. Plus, Christian/Gospel was also one of the highest-growth genres in terms of on-demand audio streams. WINANS: “For Your mercy never fails me All my days, I've been held in Your hands From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God “'Cause all my life You have been faithful And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.” That was Cece Winans singing the “Goodness of God.” When it came to music released in the last 18 months, Christian/Gospel music saw the most growth in streams of any genre. Colossians 3:16 reminds us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, January 15th, 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.

Albania was once the strictest and most isolated of the Communist countries and was sometimes called the “North Korea” of Europe. Saimir Braho was born in Albania during the Communist regime and witnessed the period of religious turmoil that came after the collapse of Communism. Saimir eventually embraced the truth of Christianity, despite living in a country in which talking about God had been grounds for imprisonment and believing in Christ had been illegal.The Reformers and Their StepchildrenYuriy Kravets' StorySpecial thanks to Credo Schloss Unspunnen for the filming location and hospitality. This episode was recorded at the Kingdom Connect Conference in Switzerland; find more information at https://kingdomconnecteurope.org.This is the 302nd episode of Anabaptist Perspectives, a podcast, blog, and YouTube channel that examines various aspects of conservative Anabaptist life and thought.Sign-up for our monthly email newsletter which contains new and featured content!Join us on Patreon or become a website partner to enjoy bonus content!Visit our YouTube channel or connect on Facebook.Read essays from our blog or listen to them on our podcast, Essays for King JesusSubscribe on your podcast provider of choiceSupport us or learn more at anabaptistperspectives.org.The views expressed by our guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Anabaptist Perspectives or Wellspring Mennonite Church.

Get to know your Supreme Leader Kim Il-Sung! Steven leads Aidan, Sam, and newcomer Gio in a trip around North Korea to learn about it's history and, more importantly, the leaders that have made it what it is today. Who will get the most People's Won and earn the respect of the nation's father?

Daily Dose of Hope January 15, 2026   Scripture: I Thessalonians 3   Prayer:  King Jesus, We come to you today with praise and lifting your name high.  You are a Lord of love, mercy, and forgiveness.  Thank you so much for allowing us to experience those things in you.  Also, Lord, thank you for showing us a new way of doing life.  The ways of this world are empty and temporal but your ways are eternal and fulfilling.  Help us be bold in our faith, staying strong in the midst of whatever challenges we face.  Help us live like the people you have called us to be.  We love you.  Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  We are currently journeying through Paul's letters.  Right now, we are walking through I Thessalonians.   Today, we read I Thessalonians 3.  Paul and Silas very much wanted to visit the Thessalonian church and encourage them in their persecution.  But over and over again, it didn't work out.  They were frustrated and concerned about the welfare of the new believers.  While they had previously warned the Thessalonian church that persecution was unavoidable, they still feared for their well-being.    Eventually, they send Timothy to visit them and instruct them in the faith as needed.  Timothy brought back good news, as the Thessalonian church was becoming more mature in their faith.  Despite their challenges, the new believers were remaining strong in faith and continuing to demonstrate love toward those inside and outside the church.  This pleased Paul and Silas very much.  They experienced joy knowing that the faith of the Thessalonians remained strong and vibrant.  They thanked God for their perseverance and endurance.   The early church had such a different perspective than we do regarding persecution.  They saw persecution as inevitable; it was simply something that believers had to endure.  It doesn't appear they feared being persecuted either.  They knew that as followers of Jesus, their message would be met with opposition.  In the Western church of today, we tend to fear persecution and rejection.  We hesitate to share the Gospel message because we might offend someone, someone might say something mean to us, or we might get rejected.  These seem incredibly minor compared to the persecutions of the Thessalonians or other believers around the world today who risk everything to share the Gospel with others.   Here's a question for us:  If I were being tortured and persecuted for my faith, would I stay faithful to Jesus or would I give in to the pressure and deny Christ?   It is so important for us to rest in the uneasiness of this question.  If push came to shove, how faithful are we, New Hope?  This is truth:  Christians around the world deal with this every single day.  We don't think about it much but over 388 million Christians around the world suffer persecution or discrimination for their faith in Jesus Christ. That means they experience some kind of hostility as a result of proclaiming the name of Jesus or living out their faith. Almost 5,000 Christians were killed for their faith in 2025, many were kidnapped, imprisoned, or forced from their homes.  In addition, more than 3,600 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed.  For other Christians, it means being denied economic opportunities or simply living under the threat of violence.  American Christians talk of persecution, but that is what real persecution looks like.  It's not being made fun of or worrying about offending someone, it's risking all for Jesus.   Every year Open Doors USA releases its World Watch report of the 50 states most likely to punish Christians for their faith. North Korea, Somalia, and Yemen, took the top spots this year. It is almost impossible to live openly as a Christian in all three of these places. In extremist Moslem countries, leaving Islam is considered shameful, and Christian converts face dire consequences if their new faith is discovered. Either they have to flee the country or they will be killed.  Other nations that are particularly dangerous for Christians are Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran. I recently read this statement and it stopped me in my tracks:  "If we have not prepared ourselves and our twenty-first century churches to die for Christ's name if necessary, we have not completed our responsibility of preparing disciples."  If this makes us uncomfortable, it should.  Because Jesus has called us to a faithfulness that involves more than what we typically think of when we call ourselves Christ-followers.  We can see it in Paul's letter to the Thessalonians.  We see it throughout the book of Acts.  What does it mean to be a disciple?  Jesus makes it quite clear, Mark 8:34-35, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.    Blessings, Pastor Vicki

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, the young people in Iran are freedom fighters battling a genocidal regime and abandoning them worsens global threats like those from communist China, ultimately harming the United States. Regimes such as Iran, China, Cuba, and North Korea are fascistic feudal systems masquerading as people's revolutions, fueled by fraudulent ideologies like Marxism, socialism, and communism. There's a noticeable absence of U.S. protests by Marxist-Islamists and woke neo-fascists in support of the thousands slaughtered in Iran, despite their professed concern for rights. Also, the Democrats have militarized their various constituent groups again, in support of the illegal alien stampede they created under the Biden regime, because they know that to break the immigration enforcement system is to change the country forever and to establish one-party Democrat Party control over our country for as far as the eye can see.  Illegal immigration and the importation of millions of people from all parts of the world who have no intention of assimilating into our country and who seek to impose their own cultures on the citizenry is already causing enormous havoc and societal unrest.  And the Democrat Party is all in.  It is the most unconscionable assault on our nation since the Confederate Democrats dragged our country into a civil war. The battles in our streets between ICE and the mobs are battles for the survival of our Republic.   Later, the 19-year-old who set fire Congregation Beth Israel referred to it as the "Synagogue of Satan"—an anti-Semitic phrase used by figures like Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens. People like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, and others use inflammatory language that incites violence against Jews. Afterward, the Supreme Court should know that Trump imposed 25% tariffs on countries doing business with Iran solely for national security and foreign policy reasons, not economic or tax purposes, and that such decisions belong to the President as Commander-in-Chief, not judges or bureaucrats. The Court needs to reverse the lower court rulings and avoid involvement because judicial interference would disrupt historical presidential actions, blur the power of the purse from executive authority, and create havoc in the economy, international trade, foreign policy, and national security through inconsistent rulings from egomaniacal lower court judges. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With its proximity to China, Russia, and—obviously—North Korea, the United States Forces Korea command is growing in importance by the minute. Leading this force—as well as the United Nations Command and the Combined Forces Command—is highly-regarded GEN Xavier T. Brunson, who brings not only his 35 years of Army experience to the table, but also a vast family history in leadership. Hosts LTG (Ret.) Leslie C. Smith and SMA (Ret.) Dan Dailey sit down with GEN Brunson to discuss the latest developments in the region, how the Army has truly been a family affair for three generations of his family, and how to win an argument when your spouse has been an Army judge. Guest: GEN Xavier T. Brunson, Commander, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea Has a member of the Army positively changed your life? Now is your chance to thank them publicly with a shoutout via our Hooah Hotline and have it possibly appear on an upcoming episode of AUSA's Army Matters podcast! AUSA's Army Matters podcast can also be heard on Wreaths Across America Radio on Monday at 8 pm Eastern. You can find Wreaths Across America Radio on the iHeart Radio app, the Audacy app, and the TuneIn app. Search the word Wreath.  Donate: If you are interested in supporting AUSA's educational programs, such as this podcast, please visit www.ausa.org/donate. Feedback: How are we doing? Email us at podcast@ausa.org. Disclaimer: AUSA's Army Matters podcast primary purpose is to entertain. The podcast does not constitute advice or services. While guests are invited to listen, listeners please note that you are not being provided professional advice from the podcast or the guests. The views and opinions of our guests do not necessarily reflect the views of AUSA.

The Supreme Court hears a case on whether Title IX prevents a state from consistently designating girls' and boys' sports teams based on biological sex determined at birth. Democrats have their latest talking points to claim ICE has no authority to enforce laws in Minnesota. Dem Sen. Mark Warner ADMITS the border was wide open under Joe Biden. Justice Ketanji Jackson is DEFENDING men in women's sports with an utter word salad at the Supreme Court. Don Lemon goes on a RAMPAGE trashing MAGA over voting for ICE. Dana shares her commentary after Tucker Carlson hosts his own brother, Buckley, on his show and claims America is the “moral equivalent of not only the Soviet Union but also North Korea”. Jimmy Kimmel says he wants to send ICE agents to serve in Iran. Illinois Secretary of State announces he is SUING Kristi Noem as fireworks are being launched REPEATEDLY at federal agents at ICE Minneapolis.Pete Hegseth announced the integration of Elon Musk's xAI platform, Grok, into military networks as part of a new AI acceleration strategy. Justice Brown Jackson has another moment where she has no clue about how to ask about trans men in women' s sports.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…CovePurehttps://CovePure.com/DanaMake a New Year's resolution that sticks and improve your health with clean water. Get $200 off for a limited time.Bank on Yourselfhttps://BankOnYourself.com/Dana Bank on Yourself offers tax-free retirement income, guaranteed growth, and full control of your money. Receive your free report.Patriot Mobilehttps://PatriotMobile.com/DANA or call 972-PATRIOTSwitch to Patriot Mobile in minutes—keep your number and phone or upgrade, then take a stand today with promo code DANA for a free phone!Humannhttps://HumanN.comKick off the New Year with simple, delicious wellness support—pick up Humann's Turmeric Chews at Sam's Club next time you're there and see why they're such a fan favorite!WebRoothttps://Webroot.com/Dana Take your cybersecurity seriously! Get 60% off Webroot Total Protection today!Noble Goldhttps://NobleGoldInvestments.com/DanaThis is the year to create a more stable financial future.  Open a qualified account with Noble Gold and receive a 3 oz Silver Virtue coin free.Subscribe today and stay in the loop on all things news with The Dana Show. Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramXMore Info

Tucker Carlson hosts his own brother, Buckley, on his show and claims America is the “moral equivalent of not only the Soviet Union but also North Korea”. Meanwhile, Justice Ketanji Jackson is DEFENDING men in women's sports with an utter word salad at the Supreme Court.Thank you for supporting our sponsors that make The Dana Show possible…CovePurehttps://CovePure.com/DanaMake a New Year's resolution that sticks and improve your health with clean water. Get $200 off for a limited time.Bank on Yourselfhttps://BankOnYourself.com/Dana Bank on Yourself offers tax-free retirement income, guaranteed growth, and full control of your money. Receive your free report.Patriot Mobilehttps://PatriotMobile.com/DANA or call 972-PATRIOTSwitch to Patriot Mobile in minutes—keep your number and phone or upgrade, then take a stand today with promo code DANA for a free phone!Humannhttps://HumanN.comKick off the New Year with simple, delicious wellness support—pick up Humann's Turmeric Chews at Sam's Club next time you're there and see why they're such a fan favorite!WebRoothttps://Webroot.com/Dana Take your cybersecurity seriously! Get 60% off Webroot Total Protection today!Noble Goldhttps://NobleGoldInvestments.com/DanaThis is the year to create a more stable financial future.  Open a qualified account with Noble Gold and receive a 3 oz Silver Virtue coin free.Subscribe today and stay in the loop on all things news with The Dana Show. Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramXMore Info

This week, NK News correspondent Joon Ha Park joins the podcast to discuss North Korea's new allegations that Seoul sent unmanned aerial vehicles to surveil military and other sensitive sites in Sept. 2025 and Jan. 2026. He explains the specifics of Pyongyang's claims and the photos it released of the alleged drones, as well as South Korea's swift denial of involvement. He also digs into Kim Yo Jong's threat to send “civilian” drones into ROK airspace and North Korea's history of following through on her bellicose statement. The discussion then turns to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's recent summit with President Xi Jinping of China, where the two leaders agreed to work toward restarting talks with the DPRK but made no mention of denuclearization. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

Last time we spoke about the climax of the battle of Changkufeng. A 7–10 August clash near Changkufeng and Hill 52 saw a brutal, multi-front Soviet push against Japanese positions in the Changkufeng–Hill 52 complex and adjacent areas. The Korea Army and Imperial forces rapidly reinforced with artillery, long-range 15 cm and other pieces, to relieve pressure. By 7–8 August, Soviet assault waves, supported by tanks and aircraft, intensified but Japanese defenses, including engineers, machine-gun fire, and concentrated artillery, prevented a decisive breakthrough at key positions like Noguchi Hill and the Changkufeng spine.  By 9–10 August, continued Japanese counterfire, improved artillery neutralization, and renewed defenses kept Hill 52 and Changkufeng in Japanese control, though at heavy cost. The frontline exhaustion and looming strategic concerns prompted calls for intensified replacements and potential diplomatic considerations. It seemed like the battle was coming to an end.   #184 The Lake Khasan Truce Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. The casualties were atrocious for both sides, yet they continued to mobilize more forces to the conflict area. While the Russians appeared uninterested in all-out war, they were not rushing to settle the crisis through diplomacy and, at the front, were launching "reckless" counterattacks at inconvenient locations, presumably to occupy positions useful for bargaining. The local Soviet military, having ceded the hills at the outset, must also have been anxious about its prestige. The Kwantung Army's potential threat to the flank undoubtedly made the Russians nervous. Although the leading echelon of the 104th Division did not reach Hunchun until the evening of 13 August, Japanese intelligence heard that the Red Army Headquarters staff at Khabarovsk had detected movements of Kwantung Army elements around 10 August and had been compelled to take countermeasures: they reinforced positions along the eastern and northern Manchurian frontiers, concentrated the air force, ordered move-up preparations by ground forces in the Blagoveshchensk district, and commandeered most of the motor vehicles in the Amur Province. By shifting its main strength to the eastern front, the Kwantung Army exerted, as intended, a silent pressure. The covert objective was to restrain and divert the Russians and to assist Japanese diplomacy, not to provoke war. Nevertheless, an American correspondent who visited the Changkufeng area in mid-August privately reported that the Kwantung Army was massing large numbers of troops near the border and expected further trouble.  Toward its weak neighbor in Korea the Kwantung Army rendered every support. Apart from its major demonstration in eastern Manchuria, the Kwantung Army promptly sent whatever reinforcements of artillery, engineers, and other units that Seoul had desired. Being also intimately involved in anti-Soviet military preparations, the Kwantung Army understandably wanted the latest and most authentic information on Russian Army theory and practice. The Changkufeng Incident furnished such a firsthand opportunity, and the professional observers sent from Hsinking were well received at the front. Military classmate ties contributed to the working relationships between the armies. As one division officer put it, the teams from the Kwantung Army came as "friends," not only to study the battlefield by their respective branches of service but also to assist the front-line forces; "the Kwantung Army was increasingly helpful to us in settling the incident." Foreign Minister Ugaki felt that the pressure of troop movements in Manchuria played a major part in the Russians' eventual decision to conclude a cease-fire. From Inada's viewpoint, it had been a "fine and useful demonstration against the Soviet Union." Pinned at Changkufeng, the Russians did not or could not choose to react elsewhere, too. Army General Staff officers believed that clear and consistent operational guidance furnished by Tokyo produced good results, although the fighting had been very hard for the front-line Japanese troops because of the insistence on exclusive defense, the curbs on interference by the Kwantung Army, and the prohibition on the use of aircraft. It had been close, however. Only by conscious efforts at restraint had the small war at Changkufeng been kept from spilling over into neighboring areas. Escalation of combat in early August had caused the Japanese government to try to break the diplomatic impasse while localizing the conflict. On 2 August Premier Konoe assured the Emperor that he intended to leave matters for diplomacy and to suspend military operations as soon as possible, an approach with which the government concurred. The Changkufeng dispute had been accorded priority, preceding overall settlements and the creation of joint commissions to redefine the borders. On the 3rd, after coordinating with the military, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Shigemitsu that the front-line situation had become "extremely critical" and that a quick suspension of fighting action should be proposed. Soviet and Japanese troops should be pulled back to the setup as of 30 July.  In the midst of the Changkufeng Incident, the USSR intensified harassing tactics against the last Japanese consulates located within the Soviet Union. Forty-eight hour ultimatums to quit the country were delivered to the consuls at Khabarovsk and Blagoveshchensk on 3 and 4 August, respectively. Although the Japanese government warned that it might retaliate, the Russians were unyielding. The foreign ambassadors, Mamoru Shigemitsu and Maxim Litvinov met on August 4th, whereupon Shigemitsu argued, the best procedure would be to suspend military operations on both sides and to restore the status quo. Litvinov in a long manner explained the stance of the USSR as Shigemitsu put it "the Soviet side had a disposition to cease fighting, provided that conditions were satisfactory."  The Russians were stalling at the very time the Red Army was bending every effort to retake Changkufeng. Coordination between the Army, Navy, and Foreign Ministers produced cease-fire conditions which were rushed to the Japanese ambassador on 6 August. Two alternate lines were proposed, to which both armies would pull back. After the creation of a buffer zone, discussions could begin concerning delineation of boundaries in the region of the incident. The Hunchun pact could be the basis for deliberations, demarcation to be effected by joint investigations on the spot in consultation with documents in the possession of Manchukuo and the USSR; the Japanese would serve only as observers. Shigemitsu conferred once more with Litvinov for three and a half hours on 7 August, but no progress was made. Litvinov insisted that a clash could be averted only if Japanese forces pulled However Litvinov's positive reaction to the idea of a demarcation commission was seen as a good sign.  On August the 10th, both sides seemed to have reached a similar conclusion that a cease-fire needed to rapidly be implemented. At 11pm that night Litvinov called the embassy, asking for Shigemitus to see him as fast as possible. Shigemitsu arrived around midnight whereupon Litvinov showed him a draft of a final accord: 1. Japanese and Soviet forces shall cease all military activities on 11 August at noon local time. Instructions to that effect are to be issued immediately by the governments of the USSR and Japan.  2. Japanese as well as Soviet troops shall remain on those lines which they occupied at midnight local time on 10 August.  3. For redemarcation of the portion of frontier in dispute, there shall be created a mixed commission of two representatives from the USSR and two representatives from the Japanese-Manchurian side, with an umpire selected by agreement of both parties from among citizens of a third state.  4. The commission for redemarcation shall work on the basis of agreements and maps bearing the signatures of plenipotentiary representatives of Russia and China. Shigemitsu agreed to the inclusion of a Japanese commissioner on the Manchukuoan delegation, but he could not assent to the addition of a neutral umpire. Moscow received the news of the truce with gratification mingled with surprise. Few realized that the USSR had taken the step of appeasing or at least saving face for the Japanese even after Shigemitsu had pleaded for and won a cease-fire. The world was told by the Russians only that specific overtures for cessation of hostilities had originated with the Soviet authorities. In general, it was not difficult to guess why the Russian government, distracted by the European political scene and apprehensive about a two-front war, agreed to a cease-fire at Changkufeng.  The slowness of communication across the many miles between Moscow and Tokyo did nothing to alleviate nervousness in the Japanese capital during the night of 10–11 August. Ugaki wrote in his diary that, "after ten days of tension, the struggle between the Japanese and Soviet armies on the USSR–Manchukuo border had reached the decisive brink". Complicating the situation was the fact that, late on 10 August, the president of Domei News Agency conveyed to Konoe a message from one of his Moscow correspondents. Purporting to sum up Shigemitsu's latest outlook, the report stated that success in the negotiations seemed unlikely. The contents of the message were transmitted to Ugaki and Itagaki. Consequently, Konoe and his associates spent a fearful and depressed night. Shigemitsu's own report, sent by telegram, arrived frustratingly slowly.  After definite information had been received from Shigemitsu, Harada happily called Kazami Akira, the prime minister's chief secretary, and Konoe himself. "Until the accord was implemented," Kazami had said, "we would have to be on the alert all day today." Konoe and Kazami seemed "a little relaxed anyhow." Inada had finally retired past midnight on 10–11 August, "agreement or no agreement. I must have been dozing from fatigue when the jangle of the phone got me up. It was a message saying that a truce had been concluded the preceding midnight. Just as I had been expecting, I said to myself, but I felt empty inside, as if it were an anticlimax." The call had to have been an unofficial communication, perhaps the latest Domei news, since the records showed that definitive word from the embassy in Moscow did not reach Tokyo until after 10:00. Attache Doi's report to the Army General Staff came at about 11:00. This was extremely late in terms of getting Japanese troops to cease operations at 13:00 Tokyo time (or noon on the spot); a tardy imperial order might undo the Moscow accord. Complicating this matter of split-second timing was the fact that the first official telegram from Shigemitsu referred to unilateral Japanese withdrawal by one kilometer. At the Japanese high command level, there was agitated discussion when initial word of these arrangements arrived. Inada speculated that on 10 August the Russians had staged persistent close-quarter assaults against Changkufeng and seized the southern edge eventually, although repulsed at all other points. Moscow may have agreed to a truce at that midnight because they expected that the crest of Changkufeng would be in their hands by then and that a fait accompli would have been achieved. Some officers argued that the Russian forces were suffering "quite badly and this caused the authorities' agreeability to a cease-fire." Most exasperating, however, was the provision stipulating a one-sided military withdrawal. Admittedly, such action had been under discussion by the Army General Staff itself, particularly after Terada's sobering appeal of 10 August. It was another matter to have a Japanese withdrawal dictated by the USSR while Russian troops did not have to budge. Initial puzzlement and chagrin began to yield to rationalization. The Japanese side seemed to have made a concession in the negotiations, but there must have been significance to the phrase which said, "the line occupied by Japanese forces has been taken into due consideration." Japanese troops had presumably advanced to the edge of the frontier, while Russian soldiers had not come even close. Thus, it must have been necessary to have the Japanese units withdraw first, to fix the boundaries, since it had been the Japanese who had done the greater advancing. One Japanese office remarked "A pull-back was a pull-back, no matter how you looked at things—and we were the ones who had to do it. But the atmosphere in the command had been far from optimistic on 10 August; so we decided that it was unnecessary to complain about this issue and we approved the agreement in general. Both the senior and junior staff levels seemed to be quite relieved." The 11th of August had been an awkward day to conduct liaison between the Foreign Ministry, the Army, and the Throne, since the Emperor was leaving Hayama to visit naval installations in the Yokosuka area and the navy air unit in Chiba from morning. By the time a conclusive report on the cease-fire could be conveyed to the monarch, he was aboard the destroyer Natsugumo at Kisarazu. Naval wireless facilities in Tokyo had to be used to transmit coded messages to Admiral Yonai, the Navy Minister, for delivery to the Emperor. This was done shortly before 14:45 According to Yonai, the Emperor "was very pleased and relieved when I reported to him… about the conclusion of the truce accord." The appropriate Imperial order was approved promptly. But not until 15:00, two hours after cease-fire time at Changkufeng, did word of Imperial sanction reach the high command.  Japanese soldiers in the lines recalled nothing special on 11 August. "We didn't hear about the truce till the last minute," said one, "and we had become so inured to enemy artillery we hardly noticed any 'last salute.' From Tokyo, on 11 August, it was reported that the Japanese side had suspended operations promptly at noon, as agreed, but that sporadic bursts of fire had continued to come from the Soviet side. Colonel Grebennik, when asked after the war whether the combat did end at noon, replied petulantly: "Yes, but not quite so. The fighting actually ceased at 12:05." According to him, the tardiness was the Japanese side's fault.  The Japanese press told readers that "the cease-fire bugle has sounded—the frontier is cheerful now, 14 days after the shooting began." All was quiet in the area of Changkufeng, where the sounds of firing ceased at noon "as if erased." The most intense period of stillness lasted only a few minutes and was followed by the excited chattering of soldiers, audible on both sides. Korea Army Headquarters spoke of the "lifting of dark clouds [and] return of the rays of peace." In Hongui, a Japanese combat officer told a Japanese correspondent: "Suddenly we noticed the insects making noise; the soldiers were delighted. Once the fighting stopped, Japanese national flags were hoisted here and there along our front. … After the Russians observed what we had done, they broke out red flags also, at various points in their trenches." Some Japanese soldiers were given cookies by Soviet medical corpsmen. At Hill 52, an infantryman remembered, the Japanese and the Russians were facing each other, 50 meters apart, that afternoon. "We just lay there and stared at each other for two hours, waiting grimly. But it was well past cease-fire now, and those same Russians finally started to wave at us. Later that day, when Soviet troops came to salvage their KO'd tanks, we 'chatted' in sign language." After the cease-fire, Ichimoto, whose battalion had seen the most difficult fighting, stuck his head above the trench and waved hello to some Soviet officers. "They waved back. It gave me an odd sensation, for during the furious struggle I had considered them to be barbarians. Now I was surprised to see that they were civilized after all!" A rifleman at Changkufeng remembered swapping watches with an unarmed Russian across the peak. The Japanese front-line troops stayed in their positions confronting the Russians and conducted preparations for further combat while cleaning up the battlefield. Soviet troops also remained deployed as of the time of the cease-fire and vigorously carried out their own construction. The day after the cease-fire went into effect, Suetaka escorted an American reporter to the front. At Changkufeng:  "carpenters were making wooden receptacles for the ashes of the Japanese dead. Funeral pyres still were smoldering. . . . From our vantage point the lieutenant general pointed out long lines of Soviet trucks coming up in clouds of dust [which] apparently were made deliberately in an effort to conceal the trucks' movements, [probably designed] to haul supplies from the front. Soviet boats were pushing across [Khasan] . . . and Soviet soldiers were towing smashed tanks back from no-man'sland. On the Japanese side there was a pronounced holiday spirit. Soldiers, emerging from dugouts, were drying white undershirts on near-by brush and bathing in the Tumen River. The soldiers were laughing heartily. A few were trying to ride a Korean donkey near Changkufeng's scarred slope. The general pointed out three Soviet tanks behind the Japanese advance lines east of Changkufeng. He said the Russians had hauled back seventy others [on the night of 11 August]. . . . The writer was shown a barbed wire fence immediately behind a wrecked village on the west slope of Changkufeng which the general said the Soviet troops built at the beginning of the fighting. Possiet Bay also was pointed out, clearly visible across the swamp." Soviet losses for what became known as the battle of Lake Khasan for the Russians and the Changkufeng incident for the Japanese, totaled 792 killed or missing and 3,279 wounded or sick, according to Soviet records. The Japanese claimed to have destroyed or immobilized 96 enemy tanks and 30 guns. Soviet armored losses were significant, with dozens of tanks knocked out or destroyed and hundreds of "tank troops" becoming casualties. Japanese casualties, as revealed by secret Army General Staff statistics, were 1,439 casualties, 526 killed or missing, 913 wounded; the Soviets claimed Japanese losses of 3,100, with 600 killed and 2,500 wounded. The Soviets concluded that these losses were due in part to poor communications infrastructure and roads, as well as the loss of unit coherence caused by weak organization, headquarters, commanders, and a lack of combat-support units. The faults in the Soviet army and leadership at Khasan were blamed on the incompetence of Blyukher. In addition to leading the troops into action at Khasan, Blyukher was also supposed to oversee the trans-Baikal Military District's and the Far Eastern fronts' move to combat readiness, using an administrative apparatus that delivered army group, army, and corps-level instructions to the 40th Rifle Division by accident. On 22 October, he was arrested by the NKVD and is thought to have been tortured to death. At 15:35 on 11 August, in the Hill 52 sector, high-ranking military delegates bearing a white flag emerged from the Soviet lines and proceeded to Akahage Hill, about 100 meters from the Japanese positions. Cho, as right sector chief, was notified. He sent three lieutenants to converse with the Russians; they learned that the Soviets wanted the Japanese to designate a time and place for a conference. This word was conveyed to Suetaka, who had already dispatched Lieutenant Kozuki to the heights east of Shachaofeng to contact the Russians. Around 4:20, the commander canceled Kozuki's mission and instructed Cho to reply that the delegation ought to convene near the peak of Changkufeng at 18:00 Cho set out promptly with several subordinates; they reached the Changkufeng crest a little before 6. The Russians then said they wanted to meet the Japanese near the Crestline southeast of Changkufeng, the excuse being that the peak was too far for them to go and that they could not arrive by the designated time. Cho took his team to the location requested by the Russians. There, the Japanese found 13 Soviet soldiers and a heavy machine gun on guard, but the Russian delegates had not arrived, although it was 6:18. The irked Japanese clocked a further delay of two minutes before the Russian truce chief, Gen. Grigory M. Shtern, rode up on horseback with a party of eight. Both delegations saluted, the chiefs and team members identified themselves, and all shook hands. The Soviet team was made up of Corps General 3rd rank Shtern, 38, chief of staff, Far East area army; Brigade Commissar Semenovsky political major general, 37 or 38; Colonel Fedotev, 42; and Major Wabilev, about 30. Interpreting for the Russians was Alexei Kim. In Colonel Cho's opinion, "It was always necessary to take the initiative in dealing with the Soviets. So, even in such matters as shaking hands or conversing, he always did things first." During the exchange of greetings, Cho teased Shtern about his bandaged forehead. "A Japanese artillery shell got you, didn't it?" he asked. But Cho began formal discussions on a more dignified note: "Cho: It is very much to be regretted that the Japanese and Soviet armies had to get involved in combat around Changkufeng. Nevertheless, I laud the consummation of the Mos­cow accord on the part of both governments. And, I must say, your forces were quite brave and patriotic. Shtern: I agree with you. The Japanese Army, too, was courageous and strong." Negotiations would go on at the local level and diplomatic level for many days. In Tokyo, on the morning of 13 August, Ugaki had gone to the Meiji shrine to "report" on the cease-fire and to express his gratitude. At 10:00, when received in Imperial audience, he discussed the Changkufeng Incident. "I humbly regret to have troubled Your Majesty so unduly in connection with an unimportant affair on the Soviet-Manchurian frontier" at a time when the monarch was confronted by grave national problems. A long and winding road lay ahead before the incident as a whole was settled, but a good start had been made and "we are going to be even more careful in handling matters, although the Soviet regime  consists of devious, vicious scoundrels." Recognition of the Japanese Army's performance was accorded by the highest authorities in the homeland. As soon as the fighting ceased, Kan'in transmitted a message of appreciation. The day after the cease-fire, the command in North Korea issued a generous communique: "We pay homage to the Japanese for defending themselves against 100 planes, 200 tanks, and 60 pieces of heavy artillery. Our admiration for the bravery of both armies is of the highest." At 14:00 on the 15th, Kan'in was received in audience and reported on the settlement of the crisis. Said the Emperor: "We are gratified by the fact that, during this incident at Changkufeng, Our officers and men achieved their mission fully and manifested prudence and forbearance while confronting difficult circumstances with small forces. Our profound condolences to the casualties. Convey this message to the officers and men." A wire was dispatched promptly to Nakamura. With Imperial use of the wording "Changkufeng Incident," the nomenclature for the affair was fixed in Japan. When the cabinet met on 16 August, the decision was reached officially. After the Changkufeng affair, Japanese officers claimed that the Soviets had dispatched tactical experts "to ascertain why their elite Far Eastern forces had not been able to achieve satisfactory results. They realize the urgency of this investigation in preparation for any great war." Specifically, the AGS heard that on the day of the cease-fire, Blyukher had sent an investigative team of commissars under Romanovsky to the scene. Japanese experts on the USSR speculated that the experience at Changkufeng ought indeed to have impressed the Red Army: "Our forces did seize the hill and hold it. After comparing the strengths involved ... the Russians may well have had to modify their estimates." According to one Japanese commentator, improvements in political leadership were judged imperative by the USSR, gainsaying claims that the Soviet Army had been strengthened through the purge of alleged Japanese tools. Soviet authorities would conclude "As a test of doctrine, the fighting had confirmed the correctness of the basic principles embodied in the 1936 Field Service Regulations." The Soviet infantry had paid dearly for this, as well as for the deficiencies in tactical training. Defense Commissar Voroshilov admitted, "We were not sufficiently quick in our tactics, and particularly in joint operations in dealing the enemy a concentrated blow." In the view of historian Mackintosh: "The Soviet success at Lake Khasan was bought at the cost of heavy casualties and exposed serious defects in the mobilization machinery and the training of troops. There can be little doubt that these factors checked to some extent the Soviet Government's overoptimistic estimate of its own military strength and cast doubt on the effectiveness of its policy of expansion in all fields of military organization". Writing a year and a half after Changkufeng, an Mainichi reporter observed that the greatest harvest from the incident was tangible Japanese experience in determining the fighting strength of the Russians. Purchased with blood, this knowledge could provide valuable evidence for future combat operations. It was a question whether Changkufeng really possessed such strategic significance as was claimed for it, but the Soviet policy of bluff could be interpreted as substantiating the weakness of the defenses of Vladivostok. "The Russians used all kinds of new weapons at Changkufeng and tipped their whole hand. But although mechanization of the Red Army had attained high levels with respect to quantity, their weaknesses in technique and quality were laid bare." Imaoka observed that since the Changkufeng Incident marked the first time that the Japanese and Soviet armies engaged each other in combat involving large strategic elements, divisional and above, Russian fighting strength was studied with keen interest. The Japanese did not rate the capacity of the officers or Soviet quality, in general, as especially high. Still, the Russians did possess quantitative abundance, and Japanese losses had been heavy because the enemy had fired masses of ammunition against fixed targets. Suetaka seemed to have comprehended the scope of tangible Soviet strength in equipment and materiel, as shown by his comment: "I felt deeply that if the gap in manpower went beyond limits, it would be inevitable for our casualties to increase tremendously; this might even cause us danger in specific local areas." Few Japanese officers saw anything new in Soviet tactical methods, although considerations of mass were ever-present. Not only intelligence experts but the whole army worked on ways of coping with Soviet forces that would have the numerical advantage by 3:1. Most awesome was the "fantastic abundance" of hostile materiel, although the Russians could not deploy to surround the Japanese because of the geography. An AGS expert on the USSR summed it up: "We learned that Soviet strength was up to expectations, whereas Japanese arms and equipment had to be improved and reinforced." Worded in a multiplicity of ways, the Japanese conclusion was that patient imperial forces had won a great victory by defending the contested border with flesh vs. steel and by limiting the Changkufeng Incident, till the end, against enemy hordes supported exclusively by planes and tanks. Japanese infantrymen admit that the combat soldiers did not savor their disadvantages. "All our materiel was inferior in quality and particularly in quantity. We had the impression that whereas we relied on muscle power, the enemy used engines. This rendered our fighting particularly hard, but we had full confidence in our spiritual strength [i.e., superiority]."  Nevertheless, the Japanese mode of tactical operation, asserted Iwasaki, the Korea Army senior staff officer, was "the worst possible: fighting with hands tied." This meant that the Russians could fight "to their hearts' content," committing tanks and planes, and striking from all directions. A front-line infantry commander commented: "One's troops ought to be provided meaningful reasons for fighting and for dying happily. It is cruel to ask officers and men to meet masses of steel and to shed their blood without visible cause, and apparently because of inadequate combat preparations." The cease-fire agreement was concluded "at just the right time," General Morimoto admitted. A secret report prepared by AGS analysts sheds light on the larger question of what the army thought it had learned about itself and the Soviet enemy: "In studying Changkufeng, one ought to bear a number of cautions in mind: (1) The incident broke out when we were concentrating on the holy war against China; severe limitations on combat operations were imposed by the necessity to adhere to a policy of nonenlargement. (2) Apparently, the enemy also adopted a policy of localization while continuously attempting to recapture the high ground in the Changkufeng area. (3) Our forces employed units which were on Phase-1 alert from beginning to end; in terms of quality, the personnel were excellent—mainly active-duty types, from key men down. But our numbers were far inferior, and our organization and equipment were not of the best. In addition, we committed no planes or tanks, whereas the enemy used plenty. (4) The 19th Division was thorough, rigorous, and realistic in its combat training prior to the engagement. (5) Battlefield terrain seriously limited the enemy's attacks, especially tank action. But while the Tumen restricted assaults against our flanks and rear, it hampered our own services of supply, notably the provision of position construction materials." The Japanese learned few or erroneous lessons from the Changkufeng affair; the Kwantung Army, for example, was convinced that everything had been handled badly in 1938 by the Korea Army and the high command. When a dispute arose in 1939 at Nomonhan on another border lying between Outer Mongolia and Manchukuo, the staff in Hsinking fostered escalating measures. The USSR, however, learned in 1937 and 1938 that the Japanese Army seemed to respect only force.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Changkufeng incident or battle of Lake Khasan clash saw a fierce Soviet push against Japanese positions around Changkufeng and Hill 52. The cease-fire ended the incident, but not the conflict. Despite the brutal lessons learned by both sides, a much larger conflict would explode the next year that would alter both nations throughout WW2.   

2026-01-10 | UPDATES #095 | Russia grey fleet transporting illicit oil to keep its war machine ticking over, is becoming the Apocalypse Fleet – a transportation route for covert intelligence operations, military equipment and gear for dictatorial regimes, and potentially illegal nuclear materials, as well as platforms for launching hybrid operations against Russia's adversaries. It must be stopped. Europe's front line is not only in the trenches of Donbas and air defence batteries around Kyiv and Odesa, Dnipro and Kharkiv. It is also sea lanes, chokepoints, and the floating junkyards we politely call Russia's “commercial shipping” lifeline, the grey fleet tankers crawling the globe. “The Apocalypse Fleet” or Russia's ‘shadow' fleet is not just a sanctions-evasion machine for illicit oil. The newest reporting and enforcement actions point to something bigger and uglier: a maritime ecosystem that can move contraband, enable hybrid operations, and — at minimum — create plausible cover for weapons shipments and sensitive technology transfers across an emerging global authoritarian network. Surely the rules of free maritime passage do not apply if Russia is at war with us, and using its fleet as floating bases to launch operations? ----------SOURCES: InformNapalm (Jan 2026): investigation alleging contraband links tied to “Vostok-Akhmat / 291st regiment” and shadow-fleet logistics Reuters (Jan 8–9, 2026): reporting on US/UK-supported seizure of the Marinera and subsequent developments The Guardian (Jan 8, 2026): tankers under US sanctions transiting the English Channel; UK framing of shadow-fleet disruption The Guardian / Lloyd's List analysis (Jan 8, 2026): shadow-fleet vessels reflagging to Russia Reuters (Jan 2, 2026): Finland cable-breach investigation update Reuters analysis (Jan 2026): Baltic maritime incidents and the hybrid-security framing EU Council (Dec 18, 2025): sanctions on additional shadow-fleet vessels; explicit reference to military-equipment transport and undersea infrastructure threats Reuters (Nov 18, 2024): EU sanctions on Iranian shipping; allegations of transporting UAV/missile-related tech and Caspian transfers Reuters (Feb 21, 2024): claims of Iranian missile shipments to Russia, including by ship via the Caspian Reuters (Jun 2023): US declassified assertion of Iranian UAVs shipped across the Caspian to Russia Reuters graphics (Apr 2025): OSINT tracking of repeated North Korea-to-Russia munitions shipments by sea Reuters (Apr 2024): satellite imagery and moorage claims re vessel tied to DPRK–Russia arms transfers ----------Silicon Curtain is a part of the Christmas Tree Trucks 2025 campaign - an ambitious fundraiser led by a group of our wonderful team of information warriors raising 110,000 EUR for the Ukrainian army. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtainThe Goal of the Campaign for the Silicon Curtain community:- 1 armoured battle-ready pickupWe are sourcing all vehicles around 2010-2017 or newer, mainly Toyota Hilux or Mitsubishi L200, with low mileage and fully serviced. These are some of the greatest and the most reliable pickups possible to be on the frontline in Ukraine. Who will receive the vehicles?https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/christmas-tree-trucks-2025-silicon-curtain----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------

IS STARMER TRYING TO TURN UK INTO NORTH KOREA?  #KeirStarmer #UKPolitics #JonGaunt #JonGauntTV #FreeSpeech #DigitalID #TwoTierPolicing #BBCBias #CivilLiberties #StateOverreach #UKDemocracy #LiveDebate #OFCOM  Today's show is driven by today's news. On the same day this stream goes live, Keir Starmer has asked Ofcom to investigate X over responses generated by its AI system Grok.  A sitting Prime Minister encouraging a state regulator to step in over images produced by an AI should alarm anyone who believes in free expression. This is not a literal comparison. The reference to North Korea is political hyperbole — a long-established way of warning about authoritarian direction, not dictatorship. Tonight's live show asks a simple but serious question: when governments start leaning on regulators to police speech they dislike, where does that road lead?  WHAT WE'RE COVERING  This broadcast examines a wider pattern — not one decision in isolation. Topics include: Digital ID and the expansion of state oversight  Free speech, censorship, and government pressure on platforms Two-tier policing of protests and public disorder The Southport riots and the Lucy Connolly case Selective enforcement of the law and narrative protection BBC bias and the absence of real accountability (BBC) Birmingham policing controversies and institutional double standards Cultural inconsistency and political taboos The collapse of the Red Wall and voter alienation Tolerance of the intolerant — and intolerance of dissent Weak or delayed action on Iran Disregard for Parliament and democratic scrutiny Media-friendly videos versus genuine accountability The Laura Kuenssberg interview and soft questioning Early prisoner releases and justice priorities Government acting as parent — from breakfast clubs to behaviour control Immigration narratives and the Dover crossings "bogeyman" Moves toward rejoining the European Union without a clear mandate Demonisation of opposition voters Constant attacks on Nigel Farage and Reform UK as "racist" instead of being debated Grandstanding on the world stage while trust collapses at home Leadership surrounded by compliance rather than challenge Manifesto contradictions and broken promises Growing concern over elections, democratic norms, and consent WHY THIS MATTERS This is not Left vs Right. It is power vs accountability. If asking questions is treated as extremism, if speech is managed by regulators, if policing and justice depend on who you are or what you believe, then the issue isn't the language used to criticise it — it's the direction the country is being taken.

Newt talks with Herman Pirchner and Ilan Berman from the American Foreign Policy Council about their new book, “The New Imperialists” which explores the collaboration between Russia, China, and Iran, along with allies like North Korea and Venezuela, to challenge the United States' global leadership. Their conversation highlights the strategic actions taken by the Trump administration, including the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, as part of a broader strategy to counteract these alliances. They also discuss the geopolitical implications of Venezuela's alignment with anti-American forces and the potential impact on U.S. national security. Pirchner and Berman discuss the strategic importance of Greenland in the context of American defense and its relevance to the imperial ambitions of Russia. Additionally, they discuss the new AFPC publication, "Statecraft and Strategy," aimed at providing a comprehensive view of global trends and foreign policy issues, bridging the gap between partisan perspectives. They underscore the interconnectedness of global geopolitical dynamics and the strategic responses required to address emerging threats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Hassan Abduraheem Taour helped train Sudanese pastors to be ready for persecution. He didn't know that he was also preparing himself for the day he'd be arrested in Sudan, charged with aiding espionage alongside VOM's Africa Regional Director, Petr Jasek, and sentenced to 12 years in prison. There were difficult days in prison, yet Pastor Hassan experienced the joy of the Lord—joy so powerful it brought tears to his eyes. It is because of that joy, and because of the ministry God gave him in prison, that Pastor Hassan looks back on those long months as "one of the best times of my life." The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

** We'll be discussing this episode on Tuesday, January 13th (8 pm ET/5 pm PT) in our online gathering, Macro ‘n Chill. We've invited Erald Kolasi to join us. So bring your questions. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/aYopZXEIQ9SPN9gQL2ajXQSteve welcomes back Erald Kolasi, physicist-economist, author, and friend of the podcast. Erald is here to do a demolition job on “institutional” development fables like Acemoglu & Robinson's Why Nations Fail. He argues that by treating good institutions as the master key (inclusive vs. extractive) they smuggle in a liberal moral scoreboard while dodging the real motors of history: power, class struggle, imperial systems, and material constraints like energy, trade dependence, war, and ecological shocks.To “steelman” Acemoglu and Robinson's position, Erald uses their favorite showcase case – North vs. South Korea. He lays out their comparison of the “tyrannical dictatorship” vs the “open” society and presents their explanation for these differences.Erald then flips the script: the DPRK outperformed for decades, then crashed not because its “institutions got worse,” but because the USSR collapsed. Cheap, subsidized energy disappeared, wrecking agriculture and triggering famine.The pattern repeats across history. Using examples like China and Venezuela, the episode explores how wars, sanctions, resource access, and global power structures shape economic outcomes far more than abstract institutional rules. Development is a struggle rooted in material conditions and geopolitical realities, not a neutral competition between better or worse policy designs.Erald Kolasi is a writer and researcher focusing on the nexus between energy, technology, economics, complex systems, and ecological dynamics. His book, The Physics of Capitalism, came out from Monthly Review Press in February 2025. He received his PhD in Physics from George Mason University in 2016. You can find out more about Erald and his work at his website, www.eraldkolasi.com. Subscribe to his Substack: https://substack.com/@technodynamics

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former DoD Europe chief Jim Townsend of the Center for a New American Security, and former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss President Trump's proposal to boost defense spending by 50 percent to $1.5 trillion as he demands Pentagon contractors struggling to deliver on weapon programs stop share buybacks and dividends; how the administration's operation to to apprehend Nicholas Maduro, demand to benefit from Venezuela's oil and mineral riches and “right” to take Greenland from Denmark will impact US power worldwide; whether NATO matters enough to deter Washington from moving on Greenland as the administration withdraws the United States from 68 UN and international bodies; outlook for Ukraine war Kyiv suggests Moscow has fired a nuclear-capable missile to shape peace talks as a Russian ship reportedly carrying nuclear reactors to North Korea's submarines sinks off the Spanish coast; whether growing demonstrations over the past weeks will end theocratic leadership in Tehran; tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen; and Israel steps up efforts to seized land from Palestinians in the West Bank.

This week's podcast features a panel discussion with NK News journalists on what to expect from North Korea in the year ahead, taking stock of what they got right about 2025 and making new predictions for 2026. The panelists discuss why DPRK leader Kim Jong Un doubled down on military development last year but didn't end up meeting U.S. President Donald Trump. They then explain why Pyongyang will continue to bet on Russia ties in the new year but will still hedge by returning to talks with Washington. The discussion also covers the possibility that North Korea will push for nuclear energy in 2026, as well as black-swan events like missile launch disasters and information security breaches that could cause major disruptions to Pyongyang's plans. This episode features the following members of the NK News team: Chad O'Carroll — CEO of Korea Risk Group Jeongmin Kim — Executive Director at Korea Risk Group Colin Zwirko — Senior Analytic Correspondent Shreyas Reddy — Lead Correspondent Anton Sokolin — Data Correspondent About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

Amelia, Rudy and Matt sit down to discuss the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's political economy, with a focus on the distinct periods. We discuss the "information problem" and how it frames the discussion, before detailing the history of the DPRK's formation after Japanese colonialism and the Korean War. We then discuss the detailed planning period, its unraveling in the mid 80s, and the Arduous March period after the collapse of the USSR, before finishing off with the present periods of market reform and market elimination. References: Charles K. Armstrong - The North Korean revolution, 1945-1950 Ellen Brun, Jacques Hersch - Socialist Korea: a case study in the strategy of economic development Liu Jinlong - Crying Forests: Political Ecology in the DPRK Yang Mun-su - North Korea's Planned Economy and Marketization Daniel Schwekendiek - A Socioeconomic History of North Korea Phillip H. Park - History of Economic Management in North Korea Zhihua Shen, Yafeng Xia - A Misunderstood Friendship: Mao Zedong, Kim Il-Sung, and Sino-North Korean Relations, 1949-1976

How President Trump handles "CRINK," which is the group of foreign adversaries China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, will shape the future of our country. Mauro Institute director and counterterrorism expert Ryan Mauro joins to expose a Washington organization that has allegedly been funding Hamas hostage-holders. Former investment banker Carol Roth joins to discuss a dangerous concept called capital controls, how it can destroy cities, and how it's coming to New York City with the election of Zohran Mamdani. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How President Trump handles "CRINK," which is the group of foreign adversaries China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, will shape the future of our country. Glenn looks at all the various international players and how President Trump is working to dismantle all the powers that aim to take America down. Glenn explains how President Trump's foreign deals and policies are changing the way America and the West operate, which is critical to their survival. Mauro Institute director and counterterrorism expert Ryan Mauro joins to expose a Washington organization that has allegedly been funding Hamas hostage-holders. Glenn explains why he's optimistic after seeing how Trump is handling foreign affairs. Former investment banker Carol Roth joins to discuss a dangerous concept called capital controls, how it can destroy cities, and how it's coming to New York City with the election of Zohran Mamdani. Can America survive if the world's economic capital collapses? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday's Mark Levin Show, Mark announces plans for a new independent video podcast called "Liberty's Voice," aiming to launch it in the coming weeks, four days a week for about 30 minutes each in the morning. Video podcasting has taken a dark, hateful turn, filled with vile, racist, bigoted, and filthy content. This show will be clean, while demonstrating love for the country, defending capitalism, freedom, hard work, merit, and success. Also, Venezuela operates as the world's largest drug narco hub after Communist China and was emerging as an intelligence and potential military base in the Western Hemisphere for China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, while nationalizing U.S. oil companies. President Trump's decisive actions exemplify great leadership as commander-in-chief, exposing critics like Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, their cabal, the Democrat Party, Marxist Islamists in major financial centers, and protesters funded by China, Soros, and other adversaries, all rooting for the enemy.  Later, the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water, while the President oversees foreign policy, creating some conflict but overwhelmingly favoring presidential war-making authority. During the Constitutional Convention, the Committee of Detail's initial draft assigned Congress the power to "make" war, differing from the Articles of Confederation and sparking debate. The delegates voted 8-1 to replace "make" with "declare." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if Venezuela wasn't the headline—but the signal?China is circling Taiwan. Iran is threatening war. North Korea is issuing warnings. And suddenly, world leaders are talking in numbers the Bible warned us about decades ago. Today, we connect the dots and ask the question no one wants to answer: Are we watching the early stages of World War 3? ⭐️: True Gold Republic: Get The Endtime Show special on precious metals at https://www.endtimegold.com 📱: It's never been easier to understand. Stream Only Source Network and access exclusive content: https://watch.osn.tv/browse 📚: Check out Jerusalem Prophecy College Online for less than $60 per course: https://jerusalemprophecycollege.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's podcast starts by discussing the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend and its implications for North Korea and its leader. NK News correspondent Shreyas Reddy then speaks about Pyongyang's condemnation of the U.S. attack on its longtime ally, accusing Washington of attempting to exercise dominion over the world. He also explains why North Korea will be closely watching the U.S.'s next steps, as well as why Kim Jong Un may not be sweating a similar operation against him thanks to his ace in the hole — nuclear weapons. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

It's Tuesday, January 6th, 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 Kevin Swanson Nigerian Muslims killed 32 Christians since Christmas Killings of Christians continue unabated in Nigeria, reports TruthNigeria.com. Islamist terrorists have killed at least 32 Christians since Christmas, and burned down hundreds of homes in the Adamawa, Kebbi, and Plateau states. Congressman asserts Nigerian Christians targeted for their faith On January 1st, Republican U.S. Congressman Riley Moore of West Virginia weighed in on X. He wrote, “If there were any remaining doubts that Christians in Nigeria are being targeted for their faith in Jesus Christ, this should end that debate.  This isn't about land usage, ‘climate change,' or any other argument the Left wants to make. “This is persecution of our brothers and sisters for their faith in Christ, plain and simple. ISIS is telling Christians they have an opportunity to ‘spare their blood' if they convert. Our brothers and sisters will not bend the knee to anyone but our Lord and Savior.” Also, late last week, the Islamic-supported Allied Democratic Forces carried out a deadly nighttime incursion, killing at least 15 people in the Lubero territory of Congo, Africa. 20 Iranians have died in protests in 78 cities Iranian protests enter Day 9 where at least 20 people have died in the unrest. Protests have been cited in 78 cities across 26 provinces, reports Iran International.  According to The Times on Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader has a backup plan in place — to abscond to Russia should his security forces fail. North Korea shot hypersonic missiles Sunday North Korea successfully fired off several hypersonic missiles on Sunday, connecting with targets 700 miles away in Korea's East Sea. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un called it a “very important strategic task to maintain and expand a powerful and reliable nuclear deterrent.”  Back in 2019, China deployed hypersonic technology. But the United States has yet to deploy its hypersonic technology — it is still in the testing phase.  Number of foreigners in Austria, Belgium and UK skyrocketing Remix News reports that over 41% of the population of Vienna, Austria's capital, is foreign born. And 50 percent of first-graders do not understand German. Also, Muslim students now account for 41.2 percent of all elementary school students, while Christian students fell to 34.5 percent. Plus, Austria, Belgium, and the United Kingdom have the highest percentages of babies born to immigrants — above 30%. Venezuelan dictator and wife plead not guilty The Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both arrested by the U.S. government over the weekend, appeared in a New York City Court Monday to face charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy. and weapons offenses. They entered pleas of innocence to the charges. Psalm 37:9 is clear: “Evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the Earth.” China financed $60 billion loans to Venezuela Come to find out China has been a major player in Venezuela since 2000. The Council on Foreign Relations reports that Venezuela ate up $60 billion of Chinese loans accounting for fully half of all the money that China loaned to South America over the years. And China has been taking in about 80% of Venezuelan oil exports of late. Rubio objects to Iran, China, & Russia propping up Venezuela Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio objected to America's enemies propping up Venezuela in America's backyard. Listen. RUBIO: “We don't need Venezuela's oil. We have plenty of oil in the United States. What we're not going to allow is for the oil industry in Venezuela to be controlled by adversaries of the United States. You have to understand. Why does China need their oil? Why does Russia need their oil? Why does Iran need their oil? They're not even in this continent. “This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live, and we're not going to allow the western hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors and rivals of the United States. We want to see the oil proceeds of that country benefit the people of Venezuela. “Why have 8 million people left Venezuela? Eight million: the single largest mass migration probably in modern history, left Venezuela in 2014 because all the wealth of that country was stolen to the benefit of Maduro and his cronies in the regime, but not to the benefit of people of Venezuela. You know how destabilizing 8 million migrants is? “The number one fear that Brazil has, that Colombia has, that all these countries in the region have about what's happening in Venezuela and our involvement is they're afraid of another mass migration event. That's what they feel. This is deeply destabilizing stuff. ”It's not going to continue to happen. They are not going to come from outside of our hemisphere, destabilize our region in our own backyard, and us have to pay the price for it, not under President Trump.” Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mexico, Uruguay & Spain upset about Maduro The governments of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain have issued a statement airing their disagreement with the U.S. military actions taken against Venezuela over the weekend.   The statement appealed to what they called the “principles of the United Nations Charter.” Trump upset that drug cartels are running Mexico and Columbia President Donald Trump has also told the U.S. press that something has to be done with Mexico. He told Fox News that the  drug cartels are running the country.  Plus, he called Columbia a “sick country” run by a “sick” president who “likes to sell Cocaine to the United States.” Trump said he's not going to be doing this very long.   And the president said, “Cuba is ready to fall” as well.  But let us all remember Who rules. Psalm 22:28-29 says, “For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the Earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive.” Dallas street preachers handcuffed and detained without cause Here in America, street preachers connected with a “Reformed Baptist evangelistic ministry, [Testimonies of God], committed to the supremacy of Scripture and the advancement of Christ's Gospel,” were handcuffed and detained by police officers in Dallas a few weeks ago. The Christian Post reports that an officer had required the evangelists to get off the public sidewalk and cross the street — an order the preachers believed was unlawful. So far, no charges have been filed in the case. 15 states still allow trans surgeries and drugs for kids Two hospitals in left-wing Colorado have decided to stop writing prescriptions for sex-change drugs for children, reports 9-News. Children's Hospital and Denver Health have cited warnings from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. Colorado was the faux-sex-change capital of the world in the 1980s and 1990s.   Sadly, 15 states still allow gender-based mutilation or gender-debilitating drugs for kids including Colorado, California, Oregon, Illinois, and New York. Japanese restaurant paid $3.24 million for bluefin tuna And finally, a Japanese sushi chain set a record for the price paid for a fish yesterday.  The Japan Times reports that Sushi Zanmai paid $3.24 million for a Pacific bluefin tuna at Tokyo's fish auction. That's an astounding $6,600 per pound! Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, January 6th, 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.

Aaron Miller, Vice President of International Ministry at The Voice of the Martyrs, looks back to recount changes and transitions he saw during 2025 in places like Syria, Turkmenistan, Tanzania, and Saudi Arabia. He also shares stories of sitting down with fellow believers in hostile areas and restricted nations and how VOM's work expanded in countries such as Benin, Indonesia, Morocco, and western Nepal. "In times of transition," Aaron says, "our staff sees opportunities." VOM's field staff is excited by the chance to reach new places, which allows them to learn the needs of our persecuted brothers and sisters, pray for them specifically and find the best ways VOM can serve. You'll hear how VOM is facilitating gatherings where pastors and gospel workers meet brothers and sisters doing similar work in other closed countries. These gatherings are opportunities to hear testimonies, pray together and worship the Lord freely with other persecuted Christians. Listen as Aaron shares sacred sentences written in a letter from an imprisoned pastor thanking VOM for taking care of his wife and children. "I want to thank you for ministering to orphans of living fathers," the pastor wrote, "ministering to widows of living husbands." Hear how you can pray for the specific needs of persecuted Christians, and request your free copy of VOM's 2026 Global Prayer Guide to help you know how to pray throughout this year for Christians in India, Venezuela, and many more hostile areas and restricted nations. The VOM App for your smartphone or tablet will help you pray daily in 2026 for persecuted Christians in nations like North Korea, Nigeria and Bangladesh, as well as provide free access to e-books, audiobooks, video content and feature films. Download the VOM App for your iOS or Android device today.

On this episode of the MeidasTouch Podcast, Ben, Brett, and Jordy break down a truly dangerous moment on the world stage as Donald Trump instantly parrots Kremlin propaganda after Vladimir Putin spreads a blatant lie about a supposed Ukrainian attack—right after Trump's meeting with President Zelenskyy—while global tensions spike with China saber-rattling over Taiwan, Iran claiming it's at war with the U.S., Israel, and Europe, and North Korea launching new missile tests. The episode also dives into the growing MAGA media civil war after Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly exposes Trump in a new New York Times interview, raises serious questions about Trump's health amid visible injection marks on his hands, and calls out his shameful meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. Plus, the hosts unpack Trump's latest email scams targeting his own supporters, the worsening of the cost of living crisis due to Trump's attacks on climate policy, and much more. Subscribe to Meidas+ at https://meidasplus.com Get Meidas Merch: https://store.meidastouch.com Deals from our sponsors!  BetterWild: BetterWild is offering our listeners up to 40% off your order at https://betterwild.com/MEIDAS OneSkin: Get 20% off One Skin with the code MEIDAS at https://www.oneskin.co/MEIDAS  #oneskinpod DeleteMe: Get 20% OFF your DeleteMe plan! Go to https://JoinDeleteMe.com/MEIDAS and enter code: MEIDAS at checkout! Huel: Grab Huel today in your local Target, or get my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code MEIDAS20 at https://huel.com/MEIDAS20. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin: Pressure is building inside Iran, where a collapsing economy has driven protesters into the streets, merchants have shut down key markets, and security forces are struggling to contain growing unrest that is turning increasingly political. Later in the show—North Korea unveils what it claims is its first nuclear-powered submarine, a massive vessel comparable in size to some United States Navy attack subs, raising new questions about Pyongyang's undersea ambitions. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Glorify: Feel closer to God this year with Glorify—get full access for just $29.99 when you download the app now at https://glorify-app.com/PDB.  Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: China encircles Taiwan with the largest military exercises in its history, deploying warships and fighter jets in a move that blurs the line between training and real-world preparation. Russia claims Vladimir Putin was targeted by a Ukrainian strike, with Moscow hinting at tougher negotiating positions while Ukraine flatly denies the accusation. Donald Trump meets with Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, pressing for progress on a stalled Gaza ceasefire. And in today's Back of the Brief—Kim Jong Un closes out the year with a warning, as North Korea claims it tested long-range cruise missiles. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Glorify: Feel closer to God this year with Glorify—get full access for just $29.99 when you download the app now at https://glorify-app.com/PDB.  Stash Financial: Don't Let your money sit around. Go to https://get.stash.com/PDB to see how you can receive $25 towards your first stock purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices