Podcasts about Saudi Arabia

In the wake of a decisive US strike on Iran's nuclear weapons facilities, many questions are being asked. Did Donald Trump make the right call? What about the intelligence? Is this the start of US military action in Iran or a one-off? And what are the implications for Gaza, the region, and Iran in the coming months?Kenneth M. Pollack, PhD., is Vice President for Policy at the Middle East Institute. Previously he was a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he worked on Middle Eastern political-military affairs, focusing in particular on Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf countries. Dr. Pollack has also worked on long-term issues related to Middle Eastern political and military affairs for the Joint Chiefs of Staff when he was a senior research professor at the Institute for National Security Studies at National Defense University.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

The USMNT closes out the Gold Cup group stage with a 2-1 win over Haiti, securing all nine points and the top spot in Group D. Alexi Lalas, David Mosse, and special guest Maurice Edu break down the win — including Malik Tillman's standout performance, Patrick Agyemang's hard-earned game-winner, and key lineup decisions. The crew also discusses Matt Freese's costly giveaway, whether Tillman is locking in a long-term role, and what to expect in the quarterfinal matchup vs. Costa Rica.Plus, a full recap of the day's Gold Cup action. Saudi Arabia and Trinidad & Tobago share points, Mexico and Costa Rica play to a scoreless draw, and Tuesday's Group B & C showdowns decide the remaining quarterfinal spots. To wrap things up, Alexi reflects on the USMNT's legendary 1994 World Cup win over Colombia—31 years ago today.Presented by Yerba Madre #CometoLifeIntro (0:00)USMNT Clashes with Haiti in Group D (4:02)Is Malik Tillman a Potential World Cup Starter? (12:11)Matt Turner vs Matt Freese (17:51)Dante Sealy's Goal of the Tournament (21:43)Group A Recap (23:03)Club World Cup Action (29:24) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

//The Wire//1730Z June 23, 2025////PRIORITY////BLUF: IRANIAN COUNTERATTACK TARGETS US MILITARY BASES IN MIDDLE EAST. SHIPPING CONCERNS MOUNT AS IRAN THREATENS TO TARGET SHIPPING IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----Middle East: This morning the kingdom of Qatar closed their airspace to commercial aviation traffic. Separately, both the United States and Britain issued shelter-in-place orders for their citizens. Shortly after these announcements, multiple Iranian ballistic missiles struck US military bases throughout the region. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar appears to have been successfully targeted to some degree, and impacts were reported at the US Navy base in Bahrain. Reports have emerged indicating unknown bases in Iraq were also targeted by ballistic missiles.Shortly after the missiles were launched, American fighter aircraft were observed scrambling in Saudi Arabia, with a number of sorties being conducted on targets unknown.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: As this is a developing situation, the success of these missile strikes remains unknown until the dust settles. Video evidence indicates that many of the missiles were successfully intercepted, however some made it through to successfully impact their targets. Qatar announced that 100% of the missiles intended for their nation were successfully intercepted, however this remains unconfirmed at this time and Qatari media groups stated that at least three missiles evaded defenses to impact at Al Udeid. No word on casualties from any of the strikes reported so far today.Following the strikes on Iranian facilities over the weekend (and today's retaliatory strikes), tensions have escalated sharply throughout the region. Iranian forces have threatened to "close" the Strait of Hormuz, which traditionally involves the emplacement of sea mines throughout the choke point. There are no indications that IRGCN and/or IRIN vessels have laid any mines just yet. However, some commercial shipping companies that are unwilling to accept the risk have turned around and begun returning to their homeports.Analyst: S2A1Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground//END REPORT//

Rog and US Soccer legend Clint Dempsey went live with their instant reactions following Saudi Arabia 0 - 1 USMNT in the 2025 Gold Cup. They discussed the leadership of Chris Richards and his goal, the US attacking potency and if Pochettino's plan is coming into shape heading into next year's World Cup.

Taylor is back! The whole gang combines to review the United States' 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the Gold Cup group stage. What did we learn from the latest 90 minutes of action for Poch's team? Who stood out? And who struggled? And what do we want to see more of? All that — and more — on the show.WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.!JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON!Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mauricio Pedroza, Herculez Gomez and José del Valle react to the USMNT's 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Then, the guys react to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami beating Porto 2-1 to set up a chance to advance to the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup. Plus, a look at Mexico's 2-0 win over Suriname to advance to the Gold Cup Quarterfinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The USMNT are through to the knockout stage of the Gold Cup! The boys break down their 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia including Chris Richards' big time performance, Tim Ream's refusal to be ushered out of the picture and Matt Freese making the most of his opportunity.Plus, JJ tells us why Inter Miami's triumph over FC Porto is not an MLS triumph and James Montague joins the show discussing his new book about the Saudis growing involvement in athletic competition.If you're looking for even more Caught Offside content, head on over to our premium channel, Caught Offside Plus!Just go to https://caughtoffside.supercast.com to sign up! Once you have access to the premium feed, be sure to go back and check out our special "welcome episode" from June 24th, 2024 (we don't think you'll be disappointed)!And for all the latest merch, get over to https://caughtoffsidepod.com/---Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CaughtOffsidePod/X: https://twitter.com/COsoccerpodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caughtoffsidepod/Email: CaughtOffsidePod@gmail.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@caughtoffsidepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vince and Belz react to and recap the 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia basically immediately after the final whistle. Richards comes up big. Tillman keeps building his NT chops. Most everybody else had a forgettable night and the Saudi opponents treated Arfsten like Shaq at the top of the key. Send us a voicemail: www.speakpipe.com/ScuffedPodcast Subscribe to Scuffed on Patreon! Patrons get a private ad-free feed for all episodes that go out on the public feed, plus the Monday Review every week with Watke and Vince. Patrons also get access to some video of clips we discuss on the show, our private Discord server, live call-in shows, and the full catalog of historic recaps we've made: https://www.patreon.com/scuffedAlso, check out Boots on the Ground, our USWNT-focused spinoff podcast headed up by Tara and Vince. They are cooking over there, you can listen here: https://boots-on-the-ground.simplecast.com

Chris Richards delivers a statement performance on both ends of the field as the USMNT grinds out a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Alexi Lalas, David Mosse, and special guest Landon Donovan break down Richards' game-winning goal off a set piece and his crucial defensive stops. Is he the leader this backline needs? The guys also discuss Matt Freese's solid showing in net, and what Pochettino's consistent XI says about World Cup planning.Then, a look ahead to a critical Group C showdown as Jamaica faces Guadeloupe and Guatemala battles Panama, with knockout stage spots on the line. In Club World Cup action, Lionel Messi makes history again — scoring the match-winner for Inter Miami in their 2-1 victory over Porto, marking the first MLS win over a European club in a competitive match. Presented by Yerba Madre #CometoLife Intro (0:00)Trinidad & Tobago and Haiti Draw 1-1 (3:57)USMNT Rolls Out Same Starting XI vs Saudi Arabia (5:55)Chris Richards Saves the Day (15:00)Set Piece Goals (22:44)Pochettino's Approach Against Haiti  (26:03)Group C Preview (32:38)Messi's Inter Miami Makes History (36:11) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode, Jason discusses the Indiana Pacers’ blowout win over Oklahoma City to force an upcoming Game 7 of the NBA Finals, how Tyrese Haliburton was able to overcome a calf injury and still be effective for Indiana, why it was so disheartening to see the Thunder no-show in a potentially series-clinching game, and whether or not Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s latest underwhelming performance proves that he’s not a real NBA superstar. Plus, J-Mac shares his thoughts on the USMNT 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. Follow Jason on Twitter and Instagram. Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Richards' towering header sealed a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia to send the USMNT through to the Gold Cup knockouts. Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola break down the highs and lows from the narrow victory over the Green Falcons. The first half lacked attacking threat, but a more assured second-half display - with standout performances from Tyler Adams and Sebastian Berhalter in midfield - proved enough. Mauricio Pochettino rolled with the same starting XI for a second straight game, but with the knockouts looming and Haji Wright nursing an injury, will he tweak the setup going forward? Could a two-striker system be on the cards? The guys also preview Sunday's group stage finale, where the U.S. take on Haiti looking to wrap things up with a perfect nine points. Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Follow the Call It What You Want team on X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all the latest in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook promos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting on soccer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also watch Call It What You Want on the CBS Sports Golazo Network for free on connected TVs and mobile devices through the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ as well as ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, EFL, Serie A, Coppa Italia, CONCACAF Nations League, NWSL, Scottish Premiership, Brasileiro, Argentine Primera División, AFC Champion League by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Golazo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your ultimate guide to the Beautiful Game as our experts take you beyond the pitch and around the globe with news that matters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a full Freestyle Friday on SDH AMWe have highlights and postgame after Inter Miami's match with PortoWe have the latest in the CANMNT run-in with CONCACAFSoccerForUSPod's Bart Keeler looks at the USMNT win against Saudi Arabia plus highlights and post We have your latest news to lead you into the weekend as well...

Mauricio Pedroza, Herculez Gomez and José del Valle react to the USMNT's 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Then, the guys react to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami beating Porto 2-1 to set up a chance to advance to the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup. Plus, a look at Mexico's 2-0 win over Suriname to advance to the Gold Cup Quarterfinals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ethan (Writer/Editor for f4wonline.com) and Liam (Doesn't Think We Should Start Any New Wars) return to discuss all the recent news in pro wrestling! The Lads cover Goldberg's return, Liv Morgan's injury, CM Punk working Saudi Arabia, Tanahashi working the G1 in July, AEW's Grand Slam Mexico show & build for All In, & much more! If you like the show, please give us 5 stars and write a review!

On this episode of The Sick Podcast, Glenn Crooks and Roberto Abramowitz discuss the US Men's National Team facing off against Saudi Arabia, Matt Freese in goal, NYCFC's win over Atlanta, Tomás Romero sets a franchise record and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

HEADLINES:♦ Saudi Arabia's HUMAIN Launches Media and Gaming Division♦ Mohammed Al Abbar-chaired Americana Looking to Add Five Guys, Cinnabon to its Portfolio of KFC, Pizza Hut♦ Citi Group Says Oil May Touch $90 per Barrel if Strait of Hormuz is shut♦ Syria Conducted its First Direct International Bank Transfer via the SWIFT System

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Live from Austin, Texas, Clint Dempsey and Rog discuss the USMNT's impending clash with Saudi Arabia, which players are establishing themselves as "Mauricio Pochettino's guys," and the best USMNT kits of all-time.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alexi Lalas, David Mosse, and special guest Mo Edu dive into the Gold Cup action following Mexico's second half goals in the night game. Costa Rica snatches a late winner over the DR, Mexico punches their ticket thanks to set-piece domination, and Jesse Marsch is under the microscope again. Alexi drops his latest CONCACAF Power Rankings—Canada on top, USMNT hanging on. We break down the USMNT Starting XI ahead of their clash with Saudi Arabia: who's in, who's out, and who needs to step up. Plus, Pochettino responds to the doubters.The FIFA Club World also rolls on tonight with Captain Weston McKennie and Tim Weah securing a 5-0 win in their opening match. How much can we really glean from this tournament? Intro (0:00)Costa Rica Late Game Winner (5:16)Set Pieces, Set Pieces, Set Pieces (10:22)Jesse Marsch Under Investigation (17:29)USMNT Predicted Starting XI & Pochettino Getting Revenge on the Doubters? (22:54)Captain Weston McKennie (33:37) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christian Polanco and Christine Cupo discuss which USMNT players should consider moves away from their clubs ahead of next year's World Cup. Where should players like Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah go and should Christian Pulisic consider a move as well?Christian and Christine then give us their USMNT overreactions dependent on if they win or lose against Saudi Arabia. They also break down Juventus' recent visit to the White House and Tim Weah's comments afterwards. Was Tim right in telling us he was surprised by the visit?Later, Christian and Christine break down the most recent USWNT roster ahead of their summer friendlies. With lots of new faces on the team, what can we expect from them this summer? (5:30) - Which USMNT players should consider moves this summer?(26:00) - USMNT Gold Cup overreactions(30:30) - Tim Weah reveals details of Juve's White House visit(43:30) - Breaking down USWNT's summer roster Subscribe to The Cooligans on your favorite podcast app:

Discussing CM Punk wrestling John Cena in Saudi Arabia, Gunther vs. Goldberg, who should win King of the Ring, Omos re-signing with WWE, Private Party free agency, Jade Cargill/Jonathan Majors movie, Rikishi reacting to Jey Uso, Ron Killings cutting his hair + more.

USMNT: takeaways from comfortable win over Trinidad & Tobago plus a look ahead to Thursday's tougher game against Saudi Arabia, including starting XI and predictions (plus some broader thoughts on the first round of games and what to watch for in the Gold Cup) HALFTIME: What If... Jesse Marsch had been hired as USMNT coach and Compliment Corner for Mr. (Manufactured?) Controversy himself, Alexi Lalas ROUND THE WORLD: early thoughts on Infantino's beloved Club World Cup and an extra abbreviated Hit-It-N-Quit-It MLS Minute STOPPAGE TIME: Ivan Toney's Best Bets and GOAWs

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat about the political identity of WWE and the promotion of CM Punk's match in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions.Plus, WWE & McMahons refile motions in the ring boy lawsuit, Janel Grant requests travel logs for Colker & McMahon, BKFC president details a past meeting with Vince McMahon, a lawsuit is filed against Jon Moxley & AEW, and Kevin Gill's lawsuit against GCW. 00:00:00 Start00:02:02 WWE performers appear at Fort Bragg00:09:34 Paul Levesque & Stephanie McMahon meet with RFK Jr. 00:10:17 CM Punk's past comments about Saudi Arabia00:20:14 Vince McMahon and BKFC00:24:55 McMahons & WWE file motions in ring boy suit00:36:33 Janel Grant seeking travel logs for McMahon & Dr. Carlon Colker00:45:37 Five years since Speaking Out 00:57:29 Lawsuit filed against AEW & Jon Moxley01:05:54 Kevin Gill's lawsuit against GCW01:12:43 New appoints SVP of Government Affairs01:14:34 Zuffa Boxing01:15:31 Super Chat - Is UFC a haven for fascists?01:17:13 Super Chat - Is Dana White's heart no longer in UFC?01:20:05 More streaming watch time than cable and broadcast01:23:57 Is SmackDown moving back to two hours?Music courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben TramerPOST WrestlingSubscribe: https://postwrestling.com/subscribePatreon: http://postwrestlingcafe.comForum: https://forum.postwrestling.comDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/Q795HhRMerch: https://store.postwrestling.comTwitter/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube: @POSTwrestlingBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/postwrestling.comWrestlenomicsSubscribe: https://wrestlenomics.com/podcast/Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomicsSubstack: https://wrestlenomics.substack.com/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube: @WrestlenomicsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wrestlenomics.comOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this day 31 years ago, the 1994 FIFA World Cup kicked off on U.S. soil—and with just under a year to go until the next one at home, Alexi Lalas reflects on that historic moment.In today's Gold Cup action, Curaçao and El Salvador battled to a scoreless draw, while Canada sent a clear message with a dominant 6-0 win over Honduras. Canada's depth shined tonight, as the young star Promise David netted his first CONCACAF Gold Cup goal. Is Canada the favorite to win it all? And whose opening win was more impressive: Canada or the United States?Plus, good news for the USMNT—Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, and Damion Downs are back in training ahead of Thursday's match against Saudi Arabia. With key players returning, Mauricio Pochettino has some big decisions to make when setting his Starting XI. Intro (0:00)Gold Cup: Day 4 Recap (5:51)Boost of the Game: Promise David Shows Canadian Depth (15:16)Adams & Cardoso Back for USMNT (19:52)Club World Cup Update (22:45)Group A Rolls On (24:40) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents the Tuesday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast with guest co-host Rich Fann, a PWTorch columnist and podcaster. They cover these topics:Lay of the land in the Queen of the Ring and King of the Ring tournaments including the return of AsukaGoldberg's return and being gifted a title shot against Gunther including how WWE could have made that more palatable and credibleDoes it seem C.M. Punk is flustered lately - including his interactions with John Cena on TV - with the social media backlash against him going to Saudi Arabia and are his critics relishing calling him a hypocrite?The latest with R-Truth and Ron KillingsA look at the state of TNA as Rich is heading to TNA tapings this weekendThoughts on streaming overtaking broadcast and cable as the main way people consume programming nowThe latest with WBD and the changes in the corporate structureTidbits and thoughts on recent podcast highlights with Cody Rhodes, Undertaker, and the BellasThe new AEW Unified Title and where it could all be headedA review of the Becky Lynch-Bayley exchange on Raw this weekPaul Levesque steps on rakes again when it comes to making political appearances and commentsClosing thoughts on the battle of the Mall of America compared to Canada's mega-man in EdmontonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/wade-keller-pro-wrestling-podcast--3076978/support.

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

On this edition of Parallax Views, the not-afraid-to-speak-his-mind gadfly and renegade historian Thaddeus Russel of the Unregistered and Unreported podcasts returns to the program for a wide-ranging conversation on current events. Thaddeus is the author of The Renegade History of the United States, a fascinating book delving into the ways in which criminal, deviants, weirdos, outsiders, and other so-called social miscreants shaped America and were often at the frontiers of freedom. The conversation starts as a discussion of Donald Trump's betrayal of the America First, anti-interventionist wing of the MAGA coalition, but ends up going into a number of different directions over the course of about an hour and 20 minutes. Of course, Israel's strike against Iran and the beat of the war drums in the U.S., which could soon find itself in the conflict, informs a great portion of the conversation. Thaddeus argues that understanding Trump is less about understanding history than his psychology. We'll also discuss Thaddeus engagements with the dissident right, the history of paleoconservatism, why Thaddeus is pro-open borders and believes that MAGA has got immigration all wrong, disagreements with the dissident right over gender (Thaddeus opposes gender essentialism on both the left and right), the blind spots of MAGA, the history of riots in the United States and their impact on American freedom (yes, we talk the Stonewall riots), Gaza, Zionism, the Palestinian Solidarity Movement, how U.S. pop culture is more effective in changing foreign countries than soft power or hard power schemes initiated by the U.S. government (particularly in the Middle East; we mention Iran specifically in this regard, but also VERY, VERY briefly Saudi Arabia), and much, much more! Thaddeus is pretty heterodox, so his views will inevitably rankle both elements of the left and the right, but that's what makes this conversation perfect for Parallax Views!

John Pollock and Brandon Thurston chat about the political identity of WWE and the promotion of CM Punk's match in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions.Plus, WWE & McMahons refile motions in the ring boy lawsuit, Janel Grant requests travel logs for Colker & McMahon, BKFC president details a past meeting with Vince McMahon, a lawsuit is filed against Jon Moxley & AEW, and Zuffa Boxing is official.VIDEO VERSION: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v8hw9Ie_AgMusic courtesy: “Panic Beat” by Ben TramerPOST WrestlingSubscribe: https://postwrestling.com/subscribePatreon: http://postwrestlingcafe.comForum: https://forum.postwrestling.comDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/Q795HhRMerch: https://store.postwrestling.comTwitter/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube: @POSTwrestlingBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/postwrestling.comWrestlenomicsSubscribe: https://wrestlenomics.com/podcast/Patreon: https://patreon.com/wrestlenomicsSubstack: https://wrestlenomics.substack.com/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube: @WrestlenomicsBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/wrestlenomics.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/wrestlenomics-radio2532/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Steve Ceruti, Paul Carr, and Anthony Dabbundo are joined by USMNT legend Clint Dempsey. They talk about the team's recent performances, how he viewed the Gold Cup when he played, his concerns and optimism for this current U.S. team a year out from the World Cup, and more. Then, the guys give their thoughts on what Dempsey had to say, and they give their reactions to the comfortable win the U.S. had over Trinidad and Tobago (20:51). They also look ahead to the next game against Saudi Arabia before talking about their initial thoughts on the Club World Cup. They talk about the attendance for the tournament and get producer Isaiah's boots-on-the-ground perspective from the Chelsea-LAFC game in Atlanta (49:51). They wrap up with a discussion about which $100 million transfers have been worth it on the heels of Florian Wirtz heading to Liverpool for a record fee (1:00:00). Hosts: Steve Ceruti, Paul Carr, and Anthony DabbundoGuest: Clint DempseyProducer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Weaver most recently directed the feature film Miss Valentine (Paris Berelc). Previously he directed Cupid For Christmas (starring Richard Kind) which premiered on HULU, the horror film Getaway, and the Christmas romantic comedy Santa Girl (starring Barry Bostwick and Jennifer Stone). He wrote, directed, and starred in the award-winning thriller Cut To the Chase (with Lance Henriksen) and the acclaimed romantic comedy 6 Month Rule (alongside Martin Starr, Natalie Morales and John Michael Higgins). Previous films he's written and directed include Weather Girl (with Mark Harmon, Jon Cryer and Jane Lynch) and Outside Sales. He also co-wrote and acted in Manic (Don Cheadle, Joseph Gordon- Levitt and Zooey Deschanel) which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.He has appeared in films such as Favor, Where We're Meant To Be, Junk, Deep Dark Canyon, Official Rejection, and The Good Old Boys opposite Tommy Lee Jones. His numerous episodic television credits include Wolf Pack, E.R., JAG, and The Middleman. He provided the voice of Peter Pan in the Disney animated feature Return To Never Land and still does the voice for Disney today.A native of Louisiana, Weaver studied in New York City, Oxford University, and graduated from UCLA with a degree in English Literature and a minor in Political Science. He lives in Los Angeles where he works as a Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, and Distributor through his company Secret Identity Pictures.Spider-Man: Brand New Day is getting tantalizingly close to production ahead of its planned release date of July 31, 2026. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton will helm the upcoming sequel, replacing Jon Watts, who worked on all three of the previous Spider-Man films. Brand New Day is set to kick off Tom Holland's second trilogy of Marvel Cinematic Universe films, opening a new chapter for his iteration of Peter Parker after the landmark events of No Way Home.Though Holland's fourth Spider-Man film is still early in its development, rumors are already spreading about what audiences should expect and who may appear therein. The latest reports for Spider-Man: Brand New Day suggest that the film will feature a packed cast, including at least three major villains from the comics. While fans may shudder at the idea of Brand New Day being an overstuffed mess like The Amazing Spider-Man 2 or Spider-Man 3, I think there is a common denominator between these characters that hints at the upcoming film's intriguing story.Anyone who has been paying attention to the recent rumors and reports about Spider-Man: Brand New Day knows that the film is expected to include an overabundance of Spider-Man villains. While there has been no official confirmation of which antagonists will appear in the movie, various insiders have reported that characters like Scorpion, Tombstone, Mister Negative, Black Cat, and Tarantula could all show up to battle Spider-Man in his next cinematic outing. For many Spider-Man fans, these rumors could evoke bad memories of past franchises.Both the Sam Raimi Trilogy and Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man made a similar mistake in their final films, including far too many characters (particularly villains) for a movie. Spider-Man 3 featured a trio of villains, including Venom, New Goblin, and Sandman.Masters of the Universe Gets RebootedAlong with Galitzine as He-Man, the movie also stars Camila Mendes as Teela, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Sam C. Wilson as Trap Jaw, Morena Baccarin as the Sorceress, James Purefoy as King Randor, Charlotte Riley as Queen Marlena Glenn, and Sasheer Zamata as Suzie. Travis Knight is directing with a screenplay by Chris Butler.Return to Arlen With the King of the Hill RevivalThe synopsis reads, "After years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia to earn their retirement nest egg, Hank and Peggy Hill return to a changed Arlen, Texas to reconnect with old friends Dale, Boomhauer and Bill. Meanwhile, Bobby is living his dream as a chef in Dallas and enjoying his 20s with his former classmates Connie, Joseph and Chane."The synopsis of the reboot has shared more details about what's been happening with the Hill family since fans last saw them in the original show. Surprisingly, Hank had taken up a job in Saudia Arabia, taking him away from Arlen for many years before his eventual return to his old home. Meanwhile, Bobby is now working as a professional chef, a nod to how the original show explored the character's passion and talent for cooking.How to train dragonThe synopsis reads, "After years working a propane job in Saudi Arabia to earn their retirement nest egg, Hank and Peggy Hill return to a changed Arlen, Texas to reconnect with old friends Dale, Boomhauer and Bill. Meanwhile, Bobby is living his dream as a chef in Dallas and enjoying his 20s with his former classmates Connie, Joseph and Chane."As studios continued to bank on remakes, reboots, and revivals, the decision to turn beloved animations into live-action has proven mostly profitable. How to Train Your Dragon marks the latest example, just weeks after Disney's Lilo & Stitch hit. Per Deadline, How to Train Your Dragon is off to a great start, debuting with an $83.7 million opening week, the highest in the franchise so far.The How to Train Your Dragon animated trilogy was a big commercial hit. Overall, it grossed $1.63 billion worldwide at the box office against a joint budget of $439 million (via 

In this issue, we take a closer look at the aviation industry's long-term mindset amid short-term turbulence. While challenges like aircraft shortages, geopolitical tensions, and economic uncertainty continue to test the sector, many airlines and airports, particularly in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, are pressing ahead with bold expansion plans. From major airport developments in Saudi Arabia and India to strategic fleet growth by carriers like IndiGo and Kenya Airways, the industry's future focus is unmistakable. We explore how these players are positioning themselves for tomorrow's passenger demand, even as today's realities make delivery and execution anything but simple.

In Episode 53 of Redefining Energy TECH, Host Michael Barnard speaks with Tristan Smith, a prominent expert in maritime decarbonization and professor at the University College London Energy Institute. Tristan shares his insights, beginning with an overview of maritime shipping, which accounts for approximately 1 gigaton of CO₂ equivalent annually, making it responsible for about 2-3% of global emissions. Crucially, the regulatory oversight for these emissions sits largely with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) due to the nature of international shipping occurring beyond national jurisdictions.Our conversation moves through the historical context of the IMO, tracing its evolution from a safety standards body established post-Titanic disaster to an organization now deeply involved in global climate policy. Historically, the IMO faced significant challenges in progressing climate regulations due to entrenched disagreements between developed and developing countries around responsibilities. The Paris Agreement in 2015, alongside persistent advocacy from smaller nations like the Marshall Islands, notably shifted this dynamic, leading to the adoption of the IMO's initial climate strategy in 2018.We delve into recent regulatory developments, including the unprecedented IMO vote initiated by Saudi Arabia, resulting in a decisive 63-to-16 vote (with around 29 abstentions) mandating progressive reductions in greenhouse gas intensity for ships over the next 25 years. The regulation sets clear fines for non-compliance—$380 per ton for exceeding the highest threshold and $100 per ton for mid-level breaches—ultimately requiring ships to achieve a 65% reduction in emissions intensity by 2040.The discussion highlights the role of Emissions Control Areas (ECAs), established initially to curb SOx and NOx emissions in sensitive regions like the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and North America, effectively serving as early tests for broader international regulations. Additionally, we critically examine LNG's journey from a touted solution for reducing SOx and NOx emissions to its complicated position as a potential climate liability due to significant methane emissions both onboard and upstream. Norway's influential promotion of LNG and subsequent studies, such as those by the International Council on Clean Transportation, underline these complexities. Finally, Tristan emphasizes the future challenges facing maritime decarbonization, notably the risk of technological lock-in with LNG and the powerful role of the oil and gas industry within the maritime sector. We also explore the shifting political landscape as global fossil fuel transportation—currently 40% of maritime tonnage along with another declining 15% for raw iron ore—faces inevitable structural declines, promising profound implications for industry dynamics and global decarbonization efforts.

The New Yorker recently published a report from Sudan, headlined “Escape from Khartoum.” The contributor Nicolas Niarchos journeyed for days through a conflict to reach a refugee camp in the Nuba Mountains, where members of the country's minority Black ethnic groups are seeking safety, but remain imperilled by hunger. The territory is “very significant to the Nuba people,” Niarchos explains to David Remnick. “They feel safe being there because they have managed to resist genocide before by hiding in these mountains. And then you start seeing the children with their distended bellies, and you start hearing the stories of the people who fled.” The civil war pits the Sudanese Army against a militia group called the Rapid Support Forces. Once allies in ousting Sudan's former President, the Army and the R.S.F. now occupy different parts of the country, destroying infrastructure in the opposing group's territory, and committing atrocities against civilians: killing, starvation, and widespread, systematic sexual violence. The warring parties are dominated by Sudan's Arabic-speaking majority, and “there's this very, very toxic combination of both supremacist ideology,” Niarchos says, and “giving ‘spoils' to troops instead of paying them.” One of Niarchos's sources, a man named Wanis, recalls an R.S.F. soldier telling him, “If you go to the Nuba Mountains, we'll reach you there. You Nuba, we're supposed to kill you like dogs.”

Show schedule: The show begins in the subcontinent, watching the IDF reduce Iran's offense and defense weaponry... 1896 BLACKSMITH WORKS, TEHRAN CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9:00-9:15 Pakistan: Siding with Iran. Bill Roggio, FDD. Husain Haqqani, Hudson Institute. 9:15-9:30 Minnesota: Domestic terror political violence. Bill Roggio. 9:30-9:45 Iran: The challenge of Fordow. David Daoud, Bill Roggio, FDD. 9:45-10:00 Lebanon, Gaza: No sign of entering Iran conflict. David Daoud, Bill Roggio, FDD. SECOND HOUR 10:00-10:15 Iran: The weaponization. Malcolm Hoenlein @conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 @thadmccotter @theamgreatness 10:15-10:30 Iran: Asking Qatar and Saudi Arabia to broker talks with the US to contain Israel's plans. Malcolm Hoenlein @conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 @thadmccotter @theamgreatness 10:30-10:45 Ukraine: 500% sanctioning Russia's suppliers and clients. John Hardie, Bill Roggio, FDD. 10:45-11:00 Ukraine: Sanctioning the shadow fleet. John Hardie, Bill Roggio, FDD. THIRD HOUR 11:00-11:15 Syria: Al-Sharaa and the Iraq and Iran threat. Ahmad Sharawi, Bill Roggio, FDD. 11:15-11:30 Iraq: Kataib Hezbollah and the condemnation of al-Sharaa and al-Qaeda. 11:30-11:45 Golden Dome: PRC condemns and why. Peter Huessy, @gordongchang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill. 11:45-12:00 Iran: Overview of the IAD campaign. Blaine Holt, @gordongchang, Gatestone, Newsweek, The Hill. FOURTH HOUR 12:00-12:15 #NewWorldReport: Lula da Silva and Iran warships, 2023. Joseph Humire @jmhumire @securefreesoc. Ernesto Araujo, former Foreign Minister Republic of Brazil. #newworldreporthumire 12:15-12:30 #NewWorldReport: Lula da Silva and JBS beef exporters. Joseph Humire @jmhumire @securefreesoc. Ernesto Araujo, former Foreign Minister Republic of Brazil. #newworldreporthumire 12:30-12:45 1/2: Iran: Updating "The Shadow War: Iran's Quest for Supremacy," by Brandon Weichert. 12:45-1:00 AM 2/2: Iran: Updating "The Shadow War: Iran's Quest for Supremacy," by Brandon Weichert.

IRAN: ASKING QATAR AND SAUDI ARABIA TO BROKER TALKS WITH THE US TO CONTAIN ISRAEL'S PLANS. MALCOLM HOENLEIN @CONF_OF_PRES @MHOENLEIN1@THADMCCOTTER @THEAMGREATNESS 1852 TEHRAN

With increasing scrutiny placed on the likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and even the United States, we wonder which countries could viably host a World Cup without any of the political or social controversies that have marred recent editions. Is that even possible? Marcus, Jim and Vish also return to our ‘defining figures of the decade' discourse, turning our attentions to managers this time. Plus: our favourite commentary teams, goalkeepers playing outfield and Premier League managers joining the Ramble!Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows, extended Wednesday episodes, access to our Discord and early access to tickets and merch for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's Headlines: President Trump briefly attended the G7, signed a tariff deal with the UK, defended Putin, skipped key meetings, and refused to back a joint Israel-Iran de-escalation statement before leaving early, citing Middle East tensions. Meanwhile, global exporters are increasingly rejecting U.S. dollars in favor of other currencies, signaling growing concern over the dollar's stability. In Saudi Arabia, journalist Turki Al-Jasser was executed over tweets criticizing the regime, echoing the Khashoggi case. Back in the U.S., Minnesota shooter Vance Boelter turned himself in and now faces federal murder charges after targeting dozens of Democratic lawmakers. Trump's FAA nominee, Bryan Bedford, was exposed for falsely claiming to hold a commercial pilot license. His company, the Trump Organization, also announced a new gold smartphone and MAGA-branded phone plan called “The 47 Plan.” OpenAI secured its first Pentagon contract—$200 million to develop AI for national defense. And MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell was found liable for defamation, ordered to pay $2.3 million to a former Dominion employee. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: CNN: Trump does not intend to sign joint G7 statement on Iran Bloomberg: Many Exporters No Longer Want Dollars, US Bank Executive Says ABC News: Saudi Arabia executes a journalist after 7 years behind bars AP News: Suspect in shooting of Minnesota state lawmakers targeted 2 others that night, prosecutors say Politico: Trump's FAA pick has claimed ‘commercial' pilot license he doesn't have CNBC: OpenAI wins $200 million U.S. defense contract CNBC: Trump Organization announces mobile plan, $499 smartphone AP News: Jury finds MyPillow founder defamed former employee for a leading voting equipment company | AP News Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guatemala stuns Jamaica and Panama puts on a show on Day 3 of the Gold Cup! Alexi Lalas and David Mosse highlight standout performances across Group C, including Ismael Díaz's brace against Guadeloupe and Oscar Santis' screamer to upset Jamaica.They also discuss Michail Antonio's inspiring return just 196 days after a tragic car accident, the ongoing debate over the USMNT's best center-back pairing, and whether Tyler Adams will suit up against Saudi Arabia on Thursday.Plus, the guys preview tomorrow's Group B action and debate whether Canada—and Jesse Marsch—deserve the title of CONCACAF's best. Intro (0:00)Panama Dominates Guadaloupe (3:20)Oscar Santis Stuns Reggae Boys (6:57)Boost of the Game: Michail Antonio Inspiring Return (12:35)Tyler Adams Gold Cup Status (14:45)Is Jesse Marsch the Best Coach in CONCACAF? (26:45) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The United States and Israel are waging war on Iran, but why? What are their real goals? Ben Norton explains the imperial strategy to impose US hegemony on West Asia (aka the Middle East), destroy the Axis of Resistance, colonize Palestine, destabilize the revolutionary Iranian government, preserve the petrodollar system, prevent de-dollarization, divide BRICS, and break up the Iran-Russia-China partnership. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwH780cEcEQ How Israel's war on Iran was made in USA: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2025/06/14/israel-war-iran-us-trump-support/ US pressures Saudi Arabia to sell oil in dollars, not Chinese yuan: https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/08/10/us-saudi-arabia-sell-oil-dollars-chinese-yuan/ Topics 0:00 US support for Israeli attacks 4:38 Goals of US-Israeli war on Iran 10:13 Israel: outpost of US empire 14:35 US imperial strategy 16:28 Geopolitics of West Asia (Middle East) 17:50 Oil and gas 21:11 Geostrategic chokepoints 24:53 Axis of Resistance 28:33 Syria: Fall of Assad government 31:44 US plan to overthrow 7 countries 33:54 Iranian Revolution 35:53 Anti-colonial movements 39:14 Dedollarization 41:49 Petrodollar and OPEC oil embargo 47:05 Super Imperialism 49:36 Petrodollar challenge 52:43 BRICS 55:55 Shanghai Cooperation Organization 58:53 Iran-Russia-China partnership 1:04:05 US divide-and-conquer strategy 1:06:03 Outro

Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola break down the USMNT's next Group D opponent: a vulnerable Saudi Arabia side that narrowly escaped with a win over Haiti (07:22). Players should embrace the outside noise (19:51). Charlie challenges Jack McGlynn to a footrace, and Jimmy recalls the time Clint Dempsey broke his jaw (27:41)! The guys debate continuity vs. experimentation - and discuss whether Mauricio Pochettino will shake up his lineup on Thursday (30:10). To cap it off, the crew marks 31 years since the Stars and Stripes kicked off the 1994 World Cup by revisiting that iconic opener against Switzerland in the Pontiac Silverdome (48:43). Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Follow the Call It What You Want team on X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for all the latest in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sportsbook promos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betting on soccer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can also watch Call It What You Want on the CBS Sports Golazo Network for free on connected TVs and mobile devices through the CBS Sports app, Pluto TV, and on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CBSSports.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ as well as ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, EFL, Serie A, Coppa Italia, CONCACAF Nations League, NWSL, Scottish Premiership, Brasileiro, Argentine Primera División, AFC Champion League by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sign up to the Golazo ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your ultimate guide to the Beautiful Game as our experts take you beyond the pitch and around the globe with news that matters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Episode 129 of Wrestling Tonight, we examine a wrestling landscape defined by momentum, contradiction, and long-overdue reckonings. Gunther has once again ascended to the top of WWE's mountain, reclaiming the World Heavyweight Championship with a decisive victory over Jey Uso on Raw. After a legendary Intercontinental reign and a prior world title run, this latest chapter only reaffirms what many already knew—Gunther represents stability, precision, and quiet dominance in an era often ruled by noise. But if Gunther embodies discipline, CM Punk continues to wrestle with dualities—especially his own. Punk is now officially headed to Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, where he'll face John Cena in a high-profile rematch years in the making. The match is compelling on paper, but the context is impossible to ignore. For much of his career, Punk positioned himself as a vocal critic of WWE's Saudi partnership. His participation now marks a sharp pivot—and raises fair questions about where principle ends and pragmatism begins. Across the globe, AEW prepares for a milestone event with Grand Slam: Mexico, a historic collaboration with CMLL at Arena México. The card brings together AEW's signature stars and Mexico's rich lucha tradition: MJF vs. Mistico, Mercedes Moné defending the CMLL Women's Championship, Ricochet returning to his roots in a four-way spectacle, and a lineup of elite trios competition featuring Okada, Ospreay, FTR, and more. It's not just a supercard—it's a cultural statement about what AEW wants to be. In Japan, NJPW's Dominion delivered a slate of meaningful outcomes and subtle shifts. Hirooki Goto retained the IWGP World Heavyweight Title after a grueling defense against Shingo Takagi, Konosuke Takeshita continues to cement his position ahead of the G1 despite his loss to Oleg Boltin, and EVIL's vicious dog collar match win over David Finlay paired with the Bullet Club's unraveling. With questions lingering around Hiroshi Tanahashi's G1 future, Dominion felt less like a culmination and more like a prologue to what's ahead. From Toronto to Tokyo, Mexico City to Riyadh, professional wrestling continues to evolve—sometimes with purpose, sometimes with contradiction, and always with stories that reflect more than what happens in the ring. Subscribe to Wrestling Tonight on Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, and follow @TurnbuckleTavern for weekly insight across WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA, GCW, and beyond.

Everything Pro Wrestling and Hubbard Wrestling are joining forces to bring the wrestling community Clash Of The Podcasts. We will get some discussion points and talk pro wrestling with you all. In Episode 146 we will discuss the following:- Ron Killings gets his contract - Gunther defeats Jey Uso- CM Punk vs John Cena in Saudi Arabia at Night of Champions- Wrestling News and more!- NJPW Dominion 2025 Recap HWW Site- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.hwweekly.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WE HAVE SOME GREAT MERCH ON TEE PUBLIC

A dramatic incident happened in the Persian Gulf, where a "dark fleet" tanker collided with another crude oil vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, igniting a fire amidst rising GPS disruptions in the region. This critical maritime choke point, responsible for a fifth of the world's oil and gas supply, continues to be a hotspot for geopolitical tensions. Shifting to international trade, President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have announced a significant easing of tariffs between their nations. This new agreement zeroes out aerospace import tariffs from the UK and reduces auto tariffs to 10% on the first 100,000 vehicles, a sharp drop from the previous 27.5% duty. On the fuel front, benchmark diesel prices have seen their biggest upward move since January, rising 10 cents per gallon to $3.571, largely driven by escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. While crude oil prices briefly dipped, market anxieties over tightened diesel availability persist, especially given Iran's role as a supplier of heavier crude. In North America, DHL Express Canada is preparing to suspend parcel operations due to a tough labor dispute with Unifor, impacting 2,100 workers. A new Canadian law prohibiting replacement workers has forced DHL's hand, leading to an indefinite shipment embargo starting Tuesday night with full operations pausing by Friday. A serious crackdown on safety and fraud in Florida has led to the arrest of eight individuals, including two state employees, for selling fraudulent driver's licenses to undocumented migrants. Shockingly, some of these illicitly obtained licenses were commercial, enabling unqualified individuals to potentially operate tractor-trailers, posing a significant threat to highway safety. Finally, in the skies, Saudi Arabia-based AviLease has made a bold entry into the widebody air cargo market with a direct order for 10 Airbus A350 freighters. These state-of-the-art jets promise remarkable fuel efficiency and the capacity to carry up to 120 tons, featuring the industry's largest cargo door for oversized shipments and even 20-foot containers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this edition of One Decision In Brief, hosts Christina Ruffini and Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of Britain's MI6, sit down to break down the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran and how the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, are navigating the growing tensions. They also examine the recent military parade that honored both the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and President Donald Trump's birthday, and the political significance of military parades worldwide. Episode produced by Situation Room Studios. Original music composed and produced by Leo Sidran.

“Let me tell you about the very rich”, Scott Fitzgerald once said. “They are different from you and me”. One way they are different, the New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos reports, is that they own yachts - very very big, expensive yachts. In The Haves and The Have-Yachts, Osnos' dispatches about today's ultrarich, he takes us on board these boats to reveal the obscenity of our new gilded age. From Mark Zuckerberg's obsession with Augustus Caesar to the thin-skinned grievances of figures like Marc Andreessen and Elon Musk, Osnos explores how the personal quirks and anxieties of just 19 American plutocrats - the 0.00001% - are now reshaping our entire society. He argues we're living in an era of "flamboyant oligarchy," where billionaires openly flaunt their wealth. Citing the extraordinary tableau of tech moguls lining up in homage to Trump at his inauguration, Osnos describes our age as "the complete and total fusion of politics and plutocracy in the United States." five key takeaways1. We're Living in an Era of "Flamboyant Oligarchy" Unlike past wealthy elites who stayed hidden ("a whale that never surfaces doesn't get harpooned"), today's billionaires openly compete for attention and flaunt their wealth, fundamentally changing the relationship between extreme wealth and public life.2. Just 19 People Could Control 18% of America's Wealth The 0.00001% - currently 19 Americans - control 1.8% of national wealth today. If current trends continue, this could reach 18% within 40 years, representing an unprecedented concentration of economic power in human history.3. Personal Quirks Have Massive Social Consequences Billionaires' individual obsessions and blind spots shape society at scale - from Facebook being blue because Zuckerberg is colorblind, to his Augustus Caesar fixation influencing how he thinks about power and empire-building.4. The Complete Fusion of Politics and Plutocracy Trump's inauguration, featuring tech moguls "lined up in homage," represents the total merger of political and economic power in America - what Osnos calls a "sultanistic oligarchy" where billionaires have elevated Trump to rule on their behalf.5. Billionaires Are Surprisingly Thin-Skinned and Aggrieved Despite their wealth, figures like Musk and Andreessen are easily offended and resentful about public criticism, leading them not to retreat but to actively seek control over politics and media to reshape the narrative in their favor. BiographyEvan Lionel Richard Osnos (born December 24, 1976) is an American journalist and author who has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2008, specializing in politics and foreign affairs coverage in the United States and China. Osnos continues to be one of America's most prominent foreign correspondents and political journalists, known for his deep reporting and narrative storytelling that bridges international and domestic affairs.Current PositionsOsnos is currently a staff writer at The New Yorker, a CNN contributor, and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, based in Washington D.C.Early Life and EducationOsnos was born in London when his parents, Susan (née Sherer) Osnos and Peter L.W. Osnos, were visiting from Moscow, where his father was assigned as a correspondent for The Washington Post. He graduated with high honors from Harvard University with a Bachelor's Degree. Career HighlightsEarly Career: In 2002, he was assigned to the Middle East, where he covered the Iraq War and reported from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, and elsewhere. In 2005, he became the China correspondent. Chicago Tribune: Prior to The New Yorker, he worked as the Beijing bureau chief of the Chicago Tribune, where he contributed to a series that won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. The New Yorker: Osnos joined The New Yorker in September 2008 and served as the magazine's China correspondent until 2013, maintaining a regular blog called "Letter from China" and writing articles about China's young neoconservatives, the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, and the Wenzhou train crash. Major Publications* "Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China" (2014): Won the 2014 National Book Award for nonfiction and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. * "Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now" (2020): Published in October 2020, based on lengthy interviews with Biden and revealing conversations with more than a hundred others, including President Barack Obama. * "Wildland: The Making of America's Fury" (2021): Published in September 2021, about profound cultural and political changes occurring between September 11, 2001, and January 6, 2021. The book was a New York Times bestseller. * "The Haves and Have-Yachts: Dispatches on the Ultrarich" (2025): His latest book, published in June 2025, exploring American oligarchy and the culture of excess. Awards and RecognitionOsnos has received the Asia Society's Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia, the Livingston Award for Young Journalists, and a Mirror Award for profile-writing. He received two awards from the Overseas Press Club and the Osborn Elliott Prize for excellence in journalism from the Asia Society. Personal LifeHe has been married to Sarabeth Berman since July 9, 2011. He lives with his wife and children near Washington, This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Please check out other RES productions: The Rich Eisen Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://apple.co/richeisenshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  OverReaction Monday: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://apple.co/overreactionmonday⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What the Football with Suzy Shuster and Amy Trask: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://apple.co/whatthefootball⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Jim Jackson Show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jim-jackson-show/id1770609432⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No-Contest Wrestling with O'Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-contest-wrestling/id1771450708⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ===== This week, No-Contest Wrestling reacts to the King/Queen of the Ring Tournament qualifying matches.  O'Shea and T.J. also discuss Gunther defeating Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship and how Goldberg fits into the picture.  They also address the noise surrounding the return of former Women's Champion Nikki Bella, the return of Bayley, John Cena vs CM punk in Saudi Arabia, and the guys choose their Mount Rushmore of WWE World Champions.  Also, after revealing on No-Contest that her pet cat is named Asuka, Stephanie Vaquer and The Empress of Tomorrow finally meet face to face on a 4-way match in the Queen of the Ring tourney. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The USMNT opens their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign with a dominant 5-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago! Alexi Lalas and David Mosse break down standout performances from Malik Tillman and Diego Luna, and react to Mauricio Pochettino's pointed comments about Tillman's fight and commitment. The guys also dive into the striker debate: Patrick Agyemang got the start—will Haji Wright be next against Saudi Arabia?Plus, a look ahead to tomorrow's Group C matchups, including Panama vs. Guadeloupe and a showdown between Jamaica and Guatemala. All that and more in a packed live recap!Presented by Yerba Madre #CometoLifeIntro (0:00)USMNT vs Trinidad & Tobago Recap (4:32)Luna & Tillman: Dynamic Duo (8:14)Pochettino on Tillman's Mentality (9:25)Who Starts Next? Agyemang or Wright? (16:56)Group C Preview: Panama, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Guatemala (25:44) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saudi Arabia's dropping $1 TRILLION to invest… You think they do that for Biden?

Saudi Arabia's dropping $1 TRILLION to invest… You think they do that for Biden?

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