Podcasts about straits

Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. A tanker fire in the Straits of Hormuz and consecutive days of missile exchanges signal a "war restart." Ambassador Haqqani argues neither side can afford to look weak, leading to a stalemate of aerial bombing without a clear plan for regime change. Roggio and Haqqani agree air power alone cannot secure ground, and the estimated 600,000 troops required for a ground invasion is "science fiction." (1)1767 YEMEN

Co-hosts Jared Yates Sexton and Nick Hauselman open with the Iran war, where every incentive now runs against the United States: bases getting hit, stockpiles that were never replenished, the Houthis moving to choke off the Red Sea, and a president who responded to all of it with "I don't really care." Jared deteremines: Iran doesn't need to win anything, it just needs to keep bleeding a country that can't admit it lost. Then it's the Cyclospora outbreak sickening thousands across 34 states, and the FDA's suspiciously timed reversal clearing the mega-producer at the center of it, a case study in what monopolization plus a pay-to-play administration does to something as basic as being able to eat lettuce. Finally, two quieter stories with loud implications: the FBI has been told to stop investigating assaults involving ICE agents, and a new four-year visa cap for foreign students that could quietly demolish American PhD programs. If you want to support the show and get access to the Weekender every Friday, plus specials and live shows, become a patron at http://patreon.com/muckrakepodcast. The Muckrake Podcast is independent media with no corporate backing, and it only exists because of listeners like you

Today's Episode is one of those interviews that give you a warm feeling of anticipation when you get it in the diary, then when you're researching and preparing the questions, you're really looking forward to it, and finally the recording itself session happens and it goes even better than you hoped. Now a couple of weeks later I have just listened back and I'm still smiling because this is something quite special and very different from the everyday. Richard Brindle and Clive Washbourn are two of the most celebrated underwriters of their generation and have each been on the podcast more than once in their own right. For the last five years Richard and Clive have been underwriting under the same group organisational roof in The Fidelis Partnership and Navium respectively. Richard even cited Clive's new-found joie de vivre at Navium as the inspiration for the bifurcation of Fidelis into the Fidelis Partnership and Pelagos. This podcast is only briefly about the grand issues of the day. My interviewees very quickly deal with these and then we start examining much more timeless and valuable questions. The core of this meeting is really a long discussion about what makes a good underwriter and then what makes a good underwriter a great one. We examine all of this in the context of the AI revolution and how to apply it to the business of outperforming in insurance underwriting. This is a masterclass that will teach you an awful lot. Along the way you'll also spend quality time with two of the market's strongest and most charismatic personalities. The result is an instant classic that provides a valuable listen for any insurance professional at any stage in their career. NOTES: At time of recording Fidelis Insurance Group had only just rebranded to Pelagos Insurance Capital, so if there is the odd slip of the tongue, be clear that we should have referred to Pelagos, and will definitely be doing so from now onwards. Richard mentions the Sharpe Ratio, which is an investment metric used to measure the relative volatility of the returns of a company. Events in Iran, the Gulf States and the Straits of Hormuz are incredibly volatile and have already changed fundamentally, even in the short time between recording this interview and its release date. Please keep yourself best informed by using up-to-the-minute news and intelligence sources. Finally Richard mentions that there are two charities. The Fidelis Foundation is The Fidelis Partnership's charity, and Richard's personal charity is called The Muriel Jones Foundation. LINKS: We thank our naming sponsor AdvantageGo, now part of Sapiens: https://www.advantagego.com

Prophetic Pattern of the Psalms Pt 2 It is very interesting that we are currently in the 3 week time period known by the Jews as ‘between the Straits' which started the evening of July 1st this year and ends the evening of July 22nd this year.  The war in the Strait of Hormuz has certainly intensified this past week after what was supposedly a ceasefire peace deal.  The Strait of Hormuz kept popping up on my news feed until finally this past Shabbat Abba prompted me to look up the word Hormuz in Hebrew to see if it in any form was in scripture. So I looked up the translation for a Hebrew word spelled Hey Resh Mem Zayin which are the consonants for the word Hormuz in Hebrew. That word spelled that way is HaRemez and means the hint, allusion, or symbol. Ha is a prefix meaning the and remez is hint allusion or symbol.  Turns out there is a very interesting connection between HaRemez, the Strait of Hormuz, AND this time of fasting and mourning known to the Jews as the time “Between the Straits” and in this message I will tell you all about it.  Additionally and interestingly our Psalm per day reading that I told you about in the last message seems to be lining up with the current escallation of the war in the Strait of Hormuz and the “Between the Straights” last 9 days known as an intensification in the mourning and fasting.  This Wednesday and Thursday July 22 and 23, 2026 are the end day of the fast and the infamous 9th of Av.  The corresponding Psalms of 109 through 111 are very interesting… could they be prophetic of events that may take place either shortly before, on, or shortly after the end of the time “Between the Strait(s)… or Hormuz?  We only have a few days before we find out.  VISIT US ONLINE FOR MORE MESSAGES LIKE THIS ONE AT www.HisWordHeals.com Calendar Prophetic Pattern of the Psalms_updated_July only Calendar Prophetic Pattern of the Psalms_updated whole calendar

Runnin’ down the show: Remote from Bayside Marine: Chinook season finally here! Reports from the MA9 opener! // Regional Roundup: Coastal, Straits and Sound chinook, crab and Baker Lake sockeye! // The BeauMac TECH Line: Jeff Lalone from his Office; the NERVECENTER of BaysideMarine.com // Picks of the Week!

In this Weekly Prophetic Word, Dr. Candice Smithyman teaches on the month of Av, the three weeks of Between the Straits, and the faith needed to step into your inheritance.This is not the week to doubt God. This is the week to believe in His goodness. Dr. Candice shares from Numbers 13 and 14, where the 12 spies saw the promised land, but only Joshua and Caleb believed God was able to bring them in. She also teaches from Numbers 27 on the daughters of Zelophehad, who stood before Moses and asked for the inheritance of their father.God is calling you to stand, believe, and speak in faith. Your inheritance will not come through fear, doubt, or a bad report. It comes through faith in the goodness of God.In this teaching, you will be encouraged to:Believe God for the land He promised you Stop focusing on the giants Stand for your family legacy Increase your faith Prepare for promotion Step into the inheritance God has written over your lifeDr. Candice also shares about the month of Av, God our Comforter, and how this prophetic season is preparing you for promotion from August 1 through August 15.Watch now and be encouraged to stand for your inheritance. Visit: CandiceSmithyman.com for books, courses, & prophetic resourcesJoin Dr. Candice Smithyman's FREE Ascend prophetic calls every month for spiritual teaching and prophetic insight.

Send us Fan MailIt's our last show for the season, so come and join us as we delve into the chaos of the world's news, along with a deep dive into understanding China. So, what happened this week? Well, Trump announced a 20% fee on The Straits of Hormuz and then backtracked, meanwhile Lindsay Graham died and the conspiracy theories proliferated. He wasn't the only death, with UK politician Anne Widdecombe murdered, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, known as the architect of modern Qatar dying, and of course, actor Sam Neil died unexpectedly too. Not Mitch McConnell though. Yes, he's still with us, and the conspiracy theories continue. Extreme heat continues across the Northern Hemisphere, where Europe's nuclear power plants can't beat the heat, rivers are drying up, 10,000 are officially confirmed head, and June was the hottest-ever since records began. We learned that Trump has left instructions if he's assassinated, although he's expecting a jolly good turn-out at his funeral, with the Borrowitz Report saying: Trump said that “nobody cares” about Khamenei's funeral, and that he's expecting the turnout at his funeral to set records, noting, “Every day, people say to me, ‘Sir, I can't wait for that day to come.'” Chortle. But the big news is the El Niño surge, which could cause a global food price shock lasting into 2028, and a whole lot more. This week, we are delighted to welcome Kenny Lim, who's known as The China Whisperer. Kenny has a framework called China Decoded™ and he helps boards and the C-Suite understand how Chinese companies think, compete and scale. We're going to discuss his framework, apply it beyond executive ranks, and we're also going to discuss Chinamaxxing, which is now a thing. What does it mean? Come and find out. It's going to be a fun and informative show, so hop along and join us. We'll be going live Friday, 17th July 2026, kicking off at 8am UK, 9am EU, 11am UAE, 12.30pm IN, 2pm TH, 3pm SG, 5pm AEST. Streaming across various locations, and no doubt about it, we'd love your support. The Sh*t Show is a Livestream happening every Friday, where Andrea T Edwards, Dr. David Ko, Richard Busellato and Joe Augustin, as well as special guests, discuss the world's most pressing issues across all angles of the polycrisis, working to make sense of the extremely challenging and complex times we are all going through, plus what we can do about it. Help us move the needle so we can change the name of the show to something more genteel when (or if) it is no longer a sh*t show. #TheShitShow #UncommonCourageYou can find me Andrea T Edwards | The Digital Conversationalist and Welcome - Uncommon Courage - An Invitation. My book Uncommon Courage, an invitation, is here https://mybook.to/UncommonCourage My book 18 Steps to an All-Star LinkedIn Profile, is here https://mybook.to/18stepstoanallstar 

China Threatens to Block Brahmaputra and Sutlej | India Reminds China of Malacca Straits

Summary: Syria taunted Nasser that he was hiding behind UN troops; the Syrians and Palestinians were the only ones fighting against Israel. Nasser, looking to improve his image in the Arab world, and justify Soviet belief in him, carried out on May 15, 1967, six acts that collectively made war in the Middle East inevitable.  Credits: Arab-Israeli War 1967  Real Time History Egypt Blockades the Straits of Tiran | Six Day War - Part 3 of 12 | Unpacked Israel's 'Operation Focus': Inside One of the Most Successful Air Campaigns in Military History CBC News Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com Don't forget to subscribe, like and share! Let all your friends know that that they too can have a new favorite podcast. © 2026 Media Education Trust llc

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STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING BILL ROGGIO, HUSAIN HAQQANI, SAMUEL BEN-UR, 6-22-261903 PERSIAThe provided text is a transcript from the John Batchelor Show featuring a deep-dive discussion on the fragile diplomatic landscape involving the United States, Iran, and Israel. The participants analyze the "ceaseless fire" in Lebanon and the Straits of Hormuz, questioning the validity of reported progress in peace talks hosted in Switzerland. Hussain Haqqani provides a skeptical view of the American leadership's lack of a clear endgame, while Bill Roggioemphasizes Iran's strategic leverage over vital shipping lanes. A significant portion of the dialogue focuses on Pakistanand Qatar emerging as unexpected mediators between the warring factions. Additionally, the conversation addresses the sidelined status of Hamas, suggesting a rift has formed between the group and its Iranian backers. Ultimately, the sources paint a picture of a stalemated conflict where threats often substitute for actionable military or diplomatic solutions.1903 PERSIA

A flurry of reports are coming from the Middle East as it pertains to Iran, Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Straits of Hormuz and the United States. The second day of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, just concluded and Fox News is reporting that the Treasury Secretary announced that the Trump administration has temporarily authorized the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil under a 60-day license. This broadcast presents an update on this as well as the continued warring between Israel and Hezbollah, Lindsey Graham's feelings regarding the current negotiations, Israel kills a journalist allegedly tied to Hamas, and more. Also, an update on what's going on with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, the controversy surrounding Flock cameras, and how all this points to the anti-Christ. In the end, AI is becoming so sophisticated that even experts are having a hard time discerning truth from deception. Dr. Richard Schmidt is Pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church and founder of Prophecy Focus Ministries. He joins us on this edition of Crosstalk. For more information: prophecyfocus.org

A flurry of reports are coming from the Middle East as it pertains to Iran, Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Straits of Hormuz and the United States. The second day of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, just concluded and Fox News is reporting that the Treasury Secretary announced that the Trump administration has temporarily authorized the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil under a 60-day license. This broadcast presents an update on this as well as the continued warring between Israel and Hezbollah, Lindsey Graham's feelings regarding the current negotiations, Israel kills a journalist allegedly tied to Hamas, and more. Also, an update on what's going on with the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, the controversy surrounding Flock cameras, and how all this points to the anti-Christ. In the end, AI is becoming so sophisticated that even experts are having a hard time discerning truth from deception. Dr. Richard Schmidt is Pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church and founder of Prophecy Focus Ministries. He joins us on this edition of Crosstalk. For more information: prophecyfocus.org

American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Christopher J. Scalia is in for Jim Geraghty on the Friday 3 Martini Lunch. Today, Chris and Greg dissect the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran, note the arrest of a "Dreamer" for the UFC terror plot just as Michelle Obama was extolling the Dreamer program, the deliciously bitter infighting among Virginia Democrats, and Mr. Scalia's latest book.First, they dig into the memorandum of understanding with Iran and react to arguments opposing and supporting it. Chris and Greg share their concerns over the vagueness of the language on the nuclear matters, the money poised to flow into Iran, what's next in the Straits of Hormuz, and why this agreement or a more formal deal is unlikely to hold.Next, they contrast Michelle Obama praising her husband's DACA or "Dreamer" program granting legal status to illegal immigrants who were brought here as minors with the news that a "Dreamer" was just arrested for allegedly leading a terrorist plot against the UFC event at the White House. Chris also shares his thoughts on the opening of the Obama Presidential Center.Then, Chris and Greg pop the popcorn as top Democrats in Virginia are fighting with each other over several major issues and making it clear how much they don't like each other. But Chris warns there could be a major downside for conservatives from this dysfunction on the left.Finally, Chris tells us about his latest book 13 Novels Conservatives Will Love (but Probably Haven't Read) and how conservative ideas and characters are found in popular literature.Please visit our great sponsors:Brooklyn BeddingGet 30% off sitewide Brooklyn Bedding with promo code 3ML at https://BrooklynBedding.comPocket HoseFor a limited time, get two free gifts—a 360° rotating pocket pivot and a thumb drive nozzle—when you buy the Pocket Hose Ballistic; just text MARTINI to 64000, message and data rates may apply.BetterHelpYou don't have to say yes to everything this summer. Find support in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/3MLNew episodes every weekday. 

Listen to the SF Daily podcast for today, June 18, 2026, with host Lorrie Boyer. These quick and informative episodes cover the commodity markets, weather, and the big things happening in agriculture each morning. Key points that are impacting the commodity markets today include the Iran peace deal in relation to global energy markets. Many are pushing for vessels to resume moving through the Straits of Hormuz, and the global weather. Ethanol output fell slightly, with the Midwest experiencing the lowest level in three weeks. Feeder cattle futures saw a slight increase, and the CME feeder cattle index was up 2 cents. Wholesale box beef prices were mixed, with Choice boxes down and Select boxes up. Flood warnings were issued for northern Illinois due to excessive rainfall, and more rain was expected in western and central Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A version of this essay has been published by Open Magazine at https://openthemagazine.com/world/india-will-collapse-without-digital-sovereignty-and-pax-indica-lessons-from-hormuzBy now it is clear that the Iran War (or West Asia War) has been a disaster to all concerned, including the principals as well as assorted passersby. The massive amounts spent by the US (at last count $25 billion) are at least articulated; the bill for the enormous infrastructural and human suffering inflicted on Gulf states, in the theater of war, must be greater, by definition.The collateral damages suffered by the rest of the world from the cessation of trade through the Straits of Hormuz will presumably run into the trillions of dollars. As one of the worst affected, India, which imports 90% of its hydrocarbons from the Gulf, not to mention other essential items such as urea (for fertilizer), sulfuric acid, helium, etc., is on track to take a massive hit. As an article in The Economic Times said, “India must brace for broad-based economic shock”.Indian exports of up to $50 billion are also affected, especially agricultural products including perishable foodstuffs, but also gems and jewellery, electronics, textiles and garments. Some of this can be diverted via Oman and the UAE's Fujairah port, but much of it passes through the Straits of Hormuz and is potentially blocked and/or stranded at sea.The Hormuz closure is a body blow to India's economy. What can and will India do about it? The Indian State has a habit of rising to the challenge only when there is a crisis, while vegetating otherwise. The 1991 economic crisis is a case in point; the sanctions following “The Buddha is smiling”, and the denial of cryogenic rocket engines and supercomputers are other examples where the nation rallied. So were covid vaccines. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention.Turning a threat into an opportunityIf I were to be an optimist, I could say that the current crisis is actually an opportunity. In fact, a major opportunity. My reading of the Iran War is that it is President Trump's strategic tit-for-tat against China for denying him rare earths and cutting off soybean purchases. In return Trump decided to deny China access to oil by closing access to Venezuela and Iran. Whether this will work, or whether the G2 condominium (read ‘surrender') will prevail, is unclear.But that is, in a sense, background noise that needs to be managed. India needs to focus on its own issues, of which I see several as critical, and the solution in general is to become Atmanirbhar, self-reliant, and from that, to create an Anti-Fragile nation:* National security/defense* Food security* Energy security* Digital security/narrative control* Trade securityThe first three do not need an explanation: they are obvious. Internal and external security are pre-requisites for any successful society. If India's hard-won food security can be threatened by external threats, then there needs to be some deep introspection. Energy security means diversification, both of hydrocarbon sources, and of types of energy, including renewables, nuclear, biomass, coal-based, and so on.Malign narratives and digital sovereigntyNarrative control is something that the Indian State has failed at so far; it is laughably easy to create hate speech against Indians and India (as has been demonstrated freely by any number of players, starting from the MAGA crowd, to Audrey Truschke to a”Cockroach Janata Party” and some nitwit Norwegian journalist in just the last fortnight) and there are no consequences to the culprits. It's enough to make me pine for Lee Kuan Yew's aggressive legal battles against the media.It's one thing if it were only a problem with foreigners, but with the massive spread of social media, and in particular generativeAI, it is becoming a serious domestic issue. Since India is an avid consumer of social media, and because generativeAI is trained on things like Wikipedia, X, Whatsapp and Google content, biased and motivated material becomes ensconced as The Truth. I have written about narrative warfare and manufacturing consent.This used to be a one-way tsunami of (mis)-information by legacy media, but now there is also the opposite: the wholesale and free vacuuming-up of Indian data (whatever happened to “data is the new oil”?). The “Great Firewall of China” both kept out foreign BIg Tech applications and prevented their plundering Chinese data: is that the way to go?Manufactured narratives are intended for regime change: all the color revolutions today are hatched with massive bot-farms funded by some combination of Deep State, CCP, ISI, Qatar etc. (for example the alleged Gen-Z uprisings that rocked Nepal, drove Sheikh Hasina out of Bangladesh). Thus muzzling malign narratives, and ensuring data security, are imperative.Even Singapore is not immune: it had to block anti-India narratives that likely originated from Chinese sources.A particularly striking example of narrative warfare is the virtual hate speech inducted into Wikipedia by deeply prejudiced anonymous editors. Ashley Rindsberg, who exposed the mighty New York Times' biases in his book The Gray Lady Winked, provides many examples of this.Of note to Indians and Hindus is his recent substack titled “Wikipedia's India War” where he identifies just four editors as having created most of the content condemning the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) in ‘Wikivoice', i.e. the allegedly neutral perspective of Wikipedia. They are, on the contrary, shown to be highly one-sided.As Rindsberg mentions, Wikipedia being central to generativeAI, the damage is baked into the world-view of all AI applications. Truly Orwellian. Says Rindsberg: “four… anonymous accounts can have an enormous impact on what millions of people believe to be the truth.” “Over four years (2021-2025), editors systematically erased HAF's identity as an American civil rights group, transforming its Wikipedia page into a heavily curated dossier of accusations.”Trade, and how the Spice Route was far superior to the Silk RoadFinally, something that is becoming increasingly important: ensuring freedom of trade. This is more than just freedom of navigation, although I find it instructive that Emperor Rajendra Chola sent a huge fleet 1,001 years ago simply to open up the Straits of Malacca. India can make an active attempt to regain primacy in Indian Ocean trade, the whole Pax indica idea.Here is another example of the power of narrative: we have been led to believe that the Silk Road to China was some major highway of commerce between ancient Rome and ancient China, but it was a term coined only in 1877 by the German Ferdinand von Richthofen. There was no highway. A large caravan might take six months, and with 500 camels traversing treacherous deserts and braving bandits, it might carry a maximum of 100 tons. That is puny.In comparison, on the Spice Route, a single stitched ship from Muziris could carry 400 tons of ivory, pepper, silk, tigers and elephants; and the historian Strabo around 1 CE talks about fleets of 250 ships going from Alexandria to India on a six-week monsoon-powered journey. That is 100,000 tons of merchandise. No wonder Pliny the Elder complained that Rome's treasuries were being emptied of gold by India.Simple question: where are hoards of ancient Roman coins found in Asia? Answer: not along the Silk Road. The hoards are in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.Today, it is possible for India to aspire to port-led development of trade, especially with the major ports at Trivandrum (Vizhinjam), Maharashtra (Vadhavan), and Great Nicobar (Galathea Bay). The underlying ‘software' of India's millennia-old trade competency was a ‘multi-protocol switch' as I pointed out, and today's India Stack can replicate that. Then there is the need for a blue-water navy: muscle to provide security on the Hormuz to Malacca sea-lanes.So there is a vision. How can India get there? This is where policy matters, as I discussed with policy expert Anuj Gupta. Policy, especially industrial policy, has had a bad reputation in certain circles because it was deemed to violate the virginal purity of classical capitalism. However, in a recent U-turn, even the World Bank admitted that industrial policy may not be all that bad, after all: the success of Japan, the Asian Tigers, and China can't be ignored.That leads to the question of why policy in India has produced mediocre outcomes, what is different now, and where the best use of policy might be.Industrial Policy: What went wrong in the past?There are many problems here. To begin with, the Soviet model, which Nehruvians swore by, was, in hindsight, a dead end. Second, there is the problem of governance: post-Independence bureaucrats have awkwardly borne the legacy of imperial hauteur and the needs of a developing society. Third, until recently, the bare necessities (food, electricity, road access) were not available to many citizens, and GDP growth was not their priority.There is also the culture of jugaad: of clever ways in which you overcome constraints through frugal improvisation and seat-of-the-pants making-do. This is fine for one-off things (e.g. converting a tractor trailer into a makeshift transport vehicle because your truck broke down), but it does not make for efficient and replicable industrial products. As The Economic Times said recently, it is time to junk jugaad. Quality has to become ingrained in people's minds.The issue of governance is significant: the bureaucracy and the judiciary have both under-performed, politicians, as everywhere, have been venal. It is said that China's growth can be attributed to the fact that its babus are engineers, and therefore with engineering ruthlessness move in straight lines. The US' babus are lawyers, and India's are humanities graduates. Well, engineers are not very good at second-order effects (eg. China's lurch from one-child policy to demographic collapse), but a little bit of ruthlessness is probably good.What is going reasonably well?There are a few modest success stories: for example, in electronics manufacturing or assembly. The PLIs (and DLIs) have produced the desired effort, with clusters of excellence where global suppliers have also set up shop (as they did earlier for the automobile industry in, say, Sriperumpudur). The fact that a lot of iPhones in the US are now imported from India is laudable, even though it may be derided as “screwdriver jobs”. That's where one starts the move up the value chain.The current semiconductor policy is a big hope, especially after the landmark agreement by the Dutch firm ASML with Tata Electronics in Dholera, Gujarat. Given that ASML has a near-monopoly position in Deep Ultraviolet Lithography (DUV) this is a major boost to India's chip ambitions. My recent conversation with AMD CTO Suraj Rengarajan went into India's chances to realize its ambitions.A recent announcement from Trivandrum-based fabless startup NetraSemi (a recipient of DLI) of the commercial availability of its edge AI chips is a landmark.Next is the newly announced plan for energy security revolving around both coal gasification and intensive offshore exploration. These fall squarely into the Atmanirbhar category: India simply cannot afford to have its energy held hostage by distant nations. It also needs distinctly Indian innovation.The Samudra Manthan initiative is also showing some promise. At least one out of three deep-water wells in the Andaman Sea (SriVijaya Puram-3) are reported to be showing the availability of natural gas, although it will take 5-10 years for this to be commercially available.What should the future look like for India's Industrial Policies?This of course is the hard question. Here is my personal perspective, and I accept that reasonable people may disagree. I think three areas need to be focused on, and will pay large dividends.* Drones and swarming software* Social media and AI stack* Maritime Trade and Blue-Water NavyI admit that these are not the only worthwhile industrial policies. Another is for copper, which would reverse the catastrophic effects of the closure of the Sterlite plant in Thoothukkudi, as the metal is an increasingly important component in electronics, data centers, etc., and far from being self-sufficient earlier, India now imports 50% of its needs. Another area of interest in quantum computing.There are also failures from which the right lessons need to be learned. The policy for EV batteries has apparently failed: according to Swarajya magazine, India has not been able to escape from near-total dependence on imported Chinese batteries.Drone swarmsI wrote recently that drones may well herald a step-change in warfare. For the moment, though, they are searching for their niche in offensive/defensive warfare. Drone hardware is already a well-trodden path with Chinese and other nations dominating it, although with IdeaForge, Paras, Garuda, IoTechworld Avigation etc., India is also making progress there. And India is indeed buying the hardware, $2 billion-worth, according to the Economic Times.But I believe the real game is in drone swarms. AI-based control software (similar to HiveMind) that would allow an entire swarm to act autonomously, just like a murmuration of starlings, would be the gold standard to aim for. Such a self-managing swarm would be virtually impossible to defend against, and I think India should put in place a PLI to support it, leveraging software capability in the country.Of course, drones are not just for military purposes, but also for commercial uses including things like logistics and agricultural use, such as precision delivery of fertilizer and pesticide to crops (as Garuda demonstrates). An Indian initiative that supports both drone hardware, and especially drone software, would be a potential winner.Digital Sovereignty: Social media and AI stackThere is a raging battle over which part of the AI stack India needs to invest in. As an old Unix hand, I believe the foundational model is not where the differentiation is. In analogy with Linux (the open-source Unix variant that was popularized by Linus Torvalds and an army of volunteers), there is little value in re-writing the operating system, but one can differentiate by building on top of it, or by judiciously choosing certain modules of it.Besides, the cost of building an entirely new foundational model would be astronomical and would consume the entire budget of IndiaAI Mission.Thus, my personal opinion is that the foundational model (especially when, it is believed, there are more or less open-source models available for free, e.g. Llama, DeepSeek) is not where India should expend its precious R&D resources, but on the layers of the stack above it. It is the data that matters, as Larry Ellison apparently suggests too.But there is the interesting counter-example of Sarvam AI which is producing its own sovereign model: multi-lingual and presumably otherwise tuned to Indian needs. The question is whether this can survive when hundreds of billions worth of capital investment are going to the US Big Tech companies and their Chinese rivals. The sad history of Koo, a Twitter rival, comes to mind. So does Arattai, a Whatsapp rival, whose popularity has waned. .A well-thought-through industrial policy on generativeAI is therefore essential. The status quo ante is unsustainable; given the fact that Sarvam has also found it difficult to raise funds in the US, it is worth pondering whether a China-style massive subsidy is the answer. And where should it go, into foundational models or into the layers of the stack above it? The answer is “both”, but with priority to the latter.Here is where I would prioritize investments, in order:* Vertical applications in specific domains: e.g. defense, healthcare, agriculture, governance (particularly in the judiciary and in ease of doing business in the bureaucracy)* Fine-tuning and customization: for the needs of the Indian context, e.g. multi-linguality under Bhashini* Compute infrastructure: GPUs, sovereign and protected indian datasets* Sovereign Small-Language Models such as Sarvam AIAs mentioned above, at the moment India's data is being sucked up for free by US Big Tech. In addition, there is the real danger that Indic Knowledge Systems will be mined and digested, as has happened to yoga, pranayama, etc., which have been given Western analogs and nomenclature, as in Pilates, ‘coherent breathing' etc.These two problems are connected, and both need to be tackled in parallel. Social media is being weaponized against India, and this is magnified by the legacy media in a positive feedback loop. Three examples: one was the rage against Adani based on the dubious research of Hindenburg, which then went under; the second is Bloomberg's reckless accusation about gold reserves being sold by the RBI, which they were forced to retract, but social media and Wikipedia will remember it; the third is the meteoric (media) rise of the Cockroach Janata Party.Trade using major ports, Digital Public Infrastructure and a blue water navyUsing trade for competitive advantage is an age-old tactic. The trade tiffs between the US and China are examples of this: we are witnessing war by other means. Many nations are getting into this act, and India does have some advantages, partly based on geography. Maritime trade is likely to continue to be the key, which makes naval chokepoints the big story, but not the only story to watch out for.The major aspects of maritime trade include infrastructure, the digital “multi-protocol switch”, and security. On the one hand, India is developing not only major container ports, and the road/rail links to get to them, and the industrial goods to ship out through them, but also a serious shipbuilding industry, which was one of India's historical strengths. Then it used to be stitched wooden ships (teak beams lashed together with coconut rope). Now it's modern steel ships.There are the big, efficient new ports, which can now turn ships around with Singapore-like efficiency; the proposed third aircraft carrier group which will make it possible to patrol the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal at the time; the Air-Independent Propulsion diesel submarines and nuclear submarines that can monitor (and if necessary, deny) narrow straits; the sale of supersonic Brahmos cruise missiles to the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia (and Cyprus) that create ship-denial zones: all this is muscle.And the final piece, the ‘software' for trade, the “multi-protocol switch”. This last is complicated. Its value is underestimated by many. But this is what enables friction-less transactions between various unrelated parties. The India Stack and the Digital Public Infrastructure can be utilized to provide such a facility. But it is complex enough to need significant study as to what is possible, and how to roll it out.Second-order effectsIn closing, it is worth considering some of what the (unintended) consequences of these proposals may be. Let us note that the G2 has no interest in allowing India to grow and make it a G3. They will do everything in their power to kneecap India, by all means possible.There is also a certain derision for India in some circles. Here is a generic western opinion on why China got rich, and India didn't. Well, the author doesn't consider the second-order effects of the wholesale destruction of Chinese civilization: that is a tradeoff Indians may not prefer for themselves. We all know how China's well-intentioned One Child Policy turned into demographic collapse within a few years. Besides, as The Economist asks, “China is innovative. Its economy is a mess. Which will win out?”This is why I think planning for these second-order effects is important. We tend to ignore them because they seem counterintuitive or unlikely, but Nassim Taleb has sensitized us to how low-probability Black Swan events can have grave consequences.As an example, attempting digital sovereignty may have unwelcome side-effects: Big Tech have the first-mover advantage and network effects and there are increasing returns to scale. They will surely make it hard for a new player to break in. Besides, the large investments in data centers and GCCs that they are making in India would make it very difficult for them to be ejected with a “Great Indian Firewall”.Even taxing their capture of Indian data will be complicated; not to mention that they have demonstrated that they can happily violate copyright laws with no consequence; therefore they will find ways to chew up and spit out Indian Knowledge Systems, and essentially re-colonize India. Digital colonialism is not a threat, it is a reality today, and it is a consequence of the relatively open Indian system.In addition, there is a malign group, the “barbarians within” as Arnold Toynbee once put it, who are ready to sacrifice Indian sovereignty for a pittance.Given all this, it will be very difficult to put in place serious measures to gain digital independence; and the narrative-peddling is likely to gain further momentum: just consider the caste allegations that have haunted BAPS in the US (despite the cases being dismissed by the US DoJ), the Cisco Systems case where, again, the case was dismissed, but the narrative continues, and the persistent efforts in various US states to turn caste into a weapon to bludgeon Indians.Another sensitive issue is that of the multi-protocol switch for trade. While from an Indian point of view, it eases trade and harks back to a Golden Age of Indic maritime commerce, but that will be viewed elsewhere very differently, for instance by the US as an attempt to de-dollarize. The US has jealousy guarded – with very good reasons that we will not go into here – the dollar's reserve currency status.We have also seen what happened to those who attempt to hurt the dollar's primacy: in 1985, the Plaza Accord devalued the dollar, and that was a body blow to Japan's economy, which has not recovered its mojo to this day. Later, Iraq's Saddam Hussein and Libya's Muammar Gaddafi both had ideas about replacing the petro-dollar with, respectively, the Euro and a new pan-African gold-backed currency. We know what happened to them.If the India Stack multi-protocol switch is perceived as an alternative to the US dollar, there may be grave consequences. Therefore, it should be conceived and deployed only as an adjunct to it and to the almighty SWIFT settlement system.ConclusionIndia is at a crossroads now. Even though the Hormuz closure is a serious problem, if it plays its cards right, adversity can be turned into opportunity across a variety of perspectives. The key is Atmanirbhar, self-reliance. If India can now implement a crash program of industrial policy, and at the same time overcome an ingrained Third-World tendency to cut corners, it can finally break free of the years of underperformance, what I called the Nehruvian Penalty in 2004.It is possible, but there are caveats: unforeseen consequences. Hic sunt dracones. Here be dragons. Be afraid. Be very afraid.3700 words, 7 June 2026This is episode 192 of the Shadow Warrior podcast. Here is a companion AI-generated slideshow. (Note that the borders of India are not necessarily depicted correctly here, because it is generated by an AI, notebookLM.google.com) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the Daily Compliance News. Each day, Tom Fox, the Voice of Compliance, brings you compliance-related stories to start your day. Sit back, enjoy a cup of morning coffee, and listen in to the Daily Compliance News. All, from the Compliance Podcast Network. Each day, we consider four stories from the business world, compliance, ethics, risk management, leadership, or general interest for the compliance professional. Top stories include: Ex-Nigerian oil minister acquitted of corruption. (Reuters) Prediction markets to take company bets. (NYT) A picture of cigars. Does the penalty fit the crime? (WSJ) Who will toll the Straits of Hormuz? (Reuters) To learn about the intersection of Sherlock Holmes and the modern compliance professional, check out Tom's latest book, The Game is Afoot-What Sherlock Holmes Teaches About Risk, Ethics and Investigations on Amazon.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Somewhere between the farm and your plate, the story of how your food is grown got hijacked. Not by farmers. By people who have never touched a seed, never watched a crop fail, never had to explain to their banker why the weather won. Dennis Bulani is a fourth-generation Saskatchewan farmer, CEO of The Rack -- one of Western Canada's most respected independent ag retailers -- founder of the Trust Your Plate movement, and author of What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food. He sat in a room full of entrepreneurs in Arizona while a speaker told everyone that modern farming was poisoning the world. He went home and wrote a book about it. Nine in ten people trust farmers. One in five trust modern farming practices. This is the conversation about how that gap happened -- and what to do with it.   Topics and Timestamps 0:00 -- Dan's open: "Somewhere between the farm and your plate, the story got hijacked" 1:07 -- Dennis on the farm right now: wheat year, 1,000 acres, single-crop rotation 1:28 -- The one-crop-per-year strategy and why it works for a busy CEO-farmer 4:15 -- Pulse rotation research: 15% average yield lift across all other crops 5:52 -- Solving phomyces root rot: 5-year research taking peas from 25 to 75 bushels 7:37 -- Published in the American Journal of Plant Science 8:49 -- The Rack's research program: PhD scientist, 6 agronomists, 12 field trials annually 10:00 -- The 100-bushel canola goal and what the "kitchen sink" trial actually proved 13:06 -- How "Rogue" was born: Dr. Bill Brown, manganese-zinc surfactant, and 10-12% yield lift 17:10 -- Rogue in Liberty Canola and what glyphosate actually does to manganese and zinc 18:36 -- Dennis's animal science degree: balancing plant rations is the same science as balancing cattle rations 22:13 -- From Eli Lilly to building The Rack: how an animal nutritionist ended up selling gas 26:00 -- Strategic Coach and the size of the problems Dennis is now willing to take on 30:00 -- The Arizona room: a speaker says modern farming is poisoning the world. Dennis goes home and writes a book. 35:00 -- The trust gap: 9 in 10 people trust farmers but only 1 in 5 trust modern farming practices 38:00 -- The MSG story: how one bad idea gets into the bloodstream of a culture and never leaves 39:39 -- Fertilizer supply chain: urea forecasting, import terminals, and the 2026 seeding sprint 41:13 -- Trump and geopolitics: the Straits of Hormuz theory and what it means for urea prices 43:05 -- Are farmers making money? The 2026 economics at $820 spring wheat 44:09 -- Why Canadian farmers are the most resilient in the world -- and the crow rate story that explains it 47:06 -- "The most advanced, educated farmers in the world" -- how adversity built Western Canadian agriculture 50:52 -- Biological products: the seaweed trial, what the research actually showed, and how to think about new claims 53:48 -- Zinc deficiency in 70% of soil tests -- the right form, timing, and strategy for zinc 59:27 -- Phosphate threshold: 20-25 ppm as the floor that separates good yields from great ones 1:04:29 -- The Rack spends $600,000 a year on replicated research -- and shares results with competitors for free 1:07:00 -- The retail landscape is changing: what separates partners from order-takers 1:08:53 -- AI and the future of ag retail agronomy 1:17:57 -- The novel: 60% true story, Kyrgyzstan, post-communist winter wheat, and Fibonacci numbers 1:20:07 -- Writing the book for "Aunt Nancy from Vancouver" -- and hiring four fact-checkers 1:22:13 -- "Never have we lived longer, never have we been healthier" -- Canada's 84-year life expectancy 1:26:07 -- Aunt Nancy from Vancouver: why farmers avoid the conversation -- and why they shouldn't 1:27:09 -- TrustYourPlate.com as a reference tool for farmers to use in the moment 1:30:42 -- The three biggest myths in consumer agriculture 1:31:15 -- The eyedrop analogy: one-third of one drop per square foot per year is all the chemical farmers apply   Resources Mentioned What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food -- Dennis Bulani (book, available on Amazon, Kindle edition) Trust Your Plate -- trustyourplate.com (reference tool for answering food safety questions) The Rack -- Rack Petroleum, Bigger, Saskatchewan (ag retail, fuel, fertilizer, research division) Rogue -- The Rack's proprietary manganese-zinc surfactant product (developed from Dr. Bill Brown's research) American Journal of Plant Science -- published The Rack's pea phomyces root rot research Ultimate Yield -- The Rack's agronomy division AgLink Canada -- independent ag retailer association (Dean Falls, Director) Nutrients for Life Canada -- distributing the book to school teachers across Canada Dr. Aaron Corey -- PhD scientist, The Rack research division Dr. Bill Brown -- glyphosate and surfactant researcher, Ontario; Hellfire surfactant Strategic Coach -- Dan Sullivan's entrepreneurship program CAAR -- Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers University of South Dakota / University of Nebraska -- crop rotation and phosphate research referenced Connect with Dennis Bulani Website: trustyourplate.com Book: What a Farmer Wants You to Know About Food -- search Amazon LinkedIn: Dennis Bulani   Connect with Growing the Future Website: growingthefuture.ca YouTube: Growing the Future Instagram: @growingthefuturepodcast LinkedIn: Growing the Future Register for the Convergence Conference at convergence.ag and stay updated by subscribing to the Growing the Future Podcast at growingthefuturepodcast.ca.

PJ talks to Kevin McPartlan of Fuels For Ireland about when we might get good news Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our CIO and Chief U.S. Equity Strategist Mike Wilson explains why the recent equity correction may be more reset than reversal and where investors may find the next opportunities.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanley's CIO and Chief U.S. Equity Strategist. Today: Possible opportunities to look out for in the equity correction over the past few weeks.It's Monday, June 15th at 1:30pm in New York. So, let's get after it.Sometimes the market changes direction or leadership not because the story has broken. Instead, it just needs to digest how quickly the story has evolved. Over the past few weeks, equities had their biggest correction since the important bottom in March. I don't view this as the end of the bull market though. I view it as a pause after an unsustainable acceleration in two key factors driving stocks higher this year: earnings revisions and liquidity. In my view, the market wasn't questioning the earnings bull market as much as it is questioning the speed at which earnings have been revised higher. These revisions have been particularly strong in leading sectors like semiconductors, which also corrected the most. When earnings revisions breadth gets north of 70 percent, it's reasonable to ask whether the second derivative is about to slow. That doesn't mean earnings estimates are going down. Instead, it means the rate of improvement is probably peaking, and in markets, it's always about the second derivative in growth. Such decelerations create corrections, not crashes. That distinction is important. Earnings revisions breadth may pause or roll over from extreme levels, but the next twelve-month earnings estimates are still likely to rise as we move through the year and roll forward toward 2027 numbers. That's why I remain convicted in our year-end S&P 500 target of 8000, even if the next few weeks remain choppy. Markets can correct while the earnings story remains intact. In fact, that's often exactly how healthy bull markets reset.The second part of this adjustment is liquidity. Earlier this year, liquidity was flowing strongly through the system as a means of regaining financial stability. Between the Fed's Reserve Management Program, reduced bank capital requirements, and Treasury buybacks, more than half a trillion dollars of liquidity was effectively added. But that pace is now slowing. The Reserve Management Program has fallen from roughly $40 billion a month in April to about $10 billion today; while Treasury buybacks have also slowed from the March and April highs. This rate of change slowdown matters at the margin, especially for crowded momentum trades that have been supported by abundant liquidity. Take note of these corrections in momentum because they often bring a change in leadership and that's the real opportunity. We've already seen a few leadership rotations this year – from precious and base metals, to rare earths, to energy and finally to semiconductors. Now I think the market may be ready to broaden again, much like it did late last year and in the first six weeks of this year.Importantly, our preferred sectors of Consumer Discretionary Goods, Transports, and Regional Banks are all up more than 10 percent over the past month while the S&P 500 was down modestly. Yet, sentiment toward these areas is still muted. That's exactly the kind of setup I like: improving fundamentals, better relative price action, and investors still skeptical.Another piece that should help this broadening. Macro variables that have been holding lower quality cyclicals back include interest rates, crude, and the dollar – they may all now be peaking. That fits nicely with the announced deal to reopen the Straits of Hormuz last night. If oil pressure eases and the bond market walks back the Fed hike it is currently pricing, interest rate sensitive groups should have room to extend their recent outperformance. Finally this week's Fed meeting matters too because it's Kevin Warsh's first as the Chair. I'll be watching less for the rate decision itself and more for how the bond market reacts. The key markers are still the same for me: 4.5 percent on the 10-year, while bond volatility and funding market stress need to remain calm. If the Iran deal holds, I think the Fed can lean less hawkish on rates – but I don't expect a proactive pivot to add more liquidity.Bottom line, markets have been digesting the peak rate of change in growth acceleration and liquidity. But that's far from the end of the cycle. The earnings driven bull market remains intact, but the leadership may be changing. As usual, the best opportunities may be hiding in the places investors don't believe in, yet.Thanks for tuning in; I hope you found it informative and useful. Let us know what you think by leaving us a review. And if you find Thoughts on the Market worthwhile, tell a friend or colleague to try it out!

The War between Israel and the US on one side and Iran and Lebanon on the other is in its fourth month. Despite claims from the White House that a deal is imminent, the war and the destruction have continued. Indeed the concept of a cease fire is undermined with every attack. The global economy is struggling with the increased energy costs due to the closing of the Straits of Hormuz. And people continue to die. So on today's show we update the news on the war, explore any potential pathways to end the war and examine the impact of the war particularly on both Iran and Lebanon. [ dur: 58mins. ] Yeghia Tashjian is the Regional and International Affairs Cluster Coordinator of Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs (IFI) and a part time Instructor at American University of Beirut. He is the author “The International North-South Transport Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative in the South Caucasus,” published in the edited volume of Routledge Handbook of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Eurasia (2025). Ervand Abrahamian is Professor Emeritus at City University of New York. He is the author of A History of Modern Iran and Inventing the Axis of Evil: The Truth About North Korea, Iran and Syria. Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of numerous publications including Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism, Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution co-authored with Jacob Mundy. This program is produced by Ankine Aghassian, Doug Becker and Sudd Dongre. Politics and Activism, War / Weapons, Middle East, Iran, Israel, Lebanon , US

On Thursday's Mark Levin Show, we have a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran requiring another 60 days of negotiations. The full details remain unreleased and unseen, which makes premature celebration impossible. If it is done and will be signed in 48-72 hours, let's see it. The core concern is long-term enforcement, given Iran's history as a terrorist regime that has never abided by any agreement, and exists to destroy the West and non-compliant Muslims through funding groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. How effective will enforcement be post-Trump presidency, especially under Democrats. We have the enemy where we want it. We may never again. It was right to attack them, and in a few weeks' time they were on their back. We hit the brakes for 9 weeks. First the Israelis and then we went back to military action this week, and the regime was badly damaged beyond the original damage. Rather than destroy it, including arming the Iranian people, we have an MOU and future negotiations. Also, Roger Zakheim, Director of the Ronald Reagan Institute, calls in and details the lack of any trustworthy record from the Iranian regime, warning that the deal may not be worth the paper it's written on despite the U.S. having weakened Iran through Operation Epic Fury and economic blockade pressure. Any worthwhile agreement must reverse the JCPOA by demanding zero enrichment, ending the missile program, halting support for terrorist groups like Hezbollah, and ensuring open Straits. Later, Rep Jamie Raskin is already leading a plot to impeach the President if the Democrats take the House. Republicans should move to expel Jamie Raskin from the House.  If he can continue to abuse our constitutional system and undermine our electoral process (ironic, since he blames Trump and Republicans for doing so), having led every effort described above, then take the necessary steps to charge him under the expulsion clause. Finally, Rep Bryan Steil calls in to discuss his three-year investigation into potential fraud at ActBlue, particularly its weak fraud prevention standards that allow foreign funds into U.S. elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Space Show Presents Rick Fisher, Tuesday, June 9, 2026Quick SummaryThe Space Show featured a discussion with national security consultant Rick Fisher about China's space program and its implications for national security. Rick explained that space has become a major component of American global national security considerations, with China positioning itself either as a major antagonist or cooperative partner depending on Earth-based conflicts. He detailed China's lunar program, including their Lanyue lunar lander and their manned capsule, while warning that Chinese dual-use systems on the moon could potentially extend Earth conflicts to lunar territory. The conversation covered China's energy independence efforts through nuclear fission, space solar power, and fusion energy development, as well as their reusable rocket capabilities with 20-25 Chinese companies developing reusable launch vehicles similar to SpaceX's approach. Rick also discussed the Artemis program's goals of establishing a semi-permanent presence on the moon by 2036, requiring 79-81 space launches and approximately $30 billion in total investment. The discussion concluded with analysis of Taiwan's potential response to Chinese aggression and the role of other Asian countries like India and Japan in balancing Chinese space ambitions.Detailed SummaryDavid and Rick discussed the role of space in national security, particularly regarding China's lunar program and its implications for Taiwan and the South China Sea. They also touched on UAPs (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena), with John contributing insights about China's interest in UAPs and the government's handling of the topic. The conversation highlighted differing perspectives on the significance of UAPs and the potential motivations behind government secrecy regarding the subject.David, Rick, and John discussed concerns about Chinese influence and espionage in the United States, including allegations against politicians like Feinstein and a California politician. They questioned why such activities are tolerated despite being known. The conversation then shifted to SpaceX's upcoming IPO and its performance. The conversation continued with the guest continuing to discuss China's space program and its broader implications for national security.Rick discussed the increasing importance of space in American national security, particularly in relation to China's space activities. He explained that space has become a determinant factor in global security, with both countries positioning themselves as either antagonists or cooperative partners. He praised President Trump's focus on returning to the moon through the Artemis program as a way to deter conflict and secure American access to space. He noted that Trump's second-term goal of establishing a permanent presence on the moon could help prevent conflicts not only on the moon but also in low Earth orbit and potentially on Earth.Rick was asked about China's energy strategies and vulnerabilities, explaining that China's reliance on oil passing through the Straits of Hormuz presents a strategic weakness. He detailed China's multi-pronged energy approach including nuclear fission plants, space solar power research, and fusion energy development. When asked about space-based data centers, he indicated China is following the American trend with plans to launch such facilities in the near future, potentially on a large scale to support AI functions on Earth. The discussion was cut off before John's question about potential lunar conflict could be addressed.Our guest discussed the potential risks and challenges associated with China's lunar lander program, particularly regarding the Lanyue lunar lander and its propulsion stage, which could pose hazards to other lunar missions or bases. He highlighted the need for deconfliction and transparency from China regarding their lunar lander operations. Rick also mentioned the deployment of hopper drones by both the United States and China around the moon, noting the potential for these to be modified for combat purposes if tensions escalate on Earth.China's potential space ambitions were brought to our attention, noting that if China were willing to use technology for political intimidation in low Earth orbit, they might extend similar activities to lunar or Martian environments. John suggested that getting to space first could provide an advantage in staking territorial claims. Dr. Kothari asked three questions about China's plans: circumnavigating the moon with astronauts in 2027, deploying thorium molten salt reactors for terrestrial use, and developing reusable rockets. Rick acknowledged limited knowledge about China's reactor plans but noted that China has 20-25 companies working on reusable space vehicles, with the potential for first stage recovery this year.Rick discussed China's space launch vehicle developments, focusing on the Long March 12, Long March 10, and the proposed Long March 9. He explained that Long March 10 could become a popular reusable launch vehicle, while the three-stage Long March 9, if developed, would be the world's most powerful space launch vehicle with a massive 19-meter payload fairing. Rick speculated that China might be developing the three-stage Long March 9 to avoid the complexity of low Earth orbit refueling required for Elon Musk's Starship, though he acknowledged that many technical details about its feasibility remain unknown.Rick discussed the potential impact of China's Long March 9 rocket on SpaceX's Starship, noting that while the first stage would be reusable, it remained unclear whether China would pursue reusability for the second stage. When asked about credible resistance movements in China, Richard explained that while there is a will among some people to resist the government, the Chinese Communist Party effectively prevents such movements through extensive digital surveillance and control systems. He compared China's digital surveillance capabilities to Iran's and highlighted how Israel's ability to take control of Iran's digital systems and use them against the regime should serve as a warning to China about potential threats from Taiwan and Israel.Ajay asked Rick about Taiwanese opinions on potential reunification with China. Rick explained that while many Taiwanese benefit economically from China relations, over 90% of the population values their democratic freedoms and would not willing give them up to become part of a Chinese communist dictatorship. He noted that the Chinese Communist Party's failure to acknowledge historical atrocities under Mao, including the deaths of 50-70 million people, undermines their historical appeals to Taiwanese people.Rick talked about the potential for Asian and oceanic countries like India and Australia to balance China's space activities through collaboration with the United States and the Artemis program. He noted that as these countries develop their own heavy launch vehicles, they will gain more autonomy to pursue lunar and Mars programs independently of potential Chinese-American conflicts. Richard also praised NASA's Artemis program revealed on March 23, which aims to establish a semi-permanent presence on the moon by 2036 through 79-81 space launches and $30 billion total investment, describing it as essential for winning the race to the moon and potentially deterring Chinese aggression.Our guest also discussed the relationship between China's space program and the US, noting that while competition exists, cooperation could follow a similar path to Cold War-era US-Soviet relations. He expressed confidence that the Artemis program would continue regardless of political party in power, though funding levels might vary. Richard believed the program would maintain strategic importance in the Earth-Moon-Mars system and would only be disrupted by major global conflicts.The conversation ended with David thanking Rick for his participation and discussing upcoming shows featuring Chris Carberry from Explore Mars and guests from Peruvian satellite systems and Luxembourg.Special thanks to our sponsors:American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Helix Space in Luxembourg, Celestis Memorial Spaceflights, Astrox Corporation, Dr. Haym Benaroya of Rutgers University, The Space Settlement Progress Blog by John Jossy, The Atlantis Project, and Artless EntertainmentOur Toll Free Line for Live Broadcasts: 1-866-687-7223 (Not in service at this time)For real time program participation, email Dr. Space at: drspace@thespaceshow.com for instructions and access.The Space Show is a non-profit 501C3 through its parent, One Giant Leap Foundation, Inc. To donate via Pay Pal, use:To donate with Zelle, use the email address: david@onegiantleapfoundation.org.If you prefer donating with a check, please make the check payable to One Giant Leap Foundation and mail to:One Giant Leap Foundation, 11035 Lavender Hill Drive Ste. 160-306 Las Vegas, NV 89135Upcoming Programs:Broadcast 4548: Zoom: Chris Carberry | Friday 12 Jun 2026 930AM PTGuests: Chris CarberryZoom: Chris Carberry of Explore Mars, see discussion details on blog and Substack later this week.Broadcast 4549 Zoom: Manuel Cuba & Cesar Santisteban | Sunday 14 Jun 2026 1200PM PTGuests: Manuel Cuba, Cesar Sa SantistebanZoom: Manuel and Cesar or Peru space and more, Details to follow Get full access to The Space Show-One Giant Leap Foundation at doctorspace.substack.com/subscribe

On this week's Strait Talk, we dive into the geopolitical headwinds facing a US–Iran deal, with Israel and Lebanon at the centre of the challenge.

If more proof was needed that President Trump is an avid listener to The Trump Phenomenon, we got more proof tonight, June 10, 2026, as America’s greatest President by far heeded our very rare taking of exception to one of his policies. He reversed course, just as we hoped he would, on his uncharacteristically misguided obsession with “getting a great deal” with the IRGC thugs. Now he’s back on the right path, which is to blow the hell out of the IRGC and enable the Iranian people to free their 92-million-strong nation from 47 years of brutal Communist savagery. That savagery importantly included, for us and the whole world, the IRGC psychopathic march towards nuclear Armageddon. News just came in that President Trump launched 49 Tomahawk missiles into the IRGC tonight. That’s the way ya’ do it (to quote Mark Knopfler of Hormuz, err I mean Dire, Straits!)

This is an excerpt from my podcast This Week in Geopolitics. I record new episodes every Monday so give me a follow if you would like to see more!

BLOCK A Retired Air Force General John Teichert joins Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon and Richard Porter to discuss the latest on the Iran War, including ongoing ceasefire negotiations and Monday's U.S. bombing of Iranian targets near the Straits of Hormuz. BLOCK B Documentary filmmaker Hannah Puder joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon to discuss her new short film “Operation Arnon,” which tells the story of a rescue mission to free four Israeli hostages held by Hamas after the October 7th attack. BLOCK C Ajit Pai, former FCC Chair and president and CEO of CTIA, the trade association that represents the wireless communications industry, joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss the FCC's role in regulating broadcast content, including late night programming. Also, a look at artificial intelligence and technological competition with China. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Click here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinHere's Episode #181 of Michigan's Premier Progressive Podcast!00:00-9:57: Mike Rogers' Beta CampaignPat Johnston opens this week's show pointing-out how feeble MAGA Michigan Republican Senate candidate, "Florida" Mike Rogers', really is as his campaign used Artificial Intelligence to give him a muscular body. These MAGA Republicans claim they're "manly men," but they're really just insecure little Beta men. Pat talks about how whenever he shares social media posts about Michigan progressive Democratic Senate candidate, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, he gets bombarded by a rush of racist and Islamophobic comments by MAGA voters. But they're following MAGA Republicans in Congress, who have no issue spewing their hatred and racism against Arab-Americans. And a Michigan Republican voted with Democrats to end the Trump Regime's, and Israel's, War on Iran. 9:58-31:00: Line 5 Jeffrey Insko InterviewDr. Jeffrey Insko of The Current returns to the show as he shares some of the latest news surrounding the fight to close the Line 5 oil pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac. They also discuss how Line 5 has negatively impacted Michigan's environment and public health. And they cover how the Trump Regime is working with the Canadian owner of Line 5 to keep it open for years to come. 31:03-46:01: Whitmer & Data CentersIn this week's "Last Call," Pat gives his take on Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer's decision to heartily embrace hyper-scale data centers in Michigan. Gov. Whitmer declares the huge data center in Saline Twp. will be a long-term victory for Michigan. However, many working class Michiganders, as well as many Lansing Democrats, believe lining-up with the billionaire tech bro authoritarians will hurt Michigan in a number of ways. 46:01-48:24: EndingPlease, subscribe to the podcast, download each episode, and give it a good review if you can!leftoflansing@gmail.comLeft of Lansing is now on YouTube as well!Music provided by Wanderbeats. To hear the latest project, visit Space Leopard on various streaming sites, or visit: https://www.youtube.com/@SpaceLeopardClick here to donate $5 on Left of Lansing on Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/15494297/joinNOTES:Visit Oil & Water Don't Mix"Chemical Valley and the Line 5 Death Toll." By Jeffrey Insko of The Current "Supreme Court rules for Michigan in effort to shut down Line 5 but fight not over." By Associated Press (via Michigan Public Radio)"Michigan plans to reissue Line 5 permit amid federal review, court fight." By Kelly House of Bridge Michigan "Where's a folder when you need one?" By Jon King of Michigan Advance "Gov. Whitmer addresses data centers day after Saline groundbreaking." By Arpan Lobo of The Detroit Free Press "Saline data center brings out bigwigs. Big day for Michigan or big betrayal?" By Paula Gardner of Bridge Michigan "Democrats Split on Saline Data Center Groundbreaking with OpenAI Founder." By Sam Robinson of Michigan Chronical "Iran vote caps Trump's congressional losing streak." By Connor O'Brien & Leo Shane III of Politico #politics #podcast #progressives #Democrats #MAGA #Republicans #Michigan #Line5 #Environment #Jobs #WorkingClass #CorporateGreed #CorporateCorruption #GovernmentCorruption #GreatLakes #ClimateChange #IranWar #Trump #Israel #Gaza #MikeRogers #AbdulElSayed #Economy #WilliamLawrence #TomBarrett #GretchenWhitmer #DataCenters #EpsteinClass #CorporateWelfare #TechBros #Authoritarianism #Democracy #Left of Lansing

Primary day has arrived with absolute intrigue as the radical, socialist left faces a massive pushback from voters who are completely fed up. Brian sits down in studio with Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt to celebrate the release of her new book, America, I'm So Glad You Were Born, and why our kids need to be taught the real history of Western exceptionalism. Later, Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery delivers a frontline update on the battle for the Straits of Hormuz. Finally, Julian Epstein details the political exodus of centrist Democrats running away from modern socialism, and Riley Gaines highlights the massive public support for saving women's sports. [00:00:00] Ainsley Earhardt   [00:18:25] Ben Midgley   [00:36:49] Dennis Ross   [00:55:12] Adm. Mark Montgomery (Ret.)   [01:13:36] Julian Epstein   [01:32:00] Riley Gaines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Journalist Tarric Brooker and I dive into the latest economic and political news this Friday, reflecting on the state of play in the Straits of Hormuz, the fall-out from the budget and the misdirection which is implied and discuss the New Zealand Reserve Bank decision this week, which underscores the divergent path of the Australian … Continue reading "In The Battle Of The Old V's The New World, There Are More Losers Than Winners: With Tarric Brooker"

Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Vice Admiral Robert Harward joins the Brian Kilmeade Show to shatter the viral social media conspiracy alleging he wore a prosthetic mask during a recent Fox News appearance. Harward breaks down the real-time drone strikes targeting Iran's launch stations and explains why the current economic blockade is pushing the regime to a catastrophic point of no return.  Plus, Marc Thiessen pulls no punches on the woke "religious left" candidate in Texas, why Donald Trump's Senate majority is fractured, and how Spencer Pratt's common-sense mayoral run could spark a massive political shift in Los Angeles. [00:00:00] Adm. Robert Harward (Ret.)   [00:18:26] Angelo “AJ” Pasciuti   [00:36:50] Marc Thiessen   [00:55:13] Josh Kraushaar   [01:13:38] Daniel Turner   [01:32:01] John Smoltz   [01:32:01] Randy Levine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon and RCP contributor Richard Porter discuss today's Texas Senate Republican primary between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and challenger State Attorney General Ken Paxton. They also take a look at the proposed Department of Justice “anti-weaponization” fund established as part of a settlement between the IRS and President Trump that would compensate victims of lawfare, and efforts in Congress to block it. Then, Retired Air Force General John Teichert joins the guys to discuss the latest on the Iran War, including ongoing ceasefire negotiations and Monday's U.S. bombing of Iranian targets near the Straits of Hormuz. Next, they discuss the Congressional Black Caucus and NAACP which are lobbying Black collegiate athletes to boycott SEC schools in protest of congressional redistricting. And finally, they talk about this weekend's Enhanced Games in Las Vegas featured athletes performing without strictures on doping. Only one world record was broken. Was it a bust or is this the future of competitive sports? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stijn Schmitz welcomes back Simon Hunt to the show. Simon is a consultant on the global economy, China, and the copper industry. The discussion opens with the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and its profound implications for global energy supplies. Hunt explains that Saudi Arabia is attempting to broker a new regional architecture involving China, Russia, Pakistan, and Turkey, partly in response to Iran's demonstrated military capabilities. He assesses only a fifty percent chance of success, warning that even if a ceasefire is reached, reopening the strait to normal traffic could take months, and oil stockpiles in Asia, Europe, and America may be exhausted by mid-July. This supply crunch, he argues, makes a global recession nearly certain by year-end, deepening significantly in the following year. The conversation shifts to China's strategic positioning. Hunt notes that China anticipated American geopolitical moves and has diversified its energy sources through pipelines from Russia and Kazakhstan, alongside massive domestic coal and renewable capacity. This allows China to withstand the Hormuz closure indefinitely, unlike Western nations. The discussion then turns to the evolving global monetary order, where Hunt describes a BRICS-led effort to create a multipolar system anchored in physical gold. He details China's construction of Shanghai Gold Exchange vaults in Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong, enabling trade settlement in non-G7 currencies convertible to gold. While he sees gold prices reaching double-digit thousands in five years, he cautions that America is unlikely to revalue its gold reserves and warns of potential government confiscation during crises. On commodities, Hunt challenges the prevailing supercycle narrative, calling it premature. He predicts that a deep recession will cause physical demand to collapse, outweighing current supply constraints. He specifically highlights copper, noting that NVIDIA's shift to photonics could eliminate copper from data centers by 2028, undermining a key demand thesis. Strategic stockpiling of critical minerals by governments will eventually follow, but processing capacity remains a bottleneck controlled by China. Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:01:00 – Middle East Conflict Origins 00:03:46 – New Gulf Security Architecture 00:06:05 – Oil Supply Disruption Impacts 00:08:06 – Straits of Hormuz Reopening 00:08:37 – China Trump Trade Dynamics 00:12:25 – Oil Prices Futures Disparity 00:14:14 – Fertilizer and Food Crisis 00:16:10 – BRICS Monetary System Shift 00:22:51 – Bond Yields and Instability 00:25:02 – Recession Outlook and Assets 00:30:40 – Commodity Supercycle Analysis 00:33:00 – Concluding Thoughts Guest Links: E-Mail: mailto:simon@shss.com Website: https://simon-hunt.com/ Report: https://www.theinstitutionalstrategist.com/products-and-services/frontline-china/ Simon Hunt began his career in 1956 in Central Africa as a PA to the Chairman of Rhodesian Selection Trust, one of the two large copper companies in what was then Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. In 1961, he came back to London and joined Anglo American Corporation of South Africa as a PA to one of the Board Directors, followed by being part of a small sales and marketing team for copper. From there, he helped start up a new copper development organization, CIDEC, financed by copper producers, which he then joined, focusing on conducting end-use studies of copper in Europe. He then went into the City to gain financial experience and founded Brook Hunt in 1975. He was instrumental in setting up the company’s cost studies and end-use analyses. Simon appeared as material witness and consultant in two ITC anti-dumping cases in 1978 and 1984, winning both at the commission level. He has spent 2-4 months every year in China since 1993, and until a few years ago would be visiting some 80 wire and cable and brass mill factories across the country every year. He now restricts these factory visits to a smaller number, all of which he has known for many years. Simon also spends many weeks each year traveling around Asia. The focus of the company’s services is on the global economy, including the changing geopolitical and financial structures, China’s economy and its copper sector, and then the global copper industry as each part is interconnected. Simon is the author of the “Frontline China Report Service,” which is marketed by the TIS Group. The Service provides regular reports on China’s economy, politics, and financial outlook. Simon established this company in January 1996.

STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING LAANCE GATLING AND JIM MC TAGUE, 5-14-26.1920 SENATOR SMITH AND FAMILY,This broadcast transcript features John Batchelor and his guests, Jim McTague and Lance Gatling, discussing a convergence of global economic and geopolitical crises. The conversation primarily focuses on President Trump's high-stakes visit to Beijing and its implications for Taiwan and the Straits of Hormuz oil shipping routes. The participants analyze Japan's record-breaking stock market and its strategic oil reserves while weighing the impact of surging inflation on both American and Japanese consumers. Additionally, the dialogue touches on the Alex Murdaugh murder trial and the broader shift toward a new, unpredictable global order. Ultimately, the speakers express deep concern over whether diplomatic negotiations can successfully resolve mounting tensions regarding nuclear proliferation and international trade.

US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth says the ceasefire in the Gulf is 'not over' despite attacks in Strait of HormuzAlso in the programme: Son of last and only Lebanese leader to meet an Israeli premier, says current Lebanese President Joseph Aoun should meet with Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the risks; and Chinese Wu Yize becomes second youngest winner of snooker's world championship.(Photo: U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth holds briefing on the Iran war, at the Pentagon in Washington. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

The goals of the Trump administration's war with Iran have remained undefined since hostilities began on February 28, 2026. It remains unclear if the objective is regime change, ballistic missile control, or the dismantling of the nuclear program. The war is characterized by a lack of harmony between Israeli and U.S. strategic goals, which Germanicusdescribes as an "operational gambit" rather than a coherent strategy. The Iranian government (the Parthians) has issued a 30-day ultimatum demanding the opening of the Straits of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, reparations for air force damage, and an IDF retreat from Lebanon. The American presidency has transformed into an "Imperial Institution" or "Empire," allowing the president to prosecute wars without significant resistance from Congress, mirroring the authority of Roman emperors. The shift to an all-volunteer force and the federalization of the National Guard have created a military structure that is primarily loyal to the "emperor" (the president). A primary weakness of this "emperor system" is the suppression of dissent within the administration. Like the German general staff during Hitler's "Operation Sea Lion," current advisors offer only "consultative" or "weaselly" dissent rather than challenging the feasibility of the war. 2/31968 VIETNAM WAR PEOTESTERS

11. Headline: The Iran Conflict: Strategic Impasse and the Need for Allies Guest: Colonel Jeff McCauslandSummary: The US and Iran are at a total impasse, with the potential closure of the Straits of Hormuz threatening the world economy. Colonel McCausland argues that the Trump administration's "America First" approach has alienated allies whose minesweeping capabilities are essential for reopening the strategic waterway. 111880 WIEN

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 4-30-261880 WIEN STOCK EXCHANGE1. Headline: Peru's Electoral Uncertainty and the Simmering Falklands Dispute Guest: Professor Evan EllisSummary: Professor Ellis discusses Peru's presidential election, where leftist Roberto Sanchez has unexpectedly surged into a runoff against Keiko Fujimori. The conversation also covers a leaked Pentagon memo that has reignited the Falklands/Malvinas dispute, suggesting a potential shift in US policy toward supporting Argentine claims. 12. Headline: China's Economic Coercion and the Struggle for Panama's Ports Guest: Professor Evan EllisSummary: China is applying significant economic pressure on Panama after a Chinese shipping giant was removed from port operations. The US and regional allies have issued a joint statement opposing this coercion, highlighting the broader geopolitical struggle over control of the Panama Canal and international shipping lanes. 23. Headline: Mexican Cartel Indictments and the Irony of Venezuelan Authoritarianism Guest: Professor Evan Ellis Summary: The US has taken the unprecedented step of indicting a sitting Mexican governor for cartel ties, complicating relations during USMCA negotiations. Meanwhile, in Venezuela, the US has helped remove Maduro but continues to engage with the remaining dictatorship for oil, leaving the democratic opposition marginalized. 34. Headline: Colombia's Pivotal Election: A Choice Between Far-Left and Conservative Paths Guest: Professor Evan Ellis Summary: Colombia faces a critical election with far-left candidate Ivan Cepeda leading in early polls. Professor Ellis analyzes the contest between Cepeda and conservative candidates, noting that the outcome will determine Colombia's future regarding the rule of law and its strategic relationship with the United States. 45. Headline: Japan's Energy Fragility Amid the Straits of Hormuz Crisis Guest: Lance Gatling Summary: Japanfaces extreme pressure as 95% of its energy is imported, mostly through the volatile Straits of Hormuz. Prime Minister Takichi Sai is navigating this crisis by releasing strategic reserves and managing inflation, while the Bank of Japanmaintains an independent course on interest rates. 56. Headline: Japan's Strategic Awakening and Regional Threats from China and Russia Guest: Lance GatlingSummary: The war in Ukraine has fundamentally altered Japanese strategic thinking, particularly regarding its northern borders with Russia. Japan is adopting a more hawkish stance toward China's ambitions in Taiwan while facing the logistical challenge of shifting its energy dependency from Middle Eastern crude to American alternatives. 67. Headline: The "K-Shaped" American Economy: War, AI, and Inflationary Pressures Guests: Alan Tonelson and Jim McTague Summary: Experts describe a robust but uneven American economy where defense spending and an AIinvestment bubble are stimulating manufacturing. While wealthy sectors thrive, high inflation and energy costs create a "K-shaped" recovery, raising concerns about social cohesion and the long-term sustainability of current growth. 78. Headline: The AI Revolution: Job Displacement Fears and Massive Energy Needs Guests: Alan Tonelson and Jim McTague Summary: The AI boom is driving massive investment in data centers, boosting industries like steel and cooling equipment. While some compare this to the early industrial revolution, a major constraint is the "incomprehensible" amount of energy required to power these systems, potentially putting the US at a disadvantage. 89. Headline: Justice Samuel Alito: A "Practical Originalist" Reshaping the Court Guest: John Malcolm Summary:John Malcolm reviews a biography of Justice Samuel Alito, tracing his journey from a modest background to the Supreme Court. Alito is described as a "practical originalist" who has significantly influenced the court's direction on religious liberty and constitutional interpretation through his thorough and powerful writing. 910. Headline: The Dobbs Decision Leak: Security Risks and Internal Court Tensions Guest: John MalcolmSummary: The leak of the draft Dobbs opinion created an unprecedented security crisis, leading to an assassination attempt against a justice. Sources reveal dramatic internal scenes, including Justice Breyer's urgent plea to release the decision quickly to mitigate the bullseye placed on the conservative majority. 1011. Headline: The Iran Conflict: Strategic Impasse and the Need for Allies Guest: Colonel Jeff McCauslandSummary: The US and Iran are at a total impasse, with the potential closure of the Straits of Hormuz threatening the world economy. Colonel McCausland argues that the Trump administration's "America First" approach has alienated allies whose minesweeping capabilities are essential for reopening the strategic waterway. 1112. Headline: Ukraine's Drone Mastery: Redefining Modern Warfare Against Russia Guest: Colonel Jeff McCausland Summary: Ukraine has become a global leader in drone technology, using innovative systems to neutralize Russian forces and equipment. This technological edge has forced Russia to scale back its Victory Dayparade, signaling a fundamental shift in how modern wars are fought at long distances. 1213. Headline: The Ironclad Bridge: China's Strategic Military Foothold in Serbia Guest: Ivana StradnerSummary: Serbia and China have strengthened their "ironclad friendship" through a free trade agreement and military cooperation. President Vučić is integrating Chinese-made missiles and drones into Serbia's defense, creating a security threat for NATO and providing Beijing with a critical outpost in the Western Balkans. 1314. Headline: Dismantling Free Trade: The Trump Administration's Attack on USMCA Guest: Mary Anastasia O'Grady Summary: The Trump administration is seeking to renegotiate or dismantle the USMCA, preferring protectionist tariffs over a "fortress North America" approach. Mary Anastasia O'Grady warns that these policies will increase consumer prices and damage the global competitiveness of American companies by disrupting integrated regional supply chains. 1415. Headline: Betting on War: Corruption and Insider Trading in Prediction Markets Guest: Josh RoginSummary: Massive bets on prediction markets like Polymarket have occurred minutes before major US military announcements, suggesting widespread insider trading. Josh Rogin highlights potential corruption within the Trumpadministration, noting that investigators have been sidelined while the president's inner circle maintains ties to these platforms. 1516. Headline: The Marriage Penalty: How Welfare Policies Undermine Stable Families Guest: Veronique de RugySummary: Current US government policies create a "marriage penalty" that discourages low-income couples from marrying to avoid losing welfare benefits. Veronique de Rugy argues that these incentives contribute to a decline in intact marriages, which has significant negative long-term effects on children's education and achievement. 16

STREAMING MAKING OF THE JBS, FEATURING ALAN TONELSON , JIM MCTAGUE, LANCE GATLING, 4-30-261880 WIEN STADTTHEATERThese sources consist of transcript excerpts from The John Batchelor Show, featuring a roundtable discussion on the global economic and geopolitical landscape in early 2026. The participants analyze three primary stressors: the instability in the Middle East affecting energy prices, unresolved trade tensions between the U.S. and China, and the transformative yet unpredictable business of artificial intelligence. Expert guests offer local and international perspectives, noting that while the American economy shows surprising resilience and solid employment, it remains vulnerable to inflationary spikes driven by war and high energy costs. The dialogue further explores the military-industrial boost provided by defense spending and the specific energy challenges facing Japan, which relies heavily on imports through the Straits of Hormuz. Ultimately, the speakers weigh the optimism of technological innovation against the harsh realities of global conflict and shifting diplomatic alliances.

5. Headline: Japan's Energy Fragility Amid the Straits of Hormuz Crisis Guest: Lance Gatling Summary: Japanfaces extreme pressure as 95% of its energy is imported, mostly through the volatile Straits of Hormuz. Prime Minister Takichi Sai is navigating this crisis by releasing strategic reserves and managing inflation, while the Bank of Japanmaintains an independent course on interest rates. 51880 WIEN

3. HEADLINE: The UAE's Strategic Exit from the OPEC Cartel GUEST: Jonathan Schanzer SUMMARY:Jonathan Schanzer explains that the UAE is leaving OPEC to increase oil production, signaling a major rift with Saudi Arabia. This move aims to aid global prices and support Donald Trump's economic agenda. Meanwhile, Iran attempts to link the Straits of Hormuz crisis with Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire negotiations to complicate diplomacy.1895

11. HEADLINE: Historical Precedents for Modern Maritime Chokepoints GUEST: Ziyi (Emily) WangSUMMARY: Emily Wang explains how the 1936 Montreux Convention established Turkey as a durable gatekeeper for the Turkish Straits, offering lessons for modern conflicts. The treaty balanced the shared tacit interests of opposing powers like Britain and Russia. Its success highlights the importance of legally binding frameworks in managing strategic waterways.1912

12. HEADLINE: Managing Risks in Global Maritime Chokepoints GUEST: Ziyi (Emily) Wang SUMMARY:Emily Wang analyzes the current threats in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, noting that risk perception and insurance markets are as vital as physical security. She argues that long-term stability requires quantifying tacit interests and maintaining a strong navy to ensure credible gunboat diplomacy against revisionist powers.1916

STREAMING THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, FEATURING THADDEUS MCCOTTER, 4-28-2026.(ABRIDGED BY TECH ERRORS.)1930 BOSPHORUSThe current administration faces a dire economic landscape dominated by surging gasoline prices at $4.11 per gallon and oil hitting $111 a barrel. These pressures are exacerbated by escalating threats to global maritime choke points, specifically the Straits of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb, disrupting energy supplies to Asia and Europe while stalling growth in nations like Germany. Pocketbook issues further complicate the political environment, as the rising cost of beef, eggs, and staple goods create a "textbook" list of troubles for the incumbent party. Young people are increasingly forced to rent because high interest rates make purchasing a home prohibitively expensive.Despite holding the majority, Republicans are in a precarious position because immediate remedies, such as resolving the Iranian conflict, remain outside of congressional control. If voters do not feel the palpable benefit of Republicanpolicies, they will turn to the Democratic Party as a practical alternative in November. Democrats may win by positioning themselves as an effective check, mimicking Rahm Emanuel's 2006 strategy of simply not being Republicans. This strategy allows them to gain power without a detailed agenda by focusing instead on stopping the current administration's trajectory. While seeking tariff relief through negotiations with China, much of the inflation is already baked in and unlikely to drop immediately. Because this administration is transactional and far less predictable than traditional regimes, the Republican majority's path forward remains uncertain as the "hour is getting late".

SCHEDULE OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 4-28-26.1900 BOSPHORUS1. HEADLINE: Kevin Warsh's Nomination to the Federal Reserve GUEST: Elizabeth Peek SUMMARY: Elizabeth Peek discusses Kevin Warsh's nomination as Federal Reserve Chair, characterizing him as an inflation hawk who intends to revamp the Fed's communication and narrow its mandate. Warsh aims to shrink the $7 trillion balance sheet and divorce the institution from political influence to ensure long-term monetary stability.2. HEADLINE: New York City's E-bike Enforcement Controversy GUEST: Elizabeth Peek SUMMARY: Elizabeth Peek criticizes NYC's decision to replace criminal summonses with civil penalties for e-bike violations. She argues this "virtue signaling" protects undocumented immigrants from deportation at the expense of pedestrian safety. Unregistered, fast-moving bikes frequently ignore traffic rules, and civil penalties are difficult to enforce against those without fixed abodes.3. HEADLINE: The UAE's Strategic Exit from the OPEC Cartel GUEST: Jonathan Schanzer SUMMARY:Jonathan Schanzer explains that the UAE is leaving OPEC to increase oil production, signaling a major rift with Saudi Arabia. This move aims to aid global prices and support Donald Trump's economic agenda. Meanwhile, Iran attempts to link the Straits of Hormuz crisis with Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire negotiations to complicate diplomacy.4. HEADLINE: International Scandals and Israel-Ukraine Tensions GUEST: Jonathan Schanzer SUMMARY:Reports suggest Qatar influenced ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to target Israeli leaders while helping suppress misconduct allegations against him. Simultaneously, Ukraine accuses Israel of purchasing stolen grain from occupied territories. Internally, Israeli politics are shifting as Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett unite to challenge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership.5. HEADLINE: The Global Impact of the Iranian Energy Conflict GUEST: Mary Kissel SUMMARY: Mary Kisselhighlights a fertilizer crisis caused by the war in Iran, which threatens global food security, particularly in Africa. She views the UAE's OPEC exit as part of a fundamental regional reshaping. Kissel asserts that the U.S. must maintain the political will to secure waterways and address Iran's nuclear program.6. HEADLINE: Navigating the Rodriguez Transition in Venezuela GUEST: Mary Kissel SUMMARY: Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's provisional president, is traveling to project stability and attract energy investment. While she aims to present herself as a cooperative figurehead, her future depends on U.S. demands for democracy. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado continues to draw massive support and plans to return to Venezuela by year's end.7. HEADLINE: German Economic Stagnation and Strategic Critiques GUEST: Judy Dempsey SUMMARY:Friedrich Merz describes Germany as "humiliated" by Iran due to a lack of clear U.S. strategy. Germany faces its fourth year of stagnant growth and a severe demographic crunch with record-low births. While Merz remains an Atlanticist, he critiques the Trump administration's transactional approach and lack of a strategic exit plan.8. HEADLINE: The Decline of Viktor Orbán and Hungary's Pivot GUEST: Judy Dempsey SUMMARY:Hungary's business elite are moving away from Viktor Orbán as Peter Magyar gains popularity by campaigning against systemic corruption. Magyar focuses on delivering tangible public services like healthcare and infrastructure. Orbán's defeat represents a significant blow to Europe's far-right, including Germany's AfD party.9. HEADLINE: Keir Starmer's Leadership Amidst the Mandelson Scandal GUEST: Joseph SternbergSUMMARY: Joseph Sternberg examines UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's instability following the Mandelsonaffair, a bureaucratic scandal involving improper diplomatic nominations. Despite being under pressure, Starmer likely remains in office because the Labor Party lacks a plausible replacement. The scandal's complexity makes it difficult for ordinary voters to comprehend fully.10. HEADLINE: Kevin Warsh's Vision for a Smaller Federal Reserve GUEST: Joseph Sternberg SUMMARY:Joseph Sternberg describes Kevin Warsh as a policymaker who believes the Fed should "stick to its knitting" by focusing strictly on price stability. Warsh intends to shrink the Fed's balance sheet to reduce its political intrusiveness and scale back "forward guidance". This approach aims to defend the central bank's long-term independence.11. HEADLINE: Historical Precedents for Modern Maritime Chokepoints GUEST: Ziyuan (Emily) WangSUMMARY: Emily Wang explains how the 1936 Montreux Convention established Turkey as a durable gatekeeper for the Turkish Straits, offering lessons for modern conflicts. The treaty balanced the shared tacit interests of opposing powers like Britain and Russia. Its success highlights the importance of legally binding frameworks in managing strategic waterways.12. HEADLINE: Managing Risks in Global Maritime Chokepoints GUEST: Ziyuan (Emily) Wang SUMMARY:Emily Wang analyzes the current threats in the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, noting that risk perception and insurance markets are as vital as physical security. She argues that long-term stability requires quantifying tacit interests and maintaining a strong navy to ensure credible gunboat diplomacy against revisionist powers.13. HEADLINE: Pakistan's Emerging Role as a Neutral Diplomatic Site GUEST: Sadanand Dhume SUMMARY:Sadanand Dhume discusses Pakistan's surprising role as a mediator between the U.S. and Iran, facilitated by its unique geography and ties to China. Field Marshal Asim Munir leads this effort. A successful resolution could weaken the pernicious ideology of Islamism, reverberating positively throughout the broader Muslim world.14. HEADLINE: Ideological Barriers in Pakistan's Foreign Policy GUEST: Sadanand Dhume SUMMARY:Sadanand Dhume explores Pakistan's deep-rooted hostility toward Israel, which persists despite regional shifts toward normalization. While India views Pakistan's mediation role with envy, Pakistan's military leadership, under Field Marshal Munir, maintains power behind a civilian facade to insulate itself from economic discontent and governance pressures.15. HEADLINE: Al-Qaeda's Massive Military Offensive in Mali GUEST: Caleb Weiss and Bill RoggioSUMMARY: Caleb Weiss and Bill Roggio report on an unprecedented offensive by JNIM, al-Qaeda's West Africanbranch, which has blockaded Mali's capital and seized key military bases. The Malian state and Russian forces are in retreat, leaving behind significant equipment. This operation signals a major failure in intelligence and coordination.16. HEADLINE: The Blueprint for Al-Qaeda's Transnational Expansion GUEST: Caleb Weiss and Bill RoggioSUMMARY: This offensive serves as a blueprint for al-Qaeda to target other Sahalian states like Burkina Faso and Niger. Alarmingly, Ukrainian-supplied drones used by Tuareg rebels have inadvertently aided al-Qaeda's efforts. Bill Roggio emphasizes that al-Qaeda and the Islamic State continue to fight for global dominance across multiple continents.

11. Headline: Stalled Diplomacy and the Strategic Value of International Waterways Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown Summary: President Trump canceled high-level meetings in Islamabad, citing fragmented Iranian leadership. Iran has offered to reopen the Straits of Hormuz in exchange for nuclear concessions, but experts argue this would be an American retreat and suggest maintaining the economic blockade instead. 111962 YEMEN

SHOW SCHEDULE  THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 4-27-26.1993 YEMEN1. Headline: The Iran War on Pause: Diplomacy and Asymmetric Strategy Guest: Bill Roggio Summary: John Batchelor and Bill Roggio discuss the current pause in the Iran war, characterized by President Trump's decision to halt negotiations. While Iran's conventional military has suffered significant damage, concerns remain regarding its asymmetric warfare capabilities and its strategy to outlast the United States through "asymmetric diplomacy". 12. Headline: Saturday Night Assassination Attempt and the Danger of Misinformation Guest: Bill RoggioSummary: Batchelor and Roggio reflect on an assassination attempt by an American citizen at a Washington ballroom. They warn against the rapid spread of conspiracy theories following violent events, noting how misinformation has become mainstream. They emphasize that political violence is unacceptable and requires careful, factual reporting. 23. Headline: Escalating Negotiations: The Straits of Hormuz and Nuclear Files Guest: Jonathan Sayeh Summary:The discussion centers on the fragmented leadership in Tehran and whether negotiations will cover all fronts or remain separate. Iran is increasingly emboldened, using its control over the Straits of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb as powerful leverage against the United States and global economy. 34. Headline: Life Under Siege: Economic Pressure and Regime Stability in Iran Guest: Jonathan Sayeh Summary:Jonathan Sayeh describes the dire conditions inside Iran, where a U.S. Navy blockade is freezing the economy and threatening food security. Despite significant infrastructure damage, the regime's political leadership remains intact, focusing on reorganizing security forces and increasing internal repression to maintain control over the population. 45. Headline: The Houthi Wildcard: Maritime Chokepoints and Strategic Leverage Guest: Bridget ToomeySummary: Bridget Toomey explains how the Houthis use the Bab el-Mandeb as a maritime chokehold to influence the international economy. Reports suggest the Houthis have explored charging illegal tolls of up to $2 million per ship for transit through the Red Sea using cryptocurrency. 56. Headline: Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen and Iraqi Militia Aggression Guest: Bridget Toomey Summary: The UN has largely been pushed out of Houthi-controlled territory due to the illegal detention of 73 local staff members. Meanwhile, in Iraq, the U.S. has designated several militia commanders involved in attacks against energy infrastructure and American personnel in the region. 67. Headline: Canadian Diplomacy: The Tug-of-War Between the U.S. and China Guest: Charles Burton Summary:Experts discuss the potential for long-term concessions to China in exchange for short-term trade benefits during an upcoming Trump-Xi meeting. Canada faces internal pressure to diversify trade toward China, despite concerns about espionage and foreign interference in its political and economic sectors. 78. Headline: Typhoon Recovery and Systemic Corruption in the Northern Marianas Guest: Cleo Paskal Summary:A super typhoon has devastated the Northern Mariana Islands, leaving residents without water or electricity. However, there are significant concerns that federal relief funds will be misused due to a history of unaccounted-for billions and local officials with ties to Chinese casinos. 89. Headline: The Fragile Ceasefire: IDF Operations and Hezbollah's Defiance Guest: David Daoud Summary:Despite a ceasefire agreement, the IDF has resumed strikes in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley following continued Hezbollahfire. Hezbollah is reportedly exploiting U.S.-imposed constraints on Israel to claim a "victory image," while the Lebanese government remains ineffective in disarming the terror group. 910. Headline: Political Pressure in Israel: Security Zones and Self-Defense Guest: David Daoud Summary: David Daoud explains that the Lebanon ceasefire allows Israel to exercise self-defense against imminent Hezbollah attacks. Within Israel, there is significant political pressure from northern residents who feel abandoned by the ceasefire, arguing that it allows Hezbollah to regroup and metastasize across the border. 1011. Headline: Stalled Diplomacy and the Strategic Value of International Waterways Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown Summary: President Trump canceled high-level meetings in Islamabad, citing fragmented Iranian leadership. Iran has offered to reopen the Straits of Hormuz in exchange for nuclear concessions, but experts argue this would be an American retreat and suggest maintaining the economic blockade instead. 1112. Headline: Coordinated Threats: The Houthis, Iran, and Global Hunger Guest: Edmund Fitton-BrownSummary: The Houthis and Iran appear to use coordinated messaging to threaten strategic waterways, spooking global oil markets. Furthermore, the ongoing blockade risks creating a global famine due to fertilizer shortages, though the U.S.remains firm against Iranian "blackmail" using humanitarian crises. 1213. Headline: Russia's Drone Expansion: Recruitment Loopholes and Remote Warfare Guest: John HardieSummary: Russia is aggressively expanding its Unmanned Systems Forces, targeting 165,000 personnel by year's end. A recruitment drive at Alabuga Polytech offers high pay and conscription exemptions to workers producing Iranian-designed Geran-2 drones, promising service in the rear to minimize personal risk. 1314. Headline: Syria's Reconstruction: The State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Guest: Ahmad SharawiSummary: President Al-Shara is seeking over $200 billion for reconstruction, but Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST) prevents significant investment. The U.S. maintains the SST status as leverage to demand the removal of foreign jihadists integrated into the Syrian army. 1415. Headline: Regional Disputes and Political Sabotage in Latin America Guests: Ernesto Araujo and Alejandro Pinusa Summary: Argentina is calling for renewed negotiations over the Falkland Islands, a matter that remains a sensitive national symbol. Meanwhile, the Maduro regime in Venezuela is accused of sabotaging the political transition by refusing to release political prisoners or permit the return of exiled leaders. 1516. Headline: Electoral Turmoil: Allegations of Fraud in Peru and Brazil Guests: Alejandro Pinusa and Ernesto Araujo Summary: Allegations of electoral fraud in Peru have surfaced after voting centers in right-wing strongholds remained closed. Analysts warn this is a rehearsal for the upcoming Brazilian elections, where Flavio Bolsonaro is gaining ground against Lula da Silva despite efforts to censor information. 16

3. Headline: Escalating Negotiations: The Straits of Hormuz and Nuclear Files Guest: Jonathan Sayeh Summary:The discussion centers on the fragmented leadership in Tehran and whether negotiations will cover all fronts or remain separate. Iran is increasingly emboldened, using its control over the Straits of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb as powerful leverage against the United States and global economy. 31902 YEMEN

The dialogue continues with a focus on how the modern emperor utilizes diplomatic deadlines to navigate complex geopolitical crises. Three critical "clocks" are identified: mid-May trade negotiations with Emperor Xi Jinping in Beijing, a 60-day Congressional window regarding war powers, and the upcoming November federal elections. Germanicus suggests that the President's transactional nature and focus on political legacy may drive him to find an "exit" from the Iranian conflict to prioritize domestic economic stability. They propose a "Vietnam-style" resolution, referencing how the Paris Peace Accords allowed a protracted war to move off the front page, eventually causing the public to lose interest. This strategy would involve dismissing ideological advisors in favor of a professional negotiating team to establish a long-term ceasefire and a rigorous inspection regime for uranium enrichment. Such a scenario envisions lifting sanctions and potentially involving international powers to help rebuild Iran, which would satisfy China's desire for market stability. While rising oil prices threaten the upcoming election cycle, the speakers suggest the emperor might use "momentary jubilation" in the markets to mask a tactical retreat. By delegating security in the Straits of Hormuz to European allies, the emperor could claim an "impactful" victory while avoiding a costly, existential war. 21967 HUEY

In this episode, we recap this week's pop culture news. Join us as we unpack the desert chaos of Coachella and the latest updates on Taylor and Travis' wedding watch. Plus, we're checking in on The Masters, and comparing what really matters: the food.Relevant links: Our full show notes are at knoxandjamie.com/655Get the brand new, Popcast Moms, Dads & Grads Guide at knoxandjamie.com/SpringGiftGuide for FREE!Coachella: Katy Perry & Justin Trudeau | Watch It | Beyonce's Homecoming | Alix Earle vs Alex CooperT&T Wedding Details: Wedding date revealed (via NY post)The Masters: The music | The menusRed Light Mentions: NASA | The Pope being weak on crime | Fandoms that cannot chill | Straits being closed | Tobey Maguire & Mishka Silva | Beach Read movie casting | Sunrise on the Reaping TrailerUnofficial Green Light: The Astronauts Lived! (see also: Victor coming home | Christina's Dog)Green Lights:Jamie: show - Big Mistakes (netflix)Knox: book - I See You've Called In Dead by John KenneyBonus segment: Join us on Patreon to listen ad-free and get exclusive weekly and monthly content. Episode sponsors: HelloFresh | Blue Lizard | Pura | Storyworth | Merit | Bombas (code: POPCAST) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.