Podcasts about Syria

A few days ago the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria, was bombed in a terrorist attack that left dozens of people dead. The attack has left Syria's Christians struggling to understand why their community was targeted, and wondering if they can rely on the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa for safety. Nadine Maenza joins Thanos Davelis as we take a closer look at what this deadly attack means for Syria's Christians and minorities.Nadine Maenza is the President of the IRF Secretariat, an international organization focused on building infrastructure to support the religious freedom movement globally. She also serves as a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center, and previously served as chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:Syria's Christians ask 'Why us?' after suicide bombing at Damascus churchAttack on Christians threatens Syria's postwar cohesionSyrian Christian leader chides president over deadly church bombingGreece to deploy frigates off Libya to curb increased migrant flows, PM saysWildfires wreak widespread destruction on ChiosAuthorities begin damage assessment in Chios, woman arrested for arson

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We begin with Iran's limited retaliation against the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and what it signals about Tehran's next move. Then—where is Iran's enriched uranium? Inspectors are in the dark, and that has major nuclear implications. Homeland Security issues a new terrorism advisory warning of a heightened threat environment inside the United States following the U.S. strikes on Iran. Plus, 25 people are killed in a suicide bombing at a church in Damascus—one of Syria's deadliest attacks in recent months. And in today's Back of the Brief—NATO leaders prepare for a major summit that could either unify the alliance or lay bare its divisions. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief True Classic: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/PDB #trueclassicpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Late on June 21st, Trump joined Israel's war on Iran. Just two days after warning Iran it had two weeks to make a deal, Trump unleashed the military might of 30,000-pound bunker busters delivered by B2 bombers on Fordo, while Tomahawks struck Natanz and Isfahan. With typical bombast, Trump bragged that Iran's nuclear sites were “totally obliterated." Iranian officials, however, claim the facilities had been emptied of nuclear materials months ago. Suzi spoke to Yassamine Mather just before Trump started bombing to get her analysis of Israel's “Operation Rising Lion” — a unilateral military strike on Iran marking a dangerous new escalation in an already volatile region. The attack comes amid Israel's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, accelerating dispossession of Palestinians in the West Bank, pager bomb assassinations in Lebanon, and land grabs in Syria. Netanyahu's war cabinet is committed to military solutions on all fronts — now including Iran. Iran has retaliated deep inside Israeli territory. This is a first for Israel, and it is dangerous in every way. Although the US was fully informed of Israel's intentions, Netanyahu defied Trump's public opposition to the strike. Trump then flipped, backing Netanyahu's attack and warning Iran to make a deal or else. Now we see the 'or else.' Jacobin Radio with Suzi Weissman features conversations with leading thinkers and activists, with a focus on labor, the economy, and protest movements.

It's Tuesday, June 24th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Kevin Swanson and Adam McManus Syrian suicide bomber A suicide bomber entered an Orthodox Church in Damascus, Syria on Sunday killing 22 people and wounding at least 63 others, reports ABC News. The ISIS terrorist group has claimed responsibility. No increased nuclear radiation levels after U.S. bombing in Iran The International Atomic Energy Agency reports no increase in off-site radiation levels at the three Iranian sites bombed by the United States and Israel. The neighboring Kuwait government has also confirmed that “no abnormal radiation levels have been detected in any of the member states.” The whereabouts of 400 kilograms of highly enriched Uranium in Iran is still a mystery. Israel bombed Iran's Evin Prison Israel continues its bombardment on Iran, including a bombing of the notorious Evin prison, where a number of Christians are held, and have been tortured over the last several decades. Trump: Israel & Iran agreed to cease-fire to end “12-Day War” On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a cease-fire, declaring an end to what he referred to as “The 12 Day War,” reports The Epoch Times. In a Truth Social Post, Trump wrote,  “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE … for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered ENDED!” Both sides will wind down their final military operations within 12 hours, beginning what Trump expects to be “PEACEFUL and RESPECTFUL” on both sides. The conflict will be declared over within 24 hours. However, The New York Times indicated that there is no confirmation yet from Israel and Iran. Russia bombed Ukraine with 16 missiles and 352 drones The Russian army unleashed a heavy bombardment on Kiev, Ukraine yesterday involving 352 drones and 16 missiles, reports Reuters. At least 10 Ukrainians died in the attack. This follows another attack last week which killed 28 people.  Zelensky assassination plot foiled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the target of an assassination plot to be carried out by a Polish elderly man who had first been recruited by the Soviet Union decades ago, reports Newsweek. The man was activated to take out Zelensky at Poland's Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport using either a first-person view drone or a sniper rifle. The would-be assassin was a firm believer in Soviet ideology. The assassination plot was foiled by a joint effort of Ukraine's SBU, the main internal security agency, and the Polish internal security service known as ABW. Americans less isolationist Americans are moving away from isolationism according to a recent survey by the Ronald Reagan Institute. In the last three years, Americans who believe the United States should be more engaged in international events has seen a 24% increase. Specifically, 69% of Republicans, 64% of Democrats, and 73% of MAGA/Trump Republicans want to see more engagement internationally. A supermajority of Americans – 84% -- state their support for preventing the Islamic Republic from gaining access to nuclear weapons. Only 57% of Americans would agree with the statement that “the United States is better served by withdrawing from international events and focusing on problems here at home.” The major shift in American opinions on this has occurred since the November election.  Russia economy expanded by 4.3% last year Despite international pressures, the Russian economy expanded by 4.3% last year. This compares to a 1.1% bump for the United Kingdom, and a 2.8% bump for the U.S. economy last year. Supreme Court temporarily allows deportations to third countries In a 6-3 decision on Monday, the Supreme Court temporarily lifted a lower court order blocking the Trump administration from deporting illegal immigrants to so-called third countries to which they have no connection, reports The Epoch Times. The unsigned order came in the case known as Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D. Michigan church shooting prevented   A heavily-armed man attempted a massacre at the Wayne, Michigan Crosspointe Community Church, reports CBS News. Thankfully, he didn't make it into the building. A parishioner rammed him with his truck, and the security team engaged him in the parking lot.  The suspect was pronounced dead when police arrived on the scene. One security guard took a shot in the leg. Based on national news sources, there are 1-2 church shootings per year in this country. That's 1 out of 380,000 churches.  Psalm 27:1-2 is always the right mindset. It says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.” Ohio pro-life legislators want to protect babies from conception Several Ohio legislators are floating a bill that outlaws the willful murder of a child from the point of conception. The "Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act,” introduced by state Representatives Levi Dean and Johnathan Newman, would overturn the 2023 referendum amendment that legalized abortion in Ohio.  In Psalm 22, the psalmist confesses, “You … took me out of the womb; You made me trust while on my mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. from my mother's womb You have been my God.”  Older Americans more likely to have Biblical worldview George Barna's 2025 American Worldview Inventory report has been released and he concludes that only 1% of adults under 30 have a Biblical worldview. That compares with 5% for adults over 50, and 8% for adults over 65. Also, 69% of young Gen Z Americans believe abortion is morally acceptable. That's up from 60% for the Gen X and Boomer generations. Then, 73% of Gen Zers agree that sex outside of marriage is okay.  That's up from 59% with the Boomer Generation.  Fifth Circuit deems Louisiana Ten Commandments law unconstitutional The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Louisiana's law requiring the posting of The Ten Commandments in public schools, reports Courthouse News Service. The Louisiana law required schools which receive public funding to post a framed copy of The 10 Commandments in the classrooms. Observatory identified and photographed 10 million galaxies The Rubin Observatory, located in South America's Andes Mountain, has completed its first 10 hours of operation and identified 2,104 new asteroids never seen before, and photographed 10 million galaxies, reports the BBC. The observatory features a 28-foot telescope and an ultra-wide, ultra-high definition camera.  Sperm donor passed cancer gene to 67 children In other science news, a sperm donor in Europe has passed a cancer gene on to 67 children. Already, at least ten of the children have signs of cancer, all of them born between 2008 and 2015. The case was discussed at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics. Dr. Edwige Kasper, a specialist in genetic predisposition to cancer at the Rouen University Hospital in Rouen, France, said, “The variant would have been practically undetectable in 2008 when the individual started to donate sperm.” U.S. housing prices spike Housing prices in the U.S. are still reaching record highs. The median price of homes sold last month was $423,000, up 1.3% from May of 2024. 7 Worldview listeners gave $2,828.30  to fund our annual budget And finally, toward our final $123,500 goal by Monday, June 30th to fully fund The Worldview annual budget for our 6-member team, 7 listeners stepped up to the plate. Our thanks to Nathan in Cleveland, Tennessee who gave $25, N.B. in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England who gave $30, and Logan and Bianca in Manzini, Eswatini, Africa who gave $70. And we're grateful to God for Gloria in  Westminster, Colorado who gave $103.30, Payton in Georgetown, Texas who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Amy in Eldorado, Wisconsin who gave $1,000, and Pamela in Sierra Madre, California who also gave $1,000. Those 7 Worldview listeners gave a total of $2,828.30. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please.  (Drum roll sound effect) $65,401.55 (People clapping and cheering sound effect)  Still need to raise $58,098.45!  Looking for 9 Super Donors! That means by this coming Monday, June 30th, we need to raise a whopping $58,098.45 in just 7 days.  Oh my!  I've got butterflies in my stomach. Is there 1 businessperson who could donate $10,000?  3 businesspeople who could give $5,000?  5 businesspeople who could contribute $2,500? If so, those donations would total $37,500. Then we would need another 8 people to pledge $100/month for 12 months for a gift of $1,200.  And another 16 people to pledge $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600? Please, go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give on the top right.  If you want to make it a monthly pledge, click on the recurring tab. If everybody does something – no matter how big or small – we will knock this relatively modest budget out of the park. Attention donors from this year: Send email urging others to donate! Lastly, I would love to feature a 2-3 sentence email from those who have already given this year, whose names I will not cite, with your encouragement for your fellow listeners to consider a last minute gift.  Just include your city and state send it to Adam@TheWorldview.com Speak from your heart about why you gave and why you would urge others to join you to fund The Worldview in 5 Minutes. Close And that's The Worldview on this Tuesday, June 24th, in the year of our Lord 2025.  Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

When he is seven years old, Joash becomes the rightful king of Judah in place of the usurper Athaliah. Joash's faithfulness to the LORD is evident in the repairs he oversees for the LORD's temple. Making use of the gifts of God's people in both money and skill, Joash draws the attention of Judah back to the place where the LORD has placed His name to distribute the forgiveness of sins. Nonetheless, the high places remain during Joash's reign, and he is forced to give tribute to Syria. Although a conspiracy brings an end to Joash's reign, his son Amaziah still becomes king in his place.    Rev. Ryan Ogrodowicz, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church and School in Brenham, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 11:21-12:21.  To learn more about Grace Lutheran, visit www.gracebrenham.org. "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

President Trump brokers a historic ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Although the agreement was made, Israel still chose to drop bombs on Iran before the 12 hour window closed. This put the deal on shaky legs and President Trump rebuked both Iran and Israel for the attack after the deal had been done. Iran has upset Qatar and other neighbors, so their options are running thin. Today Dr. Seb Gorka takes us inside the White House to get a play by play of how things went down. Operation Midnight Hammer was Top Gun Maverick on steroids, as B-2 bombers dropped 12 bunker buster bombs on Iran's nuclear sites. Even as the online community went up in arms, just days later, President Trump brought a peace deal, showing that he is not a forever war president. In case you haven't been paying attention, the attack on Fordow sends a message to regimes and dictators. President Trump will deliver overwhelming precision force to protect Americans and American interests, just like he did when he took out Sulemani and the chemical weapons plant in Syria. Chad Robichaux, a former Force Recon Marine, takes us inside the mission planning, the brilliance and sophisticated execution from the joint forces. The leadership of President Trump and Pete Hegseth is inspiring young men and women around the country. As Hegseth has brought back the warrior ethos, U.S. military recruiting is at a high. Chad unpacks how sleeper cells may be activated inside the U.S. and how you and your loved ones can stay prepared. Featuring: Dr. Seb Gorka Senior Director of Counterterrorism | Trump Administration https://www.whitehouse.gov/ Chad Robichaux Host | The Resilient Show Former Force Recon Marine https://theresilientshow.com/ Today's show is sponsored by: Riverbend Ranch Riverbend Ranch has been around for 35 years, selecting cattle that have higher marbling and tenderness than any other beef. You cannot get this beef in your grocery store. Riverbend Ranch ages their beef for 21 days and you'll find it more tender and flavorful than even the finest restaurants. So, if you're ready to have the best steak of your life, head to https://www.riverbendranch.com. Use promo code: SEAN to get $20 of your first order. TAX Network USA Talk with a strategist at Tax Network USA... it's FREE. Stop the threatening letters. Stop looking over your shoulder and put your IRS troubles behind you, once and for all. Whether you owe $10,000 or $10 million, Tax Network USA can help you! Reach out to them today at 1-800-245-6000 or visit https://tnusa.com/SEANSPICER ------------------------------------------------------------- 1️⃣ Subscribe and ring the bell for new videos: https://youtube.com/seanmspicer?sub_confirmation=1 2️⃣ Become a part of The Sean Spicer Show community: https://www.seanspicer.com/ 3️⃣ Listen to the full audio show on all platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sean-spicer-show/id1701280578 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32od2cKHBAjhMBd9XntcUd iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-sean-spicer-show-120471641/ 4️⃣ Stay in touch with Sean on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanmspicer Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicer Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanmspicer/ 5️⃣ Follow The Sean Spicer Show on social media: Facebook: https://facebook.com/seanspicershow Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanspicershow Instagram: https://instagram.com/seanspicershow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump first going all in with B2 bomber raids against Iran's nuclear installations and then surprising allies and adversaries alike with a late Monday ceasefire announcement. All this for a victory lap at the NATO summit opening in the Netherlands? Whether it's strategy or impulse that's driving the US president, we'll attempt to make sense of an operation resisted for decades by all of his predecessors including himself in his first term. Why did Israel finally get its wish of a US-backed direct confrontation with Iran? Will it reshape a region where it's as much Israel as the United States that's imposed its will on Tehran's proxies and allies in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza? Who owns this one? And what does this seeming once in a generation shift in the balance of power mean for the Middle East and for the planet?   Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri, Ilayda Habip.

In this episode of Serial Streamers, Jami and her bestie, Jessi, recap “The Honey Trap: A True Story of Love, Lies and the FBI,” a docuseries that chronicles the life of Denis Cuspert. Cuspert was a high-profile German rapper who became radicalized and was eventually recruited to join ISIS. The FBI begins tracking Cuspert and hires Daniela Greene to investigate the rapper and translate for them. Daniela ultimately falls in love with the subject of her investigation, Denis Cuspert, and even abandons her FBI duties to travel to Syria where she quickly marries him. Jami and Jessi provide a full recap of this fascinating documentary and even find ways to link this wild story back to The Real Housewives, because …of course. Sponsor: Flamingo: Visit ShopFlamingo.com/MURDERISH and use code MURDERISH for 25% off your first order. Follow Jami @JamiOnAir on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to join the Serial Streamers true crime TV club! Serial Streamers club members “meet” in Jami's Instagram, TikTok and YouTube comments to share their thoughts and theories on the documentaries we're binge-watching together.  Watch Serial Streamers on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamionair and subscribe so you don't miss out on the latest documentary recaps. Check out Jami's other podcast - Dirty Money Moves: Women in White Collar Crime: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirty-money-moves-women-in-white-collar-crime/id1619521092. Want to advertise on this podcast? We've partnered with Cloud10 Media to handle our advertising requests. If you're interested in advertising on MURDERISH, send an email to Sahiba Krieger sahiba@cloud10.fm with a copy to jami@murderish.com.  Visit Murderish.com for more info about the show and Creator/Host, Jami Rice. Remember …cults are stupid, Ted Bundy is ugly, scammers suck at life, and binge-watching true crime documentaries IS self care! Stay safe out there! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SYRIA: DAMASCUS TERROR BY ISIS.  MALCOLM HOENLEIN @CONF_OF_PRES @MHOENLEIN1@THADMCCOTTER @THEAMGREATNESS 1898 DAMASCUS

One of the most difficult tests in life is when a person achieves something through effort, wisdom, and strength—and is then told not to attribute the success to himself, but to Hashem. Most people feel proud of their accomplishments, their clever strategies, or their brilliant ideas. But the pasuk reminds us כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל , and the Targum explains, that even our ideas—every single thought that passes through our minds—are gifts from Hashem. It's natural to feel proud after a major achievement, but it is up to each of us to pause and recognize that it was all from Hashem. So often, we fail to see the broader picture—how Hashem orchestrated every detail in advance, setting the stage for us to succeed in a way that appears seamless and "strategic." Recently, the world has witnessed Israel's remarkable military achievements, particularly in the face of Iranian threats. From eliminating key leaders and scientists to achieving aerial dominance, the successes have been astonishing. Add to that America's undetected, precision strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, and one could easily fall into the trap of thinking it's all the result of human intelligence and power. But here, too, we must remember: " לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי אמר ה׳ " —victory does not come through strength or power, but through the spirit of Hashem. All wars are fought and won by Hashem— and only by Hashem . For decades, Israel has known about Iran's nuclear ambitions, yet was unable to act, as Iran lies over a thousand miles away. The logistics of such an operation seemed impossible. Israeli fighter jets could not pass through Jordan, Syria, or Iraq without being shot down. The southern route through Saudi Arabia was blocked, and the northern route through Turkey was a non-starter. But then Hashem changed everything. In December 2024, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown, ending his family's 50-year regime. Hashem opened the Syrian skies. Jordan didn't just permit the use of its airspace—it actively helped shoot down Iranian missiles during the April attack, when Iran launched 300 ballistic missiles toward Israel. Iraq no longer has the capabilities to shoot down planes. Every obstacle was removed—by Hashem. Iran had feared this moment. For years, they armed Hezbollah and Hamas so that if Israel ever struck, they could retaliate from multiple fronts. But over the past year, Hashem gave Israel the strength and intelligence to neutralize the missile capabilities of both Hezbollah and Hamas. And when the moment came to strike Iran, there was no one left to respond. We should be proud of Israel's accomplishments—with the clear understanding that they are Hashem's accomplishments . America's support? Also orchestrated by Hashem, as it says: " לב מלכים ביד ה׳ " —the hearts of kings and leaders are in the hands of Hashem. Hashem can eliminate our enemies without a single soldier taking action. We saw this just a year ago, when the president of Iran and other officials were killed in a helicopter crash—without any military involvement. We saw it when a Turkish legislator who was publicly condemning Israel suddenly collapsed and died of a heart attack. " ה׳ איש מלחמה " —Hashem is a Man of War. He fights—and wins—our battles. The current operation has been referred to as " כִּלְבִיא יָקוּם " , and the Chatam Sofer once explained the word כִּלְבִיא spells out the passuk : כִּ י לֹ א בְ כֹחַ יִ גְבַּר אִ ישׁ - it is not by human strength that wars are won, but through Hashem alone. May Hashem continue to protect His people and bring the final geulah with Mashiach speedily in our days. Amen.

Now we know why the Trump administration was declared the “peace presidency,” because those optics were necessary to escalate global conflict to emergency levels as part of a larger agenda that involved regime change in Iran. From the July, 2024, assassination optics, to the head of Palantir saying the next month in August that the US will fight a 3-front war against Russia, China, and Iran, to the second assassination attempt in September of that year, to the $100-million Mariam Adelson gave Trump beginning in July, it was all part of a build up that culminated in OpenAI winning a $200 million defense contract and Palantir obtaining a $1.3 billion contract from the Pentagon just weeks before the Israeli attack. Now we have learned that despite what American spies said, or US Agencies, or the Director of National Intelligence, or what even the misquoted IAEA said - “no credible indications of ongoing, undeclared structured nuclear programme” in Iran - that Palantir's MOSAIC counterinsurgency-AI was responsible for the Israeli attack, and now the American attack on June 21, 2025. This technology was also employed in Ukraine and Gaza, and is set to be used in the United States. Pretty convenient what Karp had predicted back in August, 2024. It's also pretty convenient that a largely Jewish company had the evidence to justify initial and future attacks that produce, if there wasn't before, a threat and an enemy.Palantir, OpenAI and Meta have also had executives appointed to the US military by the Trump administration in recent days.What's even more telling is that the attack on Iran by US forces occurred the summer solstice, a three day festival historically, and on a waning moon, the phase of Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft and the underworld, to help protect the B-2 bombers. This plays well with the Israel attack on Friday 13 at 3:30am, the witching hour, and the Jewish holidays that corespondent to the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya. The initial Israel attack also occurred with Mars, god of war, in Leo, the lion, corresponding with both astrology and the biblical lion as the operation was called Rising Lion. The Summer solstice also aligns with the story of Samson and his solar hair, itself used as the name of Israel's not-so-secret nuclear weapons plan to destroy the world before the government falls. October 7, 2001, was the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, and the day the Bush administration initiated operations in Afghanistan; March 20, 2003 was the Jewish holiday of Purim, and the day Operation Iraqi Freedom began with preemptive airstrikes on a country that did not posses WMDs; October 20, 2011 was the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, and day Libya was officially overthrown with the death of Muammar Gaddafi; September 22, 2014, was the first day of Rosh Hashanah, and also the day the U.S. officially intervened in Syria against ISIS under Operation Inherent Resolve; October 7, 2023, the date when Israel allowed Hamas to attack them giving rise to the current onslaught, was also a celebration of Shemini Atzeret and a transition of Saturn “returns” through Pisces.Few stop to question the rhetoric of “Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear bomb,” or “but they chant death to America.” Israel can have secret bombs with no international inspections, though, and the only reasoning given why Iran can't is they would destroy Tel Aviv and maybe an American city because they hate Americans. But you do not need such a bomb to do that, as hypersonic missile have demonstrated in Tel Aviv. And, of course, just like the burning of Bush effigies in Iraq what is the reasoning for this blind hatred. Depending on the context, it varies, but the most recent case of this occurred when the Iranian parliament burned an American flag in protest of the US being pulled out of the “Iran deal” for it being too lenient, i.e., no regime change as far as Israel was concerned. And now we are at war again, based off of WMDs 2.0, i.e., AI algorithms predicting nuclear bombs like we have been sold since 1984 at least when the program was “entering its final stages.” In iconic Orwell fashion, too, Trump referred to entering the war that Israel started as “THE TIME FOR PEACE” - WAR IS PEACE. Virtually his entire base, and even political opponents, are finding justifications for the war as to not lose face, too, another version of IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. An administration of peace cannot threaten countries that want peace, countries that want to try war criminals, and refuse to agree to any kind of peace plan. And we also know that Benjamin Netanyahu was and remains under investigation in his own country for criminal charges ranging from obtaining and leaking top secret documents, protocol tampering, and blackmail, all things shelved on October 7, 2023. Now a few days before the attack on Iran, cross-examination of Netanyahu was about tog begin.*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.-FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKYOUTUBEMAIN WEBSITECashApp: $rdgable Paypal email rdgable1991@gmail.comEMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

As Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran continues, we’re coming to you on Sundays with a weekly roundup. US strikes Iran. Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil released. Israel continues to kill Palestinian aid seekers. It is day 625 of the war in Gaza where at least 55,908 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera Reporter Nour Odeh, (@nourodeh), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent Moath Al Khaloot, (@moath_kahlout), Al Jazeera Journalist Phil Lavelle, (phillavelle), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was hosted by Nida Ibrahim and produced by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Mesopotamia by Dr Moudhy Al-Rashid and comedian Phil Wang to learn about the history of cuneiform, the oldest writing system in the world.In the 19th Century, European scholars began to translate inscriptions found on ruins and clay tablets from ancient Mesopotamia - an area of the world between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that encompasses modern Iraq, as well as parts of Syria, Iran, Turkey and Kuwait. The script they deciphered became known as cuneiform, and this distinctive wedge-shaped writing system is perhaps the oldest in the world. The earliest cuneiform tablet is in fact over 5,000 years old.These clay tablets reveal much about the daily life of people in this part of the ancient world, recording everything from the amounts of beer sold by brewers and the best way to ask the gods for advice, to squabbles between husbands and wives and even the lullabies used to get babies to sleep. The first recorded epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, is also preserved thanks to cuneiform. This episode traces the history of cuneiform, exploring how this script worked, who used it and what they used it for, what it tells us about the inhabitants of ancient Mesopotamia, and how it was finally deciphered.This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed.Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Hannah Cusworth and Matt Ryan Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: James Cook

The United States is in the midst of a propaganda and disinformation war, fueled by plutocrats and tech moguls like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, who have harnessed technology for profit. Meanwhile, the American empire remains unchecked, its worst nationalist and jingoistic impulses amplified by political opportunism at the highest levels. The times demand serious, accessible intellectual work, but instead, our search for grounded perspectives is surrendered to the lazy pull of social media, leaving us unable to distinguish between deeply researched work, like James Loewen's Lies My Teacher Told Me, and polemics like Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me. As a result, debates over issues from the origins of Hip Hop to the legacy of Jimmy Carter reflect how vulnerable our society is to cultural mythmaking disguised as truth.This obsession with simplistic narratives plays out globally, with education becoming a battleground in places like the US and Syria. Curriculum debates reveal a struggle over shaping minds and controlling knowledge—whether education serves enlightenment or power. The entire system feels as futile as ice skating uphill, an exhausting and impossible task. What does education really achieve in this context? Does it enlighten us, or complicate our understanding of a world growing more disconnected? Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of a World House seems increasingly distant, replaced by virtual realities manipulated by forces spreading influence at any cost.Meanwhile, the existential threat of global warming is no longer abstract. Weather events, like the fires ravaging Los Angeles, serve as harsh reminders of the consequences of environmental neglect. As smoke clouds our skies, we are left to ask: How do we fight the overwhelming tide of manipulation, racism, monopoly capitalism, nationalism, and climate destruction? How do we cultivate a genuine care for our shared humanity? Without this, education, climate action, and even our most cherished ideals unravel.The real test is whether we can rise above the noise—the propaganda, ego, and division—and see each other as part of a shared human struggle. Only then can we confront the true challenges of our time—education, climate change, unchecked power—and maybe, just maybe, create a future where we are more than the sum of our divisions.JOIN KNARRATIVE: https://www.knarrative.com it's the only way to get into #Knubia, where these classes areheld live with a live chat.To shop Go to:TheGlobalMajorityMore from us:Knarrative Twitter: https://twitter.com/knarrative_Knarrative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knarrative/In Class with Carr Twitter: https://twitter.com/inclasswithcarrSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Pentagon official Dan Caldwell explains what would happen if Ted Cruz gets his way in Iran. (00:00) Introduction (00:47) What Would Happen if the US Strikes Iran? (09:23) American Troops in Iraq and Syria (20:12) Did US Policy Makers Intentionally Put American Troops at Risk? (27:16) What Are the Casualties in Israel? (55:41) Are We Seeing the Fall of the Neocons? Paid partnerships with: ExpressVPN: Go to https://ExpressVPN.com/Tucker and find out how you can get 4 months of ExpressVPN free! Preborn: To donate please dial #250 and say keyword "BABY" or visit https://preborn.com/TUCKER Jase Medical: Go to https://Jase.com and use code TUCKER  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get more content. No ChatGPT here—our em dashes are organic. This week: in the Iran-Israel war, an update on the casualties and targets (1:52), US involvement remains in question (7:45), Ayatollah Khamenei refuses to surrender (14:47), and US and Israeli intelligence agencies disagree over “evidence” of Iran pursuing a nuclear weapon (18:14); Trump quits the G7 summit early, possibly due to Israel-Iran, and later insults French president Emmanuel Macron (20:59); the IDF is still killing dozens per day in Gaza, mostly near aid sites (24:23); the US military is withdrawing from most of its bases in Syria (27:11); the Thai government might be on the verge of a collapse (29:56); the DRC and Rwanda approve a “draft” peace agreement (33:57); in Russia-Ukraine, Trump cancels a normalization meeting while shutting down a sanctions working group (36:39), and Russia carries out its deadliest strike of the year on Kyiv (37:55); Trump decides to expand his travel ban (40:14); and in a New Cold War update, a new trade détente with China does not include critical minerals for military use (42:43). Listen to Derek's special with Akbar Shahid Ahmed on US involvement in the Israel-Iran war. Also be sure to download our miniseries with the crew from We're Not So Different, Welcome to the Crusades. We have posted E1 and E2 on our feed as a free preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Times of Israel's newest podcast series, Friday Focus. Each Friday, join diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman and host deputy editor Amanda Borschel-Dan for a deep dive into what's behind the news that spins the globe. Israel has experience in attempting to stop a nuclear weapons program. Twice before striking Iran on June 13, 2025, Israel attempted to thwart two neighboring nations' nascent nuclear programs. This week on the Friday Focus, we’re talking about the covert surprise 1981 Operation Opera in Iraq and the 2007 Israeli airstrike on Syria, called Operation Outside the Box or Operation Orchard. Berman fills us in on the back story of both, and weighs in on how successful they were — of course, with an eye to the current Israel-Iran war and Israel’s goal to stop Iran from reaching a nuclear bomb. We learn how Operation Opera, also known as Operation Babylon, took place under prime minister Menachem Begin on June 7, 1981, at 16:00 when 14 fighter jets departed from Etzion (Efrat) Airport in Israel. At approximately 17:30, they struck and destroyed the Osirak nuclear reactor in Iraq, and within about 90 seconds of bombing, they successfully completed their mission. Berman speaks about the resultant "Begin Doctrine," which, since 1981, guides Israel in how it reacts to imminent threats of weapons of mass destruction. We then turn to the second preemptive strike that Israel carried out to stop the bomb in 2007, under prime minister Ehud Olmert. Ten Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-15 fighter jets, along with F-16 fighters and electronic-warfare aircraft, bombed a Syrian radar site and took over Syrian air defenses, feeding them a false picture of empty skies. We discuss the overriding themes of both operations and compare them with what is currently happening in the Israel-Iran war. Friday Focus can be found on all podcast platforms. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves and the video was edited by Thomas Girsch. IMAGE: The IDF pilots who participated in the Operation Opera bombing of Saddam Hussein's nuclear reactor at Osirak in 1981. (Israel Defense Force archive)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No ChatGPT here—our em dashes are organic. This week: in the Iran-Israel war, an update on the casualties and targets (1:52), US involvement remains in question (7:45), Ayatollah Khamenei refuses to surrender (14:47), and US and Israeli intelligence agencies disagree over “evidence” of Iran pursuing a nuclear weapon (18:14); Trump quits the G7 summit early, possibly due to Israel-Iran, and later insults French president Emmanuel Macron (20:59); the IDF is still killing dozens per day in Gaza, mostly near aid sites (24:23); the US military is withdrawing from most of its bases in Syria (27:11); the Thai government might be on the verge of a collapse (29:56); the DRC and Rwanda approve a “draft” peace agreement (33:57); in Russia-Ukraine, Trump cancels a normalization meeting while shutting down a sanctions working group (36:39), and Russia carries out its deadliest strike of the year on Kyiv (37:55); Trump decides to expand his travel ban (40:14); and in a New Cold War update, a new trade détente with China does not include critical minerals for military use (42:43).Listen to Derek's special with Akbar Shahid Ahmed on US involvement in the Israel-Iran war.Also be sure to download our miniseries with the crew from We're Not So Different, Welcome to the Crusades. We have posted E1 and E2 on our feed as a free preview. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Darrell Castle talks about the attack by the nation of Israel upon the nation of Iran and what involvement the U.S. will have in the war. Transcription / Notes IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 20th day of June in the year of our Lord 2025. My beat is war today and there is obviously a big one to talk about and that is the attack by the nation of Israel upon the nation of Iran. Will the U.S. attack Iran's nuclear sites on behalf of Israel. We hold our breath to learn what Netanyahu will have the U.S. do. I have been a bit unsure about how to approach this Report since I'm pretty sure that virtually everyone knows about Israel's attack by now. What most may not have considered is that in less than a week Israel, a nation of about 9 million people almost completely destroyed Iran's ability to make war either offensively or defensively. Iran, a nation of about 90 million people or roughly 10 to 1 in population was believed to be at the end of a decades long pursuit of a nuclear weapon or that is at least what Israel keeps telling the world. Donald Trump told Iran that he wanted to negotiate an end to its nuclear ambitions and he gave them 60 days to enter into a deal to end their nuclear program. He at first seemed willing to allow enough enrichment for peaceful nuclear power but later backed away and said no enrichment at all. Iran said well, then we can't have a deal so at midnight of the 61st day Israel attacked and destroyed all the above ground nuclear facilities of Iran and assassinated many of Iran's top military leadership along with its nuclear scientists. Now, it's pretty clear that when Trump invited them to negotiate what he really meant was accept my demands or suffer the consequences. So, what was Iranian leadership thinking by continuing nuclear enrichment and refusing to talk. I obviously don't know the workings of the Mullah's minds but I can use what I do know to make a reasonable guess. I think they did not recognize in time that the world has changed dramatically in a very short time. Since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, Israel has essentially been at war dismantling the Iranian proxy, terrorist armies bit by bit. The terrorist proxies are the way Iran spread its control across the entire region. The three Iranian proxy groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis have all been reduced to ineffectiveness by the Israel attacks. Hamas, what is left of it, is a pile of rubble. The Houthis are under constant air attack and Iran publicly abandoned them. Hezbollah had its leadership destroyed in a now famous exploding cell phone attack, and their sponsor in Syria has been overthrown. Israel attacked the Iranian anti-air defense system a few months ago and rendered it ineffective obviously. Apparently Israel's intelligence arm, the Mossad had so completely infiltrated Iran they built an Israeli military base inside Iran. Iran apparently didn't recognize any of that and whether by inertia, or poor thinking just continued business as usual. With all their terrorist groups anemic or destroyed they literally have no friends left. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Emirates may pay lip service to Iran but secretly I suspect they are cheering the Israelis on. The other change that Iran didn't see was that Russia, their once staunch ally has been strangely silent other than offering asylum to Iranian leadership. Russia is no longer a Middle East power and protector of Iran because it has all it can handle in Ukraine. Perhaps Russia is secretly happy about the war because it detracts the U.S. from Ukraine and most importantly it might raise the price of oil worldwide thus helping Russia's one product economy. China, Iran's other powerful friend is presently trying to resolve a trade war with the U.S. and seems to have no desire to involve itself in a Mideast war although there are rumors of Chinese resupply of ...

The Middle East is on fire. Again. What began as Israel's retaliation against Hamas after the October 7 attacks has now exploded into a multi-front conflict involving Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and now Iran. In this episode of In Our Defence, veteran journalist and national security expert Sandeep Unnithan joins host Dev Goswami to break down how the war escalated so dramatical, and what it means for the region and the world. The two look at Iran's underestimated military, its dual-army structure, and the massive blow dealt to its leadership in just the first week of fighting. Why does Israel seem so unbending, even at the cost of global condemnation and regional chaos? And could any of this be happening without backing from the US? Dev and Sandeep also explore the philosophical irony behind Western nations - especially the US - dictating nuclear rules to countries like Iran, even as they maintain massive arsenals themselves. Is this another chapter in global double standards? And finally, the two unpack a surprising development: Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir's meeting with Donald Trump during his US visit. Could this signal a renewed American effort to position Pakistan as a behind-the-scenes player in the Israel-Iran war? Produced by Garvit Srivastava Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti

As Rome rose to power, pirates seized the seas - wreaking havoc from Spain to Syria and challenging Roman dominance in the ancient Mediterranean.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Nick Rauh and Dr Adam Dawson to explore the explosive rise of piracy across the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. From Cilicia's rugged coastline to pirate raids on Roman nobles, discover how these ancient raiders turned the Mediterranean into a battleground—and how Rome's own ambitions helped fuel the chaos at sea.Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. You can take part in our listener survey here: https://insights.historyhit.com/history-hit-podcast-always-on

We continue our campaign to #EndNeurophobia, with the help of Dr. Aaron Berkowitz. This time, Bayan presents a case of altered mental status to Aye.  Neurology DDx Schema Bayan Al Zoabu  Bayan is a senior medical student from Syria with a passion for neurology and a drive to make a difference in healthcare. From founding… Read More »Episode 402: Neurology VMR – AMS

He was one of the Twelve and a kinsman of the Lord according to the flesh (see Luke 6:16, Acts 1:13; according to holy Tradition, Joseph the Carpenter, before he was widowed, had four sons by his wife Salome: James, Hosea, Simon and Jude). As an Apostle, St Jude preached in Mesopotamia, Arabia and Syria, and met a Martyr's end in Beirut. He is the author of the New Testament Epistle that bears his name. His name ("Judas" in Greek, from "Judah" in Hebrew) means "praise".

Former Israeli government spokesman, Eylon Levy joins The Winston Marshall Show to break down the recent wave of attacks between Israel and Iran—and what they signal for the future of the Middle East.Levy details how the Islamic Republic's fingerprints are all over the region's escalating chaos: from Hamas's massacre on October 7th, to missile strikes launched from Syria and Iraq, to Hezbollah's mounting aggression in the north. He warns that Iran's proxy war is entering a new phase.We discuss wavering support, the failure of Western deterrence, and why the global community's obsession with “proportionality” is empowering the very forces threatening regional—and global—stability.All this—Iranian escalation, proxy terror, Western weakness, and the gathering storm on Israel's borders…-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------To see more exclusive content and interviews consider subscribing to my substack here: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Substack: https://www.winstonmarshall.co.uk/X: https://twitter.com/mrwinmarshallInsta: https://www.instagram.com/winstonmarshallLinktree: https://linktr.ee/winstonmarshall----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0:00 Introduction3:20 What's happening 7:15 The Problem With Western Media10:48 What the Left Gets Wrong About Israel14:32 The ‘Decolonization' Narrative19:40 Is Israel Winning the Media War?25:10 The Iranian Threat & Israel's Dilemma29:30 The Disinformation Playbook34:45 The Global Rise of Antisemitism38:00 Why Israel Is Fighting for the West41:45 TikTok Genocide Deniers & Online Hate45:30 The Limits of International Law49:00 What Happens After Hamas?52:40 Eylon's Message to the World Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand-Up to RacismIn 1972 Catholic families – who had endured three years of sustained sectarian attacks on their homes – fled Annalee St in North Belfast. Last month - fifty-three years later - Catholic homes in Annalee St. were again the target of sectarian attack and families were forced to flee. In the last fortnight we have also witnessed the firebombing of homes in Ballymena, the Larne Leisure Centre and racist attacks in other parts of the North.The images of homes in flames in Ballymena reminded me of similar scenes I first witnessed in Belfast in August 1969. The film footage of that period is of streets ablaze, frightened families hurriedly stacking furniture on lorries or carrying their most precious possessions on their backs. Then it was the racism and sectarianism of the apartheid unionist state attacking nationalist and republican families, killing residents, destroying hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to become refugees in our own city.Regrettably, the same sectarian and racist fundamentalism that motivated those attacks still exists today among some in our society who campaign against housing for Catholics, hang effigies of political leaders on bonfires and use violent rhetoric to promote hate crime against immigrants and those they define as ‘others'. That is those who are of a different religion or colour, or sexual orientation. Defending NeutralityThe Israeli rogue state has set the world on a dangerous course. Its deadly assault on Iran, allied to its violent actions in Lebanon and Syria and its genocidal war on the Palestinian people, has cast a huge shadow over the Middle East. As its military forces continue to kill scores of Palestinians daily in Gaza and its war planes attack Iran the Israeli military imposed a complete siege on the west Bank. Over a thousand military checkpoints which provide Israel with absolute control over the occupied west Bank, were completely closed imposing a siege on the Palestinian towns, villages and isolated farms of that region.As the world focusses on the exchanges between Israel and Iran the Zionists' genocidal and ethnic cleansing strategy against the Palestinian people is escalating. Those western states that have refused to challenge Israel's murder of tens of thousands of Palestinians or stand-by international law, are now defending Israel's attack on Iran using the same unacceptable excuse that Israel has the right to defend itself.Pat Finucane - End the DelayIt has been ten months since the British Secretary of State Hilary Benn first announced that he was setting up an independent inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane under the 2005 Inquiries Act. Last week he appointed Sir Gary Hickinbottom as the Chair of the Inquiry. Hickinbottom has been given responsibility for investigating one of the most high profile examples of state collusion between loyalist death squads and British state agents and agencies during the decades of conflict.As well as Hickinbottom, former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan and international human rights lawyer Francesca Del Mese have been appointed as assessors to the inquiry. Their role is to advise the Chair but they will not be involved in any final report.It has been a long difficult road for Geraldine Finucane and her family to secure this Inquiry. Twenty-four years ago the British and Irish governments agreed at Weston Park to establish public inquiries into a number of troubles-related cases. Canadian Judge Peter Cory recommended inquiries into the deaths of: Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill, Billy Wright, and Patrick Finucane and also into the deaths of RUC officers Bob Buchanan and Harry Breen.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad last December did not erase the deep-rooted prejudices within Syrian society. Identity and political divisions remain vivid, and since January, sectarian clashes have been increasing. In a country as fragmented as Syria, old grudges are simmering, with many taking justice into their own hands – driven by a thirst for revenge against those they view as traitors or internal enemies. Amid this escalating violence, the authorities insist they are committed to holding those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, civil society is doing what it can to keep hope alive by calling for dialogue and pushing for national unity. Our correspondent in Syria, Jenna Le Bras, reports.

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:   The United States may be edging closer to joining the war between Israel and Iran. A wave of new military deployments—including aircraft carriers, destroyers, and refueling tankers—suggests preparations are underway for potential involvement.   Israel's campaign inside Iran is reportedly taking a toll on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's inner circle. Key military and intelligence advisers have been killed in targeted strikes, leaving the regime exposed and vulnerable.   The U.S. military has pulled out of two more bases in Syria. Kurdish allies are warning that the drawdown could create conditions for a dangerous ISIS resurgence.   And in today's Back of the Brief: Investigators in India are reviewing black box data from the Air India crash that killed 270 people. Early signs point to one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent years.   To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief StopBox: Get firearm security redesigned and save with BOGO the StopBox Pro AND 10% OFF @StopBoxUSA with code PDB at https://stopboxusa.com/PDB! #stopboxpod Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold True Classic: Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/PDB#trueclassicpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An honored Roman commander in Tripoli of Phoenicia, he was described as being 'of great physical stature, powerful, strong and bold in battle'. When it was learned that he was a Christian and had given grain to the poor from the imperial storehouse, the governor Hadrian, a great persecutor of Christians, sent Hypatius, a military commander, and Theodoulus, a soldier, along with some others to arrest him. On the way Hypatius fell gravely ill with a fever, and the company had to delay its mission. One night an angel of the Lord appeared to Hypatius and said, 'If you desire to be healed, you and your soldiers must cry to heaven three times: "O God of Leontius, help me!"'. Hypatius told his comrades of his vision, and when they all cried out as instructed Hypatius was instantly healed. Hypatius and Theodoulos then went on ahead of the other soldiers and found Leontius. Leontius received them hospitably and offered them refreshment. As they rested in his house, he proclaimed his faith in Christ and their hearts began to burn within them. While Leontius was still speaking, a bright cloud descended upon the two soldiers and shed dew on them while Leontius said 'In the name of the All-holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.' Thus were they baptized by the Holy Spirit Himself.

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

Elisha cared for the Shunammite woman after he raised her son from the dead by warning her to sojourn elsewhere during a famine. When she returned, the king of Israel showed that he was not entirely faithless by returning her family land. Elisha began to fulfill the ministry of Elijah by telling Hazael that he would be king in Syria, and God brought that word to fulfillment. In those days, the line of David intermarried with the line of Ahab, leading to trouble in the kingdom of Judah.  Rev. James Preus, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottumwa, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 8:1-29.  To learn more about Trinity, visit www.trinitylutheranottumwa.com. "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

  Aaron is joined by Ben Thomason. Ben recently earned his doctorate in American Cultural Studies from Bowling Green State University. His dissertation is entitled, Making Democracy Safe for Empire: A History and Political Economy of the National Endowment for Democracy, United States Agency for International Development, and Twenty-First Century Media Imperialism. In this episode, we discuss two of Ben's latest articles for CovertAction Magazine, both of which deal with the US dirty war on Syria. The first article is “The U.S.A.'s Longest ‘Democracy' Project in Syria Has Resulted in the Empowerment of Al-Qaeda.” The second article, soon to be published, is “Western Soft Power Agencies Established a Support Front for Armed Insurrection in Syria led by al-Qaeda-Linked Rebels.” Special thanks to: Dana Chavarria, production Casey Moore, graphics Michelle Boley, animated intro Mock Orange, music

Déjà vu in the Matrix films signified a change in the simulation, when something was reset. This is exactly how it feels when watching and listening to news this week: WMDs have become “Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb,” and Bush's “you are either with us, or with the terrorists” has become Netanyahu's “it's either us or them.” It's all broadcast via programing through television (Zion) and social media, as in the enchantress Medea in Greek mythology. The enchantress enchants, which means reciting an incantation like “Israel has a right to defend itself.” This repetition of these incantations is a spell that programs the mind-set within the head-temple, which produces the zealotry we see. Accusations of the “WMD” need no proof, because the culture is saturated with so much anti-Islam, anti-Arab, and truly anti-semitic propaganda that accusation is evidence enough of guilt. Tulsi Gabbard, director of National Intelligence, and American spies, all deny Iran has a bomb, yet the President ignores this. It's similar to the historic witch hunt with the accused only being freed upon death, the only proof of innocence. This underlying occult motif is also amplified by the Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Libya wars being aligned with Jewish holy days, with Iran on June 13 aligning with the 613 Mtizvot and both Friday 13 and the witching hour. Now we approach the summer solstice and the three week period of jewish mourning for the destruction of their temple and exile. Fear of the bomb itself, with threats to evacuate Tehran or Tel Aviv, or even an American city, instills as much terror as the “shock and awe” of Iraq. The most interesting possibility might be that Israel, not Iran, threatened to assassinate the President, and that if Iran did have a bomb, that Israel has been lying about their intentions to use it for decades, while they conceal their own program as part of a conspiracy, along with their psychotic Samson option to destroy the world. *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.-FREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVEX / TWITTER FACEBOOKYOUTUBEMAIN WEBSITECashApp: $rdgable Paypal email rdgable1991@gmail.comEMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

June 18th, 2025:  St Ephrem the Syrian - Mindful of the Justice & Mercy of God; St Ephrem of Syria - Harp of the Holy Spirit; St Ephrem of Syria, the Holy Spirit & the Sacred Heart; St Ephrem - Humility for the Knowledge of Truth

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text MessageWhat happens when a nation faces an existential threat and decides to act alone? The 2007 Israeli strike on Syria's nuclear reactor provides a powerful case study in preemptive action and strategic courage.When Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received intelligence about a Syrian nuclear reactor being built with North Korean assistance near the Euphrates River, he faced a momentous decision. Despite U.S. President George W. Bush's hesitation following intelligence failures in Iraq, Olmert ordered Operation Soft Melody (also called Operation Orchid) to neutralize the threat. The elite Shaldog unit (Unit 5101) infiltrated the area to laser-designate targets, enabling a precision strike that completely destroyed the Al-Kabar facility before it became operational.Fast forward to today, and Iran's dispersed nuclear infrastructure presents a far more complex challenge than the single-facility targets in Syria and Iraq. With sites buried deep underground in multiple locations, many analysts believe only American bunker-buster bombs can effectively neutralize the threat. But Israel has repeatedly demonstrated innovative capabilities that surpass expectations. As tensions escalate, we're left wondering: will Israel again find a way to act when diplomacy fails? The shadow war continues, with the security of millions hanging in the balance.our book of the day is "Shadow Strike:   Inside Israel's Secret Mission to Eliminate Syrian Nuclear Power"Key Points from the Episode:• Iranian-controlled drone carrying explosives into Israel in 2018 showed Iran's willingness for direct confrontation• Operation Soft Melody destroyed Syria's Al-Kabar nuclear reactor in 2007, which was built with North Korean assistance• Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the strike despite U.S. President George W. Bush preferring diplomacy• Elite Israeli unit Shaldog (Unit 5101) likely laser-designated the Syrian target for precision airstrikes• Iran presents a more complex challenge with multiple fortified nuclear sites scattered throughout the country• The Begin Doctrine states Israel will not allow nuclear threats capable of reaching its homeland to existKeep fighting the good fight and pray for Israeli success to eliminate the evil in our time.Other resources: Israel's Sept 11thLM#38--Israel's 9-11, part 1LM#39--Israel's 9-11, part 2--Don't look awayLM#54--Black Saturday, October 7th -- One Year LaterWant to leave a review? Click here, and if we earned a five-star review from you **high five and knuckle bumps**, we appreciate it greatly, thank you so much!

SYRIA: AL-SHARAA AND THE IRAQ AND IRAN THREAT.  AHMAD, SHARAWI, BILL ROGGIO, FDD4 1870 DAMASCUS

[01:10:06 – 01:12:27] — Assassination Rhetoric Against World Leaders Commentary criticizes U.S. figures like Lindsey Graham and Netanyahu for openly suggesting the assassination of world leaders, highlighting dangerous precedent and the erosion of international norms.[01:14:21 – 01:15:37] — Trump Threatens Tehran with Evacuation Warning Trump posts on Truth Social urging evacuation of Tehran and claiming Iran should have signed a deal, fueling fears of imminent U.S. military strikes and raising concerns of escalation.[01:20:53 – 01:23:03] — Israel Accused of Provoking War to Disrupt Diplomacy Israel is blamed for initiating the conflict days before scheduled nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with calls for the U.S. to stop fighting Israel's wars.[01:24:00 – 01:25:01] — Lessons of Regime Change and Nuclear Deterrence Discussion of how countries like Iraq, Libya, and Syria were invaded or destabilized due to lacking nuclear deterrents, contrasting with how nuclear-armed nations like North Korea are treated.[01:52:41 – 01:54:50] — Gold Mining Company Converts Profits to Bitcoin A British gold mining company announces it will convert future profits into Bitcoin, part of a growing trend among corporations moving away from fiat currencies toward decentralized assets.[01:58:14 – 02:06:48] — False Flag Forecasts and Israel's Strategic Playbook A guest draws parallels between historic false flags and current Israeli military strategies, warning of a potential staged event to justify U.S. entry into war with Iran.[02:10:12:15 – 02:14:43:23] — Projection, False Flags, and Iran Conflict Setup Accusations of projection and propaganda are leveled at U.S. and Israeli officials, with claims that rhetoric about Iranian terrorism signals a potential false flag event to draw the U.S. into war.[02:17:14:14 – 02:20:28:19] — Captured Government vs. Shifting Public Opinion Despite alleged government capture by Israeli interests, public support for war and pro-Israel positions is said to be rapidly eroding, especially among younger Americans.[02:30:01:13 – 02:32:17:18] — False Flag Predictions and Strategic Framing Commentary outlines how a U.S. military loss may be staged and blamed on Iran to justify war, with Trump's ‘red line' message interpreted as preemptive cover for escalation.[02:37:45:08 – 02:42:47:13] — Mainstream and Alternative Media Co-optation The conversation highlights the collapse of mainstream media and accuses major alternative platforms of infiltration, advocating for independent outlets that publish uncensored early warnings.[03:06:01:06 – 03:08:06:26] — Anti-War Warning and Moral Clarity Reading from a Lou Rockwell article, the speaker affirms that any deaths from war with Iran would be in vain and driven by elite self-interest, not defense of country or freedom. [03:09:51:00 – 03:15:15:24] — Condemnation of War with Iran A passionate anti-war monologue warns that U.S. escalation with Iran would be immoral and unjustified, arguing that anyone supporting such war does so for corrupt reasons and at great cost to American lives and values.[03:26:07:02 – 03:31:17:27] — Fiat Currency Collapse and Gold's Role A detailed analysis of the post-gold-standard financial system argues that fiat currencies are collapsing, gold is exposing systemic lies, and a major monetary revolution is underway.[03:33:15:19 – 03:37:05:29] — Federal Reserve Critique and Historical Parallels The discussion critiques the Federal Reserve's influence, traces central banking failures from 1913 through the 2008 crash, and argues that modern monetary theory is a proven historical failure.[03:50:34:13 – 03:53:15:10] — Gold as a Threat to Global Financial Order Citing recent reports, gold's rise is presented as a direct threat to the global financial system, with the ECB warning of collapse due to massive unbacked gold derivative exposure. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

This week we talk about tit-for-tat warfare, conflict off-ramps, and Israel's renewed attacks on Iran's nuclear program.We also discuss the Iron Dome, the Iran-Iraq War, and regime change.Recommended Book: How Much is Enough? by Robert and Edward SkidelskyTranscriptIn late-October of 2024, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes against targets in Iran and Syria. These strikes were code-named Operation Days of Repentance, and it marked the largest such attack on Iran by Israel since the 1980s, during the height of the Iran-Iraq War.Operation Days of Repentance was ostensibly a response to Iran's attack on Israel earlier than same month, that attack code-named Operation True Promise II, which involved the launch of around 200 ballistic missiles against Israeli targets. Operation True Promise II was itself a response to Israel's assassination of the leader of Hamas, the leader of Hezbollah, and the Deputy of Operations for Iran's Revolutionary Guard.If you feel like there might be a tit-for-tat pattern here, you're right. Iran and Israel have been at each other's throats since 1979, following the Islamic Revolution when Iran cut off all diplomatic relations with Israel; some backchannel relations continued between the two countries, even through part of the Iran-Iraq War, when Israel often supported Iran in that conflict, but things got tense in the early 1980s when Iran, partnering with the Syrian government, started backing Hezbollah and their effort to boot Israel out of Southern Lebanon, while also partnering with Islamist militants in Iraq and Yemen, including the Houthis, and at times Hamas in Gaza, as well.Most of these attacks have, until recently, been fairly restrained, all things considered. There's long been bravado by politicians on both sides of the mostly cold war-ish conflict, but they've generally told the other side what they would be hitting, and signaled just how far they would be going, telling them the extent of the damage they would cause, and why, which provides the other side ample opportunity to step off the escalatory ladder; everyone has the chance to posture for their constituents and then step back, finding an off-ramp and claiming victory in that specific scuffle.That back-and-forth in late-2024 largely stuck to that larger pattern, and both sides stuck with what typically works for them, in terms of doing damage: Israel flew more than 100 aircraft to just beyond or just inside Iran's borders and struck a bunch of military targets, like air defense batteries and missile production facilities, while Iran launched a few hundred far less-accurate missiles at broad portions of Israel—a type of attack that could conceivably result in a lot of civilian casualties, not just damage to military targets, which would typically be a no-no if you're trying to keep the tit-for-tat strikes regulated and avoid escalation, but because Israel has a fairly effective anti-missile system called the Iron Dome, Iran could be fairly confident that just hurling a large number of missiles in their general direction would be okay, as most of those missiles would be shot down by the Iron Dome, the rest by Israel's allies in the region, and the few that made it through or struck unoccupied land in the general vicinity would make their point.While this conflict has been fairly stable for decades, though, the tenor and tone seems to have changed substantially in 2025, and a recent wave of attacks by Israel is generally being seen as the culmination of several other efforts, and possibly an attempt by the Israeli government to change the nature of this conflict, perhaps permanently.And that's what I'd like to talk about today; Operation Rising Lion, and the implications of Israel's seeming expansion and evolution of their approach to dealing with Iran.—In mid-June of 2025, Israel's military launched early morning strikes against more than a dozen targets across Iran, most of the targets either fundamental to Iran's nuclear program or its military.The strikes were very targeted, and some were assassinations of top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, like the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard, along with their families, including twenty children, who were presumably collateral damage. Some came from beyond Iran's borders, some were conducted by assets smuggled into Iran earlier: car bombs and drones, things like that.More attacks followed that initial wave, which resulted in the collapse of nuclear sites and airport structures, along with several residential buildings in the country's capitol, Tehran.This attack was ostensibly meant to hobble Iran's nuclear program, which the Iranian government has long claimed is for purely peaceful, energy-generation purposes, but which independent watchdog organizations, and pretty much every other non-Iranian-allied government says is probably dual-purpose, allowing Iran to produce nuclear energy, but also nuclear weapons.There was a deal on the books for a while that had Iran getting some benefits in exchange for allowing international regulators to monitor its nuclear program, but that deal, considered imperfect by many, but also relatively effective compared to having no deal at all, went away under the first Trump administration, and the nuclear program has apparently been chugging along since then with relative success; claims that Iran is just weeks from having enough fissile material to make a nuclear weapon have been common for years, now, but they apparently now have enough nuclear weapons-grade materials to make several bombs, and Israel in particular is quite keen to keep them from building such a weapon, as Iran's leaders, over the years, have said they'd like to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth, and nuclear weapons would be a relatively quick and easy way to make that happen.Of course, even without using such a weapon, simply having one or more is a sort of insurance policy against conventionally armed enemies. It ups the stakes in every type of conflict, and allows the nuclear-armed belligerent to persistently raise the specter of nuclear war if anyone threatens them, which is truly terrifying because of how many nuclear-related failsafes are in place around the world: one launch or detonation potentially becoming many, all at once, because of Dr. Strangelove-like automated systems that many militaries have readied, just in case.So the possibility that Iran might be on the brink of actually, really, truly this time making a nuclear weapon is part of the impetus for this new strike by Israel.But this is also probably a continuation of the larger effort to dismantle Iran's influence across the region by the current Israeli government, which, following the sneak attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, has been trying to undermine Iran's proxies, which again, include quite a few militant organizations, the most powerful of which, in recent years, have been the trio of Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, right on Israel's border.Israel's invasion of Gaza, which has led to an absolutely catastrophic humanitarian situation for Gazan civilians, but has also led to the near-total collapse of Hamas as a functioning militant organization in the Strip, could be construed as a successful mission, if you ignore all those civilians casualties and fatalities, and the near-leveling of a good portion of the Strip.Israel was also able to take out a significant portion of Hezbollah's leadership via conventional aerial attacks and ground-assaults, and a bizarrely effective asymmetric attack using bombs installed in the pagers used by the organization, and it's been able to significantly decrease the Houthis' ability to menace ships passing through the Red Sea, using their own military, but also through their relationship with the US, which has significant naval assets in the area.Iran has long projected power in the region through its relationship with these proxies, providing them training and weapons and money in exchange for their flanking of Israel. That flanking was meant to keep Israel perpetually off-balance with the knowledge that if they ever do anything too serious, beyond the bounds of the controllable tit-for-tat, Cold War-style conflict in which they were engaged with Iran, they could suffer significant damage at home, from the north via Lebanon, from their southwestern flank via Gaza, or from a little ways to the south and via their coast from Yemen.Those proxies now largely hobbled, though, Israel found itself suddenly freed-up to do something more significant, and this attack is being seen by analysts as the initial stages of what might be a more substantial, perhaps permanent solution to the Iran problem. Rather than being a show of force or a tit-for-tat play, these might be the beginning days of an assault that's meant to enact not just a dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, but full-on regime change in Iran.And regime change means exactly what it sounds like: Iran's government is Islamist, meaning that it wants to enforce a fairly brutal, repressive version of Islam globally, and it already does so against its people. There have periodically been successful protests against these measures by Iranian citizens, especially by severely repressed women and minority groups in the country, including folks of different religions and LGBTQ identifying folks, among others, almost always these protests, and any other attempts to attain more rights and equality for people who aren't strictly Islamist men, generally result in violence, the black-bagging of protest leaders, extrajudicial killings and lifetime imprisonment and torture; a whole lot of really authoritarian, generally just villain-scale behavior by the Iranian government against anyone who steps out of line.So the Iranian government is pretty monstrous by most modern, democratic standards, and the Israeli government's seeming desire to crush it—to cry false on the regime's projection of strength, and create the circumstances for revolution, if that is indeed what they're doing—could be construed as a fairly noble goal.It perhaps serves the purposes of Israel, as again, Iran has said, over and over, that they want to destroy Israel and would totally do so, given the chance. But it arguably also serves the purpose of democratic-leaning people, and perhaps even more so folks who are suffering under the current Iranian regime, and maybe even other, similar regimes in the region. Which again, in terms of spreading democracy and human rights, sounds pretty good to some ears.That said, Israel is killing a lot of Iranian civilians alongside military targets, and its efforts in Gaza have led to accusations that it's committing genocide in the region. Israeli leaders have themselves been accused of anti-democratic actions, basically doubling-down on the nation's furthest-right, most militant, and most authoritarian and theocratic impulses, which makes any claims of moral superiority a little tricky for them to make, at this point.There's a chance, of course, that all this speculation and analysis ends up being completely off-base, and Israel is really, truly just trying to hobble Iran a bit, taking out some of their missile launchers and missile- and drone-manufacturing capacity, while also pushing back their acquisition of nuclear weapons by some meaningful amount of time; that amount of time currently unknown, as initial reports, at least, indicate that many of the attacks on Iran's most vital nuclear research and development facilities were perhaps not as effective as Israel had hoped. There's a chance that if enough overall damage is done, Iran's government will enthusiastically return to the negotiating table and perhaps be convinced to set their nuclear program aside willingly, but at the moment both Iran and Israel seem committed to hurting each other, physically.On that note, so far, as of the day I'm recording this, Iran has launched around 100 missiles, killed a few dozen Israelis, and injured more than 500 of the same. The Iranian government has said Israel's strikes have killed at least 224 people and wounded more than 1,200; though a human rights group says the death toll in Iran could be quite a bit higher than official government numbers, with more than 400 people killed, around half of them civilians, so far.It's been nearly a week of this, and it looks likely that these strikes will continue for at least another few days, though many analysts are now saying they expect this to go one for at least a few weeks, if indeed Israel is trying to knock out some of Iran's more hardened nuclear program-related targets; several of which are buried deep down in the ground, thus requiring bunker-buster-style missiles to reach and destroy, and Israel doesn't have such weapons in their arsenal.Neutralizing those targets would therefore mean either getting those kinds of weapons from the US or other allies, taking them out via some other means, which would probably take more time and entail more risk, or doing enough damage quickly than Iran's government is forced to the negotiation table.And if that ends up being the case, if Israel is really just gunning for the nuclear program and nothing else, this could be remembered as a significant strike, but one that mostly maintains the current status quo; same Iranian leadership, same perpetual conflict between these two nations, but Israel boasting even more of an upper-hand than before, with less to worry about in terms of serious damage from Iran or its proxies for the next several years, minimum.It does seem like a good moment to undertake regime change in Iran, though, as doing so could help Israel polish up its reputation, at least a little, following the reputational drubbing it has taken because of its actions in Gaza. I doubt people who have really turned on Israel would be convinced, as doing away with an abusive, extremist regime, while doing abusive, extremist regime stuff yourself the homefront, probably won't be an argument that convinces many Palestinian liberation-oriented people; there's a chance some of those people will even take up the cause of Iranian civilians, which is true to a point, as many Iranian civilians are suffering and will continue to suffer under Israel's attacks—though of course that leaves out the part about them also suffering, for much longer, under their current government.That said, taking Iran out of the geopolitical equation would serve a lot of international interests, including those of the US—which has long hated Iran—and Ukraine, the latter of which because Russia has allied itself with the Iranian government, and buys a lot of drones, among other weapons, from Iran. That regime falling could make life more difficult for Russia, at least in the short term, and it would mean another ally lost in the region, following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria in late-2024.There's a chance that these same geopolitical variables could pull other players into this conflict, though: Russia could help Iran, for instance, directly or indirectly, by sending supplies, taking out Israeli missiles and drones, maybe, while the US could help Israel (more directly, that is, as it's apparently already helping them by shooting down some of Iran's counterstrike projectiles) by providing bunker-buster weapons, or striking vital military targets from a distance.Such an escalation, on either side, would probably be pretty bad for everyone except possibly Iran, though Israel has said it wants the US to join in on its side, as that would likely result in a much quicker victory and far fewer casualties on its side.The US government is pretty keen to keep out of foreign conflicts right now, though, at least directly, and Russia is pretty bogged down by its invasion of Ukraine; there's a chance other regional powers, even smaller ones, could act as proxies for these larger, outside forces—the Saudis taking the opportunity to score some damage on their long-time rival, Iran, for instance, by helping out Israel—but any such acts would expand the scope of the conflict, and it's seldom politically expedient to do anything that might require your people make any kind of sacrifice, so most everyone will probably stay out of this as long as they can, unless there are serious benefits to doing so.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2025_Israeli_strikes_on_Iranhttps://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/06/13/israel-iran-regime-attack-goal-column-00405153https://www.foreignaffairs.com/israel/real-threat-iran-tehran-most-dangerous-option-responding-israelhttps://www.twz.com/news-features/could-iran-carry-out-its-threat-to-shut-the-strait-of-hormuzhttps://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-857713https://kyivindependent.com/israel-asks-us-to-join-strikes-on-irans-nuclear-sites-officials-told-axios/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-15-2025/https://www.twz.com/air/israel-escalates-to-attacking-iranian-energy-targets-after-ballistic-missiles-hit-tel-avivhttps://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-strikes-news-06-14-25https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-confirms-irgc-air-force-chief-top-echelon-killed-in-israeli-strike/https://time.com/7294186/israel-warns-tehran-will-burn-deadly-strikes-traded-nuclear-program/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/14/world/israel-iran-newshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/13/opinion/israel-iran-strikes.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/drones-smuggled-israel-iran-ukraine-russia.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/15/world/iran-israel-nuclearhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/15/world/middleeast/iran-military-leaders-killed.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/14/world/europe/israel-iron-dome-defense.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/israel-iran-missile-attack.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/world/middleeast/iran-israel-energy-facility-strikes-tehran.htmlhttps://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-iran-strikes-news-06-15-25https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/was-israel-s-strike-on-iran-a-good-idea--four-questions-to-askhttps://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-missile-attacks-nuclear-news-06-16-2025-c98074e62ce5afd4c3f6d33edaffa069https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/world/middleeast/iran-israel-war-off-ramp.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2024_Iranian_strikes_on_Israelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2024_Israeli_strikes_on_Iranhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Resistancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Lebanon_electronic_device_attacks This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

[01:10:06 – 01:12:27] — Assassination Rhetoric Against World Leaders Commentary criticizes U.S. figures like Lindsey Graham and Netanyahu for openly suggesting the assassination of world leaders, highlighting dangerous precedent and the erosion of international norms.[01:14:21 – 01:15:37] — Trump Threatens Tehran with Evacuation Warning Trump posts on Truth Social urging evacuation of Tehran and claiming Iran should have signed a deal, fueling fears of imminent U.S. military strikes and raising concerns of escalation.[01:20:53 – 01:23:03] — Israel Accused of Provoking War to Disrupt Diplomacy Israel is blamed for initiating the conflict days before scheduled nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, with calls for the U.S. to stop fighting Israel's wars.[01:24:00 – 01:25:01] — Lessons of Regime Change and Nuclear Deterrence Discussion of how countries like Iraq, Libya, and Syria were invaded or destabilized due to lacking nuclear deterrents, contrasting with how nuclear-armed nations like North Korea are treated.[01:52:41 – 01:54:50] — Gold Mining Company Converts Profits to Bitcoin A British gold mining company announces it will convert future profits into Bitcoin, part of a growing trend among corporations moving away from fiat currencies toward decentralized assets.[01:58:14 – 02:06:48] — False Flag Forecasts and Israel's Strategic Playbook A guest draws parallels between historic false flags and current Israeli military strategies, warning of a potential staged event to justify U.S. entry into war with Iran.[02:10:12:15 – 02:14:43:23] — Projection, False Flags, and Iran Conflict Setup Accusations of projection and propaganda are leveled at U.S. and Israeli officials, with claims that rhetoric about Iranian terrorism signals a potential false flag event to draw the U.S. into war.[02:17:14:14 – 02:20:28:19] — Captured Government vs. Shifting Public Opinion Despite alleged government capture by Israeli interests, public support for war and pro-Israel positions is said to be rapidly eroding, especially among younger Americans.[02:30:01:13 – 02:32:17:18] — False Flag Predictions and Strategic Framing Commentary outlines how a U.S. military loss may be staged and blamed on Iran to justify war, with Trump's ‘red line' message interpreted as preemptive cover for escalation.[02:37:45:08 – 02:42:47:13] — Mainstream and Alternative Media Co-optation The conversation highlights the collapse of mainstream media and accuses major alternative platforms of infiltration, advocating for independent outlets that publish uncensored early warnings.[03:06:01:06 – 03:08:06:26] — Anti-War Warning and Moral Clarity Reading from a Lou Rockwell article, the speaker affirms that any deaths from war with Iran would be in vain and driven by elite self-interest, not defense of country or freedom. [03:09:51:00 – 03:15:15:24] — Condemnation of War with Iran A passionate anti-war monologue warns that U.S. escalation with Iran would be immoral and unjustified, arguing that anyone supporting such war does so for corrupt reasons and at great cost to American lives and values.[03:26:07:02 – 03:31:17:27] — Fiat Currency Collapse and Gold's Role A detailed analysis of the post-gold-standard financial system argues that fiat currencies are collapsing, gold is exposing systemic lies, and a major monetary revolution is underway.[03:33:15:19 – 03:37:05:29] — Federal Reserve Critique and Historical Parallels The discussion critiques the Federal Reserve's influence, traces central banking failures from 1913 through the 2008 crash, and argues that modern monetary theory is a proven historical failure.[03:50:34:13 – 03:53:15:10] — Gold as a Threat to Global Financial Order Citing recent reports, gold's rise is presented as a direct threat to the global financial system, with the ECB warning of collapse due to massive unbacked gold derivative exposure. Follow the show on Kick and watch live every weekday 9:00am EST – 12:00pm EST https://kick.com/davidknightshow Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code KNIGHT Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.comIf you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-showOr you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

It's time for Leila Fadel at NPR to receive another award for her reporting. Last December, her stories from Syria after the fall of Assad were essential listening. And, as Rob notes in this episode of Sound School, her writing was top-notch. 

I want you all to remember something as we bring you up to date on the Iran Israel war. This was NEVER about Iran getting a nuclear weapon, that was irrelevant, it was always about regime change in Iran.

When a Syrian siege of Samaria leads to great suffering among the people of the northern kingdom, the LORD mercifully promises deliverance through the prophet Elisha, even as one of the king's captains mocks the LORD's name. Four lepers are the unlikely witnesses of the LORD's miraculous victory over Syria, and these same lepers share the gospel of salvation with all of Samaria. Although the king is skeptical, his servants convince him to go and see that the LORD's Word of victory has proved true. In the same way, the LORD's Word against the scoffing captain proves true, and he enjoys none of the spoils of the LORD's victory.  Rev. Sean Daenzer, director of worship for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and chaplain for the International Center in St. Louis, MO, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 7:1-20.  "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Arab regimes across the Middle East have had a long history of comparative disinterest towards the Palestinian cause and apathy towards their emancipation. Israel has found willing collaborators in Egypt, Syria and the Gulf states, all of whom are happy to collaborate in the unfolding war with Iran.*****STOP PRESS*****I only ever talk about history on this podcast but I also have another life, yes, that of aspirant fantasy author and if that's your thing you can get a copy of my debut novel The Blood of Tharta, right here:Israel, Iran and the USA are locked in an existential struggle in the Middle East, this episodeHelp the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon hereOr you can just say some nice things about it here Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/explaininghistory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our hearts are heavy this week as we compare the Empire's actions on Ghorman to real-world parallels. This week, as we recap Andor's “Who Are You?” (S2, E8), we draw connections to the Gleiwitz incident that kicked off WWII, student massacres in Tiananmen Square, and sniper deaths in Syria—plus the Los Angeles protests and Minnesota political assassinations. It has not been a fun week, y'all!!!!We talk false flag operations, compare the story of Ghorman to that of Lothal, and ask whether non-violent protest would have gotten the Ghormans any further. And we finally close the chapter on Star Wars' most compelling couple.New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (We had 45+ minutes of bonus audio content to record for this episode!)Timestamps:00:00:00 Who Are We?00:02:44 Plot Summary00:13:10 Historical Parallels to Ghorman00:28:15 Violent vs. Nonviolent Protest00:35:18 The Gorman Story vs. Lothal00:39:29 Dedra and Syril's Fall From Grace00:55:49 Bae Watch01:05:02 Closing Thoughts

REVIEW: Colleague Ahmad Sharawi of FDD confirms that the Iraqi militias condemn al-Sharaa, the self-named president of Syria, for his al-Qaeda joined violence in Iraq following the fall of Saddam Hussein. More. 1924 BAGHDAD

In this episode, I break down the truth about what's really happening between Israel and Iran — beyond the headlines, politics, and propaganda.We cover:

The LORD continues to work through the prophet Elisha in Israel. A sunken ax head is not too small for the LORD's attention, as the prophet restores this valuable possession to one of the sons of the prophets. When the king of Syria learns that Elisha is behind the foiled attempts to raid Israel, the Syrian king foolishly thinks he can capture the LORD's prophet. The LORD allows Elisha's servant to see the angelic army protecting Elisha from the Syrian army. Nonetheless, the LORD shows mercy upon those who intend His prophet harm, and He delivers His people from the Syrian threat for a time.  Rev. Andy Wright, pastor at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Kings 6:1-33.  To learn more about St. John's, visit www.stjohnlcmstopeka.org. "A Kingdom Divided” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Kings. The division in the kingdom of Israel in this part of history was greater than a matter of north and south. The biggest division was between the people and their God. Yet even as the people rebelled against the LORD as their King, still He remained faithful to call them back to Himself through His prophets, working through history to send the good and gracious King, Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

We’re coming to you on Sundays with weekly roundups as Israel’s war on Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria continues. Israel attacks Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran. Palestinians continue to be attacked and killed at aid sites across Gaza. Five Western countries announce sanctions on two Israeli ministers. It is day 618 of the war on Gaza where at least 55,362 Palestinians have been killed. In this episode: Caley Callahan, Al Jazeera journalist Tohid Asadi, Al Jazeera reporter Tareq Abu Azzoum, (@abuoazzum), Al Jazeera Correspondent Nour Odeh, (@nourodeh), Al Jazeera Senior Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was hosted by Nida Ibrahim and produced by Marthe van der Wolf. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The second iteration of Donald Trump's travel ban goes into effect.A federal judge rules that the government must release Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.The International Monetary Fund looks to support Syria's economic recovery, saying that it will require investment from abroad.And, more deaths are reported at food aid distribution sites in the Gaza Strip.Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

FROM TODAY'S RECAP: - Exodus 31:3 - Philippians 1:6 - Video: Model of Solomon's Temple - Video: A'in Dara Temple in Syria (before/after air strikes) - TBR on YouTube Note: We provide links to specific resources; this is not an endorsement of the entire website, author, organization, etc. Their views may not represent our own. SHOW NOTES: - Follow The Bible Recap: Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube - Follow Tara-Leigh Cobble: Instagram - Read/listen on the Bible App or Dwell App - Learn more at our Start Page - Become a RECAPtain - Shop the TBR Store - Credits PARTNER MINISTRIES: D-Group International Israelux The God Shot TLC Writing & Speaking DISCLAIMER: The Bible Recap, Tara-Leigh Cobble, and affiliates are not a church, pastor, spiritual authority, or counseling service. Listeners and viewers consume this content on a voluntary basis and assume all responsibility for the resulting consequences and impact.