Podcasts about syrian

In 2012, US President Barack Obama stated that the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on its population would cross a red line that would require the US government to reconsider its approach to the civil war then underway in Syria. Syria subsequently used such weapons, creating a policy dilemma for the United States about how to respond to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violation of the red line.In Coercing Syria on Chemical Weapons (Oxford UP, 2025), Matthew Moran, Wyn Q. Bowen, and Jeffrey W. Knopf examine efforts by the United States, sometimes acting with France and the United Kingdom, to respond to Syria's possession and use of chemical weapons over the course of its civil war. In particular, they focus on US strategy during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, which relied heavily on coercion, including deterrent and compellent variants. As the authors show, policies directed at the ruling Assad regime in Syria attempted to deter chemical weapons attacks and to compel Syria to give up its chemical arsenal with mixed outcomes. Drawing on the existing literature on deterrence and coercive diplomacy to identify three propositions — concerning credibility, motivations, and assurances — the book explains the mixed record of coercive success and failure and examines how effective coercive strategies were at different points and why.Drawing on the most significant attempt in the post-Cold War era to deter the use of a weapon of mass destruction, this book offers theoretical and practical lessons for both security studies scholars and policymakers. Our guest is Professor Jeff Knopf, a Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), where he serves as chair of the M.A. program in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In 2012, US President Barack Obama stated that the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on its population would cross a red line that would require the US government to reconsider its approach to the civil war then underway in Syria. Syria subsequently used such weapons, creating a policy dilemma for the United States about how to respond to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violation of the red line.In Coercing Syria on Chemical Weapons (Oxford UP, 2025), Matthew Moran, Wyn Q. Bowen, and Jeffrey W. Knopf examine efforts by the United States, sometimes acting with France and the United Kingdom, to respond to Syria's possession and use of chemical weapons over the course of its civil war. In particular, they focus on US strategy during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, which relied heavily on coercion, including deterrent and compellent variants. As the authors show, policies directed at the ruling Assad regime in Syria attempted to deter chemical weapons attacks and to compel Syria to give up its chemical arsenal with mixed outcomes. Drawing on the existing literature on deterrence and coercive diplomacy to identify three propositions — concerning credibility, motivations, and assurances — the book explains the mixed record of coercive success and failure and examines how effective coercive strategies were at different points and why.Drawing on the most significant attempt in the post-Cold War era to deter the use of a weapon of mass destruction, this book offers theoretical and practical lessons for both security studies scholars and policymakers. Our guest is Professor Jeff Knopf, a Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), where he serves as chair of the M.A. program in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

In 2012, US President Barack Obama stated that the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on its population would cross a red line that would require the US government to reconsider its approach to the civil war then underway in Syria. Syria subsequently used such weapons, creating a policy dilemma for the United States about how to respond to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violation of the red line.In Coercing Syria on Chemical Weapons (Oxford UP, 2025), Matthew Moran, Wyn Q. Bowen, and Jeffrey W. Knopf examine efforts by the United States, sometimes acting with France and the United Kingdom, to respond to Syria's possession and use of chemical weapons over the course of its civil war. In particular, they focus on US strategy during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, which relied heavily on coercion, including deterrent and compellent variants. As the authors show, policies directed at the ruling Assad regime in Syria attempted to deter chemical weapons attacks and to compel Syria to give up its chemical arsenal with mixed outcomes. Drawing on the existing literature on deterrence and coercive diplomacy to identify three propositions — concerning credibility, motivations, and assurances — the book explains the mixed record of coercive success and failure and examines how effective coercive strategies were at different points and why.Drawing on the most significant attempt in the post-Cold War era to deter the use of a weapon of mass destruction, this book offers theoretical and practical lessons for both security studies scholars and policymakers. Our guest is Professor Jeff Knopf, a Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), where he serves as chair of the M.A. program in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/middle-eastern-studies

In 2012, US President Barack Obama stated that the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons on its population would cross a red line that would require the US government to reconsider its approach to the civil war then underway in Syria. Syria subsequently used such weapons, creating a policy dilemma for the United States about how to respond to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's violation of the red line.In Coercing Syria on Chemical Weapons (Oxford UP, 2025), Matthew Moran, Wyn Q. Bowen, and Jeffrey W. Knopf examine efforts by the United States, sometimes acting with France and the United Kingdom, to respond to Syria's possession and use of chemical weapons over the course of its civil war. In particular, they focus on US strategy during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, which relied heavily on coercion, including deterrent and compellent variants. As the authors show, policies directed at the ruling Assad regime in Syria attempted to deter chemical weapons attacks and to compel Syria to give up its chemical arsenal with mixed outcomes. Drawing on the existing literature on deterrence and coercive diplomacy to identify three propositions — concerning credibility, motivations, and assurances — the book explains the mixed record of coercive success and failure and examines how effective coercive strategies were at different points and why.Drawing on the most significant attempt in the post-Cold War era to deter the use of a weapon of mass destruction, this book offers theoretical and practical lessons for both security studies scholars and policymakers. Our guest is Professor Jeff Knopf, a Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), where he serves as chair of the M.A. program in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies. Our host is Eleonora Mattiacci, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. She is the author of "Volatile States in International Politics" (Oxford University Press, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

It's been almost three months since one of the deadliest mass shootings in Australia's recent history... when 15 people were killed at Sydney's Bondi Beach. 43-year-old Syrian-born Australian tobacco shop owner Ahmed Al- Ahmed tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen, a moment caputred on a video which went viral around the world. He describes the incident as 'painful'. He was shot multiple times while tackling the attacker, undergoing surgery for his injuries. He spoke to SBS Arabic's Dima Alkaed about what happened that day... and his plans moving forward.

What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate”, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the Islamic State group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This series from the Global Jigsaw explores the trauma that led to the prolonged existence of the camps and what the future might hold for their residents. In part three, we discuss justice and rehabilitation, as well as where the latest dramatic events leave the story.Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Barry Marston, Clare Denning, Samia Hosny, Mohammed al-Jumaily, Bryn Windsor Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham

Kevork Almassian is an award-winning journalist, Syrian from Aleppo living in Germany, and host of Syriana Analysis, an independent political commentary channel. He shares his thoughts on Iran, Trump administration underestimating this regime, boots on the ground, rising oil prices, and much more. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE LIKE AND SHARE THIS PODCAST!!!    Watch Show Rumble- https://rumble.com/v770c9c-trump-administration-does-not-understand-what-iran-is-kevork-almassian.html YouTube- https://youtu.be/aEC4YbxNvh8   Follow Me X- https://x.com/CoffeeandaMike IG- https://www.instagram.com/coffeeandamike/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/CoffeeandaMike/ YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@Coffeeandamike Rumble- https://rumble.com/search/all?q=coffee%20and%20a%20mike Substack- https://coffeeandamike.substack.com/ Apple Podcasts- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-and-a-mike/id1436799008 Gab- https://gab.com/CoffeeandaMike Locals- https://coffeeandamike.locals.com/ Website- www.coffeeandamike.com Email- info@coffeeandamike.com   Support My Work Venmo- https://www.venmo.com/u/coffeeandamike Paypal- https://www.paypal.com/biz/profile/Coffeeandamike Substack- https://coffeeandamike.substack.com/ Patreon- http://patreon.com/coffeeandamike Locals- https://coffeeandamike.locals.com/ Cash App- https://cash.app/$coffeeandamike Buy Me a Coffee- https://buymeacoffee.com/coffeeandamike Bitcoin- coffeeandamike@strike.me   Mail Check or Money Order- Coffee and a Mike LLC P.O. Box 25383 Scottsdale, AZ 85255-9998   Follow Kevork X-  https://x.com/KevorkAlmassian YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@SyrianaAnalysis Rumble- https://rumble.com/user/syrianaanalysis?e9s=src_v1_cmd Substack- https://kevorkalmassian.substack.com/   Sponsors Vaulted/Precious Metals- https://vaulted.blbvux.net/coffeeandamike McAlvany Precious Metals- https://mcalvany.com/coffeeandamike/

Different customs exist regarding the phrase "Le'alam U'l'almeh Almaya" in the "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" response to Kaddish. Some recite this phrase this way, whereas others omit the letter Vav from "U'l'almeh" and recite simply "Le'almeh." The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work Od Yosef Hai, writes that the word should be pronounced "Le'almeh," without the letter Vav at the beginning. He explains that the "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" response is meant to consist of 28 letters, and if the Vav is included, this response consists of 29 letters. Therefore, the Vav must be omitted. This is the position also of the Kaf Ha'haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Jerusalem, 1870-1939). This argument assumes that the word "Shemeh" in "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" is spelled with a Yod (Shin, Mem, Yod, Heh). In some Siddurim, this word is spelled without the letter Yod, thus allowing for the Vav to be included in "U'l'almeh" without exceeding 28 letters. It is true that, as discussed in a previous installment, the Mahzor Vitri understood the phrase "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" as a prayer that the divine Name, which currently contains only the letters Yod and Heh, should become complete, and according to this reading, the word "Shemeh" is read as "Shem Yod-Heh" ("the Name of Yod-Heh"). However, as we saw, Halacha does not follow this opinion, and therefore it is acceptable to omit the letter Yod from the word "Shemeh." Moreover, Hacham Ovadia Yosef noted that Maran (author of the Shulhan Aruch), in Bet Yosef, clearly follows the opinion that the correct text is "U'l'almeh," and this is how the word appears in the texts of earlier Rabbis such as Rav Saadia Gaon, Rav Amram Gaon, the Rambam, and others. Hacham Ovadia asserts that in light of these sources, a Kabbalistic teaching involving the significance of the number 28 does not justify altering the text. By contrast, Rav Meir Mazuz (1945-2025), who was a renowned expert in grammar, maintained that the correct text is "Le'almeh." Rav Moshe Rahamim Shayo (contemporary), in his Mehkereh Aretz, writes that in the Bet Obed edition of the Siddur, which was used by the Jewish communities of Aleppo, Syria, the text reads "Le'almeh," without the letter Vav. This text also appears in the Siddur published by Rav Abraham Hamway, and this was the ruling of Rav Yeshayahu Dayan (1833-1903), head of Aleppo's Rabbinical court. There is also testimony that later, in the times of Aleppo's Chief Rabbi Moshe Mizrahi (1863-1955), Rav Mizrahi sharply reprimanded a member of the community who recited "U'l'almeh" instead of the "Le'almeh," which was the accepted custom in Aleppo. In the Kol Yaakob edition of the Siddur, which is used by many Syrian Jews, the word appears as "U'l'almeh," but this is a mistake, as the custom in Aleppo was clearly to say "Le'almeh." In practice, therefore, it is proper for members of the Syrian community to recite "Le'almeh," and not "U'l'almeh." Summary: In the "Yeheh Shemeh Rabba" response to Kaddish, the word "Le'almeh" appears this way in some editions of the Siddur, and in others, "U'l'almeh," with the letter Vav at the beginning. The text that should be followed by members of the Syrian community is "Le'almeh."

What happens when ordinary people try to build a democracy from scratch in the middle of a civil war — and what happens when it falls apart? In this episode, our host Kelly McFarland sits down with journalist and author Anand Gopal, a three-time Pulitzer finalist, to discuss his new book Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution. The book follows six individuals in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, where residents overthrew the Assad regime in 2012 and launched a remarkable 18-month experiment in participatory democracy, before inequality, economic crisis, and the rise of ISIS tore it apart. In this conversation: How 50 protesters grew into a citywide movement that toppled a dictatorship The assemblies, newspapers, and civic organizations that emerged from 40 years of authoritarian silence Why economic inequality — not just tyranny — proved to be democracy's greatest threat How ISIS recruited ordinary, secular Syrians through populist rhetoric, not just ideology The role of women in the revolution and the double battle against both the regime and patriarchal norms What Syria's story tells us about radicalization, democratic fragility, and the long arc of revolution Lessons from comparing Syria's struggle to the French Revolution About the Guest: Anand Gopal is a journalist and author who has covered Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria for over a decade. His new book Days of Love and Rage is based on eight years of reporting and nearly 2,000 interviews. It was published on March 3rd. Produced by Freddie Mallinson and Mislav Majcan. Recorded on March 9, 2026. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world. Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. For more, visit our website, and follow us on Linkedin, Twitter @GUDiplomacy, and Instagram @gudiplomacy  

What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate”, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the Islamic State group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This three-part series from the Global Jigsaw explores the trauma that led to their prolonged existence and how it might affect their future. In part two, we examine where governments are drawing the line on repatriation, from Britain's tough stance to Kazakhstan's model of success. Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Jiyar Gol, Barry Marston, Clare Denning, Mohammed Al-Jumaily, Bryn Windsor Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham

Oldest Stories Album available here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/oldeststoriesmusic/oldest-stories-vol-1 but also possibly on your favorite music distributor service also. Check it out!This episode examines the middle years of the reign of Sargon II of Assyria (r. 722–705 BCE) during a brief period when the Assyrian Empire faced unusually little large-scale war. Following Sargon's major victory over Urartu in 714–713 BCE, the geopolitical balance of the Near East shifted dramatically. Urartu, long the primary rival to Assyria in the Armenian highlands, was weakened both by Sargon's campaign and by the simultaneous arrival of Cimmerian nomadic groups moving south from the Eurasian steppe. With the northern frontier temporarily stabilized, Assyria was able to redirect attention to other regions of the empire.The episode explores several smaller conflicts and political developments across the western and northern frontiers of the Assyrian state. These include Assyrian responses to Ionian Greek activity in the eastern Mediterranean, tensions involving the kingdom of Phrygia under King Midas, and Assyrian intervention in Que (Cilicia) and surrounding Anatolian regions. At the same time, Sargon dealt with internal revolts and political instability among the Medes, the mountain regions of Ellipi and Karalla, and the frontier kingdoms of Tabal and Melid. These campaigns illustrate the normal functioning of Assyrian imperial policy: suppression of rebellions, deportations of local populations, and the conversion of client kingdoms into directly administered Assyrian provinces.A major focus of the episode is the internal operation of the Assyrian imperial system during periods without major war. The construction of Dur-Sharrukin (Khorsabad), Sargon II's new royal capital, was underway during these years and required enormous logistical coordination. The episode discusses how the Assyrian state mobilized labor through the ilku labor obligation, how deported populations enabled large-scale construction and agricultural expansion, and how provincial governors coordinated the movement of materials such as timber, metals, and stone across the empire. Additional projects included fortress construction along frontier regions, mining expansion in the Zagros and Syrian territories, canal digging, orchard planting, and temple renovation in major Assyrian cities.The episode also examines Assyria's economic structure and trade environment during Sargon's reign. Evidence from administrative letters suggests increased regulation of trade routes and resource flows, including restrictions on certain goods such as iron. Interactions with Arab tribes and desert traders, including references to Queen Samsi of the Arabs, highlight the complex relationship between Assyria and nomadic groups operating on the edges of imperial control.Finally, the narrative turns to renewed instability in the west triggered by rumors of Sargon's death and unfavorable omens. Rebellions in Philistine Ashdod, Gurgum, and Kammanu prompted swift Assyrian retaliation, demonstrating the continuing reliance on rapid punitive campaigns to maintain imperial authority. These events mark the end of the short period of relative calm and set the stage for Sargon's major campaign to reclaim Babylon, which had been lost earlier in his reign after the revolt of Merodach-Baladan and Elamite intervention.I am also doing daily history facts again, at least until I run out of time again. You can find Oldest Stories daily on Tiktok and Youtube Shorts.If you like the show, consider sharing with your friends, leaving a like, subscribing, or even supporting financially:Buy the Oldest Stories books: https://a.co/d/7Wn4jhSDonate here: https://oldeststories.net/or on patreon: https://patreon.com/JamesBleckleyor on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCG2tPxnHNNvMd0VrInekaA/joinYoutube and Patreon members get access to bonus content produced when and as I have time.

What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate", tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This three-part series from The Global Jigsaw explores the trauma that led to the prolonged existence of these camps and what the future might hold for their residents. In part one, we zoom in on the tent city of al-Hol.Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Jiyar Gol, Barry Marston, Mohammed Al-Jumaily Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham

This week we talk about Khamenei, Trump, and Netanyahu.We also discuss Venezuela, Cuba, and cartels.Recommended Book: Plagues upon the Earth by Kyle HarperTranscriptAli Hosseini Khamenei was an opposition politician in the lead-up to the Iranian Revolution that, in 1979, resulted in the overthrow of the Shah—the country's generally Western government-approved royal leader—and installed the Islamic Republic, an extremely conservative Shia government that took the reins of Iran following the Shah's toppling.Khamenei was Iran's third president, post-Shah, and he was president during the Iran-Iraq War from 1981-1989, during which the Supreme Leader of Iran, the head of the country, Ruhollah Khomeini sought the overthrow of then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Khomeini died the same year the war ended, 1989, and Khamenei was elected to the role of Supreme Leader by the country's Assembly of Experts, which is responsible for determining such roles.The new Supreme Leader Khamenei was reportedly initially concerned that he wasn't suitable for the role, as his predecessor was a Grand Ayatollah of the faith, while he was just a mid-rank cleric, but the constitution of Iran was amended so that higher religious office was no longer required in a Supreme Leader, and in short order Khamenei moved to expound upon Iran's non-military nuclear program, to expand the use and reach of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in-country and throughout the region, and he doubled-down on supporting regional proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza, incorporating them into the so-called Axis of Resistance that stands against Western interests in the region—the specifics of which have varied over the decades, but which currently includes the aforementioned Hezbollah and Houthis, alongside smaller groups in neighboring countries, like Shiite militias in Bahrain, and forces that operate in other regional spheres of influence, like North Korea, Venezuela, and at times, portions of the Syrian government.Khamenei also reinforced the Iranian government's power over pretty much every aspect of state function, disempowering political opponents, cracking down on anyone who doesn't toe a very conservative extremist line—women showing their hair in public, for instance, have been black-bagged and sometimes killed while in custody—and thoroughly entangled the functions of state with the Iranian military, consolidating essentially all power under his office, Supreme Leader, while violently cracking down on anyone who opposed his doing whatever he pleased, as was the case with a wave of late-2025, early 2026 protests across the country, during which Iranian government forces massacred civilians, killing somewhere between 3,000 and 35,000 people, depending on whose numbers you believe.What I'd like to talk about today is a new war with Iran, kicked off by attacks on the country from Israel and the United States that led with the killing of Khamenei and a bunch of his higher-up officers, how this conflict is spreading across the region and concerns about that spreading, and what might happen next.—On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a wave of joint air attacks against Iran, hitting mostly military and government sites across the country. One of the targets was Khamenei's compound, and his presence there, above-ground, which was unusual for him, as he spent most of his time deep underground in difficult-to-hit bunkers, alongside a bunch of government and military higher-ups, may have been the rationale for launching all of these attacks on that day, as the attackers were able to kill him and five other top-level Iranian leaders, who he was meeting with, at the same time.This wave of attacks followed the largest military buildup of US forces in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq back in 2003, and while military and government targets were prioritized, that initial wave also demolished a lot of civilian structures, including schools, hospitals, and the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, leading to a whole lot of civilian casualties and fatalities, as well.In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, and at US bases throughout the region—these bases located in otherwise uninvolved countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Iranian missiles and drones also hit non-military targets, and in some cases maybe accidentally hit civilian infrastructure, in Azerbaijan, and Oman, alongside a British military base on the island of Cyprus.The Iranian president apologized in early March for his country's lashing out at pretty much everyone, saying that there were miscommunications within the Iranian military, and that Iran wouldn't hit anyone else, including countries with US bases, so long as US attacks didn't originate from those bases.Despite that apology, though, Iranian missiles and drones continued to land in many of those neighboring countries following his remarks, raising questions about communications and control within the now-decapitated Iranian military.This new conflict follows long-simmering tensions between Iran and Israel—the former of which has said it will someday wipe the latter from the face of the Earth, considering its existence an abomination—and long-simmering tensions related to Iran's nuclear program, which the government has continuously said is just for civilian, energy purposes, but which pretty much everyone suspects, with a fair bit of evidence, is, in parallel, also a weapons program.Iran's influence throughout the region has been truncated in recent years, due to a sequence of successes by the Israeli military and intelligence services, which allowed them to hobble or nearly wipe out traditional Iranian proxy forces like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, which have collectively surrounded and menaced Israel for decades.Those menacing forces more or less handled, Israel has become more aggressive in its confrontations with Iran, exchanging large air attacks several times over the past handful of years, and the US under Trump's second term continues to see Iran as the main opposition to their efforts to build a US-aligned counterbalance against Russian and Chinese influence in the Middle East, with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and increasingly entities like Qatar and the UAE playing ball with the West, while Iran and its allies stand firm against the West.Trump has regularly threatened to act in Iran, usually waiting for the Iranian government to do something really bad, like that recent massacre of civilians following those large anti-government protests in late-2025, early 2026, and that to some degree has served as justification for the massing of US military assets in the region, leading up to this attack.Now that the attack has launched, a new war triggered, the question is how big it will get and how long it will last.For the moment, it looks like Iran's government and military is very much on the back foot, a lot of their assets taken out in that initial wave, and they're still scrambling to put someone in charge to replace Khamenei and those other higher-ups who were assassinated at the outset of this war—that'll likely change soon, maybe even before this episode goes live. But whomever takes the reins will have quite the task ahead of them, probably—according to many analysts, at least—aiming to just hold out until the US runs out of ammunition, which is expected to happen within a week or so, at which point Iran can launch surgical attacks, aiming to make this war too expensive, in terms of money and US lives, for the Trump administration to continue investing in, as money and lives are especially expensive in an election year, which 2026 is. So the idea is to grind the US down until it makes more political sense for Trump to just declare victory and leave, rather than allowing this to become a Vietnam or Afghanistan situation for his administration.It's also generally expected that when the US pulls out, Israel probably will too, as they've already made their point, tallied a bunch of victories, and set Iran back in a lot of ways; they could walk away whenever they like and say they won. And Iran would probably be incentivized to, at that point, avoid doing anything that would lead to more punishment, though they would almost certainly immediately begin rebuilding the same exact centralized, militarized infrastructure that was damaged, the only difference being they would have someone else on top, as the Supreme Leader. Relations could be even worse moving forward, but it would probably be at least a few years before Iran could do anything too significant to their regional enemies, which I guess if you're Israel does, in fact, represent a win.But considering the unlikelihood of permanent change in Iran, the big question here, in the minds of many, is what this war, this attack, is even for.For Israel, the main purpose of any attack against Iran is to weaken or destroy an enemy that has made no secret about wanting to weaken and destroy them. For the US, though, and the Trump administration more specifically, the point of all this isn't as clear.Some contend that this is another effort to steal attention and headlines from the increasingly horrifying revelations coming out of the investigation into the Epstein files, which seem to indicate Trump himself was involved in all sorts of horrible, pedophilic sexual assault activities with the late human-trafficker.Some suspect that the apparent victory in grabbing former Venezuelan president Maduro from his own country and whisking him away to the US without suffering any US casualties has emboldened Trump, and that he's going to use the time he's got to take out anyone he doesn't like, and may even specifically target authoritarian leaders who will not be missed—who oppress and kill their own people—because then it's difficult for his political opponents to call him out on these efforts.Most Venezuelans are happy to see Maduro gone, and many Iranians celebrated when Khamenei was assassinated. Trump has publicly stated that he intends to go after Cuba, next, and continues to suggest he wants a war of sorts with Mexican and south and central American cartels, which follows this same pattern of demonstrating a muscular, aggressive, militarized United States doing whatever it wants, even to the point of kidnapping or assassinating foreign leaders, but doing so in a way that is difficult to argue against, because the leaders and other forces being taken out are so horrible, at times to the point of being monstrous, that these acts, as illegal as they are according to internal laws, can still seem very justified, through some lenses.Still others have said they believe this is purely an Israeli op, and the US under Trump is just helping out one of Trump's buddies, Israel's Netanyahu, who wants to keep his country embroiled in war in order to avoid being charged for corruption.The real rationale could be a combination of these and other considerations, but the threat here, regionally, is real, especially if Iran continues to lash out at its neighbors.This part of the world is renowned for its fuel reserves and exports, and every time there's a Middle Eastern conflict, energy prices rise, globally, and other nations that produce such exports, like Russia, benefit financially because they can charge more for their oil and gas for a while—gas prices in the US have already increased by 14% over the past week as a result of the conflict—and those increases also then the raises the price of all sorts of other goods, spiking inflation.Another huge concern here, though, is that this part of the world is highly reliant on the desalination of water just to survive; massive desalination plants, most located along the coast, where they are very exposed to military threats, are at risk if Iran and Saudi Arabia, or Kuwait, or Oman start firing at each other in earnest.About 90% of Kuwait's drinking water comes from these sorts of plants, and about 86% of Oman's and 70% of Saudi Arabia's do, as well.Earlier in this war, a US strike damaged an Iranian desalination plant, and the Iranian foreign minister made a not-so-veiled threat against such plants in neighboring countries, saying the US set the precedent of attacking such infrastructure, not them.Worth noting here, too, is that many desalination plants are attached to power stations, located within the same facility, so attacks on power infrastructure, which are already common in any conflict, could also lead to more damaged desalination plants, all of which could in turn create massive humanitarian crises, as people living in some of the hottest, driest parts of the world find themselves, in the millions, without drinkable water.The potential for a spiraling humanitarian disaster increases with each passing day, then, which would seem to increase the likelihood that someone will stop, declare victory, and move on to the next conflict. But there's always the chance the one or more of the involved forces will clamp down and decide that it's in their best interest to keep things going as long as possible, instead—and in this case, it would likely be Iran playing that role, locking the US and Israel and their allies into a grinding, long-term conflict that no one would actually win.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Resistancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ruhollah_Khomeinihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_massacreshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Khameneihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Ali_Khameneihttps://www.eurasiareview.com/08032026-strikes-continue-despite-iranian-presidents-apology/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-rejects-settling-iran-war-raises-prospect-killing-all-its-potential-2026-03-08/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/irans-retaliation-began-us-officials-scrambled-arrange-evacuations-2026-03-07/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/mapping-crisis-iran-visual-explainer-2026-03-06/https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-08-2026https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-8-2026-f0b20dbffaea9351ae1e54183ffe53ffhttps://apnews.com/article/iran-war-desalination-water-oil-middle-east-12b23f2fa26ed5c4a10f80c4077e61cehttps://apnews.com/video/trump-says-us-will-turn-attention-to-cuba-after-war-with-iran-91c3f239c18349fdb409f901c50b7e71https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/08/world/iran-war-trump-israel-lebanonhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/us/politics/trump-russia-ukraine-iran-war.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/us/politics/iran-war-first-week.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/08/opinion/iran-war-ayatollah.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war 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

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 St. Isaac places hope after the first labor of virtue for a reason. A man must first discover that his virtues cannot save him. He fasts. He keeps vigil. He disciplines the body. He restrains the passions. He learns obedience to the commandments. Yet even after these labors something remains uncertain within him. The heart still trembles before the future. The mind still calculates. The soul still tries to secure itself. Virtue alone does not destroy fear. Because fear is rooted in the illusion that life depends upon us. So Isaac begins to speak about hope. Not optimism. Not religious comfort. Not the quiet belief that God will make things easier. Divine hope is something far more terrible. Divine hope appears when a man finally believes the words of Christ. “Make no provision for the flesh.” The man who hopes in God no longer arranges his life around survival. He arranges it around God. This is why Isaac describes the man who ceases to give thought to worldly provision. Such a man has not become careless. He has become free. He has discovered something the world does not understand. God is not an idea that accompanies life. God is life. The world trains us to think first about preservation. Food. Clothing. Shelter. Security. Reputation. Position. The future. Even religious men often organize their spiritual life around these concerns. They seek God but only after they have secured themselves. Christ reverses this order. Seek first the Kingdom. Not second. Not after your plans are settled. Not after the future is secured. First. When this commandment is believed, everything changes. Afflictions no longer appear as threats. Loss no longer appears as catastrophe. Uncertainty no longer produces panic. The man who hopes in God has already placed his life in God's hands. Nothing remains to defend. This is why the saints could live with such strange freedom. They possessed little. They planned little. They secured little. Yet they lacked nothing. The world itself began to serve them. Not because they controlled the world but because they had already abandoned it. Divine hope therefore exposes the false hope that governs most lives. False hope says God will protect the life I am building. True hope says God Himself is my life. False hope clings to stability. True hope walks where Christ walks. Into uncertainty. Into poverty. Into the wilderness. Into the Cross. And yet the man who walks there does not despair. Because he has discovered something greater than safety. He has discovered the faithfulness of God. This is why Isaac places hope after the discipline of virtue. Virtue trains the body. Hope gives the heart to God. Without hope the ascetic life becomes anxiety dressed in religious clothing. With hope the man becomes light. He lives before God without calculation. He labors. He prays. He stands watch over the heart. And he entrusts everything else to the mercy of God. Such a man has begun to believe the Gospel. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:38:12 Janine: Happy are you poor 00:40:55 Jessica McHale: I feel as though the money, savings, job, housing I have is all a gift from God. My life has been a little complicated and I see these material things as passing--I don't have hope in them at all--but I feel blessed at what's He's given me. My job allows me to say the Hours and attend Divine Liturgy or Mass daily. If I lose all material things, it's no loss. God will provide. Living simply, even though I have security in "savings etc" makes me really see how unimportant material things are. I don't need most things the average person needs. I have a long way to holiness though, :). But this helps me to try to focus on God throughout the day and become more "ascetic" in the modern world. Praise God. 00:45:46 Nypaver Clan: Page # ? 00:45:50 Anthony: There are people Our Lord did not call to follow Him in the evangelical counsels.  The Gadarene demonic.  The man blind from birth. Even Nicodemus. Maybe I'm trying to justify myself, but I wonder if the evangelical counsels are for some people but not others 00:45:59 Andrew Adams: Replying to "Page # ?" 182 00:46:02 Eleana Urrego: 182 00:46:09 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "182" with

Third Reflection Lenten Retreat 2026 When God Begins to Take Everything On the Delusion of Belonging to God While Still Belonging to Oneself “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 There comes a point in the spiritual life when the man can no longer recognize himself. Until this point, he has struggled with visible things. With sins. With distractions. With passions that moved through his body and mind. He struggled to restrain them. He struggled to purify himself. He struggled to become faithful. This struggle had structure. It had direction. It had meaning. He could see what he was fighting. He could measure progress. He could recognize failure and repentance. He lived with the sense that he was moving toward God. Even when he failed, he knew where he stood. Even when he fell, he knew he could rise. His existence had continuity. His identity had stability. He was a man seeking God. He knew himself as such. Then something begins to happen that he cannot understand. God removes not sin, but support. Not temptation, but stability. Not rebellion, but ground. 1 Prayer continues, but something within it has disappeared. The words remain. The effort remains. The intention remains. But life has receded. He speaks to God, but he does not experience being heard. He calls, but nothing answers. He remembers when prayer gave him warmth, when the name of Christ carried sweetness, when he felt himself held in a presence greater than himself. Now that presence cannot be found. He does not know whether it has left or whether he has. St. Isaac the Syrian writes that there is a stage in which God withdraws the perceptible operation of grace so that the soul may be taught that it does not possess Him. This withdrawal is not punishment. It is revelation. Until this point, the man believed he depended on God. Now he sees that he depended on his experience of God. He depended on the stability that experience gave him. He depended on the sense that he knew where he stood. This sense has now been taken. He no longer knows where he stands. He no longer knows what he is. He no longer knows how to locate himself before God. Evagrios says that when grace withdraws, the soul is handed over to knowledge of its own powerlessness. 2 Not intellectual knowledge. Existential knowledge. The man discovers that he cannot produce even the smallest movement toward God by his own strength. He cannot restore what has been taken. He cannot recover the life he once knew. He cannot make himself alive again. This knowledge terrifies him. Because until now, he has lived with the assumption that he existed. That he endured. That he remained himself across time. That his relationship with God was something he inhabited. Now even this has dissolved. He experiences groundlessness. Not emotional instability. Ontological groundlessness. He cannot find the place within himself from which he once lived. St. Macarius the Great says that until the soul passes through abandonment, it cannot be freed from the illusion that it possesses life. This illusion is so subtle that even humility cannot destroy it. The man may believe he is nothing. He may confess his weakness. He may acknowledge his dependence. And still exist as the center of his own life. 3 God removes this center. Not suddenly. But completely. The man cannot stop this process. He cannot preserve himself. He cannot secure himself. Everything he relied on to know himself has been taken. This produces the deepest temptation. Not the temptation to sin. The temptation to restore himself. To rebuild identity. To recover stability. To become again the one he was. Many do this unconsciously. They reconstruct their religious self. They recover certainty. They regain structure. They resume existing as before. And they lose something they do not understand. They lose the possibility of union. Because union requires the disappearance of the one who lives apart from God. St. Paul writes with terrifying clarity, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3 4 Hidden. Not strengthened. Not improved. Hidden. The man can no longer find himself. Because he no longer exists where he once lived. Christ entered this darkness fully. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He entered the experience of abandonment. Not because He had lost the Father. But because He had surrendered every human ground. He stood where man stands when nothing remains. So that man could stand there and live. St. Silouan says, “Keep thy mind in hell and despair not.” Hell is the place where every support has been removed. Where the self cannot preserve itself. Where existence depends entirely on God. The ego cannot survive here. This is its death. The man who remains here without turning back passes beyond himself. But he does not yet know this. He knows only loss. 5 Only absence. Only the disappearance of the one he believed himself to be. This is the threshold of resurrection. But resurrection cannot yet be seen. Only death can be seen. And the man must remain. ⸻ This is the most terrible mercy God gives to those He draws near. Because as long as the man can still find himself, he still lives from himself. As long as he can still locate stability within his own experience, he has not yet been born of God. Christ said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 Remains alone. Even if it is righteous. Even if it is faithful. Even if it believes itself to belong to God. As long as it remains intact, it remains alone. St. Sophrony writes that God allows the soul to descend into this darkness so that it may learn to exist from Him alone and not from any created support, including its own experience of grace. This descent feels like death because it is death. The death of psychological continuity. The death of spiritual self recognition. The death of the one who could say, I am the one who prays. 6 Now prayer continues. But the one who prayed cannot be found. The Jesus Prayer may still be spoken. The lips may still move. The mind may still form the words. But the center from which it once came has been shattered. The man stands before God without himself. This is why the psalmist cries, “I am forgotten like one dead, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.” Psalm 30:12 LXX Forgotten. Broken. Without place. Without continuity. Without self possession. St. Isaac says that when the soul enters this stage, it feels itself suspended between existence and non existence. It cannot return to what it was. It cannot yet see what it will become. It cannot move forward. It cannot move back. It can only remain. This remaining is crucifixion. Christ did not descend from the Cross. 7 He remained. He did not preserve Himself. He entrusted Himself. “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” Luke 23:46 This is the final act of abandonment. Not abandonment by God. Abandonment of oneself into God. Archimandrite Zacharias writes that at this stage, man learns true obedience. Not obedience of action, but obedience of being. He no longer acts from himself. He no longer preserves himself. He exists in radical dependence. This dependence feels like non existence. Because the ego cannot live this way. The ego requires ground. Continuity. Self possession. Identity. God removes all of it. Not to destroy the person. But to reveal the person. Because the person does not exist in himself. The person exists in God. St. Paul writes, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28 Not alongside Him. Not with assistance from Him. 8 In Him. When this is seen, the man understands that his previous life, even his spiritual life, was sustained by illusion. He believed he lived. He believed he endured. He believed he remained. Now he sees that he does not possess existence. Existence is given. Moment by moment. Breath by breath. “God withdraws His breath, and they perish and return to their dust.” Psalm 103:29 LXX The man feels this. Not as theology. As reality. He feels that if God does not sustain him, he will cease. Not morally. Ontologically. This is why fear arises. Not fear of punishment. Fear of non being. But if the man remains, something begins to happen that he cannot yet perceive. A new center begins to emerge. 9 Not located within himself. Located in God. Christ begins to live where the ego once lived. This is why St. Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 Not metaphor. Ontological fact. The old center has died. A new center has been given. St. Silouan writes that when man descends into this hell and remains with faith, the Lord Himself becomes his life. Not as comfort. As existence. The man no longer lives toward God. He lives from God. But before this becomes clear, there is only darkness. Only abandonment. Only the terrible silence of God. St. Sophrony says that this silence is not absence, but the deepest form of presence. God is acting beyond perception, dismantling the final illusion that man possesses himself. The man feels forsaken. But he is being carried. He feels abandoned. 10 But he is being born. This is the third dismantling. Not the destruction of sin. Not the destruction of righteousness. The destruction of the illusion that one belongs to God while still belonging to oneself. God takes everything. Even the man's experience of belonging to Him. So that the man may finally belong to Him completely. And the man must remain. Without returning. Without rebuilding. Without preserving anything. He must remain in the darkness where Christ Himself stood. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” And wait for the life that only God can give. 11

Today’s Topics: Father Thomas Czeck, OFM Conv., joins Terry 1) Gospel – Luke 4:24-30 – Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built,  to hurl Him down headlong. But He passed through the midst of them and went away. Memorial of Saint Frances of Rome, Religious Saint Frances, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry and Father Thomas discuss Saint Bonaventure, his spirituality and his role in the Franciscan Order  

Gospel Luke 4:24-30 Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away. Reflection When the people of Nazareth realized that Jesus had a gift, he spoke with authority and they recognized him as the young boy that grew up in their midst, and he was even by many, considered to be illegitimate. So they didn't have any way of accepting the uniqueness that he displayed. And their response was anger, because he simply said, You aren't listening to me. It's interesting how anger can be a response to a criticism when we're afraid of what it's demanding of us. Jesus demands we change. And when we are seeing in Scripture ourselves being examples of what we shouldn't be, we need to receive it generously, and open hearted desiring to change. Closing Prayer Father, our daily lives are often filled with situations where we are criticizing ourselves or being criticized by others, and let us always have an open heart to that. Make sure that we listen to see if there's any truth in that criticism and not be like the people of Nazareth who became angry and attacked the one who brought the criticism to light. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note from Adam - This episode was prerecorded on January 26, 2026 as noted with the conversation about the snow storm. A lot as happened in the Middle East since this recording. There are some very powerful segments like this one about the importance Benita places on bridging cultural and political differences around the table:Enjoy the episode!

23 And he said to them: Doubtless you will say to me this similitude: Physician, heal thyself: as great things as we have heard done in Capharnaum, do also here in thy own country.Et ait illis : Utique dicetis mihi hanc similitudinem : Medice cura teipsum : quanta audivimus facta in Capharnaum, fac et hic in patria tua. 24 And he said: Amen I say to you, that no prophet is accepted in his own country.Ait autem : Amen dico vobis, quia nemo propheta acceptus est in patria sua. 25 In truth I say to you, there were many widows in the days of Elias in Israel, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there was a great famine throughout all the earth.In veritate dico vobis, multae viduae erant in diebus Eliae in Israel, quando clausum est caelum annis tribus et mensibus sex, cum facta esset fames magna in omni terra : 26 And to none of them was Elias sent, but to Sarepta of Sidon, to a widow woman.et ad nullam illarum missus est Elias, nisi in Sarepta Sidoniae, ad mulierem viduam. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian.Et multi leprosi erant in Israel sub Elisaeo propheta : et nemo eorum mundatus est nisi Naaman Syrus. 28 And all they in the synagogue, hearing these things, were filled with anger.Et repleti sunt omnes in synagoga ira, haec audientes. 29 And they rose up and thrust him out of the city; and they brought him to the brow of the hill, whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.Et surrexerunt, et ejecerunt illum extra civitatem : et duxerunt illum usque ad supercilium montis, super quem civitas illorum erat aedificata, ut praecipitarent eum. 30 But he passing through the midst of them, went his way.Ipse autem transiens per medium illorum, ibat.The Gospel speaks to us of Naaman, the valiant general of the King of Syria's army. He was cured by bathing in the Jordan, although he did not belong to the race of Israel. Later on Jesus was to plunge himself into the same river and to communicate a sanctifying virtue to its waters. Naaman, therefore, is a figure of the heathen whom the Church by baptism cures of the leprosy of sin. Peter, says Tertullian, has baptised in the Tiber, and those that he has cleansed from leprosy of sin, have abandoned the waters of Damascus, by which is mean their sensual life. Let us renew ourselves in the spirit of baptism by purifying our hearts in the salutary bath of penitence. This will cure them of the leprosy of the soul called sin.

2 Kings 5:1-15 (There were may lepers in Israel and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian)

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Map It Forward Podcast Advertising. In 2026, fewer businesses can justify expensive trade shows. Advertising on a Map It Forward podcast connects you directly with a global audience of coffee business owners and professionals across the value chain. We offer flexible pricing structures and accept payment in US dollars or select cryptocurrencies. Email support@mapitforward.org to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis is Part 5 of a five-part series with Carol Salloum, cofounder of 3Tomatoes and Almond Bar in Sydney, Australia. In Surviving 2025 and 2026 as a Café Owner, we have explored volatility, pricing pressure, loyalty, systems, and leadership.In this final episode, we examine the secret sauce behind long-term café success. Carol shares how strong systems create consistency, why operational cadence matters, and how genuine hospitality cannot be faked. We discuss the cultural roots of Syrian hospitality, the importance of presence and example-setting as an owner, and why small invisible details shape the customer experience.The conversation explores the difference between mechanical service and heart-driven hospitality, and why businesses built on values and generosity outlast trend-driven venues.Connect with Carol Salloum and 3Tomatoes here:https://www.instagram.com/3tomatoesau/https://www.3tomatoescafe.com/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

Advertising SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Map It Forward Podcast Advertising. In 2026, fewer businesses can justify expensive trade shows. Advertising on a Map It Forward podcast connects you directly with a global audience of coffee business owners and professionals across the value chain. We offer flexible pricing structures and accept payment in US dollars or select cryptocurrencies. Email support@mapitforward.org to learn more.Episode DescriptionThis is Part 5 of a five-part series with Carol Salloum, cofounder of 3Tomatoes and Almond Bar in Sydney, Australia. In Surviving 2025 and 2026 as a Café Owner, we have explored volatility, pricing pressure, loyalty, systems, and leadership.In this final episode, we examine the secret sauce behind long-term café success. Carol shares how strong systems create consistency, why operational cadence matters, and how genuine hospitality cannot be faked. We discuss the cultural roots of Syrian hospitality, the importance of presence and example-setting as an owner, and why small invisible details shape the customer experience.The conversation explores the difference between mechanical service and heart-driven hospitality, and why businesses built on values and generosity outlast trend-driven venues.Connect with Carol Salloum and 3Tomatoes here:https://www.instagram.com/3tomatoesau/https://www.3tomatoescafe.com/***************************************About Map It Forward The Daily Coffee Pro is produced by Map It Forward, supporting coffee professionals globally across the supply chain.Website: https://mapitforward.coffeeMailing list: https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglistPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/mapitforwardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapitforward.coffee/Contact: support@mapitforward.org

What next for the Syrian detention camps and their residents? After the fall of the so-called “caliphate”, tens of thousands of women and children from around the world - followers of the Islamic State group as well as its victims - ended up in a handful of camps in north-eastern Syria. Once run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, those camps are now in the process of being closed down by the Syrian authorities. This three-part series explores the trauma that led to their prolonged existence and how it might affect their future. In part two, we examine where governments are drawing the line on repatriation, from Britain's tough stance to Kazakhstan's model of success. Contributors: Mina al-Lami, Jiyar Gol, Barry Marston, Clare Denning, Mohammed Al-Jumaily, Bryn Windsor Producer: Kriszta Satori, Elchin Suleymanov Presenter: Krassi Ivanova Twigg Music: Pete Cunningham

In this episode, Dr. Aref Rifai, ophthalmologist and President of the Syrian American Medical Society, shares how the organization has expanded care across all 13 Syrian provinces following liberation. He discusses scaling hospitals and centers of excellence, launching a new radiation oncology center, strengthening medical education, and partnering with U.S. health systems to rebuild infrastructure and elevate quality of care.

What started out as a transactional exchange between Janay Boulos, a BBC journalist, and Abd Alkader Habak, a local activist and cameraperson in Aleppo during the Syrian war, later evolved into a mutual curiosity. Over time, texting, voice memos and phone calls became the currency of a deepening relationship... and eventually the two married and became film partners living in London. In their intense and gripping new Sundance documentary “Birds of War,” Janay and Habak create a moving assemblage of personal archival material and devastating wartime news footage that tells a universal story of war and love through a unique personal lens.   Following their film's world premiere in the Sundance World Cinema Documentary section, Janay and Habak joined Ken in his Sundance Park City podcast studio (i.e. condo) for a lively in-person conversation. From the trauma of Habak's last days in Syria to Janay's emotional return to Lebanon to cover a burgeoning rebellion, the twists and turns of their individual journeys are just as unpredictable as the love that brought them together.   The Presenting Sponsor of "Top Docs" is Netflix.   Follow: @janayboulos and abd_alkader_habak on Instagram @topdocspod on Instagram and X

As geopolitical tensions grip the Middle East, markets swing violently and evacuation flights scramble to extract 300,000 British expats from the UAE. But back in Westminster, a political firestorm erupts: Should these "tax exiles" be taxed by the UK government? Meanwhile, the entertainment industry undergoes seismic consolidation as Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. clears regulatory hurdles, promising a unified streaming giant. And in a stunning act of defiance, bootstrapped AI startup Thaura—founded by Syrian refugee brothers—publicly exposes and rejects a suspicious acquisition bid from an Israeli company, declaring its mission to the people is non-negotiable. Markets, money, and morality collide.  Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dAkTDhJ6WhatsApp: aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): aug.us/3BTU2MY

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew St Pierre. A retired Marine Gunner who has been around the block. He has been through the fire and brought the lessons out of the other side. Featured in the book "On Combat" by Dave Grossman (Episode 40), as he gathered his teams and squads for a debrief after the gunfights. He is/was a leader of men. In this episode, we talk about Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Jason Dunham and his heroics. St. Pierre also talks in depth about the loss of Major Gannon on the Syrian border. A place that I later fell in on, by that time, rightfully named Camp Gannon. There is a wealth of information in this episode, and I hope you enjoy it.

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad discusses Iraq's descent into sectarianism under Maliki's corrupt regime, the failed 2010 elections, and how the Syrian civil war allowed jihadis to regroup. 5.1919

While filming in rebel-held Syria, Loubna Mrie is falsely accused of being a spy – an accusation that spirals into a life-threatening ordeal, triggering the deepest loss of her life.In 2011, Loubna Mrie broke from her loyalist family to join Syria's underground network of activists. She used her Alawite identity – the same minority sect as the ruling Assads – to move through checkpoints and secretly film anti-government protests, even as it put her in conflict with her powerful father and the regime that had shaped her childhood. But Loubna's Alawite background made her a target for both sides. While filming in a rebel-held village, a local commander falsely accused her of being “an Alawite spy” and planned to execute her. Rescued at the last moment by a fellow activist, Loubna fled Syria – uploading a video declaring her support for the uprising before crossing into Turkey. What followed was a shattering personal loss. From exile, Loubna struggled with grief, guilt and addiction. She lost friends and a partner to the war, survived alone in a new country, and eventually entered rehab – where she learned that Bashar al-Assad had finally fallen from power in Syria. For Loubna, the news was not a triumph but a painful reckoning: the end had come far too late for so many she loved. Loubna's written a book called Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria.Loubna shares her story over two episodes. In the previous episode, she described her journey from a loyalist upbringing to becoming one of the unlikely young revolutionaries who documented Syria's civil war. In part two, the same identity that once protected her puts her in danger. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam Maruf Editor: Munazza KhanLives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Step into someone else's life and expect the unexpected.   Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784   You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

News items read by Laura Kennedy include: Ice Age carvings show complex sign systems 40,000 years before writing (details) Study suggests interbreeding mostly involved Neanderthal males and human females (details) Chimú geoglyph and large farming complex documented in Chicama Valley (details) Greek inscription in Syrian mosque adds evidence to Roman sun temple debate (details)

FAN MAIL--We would love YOUR feedback--Send us a Text MessageA map doesn't just change with borders; it changes when the rules do. We trace a straight line from the Abraham Accords through October 7, the region-wide June escalation, and the strike that removed Iran's Supreme Leader to explain why the Middle East just entered a new era. The thread is simple but profound: normalization unsettled the status quo, terror tried to reverse it, and a coalition responded by targeting not just fighters but the entire architecture behind them.We walk through how the Accords quietly re-ordered incentives for Israel and several Sunni states, making open cooperation normal and isolating Tehran's ambitions. Then we examine October 7 as a deliberate shock aimed at blowing up normalization, and how Israel's doctrine shifted from “manage the threat” to “dismantle the network.” As Hezbollah, Iraqi and Syrian militias, and Hamas moved in concert, June's escalation exposed a single grid of proxies. With U.S. backing, strikes expanded from rocket crews to commanders, infrastructure, and nuclear assets during Operation Midnight Hammer, turning a shadow war into a multi-front confrontation.The final, startling turn—the killing of the Supreme Leader—breaks an old taboo and sends a message across every capital from Riyadh to Moscow: proxy violence no longer shields the regime at the top. We reflect on how this changes deterrence, why it hardens a loose coalition of Israel, Sunni partners, and the West, and what it means for global energy, great-power opportunism, and the possibility of more accountable politics across the region. Think of the Berlin Wall falling: a single event that announces a different world and forces everyone to rewrite their playbooks.If you're ready to understand how these moments connect—and what likely comes next—tune in, share this episode with a friend who follows geopolitics, and leave a quick review so more listeners can find the show. Subscribe to stay with us as the next chapters unfold.Key Points from the Episode:• Abraham Accords as a realignment, not a photo-op• Iran isolated as Israel and Sunni states cooperate• October seventh as a bloody backlash to normalization• Israel ends contain-and-manage doctrine• June escalation exposes a single proxy grid• Operation Midnight Hammer against nuclear capability• Strike authority expands to senior leadership and infrastructure• Supreme Leader killed signals end of regime immunity• New coalition hardens against Tehran's network• Berlin Wall analogy for a new geopolitical eraBe sure to check out our show page at teammojoacademy.com, where we have everything we discussed in this podcast as well as other great resourcesOther resources: Israel's September 11thLM#38--Israel's 9-11, pt 1LM#39--Israel's 9-11, pt 2Want 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!

When Naaman the Syrian was instructed by the prophet Elisha to dip seven times in the Jordan to cleanse his leprosy, he lost it!  But he was persuaded to do what the prophet said to do, and he was cleansed of his disease.  However, the cleansing of his leprosy was not the greatest thing which happened with Naaman in all of this.  Do you know what it was?Scriptures:    Luke 4:27;  2 Kings 5:1-5;  2 Kings 5:6-9;  2 Kings 5:10-12;  2 Kings 5:13-14;  2 Kings 5:15-16

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service. Our guest, gemmologist James Evans discusses the creation of synthetic diamonds.We begin with the trial of the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor. It was claimed that he traded in arms and ammunition in return for so-called blood diamonds.Next we head to Syria where a group of young men in the besieged town of Darayya came together to build a secret library during the civil war. Plus the start of the Second World War in the Pacific when Japanese troops landed in what was then northern Malaya. We hear about a meeting between two of the most prominent figures in history from around the turn of the last century. Florence Nightingale and the Aga Khan, Sir Sultan Muhammed Shah.Our sporting story takes us back to the summer of 1952 when the first Olympics of the Cold War era took place. Czechoslovakian army officer Emil Zatopek achieved a unique feat.And finally, the moment when Spain's fledgling democratic government appeared to be under threat.Contributors: Brenda Hollis - Chief prosecutor at the Charles Taylor trial. Malik Alrifaii - Volunteer who helped run the Syrian library. Dorothy Variyan -Lived under Japanese rule during the occupation of the Malay peninsula. Aga Khan III, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah - BBC archive interview from 1950. Richard Asquith - Emil Zatopek's biographer. Joaquin Almunia - Former Vice President of the European Commission.(Photo: Charles Taylor (rear C) appears in court in 2006. Credit: Rob Keeris/AFP via Getty Images)

Only songs are able to comfort the soul in its darkness—but can anyone hear them? Iman Humaydan's saga Songs for Darkness (Interlink, 2026) recalls the voices of four generations of women from one family in the imaginary village of Kasura, in Mount Lebanon. Its narrator, Asmahan, named after the beloved Syrian singer, has devoted her adult life to recovering the stories of her ancestors, who persisted in the shadows of male supremacy, war, military occupation, and impoverishment. Her mother, Layla, disappeared when Asmahan was still a teenager. Her grandmother, Yasmine, died giving birth. And her great-grandmother, Shahira, struggled through two world wars, famine, and suffocating gender norms to win an education for her children and eke out a better life for her family. Asmahan is determined to protect her daughter and break out of the cycle of intergenerational violence and wounds that the women who came before her suffered. She packs up her daughter to emigrate after a divorce, when her husband takes their son away from her on his seventh birthday, during the darkest days of the 1982 Israeli invasion. These women's legacies span and echo the scarred history of an abused homeland, from the eve of the first World War to the 1982 Lebanon War. In honoring their unfulfilled lives, Iman Humaydan insistently preserves intimate stories of abundant tenacity, generosity, sacrifice—and songs, provisions sorely needed for dark times. A conversation with translator Michelle Hartman Iman Humaydan Yunis is a Lebanese novelist, creative writing teacher, editor, and freelance journalist. Her novels received wide international acclaim and were translated into English, French, Italian, Dutch, German, Armenian, Polish, and Georgian. She is the author of five novels, including B as in Beirut, Wild Mulberries, Other Lives, and The Weight of Paradise, all published in English by Interlink. She is also the editor of the collection of short stories Beirut Noir. She is the president of the Lebanese chapter of PEN, and splits her time between Beirut and Paris. Michelle Hartman is a literary translator and professor of Arabic literature at McGill University. She has translated more than a dozen novels from Arabic to English including three other novels by Iman Humaydan, The Weight of Paradise, Other Lives, and Wild Mulberries. Her latest translation is A Long Walk from Gaza (Interlink, 2024). She has also written on Lebanese women and the Civil War in two co-authored volumes (with Malek Abisaab), Women's War Stories: The Lebanese Civil War, Women's Labor and the Creative Arts (Syracuse UP, 2022) and What the War Left Behind: Women's Stories of Resistance and Struggle in Lebanon (Syracuse UP, 2024). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Only songs are able to comfort the soul in its darkness—but can anyone hear them? Iman Humaydan's saga Songs for Darkness (Interlink, 2026) recalls the voices of four generations of women from one family in the imaginary village of Kasura, in Mount Lebanon. Its narrator, Asmahan, named after the beloved Syrian singer, has devoted her adult life to recovering the stories of her ancestors, who persisted in the shadows of male supremacy, war, military occupation, and impoverishment. Her mother, Layla, disappeared when Asmahan was still a teenager. Her grandmother, Yasmine, died giving birth. And her great-grandmother, Shahira, struggled through two world wars, famine, and suffocating gender norms to win an education for her children and eke out a better life for her family. Asmahan is determined to protect her daughter and break out of the cycle of intergenerational violence and wounds that the women who came before her suffered. She packs up her daughter to emigrate after a divorce, when her husband takes their son away from her on his seventh birthday, during the darkest days of the 1982 Israeli invasion. These women's legacies span and echo the scarred history of an abused homeland, from the eve of the first World War to the 1982 Lebanon War. In honoring their unfulfilled lives, Iman Humaydan insistently preserves intimate stories of abundant tenacity, generosity, sacrifice—and songs, provisions sorely needed for dark times. A conversation with translator Michelle Hartman Iman Humaydan Yunis is a Lebanese novelist, creative writing teacher, editor, and freelance journalist. Her novels received wide international acclaim and were translated into English, French, Italian, Dutch, German, Armenian, Polish, and Georgian. She is the author of five novels, including B as in Beirut, Wild Mulberries, Other Lives, and The Weight of Paradise, all published in English by Interlink. She is also the editor of the collection of short stories Beirut Noir. She is the president of the Lebanese chapter of PEN, and splits her time between Beirut and Paris. Michelle Hartman is a literary translator and professor of Arabic literature at McGill University. She has translated more than a dozen novels from Arabic to English including three other novels by Iman Humaydan, The Weight of Paradise, Other Lives, and Wild Mulberries. Her latest translation is A Long Walk from Gaza (Interlink, 2024). She has also written on Lebanese women and the Civil War in two co-authored volumes (with Malek Abisaab), Women's War Stories: The Lebanese Civil War, Women's Labor and the Creative Arts (Syracuse UP, 2022) and What the War Left Behind: Women's Stories of Resistance and Struggle in Lebanon (Syracuse UP, 2024). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

A group of young men in the besieged town of Darayya came together to build a secret library during the Syrian civil war, which started in 2011 and ended in 2024. Braving snipers and bombardment, they rescued thousands of books from bombed-out buildings to rehouse. The library was a symbol of hope for a community fractured by war. Surya Elango speaks to Malik Alrifaii, a young volunteer who helped run the library.Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. (Photo: Books. Credit: Maskot via Getty images)For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed, the creation of cartoon rabbit Miffy and how the sound barrier was broken.We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: the moment Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva, Haitian singer Emerante de Pradines' life and Omar Sharif's legendary movie entrance in Lawrence of Arabia.You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, like the invention of a stent which has saved lives around the world; the birth of the G7; and the meeting of Maldives' ministers underwater. We cover everything from World War Two and Cold War stories to Black History Month and our journeys into space.

It's Friday, February 27th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Islamic State's ‘new phase' in Syria as U.S. military withdraws Within the last week, the Islamic State terror group has launched an unusual series of attacks in Syria, part of what it calls a “new phase of operations” against the 11-month-old Syrian government, reports International Christian Concern. Simultaneously, the United States is actively withdrawing from bases in the area. Fighting between Syrian government forces and U.S.-allied Kurdish forces has weakened the resistance faced by the Islamic State.  The terrorist group has been relatively inactive in and around Syria since its territorial defeat in 2019, instead shifting its focus to Africa. Syrian President Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa was previously a member of the Islamic State and is an avowed jihadist. While he's made bold public statements about his interest in peace and tolerance, forces associated with his government have repeatedly committed or allowed mass tragedies to take place. CNN: No clear Democratic presidential frontrunner CNN data analyst Harry Enten revealed that two years away from the 2028 Democratic presidential primary season, the party's prospects look dim, reports The Western Journal. Listen. ENTEN: “This is just a downright clown car at this point on the Democratic side. I mean, just take a look here: Top choices for the 2028 Dem. pres. nominee. You have a leader, but it's not really a clear leader. It's within the margin of error. You have [Gavin] Newsom at 19%, then you have former Vice President Kamala Harris at 18% -- quite a weak number for her, given that, of course, she was the nominee the last time around. Pete Buttigieg, who, of course, has run before: 13%.  [Rep.] Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [of New York] at 12%. “This is just a total clown car. It is a total mess. There is no clear front runner at this particular point on the Democratic side. This is very unusual for the Democratic side to not have a clear front runner. “At this point in 2020, when there was no incumbent, it was Joe Biden who was there, Hillary Clinton in both ‘08 and ‘16 and Al Gore in both 2000 and 2004 at this point were at least at 25%.” Picture leaked of Hillary Clinton in Epstein file inquiry Chaos erupted inside Hillary Clinton's Jeffrey Epstein deposition on Thursday after a Republican lawmaker took a photograph of her during the private session, reports the Daily Mail.  Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert of Colorado snapped a picture of Hillary at the deposition, then leaked it to conservative influencer Benny Johnson who offered his thoughts. JOHNSON: “Lauren Bobert sent me this photo and told me I could publish it just to show everyone that Hillary Clinton is testifying. It's not a big deal. This is what Hillary Clinton looks like. But her entire team lost their minds over this and started screeching about this. There's nothing wrong with posting this photo. The Clintons themselves are the ones who demanded that there be media inside of the room. They wanted this all be live streamed on TV.  So, what's wrong with this? They're just looking for an excuse to get out of this testimony. That's what's actually going on.” Hillary's lawyers asked that the proceedings be halted after the photograph began circulating on social media. Johnson spoke to Hillary's motive and claimed she had already lied in a press statement she released ahead of her testimony. JOHNSON: “She's already lied, by the way. She said that she didn't know Jeffrey Epstein, but that's not true. Not only did her husband, of course, have Jeffrey Epstein at the White House a million times, fly on his plane a million times, but Jeffrey Epstein's own emails show that he knew her multiple times. “In Jeffrey Epstein's emails, he talks about what Hillary Clinton looks like up close. He talks about meetings with Hillary Clinton. All these people are emailing Jeffrey Epstein saying, ‘Hey, man, we know that you know Hillary Clinton. Can you get me a meeting with her?' So, this seems like an obvious lie. And this is what they're trying to distract from because I posted a photo?” The former secretary of state was deposed at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center near the Clintons' home in Westchester County, New York, while Bill Clinton will testify today.  Indiana: Christian adoptive families & agencies can affirm Biblical ethic On Wednesday, Indiana Republican Governor Mike Braun signed HB 1389, a bill that ensures families and Christian adoption and foster care groups that want to provide loving homes for kids are not pushed out because of their religious or moral beliefs, reports Alliance Defending Freedom. Greg Chafuen, Senior Counsel for the Christian legal rights group, said, “Every child deserves a loving home that can provide them stability and opportunities to grow. The sad reality is that the government in some states has discriminated against people of faith, allowing vulnerable children to suffer. Thankfully, Indiana has taken critical steps to prioritize the well-being of kids.” The anti-God forces reject the truth of Genesis 2:24 which says, “A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” How the late Jesse Jackson flip-flopped on abortion And finally, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who met his Creator on February 17th at the age of 84, was a civil rights activist and two-time presidential candidate in 1984 and 1988. Before he sold out to the abortion lobby in his aspiration to be Commander-in-Chief, LifeNews columnist Raimundo Rojas explained that Jackson “spoke with rare moral clarity about the child in the womb.” In a March 22,1973 interview, just two months after Roe v. Wade, Jackson told Jet magazine, “Abortion is genocide. Anything growing is living. … If you got the thrill to set the baby in motion, and you don't have the will to protect it, you're dishonest.” That same year Jackson said, "Abortion is too nice a word for something cold, like murder," according to the New York Times. In a column he wrote for National Right to Life News in January 1977, Jackson compared abortion to the old defenses of slavery. He warned that “the name has changed, but the game remains the same” when society strips the baby of protection. He spoke of new life with reverence, insisting, “It takes three to make a baby: a man, a woman, and the Holy Spirit.” Then ambition met party power. As Jesse Jackson moved toward a presidential run inside a Democratic Party that increasingly demanded loyalty to abortion, his public stance began to soften. By 1984, he described himself as “for freedom of choice, not pro-abortion,” and said that while he held a pro-life view, he did not want to “force” it on others through law. By 1988, he argued that “it is not right to impose private, religious and moral positions on public policy,”  according to the Washington Post. Raimundo Rojas of LifeNews concluded, “The man who once called abortion genocide now treated his convictions as a private matter. Nothing in science or reason justified that turn. What changed was the political cost of speaking on behalf of the child. “His life holds a lesson for every believer and every political leader. You cannot keep your deepest convictions in one box and your public positions in another. Do not trade moral clarity for political convenience. Do not let party loyalty silence your conscience.” Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, February 27th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  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.

The Dismantling of the Religious Self Four Lenten Reflections on Delusion, Abandonment, and the Life That Remains in God “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 The fathers speak very little about religious success. They speak constantly about religious delusion. Not because religion is false, but because the ego can survive inside it indefinitely. It can pray. It can fast. It can obey. It can sacrifice. It can appear humble. It can appear faithful. It can appear entirely given to God. And yet never cease to exist as the center of its own life. The religious self is the final refuge of autonomy. It is the last structure to collapse. Christ did not come merely to forgive sin. He came to destroy the self that lives apart from Him and to raise the person into a life that is no longer his own. This destruction does not occur all at once. It occurs in stages. First, the destruction of false fulfillment. Then, the destruction of false righteousness. Then, the destruction of the self that believed it belonged to God. And finally, the revelation of the life that remains when the self that lived has died. This is not metaphor. It is the path. First Reflection The False Light That Feeds on Devotion On Seeking Fulfillment in Religious Things Instead of God “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?” Psalm 41:3 (42:2) Evagrios of Pontus returns again and again to the command of the Lord because he knows the tragedy of the human heart. The command is heard. It is repeated. It is admired. But it is not yet obeyed. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Matthew 6:33 This is not because the man refuses God. It is because he does not yet know how to live from Him. The soul seeks life with a desperation deeper than thought. It cannot endure emptiness. It cannot endure groundlessness. It must drink from something. And until it drinks from God Himself, it will drink from what surrounds Him. This is the beginning of the spiritual life for nearly every man. He turns away from obvious sin. He enters the life of prayer. He begins to fast. He reads the Scriptures. He studies the Fathers. He orders his days toward obedience and repentance. He removes himself from the chaos of the world and places himself among holy things. Everything outwardly moves toward God. But inwardly, something subtle and terrible begins to form. The man begins to live not from God, but from religious life itself. He begins to draw life from proximity. From belonging to the Church. From serving others. From participating in sacred rhythms. From being known as faithful. From being recognized as someone who has given his life to God. These things give him structure. They give him identity. They give him continuity. They give him the sense that his life has weight and meaning. And this feels like life. But it is not yet life in God. Christ did not say blessed are those who surround themselves with religious things. He said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 The branch may rest against the vine. It may touch the vine. It may appear connected to the vine. But unless the life of the vine flows into it, it remains dead. St. Isaac the Syrian speaks with terrifying clarity about this condition. He writes that the soul seeks rest relentlessly, but until it rests in God, it will rest in created things. Even in holy things. Even in prayer itself. Because prayer can become a place where the ego hides. St. John Climacus warns of this when he writes that vainglory attaches itself to every virtue like a parasite. It feeds on fasting. It feeds on prayer. It feeds on silence. It feeds on obedience. It feeds on tears. It feeds on devotion itself. It is possible to pray constantly and remain centered in oneself. It is possible to serve constantly and remain untouched by God. It is possible to build an entire life around God and never yet have surrendered one's life to Him. Christ speaks of this with devastating simplicity. “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you.” Matthew 7:22–23 He does not deny their works. He denies their communion. They lived around Him. They acted in His name. They built their lives in His presence. But they did not live from Him. This is the great danger of religious life. It offers proximity without union. The ego adapts itself to religious structure because religious structure can sustain its existence indefinitely. The ego does not resist religion. It colonizes it. Abba Macarius the Great said, “The heart itself is but a small vessel, yet dragons are there, and lions are there, and poisonous beasts are there, and all the treasures of wickedness are there. But there too is God.” Both realities coexist for a long time. The man prays, and the ego remains. The man fasts, and the ego remains. The man serves, and the ego remains. The ego does not fear religious activity. It fears death. Because Christ did not come merely to improve the ego. He came to crucify it. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20 This is not metaphor. It is ontological violence. The ego can survive prayer. It cannot survive crucifixion. This is why the ego draws life from religious participation rather than from God Himself. Because participation strengthens its continuity. Communion destroys its autonomy. Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou writes that God allows the man to labor in the life of the Church for years while this hidden foundation remains intact. Not because God is absent, but because the man is not yet capable of bearing the loss of himself. So God permits him to live from secondary things. From belonging. From service. From stability. From identity. These things are not evil. They are merciful accommodations to weakness. But they cannot give life. The prophet Jeremiah speaks with words that cut through every illusion. “They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13 The tragedy is not that the cisterns are wicked. It is that they cannot sustain life. They leak. They empty. They must constantly be refilled. The man must constantly reaffirm himself. He must remain useful. He must remain faithful. He must remain visible. He must remain necessary. Because his life depends on these conditions. But life in God does not depend on conditions. Life in God survives abandonment. It survives obscurity. It survives uselessness. It survives the loss of identity itself. This is why God begins, at a certain point, to remove the cisterns. Not as punishment. As mercy. He allows the man to lose what sustained his sense of himself. He allows him to lose position. He allows him to lose recognition. He allows him to lose certainty. He allows him to lose the emotional consolations that once accompanied prayer. Prayer becomes dry. Service becomes empty. The structures that once gave life now give nothing. This is the beginning of truth. St. Silouan the Athonite describes this moment as the withdrawal of grace that reveals to the man the true poverty of his soul. He writes that when grace withdraws, the soul sees its own weakness and learns that it cannot live without God. Not without religious life. Without God. The distinction becomes absolute. The man discovers that he does not yet know how to live from God Himself. He only knows how to live from what surrounds Him. This revelation feels like death. Because something is dying. The false center. The imagined continuity. The self that lived from participation instead of communion. Christ spoke of this death when He said, “Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 16:25 This loss is not symbolic. It is experiential. It is terrifying. Because the ego experiences the loss of its foundations as annihilation. Abba Moses said, “Go, sit in your cell, and your cell will teach you everything.” What does the cell teach? It teaches the man that he does not yet live from God. It removes distraction. It removes affirmation. It removes reinforcement. And what remains is his poverty. His inability to give himself life. His inability to sustain himself. His inability to exist without drinking from God. This is the beginning of real prayer. Not prayer that expresses devotion. Prayer that expresses need. Not prayer that affirms identity. Prayer that arises from groundlessness. The publican understood this when he stood at a distance and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Luke 18:13 He had nothing left to sustain himself. And Christ says he went home justified. Because justification begins when illusion ends. God does not remove the false light to harm the man. He removes it to save him. Because whatever the man cannot lose without losing himself has become his god. God removes every false god. Even the religious ones. Until only God remains. St. Isaac the Syrian writes that the man who has learned to live from God alone becomes free from all fear. He can lose everything and remain alive. Because his life no longer depends on created things. It depends on the uncreated God. This is the passage from religious life into real life. The passage from devotion into communion. The passage from illusion into truth. It begins in loss. It ends in God.

“Death in battle for God's sake is better than a shameful and sluggish life.” There is always a lion for the man who does not want to begin. Always a reason. Always a danger. Always a wiser moment to wait for. And so he remains on the road his entire life. Careful. Thoughtful. Unbloodied. Unchanged. St. Isaac is merciless here. Much wisdom can damn a soul. Not the wisdom that fears God, but the kind that calculates and delays obedience. The man who watches the winds never sows. The man who weighs every risk never enters the fight. The simple man jumps into the water. He does not negotiate with fear. He does not preserve his body. He burns with first ardor and moves. This is what we lack. Not knowledge. Fire. The way is filled with blood. Blood means loss. Blood means humiliation. Blood means the death of the life you hoped to keep. If you wish to begin, hold your death in your mind. Remember the day after your burial. Let eternity crush your attachment to this present age. Hope in this life weakens the soul. Do not begin with a divided heart. Divided labor exhausts and yields nothing. God does not give grace in proportion to our techniques but according to the ardor of love and the boldness of faith. “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” Some beat their heads in repentance. Some drown in prostrations. Some burn in psalmody. Some are seized into silence. There are many forms. But all give themselves without reserve. Then comes the ruin. One tastes and turns back. One tastes a little and grows proud. One is enslaved by ambition. One by vainglory. One by greed. One by habit. One begins well and does not endure. These are the lions. Not in the street. In the heart. The one who stands firm does not turn back until he receives the pearl. He begins again and again. He refuses slackness. He does not wait for ideal conditions. He does not demand guarantees. Always begin. If the heart is pure from passion and doubt, God Himself raises the soul. Not because it was clever. Not because it was impressive. But because it believed and stepped onto the blood-stained road without bargaining. Begin. Or die still talking about the journey. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:07:55 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Anthologion 00:08:15 Jesssica Imanaka: https://ignatius.cc/products/anthologion-modern-english 00:08:28 Una's iPhone: What about The Agpeya? Coptic 00:08:43 Jessica McHale: I use the Publicans Prayer Book. Sophia Press. It's a Small Horologion. 00:09:14 Anthony: Reacted to I use the Publicans ... with "❤️" 00:09:24 Una's iPhone: What book is Gather talking about? 00:10:49 David Swiderski, WI: Reacted to "I use the Publicans ..." with

I never thought I'd be glued to my screen watching court battles unfold like a high-stakes thriller, but here we are in late February 2026, and President Donald Trump's legal showdowns have dominated the headlines for days. It started heating up last Friday, February 20th, when the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., dropped a bombshell in the consolidated cases of Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc. By a 6-3 vote, Chief Justice John Roberts announced the judgment, ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA from 1977, does not authorize the president to impose those sweeping tariffs Trump had slapped on imports from Canada, Mexico, and dozens of other countries. Trump had declared national emergencies over drug trafficking and massive trade deficits, calling them unusual and extraordinary threats, then hit Canada with a 25% duty on most goods to combat fentanyl flows. But the justices, including Trump's own appointees like Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett in the majority on key parts, said no—the law lets the president investigate, block, regulate, or prohibit imports during emergencies, but not straight-up tariffs. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson joined Roberts fully, while Brett Kavanaugh dissented, arguing IEEPA's text and history gave Trump broad power, especially under the major questions doctrine for foreign affairs.The ruling, covered everywhere from SCOTUSblog to The New York Times and Fox News, was a huge check on executive power. Vox called it a Republican court reining in Trump, while The Guardian labeled it the end of his one-man tariff war. Trump didn't take it lying down. That same day, February 20th, he spoke to a packed crowd, as captured in the CNBC Television video, ripping into the justices: "I'm ashamed of certain members of the court... they're a disgrace to our nation, very unpatriotic and disloyal to our Constitution." He accused them of being swayed by foreign interests and even his own picks of lacking loyalty, though he praised Justice Kavanaugh's "genius." Axios reported him calling the court an embarrassment, and Politico noted his fierce pushback with vows for new levies.By Tuesday's State of the Union, Trump dialed it back, calling the decision disappointing but complying—no defiance, as senior writer Ankush Khardori pointed out in Politico Magazine. He signed an order for a 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act, set to kick in days later for up to 150 days or longer, plus Section 301 probes into unfair practices. Meanwhile, just yesterday on Thursday, February 26th, SCOTUSblog reported the Trump administration, via U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, petitioned the Supreme Court again. This time, it's over Temporary Protected Status for Syrian nationals. A federal judge in New York had blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's move to end the program, which lets Syrians stay and work here amid their country's chaos. Sauer called it an easier case than recent Venezuelan TPS wins, urging the justices to stay the ruling by March 5th, arguing courts can't second-guess national security calls or consultation requirements.These past few days have been a whirlwind of executive power tests—from tariffs crashing down to immigration fights heating up. Lawfare's Trump Administration Litigation Tracker shows dozens more cases bubbling, but this week's rulings remind us the courts are holding the line.Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Come back next week for more, and this has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

AS USUAL SHOWNOTES ARE AI SLOP BY CLAUDE SONNET 4.6 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER-----------------------------------------------------------A wide‑ranging hour covering domestic politics (One Nation's surge and the Coalition's paralysis), major policy debates (NDIS reform, political donations), crime and national security items, transport projects, and international flashpoints from the US tariffs decision to Iran and Russia. Jack the Insider and Hong Kong Jack mix sharp political analysis with on‑the‑ground colour and sport/entertainment roundups.00:00:26 — Intro & banterQuick greeting, light chat about Chinese New Year and local life in Hong Kong. Sets tone and introduces the episode.00:01:36 — One Nation surge & polling deep-diveDiscussion of recent polls showing One Nation jumping into mid‑teens/20s in places; skepticism about methodology (Roy Morgan/telephone vs face‑to‑face) and how soft protest votes can be. Hong Kong Jack calls this a historically large minor‑party rise.00:06:49 — Why major conservatives look frozen (cost of One Nation policy)Analysis of Coalition paralysis on immigration policy; PBO estimate on net‑zero migration cost discussed; critique that Liberals/Nationals aren't confronting One Nation's policy platform.00:10:47 — Keith Wallerhan essay: who are modern decisive voters?Summary of Wallerhan's argument that the old “Phil & Jenny” voter has shifted; a new aspirational, tertiary‑educated, renting suburban voter is key and the Liberal Party hasn't adapted.00:13:29 — Nationals, nuclear sites and political messaging failuresHow rushed / poorly communicated policy (nuclear sites list) triggered NIMBY backlash; claim the Coalition isn't doing the detailed work needed to respond to voter shifts.00:18:28 — High Court challenge to Victoria's political donations regimeTwo independents argue the law entrenches major parties by cutting off new fundraising structures; discussion of the likely timing and importance for the November state election.00:20:30 — Crime: abduction/murder linked to organised crime networksAppalling case of an elderly man abducted from North Ryde, body discovered near Penrith; two men charged, defence suggests broader Sydney crime network involvement.00:24:56 — Gang violence & the Matt Utai shooting; crime networks in SydneyBrief on organised‑crime turf disputes (the “Coconut Cartel” reference) and ongoing police investigations.00:24:56 — Transport — Sydney–Newcastle high‑speed rail proposalFederal funding for planning (~AUD 660m so far) discussed; doubts raised about cost, route feasibility and whether fast rail really suits Australia's geography and travel patterns.00:31:09 — NDIS & autism diagnosis debateMike Freelander (paediatrician & MP) argues autism diagnostic threshold is too low; Grattan Institute numbers referenced; concern NDIS budget/scope is unsustainable without reform.00:36:29 — Australians in Syrian camps / “ISIS brides” debateStrong views on repatriation and national security; discussion of Australian citizenship rights for children born in Australia and the political difficulty of extracting or repatriating individuals from camps.00:42:10 — UK entry rules for dual citizens (brief)Note about changes/fees affecting dual UK citizens arriving without a UK passport; implications for Hong Kongers and others.00:44:20 — United States tariffs & Supreme Court rulingSCOTUS decision limiting presidential tariff powers discussed; Gorsuch and Kavanaugh opinions mentioned; likely litigation and refund battles to follow.00:56:16 — AI, data centres and environmental concernsColorado moratorium mention; large energy/water footprints of data centres; practical notes on lawyers/journalists misusing AI (fabricated cases) and AI as a drafting tool that must be checked.01:04:37 — Middle East: Iran tensions & regional risksDiscussion of US/Israeli options, likely limits to air/missile strikes, regional escalation risk and implications for proxy groups (Hezbollah).01:05:30 — Russia & Ukraine: economic pressure on MoscowSurvey of views that Russia's economy is under severe strain and that continued war may be economically self‑sustaining for the regime.01:06:13 — UK politics: by‑election in Gorton & Denton (context)Background on the resignation/scandal that triggered the by‑election; polling context (Reform/Greens versus Labor).01:08:15 — High‑profile UK arrests (Mandelson, Andrew) and “misconduct in public office”Overview of arrests/interviews, differences in UK arrest process vs Australia, discussion of historical use and limits of the offence and prosecution challenges.01:19:04 — Sport: AFL documentary, Toby Greene, Carlton developmentsNotes on Amazon Prime's Inside the AFL; Toby Greene anecdote; Carlton's new training facility, ESG plan and player signings (Sam Walsh, Jager Smith, Wade Dirksen story).01:27:41 — NRL in Las Vegas; T20 World Cup & Australian cricket updateNRL double‑header success in Vegas; ticket/cost notes. T20 World Cup preview—India/England/West Indies form and women's team performance spotlight.01:32:18 — Global oddities and small items (N Korea, etc.)Quick remarks on North Korea's predictable “reelection” and the historic gap since last nuclear test.01:33:36 — Outro & listener call‑outsClosing thanks, invitation for listener questions and sign‑off.

Tony Barry and Barrie Cassidy examine the divisive political debate over the future of the 34 Australian women and children languishing in a Syrian detention camp. They also discuss why capital gains tax is becoming a real pressure point for Labor, Anthony Albanese's careful words for One Nation voters and why there's a proliferation of polls

Modern Syria has seen violence, repression, and autocracy, suffering through tragedy after tragedy over the past century. Yet the history of Syria is not just a tale of dictators and generals. From the 1800s to the 2020s, the Syrian people have engaged in a passionate struggle for justice, equality, and a better future. Whether fighting for national independence from French colonial rule, battling local landowning elites to share the country's wealth, or rising up against the Assad regime, the Syrian people have fiercely clung to their right to live with respect and dignity. Theirs is a story of protest and perseverance in the long fight to reshape the political destiny of their nation. Daniel Neep's new book, A History of Modern Syria, offers a gripping narrative of how Syrians have navigated the events of the last two centuries. Never losing sight of the fates of ordinary people, it provides a comprehensive account of how a nation born in conflict sustained a rich, complex, and diverse society that after the fall of Assad will chart a new path into the uncertain future. Daniel Neep is Non-Resident Fellow at the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, and Senior Editor at Arab Center Washington DC. He has taught Middle East politics at George Washington University, Georgetown University, and the University of Exeter. He was previously Research Director (Syria) at the Council for British Research in the Levant and spent several years living in Syria and Jordan. He is also the author of Occupying Syria under the French Mandate: Insurgency, Space, and State Formation (Cambridge University Press, 2012) and articles in journals including International Affairs, Journal of Democracy, New Political Economy, and the Journal of Historical Sociology. Meet our discussant and chair Charles Tripp FBA is Professor Emeritus of Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His research interests include the nature of autocracy, state and resistance in the Middle East, the politics of Islamic identities, and the role of art in the constitution of the political. He is currently working on a project on the politics of memory in Tunisia. Jasmine Gani is Assistant Professor in International Relations Theory at LSE. She specialises in anti-colonial theory and history, and the politics of empire, race and knowledge production. She is author of 'The Role of Ideology in Syria-US Relations: Conflict and Cooperation' (2014), and co-editor of 'Actors and Dynamics in the Syrian Conflict's Middle Phase' (2022).

Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio debate the chaotic Syrian civil war, noting the complex web of actors including the SDF and Turkey, while criticizing the US withdrawal and strategy. 14.

Cartel leader El Mencho of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel is killed in a military raid, triggering retaliatory violence across Mexico as Bill Roggio analyzes the limits of counterterrorism and demand. 1.John Batchelor and Bill Roggio examine the US fleet near Iran, questioning the effectiveness of air power alone against ideologically committed regimes like the Houthis. 2.Following El Mencho's death, Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa discuss the impact on Brazil and Venezuela, highlighting the Trump administration's aggressive strategy to dismantle organized crime throughout Latin America. 3.Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa explore Cuba's severe oil crisis and potential democratic transitions as Venezuelan support collapses and Lula da Silva seeks cooperation with the United States government. 4.Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddius McCotter report on massive casualties following Iranian protests and the buildup of US forces, discussing potential regime change and regional mobilization of proxy groups. 5.Malcolm Hoenlein and Thaddius McCotter assess the US withdrawal from Syria, leaving minority groups vulnerable while ISIS resurges, while also covering Azerbaijan's regional influence and the stalemate over Hamas disarmament. 6.Bill Roggio and John Hardie reflect on four years of war in Ukraine, examining initial intelligence failures regarding Russian capabilities and the subsequent shift toward defensive, drone-centric modern warfare. 7.Bill Roggio and John Hardie analyze the conflict as it enters its fifth year, with negotiations stalled and Putinmaintaining maximalist demands, while assessing Russian casualty rates and the grinding war of exhaustion. 8.Jonathan Sayeh describes growing internal Iranian dissent, where students favor a pre-1979 Persian identity and the Crown Prince over the current "occupying" Islamic Republic of Iran. 9.General Blaine Holt analyzes China's J-35, noting it uses stolen F-35 designs but suffers from engine unreliability and systemic corruption within Chinese military procurement systems. 10.Morris Tan details the jailing of South Korea's ex-president, alleging election fraud by the current administration and a shift toward alignment with North Korea's regime. 11.David Daoud explains Israeli "policing" on the Lebanon border using quadcopters and stun grenades to deter Hezbollahand allow displaced northern residents to safely return. 12.Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio discuss the closure of Al-Hol camp in Syria, warning that releasing ISIS-affiliated families risks resurgence due to deep radicalization and lack of oversight. 13.Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio debate the chaotic Syrian civil war, noting the complex web of actors including the SDF and Turkey, while criticizing the US withdrawal and strategy. 14.Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio examine Iran's potential responses to US military pressure, contrasting diplomatic signals with threats of offensive missile deployment and regional proxy warfare. 15.Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio evaluate the limitations of air power against the Houthis and debate whether USstrikes could effectively decapitate or reform Iran's deeply unpopular and corrupt regime. 16.

The Syrian government says it closed one of the largest camps that housed ISIS fighters and their families. It is the latest example of transformations in Syria, from how it confronts ISIS to whether the U.S. will remain. A key player in all of this is General Mazloum Abdi, head of the Syrian Kurds. Nick Schifrin sat down with him to discuss the future of the Kurds and the fate of the country. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

From a powerful Alawite family in Syria, Loubna Mrie trusted the Assad regime – until witnessing its violent crackdown led her to defy loyalty and secretly film the uprising.In 2011, 20‑year‑old Loubna Mrie was an English literature student from a high-profile Alawite family, the same minority sect as the Assads who had ruled Syria for decades. For most of her life, loyalty felt like survival. Loubna had grown up believing the Assad regime protected her community, and that dissent was unthinkable. But as the Arab Spring reached Syria, Loubna became curious and secretly went to an anti-government protest in Damascus. Unable even to chant against the president she'd been taught to revere, Loubna's loyalties collapsed when security forces opened fire on the unarmed demonstrators. Narrowly escaping, Loubna's decision to side with the uprising brought her into open conflict with her family – especially her father, whose wealth and power had defined her life. Yet with her mother's encouragement, Loubna stepped into a world she'd been kept apart from: Damascus' underground activist networks. There, among Syrians from all sects, she began using her Alawite identity as a shield – to slip through government checkpoints, smuggle medical aid, and protect friends who would otherwise be at risk. Loubna also picked up a camera, learning to film the revolution from within, convinced that showing the world what was happening might help change it. Loubna shares her story over two episodes. In this first episode, she describes her journey from a loyalist upbringing to becoming one of the unlikely young revolutionaries who documented Syria's uprising. In part two, the same identity that once protected her would soon become a threat when she is mistaken for a spy.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam Maruf Editor: Munazza KhanLives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Step into someone else's life and expect the unexpected.   Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784   You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

Subscribe now for the full episode. Derek speaks with Alexander McKeever, publisher of This Week in Northern Syria, about the defeat of the Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) autonomous project and its integration into the new Syrian state. They discuss the fall of the Assad regime, the March 2025 integration agreement between Damascus and the SDF, the breakdown of negotiations and January fighting in Aleppo, the rapid collapse of SDF control in Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, tribal defections and grievances against the autonomous administration, and the uncertain future for Kurdish rights under the centralized Syrian government. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Hours and 55 MinutesPG-13This is the complete audio of Thomas777 talking about Soviet/Russia-Syrian relations post-WW2.Thomas' SubstackRadio Free Chicago - T777 and J BurdenThomas777 MerchandiseThomas' Book "Steelstorm Pt. 1"Thomas' Book "Steelstorm Pt. 2"Thomas on TwitterThomas' CashApp - $7homas777Pete and Thomas777 'At the Movies'Support Pete on His WebsitePete's PatreonPete's SubstackPete's SubscribestarPete's GUMROADPete's VenmoPete's Buy Me a CoffeePete on FacebookPete on TwitterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-pete-quinones-show--6071361/support.

Photojournalist Loubna Mrie grew up in Syria in a wealthy and abusive home. Her father was part of the regime, allegedly an assassin for Bashar al-Assad's father. Loubna joined the Syrian revolution first as a protester and then as a photojournalist. She talks with guest interviewer Aarti Shahani about how her family and country fell apart, and lessons she brought to her new home in the U.S.. Her book is ‘Defiance: A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria.' Later, John Powers reviews ‘Crime 101,' a thriller starring Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy