Podcasts about Tehran

President Trump is escalating the fight against Iran after a new wave of U.S. strikes targeted IRGC air defenses, radar, communications, mine-laying capabilities, and maritime targets near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump is escalating the fight against Iran after a new wave of U.S. strikes targeted IRGC air defenses, radar, communications, mine-laying capabilities, and maritime targets near the Strait of Hormuz. Buck breaks down the latest U.S. military action against Iran, Tehran’s retaliation, and why control of the Strait of Hormuz could have consequences far beyond the Middle East. With global oil supplies moving through this critical chokepoint, the conflict could quickly affect gas prices, the U.S. economy, and the political landscape heading into the midterm elections. Never miss a moment from Buck by subscribing to the Buck Sexton Show Podcast on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! Connect with Buck Sexton:Facebook – / bucksexton X – @bucksexton Instagram – @bucksexton TikTok - @BuckSexton YouTube - @BuckSexton Website – https://www.bucksexton.com/Support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@BuckSextonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big sell-off in the global bond market has pushed borrowing costs to their highest point in years. The Wall Street Journal's Chelsey Dulaney explains what it means for your money. Iran and the U.S. are trading military blows again after a lull in fighting. The Associated Press reports on how Tehran has accused the U.S. of striking a wedding party. People in the U.S. are dying from heat much more often than official counts show, according to an investigation by NPR. The broadcaster’s Alejandra Borunda joins to discuss the story. Plus, jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial said they are still deadlocked, the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived at a Thai resort after a record deployment, and the NBA delivered its biggest-ever punishment to the Los Angeles Clippers. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this episode of The Wright Report, Bryan breaks down the White House's "Promises Made, Promises Kept" push, including a new deal bringing $20 billion in pharmaceutical manufacturing back to US soil and record-high asylum denial rates as immigration courts race to clear a massive backlog. Bryan covers a batch of "Head-Scratcher" stories from Democrat-run states, including Washington inmates convicted of child rape suing for better trans medical care, Virginia's Fairfax County releasing illegal aliens accused of child sex crimes back onto the street, and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani mourning a convicted murderer's death at Rikers Island while ignoring his victims. He also breaks down House Democrats' furious reaction to a resolution condemning socialism. Plus, Bryan covers President Trump's renewed call for Iranians to rise up against the regime as Tehran fires missiles at Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, and Bahrain, Spain's Prime Minister blaming Russia and Israel for the Moroccan invasion of Ceuta, a German welfare scam run by Syrian migrant clans, and fresh US and Australian investment in Pacific Island nations to counter China. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Promises Made Promises Kept, pharmaceutical manufacturing, asylum, immigration, Washington State, trans care, Fairfax County, Virginia, Zohran Mamdani, Rikers Island, socialism resolution, Iran, regime change, Jordan, Kuwait, Spain, Ceuta, Germany, Syrian welfare scam, Pacific Islands, China

What's it like to be taken hostage by the Iranian regime and imprisoned for months on end in Evin, Tehran's most notorious prison, amid an unprecedented war with the US and Israel?On today's episode of Iran: the Latest, Roland Oliphant speaks to Joe Bennett, son of Lindsay Foreman, who has been detained since January 2025 with her husband Craig Foreman while on a round-the-world motorcycle tour. The British couple were this year sentenced to 10 years in prison over charges of espionage, which they deny and the British government has called “appalling” and “unjustifiable”.Bennett discusses the harrowing conditions faced by his mum and their gruelling hunger strike protest. He shares the “chilling” moment he was on the phone with Lindsay while Israel conducted air strikes on Evin prison, saying he had “never heard screams like it”. He also blames the UK for not doing more to support his mother and other British hostages before her such as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori. Plus: Iran has launched a further wave of strikes on US bases in Kuwait and the UAE, and Donald Trump has suggested the Strait of Hormuz should be renamed the 'Trump Strait'.Highlights'My mum was in Evin prison when Israel bombed it'Joe Bennett on his mother Lindsay Foreman's experience being held hostage by IranCONTRIBUTORS:Roland Oliphant, co-host and chief foreign affairs analyst @RolandOliphantJoe Bennett, son of Iran detainee Lindsay Foreman WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dkCONTENT REFERENCED:Joe Bennett: Starmer is allowing my mother to languish in Iranian jailhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/02/starmer-allowing-my-mother-to-languish-in-iranian-jail/In Iran's most notorious prison, I survived the very worst of human naturehttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/08/mahvash-sabet-open-wide-the-doors/Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026Audio Producer: Peter Shevlin Video Producer: Max BowerResearcher and Social Producer: Anna HindmarshStudio Operator: Andy WatsonExecutive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. strikes Iranian targets and Tehran retaliates, a Republican senator calls for the defense secretary to be fired and a GOP bill to lock the Supreme Court at nine justices fails in the House.

The U.S. launched a second day of strikes on Iran after Tehran tried to put sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran firing back at American bases across the Gulf and claiming an American strike hit a wedding.Trump is under pressure to bring down gas prices before the midterms, touting a Venezuela oil deal and a meeting with energy executives even though neither is likely to deliver relief by November.And in Massachusetts, Senator Ed Markey held off a younger primary challenger while other races tested whether Democratic voters want to keep incumbents or push the party further left.Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Tina Kraja, Rebekah Metzler, Megan Pratz, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.It was produced by Ziad Buchh and Nia Dumas. Our director is Christopher Thomas.We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.And our Supervising Producer is Reena Advani.(0:00) Introduction(01:58) War In Iran Ramps Up(05:43) Trump Pressured By Gas Prices(09:26) Massachusetts Primary ResultsSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The heads of Nato and the European Commission have warned that Russia is growing increasingly reckless and vowed to respond to a "new normal". Moscow has accused Germany of planting evidence, after German authorities said Russia was behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport. The Nato and EU chiefs said their support for Ukraine was unwavering amid rising hybrid threats, calling the Leipzig incident "part of a broader pattern of increasingly dangerous incidents".Also: Iran and the US exchange air strikes as Tehran calls deaths at wedding celebration a war crime. Washington denies targeting civilians. The man accused of murdering conservative activist Charlie Kirk pleads not guilty, as judge clears way for death penalty trial. A simple at-home urine test can detect more than nine in 10 cases of bladder cancer, potentially sparing thousands of patients from invasive exams. American service members on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrive in Thailand after a record 250 days without a port stop. The prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong pleads guilty to foreign collusion. Ariana Grande bids fans a tearful farewell at her final world tour show before stepping back from public life.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels Credit: REUTERS/Geert Vanden Wijngaert

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:Leaked documents reveal how Moscow is repaying Tehran for the drones Russia uses against Ukraine—by helping Iran master technology designed to put the U.S. Navy at greater risk.China is developing satellites capable of pursuing, capturing, and refueling other spacecraft as Washington prepares for the possibility of combat hundreds of miles above Earth.To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybriefTax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.com or call 800-583-6515MOD: For a free consultation and get 10% off your first order PLUS free shipping with promo code PDB at https://mod.comMUD/WTR: Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code PDB at https://mudwtr.com/PDB#mudwtrpod

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:• The United States and Iran exchange another round of strikes, as Tehran launches missiles and drones and President Trump warns that something much larger could follow.• Germany formally accuses Russia of targeting a Ukrainian cargo plane with explosive-laden drones on German soil, prompting retaliation from Berlin.• Mexican cartels are increasingly using car bombs, explosive drones, and landmines as their fight against the country's security forces grows more militarized.• In today's Back of the Brief, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigns after clashing with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, marking another senior departure from the Pentagon.To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybriefTax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.com or call 800-583-6515MOD: For a free consultation and get 10% off your first order PLUS free shipping with promo code PDB at https://mod.comMUD/WTR: Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code PDB at https://mudwtr.com/PDB#mudwtrpod

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, as he dives into today's top stories shaping America and the world. In this Wednesday Q&A episode of The Wright Report, Bryan answers a listener's question about the escalating "mow the lawn" strategy in Iran, revealing how Vladimir Putin is directly supplying Tehran with missiles and targeting intelligence used to strike US forces. Bryan answers listener questions on whether TikTok's algorithm is fueling online support for a Massachusetts mother who murdered her three children, a disturbing court ruling on AI-generated child abuse material, and Community Benefit Agreements as a possible fix for the AI data center fight. He also breaks down why an OpenAI model's rogue breakout from its testing sandbox amounts to a "digital gain of function" moment reminiscent of Fauci's coronavirus research. Plus, Bryan covers China's use of its COSCO shipping fleet to spy on US military communications, a widening H-1B visa scam funneling friends and family into fake sponsor corporations in Texas, Texas Senate candidate James Talarico's radical theology and open-borders platform, and a surprising surge in CD and vinyl sales as more families embrace "90s parenting." "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32   Keywords: Wright Report, Bryan Dean Wright, Iran, mowing the lawn, Putin, Russia, Strait of Hormuz, TikTok, Lindsay Clancy, AI child abuse material, Community Benefit Agreements, OpenAI, digital gain of function, Fauci, China, COSCO, espionage, H-1B visa scam, Texas, James Talarico, CD sales, 90s parenting

Trump threatens to wipe out Iran as Tehran targets an American base in Jordan. The region is bracing for an expansion in the war. Plus, polls are about to close in a key primary tonight as Trump's attempt to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections is rocked by new claims from a whistleblower.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

U.S. attacks wedding in Iran. Are Washington and Tehran heading for more escalation? Negar Mortazavi joins Aljazeera

Tehran targets U.S. allies in Gulf after U.S. launched ‘large and powerful' strikes on Iran. Jury in Lindsay Clancy trial is deadlocked, will continue deliberations. One-Hit Wonder Wednesday. Georgia police officer put on leave after family's pet donkey killed during search. AI cams on trash trucks look for code violations. Bessent vows to 'asphyxiate' Iranian regime. 

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed reports that he seeks to force Iran into negotiations following the latest strikes against Tehran, saying the United States is currently in a better position. Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the U.S. military has almost complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway for global oil and gas shipment that Iran has sought to control.Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial resumed deliberations Wednesday, a day after telling the judge they couldn't agree on whether the Massachusetts mother was criminally responsible for killing her three children.A former labor and delivery nurse, Clancy doesn't deny strangling her three young children at the family's home in 2023, but she says postpartum psychosis led to her actions. Prosecutors argue that she knew what she was doing. Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility.

U.S. forces are striking Iran again — and Tehran is firing back across the region, reigniting a war that had gone quiet for a month as Trump threatens an even harsher response. Plus, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk is headed to trial, with a Utah judge handing prosecutors another major win by allowing them to continue pursuing the death penalty. And Lindsay Clancy's jury returns for a fifth day after telling the judge it can't reach a unanimous verdict, putting the possibility of a mistrial increasingly into focus. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026.

The radiologist shortage is real, and international medical graduates (IMGs) are already helping solve it. Sohrab Afshari Mirak, MD, speaks with cohosts Surbhi Raichandani, MD, and Sherry Wang, MBBS, about his path from Tehran to UCLA, the American Board of Radiology Alternate Pathway, visa hurdles, and what IMGs bring to patient care. Listen to their discussion in episode 3 of Difficult Conversations, an AJR Podcast Series. *Key Takeaways Beyond the Step Score: Residency programs should not filter IMG applicants based on USMLE scores or graduation gaps; letters of recommendation and other application components offer additional important information.   The ABR Alternate Pathway: Recent changes by the American Board of Radiology now allow internationally trained radiologists to complete their four required fellowship years non-consecutively within an eight-year window, significantly reducing a source of uncertainty.    Clinical Diversity: IMGs bring unique proficiencies and skill sets developed in healthcare systems with workflows that differ from in the United States. *Chapters 0:00 - Welcome and Intro 0:54 - Impact of Radiologist Shortage 3:43 - Dr. Mirak's IMG Journey 6:07 - Residency Screening Pitfalls 10:02 - Letters and Observerships 12:14 - Research and Networking Tips 15:21 - ABR Alternate Pathway 18:52 - Visa Choices and Waivers 25:44 - Cultural Support for IMGs 28:38 - Global Models and IMG Value 35:56 - One Policy Change  38:05 - Closing Thoughts Follow AJR on Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ajr-radiology/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfFAYezkLMxJGMgIJLN0Dpg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajr_radiology/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ajr_radiology X: https://x.com/AJR_Radiology BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/ajrradiology.bsky.social

Iran attacked American bases and allies across the Gulf region on Wednesday. It followed U.S. attacks along Iran's southern coast that killed at least 18, according to Iran's health minister. At the White House, President Trump said this renewed campaign wouldn't last long, but threatened to hit Tehran "very hard" if the conflict over the Strait of Hormuz remains unresolved. Liz Landers reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the latest U.S. attack on Iran was justified and warned of bigger strikes if Tehran retaliated. President Trump, in a Truth Social post, said the U.S. military was striking Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday in retaliation for Iran's failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait and for shooting eight missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan.Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) easily fended off a primary challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), who made the 80-year-old progressive senator's age a top issue. The Associated Press called the race for Markey at 8:31 pm on Tuesday night. With just three percent of the vote counted, Markey led with 74.2 percent to Moulton's 25.8 percent. The race was an outlier from the norms seen in Democratic races this cycle.U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Tuesday that he expects Venezuela's oil production to more than double under new agreements with foreign oil companies. Wright posted on X that he had arrived in Caracas on a state visit for “advancing new energy deals” and “strengthening energy security” across the hemisphere.

Các cuộc xung đột giữa Mỹ và Iran đã tiếp diễn gần eo biển Hormuz, khi cuộc chiến ở Trung Đông bước sang tháng thứ sáu. Washington tuyên bố các cuộc tấn công mới nhất là hành động trả đũa, Tehran nói rằng phản ứng của họ vẫn chưa kết thúc, và các quốc gia vùng Vịnh đang cố gắng ngăn chặn cuộc đối đầu leo thang hơn nữa. Nhưng khi những lời lẽ ngoại giao tiếp tục vang lên, thì tổn thất về người cũng ngày càng gia tăng.

The US war in Iran is now into its 7th month, with Washington and Tehran trading the largest exchange of strikes since July, the 'Spokane 3" still in legal limbo over participation in an anti-ICE demonstration, and farmers strained by rising costs and weak prices as the Senate fails to advance the Farm Bill.

The United States and Iran are talking about diplomacy, while exchanging increasingly severe threats and attacks. Washington says its latest strikes are retaliation, Tehran says its response is not over, and countries across the Gulf are trying to stop the confrontation escalating further. But as the diplomatic language continues, so too does the human cost.

The global bond rout deepens as fears over fiscal deficits and rising inflation fuel a multi-decade high in government borrowing costs. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, however, is not concerned. Oil prices continue to climb as the U.S. ramps up strikes on Iran, while Tehran retaliates with attacks on Gulf States. Volkswagen's leadership will propose ending production at four German factories from 2031 at a meeting later this week. Speaking to CNBC, chief negotiator of the IG Metall workers union accuses the carmaker of going back on past agreements. In his first appearance at the House of Commons as the U.K. Prime Minister, Andy Burnham names Margaret Thatcher and Brexit as key reasons for the country's stagnant growth.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pags starts with the push to condemn socialism in America before absolutely unloading on members of Congress making $174,000 a year while getting bonuses and then failing to show up and vote. Then the focus turns overseas as the Trump administration dramatically increases pressure on Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is vowing to financially "asphyxiate" the regime by targeting IRGC money, offshore accounts and luxury assets, while the U.S. launches another round of strikes around the Strait of Hormuz. With Vladimir Putin backing Iran and the CIA director recently traveling to Moscow, Pags asks what is really happening behind the scenes—and argues that squeezing Tehran financially is exactly the direction America should be taking. Plus, Sen. Ted Cruz returns for Part 2, having some fun at James Talarico's expense before tackling the huge midterm question: Can Republicans hold both the House and Senate? Cruz also goes deeper into his new book and the extraordinary life and career of Justice Clarence Thomas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

P.M. Edition for Sept. 1. An unruly bond market is sending borrowing costs to their highest levels in decades. Financial markets reporter Jack Pitcher discusses why there's a global selloff in bonds. One reason? The escalation in fighting in the Middle East, as the U.S. launches a new wave of strikes against Iran. Plus, Hollywood reporter Ben Fritz goes into how the industry is skeptical of Paramount head David Ellison's promise to release 30 movies in theaters every year after merging with Warner Bros. Discovery. And the House passes a measure funding the government past the midterms. Pierre Bienaimé hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CAPTION 1887 FOOD COURT IN TEHRANJanatyn Sayeh addresses the psychological state of "no war, no peace" in Tehran a year after the September 2025 conflict. The population faces deep war fatigue, compounded by blockades and new sanctions. While sanctions alone cannot topple the regime, they successfully alienate key socio-economic groups. Specifically, lower-level administrative bureaucrats and ideologues are losing their financial incentives and faith in the regime's competence. True systemic change will not happen overnight, but dragging out the process and bringing civil unrest into urban streets could break pro-regime morale and dismantle the kleptocratic elite's hold on power. (6)

Caption: 1521 PERSIATONIGHT CONTENTS THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW 8-31-2026Tehran Under Siege: Sanctions, War Fatigue, and the Credibility Crisis of the UNEdmund Fitton-Brown details the bleak economic reality for citizens in Tehran living under severe economic sanctions and a low-intensity conflict. Ordinary residents are reduced to driving for ride-sharing apps like Snapp and begging for food due to skyrocketing prices of staple goods like yogurt. While the regime's elite remain insulated, sanctions have severely strained the general population without driving systemic behavior changes. Furthermore, the discussion examines the declining global credibility of the United Nations. The organization has abandoned its neutrality by focusing excessively on targeting Israel and prioritizing humanitarian relief, which frequently ends up diverted to empower oppressive regimes. (1)Demographic Doom: How the One-Child Legacy and Youth Cynicism Threaten China's FuturePiero Tozzi explores China's severe demographic crisis resulting from the legacy of the totalitarian one-child policy enacted in 1979 and officially lifted in 2015. Despite transitioning to a three-child policy, fertility rates continue to plummet due to youth disillusionment. The gender imbalance has catalyzed widespread female trafficking from neighboring countries, while a high proportion of single-child soldiers in the military creates unique domestic vulnerabilities in conflict scenarios. Young Chinese citizens are increasingly opting out of intense economic exploitation through passive resistance movements like "laying flat" and "letting it rot," directly challenging propaganda regarding national rejuvenation. (2)The Domestic Surge: AI Infrastructure, Aerospace Recovery, and US Manufacturing RenaissanceAlan Tonelson highlights the significant manufacturing revival currently taking place in the United States, driven by key sectors like aerospace and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Boeing's resolution of safety and production issues has revitalized aerospace, while a massive buildout of AI data centers has boosted demand for semiconductors, steel, and electronic equipment. Although trade tensions with Canada persist, the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement protects most trade, rendering short-term disruptions minimal. Furthermore, while widespread local protests against data centers have emerged across various states, they have not yet slowed down the overall rapid pace of construction. (3)Middle East Realignment: Iranian Devaluation, Turkish Expansion, and Mediterranean Defense PartnershipsMalcolm Hoenlein covers shifting geopolitical and economic dynamics across the Middle East. Inside Iran, severe inflation, food shortages, and medicine price hikes are suffocating the middle class, prompting harsher internal crackdowns by the regime. Meanwhile, Omani channel shipping flows have partially improved following US-led mine sweeping efforts. In Syria, Turkey is pursuing a quiet military takeover, a move contested by Israel. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is utilizing pipelines to bypass shipping threats, and Finland has joined other nations in defunding the corrupt Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA. Finally, Greece and Israel have solidified a historic $3.5 billion multi-level defense agreement. (4)Cult of Rebellion: Understanding the Resilient and Hostile Ideology of the HouthisEdmund Fitton-Brown chronicles the history, structure, and ideological motivations of the Houthi movement in Yemen. Emerging in the mid-1990s as a Zaydi revivalist cult modeled after Lebanese Hezbollah, the group adopted a highly hostile five-part slogan ("the scream") emphasizing anti-American, anti-Semitic, and anti-Israel vitriol. Over decades of conflict, they waged multiple rebellions against former dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh before forming a tactical alliance with him to seize power. Known as relentless fighters who are always up for a battle, the Houthis harbor expansive territorial ambitions in southern Saudi Arabia, aiming to control the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. (5)Tehran in Limbo: Evaluating Sanctions, Bureaucratic Alienation, and Paths to Regime ChangeJanatyn Sayeh addresses the psychological state of "no war, no peace" in Tehran a year after the September 2025 conflict. The population faces deep war fatigue, compounded by blockades and new sanctions. While sanctions alone cannot topple the regime, they successfully alienate key socio-economic groups. Specifically, lower-level administrative bureaucrats and ideologues are losing their financial incentives and faith in the regime's competence. True systemic change will not happen overnight, but dragging out the process and bringing civil unrest into urban streets could break pro-regime morale and dismantle the kleptocratic elite's hold on power. (6)Deterrence and Covert Diplomacy: Analyzing CIA Trip to Moscow and the North Korean AllianceJohn Hardie analyzes CIA Director John Ratcliffe's unexpected visit to Moscow. Speculation suggests the trip aimed to deter Russian sabotage against NATO, push for a diplomatic settlement in Ukraine, and pressure Moscow to limit support for Iran. Although Russian leader Vladimir Putin remains convinced of victory and resistant to compromises, maintaining deterrence remains critical. Simultaneously, military intelligence reports that North Korea has supplied dozens of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine, with thousands of combat troops potentially deployed, further complicating the global security landscape. (7)A Shift in Rules: IDF's Aggressive Gaza Targeting, Tunnel Demolition, and West Bank Air PowerSamuel Ben-Ur highlights a shift in Israeli military operations. Following a ceasefire, the IDF returned to pre-agreement rules by striking an active Hamas militant at a Gaza bakery. The military has destroyed roughly half of Gaza's tunnels, with operations continuing on the Hamas-controlled side. Additionally, Israel executed a rare West Bank airstrike to eliminate Kais Betawi, a high-value financial and military operative, signaling strength ahead of upcoming elections. Finally, the discussion outlines the total exclusion of the heavily compromised UNRWA from future Gaza recovery efforts, noting that the United States and Israel will sideline the agency entirely. (8)Higher Education in Crisis: Rising Debt, STEM Brain Drain, and Political PolarizationTom Katsouleas critiques the declining public trust and degrees in American higher education despite high spending. Driven by cost, value, and inclusion issues, students face massive debts that delay major life milestones like marriage and housing. Public universities have increased tuition to compensate for shrinking state budgets, while investing in luxury facilities and high-end services. In graduate education, US research programs depend heavily on international students—primarily from China—for STEM fields. However, rising immigration hostility and aggressive geopolitical competition are reversing this brain drain, while perceived progressive bias further polarizes public trust. (9)The Strategic Vanguard: Hezbollah's Regional Reach, Ceasefire Probing, and Lebanese Shia PoliticsDavid Daoud outlines the strategic dynamics of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah is currently launching pinprick probing attacks to test Israel's rules of engagement under ceasefire constraints and US pressure. Within Lebanesepolitics, the Shia community remains structured around a symbiotic relationship between the nationalist Amal movement and Hezbollah, preventing any independent Shia opposition from gaining ground. Beyond Lebanon, Hezbollah acts as the tip of the spear for Iranian expansionism, training regional proxies in rocket, tunnel, and propaganda warfare. This veteran, transnational expertise makes Hezbollah an indispensable regional asset that Iran would find impossible to replace. (10)The Silent Drip: Structural Remedies for America's $40 Trillion Debt CrisisThomas Savidge addresses the economic implications of the United States crossing the $40 trillion national debt threshold, fueled by pandemic spending and mandatory entitlements. This massive debt competes with private capital, driving up consumer borrowing rates and depressing real wages through inflation. To halt this slow economic drip, Savidge proposes a "fiscal constitution." This includes strong constitutional amendments, Colorado-style spending caps tied to population growth and inflation, a silent-approval budget commission to enact spending cuts, and strict regulatory limits on the scope of government authority to prevent accounting tricks. (11)

Caption: 1890 Russian Black Sea FleetLIVE STREAMING OF THE MAKING OF THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW WITH EDMUND FITTON-BROWN AND SAMUEL BEN-UR OF FDD.ORGThis text provides a transcript of a broadcast featuring John Batchelor and Edmund Fitton Brown discussing the volatile geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. The speakers examine the global energy crisis, specifically focusing on the critical shortages in refined oil caused by military conflicts and infrastructure limits. A significant portion of the conversation details the suffering of the Iranian people under a repressive regime, using anecdotes from a firsthand account of life in Tehran. The dialogue also addresses the ongoing war in Gaza, the complexities of urban warfare, and the challenges of achieving peace through international organizations like the United Nations. Finally, the participants reflect on the political polarization surrounding Middle Eastern reporting and the difficulties of maintaining objectivity during conflict.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has launched “Operation Economic Outcast,” a major US economic pressure campaign targeting Iran's financial lifelines. The new sanctions target Iran's crypto, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping sectors, with roughly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels designated.Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also reportedly told foreign counterparts that the US will refrain from striking Iran “for the time being,” signaling a shift toward economic pressure rather than immediate military action.Bessent warned that the US intends to target Iran's economic network worldwide and potentially impose secondary sanctions on countries and companies doing business with Tehran.

John Cassidy, staff writer at The New Yorker talks about how analysts, politicians, and every day people are calculating the cost of the Iran War. Photo: A pedestrian walks past a billboard depicting US President Donald Trump inside a catering container, installed on a building along a street in downtown of Tehran on August 31, 2026. Iran attacked US military targets in the Middle East on August 31 in retaliation for American strikes on an island in the Strait of Hormuz, the first exchange of fire for a month in a war that has engulfed the region. (ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Strait of Hormuz is where slogans go to die. Today we take a hard look at the claim that the United States “controls” the strait because mines were cleared and surveillance is perfect, then we test that claim against something more revealing: the reported message relayed through Pakistan offering to lift sanctions if Iran reopens shipping. If Washington has control, why negotiate for access? I walk through the incentives, the contradictions, and what leverage actually looks like when global oil flows, insurance risk, and regional escalation are all tied together. We also dig into Iran's position around a memorandum of understanding and why Tehran keeps linking navigation to a broader ceasefire structure across the Middle East. Then the story gets more concrete with Oman's role. Reports of technical talks point to a phased framework for safe navigation, a permanent maritime corridor, information exchange, traffic management, and even a possible two-lane design that could give Iran and Oman real veto power over transit. If foreign military ships face new limits, that raises an immediate question about the U.S. Navy's posture with Bahrain sitting inside the Persian Gulf. From there, we zoom out to the economic war: China signals it won't let U.S. sanctions disrupt its cooperation with Iran, and we connect that stance to banking channels, yuan pricing, secondary sanctions limits, and America's own dependence on rare earth minerals like gallium. We close with the political split between Trump and Netanyahu on escalation, a critique of the “wartime footing” defense buildout, a warning sign in Ukraine about potential sabotage targeting UK-linked drone production, and why Trump's North Korea rhetoric looks like a hunt for a headline summit while Kim Jong-un's leverage grows. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review with your take on who really holds the leverage right now.

“Economic D-Day against Iran” makes for great TV, but it only matters if the US can actually enforce it. Kyle sits down with Larry Johnson, a former CIA analyst and the writer behind Sonar21, to pressure-test the Trump administration's new sanctions push, “Operation Economic Outcast,” and the claims that it will isolate Tehran, choke off military funding, and reopen business as usual in the Gulf. We dig into what's happening around the Strait of Hormuz, why official narratives can clash with independent shipping tracker data, and how visibility, radar, and maritime traffic shape energy markets in real time. From there, we get concrete about enforcement: if Iran's trade is increasingly conducted in Chinese yuan through Chinese banks, meaningful pressure points shift from Tehran to Beijing, raising the stakes of secondary sanctions and retaliation. We also talk through the practical energy fallout, including oil supply timing, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve drawdown, and why shortages in diesel and aviation fuel can show up after a delay. The conversation then widens to the regional and security consequences that often get ignored. We discuss how decades of Washington's fixation on Iran has repeatedly empowered Sunni extremist networks, why Syria's new rulers cannot be judged by a suit and a name change, and what new flashpoints could look like, from Gulf escalation risks to Israel Turkey tensions and Netanyahu's incentives ahead of elections.

“Economic war” sounds like a tidy solution until you look at what it actually does and what it rarely accomplishes. We sit down with Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski to pressure-test the latest U.S. messaging on Iran, from claims that sanctions will prevent a nuclear program forever to louder promises that Tehran's government can be collapsed through blockade and financial pressure. We don't treat this as abstract theory. We dig into how sanctions function in practice, why they often fail to produce regime change, and how they can still escalate conflict while pretending to be restraint. We also take on the rhetoric itself. When leaders insist a rival country can “never” do something again, that's not strategy so much as a demand for total control. Karen connects that mindset to authoritarian language, public conditioning, and the way fear-based narratives get repeated until they feel normal. Along the way, we challenge oversimplified portrayals of Iran as uniquely irrational or bloodthirsty and talk about resilience: domestic production, long-built trade relationships, and why underestimating an adversary is a recurring U.S. foreign policy mistake. Then we pivot home. With Democratic Socialists winning primaries, we ask what voters are actually demanding and why so many candidates struggle to directly confront a $1.5 trillion defense budget, an unauditable Pentagon, and the broader problem of corporate welfare and crony capitalism. If you care about Middle East policy, U.S. national security, defense spending, and what real anti-corruption reform would require, this conversation ties the threads together.

This morning Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled regime change is the end game in Iran and that the writing is now on the wall. He compared the IRGC to poisonous snakes he killed as a kid by cutting their heads off. "The snake doesn't know it's dead yet, but it will stop wiggling when the sun goes down."   

Economic pressure will impose greater hardship on ordinary Iranians already struggling with rising inflation. But it is unlikely to force Iran to surrender, as it has failed to do in the past.Negar Mortazavi with Jim Sciutto on CNN

There's a new film out called Reading Lolita in Tehran. It's based on the best-selling book by Azar Nafisi who held a reading group in her home in Iran where female students met each week to read banned books like Madame Bovary and Lolita. Nafisi had gone back to the country where she was born in 1979, right after the revolution that deposed the Shah and installed the Islamic regime. She found herself teaching in a country where people who were opposed to the religious government were often imprisoned and executed. After 18 years, Nafisi and her family packed up their belongings and fled to the U.S. We talk about oppression, freedom and how books saved her life. "Now What?" is produced with help from Steve Zimmer, Lucy Little and Jackie Schwartz. Audio production is by Nick Ciavatta.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss today's Democratic Senate primary in Massachusetts and yesterday's 5-4 Supreme Court decision allowing construction of the White House ballroom to continue. Then, Matthew Gould, former British Ambassador to Israel and former deputy ambassador to Iran joins the guys to discuss the internal politics of Iranian leadership and how understanding that dynamic should inform U.S. policy toward Tehran. And finally, they discuss the Texas Senate race and the latest controversy over male cheerleaders in the NFL. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The US has bombed Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz - the first known attack in weeks. Tehran has launched retaliatory strikes against American bases in Jordan. Also: rescue efforts intensify after Nepal-Tibet flood; Russia is accused of targeting cultural sites in Ukraine; NASA launches its space telescope; a zoo reopens in Gaza's Khan Younis; and the best movies of the summer. The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight.Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories.Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.ukPhoto: Ships and boats on the Strait of Hormuz, Oman, 29th April 2026 Credit: Reuters

Gaius and Germanicus: Gaius references a modern memoir detailing Tehran under bombardment and randomly cruel regime retaliation. He highlights a billboard comparing Israeli-US forces to the defeated Roman Emperor Valeriankneeling before Persian King Shapur I, which stiffens Iranian defiance. Germanicus agrees, analyzing Rome and Persia's superpower deadlock and criticizing narcissistic, uneducated American elites who rely on "shock and awe." He observes that precision bombing fails to break morale. Instead, it unexpectedly binds civilians closer to the state as the regime visibly protects them, normalizing conflict and hardening resistance. (2)

CAPTION: ARTAXERSES OF PERSIAEdmund Fitton-Brown details the bleak economic reality for citizens in Tehran living under severe economic sanctions and a low-intensity conflict. Ordinary residents are reduced to driving for ride-sharing apps like Snapp and begging for food due to skyrocketing prices of staple goods like yogurt. While the regime's elite remain insulated, sanctions have severely strained the general population without driving systemic behavior changes. Furthermore, the discussion examines the declining global credibility of the United Nations. The organization has abandoned its neutrality by focusing excessively on targeting Israel and prioritizing humanitarian relief, which frequently ends up diverted to empower oppressive regimes. (1)

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:A month-long pause in U.S.–Iran fighting collapses as American forces strike inside Iran, Tehran fires missiles at U.S. positions and President Trump threatens another punishing response.Russia launches nearly 1,500 drones against Ukraine in four days, including hundreds of faster Iranian-designed weapons that are straining Kyiv's air defenses as Moscow prepares an even larger assault.To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybriefMUD/WTR: Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code PDB at https://mudwtr.com/PDB#mudwtrpodDeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/PDBand use promo code PDB at checkout.Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.comor call 800-583-6515

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:- U.S. economic pressure is beginning to hit Iran at home, as foreign trade contracts, oil exports dry up, and gasoline lines grow across Tehran—raising the stakes for a regime already facing deep economic strain.- The Trump administration takes its economic campaign against Iran to the G20, pressing major economies to choose between doing business with Tehran and retaining access to the American financial system.- President Trump confirms a sweeping agreement that will give the United States control over a major share of Venezuela's vast oil reserves, reshaping Washington's energy relationship with Caracas.- In today's Back of the Brief, a new message attributed to Iran's missing supreme leader surfaces after months of silence, but still provides no verified proof that he is alive or directing the regime.To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com.Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybriefMUD/WTR: Start your new morning ritual & get up to 43% off your @MUDWTR with code PDB at https://mudwtr.com/PDB#mudwtrpodDeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to https://joindeleteme.com/PDBand use promo code PDB at checkout.Tax Relief Advocates: End your tax nightmare today by visiting us online at https://TRA.comor call 800-583-6515

US equity futures are mixed but off their lows, with S&P futures slightly down. Bonds are little changed overall, while the dollar is slightly softer after Friday's gains. Crude is firmer amid renewed US-Iran strikes, precious metals remain under pressure, and Bitcoin is modestly higher but still below 79K level. Sentiment is soft into this week as tensions in the Middle East escalated over the weekend. US forces struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, with Tehran responding via intercepted missile strikes on US bases in Jordan. It was the first direct exchange of fire since July. Hence, diplomacy remains stalled. Companies Mentioned: KKR&Co., ONEOK, Inc., SK Hynix

Iran is once again showing the world that it does not need to defeat the United States in a conventional war to inflict tremendous damage upon it. According to CENTCOM, IRGC forces on Larak Island were preparing rocket launchers capable of firing naval mines directly into the Strait of Hormuz, replenishing the very minefields American forces had only just finished clearing. That is not ordinary coastal defense, it is calculated economic warfare. Tehran is weaponizing one of the most important maritime chokepoints on Earth, transforming a narrow stretch of water into a pressure valve on global oil supplies, shipping insurance, commercial traffic and inflation. Iran understands perfectly that it can shake markets, frighten tanker operators and drive oil above $90 without sinking an American aircraft carrier or winning a single conventional battle.“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Isaiah 57:21 (KJB)On this episode of the Prophecy News Podcast, when the United States destroyed those launchers, Iran did not limit its response to the Strait or strike only at the forces responsible. The IRGC fired ballistic missiles toward bases housing American forces in Jordan and launched drones into UAE airspace, immediately expanding the battlefield into neighboring countries. Jordan says it intercepted eight missiles, while the UAE says it intercepted Iranian drones over its territorial waters. Iran is demonstrating that every Gulf nation hosting American forces can be made to pay a price for Washington's decisions. Tehran is turning the entire region into a field of retaliatory targets while presenting its aggression as “self-defense.”The most disturbing part is that Iran appears determined to establish itself as the gatekeeper of Hormuz. Tehran says vessels must obey Iranian navigation restrictions, has reportedly threatened ships attempting to pass without its authorization, and claims a tanker struck two mines after trying to transit “illegally.” That amounts to an effort to impose Iranian control over an international waterway by force. America may destroy two launchers today and clear several mines tomorrow, but Iran can deploy more rockets, drones, missiles and mines from a long and heavily fortified coastline. The IRGC is betting that it can bleed America's munitions, frighten its Gulf allies, strangle international commerce and force the world to negotiate on Tehran's terms. This is not Iran backing down, it is Iran tightening its grip around the throat of the global economy. Today on the Podcast, nothing is at is seems in the Middle East as we rapidly approach the prophecy tipping point!

And Another Thing With Dave, by Dave SmithThe West's grip on Iran is not diplomacy. It is an offer a country cannot refuse. This episode follows that gangster logic from the 1953 CIA-MI6 coup against Mohammad Mossadegh, through Iran-Contra and Mena, to the Business Plot — the Wall Street scheme to recruit America's most decorated Marine to stop the New Deal.Smedley Butler had two Medals of Honor and 33 years in the Corps. In War Is a Racket he said he was not a patriot for hire. He was “a high-class muscle man for Big Business… a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.” He made Mexico safe for oil, Haiti safe for the banks, Nicaragua safe for Brown Brothers, Honduras safe for fruit companies, China safe for Standard Oil. Al Capone ran three city districts. Butler said the Marines ran three continents.Same playbook in Tehran. Mossadegh nationalized Iranian oil. Operation Ajax removed him. Decades later Iran-Contra sold weapons to the same “terrorist state,” funneled the profits to the Contras in violation of the Boland Amendment, and looked the other way while cocaine paid for the war. Gary Webb was right that the CIA protected Contra-linked traffickers. He was wrong that one ring explained the crack epidemic. Mena was real. The legend is bigger than the documented load.Then they tried it at home. In 1933–34, after Roosevelt left the gold standard and launched New Deal jobs, housing, and labor programs, financiers approached Butler to lead 500,000 veterans on Washington. The plan: a “Secretary of General Affairs” as dictator, FDR as figurehead. Money from Wall Street. Arms from Remington. Cover from the American Liberty League.Butler got the names and testified under oath. The McCormack-Dickstein Committee reported that the plot “was discussed, was planned, and might have been placed in execution when and if the financial backers deemed it expedient.”Nobody was prosecuted. The names were stripped from the public report. The press called it a hoax, then went silent.Same offer. Same refusal. Different map.In this episode:Why Iran policy still reads like a protection racket over oilOperation Ajax and the 1953 overthrow of a elected governmentIran-Contra: arms, hostages, Contras, and the cocaine pipelineWhat Gary Webb got right — and what he overstatedSmedley Butler's confession in War Is a RacketThe Business Plot against FDR, and why no one was chargedRelated episodes:The Clintons, Cocaine, Conspiracy, and Cover Up (Parts 1 and 2)Episode 474: Deep Down the Rabbit Hole of Drug SmugglingBonus: Iran, The History of US Aggression and LiesSeeking the truth. Exposing the lies.And Another Thing With Dave#AATWDListen, share, and review:Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/and-another-thing-with-dave/id1498443271Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/1HLX3dqSQgeWZNXVZ1Z4ECAll links — https://linktr.ee/andanotherthingwithdave#AATWD #SmedleyButler #WarIsARacket #BusinessPlot #Iran1953 #OperationAjax #IranContra #CIA #Mossadegh #DarkAlliance #GaryWebb #MenaArkansas #NewDeal #FDR #AmericanHistory #DeepState #OilPolitics #MilitaryIndustrialComplex

August 28, 2026 – 8am Trump ‘renames' Lake Ontario to Lake America Judge again blocks Trump's bid to restrict mail-in voting Iran war reaches 6 months with no end in sight Annual ‘March on Washington' returns to DC today Actress Lisa Kudrow talks ‘The Comeback' Season 3 Co-Director Tanaz Eshaghian on her new documentary on gender and social structure in Iran titled, ‘An Eye for an Eye' To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Following a Supreme Court decision that cleared the way, a federal judge lifted a nationwide block on President Donald Trump's executive order that limited mail-in voting ahead of the midterm elections.A historic drought in the northwestern United States is supercharging what's on track to already be a historic wildfire season.And reporting from The Wall Street Journal indicated that Trump intervened at the Department of Justice as the agency was preparing to sue Live Nation, the world's largest concert promoter.And, in global news, this week, President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian imports, prompting Ottawa to retaliate with tariffs of its own.  Canada and the U.S. exchanged about 872 billion dollars in goods and services in 2025.Friday marks six months since the start of the U.S. war with Iran. This week Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a warning to foreign governments and companies saying they could lose access to the U.S. financial system if they continue doing business with Tehran. President Trump said he's not in a hurry to return to the negotiating table.And a catastrophic flood at the border between Nepal and China killed at least 400 people, with thousands more still missing.We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.Find more of our programs online. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Rebeccah Heinrichs joins Brian Kilmeade to analyze major global security threats. They discuss CIA Director John Ratcliffe's mysterious trip to Russia, intelligence sharing between Moscow and Tehran, and why military blockades and economic sanctions are the only ways to pressure the Iranian regime. Plus, an update on Ukraine's battlefield progress and NATO's response to rising Russian aggression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Scott sat down with his Lawfare colleagues Editor in Chief Benjamin Wittes, Public Service Fellow Julia Curlee, and Contributing Editor Alex Zerden to talk through the week's big news in national security, including:“Skynet's the Limit.” A Russian drone guided entirely by onboard artificial intelligence—with no human directing the final strike—appears to have killed three civilians at a gas station in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on July 6, in what experts believe may be the first killings carried out by a fully autonomous Russian weapon. As both armies race toward greater battlefield autonomy—driven in part by electronic warfare that jams the radio links piloted drones rely on—the strike marks a threshold that arms-control experts have long warned about: machines, not people, deciding whom to kill. What do we make of this development, and what does it mean for the laws of war?“Rial Talk.” Earlier this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled a new round of sanctions on Iran and what he called its “enablers,” branding the campaign “Operation Economic Outcast” and promising an “economic D-Day” aimed at severing every financial lifeline that sustains the regime. The measures target a global network of brokers, shadow-fleet vessels, and firms moving Iranian oil, along with Tehran's access to digital assets, gold, aviation, and shipping—though Bessent conspicuously held back the biggest penalties on some major trading partners like China, favoring “quiet diplomacy” instead. The announcement lands with Iran's currency at record lows and the U.S.-Iran war grinding into its sixth month after a ceasefire window lapsed. Is maximum economic pressure a substitute for military force—and will it actually work?“Sorry, Not Sorry.” Trade talks between Washington and Ottawa collapsed late last week, and at the stroke of midnight on Aug. 21st, President Trump's 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods—everything from hockey equipment and furniture to liquor and clothing—took effect. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who blamed the breakdown on last-minute “uneconomic” and “unfair” U.S. demands, vowed to match the tariffs “dollar for dollar” with his own duties on U.S. steel, dairy, appliances, and electronics starting September 8, and went so far as to say Canada is “at war” after being “attacked.” With the future of the USMCA free-trade pact suddenly in doubt, how did two of the world's closest trading partners get here, and where does the escalation go next?In object lessons, Ben is not giving away his shot to call out the Daily Caller on not delivering on its headline. Julia is reminding us of her love of all things Lawfare. Scott reminds us that the world may never be the same after seeing it through the eyes of a poet. And Alex is bobbing his head to his reimagining of Bombs Over Baghdad.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.