Podcasts about us forces

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. 5.1721 SULTAN OF PERSIA

The Prime Minister says we are going to have to spend more, faster, on defence. But his government hasn't even decided how it will spend the money already in the budget, despite promising the plan months ago.Sitrep explains why the growing delays are a big problem for some defence firms, and therefore the Armed Forces they supply, as the ADS trade body tells us small business liquidations are at a 30-year high.Sian Grzeszczyk Melbourne shares the Westminster whispers on when these vital decisions could finally be taken, and whether any more money could be found.And Mike explains what US Forces are being massed around Iran, plus what that tells us about any military action that might happen.

Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss of the Long War Journal discuss a sophisticated Islamic State drone attack on an airfield in Niger, highlighting security failures by the Russian Africa Corps that replaced US forces.1949 NIGERIA

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports on U.S. forces boarding another tanker carrying sanctioned oil.

New Year, New Headlines!!It didn't take too long for the President to make headlines as US Forces kidnap Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro.Which then caused a domino effect of headlines all through out January.Join Jules and Chris as they talk about Venezuela, Trumps coverting Greenland, and the incidents surrounding ICE's actions in the US.If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠
Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠Music is by Harry Binns: https://www.instagram.com/harrybinnsmusic/

SEGMENT 13: AL QAEDA IN DAMASCUS GOVERNMENT Guest: Bill Roggio and Ahmed Sharawi (FDD)Roggio and Sharawi examine Al Qaeda presence within Syria's new government under clever, effective President al-Sharaa. US forces struck an Al Qaeda commander responsible for killing Iowa National Guard soldiers, but ISIS elements remain unaddressed. The jihadi connections within Damascus leadership raise serious counterterrorism concerns. UNDATED BRUSSELS

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

Iranians keep up the fight against the regime; US sending Naval forces to the Middle East; Netanyahu warns Iran not to attack; protests against Trump's plans for Greenland; how understanding your brain can help you can deal with pain.

For review:1. US Forces seize 6th sanctioned tanker in Caribbean Sea.2. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.3. US President Donald Trump reportedly informed Iran that he won't be ordering a strike on the country over its deadly crackdown on protesters after the leaders of four Arab countries convinced him to hold off.4. US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday announced the launch of phase two of President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war in Gaza, including the establishment of a new technocratic Palestinian administration for the Strip.5. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy responded Thursday to President Trump that Ukraine was stalling a peace deal in the country's ongoing war with Russia, saying his country will “never be a stumbling block for peace.”The President told Reuters this week that he believes Russian President Putin is “ready to make a deal,” but “Ukraine is less ready.” The President specifically named Zelensky as the person holding up the negotiations. 6. Moscow agrees with U.S. President Donald Trump's view that Ukraine is holding up a peace deal to end the almost four years of fighting, a Kremlin official said Thursday.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “Yes, we can agree with it, it's indeed so.”7. Ukrainian military resistance, with France alone providing two-thirds of Ukraine's intelligence capabilities in the war against Russia.This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, January 15, in his New Year's address to the army at the Istres airbase near Marseille, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.8. The White House meeting to discuss Greenland lasted about an hour. Participating in the meeting were: U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Vivian Motzfeldt.Denmark's Rasmussen described the conversation as “frank but constructive,” The U.S., Denmark and Greenland agreed to establish a high-level working group to try to determine a way forward for the self-governing Danish territory.9. Armor Not Dead: US Army Shows M1E3 Tank Prototype at Detroit Auto Show; A Working Platform to Test Ideas. 

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports on another oil tanker seizure in the Caribbean.

Another bout of cold weather is fast approaching us with Storm Goretti on the way. The storm has wreaked havoc already on the continent, with over 1,000 travelers stranded at Schiphol airport. In other news, the sanctioned Marinera Tanker was finally seized in the North Atlantic yesterday by US Forces, in conjunction with the UK Defence Ministry.Pat discusses this and more with Enda Brady, TV Anchor with TRT World.

WWIII Alert! US Forces Seize Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker With Russian Flag, Trump Sets Eyes On Greenland Once Again, Iranian Regime Facing Massive Civil Unrest

The U.S. European Command announced the seizure of a Venezuela-linked oil tanker for violations of U.S. sanctions in a post on X on Wednesday. U.S. forces had been trailing the vessel since last month after it tried to evade a U.S. blockade around Venezuela. The ship was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to terrorist group Hezbollah.The House Oversight Committee will hear testimony on Wednesday from Minnesota state lawmakers on allegations of fraud and the misuse of federal funds in the state. NTD will have live coverage of the hearing.

AP correspondent Donna Warder reports the U.S. has confronted an oil tanker in the Caribbean.

In this explosive bonus episode of The Alan Sanders Show, host Alan Sanders breaks down the stunning January 3, 2026 U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores during large-scale strikes on Caracas. Dive into the full history of U.S.-Venezuela tensions, historical precedents like the 1989 Panama invasion of Manuel Noriega, and the legal basis tied to long-standing narco-terrorism indictments. What does this mean for Venezuela's future, U.S. interim administration, oil reserves and is Cuba going to be the next domino to fall? Alan provides sharp analysis on the implications and what's next in this rapidly evolving crisis. Subscribe to The Alan Sanders Show to stay informed, engaged and entertained. Please take a moment to rate and review the show and then share the episode on social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, GETTR,  TRUTH Social and YouTube by searching for The Alan Sanders Show. And, consider becoming a sponsor of the show by visiting my Patreon page!

Venezuela has entered a new period of uncertainty after a dramatic US military operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power; Australian sporting figures have joined growing calls for a national royal commission into anti-Semitism and the Bondi terror attack; A 34-year-old man has drowned at Jervis Bay on the New South Wales South Coast after several people were caught in rough water at Green Patch beach. THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here GET IN TOUCHShare your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Host & Producer: Tahli BlackmanBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unsafe Nigeria; Gumi Describes US Military Action In Sokoto A Terrorist Acthttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/unsafe-nigeria-gumi-describes-us-military-action-in-sokoto-a-terrorist-act/#Issues #Gumi #Omokri #Sokoto #Sowore #Tinubu #Trump #US ©December 26th, 2025 ®December 27, 2025 12:14 am One of the most talked about Islamic Preachers in Nigeria who have had photographs with people suspected to be terrorists; terrorizing villages and communities in the Northern part of Nigeria when he visited the suspected terrorists in their camps inside forests on the ground of having peace talk with the armed groups, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has described as a terrorist act the United States, US military action ordered by President Donald Trump that attacked and killed yet to be ascertained total numbers of ISIS affiliated Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, this, the Islamic Cleric called on the people in the villages affected by the US missiles' strikes on Thursday night to post on social media platforms evidences of damages caused by the US military action,   according to Gumi, it is inline with the teaches of Islam for terrorists to be killed, but, the killing must be done by people with a clean and holy hands, and "not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women, and men just recently", stressing that, the US involvement in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria will make the country becomes an enemy of its neighbours, a theatre of war, because the involvement will attract the real anti-US Forces into the West Africa country, and in a manner that looked like mockery, Sheikh Gumi said "dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; they need serious military on the ground, which, if we are serious, we have enough men to do that", in contrary to Gumi's assertions, the Nigeria Government, through the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar said it was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday that gave the US the approval to carry out the strikes against the terrorists, but the government statement apparently did not go down well with Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and the founder of SaharaReporters news media, who insisted that "it is evident that the strikes were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the weaklings masquerading as government under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu", and in a swift reaction to Omoyele Sowore, one of the recently nominated and confirmed Ambassador-Designate, Reno Omokri said "I am afraid I will have to disagree with Mr Omoyele Sowore, and others like him, who are misinforming the Nigerian public that the recent actions against terrorists are proof that Nigeria lacks sovereignty, Such views are indicative of a lack of awareness of international relations, It is also wrong for Mr Sowore to call our government and military weak". #OsazuwaAkonedoUnsafe Nigeria; US Begins Military Action In Sokoto, Several Deadhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/unsafe-nigeria-us-begins-military-action-in-sokoto-several-dead/#Breaking News #Jabo #Nigeria #Sokoto #Trump #US ©December 26th, 2025 ®December 26, 2025 4:37 am While many Nigerians were asleep after the 2025 Christmas celebration, the United States, US war ship moved close and took position in the territorial Africa waters, then launched missiles at the dead of the night on Thursday into areas predominantly dominated by the Lakurawa terrorists in the Nigeria North Western State of Sokoto, with President Donald Trump saying many of the terrorists were killed, but, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS in the West Africa Province is yet to issue a statement over the airstrikes on the Lakurawa camps in Sokoto, the armed group that is affiliated with the Islamic State Sahel Province operating in Mali, Niger, and the Nigeria Kebbi and Sokoto states whose activities are mostly observed in five local government areas of Tangaza, Gudu, Illela, Binji, and Silame in Sokoto state, this, some residents at Jabo village in the Tambuwal local government area of Sokoto state posted videos online to indicate that some components used in making the missiles fell on a farmland in the Jabo village, the videos showed alot of the villagers, mostly younger ones holding phones with touch light on, recording the scene of the burning  parts of one of the missiles in the farmland, while some took a closer camera angle shot of some of the components that have manufacturing inscriptions dates and brand labels. #OsazuwaAkonedoVeryDarkMan Presents Apparent Questionable Court Docs Against Gwamnishuhttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/verydarkman-presents-apparent-questionable-court-docs-against-gwamnishu/#Breaking News #Aviele #edo #Gwamnishu #VeryDarkMan ©December 24th, 2025 ®December 24, 2025 9:44 am In an effort to challenge and prove wrong the statement of Harrison Gwamnishu, a well known civilian volunteer assisting Nigeria security operatives with intelligence information that has led to the arrest and killing of suspected kidnappers in gun battle, that, he, Harrison Gwamnishu was never arrested or charged to court by the Nigeria Police Force over the ₦5.4 million he allegedly removed from the ₦20 million ranson he was contracted to handover to the kidnappers for the release and rescue of the married couple kidnapped in Aviele community in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State in late November 2025, a leading Nigeria social media influencer and Human Rights Activist, Martins Vincent Otse a.k.a VeryDarkMan on Tuesday night took to his social media pages and presented an apparent questionable court document, probably with malicious intent to manipulate and mislead unsuspecting members of the public inorder to malign the character of Harrison Gwamnishu, this,  in the court document presented by VeryDarkMan, the alleged charge serial numbers were covered with a coloured ink, no date of court sitting was written on the court document, the document indicated that the alleged 3 count charges were drafted and signed on 18th December, 2025, a day before Harrison Gwamnishu was asked to go home from the police custody on December 19, 2025 while awaiting the advice of the Department of Public Prosecutor, DPP on the matter, and the apparent fraudulent court document did not show the officer or the person responsible for the court count charges, and VeryDarkMan apparently in a manipulative manner did not show the full signature and any name of the officer who authored the alleged court charges. #OsazuwaAkonedoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support.Kindly support us for more productivity and efficiency in news delivery.Visit our donation page: DonateYou can also use our Mobile app for more news in different formats: CLICK TO DOWNDLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY STORE 

Unsafe Nigeria; Gumi Describes US Military Action In Sokoto A Terrorist Acthttps://osazuwaakonedo.news/unsafe-nigeria-gumi-describes-us-military-action-in-sokoto-a-terrorist-act/#Issues #Gumi #Omokri #Sokoto #Sowore #Tinubu #Trump #US ©December 26th, 2025 ®December 27, 2025 12:14 am One of the most talked about Islamic Preachers in Nigeria who have had photographs with people suspected to be terrorists; terrorizing villages and communities in the Northern part of Nigeria when he visited the suspected terrorists in their camps inside forests on the ground of having peace talk with the armed groups, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has described as a terrorist act the United States, US military action ordered by President Donald Trump that attacked and killed yet to be ascertained total numbers of ISIS affiliated Lakurawa terrorists in Sokoto State on Christmas Day, this, the Islamic Cleric called on the people in the villages affected by the US missiles' strikes on Thursday night to post on social media platforms evidences of damages caused by the US military action,   according to Gumi, it is inline with the teaches of Islam for terrorists to be killed, but, the killing must be done by people with a clean and holy hands, and "not by another terrorist whose hands are stained with the blood of hundreds of thousands of innocent children, women, and men just recently", stressing that, the US involvement in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria will make the country becomes an enemy of its neighbours, a theatre of war, because the involvement will attract the real anti-US Forces into the West Africa country, and in a manner that looked like mockery, Sheikh Gumi said "dropping a few bombs here and there cannot tackle the menace of terror; they need serious military on the ground, which, if we are serious, we have enough men to do that", in contrary to Gumi's assertions, the Nigeria Government, through the office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar said it was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday that gave the US the approval to carry out the strikes against the terrorists, but the government statement apparently did not go down well with Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and the founder of SaharaReporters news media, who insisted that "it is evident that the strikes were carried out without the genuine authority or informed consent of the weaklings masquerading as government under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu", and in a swift reaction to Omoyele Sowore, one of the recently nominated and confirmed Ambassador-Designate, Reno Omokri said "I am afraid I will have to disagree with Mr Omoyele Sowore, and others like him, who are misinforming the Nigerian public that the recent actions against terrorists are proof that Nigeria lacks sovereignty, Such views are indicative of a lack of awareness of international relations, It is also wrong for Mr Sowore to call our government and military weak". #OsazuwaAkonedoBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/osazuwaakonedo--4980924/support.Kindly support us for more productivity and efficiency in news delivery.Visit our donation page: DonateYou can also use our Mobile app for more news in different formats: CLICK TO DOWNDLOAD ON GOOGLE PLAY STORE 

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports US forces stop a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela.

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube

Support the show: Antiwar.com/donatePhone bank for Defend the Guard: https://defendtheguard.us/phonebankSign up for our newsletter: https://www.antiwar.com/newsletter/ 

In recent weeks, tensions between the US and Venezuela have been growing. Several US military strikes have targeted boats in the Caribbean allegedly carrying illicit drugs, and US President Donald Trump has said that he has authorized the CIA to use lethal force in Venezuela. And the issue doesn't end there, now there is wider involvement from Europe and elsewhere. GPF Chairman George Friedman joined host Christian Smith on this episode of Talking Geopolitics to dive into what's really going on, how it ties into the Monroe Doctrine - the policy relating to affairs in the Western Hemisphere - and what Russia's role in all of it is. Visit http://www.geopoliticalfutures.com for world-class geopolitical analysis and discussion.

082125 Trump Fraud Penalty Overturned, US Forces Headed to Venezuela, Gerrymandering, Hotel Workers Union by The News with Paul DeRienzo

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, we cover Trump's crackdown on Democrat-led policies in crime, immigration, and trucking safety, plus a listener-led Q&A block on Ukraine, Venezuela, Gaza, medical marijuana, and Made in the USA. From falling crime in Washington DC to looming military moves in Venezuela, today's brief brings you stories that cut across politics, national security, and everyday life. Trump's Crime Crackdown in Washington DC: New data from the DC police union shows carjackings down 83 percent, robberies down 46 percent, and overall violent crime down 22 percent since Trump deployed National Guard troops. Nearly 500 arrests have been made, about half involving immigration-related crimes. The DOJ is also investigating whether DC officials manipulated past crime stats. Illegal Alien Truck Driver Kills Three in Florida: An Indian national living illegally in the U.S. caused a fatal crash after making an illegal U-turn in a semi-truck. He previously avoided deportation under Biden-era policies and held a CDL despite failing basic competency tests. The administration is now reviewing how hundreds of thousands of foreign-born drivers obtained licenses. Where Are Biden's 300,000 Missing Migrant Children: A DHS report shows hundreds of thousands of migrant children placed with unvetted sponsors or lost entirely by the Biden administration. Bryan shares a personal story that illustrates the dangers, arguing the failures amount to deliberate negligence. Listener Question — U.S. Boots on the Ground in Ukraine and Venezuela: Trump assures no American troops will deploy to Ukraine, but his administration is sending warships toward Venezuela amid pressure on dictator Nicolás Maduro. Bryan explains the risks of military entanglement and the key questions leaders must ask before committing U.S. forces abroad. Listener Question — Is Israel to Blame in Gaza: Negotiators from Egypt and Qatar offered Hamas a chance to disarm and cede control of Gaza in exchange for safe haven abroad, but Hamas refused. Bryan explains why Palestinian rejection of Israel's existence keeps war inevitable, despite alternatives for peace. Listener Question — Does Marijuana Really Relieve Pain: A Pennsylvania study finds most patients abandon medical cannabis within a year due to lack of results or side effects. Bryan highlights research showing placebo treatments can trigger natural pain relief, suggesting safer alternatives exist. Listener Question — What Happened to Made in the USA: With Americans prioritizing affordability over patriotism, Bryan previews tomorrow's counsel to Trump on how to restore U.S. manufacturing loyalty and revive his “Five Bucket Revolution.”   "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32     Keywords: Trump DC crime crackdown, National Guard Washington DC arrests, DC crime stats manipulation, illegal alien truck driver Florida crash, foreign-born CDL drivers, Biden missing migrant children, U.S. migrant child trafficking, Trump Ukraine security guarantees, U.S. warships Venezuela Maduro, Hamas rejects Gaza peace deal, Egypt Qatar Gaza plan, medical marijuana chronic pain study, placebo pain relief research, Made in the USA consumer loyalty, Trump Five Bucket Revolution

Watch the full podcast here! https://chinauncensored.tv/programs/podcast-305 China is building something dangerous in the middle of the Pacific, and our guest was there when they broke ground. Joining us once again is Cleo Paskal, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, who traveled to Woleai and the Federated States of Micronesia and knew Governor Palacios. And check out our other channel, China Uncensored: https://www.youtube.com/ChinaUncensored Our social media: X: https://www.x.com/ChinaUncensored Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChinaUncensored Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChinaUncensored #China

In this episode of the Mike Drop Podcast, I sit down with Ant Middleton—former UK Special Forces operator and one of the most unfiltered voices out there—to dig into the truth behind the special relationship between the US and UK. We go way beyond the headlines, from the trenches of World War I to the modern battlefield, talking about the real brotherhood, the friction, and the political BS that soldiers have to navigate. Ant shares raw, firsthand stories of what it's like when allied forces don't always see eye-to-eye—and what that means for the future of global warfare. If you like this, click subscribe, like and share with a friend. ---------- #sponsored BUBS Naturals The BUBS namesake derives from Glen ‘BUB' Doherty, who was heroically killed in Benghazi, Libya in 2012. In addition to remembering Glen for the patriot he is, the BUBS ethos centers around the passionate and adventure seeking life that Glen lived. BUBS Naturals products are rooted in sustainably sourced ingredients and controlled consistency to provide our customers with the highest quality Collagen Protein & MCT Oil Powder that help you feel amazing and live a fuller life. Our mission is simple. FEEL GREAT. DO GOOD. 10% always goes back to charity, helping military men and women transition back into civilian life. Go to https://www.bubsnaturals.com/mike and use code MIKE for 20% off your order. TEAM DOG FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS Be Your Dog's Hero: Veteran-owned by a former Navy SEAL and Special Operations K9 Trainer, Team Dog provides a complete diet of science-backed premium dog food, treats, and supplements to optimize your dog's health, forged from rigorous standards and real-world expertise. https://www.teamdog.shop TEAM DOG ONLINE TRAINING Mike Ritland – a former Navy SEAL & Special Operations K9 trainer – shares his simple and effective dog training program to build trust and control with your dog. Based on Mike's bestselling book “Team Dog, Train the Navy SEAL Way”, join tens of thousands of families that successfully trained their way to a better dog. https://www.teamdog.pet SHOP ALL THE MIKE RITLAND BRANDS Get all your Mike Ritland branded gear - Mike Drop | Trikos | Team Dog https://shop.mikeritland.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode – recorded prior to Trump's announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel – Calvin and Alex unpack the alarming reality of US strikes on Iran, recently announced by President Trump on June 21, and the ensuing escalation of tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran. We situate these recent events within decades of neoconservative influence and prior escalations, including the 2020 assassination of Qasem Soleimani by US Forces (which we covered back in Episode 31), as well as Israel's “pre-emptive” strikes against Iran in 2024 and earlier in June 2025.We historicize the current conflict by highlighting the success of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) in preventing escalation, contrasting it with Trump's abandonment and the Democrats' failure to defend it, and debunk media narratives about Iran's nuclear ambitions, confirming Iran's compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We then dissect the propagandistic pro-war rhetoric that has been employed most recently, such as Trump's bizarre Truth Social posts announcing the "very successful attack," and exposing the dangerous slippages between US and Israeli foreign policy, evidenced by Senator Ted Cruz's admissions on a recent episode of Tucker Carlson's show.Finally, drawing on rhetorical scholars such as Jeffrey Tulis and Gordon Mitchell, we explore the libidinal urges driving contemporary presidential rhetoric and US war policy, and how intelligence is manipulated through "Team B intelligence coups," raising concerns about reliance on foreign intelligence like the Mossad. We conclude with a resolute call (echoing our earlier episode) for "No war with Iran," urging public dissent against these increasingly reckless and dangerous decisions.Works and concepts cited in this episode:Curtis, A. (2002). The Century of the Self. London, UK: BBC Four.Daly, C. (2017). How Woodrow Wilson's Propaganda Machine Changed American Journalism. Smithsonian Magazine. Esfandiari, S. (2020, 6 Jan.). Iran can't hit back over Soleimani's killing because America has only fictional heroes like SpongeBob SquarePants, a prominent cleric said. Business Insider.Flanagan, J. C. (2004). Woodrow Wilson's" Rhetorical Restructuring": The Transformation of the American Self and the Construction of the German Enemy. Rhetoric & Public Affairs, 7(2), 115-148.Haar, R. (2010). Explaining George W. Bush's adoption of the Neoconservative agenda after 9/11. Politics & Policy, 38(5), 965-990.IAEA Director General. (2024, 19 Nov.). Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015). [IAEA report raising concerns about Iran's stockpile of “60% enriched” uranium]Mitchell, G. R. (2006). Team B intelligence coups. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 92(2), 144-173.Oddo, J. (2014). Intertextuality and the 24-hour news cycle: A day in the rhetorical life of Colin Powell's UN address. Michigan State University Press.Perelman, C. & Olbrechts-Tyteca, L. (1969). The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation. Trans. John Wilkinson and Purcell Weaver. University of Notre Dame Press.Porter, G. (2014, 16 Oct.). When the Ayatollah said no to nukes. Foreign Policy.Said, E. (1978). Orientalism. Pantheon.Tulis, J. K. (1987, 2017). The Rhetorical Presidency. Princeton University Press.

BREAKING: Iranian missiles en route to US forces in Qatar, Iraq // GUEST: Hill Harper, former MI Senate Candidate & Actor. . . he’s moved to WA and is gobsmacked by our broken tax system // SCENARIOS!

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

General Ben Hodge, Retired US Army Lieutenant General, and Commander of US forces in Europe

Talofa lava! This week on Tagata o te Moana: There are calls in Tonga for a rethink of the Sabbath Observance Laws; Tinian Island, in the Northern Marianas, was a pivotal site for US Forces in WW2 and there is now a US military resurgence there; In Papua New Guinea women continue to face hardship in maternity hospitals, where giving birth on the floors is not uncommon; The former Fiji attorney general Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum attacks the current government and we hear from a Bougainvillean carver who has been in New Zealand for the past month, showing his skills and learning from local artists.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The Department of Justice orders a sweeping purge of FBI officials, targeting agents involved in Trump-related investigations and national security cases. Canada fires back against President Trump's trade restrictions with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, escalating economic tensions between the two allies. The U.S. military launches its first airstrikes against ISIS in Somalia under Trump's second term, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirming coordination with Somalia's government. And in today's Back of the Brief: An update on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where North Korean forces appear to have suffered heavy losses, prompting a sudden pullback from the front lines. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President's Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full coverage of the incredible ceasefire news from Gaza.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/newsflash--2206348/support.

AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports on new developments from the Middle East.

AP correspondent Karen Chammas reports on the latest from the Middle East.

PREVIEW: #USMC: #PRC: Conversation with Colonel Grant Newsham, USMC (ret) re the now five year old plan, FD 2030, to transform the Marines into something akin to the Coast Watchers who helped defend the US forces on Guadalcanal in 1942-43. With missiles and mobility to combat the PLA-Navy.  With large unexplained expectations. . More of this later today. 1899 Fiji

BUY CAST BREW COFFEE TO FIGHT BACK - https://castbrew.com/ Become a Member For Uncensored Videos - https://timcast.com/join-us/ Hang Out With Tim Pool & Crew LIVE At - http://Youtube.com/TimcastIRL Elon Musk WARNS WWIII Is Coming, US Declares Iran Responsible For Attack On US Forces, Vows Reaction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices