Podcasts about West

Iran warns the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed as a tool of pressure against the West amidst the ongoing war. Plus, two attacks on American soil today. One at Old Dominion University that the FBI now says is being investigated as act of terrorism inspired by ISIS. Another attack at a Detroit area synagogue.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) joins to discuss why the SAVE America Act is stalling in the Senate and what needs to be done to get it across the finish line. Glenn and Sen. Lee also discuss the frustration with members of Congress refusing to do their elected jobs. Glenn rants about the trillions of dollars in debt America has while government corruption is looking the other way. As Glenn prepares to launch his first live Torch social, exposing the Islamic takeover of the West, he shows all the evidence that the takeover has already begun.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FBI has warned that Iran could potentially launch drone attacks on California, all while the DHS is currently not operating due to the partial government shutdown. Glenn also breaks down the potential threats the homeland faces. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) joins to discuss why the SAVE America Act is stalling in the Senate and what needs to be done to get it across the finish line. Glenn and Sen. Lee also discuss the frustration with members of Congress refusing to do their elected jobs. Glenn rants about the trillions of dollars in debt America has while government corruption is looking the other way. Bill O'Reilly joins to discuss his newest show, “We'll Do It LIVE” with Rob Schneider, which debuts today. Bill and Glenn also discuss the current situation in Iran, as Bill explains why he's less concerned than many in the media, who he claims are rooting for Trump's failure. As Glenn prepares to launch his first live Torch social, exposing the Islamic takeover of the West, he shows all the evidence that the takeover has already begun.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday's Mark Levin Show, the ruling class elitists in Europe and America betrayed their countries by refusing honest debate about uncontrolled immigration of Islamists. These elites encouraged and allowed overwhelming border surges, motivated partly by Islamist strategies to conquer the West. In the U.S., Democrats pursued open borders, try to defund enforcement like ICE to build a future voting base of illegal immigrants. Islamists will vote Democrat temporarily before ultimately destroying both parties and taking over, as seen in parts of Europe, NYC, and Dearborn. The NYC terrorist attack is an example: two young Muslim men, inspired by ISIS, attempted to bomb an anti-Islamist protest, shouting "Allahu Akbar" but the devices failed. Mainstream media and Democrats downplayed or obscured the Islamist terrorist motive, framing it vaguely as devices at an anti-Muslim rally, condemning Islamophobia instead, and avoiding the truth of a near-mass-casualty jihadist attack, which the speaker sees as part of a broader pattern of cover-up by media and elites who tolerate or support such threats. Also, the Iranian regime is not finished off. Let's stick with the plan. Condition-based operations. The media and the Democrats will howl like coyotes no matter what. Any economic impact will be temporary. But the worst outcome would be a prematurely declare victory and the Iranian regime lives to slaughter and nuke another day. Later, the SAVE America act is a no brainer and Democrats desperately oppose it because they benefit from fraudulent practices enabled by big-city political machines. Sen Chuck Schumer acts like a modern George Wallace by insisting everyone should vote—not just legal voters—allowing illegal ballots, double voting, or votes for the deceased to neutralize legitimate votes. Much of this fraud is allegedly legalized, making proof difficult and necessitating stricter statutes like voter ID requirements. Finally, Mort Klein, National President of the Zionist Organization of America, calls in and explains that that the United States would need to confront and attack Iran even without Israel's existence, due to nearly 50 years of direct hostility toward America. This operation must continue to dismantle the regime, protect American lives, prevent nuclear acquisition, and support Iranians desiring freedom, marking the end of past U.S. policies of delay and concessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. In today's episode, Tom sits down with Raymond Ibrahim, a historian and author known for his controversial takes on the intersection of Islam and the West. With family roots in Egypt's Coptic Christian community, Raymond Ibrahim unpacks the historical context behind Islamic conquest, the core doctrines that shape the religion, and what he sees as the major disconnect between Western and Islamic worldviews. The conversation kicks off with Tom Bilyeu probing the warnings Raymond Ibrahim raises about Western attitudes toward Islam, diving into topics like the nature of Sharia law, the legacy of centuries of conflict and colonization, and the role of doctrine in shaping both individual and collective behavior. Throughout the discussion, Raymond Ibrahim distinguishes between the teachings of Islam and the personal choices of individual Muslims, arguing that the underlying doctrine remains a driving force behind political and cultural tensions in Europe and beyond. This episode doesn't shy away from difficult questions about faith, history, and identity, making for a thought-provoking and sometimes provocative listen. Whether you agree or disagree, you'll come away with a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing debate about religion, culture, and the West's future. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss Part 2 of this compelling conversation! Ketone IQ: Visit https://ketone.com/IMPACT for 30% OFF your subscription orderQuince: Free shipping and 365-day returns at https://quince.com/impactpodDuck.Ai: Protect your privacy at https://duck.ai/impactShopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/impactMonetary Metals: Future-proof your wealth at https://monetary-metals.com/impactBlinkist: Start your free trial at https://blinkist.com/impactPlaud: Get 10% off with code TOM10 at https://plaud.ai/tomBlocktrust IRA: get up to $2,500 funding bonus to kickstart your account at https://tomcryptoira.comCape: 33% off your first 6 months with code IMPACT at https://cape.co/impactNetsuite: Right now, get our free business guide, Demystifying AI, at https://NetSuite.com/Theory What's up, everybody? It's Tom Bilyeu here: If you want my help... STARTING a business: join me here at ZERO TO FOUNDER:  https://tombilyeu.com/zero-to-founder?utm_campaign=Podcast%20Offer&utm_source=podca[%E2%80%A6]d%20end%20of%20show&utm_content=podcast%20ad%20end%20of%20show SCALING a business: see if you qualify here.:  https://tombilyeu.com/call Get my battle-tested strategies and insights delivered weekly to your inbox: sign up here.: https://tombilyeu.com/ ********************************************************************** If you're serious about leveling up your life, I urge you to check out my new podcast, Tom Bilyeu's Mindset Playbook —a goldmine of my most impactful episodes on mindset, business, and health. Trust me, your future self will thank you. ********************************************************************** FOLLOW TOM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tombilyeu?lang=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/tombilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TomBilyeu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emma and Isabel dedicate the majority of today's episode to all things Summer House: the Amanda/West rumors, Amanda's Cartier watch, Ciara and West, Ben and Bailey's dinner fight, Soft Bar investments, and all the other Hamptons shenanigans. They also touch on the Southern Charm finale and last week's Beverly Hills. ShopMy: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45492893Quince.com/cbc for free shipping and 365-day returnsBoll and Branch: get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/comments with code commentsAudible: get your first audiobook free when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at Audible.com/commentsJoin Thrive Market with our link ThriveMarket.com/COMMENTS for 30% off your first order plus a FREE $60 giftSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today on The Eric Metaxas Show, Eric talks with Roger Kimball about New York City, Islam, and why they argue the West is losing civilizational confidence. They discuss whether the Islam vs Islamism distinction holds up, why assimilation and shared values matter for a free society, and what is happening in Europe and England right now. Then they pivot to Iran, regime change predictions, and why they believe Trump is reshaping the global order from the border to energy to foreign policy.

12. SEG 12: Ivana Stradner outlines strategies to counter Russian influence in Hungary, including exposing Orbán's corruption and ties to China. She argues that information is a potent, invisible weapon used to polarize and weaken the West. (12)1956 HUNGARY

SHOW SCHEDULE 3-11-20261906 SF ON FIRE AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE.1. SEG 1: Gordon Chang and Peter Huessy discuss China's petroleum reserves and rising fuel prices. They analyze the potential for nuclear escalation and Iran's efforts to disrupt global trade through the Strait of Hormuz. (1)2. SEG 2: Rebecca Grant and Gordon Chang analyze the US Navy's carrier shortage. The USS Nimitz remains active for Latin American exercises while the USS Gerald R. Ford faces a prolonged 11-month combat deployment. (2)3. SEG 3: Alan Tonelson and Gordon Chang discuss China's failure to stop fentanyl precursor exports. They evaluate tariffs as non-military tools to pressure nations while addressing war-related shortages in fertilizer and electronics components. (3)4. SEG 4: Bill Roggio details the tragic US missile strike on an Iranian girl's school. He argues that while air strikes destroy military assets, air power alone cannot achieve regime change or ensure final victory. (4)5. SEG 5: Jack Burnham analyzes China's "lukewarm" support for Iran and its focus on energy security. Beijing is learning lessons from Western precision strikes while continuing internal repression of ethnic minorities through forced labor. (5)6. SEG 6: Jack Burnham reports on the DOJ dropping charges against Chinese scientists accused of smuggling biological samples. This reversal, involving the Chinese consulate, may be linked to upcoming trade negotiations or prosecutorial challenges. (6)7. SEG 7: Kevin Fraser warns that state legislatures are rushing to regulate AI with potentially unconstitutional laws. He advocates for market-driven transparency and allowing consumers to choose models based on their specific needs and preferences. (7)8. SEG 8: Kevin Fraser explores distinctions between AI models like Grok and Claude. He highlights regulatory "sandboxes" in states like Utah and Montana that foster innovation while monitoring for potential technological harms and ensuring transparency. (8)9. SEG 9: Michael Bernstam explains how the American shale revolution mitigates global energy shocks. He warns central banks against fueling inflation and emphasizes that while global supply chains are vulnerable, US production provides a critical buffer. (9)10. SEG 10: Michael Bernstam discusses how rising oil prices bolster Russia's budget. However, the Russian economy faces contraction and "military Keynesianism," while the United States remains a resilient net energy exporter despite global supply chain disruptions. (10)11. SEG 11: Ivana Stradner examines the Kremlin's information warfare campaign to keep Viktor Orbán in power. Orbán, formerly an anti-Soviet activist, now aligns with Putin to ensure political survival and counter Western democratic decision-making processes. (11)12. SEG 12: Ivana Stradner outlines strategies to counter Russian influence in Hungary, including exposing Orbán's corruption and ties to China. She argues that information is a potent, invisible weapon used to polarize and weaken the West. (12)13. SEG 13: Simon Constable reports on skyrocketing European energy prices due to Middle East conflict. Shortages in sulfur and bromine threaten global semiconductor manufacturing and food security as fertilizer costs nearly double for struggling farmers. (13)14. SEG 14: Simon Constable critiques Prime Minister Keir Starmer's hesitant leadership. He notes the Royal Navy has been "hollowed out" over three decades, leaving Britain with fewer warships than France and a tiny, underfunded standing army. (14)15. SEG 15: Bob Zimmerman discusses the Senate's shift toward private space exploration, potentially ending the SLS program. NASA is increasingly contracting commercial entities for lunar habitats, reusable rockets, and specialized satellite launch capabilities to reduce costs. (15)16. SEG 16: Bob Zimmerman reviews the DART mission's success in altering an asteroid's orbit. He also reports that the European Space Agency lost contact with a solar probe after its batteries drained due to misaligned solar panels. (16)

1897 ENTRY OF THE KING OF PERSIAThe following individuals joined the discussion to analyze the current geopolitical and economic landscape: (1)*   Gordon Chang, Columnist and co-host *   Peter Huessy, President of Geostrategic Analysis and Fellow at the National Institute for Deterrent Studies *   Alan Tonelson, Manufacturing and trade expert who blogs at *Reality Check* *   Rebecca Grant, Vice President of the Lexington Institute (2)### Summary of Geopolitical Instability and Global Consequences (3)Global Economic "Tsunami" and Resource Shortages The potential closure or instability of the Strait of Hormuz poses a threat far beyond the price of oil, described by participants as a looming economic "tsunami". Critical shortages are building for products like fertilizer (urea), sulfur, and petroleum products used in high-end manufacturing. Sulfur is particularly vital as it is required to process the copper used in semiconductors and high-end electronics. While the U.S. may be self-sufficient in fertilizer, the heavy technology-dependent economies of East Asia, including Taiwan, face significant risks to their semiconductor production if these supply chains are severed. Recent reports indicate this threat is immediate, with three cargo ships, including a bulk carrier from Bangkok, recently hit by projectiles in the Strait. (4)China as a Hostile Trade Partner and Provocateur China is characterized as a "hostile trade partner" and an "enemy combatant" that wages proxy wars through Russia in Ukraine and Iran in the Middle East. Experts note that Iran's military capabilities are heavily supported by China, which provides supersonic missiles and the semiconductors found in Iranian drones. Furthermore, Iran's nuclear program is described as a subset of the North Korean program, which was historically promoted by China to keep the U.S. pinned down. Domestically, China continues to ignore promises to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors, with participants noting that leader Xi Jinping has now "dishonored" four such promises to U.S. presidents. (5)U.S. Navy Operational Limits The U.S. Navy is currently facing significant strain, described as being "tightly squeezed" regarding its aircraft carrier fleet. The USS Gerald R. Ford has seen its deployment extended to 11 months, performing continuous combat operations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Similarly, the USS Nimitz, which was scheduled for decommissioning, has had its service extended to participate in Southern Command exercises. Although these carriers possess "layered defense" systems capable of neutralizing Chinese supersonic missiles and drones, the Navy lacks a sufficient number of ships to maintain these global commitments indefinitely; while law requires 11 carriers, experts argue the current global challenge requires 15. (6)The "Brothers of Mayhem" Alliance The participants argue that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea act as a coordinated group of "brothers of mayhem". This alliance is not merely fighting over territory or reputation but is engaged in a fundamental contest over "what kind of world we're going to live in". While the West seeks to maintain the status quo and open trade routes, this opposing bloc utilizes economic warfare, proxy conflicts, and the threat of nuclear escalation—such as China's hinted "first-strike" nuclear posture—to challenge Western hegemony. (7)

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POP 3: Harry Styles is officially back with his fourth studio album Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally! The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives fans are questioning Demi Engemann's future on the show after she was noticeably missing from the season 4 cast poster following months of messy drama with Marciano Brunette and Jessi Ngatikaura. And finally, the internet ran wild with Summer House rumors that Amanda Batula and West Wilson might be hooking up after a Deuxmoi tip went viral, so we're unpacking what was actually said and whether there's any truth to it.DEEP DIVE: Recapping this week's episode of Summer House. Jesse and Ciara clear up the “make out” conversation, though I'm not totally convinced Jesse is being fully honest about how he feels. Things get awkward fast at Amanda's birthday dinner when Bailey makes a comment about Ben “flirting” with Amanda, and the situation only gets more uncomfortable when Ben pulls Bailey aside to confront her about it. Meanwhile, KJ and Dara seem to be falling hard for each other, and as for Ciara and West… their late-night interactions keep escalating, so it feels like it's only a matter of time before they have to address what's actually going on between them.FINAL THOUGHTS: The internet is debating Timothée Chalamet after he said he wouldn't want to work in art forms like ballet or opera where people are trying to “keep something alive even though no one cares anymore.” The comment sparked playful responses from several opera companies, but if I'm being honest… I'm a little surprised by how big of a deal this has become. Was it a rude comment? Maybe. But the idea that this could impact his career or Oscar chances feels like a stretch.JOIN THE PATREON: www.patreon.com/MorgansPopTalks

What's up Bros? I think the majority of us can agree that Summer is once again fun and surely nothing can screw that up right?? How about a couple of newbies fighting over a (perhaps) untimely joke? What started out as a classic "Tell me one thing you love about me for my birthday" situation quickly turned into "hey you into adultery?" but the burning question is: was it a joke or something more? We discuss all of that interaction plus much more and don't worry, we're fully invested in the West & Ciara of it all Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amy Boucher Pye comes from the USA but is now a London-based author, speaker, retreat leader, and spiritual director. She oozes gentle wisdom, and shares openly from her own painful life experiences. Most of us in the frenetic West could do with slowing down, breathing deeply, and hearing God's words of tender affirmation and acceptance of us. Hearing it through Amy is a gift, so do take a listen.▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z15CKl8xchUContact Amy and buy her books at amyboucherpye.comSign up to her newsletter for giveaways and a monthly prayer practice: tinyurl.com/amyprayernewsletter---

As the strikes against the regime in Iran continue, one of the first victims of this conflict has been the truth. As talking heads choose fiction over fact, and while the regime escalates its attacks—including launching illegal cluster munitions toward Israeli population centers—Israeli families are once again living under fire. At the same time, we expose the growing hypocrisy of self-proclaimed “human rights” activists in the West who celebrate rockets fired at Israel and defend the very regime responsible for the violence.

Legend is back as he and Gerald make their way through the Sea of Medicority in the NBA to see which teams have a promising future and which ones are flailing about. Tune in as they give thoughts on the middle teams (as of now) in the East and West, with looks at Atlanta, Golden State, Orlando, Miami, Phoenix, the Clippers, and more! Plus, we lament the NBA's decision to rescind Magic City Night for Miami vs. Atlanta on March 16. All this and Legend had some pointed words for Bam Adebayo JUST BEFORE he went off for 83! There are no chicken wings for us this time around, while we continue to provide the best in NBA Observations!Gerald appeared on the Stephan Piscano Podcast! Check out their conversation today at https://youtu.be/iyR-3qR3LVI?si=NxLGOhLtRFGwQq-wFollow @DripShowshop for some awesome sports or pop culture merchandise!The MVP Race is heating up, and Best League has got it covered on his site https://mvprace.top/Joe's new game Coreupt is OUT NOW on Steam. Play it today!Lakers Fast Break now has YouTube memberships! Join today at / @lakersfastbreak and for just $2.99 a month, you get access to LFB badges and emojis, channel page recognition, and more!Check out Stone Hansen on Twitter @report_court, Alfred Ezman @alfredezman, and John Costa's channels: Clutch Talk- / @clutchtalkpod and Lakers Corner- / @lakerscorner and Legend350 on his new channel / @sportslegend2018Special Deals today from our friends at #temu today at https://temu.to/m/u1samwbo8cc use code: aca785401 and you might save some $$$ at TEMU!Take a look at the line of Kinhank Mini PC's and retro game machines today at https://www.kinhank-retrogame.com?rs_ref=e8NA2Rm2 for some gaming and computing fun from Kinhank! Please Like, Share, and Subscribe to our channel and our social media @lakersfastbreak on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, on BLUESKY at @lakersfastbreak.bsky.social, e-mail us lakersfastbreak@yahoo.com or catch our audio of the Lakers Fast Break today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://anchor.fm/lakers-fast-break⁠, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast outlet!The views and opinions expressed on the Lakers Fast Break are those of the panelists or guests themselves and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Lakers Fast Break or its owners. Any content or thoughts provided by our panelists or guests are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, anyone, or anything.Presented by our friends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lakerholics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠lakersball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pop Culture Cosmos⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inside Sports Fantasy Football⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lakers Corner, @DripShowshop, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SynBlades.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, I Got Next Sports Media⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Happy Hoarder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Retro City Games!

Francis Foster is a comic and author of "Classroom Confidential: The Truth About Being a Teacher and Why You Should Never Become One." Konstantin Kisin is a political commentator and author of "An Immigrant's Love Letter to the West." Together, they host the podcast "Triggernometry."www.youtube.com/@triggerpod www.subfrancis.co.ukwww.francisfoster.co.uk www.konstantinkisin.com Perplexity: Download the app or ask Perplexity anything at https://pplx.ai/rogan. Visit https://squarespace.com/ROGAN to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bailey makes a tacky joke on Summer House, but was Ben's reaction a bit aggro? Plus, West has a crush on Ciara (again). To watch this recap on video, listen to our bonus episodes, and get ad free listening, go to Patreon.com/watchwhatcrappens. Find bonus episodes at patreon.com/watchwhatcrappens and follow us on Instagram @watchwhatcrappens @ronniekaram @benmandelker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Summer House, the group celebrates Amanda's birth with some caesar salad and drama as Bailey and Ben come to a head. Kyle also buys Amanda a watch, West flirts with Ciara by sitting on her, and Levi continues to be edited out of the show!ORDER DANNY'S BOOK: https://linktr.ee/jolliestbunchDANNY'S (OTHER) BOOK: Smarturl.it/unrememberTwitter: @DannyPellegrinoInstagram: @DannyPellegrinoYouTube: www.YouTube.com/DannyPellegrino1TikTok: @DannyPellegrinoPatreon: www.Patreon.com/EverythingIconic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Bailey’s kindergarten-level flirting skills to West’s indecisiveness over Ciara, Teddi and Dolores are psychoanalyzing the cast of Summer House today… Was Ben’s reaction justifiable? Did Bailey cry because she was hurt OR was she just embarrassed? Why is Kyle showing zero emotion here?!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lots of chatter in the Bravo world happening! We also debrief this week's episode of Summer House! Did Ciara let off Jesse too easy? Are you Team Ben or Team Bailey? Thoughts on Kyle not investing in SoftBar and Ben bringing it up at Amanda's birthday dinner? Do you want Ciara and West to rekindle the romance? Did you miss Lindsay and Carl? Where is Dara? Come judge with us!Don't forget to vote on who makes the Top 64 for March MANness! You have till Thursday! Selection Sunday will take place this Sunday 3/15 on IG Live!You can find us:Linktree: Two Judgey GirlsPodcast: ACast, iTunes, Spotify, wherever you listen!Instagram & Threads: @twojudgeygirlsTikTok: @twojudgeygirls // @marytwojudgeygirls // @courtneytjgYouTube: @twojudgeygirlspodcastFacebook: www.facebook.com/twojudgeygirlsMerch: www.etsy.com/shop/twojudgeygirlsPatreon: www.patreon.com/twojudgeygirls LTK: @marytwojudgeygirls // @courtneytjg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another Pop Culture Kiki, we hope you enjoy! 00:00 - Intro01:10 - AI05:29 - Britney Spears14:47 - Teen Mom21:45 - Ads27:16 - Chappell Roan34:22 - Boys 4 Life Tour40:37 - Movie Corner: The Bride, How to Make a Killing51:11 - Demi Lovato53:27 - Ashton Kutcher56:05 - Jessie Buckley01:00:40 - Timothee Chalamet01:07:22 - Chase Stokes01:10:38 - Jamie Foxx01:15:48 - Dak Prescott01:19:49 - Lynn Curtin01:27:16 - West and Amanda01:30:26 - Rihanna01:33:04 - Monique and Whoopi Goldberg01:38:59 - McDonald's01:41:49 - Outro Join our Patreon for more content! - patreon.com/Beyondtheblinds Follow us on Instagram - instagram.com/beyondtheblindspod Kelli on IG - Instagram.com/laguna_biotch Troy on IG - Instagram.com/troyjeanspears --How to help Minnesota! - Rent assistance - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gofundme.com/f/critical-rent-assistance-for-central-neighborhood-families?⁠⁠⁠⁠ Neighborhood House - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://neighborhoodhousemn.org/donate/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stand With Minnesota - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------SPONSORS--- Baked by Melissa! Right now, Baked by Melissa is offering our listeners 20% off your order at Bakedbymelissa.com/BLINDS. Caraway! Caraway's cookware set is a favorite for a reason, it can save you up to $230 versus buying the items individually. Plus, if you visit Carawayhome.com/BLINDS you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance! When you enroll in an ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plan, you could get a $25 Amazon gift card. It's a little treat for you while you're doing something great for your pet. To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/BLINDS . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global unrest is rising across multiple nations and the cultural pressure on the West is intensifying. I break down what's happening behind the headlines, how Trump's role is shaping the moment, and why many believers see deeper prophetic implications in the shifting world order. When you connect the political, spiritual, and cultural battles unfolding right now, a clearer picture of where we may be heading begins to emerge.   Podcast Episode 2054: The Crisis Israel and the United States Faces Together | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

This week on Summer House. Amanda's birthday dinner turns equal parts fun and awkward, Ben and Bailey have an uncomfortable conversation, West and Ciara begin opening up about their dynamic and more!Follow me on social media, find links to merch, Patreon and more here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rita Panahi shares her powerful story of fleeing Iran after the Islamic Revolution and growing up in Australia. In this conversation with Patrick Bet-David, she explains why Iran matters globally, the dangers of the regime, and why the West should pay attention to what's happening there.

Celebrating the release of All In This Together, Jack reflects on learning to bow to life's mystery—and how doing so opens a path to liberation, love, and inner peace.Jack's new book is out now: All in This Together: Stories and Teachings for Loving Each Other and Our WorldToday's podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.https://youtu.be/c9lBoai7ZTY“There's something so mysterious about how things unfold. We live in something so huge and magnificent, but we get into small mind about how it should be, but we honestly don't know so much.” –Jack KornfieldIn this episode, Jack mindfully explores:More healing stories on love and respectSharon Salzberg's travel advice from Chögyam Trungpa RinpocheThe stories of how both Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society came to beBowing to the mystery of how everything unfoldsThich Nhat Hanh's wisdom from a treeHow weird, wild, and mysterious it is to be humanThe invitation to liberation this life offersHow to stay calm driving in intense trafficWorking with intention and letting others off the hookWhen people are behaving badly, letting go and focusing on your own heartDealing with existential angstThe music of humanity, of being humanWorking through anger and righteousnessHolding your complicated life in kindness and compassionBecoming a lighthouse for others“There's something in the stories we tell. We come together for the Dharma, and it's really the truth of love and mystery.” –Jack KornfieldThis Dharma Talk originally took place in Nov 2025 for the Spirit Rock Monday Night Dharma Talk and Guided Meditation celebrating Jack's All In This Together book release. Stay up to date with Jack's upcoming livestreams and events here.About Jack Kornfield:Jack Kornfield trained as a Buddhist monk in the monasteries of Thailand, India, and Burma, studying as a monk under the Buddhist master Ven. Ajahn Chah, as well as the Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw. He has taught meditation internationally since 1974 and is one of the key teachers to introduce Buddhist mindfulness practice to the West. Jack co-founded the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, with fellow meditation teachers Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein and the Spirit Rock Center in Woodacre, California. His books have been translated into 20 languages and sold more than a million copies.Jack is currently offering a wonderful array of transformational online courses diving into crucial topics like Mindfulness Meditation Fundamentals, Walking the Eightfold Path, Opening the Heart of Forgiveness, Living Beautifully, Transforming Your Life Through Powerful Stories, and so much more. Sign up for an All Access Pass to explore Jack's entire course library. If you would like a year's worth of online meetups with Jack and fellow community, join The Year of Awakening: A Monthly Journey with Jack Kornfield.“You can't know the intention of someone else. There's only one person whose intention you can really know. Guess whose that is? So, intention is really for yourself.” –Jack KornfieldStay up to date with Jack and his stream of fresh dharma offerings by visiting JackKornfield.com and signing up for his email teachings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Abby and Vanessa recap this week's Summer House including:  -The lack of Levi  -Bailey's foot in mouth moment -Ciara and West giving a masterclass on flirting  -And more!  When you're done listening, please don't forget to check out our ad sponsors. Vionic Shoes: Use code REALMOMS at checkout for 15% off your entire order at www.vionicshoes.com when you log into your account. 1 time use only. Wayfair: Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home!  Boll & Branch: Discover a softness beyond your wildest dreams with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/realmoms with code realmoms.  Quince: Go to Quince.com/realmoms for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Fabletics: Go to Fabletics.com/REALMOMS, take a quick style quiz, and be sure to select REALMOMS when prompted to unlock your 80% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the Sorry to Interrupt podcast! Will Smith is back with Sean for another edition of “The Hockey Hour” on the pod as Will updates the status of the league after the Olympics. They start off in the East by discussing Buffalo's continued dominance and if they can really make a Playoff run after being in position to break their 14-year Postseason drought before breaking down the rest of the contending teams in the Conference. Next, it's a shift over to the West where Colorado, Dallas and the Wild hold the dominance and who else could possibly contend with the big 3. Finally, Will gives his winners from the trade deadline. Everyone enjoy the pod and remember to rate, review, and subscribe!

It's Amanda's birthday dinner and almost from the jump there's drama. First it's Kyle not investing in Soft Bar, then it's Bailey saying she thinks Ben wants to sleep with Amanda. This causes Ben to confront her and she stays in for the night. Meanwhile, West's crush on Ciara comes back in full force.If you enjoyed this episode please share it with your Summer House and Bravo friends and follow us on Instagram at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@taglinetwinks⁠⁠⁠

Is Iran on the brink of collapse, or is the West making its biggest mistake yet?Brother Sharghzadeh returns to break down the recent attacks on Iran and what they mean for Muslims in the East and the West. We get into the secular Persian mindset, what ordinary Iranians actually think about their government, the death of Khamenei, nuclear war scenarios, and the questions every Sunni Muslim needs to be sitting with right now.The Muslim world has the numbers, the history, and the faith. What it's missing is unity, and moments like this make that cost impossible to ignore.*JOIN OUR YOUTUBE MEMBERSHIP*OR*Support Us @* https://www.ansaripodcast.com/OR*Patreon:* https://www.patreon.com/c/theansaripodcast/membership*Join The Cosmos Club Newsletter:* https://www.ansaripodcast.com/cosmos-club*Ayubi Collective*FREE 10-Part Masterclass “How to Build Your Own Multi-Billion Dollar Business”https://www.ayubi.com/ansari*Provision Capital:* https://www.provisioncapital.com*Humaniti:* https://donor.muslimi.com/page/Humaniti-emergency-Ansari00:00 Do Iranians Know their Enemy?05:12 The Annoying Iranian Diaspora09:51 Do Iranians like Their Government14:03 Ad15:42 The greatness of Iran20:03 What The West plans to Do to Iran24:07 Nuclear War in Iran and The End Times30:14 Ad32:03 Who Was Khameini & was he loved?43:08 How Should Sunnis Understand Iran?47:40 Muslims NATO51:28 Hypocrisy and Potential Ruin of Arab States01:10:07 Muslim NATO01:12:00 Ad01:13:49 What's the Future Hold?01:21:44 Final Thoughts#muslimpodcast #islamicpodcast #iran #Khamenei #ummah #IranWar #WW3*Listen on All Audio Platforms:* https://tr.ee/JeX-ILYSyj*Follow The Ansari Podcast**Instagram:* https://instagram.com/ansaripodcast*TikTok:* https://tiktok.com/@theansaripodcast*Twitter/X:* https://twitter.com/ansaripodcast

Luka and Austin both score 31 and Lakers beat Timberwolves

In this episode of Distilling the West, Dan and Dave sit down with Ryan Montgomery, founder of Montgomery Distillery in Missoula, Montana.The conversation kicks off with a little Montana weather talk before diving into Ryan's approach to crafting distinctive spirits and the philosophy behind his distillery. All the grains used are grown in Montana, including the rye and wheat that are grown on the fifth-, going on sixth-, generation Montgomery family farm. Ryan shares the stories and processes behind several of Montgomery Distillery's standout products, including B'Amaro, Ancient Wisdom 10 year Rye, and Mama Tried Wheated Bourbon.Along the way, the group explores Ryan's distilling techniques, ingredient choices, and the creativity that goes into building unique flavor profiles. The episode also touches on the broader craft spirits scene of the west and the experimentation that keeps distilling exciting.It's a relaxed and insightful conversation full of distilling knowledge, craft spirit passion, and a few laughs along the way. We hope you enjoy this taste of what's going on in the Montana craft spirits scene.

Between the attempted NYC terrorist attack, Shariah Law, and attitudes toward women, Islam doesn't seem very compatible with the West.

Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Iran Endgame Clay and Buck open the hour analyzing remarks from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who describes increasingly intense American airstrikes and the destruction of Iranian missile sites, naval assets, and military infrastructure. President Donald Trump’s comments from an event in Doral underscore the scope of the operation, with Trump highlighting that U.S. forces have struck thousands of targets and sunk dozens of Iranian naval vessels. This leads the hosts into a broader conversation about the endgame in Iran—specifically the uncertainty over who might take power if the regime collapses and whether the U.S. or Israel has viable contacts who could help stabilize the country. Questions arise about whether any Iranian political figures could work with the West, even discreetly, and whether the U.S. intends to pursue regime change or simply force strategic concessions. The discussion shifts toward the economic consequences of the conflict, particularly the dramatic price fluctuations in global oil markets. Clay notes that oil surged to $120 per barrel before rapidly falling to around $85, emphasizing how the United States’ role as the world’s top oil and gas producer provides a buffer against global shocks. The hosts contrast this national strength with states like California, which has severely limited oil and gas production despite having abundant resources. They argue that nationwide energy independence—driven largely by fracking—has dramatically reduced the geopolitical leverage of petro‑dictator states like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela. Michael Whatley Must Win Senate candidate Michael Watley of North Carolina joins to lay out why he believes his race will become the most expensive Senate contest in American history, with more than $600 million expected to pour into the state. Watley contrasts his platform with Democrat Roy Cooper’s record on crime, taxes, immigration enforcement, and cultural issues, arguing that Cooper repeatedly vetoed legislation aimed at keeping violent illegal immigrants out of North Carolina and supported policies allowing biological males into women’s sports and locker rooms. He highlights the massive federal recovery effort after Hurricane Helene, crediting Trump‑aligned leadership for billions in rebuilding investments across western North Carolina. Watley emphasizes that suburban, college‑educated independent voters—particularly those concerned about inflation, housing affordability, and public safety—will determine the outcome of the race, which historically has been decided by razor‑thin margins. Watley lays out pro‑growth policies he hopes to implement in the Senate, including extending Trump’s middle‑class tax cuts, eliminating taxes on overtime, tips, and Social Security, and pursuing regulatory and trade reforms designed to strengthen manufacturing, small businesses, and farms. He notes skyrocketing housing costs across the state and previews an upcoming meeting with federal housing officials aimed at increasing supply, lowering prices, expanding first‑time homebuyer access, and reducing interest rate pressure. Clay and Buck underscore how these affordability issues have become decisive for independent voters in states experiencing rapid population growth. Nothing is Impossible Shannon Bream, Chief Legal Correspondent at the Fox News Channel, nerds out with Clay and Buck over several high‑stakes Supreme Court cases expected in the coming months. She details upcoming rulings on redistricting, race‑based gerrymandering, and executive power, noting that the timing of decisions could influence how states draw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. The conversation expands to unresolved tariff‑refund disputes created by recent court rulings and the Supreme Court’s stalled investigation into the Dobbs leak, which she says produced no identified culprit and may be difficult to reopen. Clay and Buck also ask about speculation that aging justices like Samuel Alito might retire while Trump still controls Senate confirmations, though Bream says there are no signs of imminent departures. She also talked about her new book out today: “Nothing is Impossible with God: Eleven Heroes. One God. Endless Lessons in Overcoming”. Suspicious Packages Breaking news emerges as Clay and Buck monitor reports of suspicious packages near Gracie Mansion in New York City following a series of politically charged protests. Clay and Buck highlight how rising tensions around radicalism, counter‑protests, and public safety are shaping the national conversation. This leads into a blistering critique of CNN’s framing of an incident involving homemade bombs thrown outside the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The hosts argue that CNN’s softened, narrative‑driven portrayal of the suspects reveals deep cultural bias within the network’s editorial process, reinforcing their long‑held belief that CNN’s institutional culture needs a complete overhaul. The hour pivots to the broader media environment, with Clay and Buck praising Elon Musk and the transformation of Twitter into a platform that no longer suppresses stories unfavorable to the left. This launches a humorous sidebar about Gen Z slang terms like “glazing,” “mogging,” and “looksmaxxing,” as the hosts poke fun at generational language shifts and how social media influences cultural vocabulary. From there, the show transitions back to serious geopolitical analysis as Caroline Levitt delivers a White House briefing outlining President Trump’s strategy to stabilize global energy markets during the Iran conflict. Clay and Buck explain how the administration’s rapid response—including offering naval escorts for tankers, waiving certain sanctions, and providing political risk insurance—has helped reverse the temporary oil price spike that rattled markets the previous day. Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8 For the latest updates from Clay and Buck: https://www.clayandbuck.com/ Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Social Media: X - https://x.com/clayandbuck FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuckYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico was pitched as the moderate option yet can't seem to stop shilling for the Left's most controversial social topics. Let's see what he said about trans kids. The Iran War is over. Or it isn't. Or it mostly is, but there's still some of it? We're not sure. Let's see what they're saying. Some people did some thing over the weekend. A Muslim terrorist lobbed a bomb that luckily didn't go off. Western civilization has been dealing with Muslim terrorism for decades, which just goes to show: Islam is incompatible with the West. GUEST: Josh Firestine Link to today's sources: https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/sources-march-10-2026 Do not wait for another IRS letter or a frozen bank account. Call (866) 686-1417. Or visit https://tnusa.com/CROWDER Foundation Daily is made up of premium ingredients to reduce inflammation and stress and promote clean energy and mental clarity. Subscribe now and receive 40% off for life. https://foundationdaily.com/ DOWNLOAD THE RUMBLE APP TODAY: https://rumble.com/our-apps Join Rumble Premium to watch this show every day! http://louderwithcrowder.com/Premium Get your favorite LWC gear: https://crowdershop.com/ Bite-Sized Content: https://rumble.com/c/CrowderBits Subscribe to my podcast: https://feeds.libsyn.com/576250/rss FOLLOW ME: Website: https://louderwithcrowder.com/ X: https://x.com/scrowder Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/louderwithcrowder Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevencrowderofficial Music by @Pogo

It's JV Day today with no Rob or J. Kyle Mann. So Justin wanted to start with the two biggest stories in the league: Jayson Tatum's return, and the Spurs continuing to roll in the West. He's joined by the The Athletic's Jared Weiss, who currently covers the Spurs and used to cover the Celtics. They talk about what it was like to be at Tatum's first game, how he changes the Celtics' title chances, and much more. Then, JV is joined by Yahoo Sports and Trail Blazers Analytics insider Tom Haberstroh to talk all things Portland Trail Blazers. They discuss Scoot Henderson's big game against the Pacers, how far can a healthy Deni Avdija take the Blazers, Donovan Clingan's development, and much more. (00:00) Intro (4:10) Tommy Hilfiger ad break (5:16) Jayson Tatum's return (15:00) Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's dynamic (23:28) Victor Wembanyama (37:40) The Jackals (43:22) Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper (51:24) Luke Kornet (58:04) and (1:11:34) Donovan Clingan (1:00:08) Scoot Henderson (1:21:38) Shaedon Sharpe (1:30:06) Deni Avdija (1:38:51) Tiago Splitter Host: Justin Verrier Guests: Jared Weiss and Tom Haberstroh Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers Explore more at https://tommy.com Tommy Hilfiger USA | Official Online Site & Store Tommy Hilfiger USA offers modern, sophisticated styles for women and men including apparel, handbags, footwear, underwear, fragrance and home furnishings with free shipping available. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The final season opens the way a premiere probably should: with a big emotional homecoming, a whole lot of Ridge warmth, and just enough mess to remind you this show never lets anyone stay comfortable for long. Mary and Blake are thrilled to be back in Outlander with Bear McCreary, Fraser's Ridge, and all the familiar faces — but they also dig into the episode's biggest problem: the Faith thread, which feels less like elegant storytelling and more like the show getting a little too cute for its own good. Ratings Mary's Kilt Rating: 4.2 / 5 Blake's Kilt Rating: 3.8 / 5 Mary, who famously never goes easy on premieres, still lands pretty high here because the episode feels like a genuine homecoming. Blake's a little lower: he loves the Ridge reunion, Frank's presence, and the emotional texture of being back — but the "Faith of it all" drags the score down. Spoiler Warning Full spoilers for Outlander Season 8 Episode 1, "Soul of a Rebel." Episode Snapshot Jamie and Claire head back to Fraser's Ridge, and the premiere wisely leans into that sense of reunion. Everyone's back, the house is full, the hugs are doing heavy lifting, and for a little while the episode lets itself enjoy being home. But under all that comfort is a much stranger tension: Frank's book hangs over the story, Black Jack Randall echoes creep back in, William is spiraling hard, and the episode's big Faith twist raises way more questions than confidence. Add in creepy Cunningham energy and a mother who feels like the Wicked Witch of the West, and you've got a premiere that's emotionally rich, occasionally goofy, and definitely ready to start arguments. Also in this episode Why the beginning of the end is bittersweet — but still the right call for the show The Ridge reunion and why "homecoming" is the episode's saving grace Frank's book, Black Jack Randall echoes, and why Blake will never not care about Frank Mary's love for Bear McCreary's score and the updated Skye Boat Song The Faith twist, or as this podcast might call it: zombie baby vs. fake Faith William's self-destruction tour and why Lord John is basically his exhausted therapist Why the Cunningham stuff lands as creepy even when it borders on cartoonish Blake's wild theory that if the show really wanted to go for it, it would kill Jamie Listener feedback setup for the final season Segments Included Opening banter on the bittersweet joy of getting a real ending Mini recap Episode details Kilt ratings GBG: Good, Bad, Great Does this feel like a proper premiere? The Faith debate William and Lord John discussion Outlandish Theory of the Week Listener feedback callout Episode Details Title: Soul of a Rebel Director: Jan Matthys Writer: Sarah H. Haught This title is called out on the podcast as a nod to Frank's book, which naturally becomes one of the episode's biggest discussion points. #NerdClan  Want bonus episodes, extra coverage, and all the good nerdy stuff that goes way beyond the main feed? Join the Nerd Clan at JoinTheNerdClan.com and support everything Mary & Blake are building there. As they say on the episode, it's one of the biggest ways to help keep the podcast going strong through the final season. SUBSCRIBE TO OUTLANDER CAST: AN OUTLANDER PODCAST Apple Podcasts YouTube Spotify CONNECT WITH MARY & BLAKE  Like Our Facebook Page Join Our Facebook Group Join The #NerdClan Follow On Twitter  Follow On Instagram  And yes — written Apple Podcasts reviews still matter. A lot. Tell Us Your Rating(s) What's your kilt rating for "Soul of a Rebel"? Mary and Blake want all of it: Your kilt rating Your thoughts on the Faith twist Your take on William Your hottest Frank theory Whether this premiere felt like a win, a wobble, or both Leave a voicemail via maryandblake.com by clicking Contact Us in the upper-right corner and choosing voicemail. You can also email maryandblakemedia@gmail.com, or write in on Facebook / Instagram / wherever you listen. Listener feedback episodes are a huge part of Outlander Cast, especially now that this is the final season. Question of the week: Are you Team Zombie Baby or Team Fake Faith? UNLOCK BONUS EPISODES, PREMIUM PODCASTS & MORE -- www.JoinTheNerdClan.com Sign up  HERE for Blake's Book Club: DRUMS OF AUTUMN CHECK OUT THE BEST MERCH ON THE PLANET: THE MARY & BLAKE STORE Shop for all of our podcasts, sayings, and listener inspired designs in one easy place. FOLLOW ALL OF OUR PODCASTS AT MARY & BLAKE: A huge thank you to all of our members at the #NERDCLAN for helping to make this podcast possible. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Anne Gavin, Bobbi Franchella, Dana Mott-Bronson, Dena Kendig, Kathleen, Kirstie Wilson, Martha, Michael McGarry, Siobhan M. 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This week we talk about Khamenei, Trump, and Netanyahu.We also discuss Venezuela, Cuba, and cartels.Recommended Book: Plagues upon the Earth by Kyle HarperTranscriptAli Hosseini Khamenei was an opposition politician in the lead-up to the Iranian Revolution that, in 1979, resulted in the overthrow of the Shah—the country's generally Western government-approved royal leader—and installed the Islamic Republic, an extremely conservative Shia government that took the reins of Iran following the Shah's toppling.Khamenei was Iran's third president, post-Shah, and he was president during the Iran-Iraq War from 1981-1989, during which the Supreme Leader of Iran, the head of the country, Ruhollah Khomeini sought the overthrow of then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Khomeini died the same year the war ended, 1989, and Khamenei was elected to the role of Supreme Leader by the country's Assembly of Experts, which is responsible for determining such roles.The new Supreme Leader Khamenei was reportedly initially concerned that he wasn't suitable for the role, as his predecessor was a Grand Ayatollah of the faith, while he was just a mid-rank cleric, but the constitution of Iran was amended so that higher religious office was no longer required in a Supreme Leader, and in short order Khamenei moved to expound upon Iran's non-military nuclear program, to expand the use and reach of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in-country and throughout the region, and he doubled-down on supporting regional proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza, incorporating them into the so-called Axis of Resistance that stands against Western interests in the region—the specifics of which have varied over the decades, but which currently includes the aforementioned Hezbollah and Houthis, alongside smaller groups in neighboring countries, like Shiite militias in Bahrain, and forces that operate in other regional spheres of influence, like North Korea, Venezuela, and at times, portions of the Syrian government.Khamenei also reinforced the Iranian government's power over pretty much every aspect of state function, disempowering political opponents, cracking down on anyone who doesn't toe a very conservative extremist line—women showing their hair in public, for instance, have been black-bagged and sometimes killed while in custody—and thoroughly entangled the functions of state with the Iranian military, consolidating essentially all power under his office, Supreme Leader, while violently cracking down on anyone who opposed his doing whatever he pleased, as was the case with a wave of late-2025, early 2026 protests across the country, during which Iranian government forces massacred civilians, killing somewhere between 3,000 and 35,000 people, depending on whose numbers you believe.What I'd like to talk about today is a new war with Iran, kicked off by attacks on the country from Israel and the United States that led with the killing of Khamenei and a bunch of his higher-up officers, how this conflict is spreading across the region and concerns about that spreading, and what might happen next.—On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched a wave of joint air attacks against Iran, hitting mostly military and government sites across the country. One of the targets was Khamenei's compound, and his presence there, above-ground, which was unusual for him, as he spent most of his time deep underground in difficult-to-hit bunkers, alongside a bunch of government and military higher-ups, may have been the rationale for launching all of these attacks on that day, as the attackers were able to kill him and five other top-level Iranian leaders, who he was meeting with, at the same time.This wave of attacks followed the largest military buildup of US forces in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq back in 2003, and while military and government targets were prioritized, that initial wave also demolished a lot of civilian structures, including schools, hospitals, and the Grand Bazaar in Tehran, leading to a whole lot of civilian casualties and fatalities, as well.In response, Iran launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, and at US bases throughout the region—these bases located in otherwise uninvolved countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Iranian missiles and drones also hit non-military targets, and in some cases maybe accidentally hit civilian infrastructure, in Azerbaijan, and Oman, alongside a British military base on the island of Cyprus.The Iranian president apologized in early March for his country's lashing out at pretty much everyone, saying that there were miscommunications within the Iranian military, and that Iran wouldn't hit anyone else, including countries with US bases, so long as US attacks didn't originate from those bases.Despite that apology, though, Iranian missiles and drones continued to land in many of those neighboring countries following his remarks, raising questions about communications and control within the now-decapitated Iranian military.This new conflict follows long-simmering tensions between Iran and Israel—the former of which has said it will someday wipe the latter from the face of the Earth, considering its existence an abomination—and long-simmering tensions related to Iran's nuclear program, which the government has continuously said is just for civilian, energy purposes, but which pretty much everyone suspects, with a fair bit of evidence, is, in parallel, also a weapons program.Iran's influence throughout the region has been truncated in recent years, due to a sequence of successes by the Israeli military and intelligence services, which allowed them to hobble or nearly wipe out traditional Iranian proxy forces like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, which have collectively surrounded and menaced Israel for decades.Those menacing forces more or less handled, Israel has become more aggressive in its confrontations with Iran, exchanging large air attacks several times over the past handful of years, and the US under Trump's second term continues to see Iran as the main opposition to their efforts to build a US-aligned counterbalance against Russian and Chinese influence in the Middle East, with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and increasingly entities like Qatar and the UAE playing ball with the West, while Iran and its allies stand firm against the West.Trump has regularly threatened to act in Iran, usually waiting for the Iranian government to do something really bad, like that recent massacre of civilians following those large anti-government protests in late-2025, early 2026, and that to some degree has served as justification for the massing of US military assets in the region, leading up to this attack.Now that the attack has launched, a new war triggered, the question is how big it will get and how long it will last.For the moment, it looks like Iran's government and military is very much on the back foot, a lot of their assets taken out in that initial wave, and they're still scrambling to put someone in charge to replace Khamenei and those other higher-ups who were assassinated at the outset of this war—that'll likely change soon, maybe even before this episode goes live. But whomever takes the reins will have quite the task ahead of them, probably—according to many analysts, at least—aiming to just hold out until the US runs out of ammunition, which is expected to happen within a week or so, at which point Iran can launch surgical attacks, aiming to make this war too expensive, in terms of money and US lives, for the Trump administration to continue investing in, as money and lives are especially expensive in an election year, which 2026 is. So the idea is to grind the US down until it makes more political sense for Trump to just declare victory and leave, rather than allowing this to become a Vietnam or Afghanistan situation for his administration.It's also generally expected that when the US pulls out, Israel probably will too, as they've already made their point, tallied a bunch of victories, and set Iran back in a lot of ways; they could walk away whenever they like and say they won. And Iran would probably be incentivized to, at that point, avoid doing anything that would lead to more punishment, though they would almost certainly immediately begin rebuilding the same exact centralized, militarized infrastructure that was damaged, the only difference being they would have someone else on top, as the Supreme Leader. Relations could be even worse moving forward, but it would probably be at least a few years before Iran could do anything too significant to their regional enemies, which I guess if you're Israel does, in fact, represent a win.But considering the unlikelihood of permanent change in Iran, the big question here, in the minds of many, is what this war, this attack, is even for.For Israel, the main purpose of any attack against Iran is to weaken or destroy an enemy that has made no secret about wanting to weaken and destroy them. For the US, though, and the Trump administration more specifically, the point of all this isn't as clear.Some contend that this is another effort to steal attention and headlines from the increasingly horrifying revelations coming out of the investigation into the Epstein files, which seem to indicate Trump himself was involved in all sorts of horrible, pedophilic sexual assault activities with the late human-trafficker.Some suspect that the apparent victory in grabbing former Venezuelan president Maduro from his own country and whisking him away to the US without suffering any US casualties has emboldened Trump, and that he's going to use the time he's got to take out anyone he doesn't like, and may even specifically target authoritarian leaders who will not be missed—who oppress and kill their own people—because then it's difficult for his political opponents to call him out on these efforts.Most Venezuelans are happy to see Maduro gone, and many Iranians celebrated when Khamenei was assassinated. Trump has publicly stated that he intends to go after Cuba, next, and continues to suggest he wants a war of sorts with Mexican and south and central American cartels, which follows this same pattern of demonstrating a muscular, aggressive, militarized United States doing whatever it wants, even to the point of kidnapping or assassinating foreign leaders, but doing so in a way that is difficult to argue against, because the leaders and other forces being taken out are so horrible, at times to the point of being monstrous, that these acts, as illegal as they are according to internal laws, can still seem very justified, through some lenses.Still others have said they believe this is purely an Israeli op, and the US under Trump is just helping out one of Trump's buddies, Israel's Netanyahu, who wants to keep his country embroiled in war in order to avoid being charged for corruption.The real rationale could be a combination of these and other considerations, but the threat here, regionally, is real, especially if Iran continues to lash out at its neighbors.This part of the world is renowned for its fuel reserves and exports, and every time there's a Middle Eastern conflict, energy prices rise, globally, and other nations that produce such exports, like Russia, benefit financially because they can charge more for their oil and gas for a while—gas prices in the US have already increased by 14% over the past week as a result of the conflict—and those increases also then the raises the price of all sorts of other goods, spiking inflation.Another huge concern here, though, is that this part of the world is highly reliant on the desalination of water just to survive; massive desalination plants, most located along the coast, where they are very exposed to military threats, are at risk if Iran and Saudi Arabia, or Kuwait, or Oman start firing at each other in earnest.About 90% of Kuwait's drinking water comes from these sorts of plants, and about 86% of Oman's and 70% of Saudi Arabia's do, as well.Earlier in this war, a US strike damaged an Iranian desalination plant, and the Iranian foreign minister made a not-so-veiled threat against such plants in neighboring countries, saying the US set the precedent of attacking such infrastructure, not them.Worth noting here, too, is that many desalination plants are attached to power stations, located within the same facility, so attacks on power infrastructure, which are already common in any conflict, could also lead to more damaged desalination plants, all of which could in turn create massive humanitarian crises, as people living in some of the hottest, driest parts of the world find themselves, in the millions, without drinkable water.The potential for a spiraling humanitarian disaster increases with each passing day, then, which would seem to increase the likelihood that someone will stop, declare victory, and move on to the next conflict. But there's always the chance the one or more of the involved forces will clamp down and decide that it's in their best interest to keep things going as long as possible, instead—and in this case, it would likely be Iran playing that role, locking the US and Israel and their allies into a grinding, long-term conflict that no one would actually win.Show Noteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axis_of_Resistancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Ruhollah_Khomeinihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_massacreshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Khameneihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Ali_Khameneihttps://www.eurasiareview.com/08032026-strikes-continue-despite-iranian-presidents-apology/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-rejects-settling-iran-war-raises-prospect-killing-all-its-potential-2026-03-08/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/irans-retaliation-began-us-officials-scrambled-arrange-evacuations-2026-03-07/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/mapping-crisis-iran-visual-explainer-2026-03-06/https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-03-08-2026https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-8-2026-f0b20dbffaea9351ae1e54183ffe53ffhttps://apnews.com/article/iran-war-desalination-water-oil-middle-east-12b23f2fa26ed5c4a10f80c4077e61cehttps://apnews.com/video/trump-says-us-will-turn-attention-to-cuba-after-war-with-iran-91c3f239c18349fdb409f901c50b7e71https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/08/world/iran-war-trump-israel-lebanonhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/us/politics/trump-russia-ukraine-iran-war.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/07/us/politics/iran-war-first-week.htmlhttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/08/opinion/iran-war-ayatollah.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit letsknowthings.substack.com/subscribe

Retired Intelligence Detective Gary Jenkins brings you the best in mob history through his unique perspective on the mafia. In this episode of Gangland Wire, Gary Jenkins welcomes an unusual guest from the world of organized crime storytelling—cartoonist Brett Juliano, creator of the Dust Bunny Mafia comic series. Instead of traditional books or documentaries, Brett tells real Mafia stories through short, three-panel comics featuring his unique cartoon characters while staying grounded in historical research and documented sources. Brett explains how his lifelong interest in animation and storytelling evolved into a project that blends true crime history with visual humor and commentary. After moving to Chicago, he became fascinated with the city's underworld history and began transforming real mob stories into illustrated comic strips that challenge Hollywood myths and highlight lesser-known facts about organized crime. His work draws on true crime books, FBI files, court transcripts, and podcasts, including Gangland Wire itself. Each comic strip distills a real historical moment into a visual gag or ironic twist that reveals the strange reality behind mob legends. Gary and Brett discuss several Dust Bunny Mafia comics and the real events behind them: The “Sicilian Flu” Courtroom Act A humorous look at a tactic sometimes used by mob figures: appearing frail in court to gain sympathy or delay proceedings. Wiseguys who were partying the night before might suddenly appear in a wheelchair, wrapped in blankets or hooked to oxygen tanks when they walked into court. Lucky Luciano and the Myth of “Lucky” Brett examines the legendary story that Charles “Lucky” Luciano got his nickname after surviving a brutal kidnapping and beating. His comic plays with the idea that mobsters often exaggerated their own legends—especially when trying to impress people. The Kansas City Mob Search – Carl “Tuffy” DeLuna One comic comes directly from Gary Jenkins' own experience investigating the Kansas City mob. When police searched DeLuna's home in 1979, the mobster calmly offered coffee and eventually led investigators straight to the basement, where incriminating notes were stored. The scene shows how, sometimes, the truth of organized crime investigations is stranger than fiction. Bugsy Siegel in Rainy Portland Another comic explores the obscure story of Bugsy Siegel visiting Portland to meet local crime boss Al Winters, only to endure two straight weeks of rain—highlighting the contrast between Hollywood-style mob glamour and the less glamorous reality of underworld negotiations. A New Graphic Anthology on Kickstarter Brett is now launching a major new collection of his comics titled: “Family Business: An Offer You Can't Refuse.” The book will include: 130+ pages of full-color comics More than 230 true crime strips Historical commentary explaining the real story behind each comic Additional artwork parodying mob businesses and underworld culture The project will be funded through a Kickstarter campaign beginning March 24, with the finished book expected to ship later in the year once printing is completed. Click here for

Drew is joined by extra special guest co-host Eric Eidelstein to discuss Season 10, Episode 5 of Summer House. The girls crack open an ice cold Loverboy and dish about Jesse, West, and Ciara's bizarre love triange, Lindsay stirring the pot yet again, Southern Hospitality's fourth season glow-up, the old money kookiness of Ladies of London, and Eric's review of Soft Bar. XOXO, Girls Room.Follow Girls Room on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow Drew on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Follow Julia on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to a SPECIAL episode of the Foxx Den Sports Podcast!

Historian and friend of The Remnant Allen Guelzo has taken a breather from battling for the soul of the West to argue with Jonah Goldberg about the American founding, Edmund Burke, and—horror of horrors—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel. Join Jonah and Dr. Guelzo as they explore Western civilization, barbarism, tradition, Marxism as romanticism, the Enlightenment, Locke, Lincoln, the great-man theory of history, and the fundamental cause of the Civil War. Show Notes:—The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition Vol. 2—Previous Remnant with Allen Guelzo—John Courtney Murray: “The Return to Tribalism”—Georgios Varouxakis: The West: The History of an Idea—Secretary Marco Rubio delivers remarks to the Munich Security Conference—Jonah's book: Suicide of the West—Walter Russell Mead: “The Enduring Impact of the Abrahamic Tradition”—The Lost History of Liberalism—Kristol: “The American Revolution as Successful Revolution”—Barbara Tuchman: A Distant Mirror The Remnant is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a non-partisan, conservative perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including access to all of Jonah's G-File newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bible sales are soaring. Christian Faith Defender Wesley Huff on why the West is rediscovering Jesus. Wesley Huff is a PhD candidate and leading Christian apologist specialising in the historical accuracy of ancient Biblical texts. He serves as the Director of Central Canada for Apologetics Canada and is the host of a YouTube channel dedicated to the science of faith. He explains: ▪️Why Christianity and interest in the Bible are rising again ▪️Why New Atheism may have left a generation in a meaning crisis ▪️How to think about suffering if God is loving ▪️Why humans seem wired to worship something ▪️How faith and evidence can be explored together 00:00 Intro 02:26 Why Religious Belief Is Suddenly Surging Again 06:30 The Hidden Debate: Atheism vs. Faith Movement 08:38 Why Humans Aren't Meant to Live Alone 15:14 Is the Bible Historically Credible? 20:07 The Biggest Misunderstandings People Have About the Bible 31:21 Who Actually Witnessed the Resurrection 36:03 Were the Stories of Jesus Invented? 41:42 If God Exists, Why Does Suffering Exist? 01:01:15 Why Evolution Alone May Not Answer the Biggest Questions About Our Origins 01:11:29 Is Heaven the Point of the Bible - Or Is It Something Else Entirely? 01:13:03 Do Animals Have Souls? 01:18:36 If You Sin, Are You Automatically Going to Hell? 01:39:00 Does Your Religion Depend on Where You Were Born? 01:41:17 Does Prayer Actually Work? 01:44:31 Religion vs. A.I. - Could Technology Challenge Faith? 01:52:36 Why Young People Around the World Are Facing a Crisis of Meaning 01:59:35 A Message for Anyone Feeling Lost or Without Purpose 02:05:46 Why Questioning Christianity Has Changed in the Last Decade 02:07:06 How A.I. Could Transform the Future of Religion 02:12:23 From Paralyzed Child to Apologist 02:16:41 The Supernatural - Can People Really Speak to the Dead? Enjoyed the episode? Share this link and earn points for every referral - redeem them for exclusive prizes: https://doac-perks.com Follow Wesley: Instagram - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/7w6EJYB X - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/ajZPth YouTube - https://link.thediaryofaceo.com/3uv9h7b The Diary Of A CEO: ◼️Join DOAC circle here - https://doaccircle.com/  ◼️Buy The Diary Of A CEO book here - https://smarturl.it/DOACbook  ◼️The 1% Diary is back - limited time only: https://bit.ly/3YFbJbt  ◼️The Diary Of A CEO Conversation Cards (Second Edition): https://g2ul0.app.link/f31dsUttKKb  ◼️Get email updates - https://bit.ly/diary-of-a-ceo-yt  ◼️Follow Steven - https://g2ul0.app.link/gnGqL4IsKKb  Sponsors: Function Health - https://Functionhealth.com/DOAC to sign up for $365 a year. One dollar a day for your health  LinkedIn Marketing: https://www.linkedin.com/DIARY  Shopify - https://shopify.com/bartlett

Iran has a new Supreme Leader, but how long will he last? The PBD Podcast panel breaks down the shocking leadership transition, the revenge factor after his family's deaths, and why many believe he could be a target within days as tensions with Israel and the West escalate.

In this episode of the Derek Hunter Podcast, guest host Dean Karayanis, New York Sun columnist and former Rush Limbaugh staffer, delivers a sharp-witted and historical analysis of the escalating conflict with Iran. Following the death of the previous Ayatollah, Dean mocks the appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, by the "Council of Experts" — a puppet organization designed to maintain a hereditary dictatorship under the guise of an Islamic “Republic.” He targets Western media, like the New York Times, for "romanticizing" the new leader as a "man of mystery" rather than a standard fanatic. The IRIS Dena vs. The Belgrano Strategy: A significant portion of the show is dedicated to Dean's recent column for the New York Sun, where he compares the recent sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena to the 1982 sinking of the ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War. Just as the Argentine junta claimed the Belgrano was "sailing away" and outside an Exclusion Zone, Iran and its supporters are framing the destruction of the Dena as a war crime because it was in international waters. The Reality: Karayanis cites historical evidence—including a 1982 BBC interview with Margaret Thatcher and later admissions by the Belgrano's captain—to argue that "international waters" do not grant immunity to enemy combatants executing tactical maneuvers. In truth, the Dena was warned twice by the U.S. and offered safe harbor by India, but the captain chose to proceed, making the ship a legal military target. The Culture of Mockery and Free Speech: A broader critique of "useful idiots" in the West and the decline of creative freedom. Dean creative diversity, critiquing the "X-Men Reboot" social media account, arguing that modern writers have turned characters into political avatars for themsevles. He uses Nightcrawler and Magneto as examples of how true diversity includes diversity of belief and internal conflict. British "Tools of Hate": Dean mocks the U.K. labor government's labeling of the Union Jack and St. George's Cross as “symbols of hate,” exposed in a leaked report, a stance that outraged liberal (but not leftist) John Cleese. “The Germans” episode of Cleese's landmark series, “Fawlty Towers, illustrates that comedy is being stifled by people who refuse to analyze the "butt of the joke," which is often the person being unreasonable, not the victims of history. Dean concludes with a message of resilience, urging listeners to support the "flying machines" and the brave individuals fighting to dismantle the Iranian regime, while maintaining a sense of humor in the face of global tension.

Subscribe here to Inside Call me Back ------- Please take 5 minutes to fill out Ark Media's LISTENER SURVEY ____ How did the oppressive Ayatollah regime convince the Western left that they're the victims? Dan speaks with Iranian-American lawyer and activist Elica Le Bon about the ideological narratives that form (and distort) the West's reaction to the Iran war. Le Bon explains the deep divide between the Iranian people and the Islamic regime, the cycles of protests and repression, the imperialist roots of the regime's long-standing obsession with Israel, and the Marxist prism through which the Western left understands the conflict. In this episode: - Elica Le Bon's family story and the legacy of the 1979 revolution - Life under the Islamic regime and the experience of repression - Why the Iranian regime sees Israel as central to its ideology - The gap between the Iranian people and the regime ruling them - How ideological narratives in the West shape perceptions of the war - The “mind virus” of anti-Western and anti-Zionist thinking - Protest movements inside Iran and the risks people face - What a post-regime Iran could mean for the Middle East and the world Listen to the latest episode of For Heaven's Sake. More Ark Media: Want to join Ark Media? Check out our careers page for new openings. Explore Israel Votes Listen to For Heaven's Sake Listen to What's Your Number? Watch Call me Back on YouTube Newsletters | Ark Media | Amit Segal | Nadav Eyal Instagram | Ark Media | Dan X | Dan Dan Senor & Saul Singer's book, The Genius of Israel Get in touch Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo

Last time we spoke about the end of the battle of khalkin gol. In the summer of 1939, the Nomonhan Incident escalated into a major border conflict between Soviet-Mongolian forces and Japan's Kwantung Army along the Halha River. Despite Japanese successes in July, Zhukov launched a decisive offensive on August 20. Under cover of darkness, Soviet troops crossed the river, unleashing over 200 bombers and intense artillery barrages that devastated Japanese positions. Zhukov's northern, central, and southern forces encircled General Komatsubara's 23rd Division, supported by Manchukuoan units. Fierce fighting ensued: the southern flank collapsed under Colonel Potapov's armor, while the northern Fui Heights held briefly before falling to relentless assaults, including flame-throwing tanks. Failed Japanese counterattacks on August 24 resulted in heavy losses, with regiments shattered by superior Soviet firepower and tactics. By August 25, encircled pockets were systematically eliminated, leading to the annihilation of the Japanese 6th Army. The defeat, coinciding with the Hitler-Stalin Pact, forced Japan to negotiate a ceasefire on September 15-16, redrawing borders. Zhukov's victory exposed Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare, influencing future strategies and deterring further northern expansion.   #192 The Soviet–Japanese Neutrality Pact Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Despite the fact this technically will go into future events, I thought it was important we talk about a key moment in Sino history. Even though the battle of changkufeng and khalkin gol were not part of the second sino-Japanese war, their outcomes certainly would affect it.  Policymaking by the Soviet Union alone was not the primary factor in ending Moscow's diplomatic isolation in the late 1930s. After the Munich Conference signaled the failure of the popular front/united front approach, Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler, and Poland's Józef Beck unintentionally strengthened Joseph Stalin's position in early 1939. Once the strategic cards were in his hands, Stalin capitalized on them. His handling of negotiations with Britain and France, as well as with Germany, from April to August was deft and effective. The spring and summer negotiations among the European powers are well documented and have been examined from many angles. In May 1939, while Stalin seemed to have the upper hand in Europe, yet before Hitler had signaled that a German–Soviet agreement might be possible, the Nomonhan incident erupted, a conflict initiated and escalated by the Kwantung Army. For a few months, the prospect of a Soviet–Japanese war revived concerns in Moscow about a two-front conflict. Reviewing Soviet talks with Britain, France, and Germany in the spring and summer of 1939 from an East Asian perspective sheds fresh light on the events that led to the German–Soviet Nonaggression Pact and, more broadly, to the outbreak of World War II. The second week of May marked the start of fighting at Nomonhan, during which negotiations between Germany and the USSR barely advanced beyond mutual scrutiny. Moscow signaled that an understanding with Nazi Germany might be possible. Notably, on May 4, the removal of Maksim Litvinov as foreign commissar and his replacement by Vyacheslav Molotov suggested a shift in approach. Litvinov, an urbane diplomat of Jewish origin and married to an Englishwoman, had been the leading Soviet proponent of the united-front policy and a steadfast critic of Nazi Germany. If a settlement with Hitler was sought, Litvinov was an unsuitable figure to lead the effort. Molotov, though with limited international experience, carried weight as chairman of the Council of Ministers and, more importantly, as one of Stalin's closest lieutenants. This personnel change seemed to accomplish its aim in Berlin, where the press was instructed on May 5 to halt polemical attacks on the Soviet Union and Bolshevism. On the same day, Karl Schnurre, head of the German Foreign Ministry's East European trade section, told Soviet chargé d'affaires Georgi Astakhov that Skoda, the German-controlled Czech arms manufacturer, would honor existing arms contracts with Russia. Astakhov asked whether, with Litvinov's departure, Germany might resume negotiations for a trade treaty Berlin had halted months earlier. By May 17, during discussions with Schnurre, Astakhov asserted that "there were no conflicts in foreign policy between Germany and the Soviet Union and that there was no reason for enmity between the two countries," and that Britain and France's negotiations appeared unpromising. The next day, Ribbentrop personally instructed Schulenburg to green-light trade talks. Molotov, however, insisted that a "political basis" for economic negotiations had to be established first. Suspicion remained high on both sides. Stalin feared Berlin might use reports of German–Soviet talks to destabilize a potential triple alliance with Britain and France; Hitler feared Stalin might use such reports to entice Tokyo away from an anti-German pact. The attempt to form a tripartite military alliance among Germany, Italy, and Japan foundered over divergent aims: Berlin targeted Britain and France; Tokyo aimed at the Soviet Union. Yet talks persisted through August 1939, with Japanese efforts to draw Germany into an anti-Soviet alignment continually reported to Moscow by Richard Sorge. Hitler and Mussolini, frustrated by Japanese objections, first concluded the bilateral Pact of Steel on May 22. The next day, Hitler, addressing his generals, stressed the inevitability of war with Poland and warned that opposition from Britain would be crushed militarily. He then hinted that Russia might "prove disinterested in the destruction of Poland," suggesting closer ties with Japan if Moscow opposed Germany. The exchange was quickly leaked to the press. Five days later, the first pitched battle of the Nomonhan campaign began. Although Hitler's timing with the Yamagata detachment's foray was coincidental, Moscow may have found the coincidence ominous. Despite the inducement of Molotov's call for a political basis before economic talks, Hitler and Ribbentrop did not immediately respond. On June 14, Astakhov signaled to Parvan Draganov, Bulgaria's ambassador in Berlin, that the USSR faced three options: ally with Britain and France, continue inconclusive talks with them, or align with Germany, the latter being closest to Soviet desires. Draganov relayed to the German Foreign Ministry that Moscow preferred a non-aggression agreement if Germany would pledge not to attack the Soviet Union. Two days later, Schulenburg told Astakhov that Germany recognized the link between economic and political relations and was prepared for far-reaching talks, a view echoed by Ribbentrop. The situation remained tangled: the Soviets pursued overt talks with Britain and France, while Stalin sought to maximize Soviet leverage. Chamberlain's stance toward Moscow remained wary but recognized a "psychological value" to an Anglo–Soviet rapprochement, tempered by his insistence on a hard bargain. American ambassador William C. Bullitt urged London to avoid the appearance of pursuing the Soviets, a view that resonated with Chamberlain's own distrust. Public confidence in a real Anglo–Soviet alliance remained low. By July 19, cabinet minutes show Chamberlain could not quite believe a genuine Russia–Germany alliance was possible, though he recognized the necessity of negotiations with Moscow to deter Hitler and to mollify an increasingly skeptical British public. Despite reservations, both sides kept the talks alive. Stalin's own bargaining style, with swift Soviet replies but frequent questions and demands, often produced delays. Molotov pressed on questions such as whether Britain and France would pledge to defend the Baltic states, intervene if Japan attacked the USSR, or join in opposing Germany if Hitler pressured Poland or Romania. These considerations were not trivial; they produced extended deliberations. On July 23, Molotov demanded that plans for coordinated military action among the three powers be fleshed out before a political pact. Britain and France accepted most political terms, and an Anglo-French military mission arrived in Moscow on August 11. The British commander, Admiral Sir Reginald Plunket-Ernle-Erle-Drax, conducted staff talks but could not conclude a military agreement. The French counterpart, General Joseph Doumenc, could sign but not bind his government. By then, Hitler had set August 26 as the date for war with Poland. With that looming, Hitler pressed for Soviet neutrality, or closer cooperation. In July and August, secret German–Soviet negotiations favored the Germans, who pressed for a rapid settlement and made most concessions. Yet Stalin benefited from keeping the British and French engaged, creating leverage against Hitler and safeguarding a potential Anglo–Soviet option as a fallback. To lengthen the talks and avoid immediate resolution, Moscow emphasized the Polish issue. Voroshilov demanded the Red Army be allowed to operate through Polish territory to defend Poland, a demand Warsaw would never accept. Moscow even floated a provocative plan: if Britain and France could compel Poland to permit Baltic State naval operations, the Western fleets would occupy Baltic ports, an idea that would have been militarily perilous and diplomatically explosive. Despite this, Stalin sought an agreement with Germany. Through Richard Sorge's intelligence, Moscow knew Tokyo aimed to avoid large-scale war with the USSR, and Moscow pressed for a German–Soviet settlement, including a nonaggression pact and measures to influence Japan to ease Sino–Japanese tensions. On August 16, Ribbentrop instructed Schulenburg to urge Molotov and Stalin toward a nonaggression pact and to coordinate with Japan. Stalin signaled willingness, and August 23–24 saw the drafting of the pact and the collapse of the Soviet and Japanese resistance elsewhere. That night, in a memorandum of Ribbentrop's staff, seven topics were summarized, with Soviet–Japanese relations and Molotov's insistence that Berlin demonstrate good faith standing out. Ribbentrop reiterated his willingness to influence Japan for a more favorable Soviet–Japanese relationship, and Stalin's reply indicated a path toward a détente in the East alongside the European agreement: "M. Stalin replied that the Soviet Union indeed desired an improvement in its relations with Japan, but that there were limits to its patience with regard to Japanese provocations. If Japan desired war she could have it. The Soviet Union was not afraid of it and was prepared for it. If Japan desired peace—so much the better! M. Stalin considered the assistance of Germany in bringing about an improvement in Soviet-Japanese relations as useful, but he did not want the Japanese to get the impression that the initiative in this direction had been taken by the Soviet Union."  Second, the assertion that the Soviet Union was prepared for and unafraid of war with Japan is an overstatement, though Stalin certainly had grounds for optimism regarding the battlefield situation and the broader East Asian strategic balance. It is notable that, despite the USSR's immediate diplomatic and military gains against Japan, Stalin remained anxious to conceal from Tokyo any peace initiative that originated in Moscow. That stance suggests that Tokyo or Hsinking might read such openness as a sign of Soviet weakness or confidence overextended. The Japanese danger, it would seem, did not disappear from Stalin's mind. Even at the height of his diplomatic coup, Stalin was determined not to burn bridges prematurely. On August 21, while he urged Hitler to send Ribbentrop to Moscow, he did not sever talks with Britain and France. Voroshilov requested a temporary postponement on the grounds that Soviet delegation officers were needed for autumn maneuvers. It was not until August 25, after Britain reiterated its resolve to stand by Poland despite the German–Soviet pact, that Stalin sent the Anglo–French military mission home. Fortified by the nonaggression pact, which he hoped would deter Britain and France from action, Hitler unleashed his army on Poland on September 1. Two days later, as Zhukov's First Army Group was completing its operations at Nomonhan, Hitler faced a setback when Britain and France declared war. Hitler had hoped to finish Poland quickly in 1939 and avoid fighting Britain and France until 1940. World War II in Europe had begun. The Soviet–Japanese conflict at Nomonhan was not the sole, nor even the principal, factor prompting Stalin to conclude an alliance with Hitler. Standing aside from a European war that could fracture the major capitalist powers might have been reason enough. Yet the conflict with Japan in the East was also a factor in Stalin's calculations, a dimension that has received relatively little attention in standard accounts of the outbreak of the war. This East Asian focus seeks to clarify the record without proposing a revolutionary reinterpretation of Soviet foreign policy; rather, it adds an important piece often overlooked in the "origins of the Second World War" puzzle, helping to reduce the overall confusion. The German–Soviet agreement provided for the Soviet occupation of the eastern half of Poland soon after Germany's invasion. On September 3, just forty-eight hours after the invasion and on the day Britain and France declared war, Ribbentrop urged Moscow to invade Poland from the east. Yet, for two more weeks, Poland's eastern frontier remained inviolate; Soviet divisions waited at the border, as most Polish forces were engaged against Germany. The German inquiries about the timing of the Soviet invasion continued, but the Red Army did not move. This inactivity is often attributed to Stalin's caution and suspicion, but that caution extended beyond Europe. Throughout early September, sporadic ground and air combat continued at Nomonhan, including significant activity by Kwantung Army forces on September 8–9, and large-scale air engagements on September 1–2, 4–5, and 14–15. Not until September 15 was the Molotov–Togo cease-fire arrangement finalized, to take effect on September 16. The very next morning, September 17, the Red Army crossed the Polish frontier into a country collapsed at its feet. It appears that Stalin wanted to ensure that fighting on his eastern flank had concluded before engaging in Western battles, avoiding a two-front war. Through such policies, Stalin avoided the disaster of a two-front war. Each principal in the 1939 diplomatic maneuvering pursued distinct objectives. The British sought an arrangement with the USSR that would deter Hitler from attacking Poland and, if deterred, bind Moscow to the Anglo–French alliance. Hitler sought an alliance with the USSR to deter Britain and France from aiding Poland and, if they did aid Poland, to secure Soviet neutrality. Japan sought a military alliance with Germany against the USSR, or failing that, stronger Anti-Comintern ties. Stalin aimed for an outcome in which Germany would fight the Western democracies, leaving him freedom to operate in both the West and East; failing that, he sought military reassurance from Britain and France in case he had to confront Germany. Of the four, only Stalin achieved his primary objective. Hitler secured his secondary objective; the British and Japanese failed to realize theirs. Stalin won the diplomatic contest in 1939. Yet, as diplomats gave way to generals, the display of German military power in Poland and in Western Europe soon eclipsed Stalin's diplomatic triumph. By playing Germany against Britain and France, Stalin gained leverage and a potential fallback, but at the cost of unleashing a devastating European war. As with the aftermath of the Portsmouth Treaty in 1905, Russo-Japanese relations improved rapidly after hostilities ceased at Nomonhan. The Molotov–Togo agreement of September 15 and the local truces arranged around Nomonhan on September 19 were observed scrupulously by both sides. On October 27, the two nations settled another long-standing dispute by agreeing to mutual release of fishing boats detained on charges of illegal fishing in each other's territorial waters. On November 6, the USSR appointed Konstantin Smetanin as ambassador to Tokyo, replacing the previous fourteen-month tenure of a chargé d'affaires. Smetanin's first meeting with the new Japanese foreign minister, Nomura Kichisaburö, in November 1939 attracted broad, favorable coverage in the Japanese press. In a break with routine diplomatic practice, Nomura delivered a draft proposal for a new fisheries agreement and a memo outlining the functioning of the joint border commission to be established in the Nomonhan area before Smetanin presented his credentials. On December 31, an agreement finalizing Manchukuo's payment to the USSR for the sale of the Chinese Eastern Railway was reached, and the Soviet–Japanese Fisheries Convention was renewed for 1940. In due course, the boundary near Nomonhan was formally redefined. A November 1939 agreement between Molotov and Togo established a mixed border commission representing the four parties to the dispute. After protracted negotiations, the border commission completed its redemarcation on June 14, 1941, with new border markers erected in August 1941. The resulting boundary largely followed the Soviet–MPR position, lying ten to twelve miles east of the Halha River. With that, the Nomonhan incident was officially closed.  Kwantung Army and Red Army leaders alike sought to "teach a lesson" to their foe at Nomonhan. The refrain recurs in documents and memoirs from both sides, "we must teach them a lesson." The incident provided lessons for both sides, but not all were well learned. For the Red Army, the lessons of Nomonhan intertwined with the laurels of victory, gratifying but sometimes distracting. Georgy Zhukov grasped the experience of modern warfare that summer, gaining more than a raised profile: command experience, confidence, and a set of hallmarks he would employ later. He demonstrated the ability to grasp complex strategic problems quickly, decisive crisis leadership, meticulous attention to logistics and deception, patience in building superior strength before striking at the enemy's weakest point, and the coordination of massed artillery, tanks, mechanized infantry, and tactical air power in large-scale double envelopment. These capabilities informed his actions at Moscow, Stalingrad, Kursk, and ultimately Berlin. It is tempting to wonder how Zhukov might have fared in the crucial autumn and winter of 1941 without Nomonhan, or whether he would have been entrusted with the Moscow front in 1941 had he not distinguished himself at Nomonhan. Yet the Soviet High Command overlooked an important lesson. Despite Zhukov's successes with independent tank formations and mechanized infantry, the command misapplied Spanish Civil War-era experience by disbanding armored divisions and redistributing tanks to infantry units to serve as support. It was not until after Germany demonstrated tank warfare in 1940 that the Soviets began reconstituting armored divisions and corps, a process still incomplete when the 1941 invasion began. The Red Army's performance at Nomonhan went largely unseen in the West. Western intelligence and military establishments largely believed the Red Army was fundamentally rotten, a view reinforced by the battlefield's remoteness and by both sides' reluctance to publicize the defeat. The Polish crisis and the outbreak of war in Europe drew attention away from Nomonhan, and the later Finnish Winter War reinforced negative Western judgments of Soviet military capability. U.S. military attaché Raymond Faymonville observed that the Soviets, anticipating a quick victory over Finland, relied on hastily summoned reserves ill-suited for winter fighting—an assessment that led some to judge the Red Army by its performance at Nomonhan. Even in Washington, this view persisted; Hitler reportedly called the Red Army "a paralytic on crutches" after Finland and then ordered invasion planning in 1941. Defeat can be a stronger teacher than victory. Because Nomonhan was a limited war, Japan's defeat was likewise limited, and its impact on Tokyo did not immediately recalibrate Japanese assessments. Yet Nomonhan did force Japan to revise its estimation of Soviet strength: the Imperial Army abandoned its strategic Plan Eight-B and adopted a more defensive posture toward the Soviet Union. An official inquiry into the debacle, submitted November 29, 1939, recognized Soviet superiority in materiel and firepower and urged Japan to bolster its own capabilities. The Kwantung Army's leadership, chastened, returned to the frontier with a more realistic sense of capability, even as the Army Ministry and AGS failed to translate lessons into policy. The enduring tendency toward gekokujo, the dominance of local and mid-level officers over central authority, remained persistent, and Tokyo did not fully purge it after Nomonhan. The Kwantung Army's operatives who helped drive the Nomonhan episode resurfaced in key posts at Imperial General Headquarters, contributing to Japan's 1941 decision to go to war. The defeat of the Kwantung Army at Nomonhan, together with the Stalin–Hitler pact and the outbreak of war in Europe, triggered a reorientation of Japanese strategy and foreign policy. The new government, led by the politically inexperienced and cautious General Abe Nobuyuki, pursued a conservative foreign policy. Chiang Kai-shek's retreat to Chongqing left the Chinese war at a stalemate: the Japanese Expeditionary Army could still inflict defeats on Chinese nationalist forces, but it had no viable path to a decisive victory. China remained Japan's principal focus. Still, the option of cutting Soviet aid to China and of moving north into Outer Mongolia and Siberia was discredited in Tokyo by the August 1939 double defeat. Northward expansion never again regained its ascendancy, though it briefly resurfaced in mid-1941 after Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. Germany's alliance with the USSR during Nomonhan was viewed by Tokyo as a betrayal, cooling German–Japanese relations. Japan also stepped back from its confrontation with Britain over Tientsin. Tokyo recognized that the European war represented a momentous development that could reshape East Asia, as World War I had reshaped it before. The short-lived Abe government (September–December 1939) and its successor under Admiral Yonai Mitsumasa (December 1939–July 1940) adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude toward the European war. That stance shifted in the summer of 1940, however, after Germany's successes in the West. With Germany's conquest of France and the Low Countries and Britain's fight for survival, Tokyo reassessed the global balance of power. Less than a year after Zhukov had effectively blocked further Japanese expansion northward, Hitler's victories seemed to open a southern expansion path. The prospect of seizing the resource-rich colonies in Southeast Asia, Dutch, French, and British and, more importantly, resolving the China problem in Japan's favor, tempted many in Tokyo. If Western aid to Chiang Kai-shek, channeled through Hong Kong, French Indochina, and Burma could be cut off, some in Tokyo believed Chiang might abandon resistance. If not, Japan could launch new operations against Chiang from Indochina and Burma, effectively turning China's southern flank. To facilitate a southward advance, Japan sought closer alignment with Germany and the USSR. Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka brought Japan into the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy, in the hope of neutralizing the United States, and concluded a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union to secure calm in the north. Because of the European military situation, only the United States could check Japan's southward expansion. President Franklin D. Roosevelt appeared determined to do so and confident that he could. If the Manchurian incident and the Stimson Doctrine strained U.S.–Japanese relations, and the China War and U.S. aid to Chiang Kai-shek deepened mutual resentment, it was Japan's decision to press south against French, British, and Dutch colonies, and Roosevelt's resolve to prevent such a move, that put the two nations on a collision course. The dust had barely settled on the Mongolian plains following the Nomonhan ceasefire when the ripples of that distant conflict began to reshape the broader theater of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The defeat at Nomonhan in August 1939, coupled with the shocking revelation of the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact, delivered a profound strategic blow to Japan's imperial ambitions. No longer could Tokyo entertain serious notions of a "northern advance" into Soviet territory, a strategy that had long tantalized military planners as a means to secure resources and buffer against communism. Instead, the Kwantung Army's humiliation exposed glaring deficiencies in Japanese mechanized warfare, logistics, and intelligence, forcing a pivot southward. This reorientation not only cooled tensions with the Soviet Union but also allowed Japan to redirect its military focus toward the protracted stalemate in China. As we transition from the border clashes of the north to the heartland tensions in central China, it's essential to trace how these events propelled Japan toward the brink of a major offensive in Hunan Province, setting the stage for what would become a critical confrontation. In the immediate aftermath of Nomonhan, Japan's military high command grappled with the implications of their setback. The Kwantung Army, once a symbol of unchecked aggression, was compelled to adopt a defensive posture along the Manchurian-Soviet border. The ceasefire agreement, formalized on September 15-16, 1939, effectively neutralized the northern front, freeing up significant resources and manpower that had been tied down in the escalating border skirmishes. This was no small relief; the Nomonhan campaign had drained Japanese forces, with estimates of over 18,000 casualties and the near-total annihilation of the 23rd Division. The psychological impact was equally severe, shattering the myth of Japanese invincibility against a modern, mechanized opponent. Georgy Zhukov's masterful use of combined arms—tanks, artillery, and air power—highlighted Japan's vulnerabilities, prompting internal reviews that urged reforms in tank production, artillery doctrine, and supply chains. Yet, these lessons were slow to implement, and in the short term, the primary benefit was the opportunity to consolidate efforts elsewhere. For Japan, "elsewhere" meant China, where the war had devolved into a grinding attrition since the fall of Wuhan in October 1938. The capture of Wuhan, a major transportation hub and temporary capital of the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek, had been hailed as a turning point. Japanese forces, under the command of General Shunroku Hata, had pushed deep into central China, aiming to decapitate Chinese resistance. However, Chiang's strategic retreat to Chongqing transformed the conflict into a war of endurance. Nationalist forces, bolstered by guerrilla tactics and international aid, harassed Japanese supply lines and prevented a decisive knockout blow. By mid-1939, Japan controlled vast swaths of eastern and northern China, including key cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, but the cost was immense: stretched logistics, mounting casualties, and an inability to fully pacify occupied territories. The Nomonhan defeat exacerbated these issues by underscoring the limits of Japan's military overextension. With the northern threat abated, Tokyo's Army General Staff saw an opening to intensify operations in China, hoping to force Chiang to the negotiating table before global events further complicated the picture. The diplomatic fallout from Nomonhan and the Hitler-Stalin Pact further influenced this shift. Japan's betrayal by Germany, its nominal ally under the Anti-Comintern Pact—fostered distrust and isolation. Tokyo's flirtations with a full Axis alliance stalled, as the pact with Moscow revealed Hitler's willingness to prioritize European gains over Asian solidarity. This isolation prompted Japan to reassess its priorities, emphasizing self-reliance in China while eyeing opportunistic expansions elsewhere. Domestically, the Hiranuma cabinet collapsed in August 1939 amid the diplomatic shock, paving the way for the more cautious Abe Nobuyuki government. Abe's administration, though short-lived, signaled a temporary de-escalation in aggressive posturing, but the underlying imperative to resolve the "China Incident" persisted. Japanese strategists believed that capturing additional strategic points in central China could sever Chiang's lifelines, particularly the routes funneling aid from the Soviet Union and the West via Burma and Indochina. The seismic shifts triggered by Nomonhan compelled Japan to fundamentally readjust its China policy and war plans, marking a pivotal transition from overambitious northern dreams to a more focused, albeit desperate, campaign in the south. With the Kwantung Army's defeat fresh in mind, Tokyo's Imperial General Headquarters initiated a comprehensive strategic review in late August 1939. The once-dominant "Northern Advance" doctrine, which envisioned rapid conquests into Siberia for resources like oil and minerals, was officially shelved. In its place emerged a "Southern Advance" framework, prioritizing the consolidation of gains in China and potential expansions into Southeast Asia. This pivot was not merely tactical; it reflected a profound policy recalibration aimed at ending the quagmire in China, where two years of war had yielded territorial control but no decisive victory over Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists. Central to this readjustment was a renewed emphasis on economic and military self-sufficiency. The Nomonhan debacle had exposed Japan's vulnerabilities in mechanized warfare, leading to urgent reforms in industrial production. Tank manufacturing was ramped up, with designs influenced by observed Soviet models, and artillery stockpiles were bolstered to match the firepower discrepancies seen on the Mongolian steppes. Logistically, the Army General Staff prioritized streamlining supply lines in China, recognizing that prolonged engagements demanded better resource allocation. Politically, the Abe Nobuyuki cabinet, installed in September 1939, adopted a "wait-and-see" approach toward Europe but aggressively pursued diplomatic maneuvers to isolate China. Efforts to negotiate with Wang Jingwei's puppet regime in Nanjing intensified, aiming to undermine Chiang's legitimacy and splinter Chinese resistance. Japan also pressured Vichy France for concessions in Indochina, seeking to choke off aid routes to Chongqing. War plans evolved accordingly, shifting from broad-front offensives to targeted strikes designed to disrupt Chinese command and supply networks. The China Expeditionary Army, under General Yasuji Okamura, was restructured to emphasize mobility and combined arms operations, drawing partial lessons from Zhukov's tactics. Intelligence operations were enhanced, with greater focus on infiltrating Nationalist strongholds in central provinces. By early September, plans coalesced around a major push into Hunan Province, a vital crossroads linking northern and southern China. Hunan's river systems and rail lines made it a linchpin for Chinese logistics, funneling men and materiel to the front lines. Japanese strategists identified key urban centers in the region as critical objectives, believing their capture could sever Chiang's western supply corridors and force a strategic retreat. This readjustment was not without internal friction. Hardliners in the military lamented the abandonment of northern ambitions, but the reality of Soviet strength—and the neutrality pacts that followed—left little room for debate. Economically, Japan ramped up exploitation of occupied Chinese territories, extracting coal, iron, and rice to fuel the war machine. Diplomatically, Tokyo sought to mend fences with the Soviets through the 1941 Neutrality Pact, ensuring northern security while eyes turned south. Yet, these changes brewed tension with the United States, whose embargoes on scrap metal and oil threatened to cripple Japan's ambitions. As autumn approached, the stage was set for a bold gambit in central China. Japanese divisions massed along the Yangtze River, poised to strike at the heart of Hunan's defenses. Intelligence reports hinted at Chinese preparations, with Xue Yue's forces fortifying positions around a major provincial hub. The air thickened with anticipation of a clash that could tip the balance in the interminable war—a test of Japan's revamped strategies against a resilient foe determined to hold the line. What unfolded would reveal whether Tokyo's post-Nomonhan pivot could deliver the breakthrough so desperately needed, or if it would merely prolong the bloody stalemate. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. In 1939, the Nomonhan Incident saw Soviet forces under Georgy Zhukov decisively defeat Japan's Kwantung Army at Khalkin Gol, exposing Japanese weaknesses in mechanized warfare. This setback, coupled with the Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact, shattered Japan's northern expansion plans and prompted a strategic pivot southward. Diplomatic maneuvers involving Stalin, Hitler, Britain, France, and Japan reshaped alliances, leading to the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact in 1941. Japan refocused on China, intensifying operations in Hunan Province to isolate Chiang Kai-shek.   

Fiona Hill is one of the most authoritative voices on the forces reshaping global politics today. Born in County Durham, from 2017 to 2019 she was a senior adviser on European and Russian Affairs at the White House and in October 2019 she was a key witness in President Trump's first impeachment inquiry. In 2024 and 2025 she co-led the British Government's Strategic Defence Review, which sets out how the UK should scale up its response to risks from an emboldened Russia and a less predictable United States.  Hill cautions that we are not in a second Cold War, but in a more volatile era of asymmetric threats. She warns that Trump's engagement with autocratic leaders such as Putin and Xi is strengthening authoritarian regimes and eroding long‑standing alliances, and highlights sabotage and disinformation – the kind of threats seen in recent incidents such as the Russian spy‑ship Yantar encroaching on UK waters and the rail explosion in Poland.  Hill came to the Intelligence Squared stage in February 2026 where, in conversation with journalist Jon Sopel, she set out the practical steps she believes the West must take to bolster its resilience and safeguard security and stability. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5. Philps details Nadia's life as a Soviet spy in Shanghai and New York, where she stole industrial secrets using microfilms hidden in pocket mirrors. Working alongside figures like Richard Sorge and Whitaker Chambers, Nadia's experiences in the West eventually fueled her secret dissidence against Stalin's increasingly brutal and murderous regime. (22)1942 LONDON

When Sauron learned of Celebrimbor's revolt, his wrath was revealed; Alan doesn't wait for James to revolt, but his wrath is reduced to nothing more than bad jokes. Join The Man of the West and The Sage of the South as Sauron has his way in Eregion in our third episode on The History of Galadriel and Celeborn. Celebrimbor runs with a dangerous crowd, the Númenóreans show up five years late, and Amroth tragically discovers that Elves can't swim across an ocean. We remind you how helpful it is to read Tolkien aloud, agree that Círdan would never lie, and recognize that the taste for power marks the beginning of the Downfall. Also, Rings of Power catches a few strays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices