The Team House

We break down Tucker Carlson’s claim that the U.S. could use a nuclear weapon against Iran’s deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain facility, what tactical nukes can actually do, and why the idea is far less straightforward than it sounds. We also discuss the risks of radioactive fallout, whether the leak itself could be strategic signaling, the limits of another air campaign, and whether diplomacy with Iran is starting to become the only realistic path forward.
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Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:01 – Tucker Carlson Claims the U.S. Could Nuke Iran
00:58 – Why Pickaxe Mountain Is at the Center of the Story
02:32 – How Plausible Is a Nuclear Strike?
04:13 – Can Any Weapon Actually Reach the Tunnels?
04:43 – Why a Tactical Nuke Wouldn’t Solve the Problem
06:44 – Netanyahu, Hegseth & Pressure for Another Strike
08:18 – Has U.S. Nuclear Doctrine Changed?
09:16 – There Is No Such Thing as a “Small” Nuclear War
10:00 – What Happens to Enriched Uranium If the Site Is Hit?
11:11 – How Presidents Are Briefed on Extreme Military Options
12:58 – What Tactical Nuclear Weapons Does the U.S. Actually Have?
14:39 – B-2s, Diego Garcia & Delivery Options
16:04 – Hiroshima vs. Modern Tactical Nuclear Yields
17:07 – How Much Force Would It Take to Penetrate Pickaxe Mountain?
18:56 – Was Iran’s Nuclear Program Ever Really “Obliterated”?
19:02 – The Risk of Radioactive Material Going Airborne
20:22 – What Aerosolized Nuclear Material Could Do to Civilians
21:08 – Considering the Source: Tucker Carlson
22:20 – Could the Leak Be Deliberate Signaling to Iran?
24:06 – Why Tucker Could Be the Perfect Conduit for a Leak
25:51 – Why Another Short Air Campaign Probably Won’t Work
27:53 – Pickaxe Mountain, Fordow & Natanz
29:45 – Iran Has Far More Nuclear Sites Than Just One Mountain
31:30 – Why Pickaxe Mountain Was Chosen in the First Place
33:27 – Would Even a Nuclear Weapon Be Enough?
33:47 – Why Repeated Penetrator Strikes Have Limits
35:01 – How Blast Energy Actually Moves Through Rock
36:03 – The Limits of Nuclear Penetrators
36:40 – Tucker Carlson’s Recent Track Record
38:31 – Netanyahu’s Long History of Nuclear Warnings
39:35 – Why Nuclear Weapons Haven’t Been Used in 80 Years
41:16 – Could a New Iran Deal Be Taking Shape?
43:18 – Netanyahu’s Political Clock Is Running
45:10 – Eight Months of War & the Same Unanswered Questions
47:09 – When Would the U.S. Actually Resume Strikes?
47:54 – Elections, Timing & What Happens Next
48:49 – Is Tucker Being Used as a “Useful Idiot”?
49:16 – MAGA, Anti-Israel Influencers & the Strange Coalition
50:11 – The Left-Right Convergence on Israel & Ukraine
51:16 – Russian & Iranian Influence in Alternative Media
51:56 – Closing Thoughts

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We break down the delayed Patriot sale to Ukraine, Washington’s increasingly contradictory Russia policy, and what that dysfunction looks like to U.S. allies and partners. We also examine the possible paths forward with Iran, including renewed strikes, economic pressure, negotiations, the risks of retaliation, and why no option offers an easy route to victory.
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Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
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Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Find Marc P here:
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Find Andy Milburn here:
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LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:37 – Patriot Missiles for Ukraine… in 2030?
01:30 – Why the Announcement Does Nothing for Ukraine This Winter
03:02 – Is the Patriot Deal Really About U.S. Domestic Politics?
04:07 – Europe, Canada & Norway Help Fund the Sale
05:00 – Russia Escalates Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
05:30 – U.S. Diesel Deals With Russia & Sanctions Waivers
06:27 – Washington Pressures Ukraine to Stop Striking Russian Oil
07:00 – Starlink & Starshield Disruptions
08:27 – Is U.S. Policy Quietly Shifting Toward Russia?
09:00 – CIA Targeting Support vs. White House Policy
10:09 – Why the National Security Process Is Breaking Down
12:04 – America’s Grand Strategy Problem
12:35 – The National Security Council Isn’t Working
14:09 – What U.S. Policy Confusion Looks Like to Our Allies
15:00 – How Ukrainian Troops View Washington
16:19 – Why Britain Is Seen Differently in Ukraine
17:00 – The Importance of Consistent Support to Allies
18:00 – What Saudi Arabia Is Seeing From the U.S.
19:05 – America’s Relationship With Arab Partners
20:19 – Marc’s Story About the Kurds & U.S. Betrayal
21:34 – Turning Our Back on the SDF
22:21 – Why Allies Compare Their Support to Israel’s
23:33 – Is This Specifically a Trump Administration Problem?
24:38 – Iran War Depletes U.S. Air Defense Stockpiles
24:47 – Shifting to Iran
25:53 – Five Possible U.S. Courses of Action Against Iran
27:31 – Are U.S.-Iran Negotiations Actually Different This Time?
28:39 – Economic Pressure vs. Renewed Military Action
29:25 – The Escalation Ladder With Iran
30:16 – The Missing Question: What Is the Objective?
32:07 – Why Escalation Without an End State Is Dangerous
33:26 – The NSC’s Binary Approach to Iran
34:07 – Option 1: Make a Deal
34:30 – Option 2: Continue Economic Warfare
35:00 – Option 3: Limited Strikes Around Hormuz
35:30 – Option 4: Major Strikes on Iran
36:01 – Can Another Air Campaign Actually Change Iran’s Position?
36:30 – Option 5: Strikes Aimed at Regime Collapse
37:40 – Predictions: What Happens After the Midterms?
38:04 – Jonathan Predicts Broader Infrastructure Strikes
38:56 – Andy Predicts a Short, Sharp Campaign
39:36 – Could Election Results Push Trump Toward Escalation?
41:30 – Is a Deal With Iran Still Possible?
41:59 – What Would Jim Mattis Tell Trump?
42:20 – Iranian Retaliation & Risks to U.S. Forces
42:57 – What Has the War Actually Achieved?
44:00 – The Doomsday Prepping Panic
45:13 – Costco Runs, Generators & Cyberattack Fears
46:11 – Why Dee Didn’t Prep
46:46 – Why Oil Is Still So Expensive
47:03 – Risk Premiums, Insurance & Shipping Through Hormuz
48:55 – Why Brent Crude Doesn’t Reflect Today’s Conditions
50:01 – What’s Going on in Poland?
50:09 – Poland’s Political Crisis Explained
51:33 – Midterm Election Predictions
52:09 – What Would Dee Buy for Doomsday Prepping?

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Alex Dekker looks back on his path from conventional infantry in Ramadi to 5th Special Forces Group, combat in Afghanistan, the Special Forces Combat Diver course, the fight against ISIS, and his final decade in a more specialized Army special operations unit. We also discuss his transition out of the military and how his experiences in Special Forces, intelligence, archaeology, and the Middle East shaped his debut novel, Desert Heist.
Grab Alex's book here: https://a.co/d/00h03vHa
Find Alex here: https://www.alexdekkerofficial.com/
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00:00 – Start
00:53 – Alex Dekker’s Interest in Archaeology
02:17 – Growing Up as an Army Brat
03:43 – His Father’s Career in Military Intelligence
04:00 – Why Special Operations Was Always the Goal
05:29 – Starting Out in the Conventional Army
06:39 – Deploying to Ramadi With 1st Infantry Division
07:20 – Seeing Special Forces in Iraq for the First Time
08:52 – What Conventional Infantry Life Was Really Like
10:32 – Leaving the Army & Going Back to College
11:00 – Returning on an 18X Contract
12:48 – Passing SFAS & Starting the Q Course
13:58 – Learning Arabic for 5th Special Forces Group
14:41 – Joining a Combat Dive Team
16:28 – Deploying to Afghanistan Six Weeks After Arriving
17:00 – His First Special Forces Deployment
18:16 – The Taliban Ambush That Nearly Killed Him
20:34 – Taking Over After the Team Was Wounded
22:53 – Fighting Through the Ambush With Shrapnel in His Leg
24:44 – Recovering & Returning to Afghanistan With a Cane
26:54 – Preparing for Combat Diver School After Being Wounded
29:06 – Inside the Special Forces Combat Diver Course
31:13 – Drown Proofing & Learning Not to Panic Underwater
32:26 – The 5th Group Guys Watching Everyone Else Deploy Somewhere Nice
33:41 – Sitting in Kuwait as the ISIS War Begins
35:30 – The Early U.S. Response to ISIS in Iraq
36:53 – Training While Waiting for the Mission to Expand
38:28 – Returning Home & Preparing for the Next Deployment
39:10 – Becoming an 18 Fox Intelligence Sergeant
41:15 – Targeting, Intelligence & Building the Battlefield Picture
43:04 – Working the Syria Problem as an 18 Fox
44:41 – Training Partner Forces Against ISIS
46:17 – Why ISIS Struggled Against Professional Forces
48:48 – What Special Forces Is Actually Designed to Do
50:15 – Looking for the Next Step Beyond 5th Group
52:03 – Moving Into a More Specialized Army Special Operations Unit
53:13 – What He Can Say About the Final Decade of His Career
54:48 – Retiring From the Secret Side of the Military
56:39 – The Honor Foundation & Transitioning Special Operators
57:34 – Why Networking Matters More Than Blind Job Applications
59:28 – Meeting His Wife, a Former CIA Operations Officer
1:00:09 – Leaving Two Secretive Careers Behind
1:01:52 – Why Intelligence Officers Struggle With Transition Too
1:03:34 – Writing Desert Heist in Three Months
1:05:32 – Finding a Literary Agent
1:08:00 – Combining Indiana Jones, Special Forces & Real History
1:09:22 – Building Characters From Real ODA Personalities
1:11:06 – Why Veterans Sometimes Miss the Chaos
1:13:03 – The Lost City at the Center of Desert Heist
1:14:28 – Green Berets, Russian Mercenaries & the Bigger Conspiracy
1:16:21 – Turning Desert Heist Into a Series
1:17:25 – What to Expect From the Next Nate Wilde Book
1:19:07 – Where to Find Alex & Desert Heist
1:20:21 – Jack & Alex Compare the Fiction Publishing Process
1:22:27 – Planning Storylines Several Books in Advance
1:23:31 – What Comes Next for Both Series
1:24:07 – Keeping Survival & Combat Realistic in Fiction
1:25:23 – Closing Thoughts

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We break down Israel’s deadlocked election and coalition fight, what a possible change in government could mean for Iran policy, and the growing counterintelligence concerns around foreign influence, personnel cuts, and recent Iran-linked activity in Europe. We also discuss whether America has lost the initiative in the Middle East, the debate over restrictive rules of engagement during the War on Terror, and what lessons the U.S. military should actually take from 20 years of war.

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Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Find Andy Milburn here:
Twitter ⬇️
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LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations

00:00 – Start
00:58 – Israel’s Election Ends in a Deadlock
02:18 – How Israel’s Coalition System Works
03:27 – Could Israel Be Headed for Another Election?
04:16 – Arab Parties Suddenly Hold Major Bargaining Power
05:03 – What Arab Israelis Actually Want From the Government
06:19 – Israel’s Basic Law & the Question of Equality
07:16 – Can Either Side Build a 61-Seat Coalition?
08:48 – What Would an Eisenkot Government Actually Change?
09:37 – Netanyahu vs. Eisenkot on Iran
10:08 – Jared Kushner’s Role in Middle East Policy
11:04 – Inside the U.S. Security Relationship With the Palestinians
12:06 – Netanyahu’s Relationship With Kushner
12:42 – U.S. Military Officers & Foreign Influence Concerns
14:06 – How Does This Happen Without Counterintelligence Scrutiny?
14:27 – Strava, Wearables & Modern OPSEC Failures
17:33 – What Happens When FBI Counterintelligence Teams Get Cut?
18:04 – Offensive vs. Defensive Counterintelligence
19:14 – How Technology Has Changed Counterintelligence Operations
20:32 – Cutting Personnel With a Machete Instead of a Scalpel
21:30 – Losing Mandarin Speakers Inside the Government
22:41 – Iranian-Americans & the Failure to Use Native Expertise
24:14 – Why the U.S. Struggles to Identify Real Regional Experts
24:45 – The Books Intelligence Analysts Should Actually Be Reading
26:44 – What a New Iran Analyst Should Learn First
27:18 – Why Analysts Need to Read the Other Side’s Literature
29:02 – The Ugly American & Understanding Foreign Cultures
30:00 – The RAF Fairford Plot Returns to the News
30:21 – Suspects Go on Trial in the UK
31:16 – The Wider Network Behind the Fairford Case
32:04 – Iran-Linked Operations Across Europe
32:28 – Did a New IRGC Handler Rush the Operation?
33:36 – How the UK Network Was Structured
34:18 – Has Iran Lost Too Many Experienced Intelligence Officers?
34:59 – Sometimes Just Breaching the Base Is the Victory
35:24 – What World War I German Sabotage Can Teach Us
35:57 – Immigration, Brain Drain & America’s Talent Problem
37:05 – Why the U.S. Should Keep Iranian Scientists Here
37:43 – Operation Paperclip & Recruiting Enemy Talent
38:38 – Has America Lost the Initiative in the Middle East?
39:02 – The USS Abraham Lincoln as a Symbol of Strategic Failure
39:31 – “Escalate to Deescalate” & the Failure of Policy
40:14 – The New York Times on Special Operations Podcasts
40:58 – Why The Team House Avoids the Culture-War Trap
41:52 – Did America Lose Because We “Didn’t Take the Gloves Off”?
43:00 – When Rules of Engagement Really Were Too Restrictive
44:04 – The Eight-Hour Targeting Soak
45:01 – From Extremely Loose ROE to Extremely Restrictive ROE
45:50 – Why Different Battlefields Needed Different Rules
47:05 – When a Missed Drone Strike Reset the Entire Targeting Cycle
47:34 – “Restrike Authorized”
48:04 – Why Rules of Engagement Changed During the War
48:29 – McChrystal, F3EAD & the SOCOM Targeting Model
49:00 – Jessica Lynch & Early Iraq War Training Failures
50:36 – Army vs. Marine Corps Marksmanship Training
55:47 – Are We Learning the Right Lessons From 20 Years of War?
57:13 – Jack’s Upcoming High Side Story on Sudan
58:18 – Jonathan’s Next Writing Project
59:15 – Sanctions, Pistachios, Carpets & Iranian Saffron
1:00:35 – Is “Spanish Saffron” Actually Iranian?
1:01:26 – Syrian Aleppo Pepper & Sanctions Workarounds
1:02:12 – American Insurgent & the December 1 Deadline
1:03:14 – Closing Thoughts

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original airdate 11-3-23

Pete Blaber looks back on his path from the Ranger Regiment to Delta Force, including operations in Panama, Colombia, Somalia, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and the leadership lessons he carried from each. We also dig into his reconstruction of the Pat Tillman friendly-fire incident, the command failures that set the conditions for it, and why accountability and common-sense leadership matter so much in combat.

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Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse

Jack's news outlet:⬇️
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Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett

Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer

Find Andy Milburn here:
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations

00:00 – Start
01:09 – Growing Up Outside Chicago
02:48 – Cross Country, Endurance & Learning to Push Through Pain
05:45 – Desert One Inspires Him to Join the Military
07:07 – Trying to Figure Out How to Get Into the Army
08:38 – “I Want to Join Delta Force”
09:04 – OCS & Becoming an Infantry Officer
10:16 – The Fastest Route to Ranger Regiment
10:36 – First Assignment in Korea
11:56 – Joining 2nd Ranger Battalion
12:22 – The Ranger Battalion Commander Who Shaped His Leadership
13:28 – What a Healthy Command Climate Looks Like
15:12 – “The Best Welfare for the Troops Is Getting Them Home”
16:09 – Learning to Stay Calm on the Radio
17:52 – Company Command in the 7th Infantry Division
18:14 – Invading Panama
19:48 – The Friendly Firefight That Changed His Thinking
22:15 – Realizing They Had Been Shooting at Another U.S. Unit
25:21 – Learning Leadership as a Young Lieutenant
27:18 – The Sergeant Major Who Taught Him “Don’t Be in a Hurry to Die”
29:31 – Learning From Bad Leaders
31:07 – Preparing for Delta Selection
32:45 – Passing Selection & Joining the Unit
34:10 – Delta Force in the Early 1990s
35:54 – Counternarcotics Becomes a Major Mission
36:35 – Hunting Pablo Escobar in Colombia
38:17 – Building Teams Around Skills & Personality
39:08 – Learning How to Find People Who Don’t Want to Be Found
40:36 – From Colombia to Mogadishu
41:16 – Why He Distrusted Helicopter-Centric Assaults
42:24 – Black Hawks vs. Little Birds
43:16 – The Low-Visibility Approach He Wanted in Somalia
46:10 – The Hunt for Pablo Escobar
48:27 – How Colombian Forces Ultimately Found Escobar
49:25 – Arriving in Mogadishu After the Battle
49:53 – Searching for Mike Durant
52:00 – What Happened After Black Hawk Down
53:52 – Personality Conflicts & Interoperability Problems
57:51 – Somalia Becomes the Final Nail on Helicopter Assaults
58:48 – How Somalia Changed CQB & Special Operations
1:00:21 – Taking the Fight to the Enemy Instead of Sitting Still
1:02:20 – Bosnia: The “Living Laboratory” for Human Hunting
1:04:58 – Learning Low-Visibility Operations in Bosnia
1:07:11 – Humor, Creativity & Problem Solving in Combat
1:10:01 – Brainstorming Unconventional Ways to Stop a Target
1:19:52 – Transitioning From Career Stories to Common Sense Leadership Matters
1:20:41 – Why Pete Wrote the New Book
1:21:00 – Commanding Delta in Iraq
1:22:34 – Four Operators Wounded on a Baghdad Target
1:27:22 – A Ranger Asks Pete for Help
1:37:15 – Getting Access to the Pat Tillman Investigation
1:40:00 – Discovering the Pattern of Toxic Leadership
1:42:50 – Reconstructing the Pat Tillman Mission
1:43:15 – The Terrain Where Tillman Was Killed
1:45:02 – Why Pete Considered the Area Extremely Dangerous
1:50:00 – The Sync Matrix & Pressure From Higher Headquarters
1:59:59 – The Order to Split the Platoon
2:00:32 – The Platoon Leader Explains Why the Order Makes No Sense
2:02:06 – How Splitting the Platoon Broke Up Organic Teams
2:04:05 – Sending Troops Out Without Reliable Communications
2:09:57 – Why Rangers Are a “National Treasure”
2:14:49 – Who Pat Tillman Really Was as a Soldier
2:16:25 – How Toxic Leadership Set the Conditions for Disaster
2:16:54 – Reconstructing the Day Tillman Was Killed
2:17:29 – Entering the Canyon
2:18:49 – Serial 2 Struggles Through the Terrain
2:26:41 – Crossfire Begins Raining Into the Canyon
2:28:45 – Tillman Moves Into Position on the Spur
2:29:57 – Tillman Takes Fire From the South
2:31:30 – The Position That Became the Most Dangerous Place on the Battlefield
2:35:25 – Serial 2 Opens Fire Toward Tillman’s Position
2:35:42 – Pat Tillman Is Killed
2:36:03 – Why the Rangers Couldn’t Hear Him Yelling
2:38:08 – Could They Actually See Tillman’s Position?
2:40:02 – How the Investigation Judged the Rangers
2:43:40 – Why Pete Believes the Shooters Were Put in an Impossible Situation
2:45:19 – Accountability for Senior Leaders
2:47:04 – “The Cover-Up Was Worse Than the Incident”
2:47:51 – The Decision Not to Tell Kevin Tillman the Truth
2:49:57 – What Leadership Should Have Told the Tillman Family
2:53:54 – What Happened to the Senior Officers?
2:55:14 – Promotions Instead of Accountability
2:56:05 – Why Pat Tillman Was Revered by His Platoon
2:57:40 – Are Senior Officers Protected From Consequences?
3:02:09 – Audience Questions
3:05:44 – Lost Platoons & Conventional Wisdom
3:08:08 – Were Delta Snipers Involved in Escobar’s Death?
3:09:27 – Where Advanced Force Operations Came From
3:13:16 – Other Innovations From the Special Operations Community
3:19:58 – Military Working Dogs & the Evolution of the Program
3:21:49 – How Intelligence Support to Operators Has Evolved
3:22:40 – Could Pack Mules Still Have a Place in Modern Warfare?
3:24:11 – Closing Thoughts
3:24:30 – Pete’s Books & Leadership Trilogy
3:25:43 – Where to Find Pete’s Maps, Photos & Firefight Reconstruction

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We break down the mounting signs of another U.S.-Israel confrontation with Iran, including embassy drawdowns, renewed strike planning, Houthi attacks, and the growing vulnerability of Gulf infrastructure. We also discuss Israel’s elections, the war in Ukraine, Russia’s continuing losses, and the controversy over Starlink and Starshield being restricted while Russian attacks continue.
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20% for active duty, veteran, leo, & first responders
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Find Andy Milburn here:
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations

00:00 – Start
00:30 – U.S. & Israel Prepare Options for New Iran Strikes
01:16 – Embassy Evacuations Across the Gulf
02:18 – Houthis Keep Hitting Saudi Arabia
02:49 – What Open-Source Intelligence Is Showing
04:26 – Ordered Departure From Saudi Arabia
06:42 – International Air Defense Help for the Saudis
07:18 – U.S. & Israeli Strike Planning Accelerates
08:33 – Why Hitting Iran’s Energy Infrastructure Could Backfire
09:15 – Can the U.S. Reach Iran’s Deep Nuclear Facilities?
10:20 – Deadly Attack in Jordan
10:45 – Why the Jordan Attack Is Such a Big Deal
12:13 – Could Iran Be Connected to the Jordan Attack?
13:06 – What Embassy Drawdowns Mean for Intelligence Collection
14:09 – Ordered Departure vs. Restricted Staffing
15:30 – The Signals Pointing Toward Another Escalation
16:04 – Iran Using the Houthis to Keep Pressure on the Region
17:08 – IRGC Moving Operations Into Civilian Infrastructure
18:08 – Why a “Three-Day War” With Iran Is Probably Fantasy
19:49 – Iran’s Remaining Missile & Drone Arsenal
21:52 – Hormuz, Mines & Attacks on Gulf Infrastructure
23:23 – Houthis, Iraqi Militias & Cyberattacks
24:24 – Is the U.S. Security Guarantee in the Gulf Disappearing?
25:58 – Gulf States May Start Looking to China & Russia
27:55 – Why Chinese Weapons Are Becoming More Attractive
28:34 – China Supplying Both Sides of the Conflict
30:07 – Could Economic Pressure Work Better Than Airstrikes?
32:14 – What a New U.S. Air Campaign Against Iran Might Look Like
34:00 – Has Iran Successfully Changed America’s War Aims?
36:13 – Could the U.S. Refocus on Iran’s Nuclear Program?
37:51 – Israeli Elections & the Timing of a Strike on Iran
39:20 – Israel’s Political Shift to the Right
40:33 – Support for a Two-State Solution Collapses
42:05 – Ultra-Orthodox Israelis & the IDF Draft Fight
43:50 – Israel Appears Ready for Another Iran Strike
45:27 – What an Eisenkot Government Could Mean
47:43 – Ukraine, Russia & the Starlink Controversy
48:30 – Zelensky Signals Openness to Freezing the Front Line
50:06 – The Debate Over Ukrainian Elections During Wartime
51:18 – Russia Talks Peace While Bombing Ukraine
53:52 – Moscow’s Demands Haven’t Changed
54:44 – Why Ukraine’s Refinery Strikes Matter
56:09 – Starlink & Starshield Restricted During Russian Attacks
57:22 – Is Washington Pressuring Zelensky More Than Putin?
58:17 – Can Russia Sustain These Casualty Rates?
59:05 – Russia Losing 1,200–1,500 Troops a Day
1:01:00 – Why Russia Still Has Room to Keep Fighting
1:01:58 – How Much Power Should SpaceX Have Over a War?
1:03:59 – Can Shareholders or Courts Restrain SpaceX?
1:05:18 – “Terms of Service” as a Wartime Excuse
1:06:11 – Russia Providing Targeting Data to Iran
1:06:55 – “Russia Is Our Adversary”
1:08:13 – Closing Thoughts

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Steven Woelk recounts his service aboard the USS Pueblo, its 1968 capture by North Korea, and the brutal 11 months he and his shipmates spent as prisoners. We also discuss the crew’s resistance inside captivity, the injuries and abuse he endured, their eventual release, and why he wrote Pig Fat Soup to keep the Pueblo story from being forgotten.

Get Steve's book here: https://a.co/d/0j4rcW1x

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"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 – Start
01:01 – Stephen Joins the Navy
01:50 – Assigned to the USS Pueblo
03:02 – The Pueblo’s Intelligence Mission
04:09 – The Blue House Raid & the Road to the Pueblo Crisis
06:36 – USS Liberty & the Vulnerability of Spy Ships
08:00 – How Poorly Armed Was the Pueblo?
09:09 – The North Koreans Close In
10:52 – General Quarters
11:34 – Trying to Destroy Classified Material
13:03 – Why the Pueblo Couldn’t Destroy Its Secrets Fast Enough
14:42 – North Korea Opens Fire
17:11 – Stephen Is Hit by a 57mm Round
19:01 – Losing His Friend During the Attack
20:15 – North Korean Forces Board the Pueblo
21:47 – Being Taken Off the Ship
24:37 – The Crew Enters North Korean Captivity
26:04 – Wounds Become Severely Infected
27:02 – Surgery Without Anesthesia
31:04 – Transferred to a North Korean Hospital
32:18 – The North Korean Doctor Who Treated Him
35:35 – Forced Propaganda & Confessions
36:46 – Commander Bucher Refuses to Sign
38:05 – Life Inside the POW Camp
40:16 – How the Crew Resisted Their Captors
42:23 – Giving North Korea the Middle Finger
43:47 – The North Koreans Discover What It Means
44:42 – “Hell Week” Begins
47:23 – The Worst Beatings of His Captivity
47:41 – Did North Korea Try to Brainwash the Crew?
48:49 – Leadership Inside the Prison Camp
50:54 – Planning an Escape From Pyongyang
53:38 – Was U.S. Intelligence Watching the Prisoners?
54:47 – Signs That Release Might Be Coming
56:21 – Crossing the Bridge of No Return
57:31 – Fear of Returning Home to Face the Navy
58:42 – 11 Months in North Korean Captivity
58:57 – The Negotiations That Finally Freed the Crew
1:01:34 – Returning to the United States
1:04:00 – Telling His Father What Happened in North Korea
1:05:30 – The NSA Debriefing
1:06:42 – Leaving the Navy
1:08:05 – Building a Life After the Pueblo
1:08:31 – Why Stephen Wrote Pig Fat Soup
1:10:47 – Why the Pueblo Story Has Been Forgotten
1:12:04 – The Meaning Behind “Pig Fat Soup”
1:13:41 – Losing 55 Pounds in Captivity
1:14:00 – Life Today & Helping Other Veterans
1:16:57 – The Painting of the Pueblo Attack
1:19:14 – Final Thoughts

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John Kiriakou is a former CIA officer who worked as both an analyst and operations officer, serving on the Iraq portfolio, in Greece, and in Pakistan, where he helped lead the capture of Abu Zubaydah. He later became a prominent whistleblower on the CIA’s post-9/11 torture program, was prosecuted under the Espionage Act, served time in federal prison, and has since worked as an author, commentator, and lecturer.

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00:00 – Start
01:01 – John Kiriakou’s Upbringing & Greek-American Family
06:29 – Studying Middle Eastern Affairs & an Early Interest in Espionage
09:15 – The CIA Officer Posing as His College Professor
12:29 – Joining the CIA as an Analyst
14:53 – Briefing President George H.W. Bush During the Gulf War
16:58 – Working the Gulf War From CIA Headquarters
20:06 – Life After the Gulf War & Getting Burned Out on Iraq
22:30 – Writing a National Intelligence Estimate on Saddam Hussein
22:53 – Deciding to Leave Analysis for Operations
25:06 – Going Through CIA Operational Training
28:37 – Weapons, Explosives & Recruiting Spies
29:45 – Arriving in Athens as a CIA Case Officer
33:46 – Walk-Ins, Probes & Embassy Security
37:52 – CIA Disguises & Fooling the U.S. Ambassador
42:40 – The Terrorist Group 17 November
45:12 – The Assassination of British Defense Attaché Stephen Saunders
48:38 – 17 November Names Kiriakou in Its Manifesto
51:26 – Who Was Really Behind 17 November?
55:09 – How the Group Was Finally Unmasked
1:01:24 – Interrogating Carlos the Jackal
1:03:32 – 9/11 Changes Everything
1:04:44 – Watching the Second Plane Hit From CIA Headquarters
1:07:41 – Volunteering for the War on Terror
1:08:34 – Pakistan After 9/11: “The Wild West”
1:11:38 – Pakistan, the Taliban & the War Next Door
1:14:02 – The Two Faces of Pakistani Intelligence
1:15:51 – Capturing Abu Zubaydah
1:16:42 – Inside the CIA’s Torture Program
1:18:09 – Why Kiriakou Refused Torture Training
1:18:43 – Going Public About CIA Torture
1:21:17 – John Brennan Reopens the Case Against Him
1:21:40 – Charged Under the Espionage Act
1:22:34 – Facing 45 Years & Taking the Plea Deal
1:23:08 – Why John Brennan Wanted Him Prosecuted
1:23:32 – Obama’s Crackdown on National Security Leaks
1:25:57 – Heading to Federal Prison
1:26:24 – The Prison Assignment That Wasn’t What the Judge Ordered
1:29:21 – Learning How to Survive Federal Prison
1:31:30 – Becoming the Prisonhouse Appeal Writer
1:32:36 – Race, Gangs & the Social Structure of Prison
1:36:47 – How the Mafia Ran Prison Rackets
1:43:10 – Using CIA Tradecraft Behind Bars
1:46:18 – A Prisoner Puts a Contract on Kiriakou
1:48:19 – Getting Out of Prison & Starting Over
1:50:05 – Anger at the System & the People Who Were Never Prosecuted
1:53:13 – Where Is the Line Between Interrogation & Torture?
1:57:26 – Waterboarding, War Crimes & the Torture Debate
1:59:11 – Why Did the U.S. Invade Iraq?
2:02:03 – The WMD Intelligence Fight Inside Washington
2:04:00 – Did Overthrowing Saddam Hand Iraq to Iran?
2:05:45 – Why Kiriakou Went to Work for Sputnik
2:06:48 – Criticizing Russia While Working for Russian Media
2:12:50 – Life After Sputnik & What He’s Doing Now
2:15:43 – CIA Declassified & Digging Through Old Intelligence Files
2:18:16 – MKUltra & CIA History
2:18:25 – Audience Questions
2:29:47 – Would He Blow the Whistle Again?
2:42:48 – Public Trust, the CIA & Government Accountability
2:51:38 – Why John Brennan Avoided More Scrutiny
3:01:22 – Would a Presidential Pardon Restore His Pension?
3:02:18 – How Close Trump Came to Pardoning Him
3:04:52 – Thoughts on Trump Returning to Office
3:06:23 – How American Politics Has Flipped
3:07:36 – Final Thoughts

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We break down the reported throttling of Starlink in Ukraine, the Trump administration’s shifting Russia policy, and whether U.S. decisions are now putting Ukrainians and Americans on the ground at greater risk. We also discuss Europe’s ability to operate without U.S. support, the danger of a new escalation with Iran, and growing unrest over Israeli settler violence in the West Bank.
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Jon's Twitter:
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Check out Mick's new podcast here:⬇️
Apple Podcasts:
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Spotify:
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Youtube:
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Twitter ⬇️
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LinkedIn ⬇️
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Andy’s book ⬇️
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00:00 – Start
00:21 – Did the U.S. Throttle Starlink in Ukraine?
01:07 – Russia’s Massive Strike on Kyiv
02:37 – Has Trump Shifted U.S. Policy Toward Russia?
03:54 – The Diesel Deal & the White House’s Russia Strategy
05:03 – Did U.S. Policy Put Americans in Kyiv at Risk?
06:33 – Starlink vs. Starshield Explained
08:50 – Why Diesel Prices Are Driving U.S. Policy
09:46 – Did the U.S. Stop Warning Ukraine About Russian Strikes?
10:50 – “I’ve Never Seen Anything Like This”
12:02 – The Loophole in the Russia Sanctions Law
13:03 – Was the Lindsey Graham Bill Just Political Theater?
14:01 – “Russia Is Not Our Friend”
14:17 – Conservatives Begin Breaking With Trump on Russia
15:09 – Calls to Investigate Trump’s Russia Ties
15:57 – Corruption, Kushner, Witkoff & Russia Business Deals
17:43 – Why Former Generals Stay Quiet
18:37 – The Intelligence-Sharing Decision That Crossed a Line
20:32 – Do Retired Generals Have a Duty to Speak Out?
21:25 – Can Europe Defend Itself Without the United States?
23:47 – NATO, Nuclear Deterrence & European Rearmament
26:13 – Can Europe Replace Starlink?
27:38 – The Risk of Europe Becoming Dependent on Chinese Satellites
28:53 – How the Iran War Boxed Washington Into a Corner
29:58 – Are U.S. Forces Preparing to Escalate Against Iran?
31:54 – The Risk of an Iran–U.S. Miscalculation
33:45 – How Deterrence Can Become a Threat
34:30 – Could Iran Preempt a U.S. Strike?
35:15 – Reports of a “Symbolic” Strike Proposal
36:04 – Iran’s Information War Aimed at U.S. Voters
37:05 – Why Nobody Can Predict What Happens Next
37:55 – “There Are No Straight Lines in Nature”
39:04 – Israeli Settler Violence & the West Bank
40:28 – When Does Settler Violence Become Terrorism?
41:24 – Israel’s Election & the Political Fallout
42:14 – What Do the Polls Say in Israel?
43:11 – Could Senior U.S. Officials Still Serve Under This Administration?
44:23 – When “They” Becomes “We” Inside Government
45:05 – Rebuilding American Credibility
45:44 – What to Watch Over the Next Week
47:10 – Closing Thoughts

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Krishna Thapa looks back on his journey from growing up in Nepal and earning a place in the Gurkhas to passing SAS selection and serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other operations around the world. We also discuss mountain warfare, the culture of the SAS, the loss of fellow operators, and how meditation and the “Warrior Monk” mindset helped shape his life after military service.
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___________________________________________________
GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN"
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/
Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured
Jack Murphy's book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️
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Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️
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Team House Discord: ⬇️
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"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 – Start
01:04 – Growing Up in Nepal & the Gurkha Bloodline
04:56 – His Grandfather, World War II & the Kukri
07:21 – The Kukri: Tool, Symbol & Weapon
08:07 – Being Born Into a Gurkha Family Legacy
10:37 – The History of the Gurkhas
13:03 – Attempting Gurkha Selection at 17
14:10 – The Brutal Doko Race
16:14 – Growing Up in the Himalayas & Preparing for Selection
17:50 – Failing Gurkha Selection the First Time
18:36 – Coming Back & Making It on His Second Attempt
19:55 – Gurkha Basic Training & Learning English
21:39 – British Officers & the Gurkha Command Structure
24:22 – Joining 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles
25:09 – Life Inside a Gurkha Battalion
27:27 – Years of Training, Courses & Preparing for War
28:41 – Jungle Warfare in Brunei
29:32 – How the SAS Suddenly Entered the Picture
31:07 – The First Gurkha Trial for SAS Selection
33:41 – Arriving at SAS Selection With 375 Candidates
37:05 – The Mental Pressure of SAS Selection
38:33 – Only Two Gurkhas Make It Through
40:10 – Adapting to SAS Culture
43:16 – Jungle Selection in Brunei
46:08 – Joining SAS Mountain Troop
48:00 – Learning Mountaineering From Scratch
49:36 – Why Mountain Warfare Is So Difficult
52:08 – Nepalese Operators in the SBS
52:40 – Mentoring Fellow Nepalese Special Operators
54:12 – The Culture Shock of Joining the SAS
56:56 – Deployments With the SAS
58:03 – Going to War in Iraq
59:16 – The Missions That Stayed With Him
1:00:44 – Using Mountain Warfare Skills in Afghanistan
1:02:02 – Becoming Chief of Mountain & Winter Warfare
1:03:29 – Teaching Special Forces Around the World
1:05:01 – His Final Assignment in UK Special Forces
1:05:40 – Gurkhas, British Citizenship & Life After Service
1:07:09 – Planning for Retirement
1:08:06 – Meditation as a Secret Weapon During War
1:09:58 – Leaving the Military & Starting Over
1:10:33 – How the “Warrior Monk” Began
1:12:00 – Teaching People How to Fight and How to Heal
1:13:50 – Working With Veterans, PTSD & Civilians
1:14:37 – Warrior Monk Mindset
1:15:08 – Closing Thoughts

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original air date 3|1|24

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Phil Campion takes us from a brutal childhood and conventional infantry service in Northern Ireland through SAS selection, counterterrorism work, operations in the Balkans, and the Sierra Leone hostage rescue. We also discuss his post-military years in private security, the personal cost of that lifestyle, his transition into media, and the launch of Forces Radio.

Support our show here:
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00:00 – Start
01:18 – Phil Campion’s Childhood & Early Life
03:32 – Growing Up in a Children’s Home
04:20 – Joining the Army & Finally Feeling Safe
06:05 – How Phil Ended Up in the Infantry
08:35 – Joining the Royal Hampshire Regiment
10:16 – British Army Basic Training
14:33 – Arriving at His First Unit
16:01 – Phil’s First “Operation” as a Soldier
17:27 – Meeting Princess Diana
19:12 – Deploying to Northern Ireland
19:46 – Understanding the Troubles From Both Sides
22:29 – Counterinsurgency & Patrolling Northern Ireland
25:19 – Fighting, Military Jail & a Troubled Young Soldier
27:43 – Why Phil Wanted Special Forces
29:36 – What the British Army Was Actually Doing in Northern Ireland
31:11 – Deciding to Attempt SAS Selection
32:06 – Going Around His Chain of Command
34:18 – “You Should Try Special Forces Selection”
36:40 – The SAS Hills Phase
37:51 – Jungle Selection in Brunei
42:14 – SERE, Escape & Interrogation Training
44:07 – Parachute Training & Nearly Killing Himself
48:00 – SAS Counterterrorism Training
48:15 – Passing Selection
50:16 – Joining D Squadron
52:17 – Life as the New Guy in the SAS
56:08 – Hunting War Criminals in the Balkans
57:35 – The Stansted Hijacking
59:19 – Preparing to Storm the Aircraft
1:02:25 – More Stories From the Hijacking
1:05:27 – The Sierra Leone Hostage Crisis Begins
1:07:12 – Two SAS Soldiers Killed Before the Mission
1:08:49 – D Squadron Gets the Call
1:09:52 – Deploying Into Sierra Leone
1:11:02 – How the Royal Irish Soldiers Were Taken Hostage
1:14:25 – When the Rescue Mission Became Necessary
1:16:02 – Intelligence & Planning the Assault
1:17:05 – Three Plans to Rescue the Hostages
1:18:01 – The Crazy Helicopter Assault Plan
1:20:33 – Launching the Mission
1:21:12 – The SAS Hits the Village
1:22:06 – Surprise, Firepower & Securing the Hostages
1:28:50 – Weapons, Mortars & SAS Firepower
1:30:31 – Why Phil Left the SAS
1:31:02 – Losing a Close Friend
1:32:46 – Leaving the Army Days Before 9/11
1:34:45 – Entering the Private Military Contracting World
1:35:34 – The Early Afghanistan Contracting Boom
1:36:43 – When the Contractor Lifestyle Caught Up With Him
1:37:21 – Drinking, Violence & an Attempted Murder Charge
1:38:54 – Gaza, West Africa & Anti-Piracy Work
1:41:47 – Becoming a Civilian After Years at War
1:42:19 – Prison, Losing Everything & Starting Over
1:43:31 – Breaking Into Television & News Media
1:44:18 – Reporting From Syria
1:47:37 – How the Media Uses Veterans
1:49:20 – Taking Back Control of His Own Story
1:50:39 – Building Forces Radio
1:53:03 – Launching the Forces Radio Podcasts
1:58:31 – Audience Questions
2:00:06 – Phil’s Favorite SAS Story From World War II
2:01:04 – Secret Surveillance in Northern Ireland
2:02:58 – How Conventional Troops Learned Covert Surveillance
2:04:34 – Closing Thoughts

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We break down the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the growing pressure on Riyadh’s air defenses, and whether the U.S. could be pulled into a new campaign in Yemen. We also discuss Trump’s Russian diesel deal, Iran’s use of Moscow as a diplomatic channel, and the deeper political dysfunction and public apathy shaping American decision-making.
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Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
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Jack's news outlet:⬇️
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Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Find Andy Milburn here:
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:19 – Houthis Strike Saudi Airports
01:20 – Deadly Ballistic Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport
03:30 – Houthis Warn Airlines Away From Saudi Airspace
04:40 – Is Saudi Arabia Running Low on Air Defense Interceptors?
06:30 – Should the U.S. Strike Houthi Missile Launchers?
07:30 – An American Killed in the Airport Attack
09:19 – Saudi-Backed Ground Offensive in Yemen
11:13 – Jack Joins the Conversation
11:32 – Is Iran Opening a Second Front Through the Houthis?
13:44 – What a New U.S. Air Campaign in Yemen Could Look Like
14:46 – Could the U.S. Put Ground Troops Into Yemen?
16:51 – Could Saudi Forces Handle the Ground War?
19:48 – Would Another Air Campaign Against the Houthis Work?
22:15 – The Real Goal: Protecting Saudi Arabia
23:31 – Bab al-Mandab, Houthi Missiles & the Ground Offensive
25:37 – Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal
27:09 – Why Ukraine Has Little Reason to Stop Striking Russia
28:10 – Russia, Iran & the Contradictions in U.S. Policy
31:07 – Diesel Prices, Midterms & the Russia Deal
34:18 – Havana Syndrome & a New Russia Investigation
36:55 – Iran Sends Negotiating Terms Through Putin
38:18 – Is the American Political System Becoming Permanently Gridlocked?
39:47 – Why Andy Thinks the U.S. Is Different From European Democracies
44:31 – Apathy, Doomerism & Losing Faith in Institutions
47:02 – What Could Actually Trigger a Systemic Crisis?
48:42 – Politics, Fandom & Escapism
49:49 – Why Americans Talk Sports More Than Geopolitics
53:26 – Why So Many Americans Have Checked Out of Politics
55:06 – Would Higher Voter Turnout Actually Change Anything?
56:15 – The Slow Erosion of American Institutions
57:55 – Politics as Entertainment
59:01 – Money in Politics & Endless Campaign Seasons
1:00:17 – Andy Signs Off
1:01:15 – AUSA, Drones & the Defense Industry
1:02:33 – Chinese Honeypots at AUSA
1:04:10 – Closing Thoughts

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Naveed Jamali tells the story of how he went from a family business in New York to working with the FBI as a double agent against Russian military intelligence before eventually becoming a Naval Intelligence officer. We also discuss how the Russians recruit assets, the psychological toll of undercover work, encounters with suspected Chinese intelligence, and why counterintelligence still matters today.
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___________________________________________________
GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN"
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/
Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured
Jack Murphy's book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/
Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️
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Team House Discord: ⬇️
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"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 – Start
05:24 – How a Future Navy Intel Officer Became an FBI Asset
08:18 – Growing Up Around New York’s Espionage World
10:22 – Why New York Is a Hub for Foreign Intelligence
13:18 – How His Parents Became Involved With the FBI
14:25 – A KGB Officer Walks Into the Family Business
18:04 – Russian Surveillance & Sending a Message
19:15 – Meeting Oleg, the GRU Officer
20:15 – Why the Russians Wanted Open-Source Military Material
22:02 – Robert Hanssen & Rebuilding Russia’s Spy Network
23:40 – Russia’s Long-Term Plan to Cultivate an American Asset
26:32 – 9/11 & Wanting to Join Naval Intelligence
28:21 – Pitching Himself to the FBI
30:24 – Using Counterintelligence Work to Get Into the Navy
34:39 – Designing His Own Double-Agent Operation
36:28 – “Does Oleg Have a Gun?”
39:04 – The Psychological Toll of Living Undercover
39:52 – MICE: Why People Become Spies
44:43 – Convincing the Russians He Was Motivated by Money & Ego
48:30 – Taking the Relationship With Oleg to the Next Level
51:06 – Moving the Spy Meetings Out of the Office
52:28 – When Russia Started Tasking Him for Intelligence
53:31 – Walking Into Northrop Grumman for the FBI
55:03 – How Dangerous Was the Operation?
57:05 – Russian Intimidation After the Operation
59:03 – A Suspicious Encounter With Russia Today
1:02:04 – A Russian Approach Targeting a National Security Journalist
1:06:06 – Intelligence Agencies & the Press
1:09:29 – Influencers, Propaganda & Russian Money
1:12:22 – Being Surveilled by Suspected Chinese Intelligence
1:15:29 – A Surveillance Vehicle Outside His Home
1:17:06 – Why Chinese Intelligence Was Interested in Him
1:19:05 – The Counterintelligence Threat From China
1:23:28 – Showing Oleg a Sensitive Government Database
1:25:08 – The Russian Thumb Drive That Nearly Blew Everything Up
1:26:20 – The FBI Turns on Him
1:27:13 – Setting the Final Trap for Oleg
1:31:24 – The Arrest Plan Goes Sideways
1:37:48 – Finally Learning How Big the Operation Really Was
1:40:27 – How the Operation Disrupted Russian Intelligence Collection
1:41:27 – What Happened to Oleg
1:44:22 – The FBI Helps Him Become a Naval Intelligence Officer
1:46:24 – Telling the Spy Story Inside a SCIF
1:48:25 – How a Chance Encounter Led to How to Catch a Russian Spy
1:50:39 – Balancing a Media Career With Naval Intelligence
1:53:20 – The Mental Cost of Undercover Work
1:56:42 – When the Stress Finally Caught Up With Him
1:58:22 – Life After Intelligence & Journalism
2:00:17 – Flying the B-2, B-1 & B-52
2:02:42 – Why Deterrence Still Matters
2:05:18 – Flying on America’s Doomsday Plane
2:07:32 – Knowing When It’s Time to Pass the Torch
2:10:38 – Closing Thoughts

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We break down the return of airline hijacking concerns, suspected covert activity around RAF Fairford, drone threats, and a mysterious pneumonic plague death at a Russian research facility. We also dig into the John Chapman/SEAL Team Six controversy, the politics of valor awards, the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, and how American policy reshaped Iran’s influence across the region.
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Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
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Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's article we referenced in the show:
https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/03/04/covert-action-in-irregular-wars/
00:00 – Start
02:12 – Eyes on Pastrami & Opening Banter
02:38 – The Return of Aircraft Hijackings
03:32 – Insider Threats & Pilot Security
05:11 – Copycat Attacks, Radicalization & AI
07:05 – Airline Security After 9/11
08:12 – Lone Wolf or Sponsored Hijacking Plot?
08:52 – What’s Really Happening Around RAF Fairford?
10:06 – How British Counterintelligence Handles Suspected Cells
11:25 – B-1 Bombers Evacuated From RAF Fairford
12:05 – Why Drone Swarms Are So Hard to Stop
13:28 – What the Fairford Threat Says About NATO
14:17 – Is America About to Heavily Regulate Drones?
16:36 – America’s Drone Startup Boom
17:39 – Why U.S. Drone Innovation Is Falling Behind
20:05 – “Escalate to De-escalate” & the Failure of Policy
22:38 – A Pneumonic Plague Death at a Russian Research Facility
24:01 – Russia’s History of Biological Weapons Programs
25:14 – Novichok, Polonium & State Assassinations
27:19 – AI, Microfluidics & the Future of Biological Warfare
29:55 – The John Chapman / SEAL Team Six Controversy
32:15 – Why Is the Chapman Story Coming Back Now?
33:03 – Sorting Through the Roberts Ridge Claims
34:25 – Does John Chapman Deserve the Medal of Honor?
35:56 – The Legal Implications of Challenging the Award
37:08 – The Optics of Attacking a Fallen Medal of Honor Recipient
40:59 – Who Financed the Upcoming Documentary?
42:29 – The Bigger Problem With GWOT Valor Awards
43:56 – The Politics Behind Medal of Honor Awards
45:26 – Revisiting the U.S. Withdrawal From Iraq
45:46 – What Were U.S. Troops Still Doing in Iraq?
46:50 – From Counter-ISIS to Containing Iran
48:20 – Did the Iraq War Make Iran Stronger?
49:43 – The Untold Intelligence War in Syria
50:16 – Timber Sycamore & the CIA’s Syria Program
52:00 – What the Episode Covered
52:23 – Why Sykes-Picot Still Shapes the Middle East
53:30 – SAS Operations in Northern Ireland

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We break down the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight 1073, the warning signs investigators may have missed, and whether the attack was connected to Iran or a lone-wolf extremist. We also discuss suspected IRGC-linked plots in the UK, the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, what that means for the Kurds and Iranian influence, and whether the latest troop and carrier movements signal a new round of escalation in the Middle East.
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Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Check out Mick's new podcast here:⬇️
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/pub-and-porch-applied-stoicism/id1836955475
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1k3QPmkAMwnGJxMLDwUSSd?si=n6piIu8XRcag1Z0K43A3bQ
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@UCd0Hq6QFk8CoTu5j-VU0Ong
Find Mick Mulroy here:
Fogbow ⬇️
https://fogbow.com/
Lobo Institute ⬇️
https://www.loboinstitute.org/
Twitter ⬇️
https://x.com/mickmulroy?s=21&t=-Ze3F_Ix2vlJ18KFvORTCA
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-patrick-mulroy-31198b52/
Whitefish security summit ⬇️
https://whitefishsecuritysummit.com
Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Find Andy Milburn here:
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:02 – Flydubai Flight 1073 Hijacking Attempt
01:29 – How Close the Flight Came to Disaster
04:40 – The Intelligence Failures Before the Attack
06:17 – Aviation’s Worst-Case Insider Threat
07:51 – How Flydubai Missed the Warning Signs
09:46 – Was Iran Behind the Attack?
13:18 – Israel Says It Wasn’t Iran
14:26 – The Lone-Wolf Terrorism Problem
17:37 – Suspected Iran-Linked Plot in Manchester
20:29 – Is the IRGC Getting Sloppier?
22:12 – What Would Iran-Backed Attacks Mean for Britain?
24:43 – Iran’s History of Covert Attacks in the UK
26:57 – How Iran Uses Proxies and Simple Attacks
28:54 – Why Is the UK Such a Major Target?
31:15 – The U.S. Finally Pulls Out of Iraq
33:58 – Was Iraq Worth It?
35:09 – What the Withdrawal Gives Iran
37:41 – Are the Kurds the Biggest Losers?
38:59 – Why Not Leave a Small U.S. Force Behind?
41:26 – Did America Throw Away Its Position in Iraq?
44:19 – Decades of U.S. Blunders in Iraq
47:18 – What U.S. Forces Still Remain in Iraq?
49:16 – Did America Learn Anything From the Iraq War?
50:21 – Do Troops Need to Understand the Bigger Mission?
52:08 – Explaining the War to the People Fighting It
55:49 – Gold Star Families & the Cost of Endless War
57:26 – 9,000 More U.S. Troops Head to CENTCOM
58:16 – Is the U.S. Preparing to Escalate Against Iran?
58:56 – Could There Be U.S. Ground Operations?
1:00:34 – Three Carriers in the Middle East & the China Problem
1:01:24 – What the Camp David Meeting Could Mean
1:02:36 – Will the U.S. Strike the Houthis for Saudi Arabia?
1:04:05 – Closing Thoughts
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Julia Curlee looks back on a career that took her from DIA and CIA deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan to briefing senior White House officials and serving on the National Security Council. We also discuss her transition while serving at CIA, briefing Mike Pence, the politicization of intelligence, the purges that pushed her out of government, and the consequences she believes that has had for U.S. national security.
Find Julia here: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/contributors/jcurlee
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To help support the show and for all bonus content including:
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Subscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️
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___________________________________________________
GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN"
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/
Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured
Jack Murphy's book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/
Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️
https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouse
Social Media: ⬇️
The Team House Instagram:
https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_link
The Team House Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePod
Jack’s Instagram:
https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_link
Jack’s Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21
Team House Discord: ⬇️
https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6
"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 – Start
01:09 – Growing Up in Hawaii & Wanting to Join the CIA
04:45 – 9/11, Iraq & Getting Hired by DIA
07:39 – Embedded With a Hostage Rescue Task Force in Baghdad
10:20 – Kidnapping Networks & Funding the Iraqi Insurgency
13:09 – Kirkuk, Zarqawi & High-Value Targeting
17:30 – When Intelligence Gets Politicized
20:04 – Telling Senior Officers the Iraq War Was Going Badly
21:06 – Getting Recruited Into the CIA
24:44 – CIA Analyst Training & Returning to Iraq
26:35 – The Sadr Uprising & Fighting in Sadr City
32:54 – The Rise of ISIS & an Intelligence Failure
36:58 – Afghanistan & Briefing General Petraeus
41:08 – Tension Between CIA Assessments & the Military
43:49 – Coming Out as Trans While Serving at CIA
49:13 – Fearing She Could Lose Her Career
52:25 – Becoming the First Person to Successfully Transition at CIA
58:51 – Volunteering to Brief the First Trump White House
1:04:55 – What the Presidential Daily Brief Actually Is
1:07:45 – Briefing H.R. McMaster, Trump & Mike Pence
1:11:55 – Moving to the National Security Council
1:16:16 – Why China Is the Generational Challenge
1:18:23 – Trump’s First Term vs. His Second
1:20:26 – Becoming Acting Senior Director for Intelligence
1:20:41 – 160 Career Staffers Fired in the Opening Days
1:22:06 – The Laura Loomer Purge
1:24:29 – Why the NSC Was Gutted
1:26:27 – Returning to CIA After Being Fired From the White House
1:28:13 – Leaving the Intelligence Community & Joining Lawfare
1:31:32 – How Politicization of Intelligence Affected the Iran War
1:37:45 – John Ratcliffe, CIA Leadership & the Loss of Expertise
1:39:04 – Intelligence, Election Security & Political Pressure
1:41:21 – Concerns Over CIA Involvement in Lethal Operations
1:43:21 – Life After CIA & Writing for Lawfare
1:47:00 – Why Julia Decided to Speak Publicly

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.

original air date 5/13/22

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Ric Prado is a former CIA operations officer who spent more than two decades working in some of the agency’s most demanding assignments, including counterterrorism, paramilitary operations, and overseas intelligence missions. He later chronicled his career in Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior, offering a rare look at the covert side of U.S. national security.

Grab Ric's book here:
"Black Ops: The Life of a CIA Shadow Warrior"
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Ops-Life-Shadow-Warrior/dp/1250271843

Support our show here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse

00:00 – Start
01:19 – Escaping Castro’s Cuba as a Child
08:00 – Joining the Air Force & Becoming a Pararescueman
11:33 – Ric’s First Exposure to the CIA
15:00 – Undercover With the Contras in Honduras
23:16 – CIA Sabotage Missions Against the Sandinistas
26:31 – A Covert Mission Goes Wrong
35:23 – Running the Southern Front & the Iran-Contra Scandal
40:13 – Becoming a CIA Operations Officer
51:15 – Fighting Terrorists in the Philippines
57:35 – Ric Addresses the CIA Hitman Allegations
1:05:06 – The Original Bin Laden Task Force & North Korea Operations
1:18:08 – Building a CIA Intelligence Capability in Africa
1:22:17 – Inside CIA’s Counterterrorism Center on 9/11
1:31:55 – Building a New Post-9/11 Covert Operations Team
1:58:16 – Blackwater, Intelligence Operations & Life After the CIA
2:18:48 – How to Join the CIA & Advice for Future Officers

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We break down the suspected plot near RAF Fairford, the growing use of criminal proxies for covert action, and what the incident could mean if investigators ultimately tie it to Iran. We also discuss the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, China’s role in sustaining Iran economically, pressure on Gulf allies, and whether Washington has lost sight of the nuclear issue.
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Check out Mick's new podcast here:⬇️
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/pub-and-porch-applied-stoicism/id1836955475
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1k3QPmkAMwnGJxMLDwUSSd?si=n6piIu8XRcag1Z0K43A3bQ
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@UCd0Hq6QFk8CoTu5j-VU0Ong
Find Mick Mulroy here:
Fogbow ⬇️
https://fogbow.com/
Lobo Institute ⬇️
https://www.loboinstitute.org/
Twitter ⬇️
https://x.com/mickmulroy?s=21&t=-Ze3F_Ix2vlJ18KFvORTCA
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-patrick-mulroy-31198b52/
Whitefish security summit ⬇️
https://whitefishsecuritysummit.com
Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Find Andy Milburn here:
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:37 – Five Men Arrested Near RAF Fairford
02:17 – Was Iran Behind the Alleged Plot?
05:40 – How a Local Tip May Have Stopped the Attack
07:29 – IRGC Warnings About RAF Fairford
12:35 – What Was the Intended Target?
17:17 – How Iran Recruits Criminal Proxies for Covert Operations
21:07 – The Gig Economy of Espionage & Sabotage
23:56 – Iran, Hormuz & the Latest Ceasefire Maneuvering
28:01 – China Is the Key to Economic Pressure on Iran
32:48 – What Could the U.S. Offer China in Return?
39:20 – Why Washington Is Holding Back on Tougher China Sanctions
42:53 – Iran & the U.S. Settle Into a Dangerous Stalemate
47:37 – Can the U.S. Still Protect Its Gulf Allies?
50:01 – Iran’s Internal Crackdown & the Cost of the War
53:07 – What This War Is Teaching the U.S. About Cheap Weapons
55:13 – Has Washington Lost Sight of the Nuclear Issue?
59:18 – What to Watch Next in Iran, Yemen & the Gulf

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Kyle Vowinkel looks back on a 25-year FBI career that took him from counterintelligence and SWAT in Los Angeles to the Hostage Rescue Team, JSOC deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some of the Bureau’s most high-profile crisis operations. We also discuss HRT selection, the Boston Marathon bombing manhunt, the Alabama bunker hostage rescue, and the leadership lessons behind his new book, Shaping Chaos.
Find Kyle here: https://www.kylevowinkel.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-vowinkel
Grab Kyle's book here: https://www.kylevowinkel.com/book
Today's Sponsors:
GhostBed ⬇️
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Quince⬇️
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For ad free video and audio and access to live streams...JOIN OUR PATREON!
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To help support the show and for all bonus content including:
-live shows and asking guest questions
-ad free audio and video
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00:00 – Start
01:27 – Growing Up in San Diego & Wanting to Serve
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1:10:53 – A Deadly HRT Standoff in Puerto Rico
1:19:57 – Leaving HRT for the Crisis Negotiation Unit
1:25:56 – The Tension Between Negotiators & Tactical Teams
1:27:49 – Negotiating With Somali Pirates
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2:10:31 – Leaving Operations for FBI Leadership
2:14:28 – Shaping Chaos & Lessons From a 25-Year FBI Career

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We break down the escalating Houthi campaign against Saudi Arabia, the growing threat to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab, and whether the U.S. will intervene as Gulf air-defense stocks and regional confidence in Washington come under strain. We also look at Europe’s fears of further Russian escalation, North Korea exploiting America’s divided attention, and Ukraine’s massive drone and missile strike campaign inside Russia.
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00:00 – Start
03:12 – Will the U.S. Strike the Houthis for Saudi Arabia?
06:34 – Houthis, Iran & the Bab al-Mandab
09:55 – Saudi Arabia’s Oil Routes Are Being Choked Off
17:01 – Why Saudi Arabia Can’t Defend Its Own Airspace
22:25 – Has the U.S. Lost Credibility in the Gulf?
29:24 – What Happens If Hormuz & Bab al-Mandab Are Both Shut?
33:00 – Will Washington Actually Strike the Houthis?
42:00 – Is There Any Military Solution to the Houthi Problem?
49:40 – Europe Prepares for Possible Russian Escalation
54:16 – Could Russia Test NATO With a Limited Attack?
59:09 – Should Europe Draw Hard Red Lines in Ukraine?
1:01:22 – North Korea Exploits America’s Divided Attention
1:05:25 – Ukraine Launches a Massive 1,000-Drone Strike Into Russia
1:10:27 – Closing Thoughts

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