Episode 172—War Weave Friday!

On this episode, we discuss the government shutdown, the war with drug cartels, the joys of fentanyl, the evolution of MMA, drones attacking the police, when, if ever it’s appropriate to throw a knife, and much more! Truly a war weave Friday. Articles and videos: 1. Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told - The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-drug-cartels-war.html?searchResultPosition=1 2. Russia Using Long-Range Drones To Attack Ukrainian Trains: Official — https://www.twz.com/news-features/long-range-drones-used-by-russia-to-attack-ukrainian-trains-official 3. VA staffer accused of blindly approving over 85,000 disability claims — https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/09/29/va-staffer-accused-of-blindly-approving-over-85000-disability-claims/ 4. FUNKER530 on X: "The Phoenix unit of Ukraine claims one of their drone pilots eliminated 61 Russian soldiers in a single day. As @Will_Killmore puts it, “Compare that kill count to legendary snipers in history, and you'll begin to comprehend how hellacious and brutal the drone war actually is at https://t.co/0a3gZW0i9L" / X — https://x.com/funkeractual/status/1972758614868705557?s=46 5. FUNKER530 on X: "Chaotic perspective of pro-Ukrainian Belarusians as their humvee is hit by a drone. https://t.co/Mu8cKndjWC" / X — https://x.com/funkeractual/status/1973848228450947314?s=46 6. Preston Stewart on X: "Ukraine's 225th Assault Regiment striking a boat full of Russians https://t.co/QPSnnQ1mEs" / X — https://x.com/prestonstew_/status/1973784010271887778 Keywords government shutdown, drug cartels, fentanyl, addiction, martial arts, self-defense, drones, modern warfare, counter-drone technology, veterans affairs Takeaways The government shutdown is largely ignored by the public. The U.S. Postal Service is heavily subsidized and still losing money. Fentanyl addiction is a growing crisis in America. Martial arts training may not be practical in real-world scenarios. Drones are changing the landscape of modern warfare. Counter-drone technology is lacking in current military strategies. The potential for drone insurgencies poses a significant threat. Veterans Affairs faces scrutiny over disability claims processing. The conversation highlights the absurdity of current political leadership. Chapters 00:00 Government Shutdown and Postal Service Challenges 05:22 War with Drug Cartels: A New Front 11:02 The Impact of Fentanyl and Drug Addiction 16:51 Martial Arts and the Legacy of Steven Seagal 21:52 The Efficacy of Martial Arts 26:15 The Evolution of MMA and Its Impact 28:01 Military Training and Hand-to-Hand Combat 34:25 Weapons and Self-Defense Strategies 36:17 Current Events and Global Conflicts 42:45 Disability Ratings and Personal Secrets 43:53 Drones in Warfare: A New Era 45:31 The Future of Policing and Drone Technology 47:36 The Accessibility of Insurgency Tactics 49:25 Countermeasures Against Drone Threats 51:11 The Impact of Drones on Military Operations 54:56 The Vulnerability of Boats in Warfare 57:44 The Role of Firearms in Modern Defense 59:35 Closing Thoughts on Warfare and Technology