badlands podcast by borzou daragahi

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comWednesday, September 16, 2026, IstanbulUnintended consequences of the US decision to attack Iran now include the destabilization of the Syrian government as well as crises in the Arabian Peninsula and Lebanon. In the latest episode of badlands, Yemen expert Hannah Porter joins me for a fascinating discussion about what is happening in Yemen—an expanding…

Monday, September 14, 2026, IstanbulYemen’s Ansar Allah seized control over huge swaths of the country, defeating Saudi-backed forces in an extraordinary offensive that appears to have been in the works for months.In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the ramifications of the so-called Houthi’s battlefield successes for the broader conflict in the Middle East as well as for energy prices and markets.In interviews with France 24 and India’s NewsX World, I also discuss the often meaningless word thingies coming out of Donald Trump’s facehole, the prospects for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, and the unlearned lessons of September 11 and its aftermath.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive the latest episode and show your support, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comFriday, September 11, 2026, IstanbulIt was 25 years ago today that I watched from the Brooklyn Promenade as the Twin Towers burned, spewing smoke into the skies and forever changing our world. In the latest episode of badlands, Turkish journalist and security analyst Ahu Ozyurt joins for a talk about 9/11 and Turkey’s role in region’s conflicts, then and now. We also discuss Turkish domestic politics, and the latest surge by a new opposition party. Also, I speak about Donald Trump and the Republican Party, as well as human rights in China, in an interview with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thursday, September 10, 2026, IstanbulFor months the US claimed that its war against Iran was a success because it had “degraded” Iran’s military and nuclear programBut recent recent military exchanges and news reports have revealed the reality of Iran’s missile capabilities and its nuclear program has emerged, showing the lies and contradictions driving US policy.In the latest episode, I delve into Iran’s strategic calculations and potential future actions in response to US sanctions and military pressure.Plus in an interview with Pakistan’s Asia One, I discuss escalating tensions between Iran and the United States, with a focus on recent military actions and the latest demands by Iran.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes as soon as poossible and support my work, become a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comWednesday, September 9, 2026, IstanbulIran launched dozens of ballistic missiles against US bases in Jordan late Tuesday in response to the continued targeting of Iranian commercial vessels by the American fleet. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthis escalated their conflict against Saudi Arabia, hitting oil infrastructure and injuring dozens of civilians. Meanwhile, France, Canada, other Western countries joined the UK in announcing new sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank.On the latest episode of badlands, I discuss Israel’s reaction to the sanctions and the significance on the trading restrictions imposed on Israel, as well as the latest escalation in Yemen.The fun-filled and jam-packed episode features part two of an interview with the astute retired US diplomat Alan Eyre (exclusively for paying customers), who talks about US foreign policy in the age of Donald Trump.Also, in interviews with India’s NewsX World, I discuss how the US has gone off the rails, violating human rights, failing as a democracy, botching diplomacy with Russia, and destroying Cuba.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comTuesday, September 8, 2026, IstanbulCanada is finally standing up to America’s abuses and the UK finally is standing up to Israel’s crimes. But will such interventions be enough?In the latest jam-packed episode of badlands, I discuss the Ottawa’s doubling down on its confrontation with the US and the UK’s proposal to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements.The episode features part one of my interview with Chatham House’s brilliant Sanam Vakil, who has a critical, well-informed take on the crisis in the Persian Gulf.Also in the episode, I discuss the wider implications of the the US war against Iran in an in-depth interview with Pakistan TV.Additionally, I discuss Iran’s latest attempt to impose its control over the Strait of Hormuz and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s attempt to bring a measure of control over Iran’s nuclear program in an interview with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Monday, September 7, 2026, IstanbulAn article in Israel’s Jerusalem Post last week made waves for a provocative suggestion to boost military recruitment numbers to fight the Iran war. In this special Labor Day episode of badlands, I discuss the sheer chutzpah of the suggestion and one aspect of it that hasn’t been widely pointed out. In interviews with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the latest round of attacks between Iran and the US, an investigation into civilian casualties caused by an American attack on southern Iran, and Pete Hegseth’s latest foibles over leaks in Washington. I also discuss Israel’s call to expel Palestinians in Gaza and the intensifying war in Ukraine. badlands is supported by you. To receive the latest updates and support my work, consider becoming paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comFriday, September 4, 2026, IstanbulIt’s not just Iran and Cuba. The US seems to be waging wars of various sorts even against allies, including Canada, which is locked in a trade war with Washington.Unique among allies, Canada has stood up to the US, with Premier Mark Carney refusing to buckle to American pressure.In the latest episode of badlands, University of Ottawa professor Thomas Juneau discusses Canada’s stance on both Trump and the ongoing Middle East war.I also discuss how Donald Trump is setting the stage to indefinitely delay a decision on Iran, cementing yet another long-term Middle East quagmire.Additionally, I discuss a Republican US senator’s demand that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth be removed from office and the deaths of two teenagers in the West Bank in an interview with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comThursday, September 3, 2026, IstanbulThe US has yet to overcome its hubris about its own ability to shape the world. In the latest episode of badlands, former US Pentagon official Jasmine el-Gamal joins me for a candid discussion about American arrogance.We talk about how the Iran conflict as well as the Ukraine war are part of a historical pattern of military misadventures, and whether the US has the responsibility to use its power for good and the danger of the testosterone-fueled approaches to the world.(Here’s part one of the interview with Jasmine.)In another segment, I speak about an alternative universe where Donald Trump embraced rather than immediately violated the terms of the memorandum of understanding he signed with Iran.And in an interview with India’s NewsX World, I answer questions about the latest war developments, the pressure on Iran to submit to fresh inspections on its nuclear program, and the escalating rhetoric between Tehran and Washington.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026, IstanbulThe war between Iran and the US continued to escalate, with the countries trading blows for the sceond day in a row. At least four Iranian civilians were killed, including a child, and dozens more injured after the US struck a wedding party in southern Iran,Iran responded by launching several waves of missiles at US basses in Jordan and in. Bahrain and Kuwait, with US local and local officials heavily suppressing any news on casualties or damage.In the latest episode of badlands, I bring you up to speed on what happened and explain why the return to kinetic warfare was inevitable.Plus, I describe my interview with the Crisis Group’s Amjad Iraqi, who recently published a lengthy report on the dashed hopes for peace in Gaza, and the built-in flaws within Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.In addition, I describe the latest humanitarian situation inside Gaza in interviews with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Tuesday, September 1, 2026, IstanbulThe US appears to be floating the notion that it could manage the crisis in Iran and the Persian Gulf by adopting the Israeli strategy of “mowing the lawn.”In the latest edition of badlands, I explain why it won’t work in Iran, and didn’t even work for Israel.Plus, I discuss how badly the US scheme of isolating Iran is already going.Finally, I talk about the latest in Iran with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Monday, August 31, 2026, IstanbulThe US claimed it launched attacks on two missile launchers preparing to attack Persian Gulf shipping on Iran’s Larak Island. Iran says two military personnel were killed and two injured, and launched overnight counterattacks targeting US military sites in Jordan and the Arabian Peninsula.In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the inevitability of the return to warfare as well as the escalating rhetoric preceding the bombing and the danger of the type of “preemptive” war thinking that drives the US thinking.In an interview with BBC News, I also discuss the deadly capsizing of a ferry departing from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.Plus more talk about Iran as well as the CIA chief’s visit to Moscow last week in interviews with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday, August 6, 2026, ChicagoIsrael continues to hammer away at Lebanon and occupy much of the country’s south, even as the US and Iran appear to be heading toward another deal on the Persian Gulf.In the latest episode of badlands, scholar Nadim Shehadi joins me for a deep analysis and debate about which country—Iran, Israel, or the US—ultimately played the biggest role in turning Lebanon into a basketcase, and a site for regional conflict.Also in the episode, I discuss the latest effort by corporate Democrats in the US to grapple with the rise of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed and the leftwing of the party. Instead of voting blue no matter who, they are launching a $15 million effort to sabotage Democrat Socialists of America by digging up dirt and publicly smearing them.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, August 28, 2026, IstanbulIt’s the six-month anniversary of the Iran war, and the conflict shows no sign of ending soon, even as fighting has momentarily calmed down. It is shaping up to be another forever war, but one that has ramifications for the whole world. In the latest episode of badlands, I briefly assess the state of the conflict, with a focus on the US bases that were hit by the Iranians during the war and may never ever be rescuscitated.I also examine the diplomatic fallout of the conflict, including a new strategic alliance formed by regional countries in reaction to the chaos and unpredictability of the US, which I discuss in an interview with South Era Networks.badlands is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please, please, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday, August 27, 2026, Istanbul An extraordinary series of images published by Tanker Trackers showed the ship-to-ship transfers being used by the US to get oil across the Strait of Hormuz despite an Iranian blockade of the waterway. In the latest edition of badlands, energy analyst Nader Itayim joins me to sort through the lies and hype to figure out just how much oil is being moved out of the Persian Gulf and whether global energy supplies are dwindling. In an interview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the latest US efforts to impose Iran sanctions on other countries. Will they comply or not? I also discuss, Microsoft founder and Epstein class member Bill Gates attempt to rehabiliate his image by rebranding himself as an advocate for controls on artificial intelligence. Should we trust tech oligarchs to police themselves when it comes to AI?badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Wednesday, August 26, 2026, IstanbulBoth US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Iran Parliament acknowledged that the US is treading on fragile economic ice with bond yields spiking and oil reserves plummeting. In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss why the US imposition of sanctions on Iran risks damaging an already weakened global economy.Also in this edition, I discuss the potential efficacy of the sanctions with India’s NewsX World.Also, in this episode I discuss the Pakistan’s continuing mediation efforts with the US and Iran in an interview with Pakistan’s Asia One.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comTuesday, August 25, 2026, Istanbul US Secretary of State Scott Bessent launched the Trump administration’s “D-Day” sanctions on Iran to much fanfare. In the latest edition of badlands, I delve into the sanctions and attempt to assess whether they will be any more effective than previous rounds of sanctions on Iran.Plus, Nadim Shehadi and I debate models for the future of the Middle East, whether glittery global-connectedness of Dubai or the gritty resilience of Tehran is more desirable or feasible, as well as the successes and failures of the US wars in the Middle East. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comMonday, August 24, 2026, Istanbul After full-throttled war and half-hearted diplomacy, the administration of Donald Trump has settled on sanctions as away of achieving its goals on Iran. But does it even know what those goals are, and are they achievable?In the latest edition of badlands, retired American diplomat Alan Eyre joins me for a discussion about the ever-shifting nature of US policy on. Alan is a noted Iran specialist and fluent Persian speaker who became famous on Iranian social media for his eloquent posts and stellar language skills. Also in this episode, join for me a lively discussion with Pakistan TV about the efficacy of US sanctions—whether the Trump administration’s scheme to use economic pressure to get Tehran to accede to its demands might work.In a separate inteview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the recent shift by Iran’s armed forces toward a more aggressive posture. And in non-Iran news, I discuss the recent attempts by governments and courts to rein in the abuses and power of big tech social media companies. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026, ChicagoIn the latest edition of badlands, Libya expert Anas el-Gomati and I examine our sympathy for the 2011 uprising that toppled ruler Muammer Gaddafi and ignited an ongoing civil conflict that has impoverished the country and handed it to rival armed gangs, (as described in S01E109).Gomati describes why Libya remained in the crosshairs of Israel and Washington even after it dismantled its nuclear program and brokered a measure of peace with the West in the early 2000s. But he also explains the flaws in Gaddafi’s system that might have made a civil war after his fall inevitable.Plus, in this episode I provide an update on the latest from the Iran war, and also discuss the tough quandaries of the Gulf states, Israel’s role in the current phase of the conflict, how propaganda shapes perceptions of the conflict, and how technology is impacting the war in an interview with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a viewer-supported platfiorm. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, August 21, 2026, ParisThe US has begun to unveil the next phase in its campaign agaisnt Iran, and it looks a bit like previous attempts to pressure the country. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the aim is to use the combination of sanctions, international pressure on third countries, and a naval blockade to “collapse” Iran. In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the sanctions and what “regime collapse” could mean. Also in the episode, a replay of an April interview with Hossein Rassam, the former adviser to the UK Embassy in Iran about the current crisis and how the Iranian government may evolve as a result of the war.Finally, I discuss what the world should do about an increasingy reckless and belligerent US and Israel and a range of topics—in a pair of interviews with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday, August 20, 2026, ParisThe New York Times this week published a well-reported piece about how Israel is destroying the economy of the West Bank. In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the various ways in which Israel has manipulated its control over the territory meant to be the main component of a future Palestinian state to impoverish the population and prevent the economy from thriving. The New York Times piece follows a June 15 report by Joost Hiltermann of the Crisis Group warning of an economic collapse in the West Bank thanks to the restrictions. In the latest episode, I repost an edited version of that interview with Joost.Plus, in a brief interview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss Oman’s dilemma following the Trump administration’s threats to bomb it.badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Wednesday, August 19, 2026, ParisIran has been warning for months that it plans to escalate its war against the US unless the Americans take steps that include freezing its assets and acknowledging its authority over the Strait of Hormuz.It has not only signaled such escalation, it has begun to implement its plans, activating or coordinating with proxy forces to spread the conflict from the Persian Gulf to the Levant to Iraq to the Red Sea.It recently, listed all the sites it would strike if the US were to launch an attack on Iranian civilian infrastructure.In the latest episode of badlands, I talk apart a recent Wall Street Journal article which contained some nuggets of decent reporting, but was framed as a revelatory scoop depicting Iranians as devious warmongers and Americans as naive simpletons merely hoping to wind down the conflict.Also in this episode, I speak about the latest security developments in the Gulf in an interview with India’s NewX World.Finally, the episode includes a rerun of my interview with Ali Ahmadi, a former advisor to the Iranian mission to the United Nations, in which he discusses Iran’s military capacity.badlands is a viewr-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Donald Trump plumbs new depths of dishonor and disloyalty by threatening to bomb one ally while throwing another to the nuclear-armed wolves.In the latest episode of badlands, I ask why Iran or any country not named Israel would trust the US or make any deals with it.Also, badlands re-posts an interview with former Chinese diplomat and host of the podcast “Devil’s Advocate” Han Yang from March, when the war between Iran and the US was raging.I made a number of predictions on the war’s outcome. Listen or watch to assess how well or poorly I performed.badlands is a listener-supported podcasst. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Monday, August 17, 2026, ParisLots of threats and bluster by Iranian officials over the weekend, including a warning that Iran would “cut off the legs” of Donald Trump, who prompted the exchange of ballistic trash talk with his apparently jocular vow to turn the Strait of Hormuz into American territory.On the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the latest rhetorical flourishes by US and Iranian officials.In interviews with India’s NewsX World and Pakistan TV, I also dicuss the latest news, including the impact of the conflict on US amd international politics.badlands is a listener-supported platform. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, August 15, 2026, ParisOne kidnapped innocent people and forced them into concentration camps. Another aired a forced confession live on television. Yet another stole people’s homes and terrorized their inhabitants. In this very special, jam-packed episode of badlands, three misbehaving governments compete for the dubious honor of “rogue regime of the week.”I also give a quick update on the latest scheme by the administration of Donald Trump to laumch a new pressure campaign against Iran. Plus, in an inteview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the latest comments from Norway’s foreign minister about the Persian Gulf crisis as well as the latest on the Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon. badlands is a viewer-supported show. To receive new episodes and support my work, please become a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comThursday, August 13, 2026, ParisForeign policy podcaster and former US Department of Defense official Jasmine El-Gamal joins badlands for a lively discussion on Syria, her area of focus when she was in government, as well as on latest diplomatic and security machinations surrounding the Iran war. Among the topics of discussion Syria’s death sentence against Bashar al-Assad, the return of refugees to Syria, and its enigmatic, ascendant new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, as well as the convuluted thinking that has gotten the US and the Western countries mired in countless quagmires. “We tried to do the whole Shia crescen and Sunni thing and it just isn’t a helpful way to look at the region because what happens is that then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in how other countries, particularly Western countries, view the region,” she says. “And then these become the good guys and these become the bad guys.”Please check out and subscribe to Jasmine’s excellent podcast now!Also in this edition of badlands, I discuss the Pakistani interior minister’s visit to Tehran and ongoing repression of Palestinians in the West Bank in an inteview with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listner-supported podcast. To receive new episodews and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wednesday, August 12, 2026, ParisRecent comments by US President Donald Trump on Iran show how stuck he is in his Iran failures.In the latest episode of badlands, host Borzou Daragahi breaks down Trump’s latest lies and misinformation and sketch out how Iran has become a hell of his own making.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episode and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comTuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, ParisA Syrian court just sentenced former dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia over his role in the country’s 13-year civil war. His brother Maher and cousin Atef Najib were also convicted and sentenced to death by a Syrian court.Assad fled to Russia in 2024 as rebel forces seized control of the country after a years-long conflict which left more than half a million people dead.In the second part of Syrian-British author Robin Yassin-Kassab’s interview with badlands, we discuss whether the original democratic and civil spirit that spurred the Syrian uprising in 2011 still exists.We also discuss a range of topics including:* How Hezbollah laid the seeds of its own demise by taking part in the Syrian civil war on behalf of the regime of Bashar al-Assad.* How Syrian president and former rebel leader Ahmed al Sharaa should be assessed.* Turkey’s outsized role in promoting Syrian interests and Sharaa on the international stage.Robin is the author of the recently released book, “The Blood Between Us.”In this episode, I also discuss the latest Ukraine strikes deep inside Russia, and how they are undermining the US plan to keep oil prices low by helping tankers dodge Iranian missiles and drones on the way out of the Strait of Hormuz.badlands is an independent podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Monday, August 10, 2026, ParisAmerican defeat over Iran can lead to a smarter, less militaristic, and ultimately more succesful US.Meanwhile, an Islamic Republic victory could lead to a more arrogant, belligerent, repressive Iran—a regime with a measure of historic legitimacy and a renewed lease on life.On the latest edition of badlands, I step back from the headlines a bit to discuss what the emerging modus vivendi in the Persian Gulf conflict could mean in the long run, even as the war continues to unfold, with much of the latest fighting in the Red Sea and Yemen.In interviews with India’s NewsX World, I also discuss the latest talks over the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman and the escalating conflict between Houthis and Saudi Arbia and its allies along the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula.badlands is a podcast that needs your support. If you can, please consider pitching in for a paid subscription, or help out by promoting the podcast on social media. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, August 7, 2026, ChicagoTwo major developments in the Middle East this week. The US appears poised to hand over control of the Strait of Hormuz over to the Iranians, even as it whines that it doesn’t need it anyway.Meanwhile, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan inked a major security partnership, dissing the US attempt to corral the countries of the region into the pro-Israel Abraham Accords. That promoped pro-Israel shills to downplay the Mecca agreement and predict its demise.As a bonus for Arabic speakers, I was interviewed by Egypt’s Al Qahera TV about the latest developments in the Iran conflict.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Wednesday, August 5, 2026, ChicagoProgressives and sane people celebrated an imporant victory for Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed, who defeated Congresswoman Haley Stevens in the Michigan Democratic Party primary. The Israel lobby and other corrupt donors spent more than $60 million Stevens, but the very narrow margin of victory will likely convince them they could have won if they’d only lavished a few more million on the campaign.Sayed will face an even tougher challenge as he takes on Republican Mike Rogers in the general elections coming up in November, I say in an interview with India’s NewsX World. Meanwhile, it looks like missile depletions combined with market troubles are forcing the US to give in to Iranian demands on the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the obvious US losses and the seemingly impossible path to anything resembling a US victory, warmongering warmongers won’t let up, and appear unable to learn anything. Perhaps they need to take up a hobby. badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Tuesday, August 4, 2026, ChicagoIt’s not just the Israel lobby. It also the defense lobby. And the insurance, gun, banking, law, pharamaceutical, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates lobbies. Washington has become a fetid cesspool of corruption that is increasingly failing ordinary Americans, whether they are trying to get through a summer storm or through a disastrous airport.In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the Michigan Democratic Party primary election today between Abdul el-Sayed and Congresswoman Haley Stevens. It is now considered the most expensive US Senate primary in history and a battle between the pro-Israel establishment and the insurgent wings of the party.I discuss how the race has been especially sensitive for Michigan Jews, including those for or agaisnt Sayed, as chronicled in a New York Times video.Featured in the episode is part two of my interview with College of Dupage professor David Goldberg and a discussion of what it was like for him to break away from the pro-Israel ideology of the Jewish community.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support this work, please become a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Monday, August 3, 2026, ChicagoDonald Trump backed off again from his latest threat to launch a major campaign against Iran, citing a fresh breakthrough in talks between Iran and Oman over re-establishing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss why Iran feels entitled to keep control of the Strait of Hormuz, which it sees as its spoils in a war that was unjustly launched against it.I also address the neocon argument that Iran has been at war agaisnt the US have been at war for “47 years.”In an interview with Fahd Hassan of Pakistan’s Express 24/7 News I discuss why the war seems to keep going through constant cycles of escalation and diplomacy.I also the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the latest security and diplomatic developments with India’s NewsX World.Finally, in an interview with NPR’s Here & Now, I discuss the prospects for a peace deal in Gaza.badlands is a listner-supported podcast. To receive the latest episodes as quickly as possible and to support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, July 31, 2026, BostonThe war continues to escalate as neocons demand the US commit more war crimes. In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the latest atrocity in the war, the latest act of malpractice in mainstream journalism, and the intellectual crimes being committed by the neoconservatives in Washington. Plus, in interviews with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the latest developments around the Gulf, and the latest declaration of a breakthrough in talks to establish a durable peace for the long-suffering Palestinians in Gaza.badlands is a viewer-supported podast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comThursday, July 30, 2026, BostonAuthor and intellectual Robin Yassin-Kassab tells badlands the story behind the not-so-clandestine effort by the CIA and regional powers to arm the Syrian rebel groups which ultimately toppled the regime of Bashar al-Assad.Robin is author of the new book “The Blood Betwen Us,” which chronicles the first months following the downfall of the regime and what has transpired in the country under the regime of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former guerilla leader.Also in this episode, I discuss the latest dangerous escalations in the Iran war. Even as peace talks are underway and military aggressions seem to have paused, the the war continues in other forms, with recent Iranian missile attacks on Jordan and Saudi attacks on Iraq—as well as probably Houthi drone attacks— signaling preparations for an even bigger round of warfare.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026, ChicagoIranians authorities publicly executed two young men early Tuesday in the city of Isfahan. Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari were protesters accused of taking part in the violent January 8 and 9 uprising that engulfed the country and that became used to trigger the ongoing war against the country by the US and Israel.In this edition of badlands, I briefly review the case of the two men, whose hangings prompted street protests. Guilty of any crime or not, the two men should never have been executed, especially given the opaque nature of the Iranian criminal justice system and the politically charged atmosphere inside Iran.Also, in an interview with India’s Southern Era Network television, I break down Donald Trump’s proposed nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia as well as the major diplomatic shifts taking place in the Middle East.In an interview with India’s NewsX World, I also discuss Trump’s latest in a series of threats against Iran as well as the prospects of a return to diplomatic talks.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Monday, July 27, 2026, ChicagoNewly released video excerpts from a documentary movie show the late South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham giddy about goading the US into a war against Iran, eagerly hoping for the country to collapse into warring segments, and supplicating himself before his true master—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss Graham’s legacy and what the latest revelations say about the US.Also, in a pair of in-depth interviews with NewsX World, I discuss the war’s expansion to include both the Red Sea—with the ongoing escalation between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis—and the Caspian Sea, following an attack by Ukraine on an Iranian ship.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episiodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.comFriday, July 24, 2026, ChicagoScholar Nahid Siamdoust joins badlands to disuss her new article for The New York Review of Books in which she explores how the Saudi-financed and Israeli-controlled satellite news channel Iran International shaped opinons of the war in both Iran and the diaspora, spewing a distorted vision of the conflict, peddling racist notions about Iranian identity, and artificially boosting support for exiled Iranian opposition figure Reza Pahlavi.I also discuss the lingering controversy over the number of deaths in Iran’s January protests, and how the inflated and seemingly arbitrary numbers flung about by the rightwing operatives actually dehumanize Iranians and prepare the grounds for civilian warfare.Plus, I offer my assessment on the latest diplomatic maneuvers and the White House’s mentality in an interview with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thursday, July 22, 2026, ChicagoIn the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the Yemeni Houthi’s attacks on Saudi ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, American attacks on civilian sites in Iran. Plus, I offer my take on those who predict that Iran’s capabilities and resilience are overrated, and why I think they totally miss the point. Also, watch or listen to my latest NewsX World interview—about Donald Trump’s inability to find an exit strategy, Lebanon’s future, and the possibility that the war could hurt the primacy of the petrodollar. badlands is a listner-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Wednesday, July 22, 2026, IstanbulIn this edition of badlands, I speak with Chicago-area college professor and activist David Goldberg about rightwing streamer Nicholas J. Fuentes and Pope Leo—both locals—about the various tides of political activism and discourse in the US.We also discuss the impact that Donald Trump’s ICE immigration crackdowns have had on communities in the city in the first part of my interview with David, an old friend of mine since childhood.I also discuss the latest escalations in Iran, including neoconservatives’ attempt to bait Trump into escalating the war by going after Pickaxe Mountain.And in an inteview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss multiple aspects of the war in the Middle East, including the impact on the Gulf and the potential for Yemen’s Houthis to enter the fray.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Monday, July 20, 2026, ChicagoThe US military completed a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, and Iran reciprocated with missile and drone strikes of its own over the weekend targeting not just the Gulf states but Jordan and Iraq. At least two US soldiers died in Jordan, and another soldier remains missing. Another US solider was killed in northern Iraq, apparently while attempting to defuse an Iranian explosive drone that was struck done. For months, both the US and its allies and Iran have offered highly censored images of the war damage. But some footage and pictures have begun to emerge, and in today’s edition of badlands, I attempt to compile and describe some of that imagery. Other topics include Donald Trump’s humiliation of himself and anything he touches, and the emerging importance of Jordan, as well as potential economic impact of the continuing war on everything from summer travel prices to Gulf economies in a pair of discussions with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Wednesday, July 15, 2026, ChicagoIsrael’s wars in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran, and Lebanon have led to ambiguous military outcomes but undoubtedly increased the isolation of the country, both in terms of diplomacy and its worldwide image. In part two of her interview with badlands, Noga Tarnopolsky discusses what I describe as the “malaise” that seems to be afflicting Israeli society. She describes fear and loathing whipped up by a gang of rightwing politicians to exploit the horror of October 7 to keep a tight reign over society and pursue their maximalist demands. We also discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest power grab, in which he defies a supreme court ruling in order increase his control over the country’s media ahead of elections now scheduled for October 27. Subscribe to Noga’s newsletter now!Also today, I provide some brief updates on the escalation in the Persian Gulf and Donald Trump’s various flip flops in an interview with France 24. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, July 17, 2026, ChicagoAs the Iran war escalates, Donald Trump rehashes his nonsensical election conspiracy theories. The Democrats come out strongly opposed to the war, but their criticism that the US has no plan appears off-the-mark. Washington indeed seems to have a single-minded goal for the escalation: get the Strait of Hormuz reopened, and potentially create regional divisions inside Iran.Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio shows his desperation, while Vice President JD Vance positions himself against the neocons, and reporting on a well-known Israeli influence operation and Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Israeli intelligence finally reach the mainstream media. Plus, interviews with me on India’s NewsX World and the Pakistan TV about the state of the conflict and US and Iranian political calculations. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday, July 16, 2026, ChicagoLibya has often been described as yet another US-led Middle East regime change operations that led to catastrophic results for its people and for the world. Nearly 15 years after the 2011 overthrow of dictator Muammer Gaddafi, the country is indeed a mess. It is divided by civil conflict and being exploited for its resources by rival families working in conjunction with their foreign backers. In part one of a special edition of badlands, Libya expert Anas el-Gomati, founder of Libya’s Sadeq Institute, and I recount Libya’s recent history and discuss the sudden international interest in Libya, including meetings between warlord Khalifa Haftar’s and both US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as fresh interest in the country’s oil reserves.“The oil is the best reason why everybody always comes back to Libya,” he says. There is also talk of a unification deal, between the two fractured halves of the country. “It’s being noted and penned as a unification deal,” he says. “It’s really a merger between these two rival families.”As the powerful grapple for power and resources, ordinary Libyans are suffering immensely, with declining living standards and eroding infrastructure, exemplified by the 2023 dam failures in eastern Libya that led to the deaths of at least 7,800 people. Also in this episode, I discuss the confusion over Donald Trump’s Iran strategy as well as the impact of the war on the global economy and the prospects for peace in interviews with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Tuesday, July 14, 2026, ChicagoUS President Donald Trump plans to re-impose the blockade on Iranian ships transiting the Persian Gulf. As for other ships, he claims that not only is the Strait of Hormuz is “OPEN” but soon to become a cash machine for America!In the latest episode of badlands, Brett Erickson of Obsidian Risk Advisors joins the podcast again to help unravel the combination of delusion and confusion that appears to be driving the Trump administration’s Middle East policy.“He's desperate and he's clearly under way more pressure,” he tells me “I don’t think anyone expected it to go this bad. And I mean, he's just tweeting or Truthing. He's just spewing out nonsense because he's not putting thought into it because he's angry.”Also, on today’s show, I discuss the whether diplomacy can still salvage the memorandum of understanding, as well as the increasing risk of Yemen being drawn onto the conflict in an interview with NewsX World.Separately, I spoke about the latest news in the Persian Gulf in an interview with NPR’s mid-afternoon show Here & Now.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Monday, July 13, 2026, ChicagoThe US and Iran hammered away at each other over the weekend, with Tehran effectively imposing a closure on the Strait of Hormuz and Washington all but tossing the memorandum of understanding it signed last month into the trash heap.While this may appear to be the new normal in the Persian Gulf, it is not sustainable for Americans, Iranians, or the rest of the world. On today’s edition of badlands, I discuss the lack of public input or popular protest in a war that is nonetheless the world.Also, Noga Tarnopolsky joins badlands from Israel to discuss US Democratic Party stalwart Rahm Emanuel’s recent visit to Tel Aviv . Please tune in tomorrow when Noga and I discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s power grab and Israel’s sense of isolation. in second part of her interview with badlands. Subscribe to Noga’s newly launched newsletter, Bibi and Beyond.badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Friday, July 10, 2026, IstanbulIsrael continues to occupy a huge swath of Lebanon, attacking Lebanese civilians in horrific atrocities taking place regularly.In the latest edition of the badlands podcast, Lebanon-based journalist Habib Battah, founder of the Beirut Report, joins in for a discussion about how the country has been further fragmented along both sectarian and class lines as Israel continues its military operations against Hezbollah.The war is furthering the country’s collapse, with everything from traffic lights to security forces failing to function. The government is unable to accede to US and Israeli demands that it get Hezbollah under control.“This is a country that has been disintegrated, fragmented by decades and decades and decades of wars and so it’s in no it’s in no position really to take any massive control of the situation in this country,” he said.Habib also details his groundbreaking reporting on the massive new US embassy being built up, one that sounds like a vast fortress meant to effectively run Lebanon rather than represent US interests in the country.You can follow Habib on his Instagram or on X.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Thursday, July 9, 2026, ParisOvernight attacks between the US and Iran continued for a second day, with reports that Donald Trump pushed the envelope by hitting two railroad bridges in Iran’s north. That move could trigger Iranian retaliation against similar civilian infrastructure in the Arabian Peninsula states. The war pits the US against Iran, but the Persian Gulf has been the main battleground, as Trump struggles to restore the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to its prewar status. In the latest edition of badlands, the well-informed Dr Andreas Krieg, lecturer at King’s College in London, joins us for a lively discussion about the how the conflict has transformed the Gulf States, and forced them to reassess their security needs. Gulf states are refusing so far to buckle to Iranian demands that they acknowledge Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, their economic lifeline, while Iran is asserting itself even if it damages it’s own economic interests.“A lot of what’s happening right now is about ego and it’s about principle–it’s not even about money,” he said. He also offers his insider insights about the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, and how the Gulf states are shifting their view of Israel’s potential role in the region. Also, on the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the latest developments in Iran and comment on the NATO summit in Turkey in an interview with India’s NewsX World.badlands is a viewer and listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, ParisThe US and Iran traded major military strikes overnight in the most serious threat to the framework ceasefire deal signed last month so far.The attacks continued into the morning with attacks by both countries into the late morning. Donald Trump said at the NATO summit in Turkey that he’s sick of negotiating with the Iranians and considers the memorandum of understanding effectively dead.The attacks may simmer down. But the bigger threat to any peace is the US decision to rescind its waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil, effectively giving Tehran zero incentives to stay in the deal and keep the Strait of Hormuz even somewhat open. In the latest edition of badlands, I delve into the continued erosion of the memorandum of understanding.Also, in a discussion with Pakistan’s Express 24/7 News I discuss the latest on the funeral services for the late Iranian ruler Ali Khamenei, the future prospects for a peace deal, and the significance of the NATO summit in Turkey.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, ParisIs the oil shock finished? Not really. Energy analyst Robin Mills joins the latest edition of badlands for an interview on whether the tentative opening of the Strait of Hormuz will lead to a normalization of energy prices.Mills says energy is still below pre-war levels, in part because Gulf states are tentative about ramping up production.In today’s edition, I also discuss the latest kerfuffle over FIFA, the worldwide soccer organization that seemed to bend to Donald Trump’s will over a red card issued to an American player. (The US team still lost badly to Belgium).Plus, in an interview with the radio program The World, I discuss the future of Iran following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the consolidation of power by a new crop of regime stalwarts.badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe