The Libertarian Institute

Fr Emmanuel Joined me to discuss the financial world and Orthodoxy in America. YouTube @YearZeroPod LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos:https://www.youtube.com/@Lemelson ‼️ Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson: Against The World: Fr. Emmanuel Lemelson: Against The World Orthodox priest. Activist investor. Dissident voice exposing corruption in Wall Street, Washington, and the Church. Connect with @Lemelson on social media: […]

 Download Audio. Scott interviews William Van Wagenen about what he’s been seeing in southern Lebanon as the fighting between Hezbollah and the IDF drags on. They also discuss the Western-backed bin Ladinite regime in Syria. Discussed on the show: Creative Chaos: Inside the CIA’s Covert War to Topple the Syrian Government by William Van […]

 Download Audio. Scott interviews Larry Johnson about the ongoing, frequently broken yet somehow still holding ceasefire between the US and Iran, the Trump administration’s effort to find some way out of the war they started and the Israeli’s muddled attempt to sabotage the process. Discussed on the show: “Persian Gulf Oil Shipping Crisis Deepens […]

 Download Audio. Scott interviews Kit Klarenberg about some reporting he’s done on the looming political shakeup in Bosnia. That leads to a broader discussion about how the foreign policy of the post-Cold War American empire set the conditions for its own decline. Discussed on the show: “Western Hegemony Unravels In Bosnia” (Global Delinquents) “The […]

The US Navy is lost at sea and in the thrall of exquisite platform that be the maritime tombs of tens of thousands of sailors in the coming wars of the 21st century. The acquisition system is broken beyond repair, burn it down. The aircraft carrier has been a signature component of US naval power […]

Here it is — the 2nd installment of CJ’s already-epic mini-series, ‘The Mad Dream of Conquest,’ set in the Peloponnesian War in 5th-century BC Greece. Join CJ as he shares an overview of some of the events of the first half of the Peloponnesian War, including: Spartan-led Peloponnesian invasions of Attica (the countryside around Athens), which used the traditional Greek tactic of ‘ravaging’ farms in order to try to provoke the Athenians to confront them in a decisive hoplite battle Athens’ refusal to do so, as they followed Pericles’ strategy of being purely defensive on land while waging naval & amphibious warfare against the coastal strongholds of the Peloponnesian League The horrific plague that afflicted Athens for the first few years of the war, which likely killed 20-30% of Athens, including, eventually, Pericles himself The leadership void left by Pericles, which was filled by men of much less competence, none of whom ever enjoyed the supermajority support that Pericles had The ‘Peace of Nicias,’ concluded in 421 BC, which was never fully adhered to & wouldn’t last long The growing political feud between Nicias & the Athenian doves vs. Alcibiades & the Athenian hawks The appeal for Athenian assistance from a few Sicilian poleis against Syracuse, the most powerful polis on that island, & the Athenian debates over the wisdom of intervening there, dominated by debates between Nicias & Alcibiades The decision of a majority of the Athenian Assembly to intervene on a massive scale Religious/political scandals that created serious potential problems for the Athenian expedition to Sicily on the eve of its departure The departure, to great fanfare, of a massive Athenian & allied force to Sicily Like this episode? Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon! You can also throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Other ways to support the show (including CJ’s PO Box) Amazon Affiliate Links (buy ANYTHING from Amazon using any of these links & CJ gets a small commission at no cost to you!) The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson The Peloponnesian War by Donald Kagan The Life of Greece: The Story of Civilization, Vol. II by Will Durant Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Instagram Follow the DHP on Facebook Hire CJ to speak to your group or at your event

The Iraq War didn’t just “happen” it was sold with a storyline, staffed by specific operators, and justified by a strategy that had been circulating for years. I’m joined by Scott Horton of the Libertarian Institute to unpack the Clean Break doctrine, what it tried to achieve for Israel’s right wing security vision, and how a set of wildly wrong assumptions helped push the US into a war that ended up strengthening Iran instead of containing it. We walk through the mechanics of how the war case was built: exile sourcing, the Office of Special Plans, alternative intelligence streams, and the WMD and terrorism claims that made Baghdad sound like an urgent threat. Then we connect the fallout to today’s Middle East power map, where leaders are still trying to “fix” the original mistake, often by escalating in new arenas. Scott also explains why Israel’s objectives toward Iran can look less like clean regime change and more like limiting Iran’s ability to support Hezbollah and project power into the Levant, even if that means betting on destabilization. From there we shift to the Trump era crisis: ceasefire fragility, Iran’s demand to release frozen assets as a trust test, and the hard technical reality behind the slogans about nuclear enrichment. We also talk about how Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank remain active fronts that can sabotage diplomacy at any moment, and what it would take for Washington to actually restrain Netanyahu if a real US-Iran deal is the goal. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review, then tell us what you think: is a durable peace even possible with these incentives in place?

It’s been quite some time since I have responded to “mail” so I have curated five questions to address:. What should the USAF do now? Is fraud a form of irregular warfare? What should the DoW do with 1.5 trillion dollars? References: Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast RAND wish-casting on drones in 2015. Slaughterbots (2017) Slaughterbots: if human: kill() (2021) How are Drones Changing Modern Warfare? Sun Tzu The Art of War Carl von Clausewitz On War Miyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO’s Contribution to Warfare Christian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare Qiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America My Substack Email at [email protected]

Your phone buzzing with political ads the moment you step into a church parking lot sounds like satire, but the documents and contracts point to something very real. We sit down with Nick Cleveland-Stout of the Quincy Institute (and a writer at Drop Site News) to track a sweeping Israeli influence campaign in the United States that goes far beyond the usual Capitol Hill lobbying. The focus is American Protestants, especially evangelicals, and the mission is simple: stop the bleeding in public opinion as younger conservatives grow skeptical of unconditional US support for Israel. We dig into the details behind plans tied to Show Faith by Works, including church geofencing, sponsored Israel trips, proposed celebrity outreach, and even a traveling October 7 “experience” concept. Then we ask the uncomfortable question: if the polls keep moving the other direction, is the problem really the messaging or the actions people see coming out of Gaza, southern Lebanon, and the West Bank? Nick also walks us through his newest reporting on Eagle’s Wings and Israel Advocacy Day, where lobbying meetings and Hill materials are reportedly supported by Israeli Foreign Ministry funding without clear FARA registration. From there, we connect the dots to conservative media, including Salem Media and a major contract tied to Brad Parscale, plus a growing effort to shape the information environment online by building websites designed to influence how AI tools and chatbots answer questions. If you care about foreign influence, lobbying transparency, FARA enforcement, evangelical Christian Zionism, US military aid to Israel, and the politics of Iran and the wider Middle East, this conversation is a must. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review, then tell us what part of this influence machine worries you most.

A single image can crack a political storyline wide open. We start with the viral clip of an Israeli soldier smashing a Jesus statue and follow the uncomfortable question it forces for many American Christians: what does “shared values” mean when Christians in Jerusalem report harassment and holy sites face restrictions? With Larry Johnson, we pull apart the gap between religious branding and real-world treatment, and why that gap is changing the tone of U.S. conservative support. Then the focus turns to the Israel Iran war and the American messaging machine around it. Trump says Israel didn’t drive his decisions, ties escalation to October 7 anyway, and the public narrative gets messy fast. We also react to U.S. officials invoking biblical language to sell confrontation, and we ask what happens to faith when it’s used as a political weapon instead of a moral brake. From there, we map the escalation timeline: a reported U.S. strike on an Iranian cargo ship, a tightening blockade, sanctions dropped midstream, and confusion around rumored talks in Pakistan as the ceasefire clock runs out. We also dig into the Lebanon front and why it complicates any U.S. Iran deal, before closing with the hard constraints many pundits skip: ground invasion realities, stockpile limits, nuclear-risk rhetoric, and Iran’s hardened underground missile infrastructure that keeps its capability alive. If this conversation made you think, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. What’s the most dangerous lie leaders tell themselves when they push a war?

We dive into the refutations by Saint Hilarion of socialism

The hits have just kept on coming! (And not in a good way.) For anyone who cares and/or is curious why CJ has been mostly incommunicado the past 2 months (other than angrily ranting against the insanity of current events on Twitter): In this special DHP episode he gives an update on the most recent trials & tribulations he & his family have been through, including (but not limited to) his wife being hospitalized twice, another major death in the family, & finally, CJ himself being hospitalized for almost a full week while being the sickest & in the worst pain he’s ever had in his entire life. (Fun times!) On the brighter side, the redemption in the third act is that CJ is still alive, still sober, & is (once again) getting back up to keep on fighting the good fight, so look for more Dangerous History coming your way as long as (knock on wood!) he can get a little bit of a respite from the near-constant dumpster-fires! 😉 Like this episode? You can throw CJ a $ tip via Paypal here: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=D6VUYSYQ4EU6L Throw CJ a $ tip via Venmo here: https://www.venmo.com/u/dangerousmedia Or throw CJ a BTC tip here: bc1qfrz9erz7dqazh9rhz3j7nv696nl52ux8unw79z Links Support the Dangerous History Podcast via Patreon Subscribe to the Dangerous History Podcast Youtube Channel Follow CJ on Twitter/X Follow the DHP on Facebook Other ways to support the show

The headlines move fast, but the stakes underneath them move faster. When political leaders say the Strait of Hormuz is “open” and diplomacy is “wrapping up,” we slow the tape and ask the only question that matters: who actually has leverage right now, and what price is being paid off-camera? We’re joined by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson to unpack Iran’s position in the Strait of Hormuz, why transit fees and control of passage can matter more than press statements, and how “victory” framing can blur the reality of a stalemate. We also dig into a major geopolitical accelerant: China’s growing role and the claim that Iran is receiving high-end satellite intelligence, a shift that could change deterrence, targeting, and escalation risk across the Middle East. From there, we follow the trail into US military posture and the fear that negotiations can become cover for war preparation, including the movement of major naval assets. Wilkerson raises deeper concerns about presidential decision making capacity, the limits of the 25th Amendment, and what happens when there are no effective guardrails in a national security crisis. We also examine Israel’s influence over US policy, the credibility of competing narratives around Lebanon, and the worst-case scenario if wider targeting disrupts global commerce and pushes the world toward recession, depression, or even nuclear brinkmanship. Finally, we turn inward to civil-military relations, including the controversy around Pentagon prayer meetings, coercion concerns, and how culture inside the armed forces can shape compliance in a constitutional crisis. If you care about US foreign policy, the Iran Israel conflict, Middle East security, and the real mechanics of power, listen through to the end, then subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.

A ceasefire can be the start of peace, or it can be the quiet moment when both sides reload. That’s the question driving my return conversation with Professor Glenn Diesen as we dissect the US-Iran negotiations, the sudden focus on a short extension, and the strategic shockwave created when Iran seizes leverage around the Strait of Hormuz. We dig into why force movements matter more than press releases, from carrier deployments to the logic of “locked and loaded” threats against dual-use infrastructure. Glenn explains why a temporary truce may simply create the breathing room needed to regroup, rearm, and restart the war under better conditions, and why regime change goals make durable agreements unlikely. We also talk Lebanon and Hezbollah, and why ceasefire announcements can unravel fast when strikes continue and outside powers push internal political pressure campaigns. Then we widen the lens: a US blockade of Iranian ports doesn’t just hit Tehran, it collides with China’s oil supply routes and raises serious legal and operational questions about boarding ships “regardless of nationality.” From there, we connect the Middle East war to NATO and the Russia-Ukraine war, including Europe’s strained relationship with Trump, Ukraine’s manpower crisis, talk of refugee returns, and how oil prices and weapon stockpiles are reshaping the battlefield. If you want clear geopolitical analysis on the US-Iran ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz strategy, Israel’s influence, the Iran blockade, and the knock-on effects for Ukraine and NATO, listen now. Subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review, then tell me: do you think ceasefires still mean peace?

U.S. troops are training for chemical and nuclear fallout while fresh forces and warships surge toward the Middle East, and I can’t shake the feeling that those “routine drills” are happening for a reason. We walk through what the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s radiation preparedness could mean in the context of reports that the U.S. is weighing major escalation options against Iran, including strikes on critical infrastructure and the far more dangerous scenario: a special operation aimed at securing Iran’s 60% enriched uranium stockpile. If that material has been moved, buried, or sits inside damaged tunnel networks, the operational risks get ugly fast. From there, we connect the dots between diplomacy headlines and the on-the-ground reality of military buildup. I lay out why previous negotiation windows seemed to buy time for positioning assets, not building trust, and how Trump’s own public statements reveal confusion rather than a coherent strategy. We also dig into the Strait of Hormuz chatter and the China dimension, including why threatening Beijing while the U.S. burns through interceptors and depends on Chinese-controlled supply chains like rare earth minerals and gallium is a strategic gamble with real consequences. We then shift to Israel’s posture, Netanyahu’s messaging about influence in Washington, and the demand to remove enriched uranium as a public red line that could drag the U.S. deeper in. Finally, we break down why the Lebanon “talks” look like optics while pressure builds toward confrontation with Hezbollah, and why “grand bargain” negotiation tactics keep failing in real geopolitics. If you want a clear, unsentimental breakdown of U.S.-Iran tensions, Israel’s war aims, and the risks around nuclear escalation and regional shipping chokepoints, hit play, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review with your take on what happens next.

A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz sounds like a clean, decisive move until you run it through the real world: geography, international law, ship insurance, and the uncomfortable question of what happens when the other side shoots back. We sit down with Lt Col Karen Kwiatkowski to parse Trump’s threat to interdict ships tied to Iranian oil and why “the greatest navy in the world” is not the same thing as a navy that can safely enforce a blockade in a narrow, heavily contested chokepoint. We dig into the operational side of maritime power, from US shipbuilding constraints to costly programs that never matched a realistic strategy. Karen explains why uncertainty is the real market killer: mines do not even have to be confirmed to spike insurance rates, freeze tanker traffic, and disrupt the global supply chain. We also ask what it means to stop third country vessels in international waters, and why targeting tankers linked to China, India, Pakistan, Japan, or South Korea could blow up relationships the US has spent decades trying to build across Asia. Then we widen the lens to diplomacy and messaging. We question why nuclear negotiations would be handled without deep technical expertise, how Israel’s priorities shape US posture toward Iran, and why an EMP scare claim on cable news collapses under basic scrutiny of incentives, treaty history, and inspection records. We close with a blunt conversation about propaganda, legitimacy, and the strange politics of personality cult symbols, including Trump’s AI “Jesus” image and what it signals about power at home and credibility abroad. If this conversation helps you think clearer, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more people can find it.

John and I continue the reading and commentary on Rules for Radicals

My good friend Paisios Wainwright joins me to discuss his struggles and path to Orthodoxy. Wainwright Ceramics