Title: Target: Tehran | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Show: DeProgram Show with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas
Date: 2026-01-29
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhLTqati1fw
Duration: 3569

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[00:04] Good morning, John. Thanks to for the program with Ted Roll and John Kuryaku. It's Thursday, January 29th, and it's cold as hell. Although it doesn't make any sense, >> but you got to tell people just how cold it is. Ted and I were talking about this just a few minutes ago before, and I was I'm embarrassed to say I was bitching that it's 15 degrees in Washington. 10 below zero right now where I am. >> Temperature, not wind chill. >> No, the wind. Yeah, it's actually because of the sun feels like minus

[00:35] three. So, [laughter] no complaining. Um, yeah. No, it's it's pretty crazy. Uh, so yeah, if you're uh if you're feeling the pain, uh you know, you have lots of company and uh we have you you have our sympathy. Um please like, follow, and share the show. Um thank you for your continued support. It's uh extremely gratifying. Um, we have a lot to talk about today. As we go into today's show, we're going to be talking about Iran's the main topic. Um, and Trump's, uh, increasing threats, uh, which appear to be, I would say, a

[01:06] credible threat. Uh, if I were the Iranian government, I'd be deeply concerned. Um, the there's a looming partial government shutdown of DHS, the Department of Homeland Security, coming up this Saturday. Uh, we'll see if that happens or not. Um, January 31st, the deadline. uh Trump uh Chuck Schumer and Donald Trump are trying to avoid that. Lots of news out of Minnesota. Um so I'll get to that in a second. The um interesting climate change ruling regarding a tiny Caribbean island uh and

[01:36] the Netherlands uh the island of Bonire. Only 26,000 people live there, but it has big implications. Um, also another big story that's kind of shocking. The FBI raided the voting uh the the the voting rights uh the voting office in Fulton County, Georgia. You'll remember of course the whole Fonnie Willis uh you know mess down there. Um no one apparently the FBI has never ever seized Americans voter records in Americ.

[02:06] >> So uh that has so what exactly is going on there? Um, John, just before we went on uh the air, uh, news is breaking from Minnesota that Tom Daily Mail for, you know, I don't know if we how reliable that is, is reporting that Tom Hman has given um, uh, orders, new order, marching orders for ICE in Minneapolis and Minnesota. No more sweeps um, from now on only targeted um, uh, uh, deportations of people with actual

[02:37] criminal records. Um, so not parking tickets, but bad people, bad ombres. Um, >> and so that should change things there >> um in in a big way. And at the same time, Amy Clolobachar, current senator, is looking to replace Tim Walls um as the outgoing governor. I couldn't imagine a worse time to possibly be running for that office, but for her of all people, I don't know how the people of Minnesota feel about her. Um, also, uh, Alex Pretty, the latest victim of

[03:08] ICE. There's video that emerges that appears to show him confronting basically mixing it up and kicking a car and, uh, and getting roughed up a little bit by ICE 11 days before he died. So, um, lots to talk about. Uh, and of course, as always, put up, please send us your questions if you're watching live in the 9:00 a.m. hour, uh, on Rumble and YouTube, and we will get to your questions, as you know, as quickly as possible. If you're new to the show, this is a fastmoving show. Um, we try to

[03:39] keep things moving very quickly and judiciously, as our president would say. So, uh, thank you so for for trying to keep up and, uh, we apologize in advance if we miss something, but we we try to get to everything. John, what should we do? Questions. Should we talk about Iran? What What do you want to do? >> Yeah. You know, you and I were on Iranian television yesterday. I don't know if you if you knew that. >> I did not know that. I've been [laughter] on Press TV in the past. >> No. Uh we um you and I are regulars on

[04:11] Iranian television. >> Really? >> And yeah, we are. And >> where's my real >> I know, right? Or Tomman. [laughter] I've never understood the connection between the two. Anyway, um the reason why we were on is because we're talking about these issues and that we have made a couple of conclusions. Number one, they're repeating what we've said about naval movements. I think that's very important. Number two, they're repeating what we've said about how so few policy

[04:41] makers understand the history of the Middle East and understand the culture of the Middle East. >> True. Number three, um they are um they are connecting us and I'm proud to say this. They're connecting us with John Mir Shimemer and what he has said about how we're Americans. We want what's best for America, which may or may not be what's best for Israel.

[05:12] >> And in >> right often is not >> often is not. >> Mhm. In this case, the Iranians are no threat to us. >> No, >> the Iranians have never been a threat to us. >> We've been a threat to them. >> We've been a threat to them. Now, maybe the Iranians are a threat to Israel. I think they're not. >> I don't think so either. >> But if even if the Israelis believe that they are, that's not our problem. >> Nope. >> And so, I'm for America first, baby. >> Me, too. I mean, look, I, you know, I I hate the fact that nationalism,

[05:43] patriotism, America first, whatever you want to call it, that that's considered a right-wing thing. I mean, it's like if we live in a nation state system, it's logical to look out for the interests of your country and its people before those of other countries, and then it's expected that they'll do the same. Um, you know, I supposed to work. >> That's right. That's right. And you know, another thing too, we've got friends in the Middle East whom we don't normally talk about. Well, you

[06:14] and I have, but I mean, the mainstream media, they don't talk about. For example, the Omanis. I love the Omanis. The Omanis have been friends of ours for generations. It doesn't matter who the president is. It doesn't matter who the Sultan is. The Omanis are friends of ours. >> And they're never [ __ ] with their neighbors. >> Never. They're they're extraordinarily peaceful people. They're thoughtful. Um I I like the Omanis very much. Well, the Omanis are also close to the Iranians. And many many times over the years, the

[06:45] Omanis have acted as the go-between between the United States and Iran. I think we should approach the Omanis again, just like we should approach the Algerians. It was the Algerians of all people who got our hostages out in 1981. the Algerians. >> I've also forgotten uh you know that's that's I and I always thought it was Ben Affleck. >> Yeah. Right. [laughter] Yeah. Now he just escaped on his own. >> But you know we should engage rather than just you know send a carial battle group carrier battle group off the coast

[07:17] of uh of southern Iran and then just you know make threats. We should be engaging in diplomacy even if that diplomacy is not public. >> Right. What's what's WOF supposed to do? He's he's the troubleshooter. Let the man do his job. And and when when I say do his job, I don't mean and then run back to Jerusalem every couple of days to report back. >> I have little doubt that if uh you know an American administration reached out to Iran, we could settle our outstanding

[07:47] issues and end up with diplomatic relations and trade relations. I I totally agree, Ted. We we could. We should. And temperamentally, Americans and Iranians are so much more similar than Americans would would bet. We're so similar. >> I couldn't agree more. >> Like we're we're buds. We're like, you know, it's kind of like a natural, you know, it's sort of like when you meet someone for the first time, you're just like, I just get along with this person. >> I've never met an Iranian that I didn't like. >> I mean that with complete sincerity. >> Yeah. The if the the only thing that would ever stretch it are sort of the uh

[08:18] some of the, you know, Persian exiles in the LA area. That's Yeah, they're a little That's a different That's [clears throat] a different breed. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Those are the ones. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Those are the ones that stole as much as they could as they were bugging out of Iran in 79 and >> Yeah. with the gym bag full laden laden with gold ingots, >> gold and cash and jewels. Yeah. Yeah. No. >> Yeah. And there I mean there's so funny about it. They should be happy to be alive and instead they're like still winging all these years later.

[08:48] >> I think the mayor of Beverly Hills is is Persian. Yeah. >> Yeah. It's those are that's a different breed, but um >> I'm going to look. I think that's the case. >> So, yeah. So, Trump is threatening uh an attack uh with speed and violence. That's the quote that he said. And he and the Europeans are are basically on the same side. Let's John, let's go, if you're okay with this, let's go through um because you and I talked about this with Robbie after the show yesterday um

[09:18] offline the about the three principal demands that are on the table. Interestingly, uh Trump seems to have completely forgotten about the poor sad demonstrators. He he said that, you know, he wanted to defend uh in Iran. Now, he says he and the Europeans are asking for three things. Number one, no more uranium enrichment. getting get rid of all current stockpiles of uranium. I don't know who gets them. Um maybe we do. Um uh a limit on the range and number of ballistic missiles. In other

[09:50] words, not like nuclear missiles, those they don't have those, but just long range. They have medium range missiles. They don't have long range. >> No, no, they don't have long range. >> And uh and an end to and no more support for groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis in Yemen. Um that's basic that's that's it. Now John, you were pointing out so you should say this. Um who came up with that list for the US? >> I can tell you exactly who came up with that list and his name is Benjamin Netanyahu. That is quite literally word

[10:22] for word the Israeli list of demands for the Iranians. Now like magic all of a sudden it's the American list of demands to the letter. >> That's sick. This isn't a foreign policy. We're conceding our foreign policy. I want what's best for America. It's corrupt. I mean, this reminds me of like how in uh, you know, domestically, um, we have, you know, interest groups and lobbyists who will literally submit the text of a proposed bill to a

[10:54] congressman who literally cuts and pastes it and submits it as legislation. That's right. >> And and that that's corrupt. I mean, you know, there's not even a pretense of of decency here. Um, in this case, I mean, look, I gotta say, if I were negotiating with Iran, I wouldn't, first of all, the missiles would be off the table. Um, >> you got to protect yourself. >> Yeah. I mean, it's a real country. And and, you know, also don't ask for things that your adversary can't possibly agree to. >> Um, and as for the proxy groups, it's

[11:26] completely uninforceable. Not to mention, is the US going to stop uh you know backing its proxies in the in the region? Um you know I think they could have a conversation about uranium but I mean even so I mean they've the this all this the the uh the enrichment controversy. It was caused by the Trump administration when it when it threw away the uh the agreement that was signed under >> JCPOA which was working >> right. It was exactly the same old old

[11:58] arrangement. >> That's right. It was exactly the same inspection regime that uh the United Nations imposed on Iraq, you know, between 1991 and 2003. It was working. >> Now, the other thing I can't stand, and of course, you're never going to get this out of American media, and we always talk about this here, but I'm going to keep talking about it. Iran never lost a war. They didn't do anything wrong. They're not being sanctioned because they're they [ __ ] up somehow. They literally, you know, they agreed to the nuclear

[12:28] non-prololiferation treaty when they after the revolution to maintain it after they took over. They didn't have to. They could have said, "We just had a revolution. We overthrew the old government. Old old treaties are bye-bye just like Trump does without a revolution." um you know it could just they're doing this voluntarily to be so a you know a country that clearly doesn't want to become an international nuclear power is being like you better not become a nuclear international nuclear power they're LIKE THAT'S WHAT

[12:58] WE said >> if the Iranians wanted an open door >> yeah if the Iranians wanted to be a nuclear power they would have been a nuclear power years [snorts] ago >> it's not that hard >> and the CIA has repeatedly concluded that the Iranians are not seeking a nuclear weapon. >> There's no evidence at all. So, and in like nuclear power, honestly, in the age of climate change, we're going to have we have a climate change story out of Holland. Um, you know, it's nuclear power is weirdly, I say this for, you

[13:29] know, people like our age when we remember the no nukes movement is and and Three Mile Islands, but now that's a relatively clean form of power. >> Yeah, it is. >> Crazy as that sound. I even had a no nukes shirt. It was a black t-shirt and in white lettering it said no nukes on it. And I got into a almost got into a fist fight in a bar. I was 18. We we crossed the state line into Campbell, Ohio to go drinking at R.J.'s Holiday House. Nickel beer

[14:00] night. Tuesday nights. >> Oh wow. >> Nickel beer night tells you how long. >> I bet it was so yummy, too. >> Oh my god. So much fun. 1981. Um and um and I got into a shoving match and a a couple of friends of mine jumped in and decked this guy because he was pro- nuke and he just objected to my t-shirt. >> It was so political then. >> It really was a big deal. >> Yeah. Yeah. I still have I still have my old no Nukes buttons lying around somewhere. Um >> remember the No Nukes concert in Central

[14:31] Park? >> Yes. Yes. >> 1980. I mean I the the terrible graphic for that is still seared onto my brain. Um so okay so um I would say that uh if there is a um countdown to midnight clock it's just moved closer to midnight here. Um who's going to attack Iran? Will it be the US or will it be uh or will it be Israel? >> I think it'll be both of us together. I really do >> holding holding our pinky fingers together. And I'll tell you, Ted, it it frightens me that we want to throw our

[15:01] lot in with Benjamin Netanyahu like this. I I think it weakens us as a country. >> Well, no. I mean, of course. I mean, look, the thing is it's a it's a disastrous policy. I mean, you know, rule number one of political engagement is never start a a battle. You can't win. We can't win this. Um, you know what? What do they think is going to happen? You're going to overthrow the government of Iran. You couldn't overthrow the government of Venezuela. And now you're trying to overthrow the government of Iran. And we're talking about a country of 92 million people. And it is enormous country.

[15:34] >> Yes. >> Very educated people. Yeah. >> Very educated. >> This is this is not Afghanistan under in the 90s. >> That's right. They think Americans think overthrow. >> No, you're right. >> Yeah. And Yeah. So, I mean, part of the problem here is the ignorance. I mean, so they go in together. I mean, obviously, I think this is going to be correct me if I'm wrong. I I think it's just going to be the usual we attacked military targets. Maybe they take out a government ministry or two in Thran. Um but nothing much is going to change

[16:05] except resentment. Um this is about it's about keeping the Israelis happy. It serves no it does nothing for us at all. And by the way, if you know if we care about like getting energy prices, let's make a deal with the Iranians. >> Yeah, you can say that >> they have tons of oil. Yeah, they do. They have tons of >> high quality. We should we should normalize those relations. And it's in a good location there, too. Um, yeah, it's it's it's really it's really annoying.

[16:35] Um, so how dangerous is this? I mean, how could this escalate? I mean, the Iranians did sort of like fire a shot across the bow during the Gaza conflict when they fired a bunch of drones at Israel. >> Yeah. But that was they decided to get more serious attack. That's right. That's right. So in other words, in response to a US/Israeli attack >> um you know how is I mean for domestically the Iranians can't keep taking it on the nose. They've got to

[17:06] respond. My guess is ba based on what I saw in my agency days. >> My guess is that the Iranians will do two things. Well maybe three things. I think in the event of an is of an Israeli attack, they'll respond to Israel, whether it's with rockets or with drones. That's fine. That's everybody would expect that. Um but the Iranians have said, and we should take them at their word, that they will um they will attack American interests in the region, which is military bases. And

[17:38] they have their pick. There are like 44 of them that are in the immediate vicinity. Um remember that joke? why the Iranians put their country right in the middle of our military bases. [laughter] And but number three, >> um and >> that could lead to escalation though. >> Yeah. Number three, and I think they'll cut this when they run this clip on Iranian uh the Iranian news tonight, the Iranians will carry out acts of terrorism against American interests, whether it's, you know, American oil workers or American businesses or

[18:09] whatever it happens to be. If I were an American, a private American, you know, working in Pakistan >> or working in, you know, whatever country, I would be worried >> for my safety. >> Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, honestly, it's it it's Yeah. I don't I I don't want to say I don't blame them, but it's not surprising. >> Yeah. >> Let's put it that way. >> Yeah. It's not surprising. >> Okay. Shall we do some questions and

[18:40] then we'll >> Yeah. But we need to start off by saying thank you to Sodon. >> Thank you. Thank you for what was it? 50 50 uh euros or let me look. >> Yeah. Let me >> $49.99. Thank you. Thank you, Sen. Thank you. >> Yes. And let's ask let's let's get to Salon's question. For $49.99, you get your question out answered. Do we Good morning. Do we think President G's purge of the People's Liberation Army generals is out of strength or desperation?

[19:11] And [clears throat] what should be the U next US move with relations to China? I think it's out of strength. You see, there's been no fallout whatsoever. You're not hearing any complaints from other generals. You're not hearing complaints from Chinese dissident. You're not hearing complaints from anybody. So, I think it's out of a a position of strength and um honestly I think that the United States should be in constant unending economic negotiations with China.

[19:42] >> Oh, I just as a standing policy. We should be constantly negotiating with the Chinese. >> We should be on Yeah, we we should have a close ally of the president on the phone with them every day. >> That's right. I don't even know who our ambassador in China is right now, but our ambassador to China should be like one of the president's closest friends. >> Agreed. >> So that person has direct >> It should almost be cabinet level. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. De facto. Yeah. No, I I agree with that. I mean, look, I want China to be our our partner. I do, too.

[20:12] >> You know, and I think China would like would prefer it that way. They just know that we don't want to. Um, >> and let me add one other thing. There's there's an ongoing problem in China with official corruption. And I I suspected corruption probably played a role in this um in this firing. You know, it's it's one thing to fire a general because maybe you fear that he's becoming too too popular, too important, too powerful, and you push him off to the side. That's not the case here. >> No. President G President G is not

[20:43] worried about that. >> No. >> This is he's he's not Truman, and that's not MacArthur. >> Exactly. Um, thanks for the 10 euros uh from Cookie Rampage. I love that name. >> Thank you. >> I I've been known to go on a cookie rampage. Um, let's see. Uh, thanks for the uh 31 Australian dollars. Uh, Miss April, >> our thoughts on, again, this is a same question. Um, how might the instability impact on China's ability to support Iran if the conflict turns hot? I don't

[21:14] imagine that China would militarily support Iran. Um >> I mean it would just be >> nor would Russia. >> It's too spicy for for for you know China's appetite. >> Plus over the longer term I think the Chinese and the Russians are perfectly happy to see the United States bogged down in this constant conflict in the Middle East because over the long term it weakens us >> and it strengthens them. >> No, that's that's totally true. it. This is like stay out of it. It's classic.

[21:45] Um, so all right, let's do some of these uh other questions here. Um, Funho Busic Music, love the show. Hi guys. John, if you were Polish, if you were Polish, wouldn't you support Poland being in NATO helping to collapse communism? Can I get a signed copy of your book saying that you invented chi cheese whiz? >> Yeah, sure. That's fun. I would do that. Send me an email. Um, yeah, of course. Of course, if I were Polish, I would want Poland to be not just in the in

[22:17] NATO, but in the European Union and yeah, and solidly in the Western camp. Of course, of course I would. But if I were Ukrainian, I would say that the that the, you know, god-given geography of the country is different from that of Poland. And there are >> Poland's geography used to be different, right? I mean, I would say Poland was a classic obviously invasion route, buffer state, in between two blocks. Not so much anymore because of NATO's

[22:47] encroachment, but Ukraine is. It's a >> Well, I mean, it's in it's in Russia's sphere of influence. >> I mean, Russia now owns 20% of it, you know. I mean, >> Exactly. >> Okay. >> Have you ever been to that little what's it called? The little Russian enclave. What's the name of it? >> Oh, well, there's the Transnistria. >> No. No. And there's >> farther north Carabach. And then there's >> No, no, no. In in Poland. >> Oh, no. I have not been there. >> I've not been there either. Kind of would like to just to say I've been in Russia, even though

[23:18] >> I like strange little places. They're they're weird. >> Kenigrad. Thank you, Robbie. >> That's it. That's it. >> Thank you, Robbie. >> Um, East Prussia >> DP. Hey guys, love the show. Keep up the good work. Any chance that Michelle may come back? I mean, there's I mean, you know, look, we haven't >> Welcome, Michelle. >> Yeah, we haven't heard from Michelle. >> No, you know, she sent me she sent me an email. I'm going to say three or four weeks ago, but that was the last I heard. >> She likes me on Facebook sometimes, but

[23:48] you know, um we could talk about it, you know. >> Sure. Sure. >> It's like, you know, it's like she's not frozen out. We like her. >> No, no, we're all friends. Yeah, absolutely. >> So, you know, whatever. Um, you know, I don't even know what she's up to. That actually reminds me I should shoot her. >> Yeah. No, I should I'm I'm glad for that reminder. I I'll give her a ring today and see how she's doing. >> Cool. Uh say hi for me. >> I will. >> Uh HP, what's John's schedule with all of these podcasts? How does he do so many? >> Let me let me show you something. Let me

[24:19] show you something because I'm an idiot. Uh I'm going to show you what my schedule is like tomorrow. Is it tomorrow? No. Here. No, this is just as an example. This is Wednesday. >> Holy [ __ ] >> Yeah. >> Wow. It's every single hour. >> Every single hour. Yeah. That's just Wednesday. And that's that's a normal day. Uh Monday is the same way. One, two, three, four. >> Drink lots of honey.

[24:49] >> And then tomorrow it looks like it's slightly shorter, but it's not because I have a documentary to shoot from 2 to 7. >> Wow. Yeah, >> that's um Okay. Uh Ruby Dog, thoughts on US World Cup boycott talk happening across Europe? Think we'll see any major teams avoid US tournaments if the violence continues? >> I don't think it'll be based on the violence. I think it'll be based on harassment by by customs and immigration and ICE and all these other organizations. >> Let me add something too. I I spoke with

[25:21] uh Stefania Moritzi last night. She's the uh Italian she's the Italian journalist who um was a was a member of Wikileaks and who broke a lot of the Wikileaks the early Wikileaks stories. She told me last night that she's the one who broke this story. She sent me the original article. She's the one who broke the story that Ice is very quietly going to the Winter Olympics. Now, why why would ICE be at the Winter

[25:52] Olympics? Well, so apparently John, what I've read here is that it's not the first time that's happened. Um, historically they have basically called been I guess it's an overtime opportunity, right? Like basically it's an all hands kind of thing. We need lots of security for the US team. So come on over. Um, so I don't think it's new. I don't think it's like a Trumpy thing. I think it happened before. But now of course ISIS on the global [ __ ] list. Yeah. So, >> one of the things that she one of the

[26:22] reasons why she called me last night was that she had discovered that there have you you've heard of um uh HSI, Homeland Security Investigations. There's even a TV show on like the National Geographic channel, whatever, >> um where they follow Homeland Security Investigations. It's like if somebody mails drugs to your house cuz you're a [ __ ] and you just have it sent to your house, they'll intercept the drugs and then they'll bust you, break down the door of your house. Okay. >> I thought that was the postal police. >> It used to be.

[26:52] >> Okay. >> Now they turn it over to Homeland Security Investigations. But what she has just discovered is that there is a Homeland Security Investigations inside ICE that nobody's never nobody's ever known before. It's this like quick action, bust down the door, grab everybody inside kind of organization, but with what authority? I I don't know. And now we've got this

[27:23] news from day before yesterday that they tried to get into the Ecuadorian consulate in Minneapolis. I I just told somebody this morning who emailed me that is akin to an attempted invasion, right? That is sovereign territory. You cannot enter somebody else's embassy or consulate. That's a violation of their sovereign territory. It's an act of war. >> It's very serious. >> And we tried to bust right into the Ecuadorian embassy and grab people who

[27:53] had taken refuge there. So, John, one thing that concerns me is you and I both know that like now that the heat is on and the poll numbers are bad, the Trump administration is obviously going to tamp down the uh you know, ISIS worst behavior in the coming weeks, perhaps months. Uh but basically, they're just going to wait till the heat's off until they can start up again. Um, meanwhile, uh, Schumer, always the master negotiator, sarcasm intended, is negotiating with Trump to avoid, uh, you

[28:23] know, because so many Democrats and enough Republicans are willing to vote against funding DHS this this week that there could be a partial government shutdown for things like TSA and stuff like that. Um, >> and u, I I guess the thing is the Democrats are looking for some reforms like no more masking. they have to identify themselves uh and stuff like that. Um I'm worried that as usual the Democrats are going to settle for very little window dressing, but the fundamentals of ICE as this massive

[28:56] militarized, untrained, unqualified, mean [ __ ] force uh that's militarizing American cities is not going to be is not going to change. We're going to be right back talking about this in two months. Yes, I think so. There's no there's no solution being offered up here. It's just sort of, you know, hit and run, grab and snatch and whatever. I'm worried about it over the long term.

[29:28] >> It does. I mean, should I mean, the is the threat of a of a DHS shutdown really so bad? I mean, I guess there could be lines at the airport. >> No. You know what um DHS said yesterday? Well, it actually may have been the White House that said it that um that even if the government shuts down, they're just going to treat this like a normal shutdown where everybody just continues to work >> and then you get the back pay when it's all settled. >> So, it wouldn't really mention it's not really a heavy travel season. >> No. And the Democrats are all talk

[29:58] anyway. Talk talk. They're not going to do anything. Schumer is a weakling and a coward. He's not going to change anything. >> You know, it Don't get me started on Schumer. I think he's corrupt too on top of it. And I I mean that quite literally. >> I agree with that quite literally. >> I had two two contacts of mine, two people whom I respect told me independently of one another in one week that they had been in the room when Schumer took a bribe. They actually saw him take a bribe.

[30:29] >> That's And and these are credible sources to you. >> Yeah. Serious people. >> That's very serious. >> Yeah, I thought so, too. >> Well, that's like Tom Hman, by the way. He he in his sting operation he accepted $50,000 in cash >> and was allowed to keep it >> and he and his job >> meanwhile you go to prison. >> Yeah. >> Um all right, Flanderina uh Israel and Gaza. What are the chances now that the last uh hostage, of course dead, has been returned, that aid will be allowed

[30:59] to flow freely into Gaza as per the ceasefire agreement, especially considering what actually appears to be happening on the ground, preparations for small controlled internment camps. >> Nope. >> Very little. I mean, >> no. Yeah. Almost almost zero chance. The Israelis want to force every Palestinian out of Gaza. That's that's the policy. >> That's definitely the policy. Um, Nick Nick Orlando, from your intelligence perspective, John, what's more dangerous right now in regard to Iran and the US?

[31:29] Miscalculation or intentional escalation? >> I think it's intentional at this point. I've said a million times, the Democrats always underestimate Donald Trump. They underestimate his resolve. If he makes a decision to attack Iran, that's it. We're going to attack Iran. It's not going to be an issue of miscalculation. It's going to be a conscious policy to overthrow the Iranian government, >> which is I don't even know where they

[32:00] would begin, right? They don't even have an Akmed Chilabi that they think could replace. >> Well, not this not this clown Raza Palavi, >> right? No, that's that's ridiculous. Not going to happen. Uh, by the way, I was watching an old episode of The Sopranos and one of the characters had this hilarious line about >> Phil Leonardo. >> Yeah. It's like it's like, "Oh, he and and this guy, this [ __ ] said, I looked like the Shaw of Iran." >> Yeah, of course he looks >> He did. He looked just like him.

[32:30] [laughter] >> It's hilarious. Um, uh, question for you, John. Thanks for the dollar from TSTC. John, do you know or have any thoughts about Larry C. Johnson, analyst for the >> Oh, sure. Uh yeah, Larry's a friend of mine. He's a serious person. He's far more conservative than I am, but but he's a he's a very serious analyst. His Substack is quite good. Um he's been on all my shows, uh the whistleblowers a couple of times. He's been on Deep Focus. Larry's a good guy and he gives

[33:02] these issues a great deal of thought. >> Uh John, a question for you. High school debate coach. Uh, over the years news has become increasingly partisan. What sources of information do you find most trustworthy? My debaters struggle waiting through bias in sources. I especially must be true, especially if you're younger. >> I mean, you grew up if you when you grew up in this world and you're like 16. I mean, that's crazy. I mean, >> I mean, I remember legacy media and standards. >> I hadn't considered that. That's a very important point he's making there. Um,

[33:36] yeah. I mean, you and I have talked about what our sources of information are, and they're they're from the right to the left and everything in between. That's really the best way. I will say that >> that I spend a lot of time with the Associated Press >> just because, you know, in every in every ranking that you see, every grid that you see, they're in the center of the center. Mhm. >> That's that's always kind of my anchor is AP APnews.com. >> Yeah. No, I I I totally agree with that.

[34:07] Um let's see. Uh uh Robbie, I'm going to bring you in to do you suggested that we talk to people a little bit about Rumble and then if we have an ad, we can do that later. But um yeah. Nope. Sounds good. How do y'all? Uh so no, right now our numbers are off the charts. Over 700 people watching on YouTube live right now. Thank you very much. Thank you. >> And and before anyone talks to me about my the white t-shirt. Yes, I'm wearing it. And if I don't dress fancy for my wife, I ain't going to dress fancy for

[34:38] you either. >> So, [laughter] uh now about Rumble, there are a couple of chats, a couple questions in the chat about where can people go to watch us if YouTube ever does something with the channel. The question is Rumble. Rumble is the free speech alternatives to YouTube. Rumble also pays significantly better than YouTube. YouTube pays based off the ads that come up. Rumble pays based off of watch hours kind of like the way that normal TV does. And so if y'all come over, watch our content here, John and Ted get a bigger paycheck. Also, uh just

[35:12] be honest, Rumble does not censor what they can say. Uh also lastly, whenever people do donate do donations or become channel subscribers, uh YouTube takes a pretty sizable chunk of that. Rumble the creators keep 100% of all your channel of all of the channel subscriptions. It's only $5 a month here on Rumble. And lastly, you can see uh content that rum that uh John and Ted do exclusively on Rumble. And um

[35:42] it's just a great way just to keep on seeing support the show. And also if like 30 of y'all will come over, we could take out a big Republican channel. So I'd love to see that happen. >> Uh and uh do we have an ad? >> Uh we do. I can go ahead and pop that up for you now. >> Please, and do that. Thank you very much, Robbie. Okay. Uh back to uh laundry day over in the West household. Um uh do we think that with the p um uh Hamza do we think that Iran with the panic of the war is seeking nuclear weapons now? If they're not, they should

[36:14] be. >> I've said just like you have, Ted, that um if I were Iranian, I would >> I don't to be honest, but they should be. >> I think they should be. We hear all the time how the Israelis see the Iranians as an existential threat. Well, guess what? Iran sees Israel as an existential threat. So, if I were the leader of Iran, I would absolutely be seeking uh nuclear weapons. You got to protect your

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[37:47] have a loved one dealing with pain, inflammation, or recovery issues, this is a gift that actually makes sense. To learn more, go to bylifewwater.com or scan the QR code on screen. Okay. Um, very well. Um, okay. Sorry. Um, uh, question for John from Fasmataz. A guest of Patrick Bet David couple years ago, former head of Mossad, Chabtai Shaveit, said that the Sha begged the

[38:19] MSAD to kill Kmeni in Paris. They refused any comment. >> I'm sure that's true. I'm sure that's true. I remember at the CIA people having conversations about why Humeni wasn't taken out in Paris. >> Yeah. And remember the Israelis and the Iranians under the Sha diplomatic revolution. Yeah. >> Yes. Uh they had diplomatic relations. >> Um what is the risk to the US homeland if we have a fullout war with Iran? Cyber attacks, asymmetric warfare. >> Yes. Yes. Yes.

[38:51] >> Yes. And yes, and lots of other stuff. >> Yeah. Yeah. And oh, and not to mention serious disruption of oil shipments through the Persian Gulf. And not just Iranian. >> The Iranians have would have literally nothing to lose by shutting down the Straits of Hormuz. And something like 40% of the world's oil comes comes out through the uh the Straits of Horm. >> Yeah, we'd be feeling the hurt within within months. The US economy would really be suffering. Um, Cosmo Retro Gaming. I find it crazy. We have so many people in the government that don't care about people. We elected them to represent us. No [ __ ]

[39:22] >> Yeah. >> But yeah, >> got that right. >> Um, logger jogger. John, any recent Lincoln artifact finds? I love your story about the fake Lincoln deuce. Ted, do you collect anything weird? >> I do. >> Robbie, do you mind coming on for literally 30 seconds while I go grab my latest Lincoln bind? >> Thank you. I'll be right back. >> All right, we'll we'll wait for for John to do that. I'll I'll go ahead and answer that question myself. Um, so anything weird? Um, I do collect Well, I I don't know.

[39:54] It's not really weird. I mean, I I'm a big collector, though. Probably um the the weirdest thing I collect is uh World War II propaganda. I love posters, pamphlets, um you know, any kind of it doesn't matter, fascist, anti-fascist, uh doesn't matter. Um I'm very partial to posters about weird moments in history. For example, when the Nazis were withdrawing from occupied France, their last poster that they put on the wall basically told the told the population, "We will be back and German

[40:25] law continues to apply while we're gone." And uh and so when we come back, we're going to check on all you frogs and make sure you all obeyed German law while we were gone. >> So, here it is. This is the New York Herald from the day after Lincoln's assassination. It's the extra extra read all about it. Death of the President. >> Wow. >> Yeah. Pretty cool, right? >> And by the way, th that writing, believe it or not, by today's standards, that that extra extra >> Yeah. >> is minute. But by that standard, it was

[40:55] huge because all the type was minute back then. >> Yeah. Pretty cool, right? >> That is very cool. >> Yep. Probably. >> How much did that put you out? >> 650 bucks. >> Okay. All right. I'm taking Robbie out here. Unless you have something to say about your favorite president. >> Um, no. I mean, [laughter] I mean, probably the the coolest thing that I have is my grandfather's grandfather's Confederate saber. >> That's cool. Those are very collectible.

[41:26] >> Yeah. And because he never surrendered and so after appamatics, he just left. And so, >> uh, that's the whole reason why we still have it. Long story short, his family was outside of Atlanta when Sherman went went through it and the blue bellies hung his wife and his kids. So he just kept killing like another two years after the war and they just out revenge. >> You know that that was actually quite common in places like Missouri and Kansas. The war was over a year, two years and there were still raiders out there just killing people. >> Yep. And he

[41:57] >> Yeah. He moved down to Mobile and he moved down to Mobile, got remarried and so that's what it is. You got the sword of one day my son will inherit it. >> I'm obsessed with 45s. Love them. >> That is awesome. >> And so I especially, you know, like the the pictures the this is the >> weird housewife band called Liiput who were >> great graphics. >> Yeah, >> right. Totally question for you, Ted, because you collect the old uh those propaganda posters. Did you ever see the

[42:27] one from after Pearl Harbor uh that had a picture of uh of uh General Lee saying, "I fought for Virginia, now it's your turn." And it was a recruitment poster for the Navy. >> No, I didn't. I've not seen that. That's great, though. >> That's cool. We've got some cool stuff here. >> I love Yeah, I love I'm I'm very partial to striking graphics, especially when it's like two threecolor process. Um, it's like the limitations of art are what make great art. All right. Thanks,

[42:59] Robbie. Um, oh, well, I I I got rid of the wrong person here. There we go. Okay. Uh, John, um, who Maria J. Stefen heard that she was behind a lot of color revolutions in Latin America. Cedar on Co Bear. Also glad you didn't take one for the team. Great interview and thanks for the two bucks. Um, let's see. Okay. Did we know that the majority of Somalis in Minnesota came to the US legally with the help of Protestant and Catholic

[43:29] charities in the 90s because of the civil war there? Yeah. >> Yes. >> That's not in dispute. >> No. >> Um >> John, what is the NRO's main job? Ray wants to know. Heard that they're above all other intelligence agencies. Wondered if you could explain their role in the intelligence community. >> No, NRO is is uh [snorts] joined very closely with CIA. It's a DoD entity, but it's joined very closely with CIA. It's the National Reconnaissance Office, and they're the ones that um manage the satellites that CIA and DIA analysts use

[44:03] in their order of battle >> um analysis, just watching military movements from around the world. It's a very important job. [snorts] >> Um >> used to be called the Office of Imagery Analysis back in the day. >> Ah, I like that name better. Um, PNM, thanks for the five Canadian dollars. Do you think Alberta would be annexed by the US for our oil if we separate from Canada? >> No, I don't. Because it's shale oil just like the shale oil that we have in the Eastern United States. It's hard to get

[44:34] to. It's only cost effective if oil is over $65 a barrel and it would be an act of war. >> Assuming that we survive, thanks for the five bucks. um think assuming we survive to 2028, what likely candidates would you or would not vote for? What policies should they run on? Will anyone reject Apac money? >> I I was having this very conversation last night with a with a MAGA Republican buddy of mine and he said the funniest thing. He said that the only candidate

[45:04] that he likes so far and he doesn't even like him very much is Roana. And I said Roana? That's >> I said he's he's the the most genuinely left-wing um person being >> he's the squattiest of the squad. >> Yeah, exactly. He's the squattiest of the squad. And he said, "Yeah, but I I like his foreign policy except on on Israel." And I said, you know, I've I've come to an early conclusion that uh that uh

[45:38] only the Green and the Libertarian, even though they haven't been chosen yet, but only the Green and the Libertarian are going to be acceptable to me in the end. >> Yeah. No, for sure. Me, too. I mean, I can't imagine any Democrat um you know, who is capable of even getting on the debate stage, much less getting the nomination, is gonna I mean, the DNC is completely irredeemable. Yeah, I think the Republican nominee is almost certainly going to be JD Vance. >> I I think so. Although, um I we shouldn't rule out Marco Rubio.

[46:12] >> Agreed. >> Yeah, but JD would really have to [ __ ] up. I mean, >> it's a long I you know, the conversation he's having with Usha is, you know, honey, it's a long it's gonna be a long two years between now and the beginning of the primaries. You know, >> that's right. >> I mean, anything can and will happen. And I think Ted Cruz's mom told him he should run again because he's making those noises. >> I say mom because she's like the only person who would actually vote for him. >> Isn't he supposed to be out like killing Kennedy's? Isn't that his job?

[46:42] >> Yeah. I think that's his family legacy. [laughter] Yeah. Killing JFK, right? >> Um uh Kevin Cronin, does anyone believe after a full year in absolute power that the Trump administration and the Republicans are helping working men and women? No. Uh, does General Makmood, was he involved in the cover up over Daniel Pearl Mechmood? [sighs and gasps] Boy, that's a tough one. Um, it's

[47:13] possible, you know, watch, I'm going to get a dozen Pakistani death threats again. Uh, yeah. I mean the Pakistani government just by its very nature is corrupt and um sure it's possible. >> That's for Yeah. I mean to say to put a to put a light uh to put a light touch on it. Yeah, for sure. Um DJ 928. Uh John, random question. Are the so-cal are so-called crime syndicates a problem or more hyped up than they are?

[47:43] >> Yeah, they're not really a problem. you know, you've got th this this Irish syndicate that's based in Dubai and you've got the five families in New York and and you've got the remnants of what used to be the Cray brothers in the UK. And you know, if that's your thing, if you're an MI5 guy or an FBI agent or, you know, Irish anti-moneylaundering squad, yeah, that's a living for you. But I don't think they're that big of a deal in the greater scheme of things. >> Arya Hagaran, good question. And do you what do you think the people's role what

[48:15] do we think the ro people's role in Iran will people's role in Iran will be if regime change happens? A lot of Iranians want the regime ch want regime change because of years of religious oppression and socioeconomic reasons. >> That's true. >> Yeah. >> Um it be bloody. >> Yeah. It's going to be bloody either way. >> Yeah. I mean I think you and I talked about strong possibility of civil >> Yeah. You know, I read an article yesterday, Ted, saying that uh the Iranian government says there were 3,117

[48:45] people killed, but some independent viewers put the number far higher. One says it was 3,500. It's like, come on, relax. >> Yeah. >> Not that much higher. >> It's not like I mean, one's too many, right? >> Yeah. One's too many. Exactly. One's too many. Um Jay, um another viewer asking how you could get a signed book from you, John. >> Oh, um you know, I I don't I don't have the first one. They're they're just

[49:16] they're out of print and they're gone. And I regret that I don't have them, but um but the go to rarebirdlit.com for the autographed cemetery book and then I'm awaiting shipment of 2,000 copies of my second book, Doing Time Like a Spy. I can I can send that to you directly. Um but yeah, drop me an email. Um, John, this is a question that I have

[49:47] interest in. If you get the your pension back, will you continue to do what you do or will you just retire? >> Oh, no. I I don't think I will ever retire unless I'm too sick to work. But, God forbid that that happens. But no, no. I This is my life. I enjoy it. I I would work for free just for fun because I >> By speaking of that, uh, Jeral Thomas, a friend of the show, uh, former colleague, he is doing I' I've been talking to him. He's doing better. Uh he's expecting to be back on the air soon. >> Great. >> Uh just something to people who are

[50:18] curious. Um >> what was wrong with Jamar? >> Oh uh Jamal had a stroke. >> What? >> It was a mini stroke. But um yeah, he basically lost partial vision in a lot of his vision in one eye in his left eye. And uh he was he had to rush back from you know whatever godforsaken former Soviet country he was in place. >> Yeah. >> He's 20 years younger than we are. I know. I know. Yeah. I don't know why. I don't know how it or why it happened. I mean, I don't think anyone ever knows.

[50:50] >> It's just a reminder of agility of life, but he, you know, he is, it is a mini stroke and, you know, he is young and he's a, you know, he's a strapping guy. He's in shape. So, I think he'll rec he'll bounce back, you know. >> And poor Lee Stranahan is >> Yeah. >> It's not good. >> No, it's not good. Sorry. Um, okay. Uh, um, let's get it straight. Bro, priest of Hiroshima says, "Minnesota is promised to the Somali 3,000 years ago."

[51:21] [laughter] We are number 12 on Rumble. Robbie wants us to know. >> Okay, great. >> But we want to be number one. Um Kiara the question in long is in long-term destabilizing Iran is in long in destabilizing Iran is is a dangerous game for the US and the current regime is a threat to the Israelis. So with the perspective of power shifting from MAGA to neocons in Washington. >> Um okay this is I'm sorry I >> Yeah. Okay. Um Desert Fox, what do we

[51:53] think of G Oh, I love this question. What do I think of geoengineering and cloud seating? The Iranian president mentioned this at the UN and that is full disclosure something that John and I are thinking of writing a book that would be the plot would be about that in many ways. I think it's terrifying. Um I understand as a former engineering major the urge to have a get a sort of a quick solution to climate change. Um but the danger of overshooting or unintended consequences in a complicated ecosystem

[52:25] in a on a planet that we haven't fully explored um is so I mean we could really have a catastrophic uh you know situation where you could end up with a a mass extinction event caused while trying to avoid a mass extinction event. Um, so I guess the thing is I don't think our scientists are smart enough to do this and I don't think our politicians are smart enough to let our smartest scientists do this the right way. I think there's too many

[52:57] there's too many cooks in the kitchen. I mean, you know, I would want, if we were ever going to do this though, I would say you need like a consortium of the best scientists from around the world so that we're all in it together and we're figuring it out and it can't be political. How are we going to do that? >> Yeah, >> good question. >> I mean, also, I mean, I don't know. We probably just should not have polluted so much, you know? Exactly. How about that? John caught your podcast with

[53:27] Diary of a CEO. Laughed hard. Thank you. >> Did you take one for the team with the ugliest woman with her hairy mole and your boss saying you had to [ __ ] her? I wish I'd heard this. >> Thank god that I I didn't. >> Um I foolishly was willing to when I thought it [clears throat] was part of the job. [laughter] Um, >> my gay friend used to say that everyone's just five margaritas away from [ __ ] anyone. >> Yeah, [snorts] I um I was not

[53:59] exaggerating when I said she was the ugliest woman I had ever seen in my life where where I had to avert my eyes when looking at her. That's how bad it was. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> I don't Okay. Well, so I had I had this [laughter] just reminds me appropo of nothing. I had a friend in college. Um, he and I would, you know, we were each other's wingmen. We'd go out like scamming for girls at like, you know, college dances and local bars. And I rapidly learned that he he his fetish was that he only liked ugly women. So,
