We’re trying something new here on Hold These Truths: a weekly SITREP (Situation Report) on news of the day with real time insights into what’s happening in Congress, the country, and the world. This will now be your one stop shop for real news. <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Matt Gaetz ethics report</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> AOC loses ranking member of Oversight Committee</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> The Continuing Resolution</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Rethinking the budget process</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Unknowns in Syria</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Corruption in China’s military</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Assassinations in Moscow</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Salt Typhoon (not a James Bond movie)</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> DOE’s ban on gas exports</li> <li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"> Trans activists lose their institutional support</li> </ul>

<description>&lt;p class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; We’re trying something new here on Hold These Truths: a weekly SITREP (Situation Report) on news of the day with real time insights into what’s happening in Congress, the country, and the world. This will now be your one stop shop for real news.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul type="disc"&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Matt Gaetz ethics report&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; AOC loses ranking member of Oversight Committee&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; The Continuing Resolution&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Rethinking the budget process&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Unknowns in Syria&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Corruption in China’s military&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Assassinations in Moscow&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Salt Typhoon (not a James Bond movie)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; DOE’s ban on gas exports&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="MsoNormal" style= "mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style= "font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"&gt; Trans activists lose their institutional support&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt;</description>

We’re trying something new here on Hold These Truths: a weekly SITREP (Situation Report) on news of the day with real time insights into what’s happening in Congress, the country, and the world. This will now be your one stop shop for real news.  ...

SITREP 18-DEC-2024: Undecided on the CR

John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to explore the historical evolution of urban combat and analyze modern strategies for conquering and defending cities. John discusses how urban warfare is playing out in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Ukraine. And he envisions the most likely scenarios for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, along with potential U.S.-Mexico counterinsurgency efforts against the cartels. •    The evolution of urban warfare •    Regime change and chaos in Syria •    Why willpower often trumps raw numbers •    Hezbollah’s decimation and its implications •    Israeli airstrikes in post-Assad Syria •    “The way you take a city is psychologically.” •    Russia’s miscalculation in Kiev and Ukraine’s resistance •    How Gaza’s conflict was unlike any other •    Why banning missiles could result in more civilian casualties •    Debunking the “Zero Dark Thirty” Fallacy •    “Is that Batman??” •    Why the pager operation wouldn’t have worked in Gaza •    More common misconceptions: The Abacus, Vampire, and Peace Table Fallacies •    Taiwan’s defenses and civilian preparation for invasion •    U.S.-Mexico counterinsurgency strategies to combat cartels John Spencer currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. He also serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies with the Madison Policy Forum, a New York based think-tank. He is a founding member of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare. He is the author of three books: Understanding Urban Warfare, (Howgate Publishing, 2022), Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War (Potomac Books, 2022; Winner of the 2023 Gold Medal Award, Best Military History Memoir, Military Writers Society of America), The Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender (John Spencer, 2022). Follow him on X at <a href="https://x.com/SpencerGuard" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">@SpencerGuard</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to explore the historical evolution of urban combat and analyze modern strategies for conquering and defending cities. John discusses how urban warfare is playing out in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Ukraine. And he envisions the most likely scenarios for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, along with potential U.S.-Mexico counterinsurgency efforts against the cartels.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    The evolution of urban warfare&lt;br /&gt; •    Regime change and chaos in Syria&lt;br /&gt; •    Why willpower often trumps raw numbers&lt;br /&gt; •    Hezbollah’s decimation and its implications&lt;br /&gt; •    Israeli airstrikes in post-Assad Syria&lt;br /&gt; •    “The way you take a city is psychologically.”&lt;br /&gt; •    Russia’s miscalculation in Kiev and Ukraine’s resistance&lt;br /&gt; •    How Gaza’s conflict was unlike any other&lt;br /&gt; •    Why banning missiles could result in more civilian casualties&lt;br /&gt; •    Debunking the “Zero Dark Thirty” Fallacy&lt;br /&gt; •    “Is that Batman??”&lt;br /&gt; •    Why the pager operation wouldn’t have worked in Gaza&lt;br /&gt; •    More common misconceptions: The Abacus, Vampire, and Peace Table Fallacies&lt;br /&gt; •    Taiwan’s defenses and civilian preparation for invasion&lt;br /&gt; •    U.S.-Mexico counterinsurgency strategies to combat cartels&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;John Spencer currently serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point, Co-Director of the Urban Warfare Project, and host of the Urban Warfare Project podcast. He also serves as the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies with the Madison Policy Forum, a New York based think-tank. He is a founding member of the International Working Group on Subterranean Warfare.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;He is the author of three books: Understanding Urban Warfare, (Howgate Publishing, 2022), Connected Soldiers: Life, Leadership, and Social Connections in Modern War (Potomac Books, 2022; Winner of the 2023 Gold Medal Award, Best Military History Memoir, Military Writers Society of America), The Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender (John Spencer, 2022).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Follow him on X at &lt;a href="https://x.com/SpencerGuard" target= "_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;@SpencerGuard&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

John Spencer is the Chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute at West Point. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to explore the historical evolution of urban combat and analyze modern strategies for conquering and defending cities. John discusses...

Lessons In Urban Warfare, From Syria to Taiwan | John Spencer

American Foreign Policy Council’s Ilan Berman gives us the 101 on the past, present, and possible future of the Iranian regime, Middle East geopolitics, and the potential for Starlink as a tool to topple authoritarian regimes.   ·      What do the Iranian dissidents want from the United States? ·      Is the Iranian regime at a tipping point? ·      The changing demographics in Iran ·      How 1979 changed everything ·      The CIA boogeyman ·      Recapping U.S. – Iran historical relations ·      “They’ve had a gun to Israel’s head for a while.” ·      What’s the Iranian regime thinking now? ·      The cold-hearted rationality of Middle East politics ·      Why Iran might fast-track development of a nuclear bomb ·      Three scenarios for a post-ayatollah Iran ·      Why the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps isn’t going away ·      How Elon Musk’s Starlink could transform geopolitics ·      China’s race to dominate space-based digital connectivity ·      Africa’s population boom   Ilan Berman is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. Follow him on X at <a href= "https://x.com/ilanberman" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">@ilanberman</a>.

<description>&lt;p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"&gt;&lt;span class= "normaltextrun" style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;American Foreign Policy Council’s Ilan Berman gives us the 101 on the past, present, and possible future of the Iranian regime, Middle East geopolitics, and the potential for Starlink as a tool to topple authoritarian regimes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;What do the Iranian dissidents want from the United States?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Is the Iranian regime at a tipping point?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;The changing demographics in Iran&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;How 1979 changed everything&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;The CIA boogeyman&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Recapping U.S. – Iran historical relations&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;“They’ve had a gun to Israel’s head for a while.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;What’s the Iranian regime thinking now?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;The cold-hearted rationality of Middle East politics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Why Iran might fast-track development of a nuclear bomb&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Three scenarios for a post-ayatollah Iran&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Why the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps isn’t going away&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;How Elon Musk’s Starlink could transform geopolitics&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;China’s race to dominate space-based digital connectivity&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; vertical-align: baseline; margin: 0in 0in 0in .5in;"&gt; &lt;span style="font-size: 14pt;"&gt; &lt;!-- [if !supportLists]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Symbol;"&gt;&lt;span style= "mso-list: Ignore;"&gt;·&lt;span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"&gt;     &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span class="normaltextrun"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Africa’s population boom&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"&gt;&lt;span style= "font-size: 14pt;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt;Ilan Berman&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Cambria, serif;"&gt; is Senior Vice President of the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. An expert on regional security in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Russian Federation, he has consulted for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency as well as the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, and has also provided assistance on foreign policy and national security issues to a range of governmental agencies and congressional offices. Follow him on X at &lt;a href= "https://x.com/ilanberman" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"&gt;@ilanberman&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

American Foreign Policy Council’s Ilan Berman gives us the 101 on the past, present, and possible future of the Iranian regime, Middle East geopolitics, and the potential for Starlink as a tool to topple authoritarian regimes.    ...

Will Elon Musk’s Starlink Transform Geopolitics? | Ilan Berman

David Harsanyi returns to discuss his new book “The Rise of BlueAnon: How the Democrats Became a Party of Conspiracy Theorists.” David reveals how the Left has been consumed by a uniquely dangerous and delusional brand of conspiracy theories. And unlike those on the Right, the Left’s conspiracy theories are rarely kept in check by mainstream institutions. Fun and insightful conversation with one of America’s smartest conservative writers. •    How do we define a conspiracy theory? •    The psychology of crowds •    Why “Russia collusion” was an effective conspiracy theory •    How Adam Schiff played everybody •    The limits of skepticism •    Victimhood and paranoia •    The BLM riots and police assassinations •    Why the left doesn’t want students to learn civics •    “I wish someone would do something about how fat I am” •    What people get wrong about Big Pharma •    Antisemitism and the left •    What happened to the groypers? •    Social media and children’s mental health •    Climate alarmism •    Rachel Maddow and other successful purveyors of conspiracy theories •    “You don’t need to be like your enemy.” •    Delusions of living in The Handmaid’s Tale •    The viability argument •    How leftists sidestep the morality debate David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of several bestselling books. A contributor to the New York Post, his work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reason, USA Today, National Review, and numerous other publications, and he has been featured on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, and dozens of radio talk shows across the country. Follow him on X at <a href="https://x.com/davidharsanyi" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">@davidharsanyi</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;David Harsanyi returns to discuss his new book “The Rise of BlueAnon: How the Democrats Became a Party of Conspiracy Theorists.” David reveals how the Left has been consumed by a uniquely dangerous and delusional brand of conspiracy theories. And unlike those on the Right, the Left’s conspiracy theories are rarely kept in check by mainstream institutions. Fun and insightful conversation with one of America’s smartest conservative writers.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    How do we define a conspiracy theory?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    The psychology of crowds&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Why “Russia collusion” was an effective conspiracy theory&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    How Adam Schiff played everybody&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    The limits of skepticism&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Victimhood and paranoia&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    The BLM riots and police assassinations&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Why the left doesn’t want students to learn civics&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    “I wish someone would do something about how fat I am”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    What people get wrong about Big Pharma&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Antisemitism and the left&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    What happened to the groypers?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Social media and children’s mental health&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Climate alarmism&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Rachel Maddow and other successful purveyors of conspiracy theories&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    “You don’t need to be like your enemy.”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    Delusions of living in The Handmaid’s Tale&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    The viability argument&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt; •    How leftists sidestep the morality debate&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of several bestselling books. A contributor to the New York Post, his work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reason, USA Today, National Review, and numerous other publications, and he has been featured on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, and dozens of radio talk shows across the country. Follow him on X at &lt;a href="https://x.com/davidharsanyi" target= "_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;@davidharsanyi&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

David Harsanyi returns to discuss his new book “The Rise of BlueAnon: How the Democrats Became a Party of Conspiracy Theorists.” David reveals how the Left has been consumed by a uniquely dangerous and delusional brand of conspiracy theories. And...

The ‘BlueAnon’ Playbook for Turning Conspiracy Theories into Mainstream Narratives | David Harsanyi

Paul Scharre is an artificial intelligence expert who led the Department of Defense’s working group to establish policies on autonomous weapons systems. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the latest (unclassified) capabilities of AI on the battlefield, the AI arms race with China, and the fine line between utopia and apocalypse which emerging AI tech has to offer us. •    Equipping Congress to deal with Artificial Intelligence •    How software has changed since the 1990s •    No rules: the machine is learning on its own •    Emergence of robots in the Iraq War •    The Pentagon’s policy on autonomous weapons •    Drones over Ukraine •    The 4 Battlegrounds of Artificial Intelligence •    The data race with China •    “Why did ChatGPT say that?” •    Chinese spies infiltrating American tech •    Integrating more AI into the U.S. military •    China’s 1984 Nightmare in Xinjiang Province •    “They literally call it SkyNet.” •    Scary hypotheticals for when AI “becomes human” •    “We’ve seen models engage in spontaneous deception.” •    AI cooperation agreements with China •    How do we regulate the next frontiers of AI? •    Could AI build a nuclear weapon? Paul Scharre is the Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security. He is the author of "Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" and "Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War." Scharre previously worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) where he played a leading role in establishing policies on unmanned and autonomous systems and emerging weapons technologies. He led the Department of Defense (DoD) working group that drafted DoD Directive 3000.09, establishing the department’s policies on autonomy in weapon systems. He also led DoD efforts to establish policies on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programs and directed energy technologies. Scharre was involved in the drafting of policy guidance in the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance, 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, and secretary-level planning guidance. Prior to joining OSD, Scharre served as a special operations reconnaissance team leader in the Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion and completed multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne, Ranger, and Sniper Schools and Honor Graduate of the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Indoctrination Program. Follow Paul on X at <a href="https://x.com/paul_scharre" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">@paul_scharre</a>.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Paul Scharre is an artificial intelligence expert who led the Department of Defense’s working group to establish policies on autonomous weapons systems. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the latest (unclassified) capabilities of AI on the battlefield, the AI arms race with China, and the fine line between utopia and apocalypse which emerging AI tech has to offer us.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Equipping Congress to deal with Artificial Intelligence&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    How software has changed since the 1990s&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    No rules: the machine is learning on its own&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Emergence of robots in the Iraq War&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    The Pentagon’s policy on autonomous weapons&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Drones over Ukraine&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    The 4 Battlegrounds of Artificial Intelligence&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    The data race with China&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    “Why did ChatGPT say that?”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Chinese spies infiltrating American tech&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Integrating more AI into the U.S. military&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    China’s 1984 Nightmare in Xinjiang Province&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    “They literally call it SkyNet.”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Scary hypotheticals for when AI “becomes human”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    “We’ve seen models engage in spontaneous deception.”&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    AI cooperation agreements with China&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    How do we regulate the next frontiers of AI?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;•    Could AI build a nuclear weapon?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Paul Scharre is the Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security. He is the author of "Four Battlegrounds: Power in the Age of Artificial Intelligence" and "Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War."&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Scharre previously worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) where he played a leading role in establishing policies on unmanned and autonomous systems and emerging weapons technologies. He led the Department of Defense (DoD) working group that drafted DoD Directive 3000.09, establishing the department’s policies on autonomy in weapon systems. He also led DoD efforts to establish policies on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance programs and directed energy technologies. Scharre was involved in the drafting of policy guidance in the 2012 Defense Strategic Guidance, 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, and secretary-level planning guidance.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Prior to joining OSD, Scharre served as a special operations reconnaissance team leader in the Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion and completed multiple tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the Army’s Airborne, Ranger, and Sniper Schools and Honor Graduate of the 75th Ranger Regiment’s Ranger Indoctrination Program.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Follow Paul on X at &lt;a href="https://x.com/paul_scharre" target= "_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;@paul_scharre&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Paul Scharre is an artificial intelligence expert who led the Department of Defense’s working group to establish policies on autonomous weapons systems. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to cover the latest (unclassified) capabilities of AI on the...

Modern Battlegrounds: The AI Arms Race | Paul Scharre

Congressman Dan Crenshaw joins the world's leading experts for deep and insightful conversations about the most important issues facing us today.

Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

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