Is America's Influence Eroding? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

We break down Russia’s use of gig-economy recruits and online networks for espionage and violence, the growing damage to U.S. bases across the Middle East, and what Iran may be gaining strategically from the conflict. We also discuss the Houthis’ leverage over another maritime choke point, the messy legacy of U.S. proxy warfare in Syria, and how Saudi, Emirati, Omani, and other regional actors are hedging as American influence erodes. Support the show on Patreon:⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse Jack's news outlet:⬇️ https://thehighside.substack.com/ Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️ Jon's Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett Jon's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett Check out Mick's new podcast here:⬇️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/pub-and-porch-applied-stoicism/id1836955475 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1k3QPmkAMwnGJxMLDwUSSd?si=n6piIu8XRcag1Z0K43A3bQ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCd0Hq6QFk8CoTu5j-VU0Ong  Find Mick Mulroy here:  Fogbow ⬇️ https://fogbow.com/ Lobo Institute ⬇️ https://www.loboinstitute.org/ Twitter ⬇️ https://x.com/mickmulroy?s=21&t=-Ze3F_Ix2vlJ18KFvORTCA LinkedIn ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-patrick-mulroy-31198b52/ Whitefish security summit ⬇️ https://whitefishsecuritysummit.com Find Marc P here: https://x.com/Mpolymer Find Andy Milburn here:  Twitter ⬇️ https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8 LinkedIn ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023 Substack ⬇️ https://amilburn.substack.com/ Andy’s book ⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations 00:00 – Start 01:05 – Russia’s New Gig-Economy Espionage Model 02:36 – Foreign Governments Hiring Proxies for Assassinations 03:18 – Russian Online Networks & Recruitment for Violence 05:00 – The KGB’s History of Using Terrorist Proxies 06:11 – Is Russia Directing Online Chaos? 07:24 – Chinese Influence, Ghost Guns & Suspicious Networks in the U.S. 09:20 – Accelerationism & Using Chaos as a Weapon 10:14 – Recruiting Vulnerable People Online 11:20 – How Intelligence Services Slowly Escalate Recruits 12:27 – Iran Recruiting Israelis Through Fake Relationships 14:03 – The Damage to U.S. Bases Across the Middle East 15:06 – Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain Is Effectively Abandoned 15:59 – Losing America’s Foothold Inside the Strait of Hormuz 16:41 – Did the Pentagon Expect Its Gulf Bases to Get Hit? 18:34 – Why Deterrence Against Iran Failed 19:32 – Has Iran Strategically Defeated the U.S.? 20:50 – What Would It Actually Take to Defeat Iran? 21:21 – Iran’s Likely Endgame in the Strait of Hormuz 23:19 – Gulf States Are Beginning to Hedge Away From Washington 24:47 – Houthis Threaten a Second Maritime Choke Point 25:39 – Why the U.S. Is Now Talking Directly to the Houthis 27:23 – Houthis Say Saudi Shipping Is the Target 27:58 – The Mecca Agreement Is Already Being Tested 28:56 – Who Actually Struck Mecca? 30:08 – Saudi Arabia’s Secret Counter-Iran Programs 31:26 – The Gig Economy of Proxy Warfare 32:35 – Timber Sycamore & the Chaos of the Syrian War 34:45 – The Myth of the “Moderate Rebels” 36:30 – When the U.S. Bought Syrian Rebels Xboxes 37:05 – Trying to Get U.S. TOW Missiles Back From Warlords 37:43 – Did the TOW Missile Program Actually Work? 39:21 – Assad’s Intelligence Services & Fear as a Weapon 40:52 – Why the Houthis Aren’t Simply Iranian Proxies 42:11 – Who Was Operating the Captured Saudi Equipment? 43:32 – Saudi vs. Emirati Proxy Forces in Yemen 43:59 – Oman’s Role in the Yemen & Hormuz Crisis 45:50 – JSOC Operations in Eastern Yemen 46:32 – The Failed U.S. Strike in Yemen During the Soleimani Operation 47:24 – Could Yemen’s Rival Factions Be Turned Against Each Other? 47:30 – UAE Mercenaries & Covert Operations in Yemen 48:14 – The UAE’s Huge Paydays for Former U.S. Intelligence Personnel 48:45 – Foreign Officers Running Emirati Elite Units 49:00 – Training the UAE Presidential Guard 50:36 – Closing Thoughts 51:02 – American Insurgent & Final Plug 51:29 – End Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.