By The FirstMike Baker speaks with Kyiv-based analyst Jason Jay Smart about Russia’s faltering economy — and how new sanctions aimed at its oil sector could deal a crippling blow.
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Who Are The Muslim Brotherhood?
Mike is joined by Mariam Wahba of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies to examine the origins, ideology, and global reach of the Muslim Brotherhood. Wahba explains how the group operates, where its influence is strongest, and what could happen if President Trump moves forward with designating the organization as a foreign terrorist entity.
Ryan McBeth On Why Iran Should Be Scared Of Saudi F-35s
Mike speaks with Open Source Intelligence Analyst Ryan McBeth about the potential sale of U.S. F-35s to Saudi Arabia. McBeth breaks down what the jets would actually give Riyadh on Day One, the strategic risks Washington is weighing, and why Tehran has good reason to be uneasy about a Saudi fleet of stealth fighters.
Why China Is Threatening Japan
Mike speaks with author Gordon Chang about the sharp turn in relations between China and Japan after a recent statement from Tokyo triggered an aggressive response from Beijing. They explore what China found so provocative, why Chinese officials escalated their rhetoric so quickly, and how this dispute fits into a larger pattern of China pressuring its neighbors. Chang breaks down Beijing’s strategic motives, Tokyo’s growing security posture, and why this moment could mark a more confrontational phase in the China-Japan relationship.
The Economic Trap Keeping Putin in the War
Mike sits down with author and sanctions expert Edward Fishman to break down the mounting economic pressure on the Kremlin. They discuss how Western restrictions on Russian oil exports are cutting deep into Moscow’s revenue, why the sanctions regime is proving more durable than many expected, and how the strain on Russia’s finances is creating a political trap that makes it far harder for Vladimir Putin to wind down the war in Ukraine—even if he wanted to. Fishman lays out what the numbers show, how the Kremlin is attempting to adapt, and why the economic squeeze could shape Putin’s next moves on the battlefield.
Iranian Exile Explains Why a Water Shortage Could Bring Down the Mullahs
Iran is running out of water—and the crisis may do what protests and sanctions couldn’t: threaten the survival of the regime. As reservoirs hit historic lows and rationing spreads across major cities, public anger is rising. Iranian exile and National Council of Resistance of Iran spokesman Shahin Gobadi explains why the country is approaching “water bankruptcy,” how decades of mismanagement created the disaster, and why the mullahs are more vulnerable to this crisis than they want the world to believe.
US Navy Admiral Reveals Beijing’s Most Likely Plan to Break Taiwan
Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery breaks down the threat most Americans haven’t heard about: China’s strategy to cripple Taiwan without ever launching an invasion. From cyberattacks on energy infrastructure to cutting off liquefied natural gas shipments, Beijing has the ability to push Taiwan into blackout and chaos in a matter of weeks. Admiral Montgomery walks us through the latest war-game results, why Washington may be unprepared, and the steps the U.S. and its allies must take now to stop this scenario before it begins.