Hero Or Scoundrel? Putting Iran's Ali Khamenei To Rest (S01E101)

The Energy Crisis Is Still Not Over (S01E102)

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Paris Is the oil shock finished? Not really. Energy analyst Robin Mills joins the latest edition of badlands for an interview on whether the tentative opening of the Strait of Hormuz will lead to a normalization of energy prices. Mills says energy is still below pre-war levels, in part because Gulf states are tentative about ramping up production. In today’s edition, I also discuss the latest kerfuffle over FIFA, the worldwide soccer organization that seemed to bend to Donald Trump’s will over a red card issued to an American player. (The US team still lost badly to Belgium). Plus, in an interview with the radio program The World, I discuss the future of Iran following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the consolidation of power by a new crop of regime stalwarts. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe [https://borzou.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Hero Or Scoundrel? Putting Iran's Ali Khamenei To Rest (S01E101)

Monday, July 6, 2026, Paris Millions of people are taking part in ceremonies marking the Feb. 28 death of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a confounding historical figure who ruled Iran for 37 years. I wrote extensively about Khamenei [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-ali-khamanei-supreme-leader-grand-ayatollah-islamic-republic-80-birthday-a9011186.html] in an article some years ago. But he remains something of an enigma. In this edition of badlands, I talk a bit about Khamenei and his legacy. In the end, he was granted a heroic death that will likely made him more warmly remembered—despite his many mistakes and the wrong turns he took throughout his reign. I also speak about the funeral procession in interviews with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe [https://borzou.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Deconstructing The Scheme To Sabotage Iran Diplomacy (S01E93)

(Photo: AI-generated image posted online to intimidate Trita Parsi).) Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Istanbul Trita Parsi has been among the most measured and well-informed experts on Iran and the Middle East in the public eye. Yet for years, he’s been targeted by nefarious and well-funded forces seeking to paint him as an asset of the Islamic Republic, where he would be arrested on national security charges. In today’s powerful and jam-packed edition of the badlands podcast, Trita, author of the excellent book Treacherous Alliance [https://www.amazon.com/Treacherous-Alliance-Secret-Dealings-Israel/dp/0300143117], joins me for an extraordinary and revealing interview. He discusses the attempt by Israeli operative Bari Weiss to spark a deportation drive against him, his confrontations with members of the Iranian-American community, and his continued access to the halls of power despite attempts to silence him. Also on today’s episode, I discuss the latest, including: * Positive signs coming from Washington and Tehran * Lindsay Graham’s attempts to gin up another round of war * The continued clashes in Lebanon, and how they could undermine the whole deal I also answer questions about the state of Donald Trump’s mental health, the ongoing discussions between the US and Iran, the impact of the oil sanctions waivers, and the growing tension in the US over support for Israel in an interview with India’s NewsX World host Asuma Kataoka. badlands is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe [https://borzou.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

JD Vance Discloses Trump’s Real Plan On Iran (S01E100)

Thursday, July 2, 2026, Istanbul In an interview with Ben Shapiro’s Daily Wire network, Vice President JD Vance strongly suggested that the US was playing Iran, replenishing world energy stockpiles ahead of a possible future kinetic action. Needless to say, such talk will not help ongoing negotiations, only feeding into Iranian suspicions that the memorandum of understanding the US signed was a ruse to build up leverage for a future attack against the country. In the latest edition of the badlands, discuss I discuss Vance’s comments. Plus, in an appearance on France 24’s The Debate [https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20260701-iran-after-khamenei-what-direction-after-supreme-leader-s-funeral], I discuss the significance of the funeral for former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the role of the Revolutionary Guard, and the impact of sanctions. badlands is a reader-supported podcst. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe [https://borzou.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Armenia Rejects Israel's ‘Weaponization’ of Genocide (S01E99)

Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Istanbul Israel recently began taking steps to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the horrific massacre of Armenian people at the hands of Ottoman Turks some 110 years ago. The move is meant in large part to provoke Israel rival Turkey. Problem is, even the Armenians are telling Israel to bugger off. On the latest edition of the badlands podcast, I explain how Israel’s ill-timed move to piss off Turkey interferes with Armenia’s historic breakthrough in relations with its Turkic neighbors to the east and west. Plus, in a conversation with India’s NewsX World, I discuss what the recent rulings by the US mean for the Trump administration. Thanks for watching or listening to badlands! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe [https://borzou.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]