Chicago Stories: Nick Fuentes, ICE, And The Pope (S01E113)

Chicago Stories: Nick Fuentes, ICE, And The Pope (S01E113)

Wednesday, July 22, 2026, Istanbul In this edition of badlands, I speak with Chicago-area college professor and activist David Goldberg [https://www.cod.edu/faculty/websites/goldbergd.html] about rightwing streamer Nicholas J. Fuentes and Pope Leo—both locals—about the various tides of political activism and discourse in the US. We also discuss the impact that Donald Trump’s ICE immigration crackdowns have had on communities in the city in the first part of my interview with David, an old friend of mine since childhood. I also discuss the latest escalations in Iran, including neoconservatives’ attempt to bait Trump into escalating the war by going after Pickaxe Mountain. And in an inteview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss multiple aspects of the war in the Middle East, including the impact on the Gulf and the potential for Yemen’s Houthis to enter the fray. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes 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]

Why Libya Was A Neocon Regime Change War, And Why It Wasn’t (S01E112)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com [https://borzou.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Chicago In the latest edition of badlands, Libya expert Anas el-Gomati and I examine our sympathy for the 2011 uprising that toppled ruler Muammer Gaddafi and ignited an ongoing civil conflict that has impoverished the country and handed it to rival armed gangs, (as described in S01E109 [https://open.substack.com/pub/borzou/p/corrupt-violent-gangs-rule-over-libya?r=10ki9i&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web]). Gomati describes why Libya remained in the crosshairs of Israel and Washington even after it dismantled its nuclear program and brokered a measure of peace with the West in the early 2000s. But he also explains the flaws in Gaddafi’s system that might have made a civil war after his fall inevitable. Plus, in this episode I provide an update on the latest from the Iran war, and also discuss the tough quandaries of the Gulf states, Israel’s role in the current phase of the conflict, how propaganda shapes perceptions of the conflict, and how technology is impacting the war in an interview with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a viewer-supported platfiorm. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Here’s What The Iran War Looks Like (S01E111)

Monday, July 20, 2026, Chicago The US military completed a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes on Iran, and Iran reciprocated with missile and drone strikes of its own over the weekend targeting not just the Gulf states but Jordan and Iraq. At least two US soldiers died in Jordan, and another soldier remains missing. Another US solider was killed in northern Iraq, apparently while attempting to defuse an Iranian explosive drone that was struck done. For months, both the US and its allies and Iran have offered highly censored images of the war damage. But some footage and pictures have begun to emerge, and in today’s edition of badlands, I attempt to compile and describe some of that imagery. Other topics include Donald Trump’s humiliation of himself and anything he touches, and the emerging importance of Jordan, as well as potential economic impact of the continuing war on everything from summer travel prices to Gulf economies in a pair of discussions 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]

Why Israel Has Gone Off The Rails (S01E108)

Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Chicago Israel’s wars in Gaza, the West Bank, Iran, and Lebanon have led to ambiguous military outcomes but undoubtedly increased the isolation of the country, both in terms of diplomacy and its worldwide image. In part two of her interview with badlands, Noga Tarnopolsky [https://substack.com/profile/256999-noga-tarnopolsky] discusses what I describe as the “malaise” that seems to be afflicting Israeli society. She describes fear and loathing whipped up by a gang of rightwing politicians to exploit the horror of October 7 to keep a tight reign over society and pursue their maximalist demands. We also discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest power grab, in which he defies a supreme court ruling in order increase his control over the country’s media ahead of elections now scheduled for October 27. Subscribe to Noga’s newsletter [https://nogatarnopolsky.substack.com/] now! Also today, I provide some brief updates on the escalation in the Persian Gulf and Donald Trump’s various flip flops in an interview with France 24. [https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20260714-war-talks-repeat-how-to-break-the-cycle-between-us-and-iran?utm_slink=f24.my%2FC3TH] 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]

Sleepwalking Into A Forever War With Iran (S01E110)

Friday, July 17, 2026, Chicago As the Iran war escalates, Donald Trump rehashes his nonsensical election conspiracy theories. The Democrats come out strongly opposed to the war, but their criticism that the US has no plan appears off-the-mark. Washington indeed seems to have a single-minded goal for the escalation: get the Strait of Hormuz reopened, and potentially create regional divisions inside Iran. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio shows his desperation, while Vice President JD Vance positions himself against the neocons, and reporting on a well-known Israeli influence operation and Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to Israeli intelligence [https://borzou.substack.com/p/epstein-was-a-spy-prove-me-wrong] finally reach the mainstream media. Plus, interviews with me on India’s NewsX World and the Pakistan TV about the state of the conflict and US and Iranian political calculations. 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]