The Most Toxic, Politicized World Cup Ever? (S01E86)

Neocons Drag World Back To Brink Of Total Iran War (S01E107)

Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Chicago US President Donald Trump plans to re-impose the blockade on Iranian ships transiting the Persian Gulf. As for other ships, he claims that not only is the Strait of Hormuz is “OPEN” but soon to become a cash machine for America! In the latest episode of badlands, Brett Erickson [https://substack.com/profile/401162156-brett-erickson] of Obsidian Risk Advisors joins the podcast again to help unravel the combination of delusion and confusion that appears to be driving the Trump administration’s Middle East policy. “He's desperate and he's clearly under way more pressure,” he tells me “I don’t think anyone expected it to go this bad. And I mean, he's just tweeting or Truthing. He's just spewing out nonsense because he's not putting thought into it because he's angry.” Also, on today’s show, I discuss the whether diplomacy can still salvage the memorandum of understanding, as well as the increasing risk of Yemen being drawn onto the conflict in an interview with NewsX World. Separately, I spoke about the latest news in the Persian Gulf in an interview with NPR’s mid-afternoon show Here & Now [https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2026/07/13/strait-of-hormuz-strikes]. 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]

Can Israel Handle The Truth? (S01E106)

Monday, July 13, 2026, Chicago The US and Iran hammered away at each other over the weekend, with Tehran effectively imposing a closure on the Strait of Hormuz and Washington all but tossing the memorandum of understanding it signed last month into the trash heap. While this may appear to be the new normal in the Persian Gulf, it is not sustainable for Americans, Iranians, or the rest of the world. On today’s edition of badlands, I discuss the lack of public input or popular protest in a war that is nonetheless the world. Also, Noga Tarnopolsky [https://substack.com/profile/256999-noga-tarnopolsky] joins badlands from Israel to discuss US Democratic Party stalwart Rahm Emanuel’s recent visit to Tel Aviv . Please tune in tomorrow when Noga and I discuss Benjamin Netanyahu’s power grab and Israel’s sense of isolation. in second part of her interview with badlands. Subscribe to Noga’s newly launched newsletter [https://nogatarnopolsky.substack.com/], Bibi and Beyond. badlands is a viewer-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]

Fragile Lebanon Is Disintegrating Under Weight Of Israeli War, US Pressure (S01E105)

Friday, July 10, 2026, Istanbul Israel continues to occupy a huge swath of Lebanon, attacking Lebanese civilians in horrific atrocities taking place regularly. In the latest edition of the badlands podcast, Lebanon-based journalist Habib Battah, founder of the Beirut Report [https://beirutreport.com/], joins in for a discussion about how the country has been further fragmented along both sectarian and class lines as Israel continues its military operations against Hezbollah. The war is furthering the country’s collapse, with everything from traffic lights to security forces failing to function. The government is unable to accede to US and Israeli demands that it get Hezbollah under control. “This is a country that has been disintegrated, fragmented by decades and decades and decades of wars and so it’s in no it’s in no position really to take any massive control of the situation in this country,” he said. Habib also details his groundbreaking reporting on the massive new US embassy being built up, one that sounds like a vast fortress meant to effectively run Lebanon rather than represent US interests in the country. You can follow Habib on his Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/habib_b/] or on X. [https://x.com/habib_b] 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]

Fear, Treachery, Lies: Iran Crisis Continues To Rattle The Gulf (S01E104)

Thursday, July 9, 2026, Paris Overnight attacks between the US and Iran continued for a second day, with reports that Donald Trump pushed the envelope by hitting two railroad bridges in Iran’s north. That move could trigger Iranian retaliation against similar civilian infrastructure in the Arabian Peninsula states. The war pits the US against Iran, but the Persian Gulf has been the main battleground, as Trump struggles to restore the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to its prewar status. In the latest edition of badlands, the well-informed Dr Andreas Krieg [https://substack.com/profile/141282968-dr-andreas-krieg], lecturer at King’s College in London, joins us for a lively discussion about the how the conflict has transformed the Gulf States, and forced them to reassess their security needs. Gulf states are refusing so far to buckle to Iranian demands that they acknowledge Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, their economic lifeline, while Iran is asserting itself even if it damages it’s own economic interests. “A lot of what’s happening right now is about ego and it’s about principle–it’s not even about money,” he said. He also offers his insider insights about the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, and how the Gulf states are shifting their view of Israel’s potential role in the region. Also, on the latest edition of badlands, I discuss the latest developments in Iran and comment on the NATO summit in Turkey in an interview with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a viewer and 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]

'The War Has Started Again’: US, Iran Trade Major Attacks (S01E103)

Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Paris The US and Iran traded major military strikes overnight in the most serious threat to the framework ceasefire deal signed last month so far. The attacks continued into the morning with attacks by both countries into the late morning. Donald Trump said at the NATO summit in Turkey that he’s sick of negotiating with the Iranians and considers the memorandum of understanding effectively dead. The attacks may simmer down. But the bigger threat to any peace is the US decision to rescind its waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil, effectively giving Tehran zero incentives to stay in the deal and keep the Strait of Hormuz even somewhat open. In the latest edition of badlands, I delve into the continued erosion of the memorandum of understanding. Also, in a discussion with Pakistan’s Express 24/7 News I discuss the latest on the funeral services for the late Iranian ruler Ali Khamenei, the future prospects for a peace deal, and the significance of the NATO summit in Turkey. 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]