S8 Ep122: CONTINUED Ukraine Peace Plans, Concessions, and the Impact on US Alliances — Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani
CONTINUED Ukraine Peace Plans, Concessions, and the Impact on US Alliances — Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani 1855 CRIMEAN WAR GRENADIER GUARDS
8m Nov 24, 2025
8m
S8 Ep122: Ukraine Peace Plans, Concessions, and the Impact on US Alliances — Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani — Bill Roggiosuggests Ukraine is losing militarily and must accept difficult territorial and military concessions to ensure state survival, predicting that prop
Ukraine Peace Plans, Concessions, and the Impact on US Alliances — Bill Roggio, Husain Haqqani — Bill Roggiosuggests Ukraine is losing militarily and must accept difficult territorial and military concessions to ensure state survival, predicting that proposed peace deals will ultimately collapse. Ambassador Haqqani emphasizes that U.S. abandonment of allies, exemplified in Afghanistan and Iraq,...
10m Nov 24, 2025
10m
S8 Ep121: PREVIEW — John Hardie — Unlikely non-negotiable points in the Ukraine 24/19-point plan. Hardie identifies two critical points Ukraine is unlikely to relinquish during peace negotiations, despite challenging battlefield conditions. These include ceding lar
PREVIEW — John Hardie — Unlikely non-negotiable points in the Ukraine 24/19-point plan. Hardie identifies two critical points Ukraine is unlikely to relinquish during peace negotiations, despite challenging battlefield conditions. These include ceding large swathes of Ukrainian territory and permitting Russia to dictate the size of Ukraine's military. Hardie contends that Russians will be unabl...
2m Nov 24, 2025
2m
S8 Ep121: PREVIEW — Malcolm Hoenlein — BBC reporting distortion in Gaza. Hoenlein documents persistent distortions in BBC coverage of Gaza, noting that reporting relies on information from Hamas operatives posing as journalists. The coverage consistently exaggerate
PREVIEW — Malcolm Hoenlein — BBC reporting distortion in Gaza. Hoenlein documents persistent distortions in BBC coverage of Gaza, noting that reporting relies on information from Hamas operatives posing as journalists. The coverage consistently exaggerates casualty figures, frequently failing to clarify that many deceased were terrorists or died of natural causes. Despite systematic challenges ...
1m Nov 24, 2025
1m
S8 Ep121: PREVIEW — Alejandro Pina Esclusa — Election fraud risk in Honduras. Maduro is reportedly attempting to steal the pending Honduran election through agents sent to commit fraud. The ballot remains vulnerable, as the communist candidate Ritzi Monalsa is poll
PREVIEW — Alejandro Pina Esclusa — Election fraud risk in Honduras. Maduro is reportedly attempting to steal the pending Honduran election through agents sent to commit fraud. The ballot remains vulnerable, as the communist candidate Ritzi Monalsa is polling last. Fraud represents the only viable alternative for the communist candidate to secure victory. This potential fraud operation, which wo...
2m Nov 24, 2025
2m
S8 Ep121: PREVIEW — Victoria Coates — Winners and losers of the Ukraine conflict endgame. Coates analyzes the victors of the Ukraine conflict endgame, naming China as a significant beneficiary. Should Russia succeed, its status as a global player will be restored,
PREVIEW — Victoria Coates — Winners and losers of the Ukraine conflict endgame. Coates analyzes the victors of the Ukraine conflict endgame, naming China as a significant beneficiary. Should Russia succeed, its status as a global player will be restored, though suspicion of Russian intentions persists because they extract more than they contribute. The conflict most significantly undermines the...
2m Nov 24, 2025
2m
S8 Ep121: PREVIEW — David Daoud — Hezbollah leadership recovery and new leader analysis. Following the loss of key leaders who possessed decades of organizational experience and doctrine, Hezbollah faces significant structural challenges. The group, described as a
PREVIEW — David Daoud — Hezbollah leadership recovery and new leader analysis. Following the loss of key leaders who possessed decades of organizational experience and doctrine, Hezbollah faces significant structural challenges. The group, described as a large, well-armed organization, is currently "laying low." The current leader, Naim Kassem, characterized as quiet and bookish, appears well-s...
2m Nov 24, 2025
2m
S8 Ep121: PREVIEW — Husain Haqqani — Conclusions of Russia-Washington negotiations over Ukraine conflict. Haqqani examines the outcomes of U.S.-Moscow negotiations on the Ukraine conflict, predicting favorable conclusions for Russia and unfavorable ones for the Uni
PREVIEW — Husain Haqqani — Conclusions of Russia-Washington negotiations over Ukraine conflict. Haqqani examines the outcomes of U.S.-Moscow negotiations on the Ukraine conflict, predicting favorable conclusions for Russia and unfavorable ones for the United States. Should Russia succeed, its global player status returns, yet inherent suspicion of Russian intentions endures because they extract...
2m Nov 24, 2025
2m
S8 Ep120: HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: Reclaiming James I as the True Founding Father. Preparing to see a mock battle staged by centurions in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus discuss the unappreciated legacy of James I (James VI of Scotland), ass
HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: Reclaiming James I as the True Founding Father. Preparing to see a mock battle staged by centurions in Londinium, Gaius and Germanicus discuss the unappreciated legacy of James I (James VI of Scotland), asserting he is the true founding father of the United States. James I, an intellectual king who took the throne in 1603, faced challenges from t...
14m Nov 24, 2025
14m
S8 Ep120: HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: The "When Russia Wins" War Game and NATO's Empty Shell. Gaius and Germanicus continue their discussion, reflecting on how Woodrow Wilson's 14 points led to catastrophe. They then play the "paranoid NATO dre
HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: The "When Russia Wins" War Game and NATO's Empty Shell. Gaius and Germanicus continue their discussion, reflecting on how Woodrow Wilson's 14 points led to catastrophe. They then play the "paranoid NATO dream" war game, "When Russia Wins." The scenario posits that in 2028, after the 28-point plan is implemented, Russian forces occupy Narva, Eston...
25m Nov 24, 2025
25m
S8 Ep120: HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: Discussing the Pragmatic 28-Point Plan for Ukraine. Broadcasting live from Londinium, where the Thames is too rough for boatmen due to the grim weather, Gaius and Germanicus analyze the 28-point plan aimed
HEADLINE: GAIUS & GERMANICUS IN LONDINIUM 91 AD: Discussing the Pragmatic 28-Point Plan for Ukraine. Broadcasting live from Londinium, where the Thames is too rough for boatmen due to the grim weather, Gaius and Germanicus analyze the 28-point plan aimed at ending the Ukrainian disruption. This plan, a multiple of Wilson's 14 points, is driven by an emperor in Washington, and the Kremlin is cur...
18m Nov 24, 2025
18m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: Khrushchev, Hard Power, and Gorbachev's Doomed Reform GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Despite Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin's crimes (1956), the Soviets pursued hard power politics, motivated by proving their system'
  HEADLINE: Khrushchev, Hard Power, and Gorbachev's Doomed Reform GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Despite Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin's crimes (1956), the Soviets pursued hard power politics, motivated by proving their system's superiority. The 1979 invasion of Afghanistan was a destructive strategic error. Mikhail Gorbachev sincerely sought to reinvigorate commun...
8m Nov 24, 2025
8m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: Khrushchev, Hard Power, and Gorbachev's Doomed Reform GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Despite Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin's crimes (1956), the Soviets pursued hard power politics, motivated by proving their system'
HEADLINE: Khrushchev, Hard Power, and Gorbachev's Doomed Reform GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Despite Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin's crimes (1956), the Soviets pursued hard power politics, motivated by proving their system's superiority. The 1979 invasion of Afghanistan was a destructive strategic error. Mikhail Gorbachev sincerely sought to reinvigorate communis...
12m Nov 24, 2025
12m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: The Cultural Revolution and the Nihilistic Cult of Youth GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: The Cultural Revolution, spearheaded by the Red Guards, was a nihilistic, xenophobic cult of youth. Mao used this violent anarchy to
HEADLINE: The Cultural Revolution and the Nihilistic Cult of Youth GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: The Cultural Revolution, spearheaded by the Red Guards, was a nihilistic, xenophobic cult of youth. Mao used this violent anarchy to purge rivals and overturn literate civilization, destroying books and attacking professors. Mao also exploited severe tension with Moscow, usi...
6m Nov 24, 2025
6m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: Mao Zedong, Xenophobia, and the Failure of the Great Leap Forward GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Mao Zedong blended Marxism with fierce anti-imperialism and xenophobia, targeting the "global imperialistic system" and fore
HEADLINE: Mao Zedong, Xenophobia, and the Failure of the Great Leap Forward GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Mao Zedong blended Marxism with fierce anti-imperialism and xenophobia, targeting the "global imperialistic system" and foreign influence. The Great Leap Forward combined elements from The Communist Manifesto, Stalin's collectivization, and competition with Khrushch...
11m Nov 24, 2025
11m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: Lenin's Violent Innovation: Vanguardism and Revolutionary Defeatism GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Vladimir Lenin, inspired by Marx's violence, adopted vanguardism (professional revolutionaries guiding workers). His innov
HEADLINE: Lenin's Violent Innovation: Vanguardism and Revolutionary Defeatism GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Vladimir Lenin, inspired by Marx's violence, adopted vanguardism (professional revolutionaries guiding workers). His innovation was "revolutionary defeatism," arguing imperialist war should be turned into civil war. Lenin advocated a global series of civil wars to...
9m Nov 24, 2025
9m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: Lenin's Violent Innovation: Vanguardism and Revolutionary Defeatism GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Vladimir Lenin, inspired by Marx's violence, adopted vanguardism (professional revolutionaries guiding workers). His innov
HEADLINE: Lenin's Violent Innovation: Vanguardism and Revolutionary Defeatism GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Vladimir Lenin, inspired by Marx's violence, adopted vanguardism (professional revolutionaries guiding workers). His innovation was "revolutionary defeatism," arguing imperialist war should be turned into civil war. Lenin advocated a global series of civil wars to...
10m Nov 24, 2025
10m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: The Centrality of Violence: Babeuf, Marx, and the Paris Commune GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Communism relies exclusively on extreme political violence and the disintegration of governance norms, never the ballot box. E
HEADLINE: The Centrality of Violence: Babeuf, Marx, and the Paris Commune GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: Communism relies exclusively on extreme political violence and the disintegration of governance norms, never the ballot box. Early radical Gracchus Babeuf established a violent precedent, advocating the abolition of private property and the extermination of class enem...
7m Nov 24, 2025
7m
S8 Ep119: HEADLINE: The Philosophical Roots of Communism and the Unmasking at Tiananmen Square GUEST AUTHOR: Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: The Tiananmen Square massacre (1989) unmasked the brutal core of communism, akin to Kronstadt. Karl Marx derived th
HEADLINE: The Philosophical Roots of Communism and the Unmasking at Tiananmen Square GUEST AUTHOR:Professor Sean McMeekin 50-WORD SUMMARY: The Tiananmen Square massacre (1989) unmasked the brutal core of communism, akin to Kronstadt. Karl Marx derived the dialectical concept of history as binary class struggle (oppressors/oppressed) from Hegelianism. Marx defined communism as the "negation of t...
10m Nov 24, 2025
10m
S8 Ep118: Last Decades, Persistent Pain, and Final Rest — Ronald White — In his later years, the severity of Chamberlain's Civil War wound, which he largely concealed, became public through a newspaper account of his surgery. He attempted business ventures withou
Last Decades, Persistent Pain, and Final Rest — Ronald White — In his later years, the severity of Chamberlain's Civil War wound, which he largely concealed, became public through a newspaper account of his surgery. He attempted business ventures without success, realizing his true calling lay in service to others. Remaining active into his 80s, he traveled extensively, impressively reading the...
8m Nov 24, 2025
8m
S8 Ep118: The Battle of Augusta: Chamberlain's Finest Peacemaking Moment — Ronald White — In 1880, Maine faced a political crisis—the "great countout"—threatening a peaceful transfer of power. Chamberlain was called upon to confront an armed insurrectionist mob app
The Battle of Augusta: Chamberlain's Finest Peacemaking Moment — Ronald White — In 1880, Maine faced a political crisis—the "great countout"—threatening a peaceful transfer of power. Chamberlain was called upon to confront an armed insurrectionist mob approaching the capital. He faced the crowd directly, offering his life, which dramatically defused the crisis—widely regarded as his finest mome...
11m Nov 24, 2025
11m
S8 Ep118: Chamberlain's Progressive Presidency at Bowdoin College — Ronald White — Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin College as president, respected by figures like Ulysses S. Grant. He immediately advocated for bold institutional changes, declaring the college had "
Chamberlain's Progressive Presidency at Bowdoin College — Ronald White — Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin College as president, respected by figures like Ulysses S. Grant. He immediately advocated for bold institutional changes, declaring the college had "touched bottom." His progressive vision included introducing science, establishing a medical school, and implementing co-education for women—m...
7m Nov 24, 2025
7m
S8 Ep118: Governor of Maine and Advocate for Reconciliation — Ronald White — Returning home wounded, Chamberlain became a prominent public speaker advocating for national reconciliation rather than continued punishment of the South. He was elected Governor of Maine
Governor of Maine and Advocate for Reconciliation — Ronald White — Returning home wounded, Chamberlain became a prominent public speaker advocating for national reconciliation rather than continued punishment of the South. He was elected Governor of Maine for four successive terms as a Republican. His administration focused on economic reconstruction and supporting the state's agricultural coll...
11m Nov 24, 2025
11m
S8 Ep118: The Mortal Wound at Petersburg and the Appomattox Salute — Ronald White — Despite his Gettysburg fame, Chamberlain returned to combat, leading a brigade. At Petersburg in 1864, he sustained a near-mortal wound from a minié ball; two surgeons declared it w
The Mortal Wound at Petersburg and the Appomattox Salute — Ronald White — Despite his Gettysburg fame, Chamberlain returned to combat, leading a brigade. At Petersburg in 1864, he sustained a near-mortal wound from a minié ball; two surgeons declared it would prove fatal. He miraculously survived without antiseptic or modern medical intervention. Later, he commanded the surrender ceremony at Ap...
6m Nov 24, 2025
6m
S8 Ep118: The Reality of War and the Defense of Little Round Top — Ronald White — Chamberlain's 20th Maine faced the horrors of war at Antietam and Fredericksburg, suffering severe casualties and effects from a defective smallpox inoculation. During the forced marc
The Reality of War and the Defense of Little Round Top — Ronald White — Chamberlain's 20th Maine faced the horrors of war at Antietam and Fredericksburg, suffering severe casualties and effects from a defective smallpox inoculation. During the forced march toward Gettysburg, they received orders to defend the far left of the Union line at Little Round Top. Running out of ammunition, Chamberlain...
13m Nov 24, 2025
13m
S8 Ep117: Professor Chamberlain Goes to War and Takes Command of the 20th Maine — Ronald White — After marrying Fanny in 1855, Chamberlain joined the Bowdoin faculty, where he promoted critical thinking among students and witnessed key historical moments, including
Professor Chamberlain Goes to War and Takes Command of the 20th Maine — Ronald White — After marrying Fanny in 1855, Chamberlain joined the Bowdoin faculty, where he promoted critical thinking among students and witnessed key historical moments, including Harriet Beecher Stowe reading Uncle Tom's Cabin. In 1862, called away from travel plans, he enlisted in the Union Army, declining a high rank...
7m Nov 24, 2025
7m
S8 Ep117: The Classical Education and Early Life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain — Ronald White — Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's early life in Maine was shaped by hardy Congregationalist parents who promoted intellectual curiosity and deep faith. He excelled at memor
The Classical Education and Early Life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain — Ronald White — Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's early life in Maine was shaped by hardy Congregationalist parents who promoted intellectual curiosity and deep faith. He excelled at memorization and entered Bowdoin College after preparation. Chamberlain wrestled with his parents' conflicting desires for him—minister or soldier—...
11m Nov 24, 2025
11m
S8 Ep116: Appomattox: Lee's Surrender and the Legacy of Mosby — Patrick K. O'Donnell — At Appomattox, Robert E. Lee rejected guerrilla warfare, disobeying Jefferson Davis's orders in favor of reconciliation and statesmanship. Grant offered generous terms. The surre
Appomattox: Lee's Surrender and the Legacy of Mosby — Patrick K. O'Donnell — At Appomattox, Robert E. Lee rejected guerrilla warfare, disobeying Jefferson Davis's orders in favor of reconciliation and statesmanship. Grant offered generous terms. The surrender was marked by Joshua Chamberlain saluting Confederate General John Gordon, embodying mutual respect. After the war, John Singleton Mosby ...
6m Nov 23, 2025
6m
S8 Ep116: Harry Harrison Young and the Jesse Scouts Lead Sheridan's Final Campaign — Patrick K. O'Donnell — After Blazer's capture, Harry Harrison Young led the Jesse Scouts, using Confederate disguises for reconnaissance. Scouts provided Phil Sheridan with real-ti
Harry Harrison Young and the Jesse Scouts Lead Sheridan's Final Campaign — Patrick K. O'Donnell — After Blazer's capture, Harry Harrison Young led the Jesse Scouts, using Confederate disguises for reconnaissance. Scouts provided Phil Sheridan with real-time intelligence, serving as his "eyes." Young's scouts delivered critical strategic intelligence to Grant instead of going to Sherman. They id...
14m Nov 23, 2025
14m
S8 Ep116: Lewis Powell and the Confederate Secret Service Plot to Kidnap Lincoln — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Lewis Powell, a Mosby Ranger, was identified as a Lincoln conspirator working with John Wilkes Booth. Powell's trip to Richmond ostensibly to deliver prisoner
Lewis Powell and the Confederate Secret Service Plot to Kidnap Lincoln — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Lewis Powell, a Mosby Ranger, was identified as a Lincoln conspirator working with John Wilkes Booth. Powell's trip to Richmond ostensibly to deliver prisoner Blazer actually served as cover to coordinate with the Confederate Secret Service. This was part of a large, well-funded special operation inv...
4m Nov 23, 2025
4m
S8 Ep116: The Manhunt: Blazer Scouts vs. Mosby's Rangers and the Capture of Blazer — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Grant ordered Phil Sheridan to wage total war against partisans, though Sheridan only partially complied for political reasons. Following Mosby's devastating
The Manhunt: Blazer Scouts vs. Mosby's Rangers and the Capture of Blazer — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Grant ordered Phil Sheridan to wage total war against partisans, though Sheridan only partially complied for political reasons. Following Mosby's devastating wagon raid, Richard Blazer and his scouts were equipped with Spencer carbines and tasked with hunting Mosby. After initial Union success, Mos...
14m Nov 23, 2025
14m
S8 Ep116: Jubal Early's Near-Capture of Washington and Mosby's Influence — Patrick K. O'Donnell — General Jubal Early marched on poorly defended Washington in summer 1864, aiming to capture the capital and liberate prisoners at Point Lookout. Early and Mosby dislik
Jubal Early's Near-Capture of Washington and Mosby's Influence — Patrick K. O'Donnell — General Jubal Earlymarched on poorly defended Washington in summer 1864, aiming to capture the capital and liberate prisoners at Point Lookout. Early and Mosby disliked each other, hindering coordination. President Lincoln fearlessly stood on the parapet at Fort Stevens. Mosby's concurrent Calico raid severe...
10m Nov 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep116: The Decapitation Raid on Richmond and Confederate Covert Operations — Patrick K. O'Donnell — The controversial Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid (1864) aimed to burn Richmond and assassinate Confederate leaders like Jefferson Davis. Lacking sufficient troops for o
The Decapitation Raid on Richmond and Confederate Covert Operations — Patrick K. O'Donnell — The controversial Kilpatrick-Dahlgren raid (1864) aimed to burn Richmond and assassinate Confederate leaders like Jefferson Davis. Lacking sufficient troops for occupation, the North struggled to suppress Confederate insurgency. The Confederacy wielded sophisticated irregular warfare through Mosby's Ran...
10m Nov 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep116: Richard Blazer and the Manhunt for the Thurman Rangers — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Richard Blazer, a skilled manhunter, commanded the Blazer Scouts, utilizing Jesse Scouts tradecraft. Operating in rugged West Virginia, they functioned as the first modern hun
RichardRichard Blazer and the Manhunt for the Thurman Rangers — Patrick K. O'Donnell — Richard Blazer, a skilled manhunter, commanded the Blazer Scouts, utilizing Jesse Scouts tradecraft. Operating in rugged West Virginia, they functioned as the first modern hunter-killer team, pursuing the ruthless bushwhackers, the Thurman brothers. Blazer's unit specialized in detective work and lightning ra...
7m Nov 23, 2025
7m
S8 Ep116: The Jesse Scouts and the Origins of Civil War Irregular Warfare Patrick K. O'Donnell The Civil War saw the rise of irregular forces like Jesse Scouts, named after John Fremont's wife, who used 21st-century tradecraft like infiltration and Confederate dis
The Jesse Scouts and the Origins of Civil War Irregular Warfare Patrick K. O'Donnell The Civil War saw the rise of irregular forces like Jesse Scouts, named after John Fremont's wife, who used 21st-century tradecraft like infiltration and Confederate disguises, led by John C. Carpenter. The Confederacy countered with the Partisan Ranger Act to control guerrillas like John Singleton Mosby. Con...
11m Nov 23, 2025
11m
S8 Ep115: Dallas, Magpies, and Cockatoo Villains Jeremy Zakis Jeremy Zakis reports that his 11-year-old spoodle, Dallas, continues to be a friend to magpies and other birds, whose non-threatening demeanor makes them comfortable. Meanwhile, the "villain" cockatoos r
Dallas, Magpies, and Cockatoo Villains Jeremy Zakis Jeremy Zakis reports that his 11-year-old spoodle, Dallas, continues to be a friend to magpies and other birds, whose non-threatening demeanor makes them comfortable. Meanwhile, the "villain" cockatoos remain nearby, having recently ripped nails out of a neighbor's roof. The neighbor repaired and reinforced the roof, but the cockatoos watche...
8m Nov 23, 2025
8m
S8 Ep115: The Ashes Cricket Debate Jeremy Zakis Australia decisively won the first Ashes test by eight wickets against England in Perth. England's aggressive "Baz" batting strategy, aimed at hitting long balls, spectacularly backfired on the quick, hot pitch, resul
The Ashes Cricket Debate Jeremy Zakis Australia decisively won the first Ashes test by eight wickets against England in Perth. England's aggressive "Baz" batting strategy, aimed at hitting long balls, spectacularly backfired on the quick, hot pitch, resulting in the quickest English team exit in Ashes history. Australia secured the win by shifting to a conservative, defensive style of play. 1928
8m Nov 23, 2025
8m
S8 Ep115: DIY Snake Catching Classes Emerge Jeremy Zakis Due to a massive snake population boom and a forthcoming shortage of retiring professionals, a new industry offering DIY snake wrangling training has emerged in Australia. Courses, like one run by Dr. Christi
DIY Snake Catching Classes Emerge Jeremy Zakis Due to a massive snake population boom and a forthcoming shortage of retiring professionals, a new industry offering DIY snake wrangling training has emerged in Australia. Courses, like one run by Dr. Christina Zenck in Queensland, teach people to safely handle dangerous species, such as brown snakes, using specialized snare poles. This training ...
8m Nov 23, 2025
8m
S8 Ep115: Cyclone Fenina Headed for Darwin Jeremy Zakis Cyclone Fenina, described as a one-in-twenty-year monster with 160 mph winds and a 200-mile width, is tracking toward Darwin, Northern Territory. Evacuation advice has been issued but not a mandatory order. Af
Cyclone Fenina Headed for Darwin Jeremy Zakis Cyclone Fenina, described as a one-in-twenty-year monster with 160 mph winds and a 200-mile width, is tracking toward Darwin, Northern Territory. Evacuation advice has been issued but not a mandatory order. After hitting the coast, it is expected to dissipate rapidly over the sparse interior. This weather system is pushing hot, humid, stormy air d...
9m Nov 23, 2025
9m
S8 Ep114: The Fall of Communism: Top-Down Collapse and the Legacy of Violence in Modern Russia Professor Sean McMeekin The final segment discusses the collapse of communist regimes in 1989, contending that these regimes generally did not fall because of a rising f
The Fall of Communism: Top-Down Collapse and the Legacy of Violence in Modern Russia Professor Sean McMeekin The final segment discusses the collapse of communist regimes in 1989, contending that these regimes generally did not fall because of a rising from the bottom. Instead, the collapse was largely top-down, driven by the disappearance of Soviet coercion or inside palace coups, such as th...
8m Nov 23, 2025
8m
S8 Ep114: The conversation moves back to the USSR with Nikita Khrushchev's 1956 Secret Speech, which led to disruption in Eastern Europe. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) is analyzed as an act of traditional great power politics driven by the desire to prove Soviet
The conversation moves back to the USSR with Nikita Khrushchev's 1956 Secret Speech, which led to disruption in Eastern Europe. The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) is analyzed as an act of traditional great power politics driven by the desire to prove Soviet superiority and overturn the strategic balance in intercontinental ballistic missiles. The 1979 invasion of Afghanistan is highlighted as a re...
12m Nov 23, 2025
12m
S8 Ep114: The Nihilism of the Red Guards and Mao's International Maneuvers Professor Sean McMeekin
The Nihilism of the Red Guards and Mao's International Maneuvers Professor Sean McMeekin This segment explores the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966) and the Red Guards, characterized by a "radical cult of youth" and a nihilistic side of communism involving the destruction of urbane, literate civilization and turning against education, books, professors, the elderly, and foreigners. ...
6m Nov 23, 2025
6m
S8 Ep114: The focus shifts to Mao Zedong and Chinese communism, which was highly influenced by sharp anti-imperialism and xenophobia, blending the Marxist binary struggle with resentment of foreign exploitation. After Stalin's death, Mao began to "experiment," resu
The focus shifts to Mao Zedong and Chinese communism, which was highly influenced by sharp anti-imperialism and xenophobia, blending the Marxist binary struggle with resentment of foreign exploitation. After Stalin's death, Mao began to "experiment," resulting in the Great Leap Forward, which aimed to rapidly "catch up and surpass the West" by radically overturning agriculture and simultaneousl...
11m Nov 23, 2025
11m
S8 Ep114: The discussion turns to Joseph Stalin and his relationship with the legacy of Leninism. Stalin was a more "ideologically flexible" and savvy political operator than Trotsky, who was relentlessly focused on immediate and continuous revolution. While both L
The discussion turns to Joseph Stalin and his relationship with the legacy of Leninism. Stalin was a more "ideologically flexible" and savvy political operator than Trotsky, who was relentlessly focused on immediate and continuous revolution. While both Lenin and Trotsky employed political violence, the terror under Stalin was a different phenomenon because much of it was directed at high-ranki...
9m Nov 23, 2025
9m
S8 Ep114: This segment addresses Vladimir Lenin's adoption of Marx's ideas, particularly the aspect of Marxism requiring political violence. Lenin's major innovation, often called "vanguardism," involved a top-down party of professional revolutionaries leading the
This segment addresses Vladimir Lenin's adoption of Marx's ideas, particularly the aspect of Marxism requiring political violence. Lenin's major innovation, often called "vanguardism," involved a top-down party of professional revolutionaries leading the workers. Inspired by Marx's reaction to the Franco-Prussian War, Lenin developed "revolutionary defeatism," which held that imperial wars betw...
10m Nov 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep114: Professor McMeekin states clearly that communism, specifically Marxist-Leninism, prospers only in conjunction with extreme violence and the disintegration of governance norms. The discussion covers the French revolutionary Babeuf, who advocated for the ov
Professor McMeekin states clearly that communism, specifically Marxist-Leninism, prospers only in conjunction with extreme violence and the disintegration of governance norms. The discussion covers the French revolutionary Babeuf, who advocated for the overturning of private property, centralized rationing, and "cleansing political violence" against "class enemies." Babeuf set a precedent for t...
7m Nov 23, 2025
7m
S8 Ep114: Tiananmen Square, the Unmasking of Communism, and Karl Marx's Hegelian Roots Professor Sean McMeekin Professor Sean McMeekin's book, To Overthrow the World: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Communism, begins with the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 as the
Tiananmen Square, the Unmasking of Communism, and Karl Marx's Hegelian Roots Professor Sean McMeekin Professor Sean McMeekin's book, To Overthrow the World: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Communism, begins with the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 as the "tearing off of the mask" of communism, revealing raw force and brutality. The discussion traces communism back to Karl Marx, noting that he...
10m Nov 23, 2025
10m
S8 Ep114: Legacies in Modern Asia: China's Judge and Japan's Shrine Controversy Professor Gary Bass Chinese Judge May Ruo centered the suffering of Asian peoples but chose to return to Mainland China, making him vulnerable as a "bourgeois" intellectual. Modern ten
Legacies in Modern Asia: China's Judge and Japan's Shrine Controversy Professor Gary Bass Chinese Judge May Ruo centered the suffering of Asian peoples but chose to return to Mainland China, making him vulnerable as a "bourgeois" intellectual. Modern tensions persist regarding the Yasukuni Shrine, which has enshrined 14 Class A war criminals. Former PM Shinzo Abe's visits were fueled by resent...
7m Nov 23, 2025
7m
S8 Ep114: Indian Judge Rabhabinod Pal wrote a massive dissent, arguing the court lacked legitimacy due to the dominance of imperial powers. Pal, who focused heavily on racism and colonialism, questioned the evidence of Japanese atrocities at Nanjing. During the 194
       Indian Judge Rabhabinod Pal wrote a massive dissent, arguing the court lacked legitimacy due to the dominance of imperial powers. Pal, who focused heavily on racism and colonialism, questioned the evidence of Japanese atrocities at Nanjing. During the 1948 executions, army defendants chanted "Banzai" (Long live the Emperor). The US Supreme Court upheld the military commissions by narrowl...
13m Nov 23, 2025
13m
S8 Ep114: The conspiracy charge, borrowed from Nuremberg, was awkward given the rivalries within the splintered Japanese government. The legal foundation for Class A (aggressive war) relied on treaties like the Kellogg-Briand Pact. This 1928 pact made aggressive wa
The conspiracy charge, borrowed from Nuremberg, was awkward given the rivalries within the splintered Japanese government. The legal foundation for Class A (aggressive war) relied on treaties like the Kellogg-Briand Pact. This 1928 pact made aggressive war illegal but failed to establish individual criminal responsibility or penalties. All surviving defendants were convicted of at least one cha...
8m Nov 23, 2025
8m