Seyed M. Marandi | Trump Escalates Iran War – The ‘Iron Gate’ Blockade of Land Corridors | Nov. 8, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi of Tehran University, a former advisor to Iran's nuclear negotiation team, talks with Glenn Diesen about Trump escalating the Iran war and a proposed Iron Gate blockade of land corridors.

Timeline:
00:00:00 The proposed blockade and the question of US strategy
00:02:24 Marandi's view of decades of sanctions and pressure
00:07:30 Iran's land routes and the limits of stopping trade
00:11:10 Medicine imports, air links, and regional pressure
00:13:09 What the Putin-Rezaei meeting may signal
00:17:35 Rail and gas projects shaping Iran-Russia ties
00:23:22 Diplomacy, US divisions, and the risk of escalation
00:27:14 Infrastructure strikes and the potential economic fallout
00:34:09 Why Marandi calls Trump a gambler
00:41:33 Gulf states' reported outreach to Iran
00:46:11 The strike on Qeshm Island and how close war may be

Jeffrey Sachs | Permanent War Machine Meets New World Order | Nov. 7, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Jeffrey Sachs and Glenn Diesen on the U.S. permanent war machine, the Iran war, Ukraine diplomacy, Israel, and how China changes whether wars end.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs is a world-renowned economics professor, bestselling author, innovative educator, and global leader in sustainable development.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Why voters reject wars but wars continue
00:03:01 Eisenhower's warning and the military-industrial complex
00:05:24 The political cost of the Iran war
00:07:20 Can Democrats become the party of peace?
00:10:40 New lawmakers and an opening for anti-war politics
00:13:07 Overreach, living costs, and U.S. support for Israel
00:16:27 Sachs's proposed diplomatic basis for ending the Ukraine war
00:18:35 Diesen's question: can U.S. foreign policy break its pattern?
00:21:36 From the Cold War to the post-1991 drive for hegemony
00:24:21 How successive administrations sustained intervention
00:26:48 Why wars end, and why China changes the equation
00:30:37 CIA autonomy and the limits of oversight
00:33:01 Reasons for cautious optimism about a policy shift
00:35:26 Sachs's call to press politicians for diplomacy
00:37:00 Diesen's closing reminder about where power resides

Fyodor Lukyanov | Russia Navigates Between Two World Orders | Nov. 6, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Fyodor Lukyanov talks with Glenn Diesen about Russia navigating between two world orders.

Fyodor Lukyanov is Chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, a Research Professor at the Higher School of Economics, and Editor in Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs Journal.

Anthony Aguilar | Trump May Resign - But First, All-Out War With Iran? | Nov. 6, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Anthony Aguilar and Prof. Glenn Diesen on whether Trump may resign, and whether an all-out war with Iran comes first. Aguilar is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, a Special Forces Green Beret who served 25 years, and a whistleblower after working as an aid contractor for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Midterm defeat and the political cost of the Iran war
00:03:16 Trump's blame game and possible White House departures
00:09:10 Could Trump resign and leave Vance to take over?
00:14:01 Iran's defense-in-depth and air-defense systems
00:19:29 Radar networks, interceptor stocks, and the attrition problem
00:22:35 From the RQ-170 to Shahed and Lucas drones
00:26:24 Ground invasion plans and the risks of a massive air campaign
00:32:02 Why escalation could harden Iran's negotiating position
00:33:38 Potential Iranian retaliation and regional bases
00:38:20 Political calculations, China's intelligence role, and regional trust
00:45:33 Rubio, Vance, and the expected shake-up among officials

Judge Napolitano | Judging Freedom Recap: Marandi, Diesen, Wilkerson and Macgregor | Nov. 5, 2026

Source: Judge Napolitano youtube



Description: 

Judge Napolitano recaps Judging Freedom for Nov. 5 with clips of Prof. Mohammad Marandi, Prof. Glenn Diesen, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson and Col. Douglas Macgregor.

Joe Kent | Post-Midterm Desperation - Could Israel Escalate to a Nuclear Strike on Iran? | Nov. 5, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Joe Kent and Prof. Glenn Diesen on post-midterm desperation and whether Israel could escalate to a nuclear strike on Iran. Kent is the former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who resigned in March 2026 due to the war against Iran.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Kent says voters have rejected the Iran war
00:03:02 Could Israel draw the U.S. back into the conflict?
00:09:33 Iran's retaliation risk and the limits of escalation
00:14:03 Military capacity, blockade costs, and the nuclear danger
00:20:19 How Gulf infrastructure could widen the war
00:25:26 A shifting Middle East and the future of U.S. security guarantees
00:32:32 Could Washington and Tehran cooperate against jihadists?
00:37:24 Kent's account of U.S. policy and unintended consequences
00:42:33 Why Kent calls Iran pragmatic and negotiable
00:45:10 Trump's remaining opportunity to end the war

Douglas Macgregor | U.S. Empire in Retreat & Revolution in Europe - The Cost of Strategic Failure | Nov. 4, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Douglas Macgregor tells Glenn Diesen that Germany has not been a sovereign state since 1945, that the loss of cheap gas and the closing of factories are destroying the economy, and that parliamentary tricks will not keep the AfD out forever. He says the United States is about to attack Iran again without a strategic reason, that the defense budget should be cut in half, and that Iran, Turkey, and China will shape the Middle East once Washington's position there is gone.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Germany's political crisis and the AfD's rise
00:03:22 Energy costs, deindustrialization, and German sovereignty
00:05:12 Wagenknecht, the AfD, and possible political alliances
00:07:50 European nationalist movements and US influence
00:10:27 Macgregor's claims about US institutions and European politics
00:13:26 Why he favors a more regional European order
00:16:18 The limits of a unified European identity
00:19:28 Regional security zones and the future of Europe
00:21:30 Ukraine diplomacy and the US midterms
00:25:51 US debt, the unipolar moment, and military priorities
00:30:03 How drones and electronic warfare are changing combat
00:33:27 Defense spending, inflation, and the case for retrenchment
00:35:20 Tactical nuclear weapons and escalation risks
00:38:09 Iran, US influence, and the Middle East's future
00:40:17 Turkey's role as US influence recedes

Pepe Escobar | Brazil Defeated the Mother of All Hybrid Wars | Nov. 3, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Pepe Escobar on Glenn Diesen on how Brazil defeated what he calls the mother of all hybrid wars.

Pepe Escobar is a journalist, a political analyst, and author.

00:00 Glenn Diesen introduces Pepe Escobar and Brazil's election
05:48 WhatsApp networks and voter mobilization
09:30 Brazil's election in the Western Hemisphere context
14:27 Why Escobar says Brazil is strategically important
17:02 The coalition Escobar sees behind Bolsonaro's campaign
21:13 Digital organizing, street protests, and political resistance
23:11 Brazil's role in BRICS and multipolarity
26:08 Escobar's account of Flávio Bolsonaro's departure
34:21 How US election politics could shape the next chapter
36:10 Lula, Brazil's foreign ministry, and BRICS policy
40:28 Brazil's political identity and Lula's domestic challenges
44:05 Possible pressure on Brazil and closing remarks

Seyed M. Marandi | U.S. ‘Insane’ War Plans — Iran Offers Last-Minute Off-Ramp | Nov. 1, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Prof. Seyed Mohammad Marandi is a professor at Tehran University and a former advisor to Iran's nuclear negotiation team. He discusses U.S. war plans toward Iran and a last-minute off-ramp.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction and Context of Current Tensions
00:02:50 Iran's Intelligence and Military Preparedness
00:10:09 Consequences of Potential Conflict
00:13:08 Iran's Strategic Moves and US Midterm Elections
00:18:05 Negotiation Dynamics and Off-Ramps
00:24:49 Potential Outcomes and Global Implications
00:27:48 The Escalating Tensions in the Middle East
00:31:22 The Political Landscape in Israel
00:36:31 The Regional Chessboard: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Beyond
00:41:09 The Future of U.S. Influence in the Middle East
00:49:57 The Global Implications of U.S. Foreign Policy

Thomas Fazi | NATO's Hybrid Warfare - Deception & Permanent War | Oct. 31, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Thomas Fazi is an Italian journalist and author focusing on economics and geopolitics.

He discusses NATO's hybrid warfare, deception, and permanent war with Glenn Diesen.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Thomas Fazi on European politics and hybrid warfare
00:02:18 Why Fazi calls hybrid warfare a dangerously vague concept
00:05:05 A counter-database of disputed Russian-war claims
00:08:26 Baltic cables, a Lithuania plane crash, and Heathrow
00:12:15 The drone-sighting wave and what investigations found
00:16:05 Stray drones, the von der Leyen claim, and evidence
00:18:02 Nord Stream and the consequences of misattribution
00:23:24 Threat narratives, domestic politics, and rearmament
00:28:06 Information warfare, censorship, and Romania’s election
00:30:01 Gladio and the danger of manufactured threats
00:35:58 RussiaGate and the persistence of disputed claims
00:42:09 Public opinion, propaganda, and rising repression risks

Einar Tangen | China's New Economic Strategy vs the West's Ideological Trap | Oct. 31, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Einar Tangen is a senior fellow at the Taihe Institute and at CIGI. With Glenn Diesen he discusses China's new economic strategy versus the West's ideological trap.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introducing Einar Tangen and China's fifth plenum
00:02:40 Anti-corruption and the question of political legitimacy
00:08:10 Prescriptive versus performative governance
00:13:27 Western politics, planning, and recurring promises
00:21:30 Ideological certainty versus a willingness to learn
00:25:10 China's shift toward shared gains and social development
00:31:31 Environmental rights, consumption, and small business
00:34:25 Digital tools and opening international markets to SMEs
00:38:15 AI productivity and the prospect of shorter workweeks
00:42:07 Markets, extraction, and public investment
00:44:37 Dollar alternatives, US debt, and economic vulnerability

George Beebe | Europe Must Face U.S. Consequences if It Blocks Ukraine Peace Agreement | Oct. 29, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

George Beebe is the former CIA Director for Russia Analysis and currently Director of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute. He tells Glenn Diesen that Europe must face U.S. consequences if it blocks a Ukraine peace agreement.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction and Context of the Ukraine Conflict
00:05:35 Diverging Expectations in Diplomatic Talks
00:15:45 The Complexity of European Security Architecture
00:25:17 The Role of NATO and Future Security Guarantees
00:30:45 Negotiation Dynamics and the Need for Unity
00:35:46 Final Thoughts on the Future of the Conflict

Douglas Macgregor | Ukraine War Ending? Europe on the Brink | Oct. 27, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Douglas Macgregor tells Glenn Diesen that calls to Vladimir Putin by the leaders of Finland and Norway mark the start of the end of the Ukraine war, because Europe knows the Ukrainian state is on life support and will have to make its own arrangements with Russia. He says NATO has no leadership left, that no European state will attack into Ukraine, and that Donald Trump is not interested in organizing Europe.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction to Current Global Conflicts
00:06:06 The State of NATO and European Leadership
00:12:01 The Implications for Europe and NATO

Alexander Mercouris | Protests Across Europe & End of the Ukraine Peace Talks? | Oct. 26, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube, Alexander Mercouris youtube, The Duran youtube



Description: 

Alexander Mercouris tells Glenn Diesen that Europe is under economic stress, with falling living standards in France and the same pressure in Britain and Germany, and that people are in the streets because they feel the political system no longer responds.

He says both sides have agreed to sit down, but Ukraine, the Europeans, and Marco Rubio treat the talks as being about Donbass and territory, while Russia says the subject is Europe's security architecture.

Timeline:
00:00:00 The State of Europe: Economic and Social Unrest
00:05:48 The Impact of War on European Stability
00:12:05 Diplomatic Dynamics: Russia, Ukraine, and the West
00:17:59 Revisiting Security Architecture in Europe
00:26:33 The Political Landscape of Ukraine
00:27:32 Demonization of Russia and European Unity
00:28:38 The Existential Threat of Peace
00:30:33 The American Influence on Ukraine
00:32:33 The Dynamics of U.S.-Ukraine Relations
00:36:23 Negotiation Challenges and Military Strategies
00:38:09 Shifts in the Battlefield
00:46:11 The Impact of Middle Eastern Conflicts on U.S. Strategy

Stanislav Krapivnik | Ukraine war endgame: a breakdown is coming | Oct. 26, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube / Stanislav Krapivnik youtube



Description:
Stanislav Krapivnik is a former U.S. Army officer from Donbas, who moved from the US to Russia 15 years ago. 

Jeffrey Sachs | "I Am a Defender of Ukraine" — NATO Fights to the Last Ukrainian | Oct. 24, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Jeffrey Sachs, speaking with Glenn Diesen, on the Ukraine conflict and his line that he is a defender of Ukraine, while NATO fights to the last Ukrainian.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs is an economics professor, author, and educator working on sustainable development.

Timeline:
00:00:00 Introduction and Context of the Ukraine Conflict
00:07:25 The Role of Ukraine in Geopolitical Strategies
00:18:12 Narrative Control and Its Impact on Peace Efforts
00:25:11 Proposals for Peace and Inclusive Security
00:40:28 The Need for Open Dialogue and European Agency

Trita Parsi | Israel Set a Trap for Total War in the Region | Oct. 23, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description:
Trita Parsi is the co-founder and Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. Follow his excellent Substack

Richard Wolff | Imperial decline: crisis, denial and war | Oct. 21, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description:
Prof. Richard Wolff discusses the imperial decline with political crisis, denial, and war. 

Scott Ritter | Trump vs. Zelensky — End of Ukraine, NATO & EU | Oct. 19, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Scott Ritter tells Glenn Diesen that the largest drone attack on St. Petersburg did not exploit a hole in Russian air defenses so much as a corridor along Belarus, Poland, and the Baltic states, where intercepting the drones would put Russian assets into NATO airspace, and that the precision implies guidance beacons inside NATO countries. He says Zelensky made the quarrel with Donald Trump personal, a mistake he calls fatal, and that the split points to the collapse of Ukraine and, with it, of NATO and the European Union.

Jennifer Kavanagh | Why the U.S. Should Pull Back From the First Island Chain | Oct. 18, 2026

Source: Glenn Diesen youtube



Description: 

Jennifer Kavanagh is a Senior Fellow and Director of Military Analysis at Defense Priorities and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies. Kavanagh discusses her policy paper advocating a US withdrawal from the First Island Chain to avoid war with China, and explains why it sparked such a strong reaction.