#geopolitics
155 episodes
#2156: Think Tank Funding and the Art of Academic Laundering
Foreign governments are funding U.S. think tanks through complex financial networks to shape policy, often bypassing transparency laws.
#2155: Public Affairs vs. Lobbying: Shaping the Battlefield
Lobbying is just one tool. Public affairs shapes the entire regulatory battlefield—from AI laws to supply chains.
#2154: Iran's Shadow Architecture Beyond Missiles
Iran's power isn't just military proxies. Discover the hidden financial, religious, and diplomatic networks that keep Tehran relevant.
#2153: How Lobbying Actually Works in DC
Federal lobbying hit $6B in 2025. Here’s what a lobbyist actually does all day—and why the system regulates itself.
#2151: The Minefield of Information
The Strait of Hormuz is "open," but Iran can’t find its mines. We explore how this fog of war is a deliberate tactic.
#2149: Pakistan's Two-Track Diplomacy
Pakistan hosts US-Iran peace talks while its Defense Minister calls Israel a "cancerous state."
#2147: Israel's New Axis: Beyond Washington
Forget the US map: Israel's real 2026 allies are in the Gulf and India.
#2144: AI Wargaming: One Model or Many?
Should geopolitical AI simulations use one model or many? We debate the pros and cons of a single-model approach.
#2140: A Functional Chaos: Middle East 2027
By 2027, the Middle East is reshaped by the Islamabad Truce. We predict the rise of the Council of Five in Iran and the Negev tech migration.
#2137: Wargaming's Methodology, Not Magic
Most AI wargames are just expensive role-play. Here's the professional methodology they're missing.
#2130: A Ceasefire in Tehran: Who Wins the Peace?
A ceasefire in Tehran: peace or prelude to chaos? Our experts predict the next 30 days of war, markets, and revolution.
#2128: The Victory Siren Sounds, But the Shelter Door Is Still Open
After a ceasefire announcement, why are Israelis still running to bomb shelters? The gap between official victory narratives and lived reality.
#2122: Israel’s Pivot: From Europe to the Middle East
The April 2026 conflict may have ended the "island strategy" for Israel, sparking a shift toward deep regional integration.
#2119: Will Iran's Regime Collapse in a Year?
We break down the gap between headlines and reality in Tehran after the ceasefire and Khamenei's death.
#2084: Why Turkey and Israel Are Estranged Allies
Turkey and Israel share deep trade and cultural ties, yet their governments are at odds. Here’s why.
#2077: The Tip of the Spear: How Special Forces Actually Work
From WWII's fish oil raids to modern Green Beret teams, discover the real mechanics of elite military units.
#2055: From Ring of Fire to Circle of Peace?
Could a post-regime Iran unlock a massive Middle East trading bloc, from Dubai to Tehran?
#2054: From Dirt to Data: How Empires Conquered the Cloud
Why did we stop conquering land and start conquering servers? This episode traces the shift from soil to bits.
#2053: So What If the UN Disappeared Tomorrow?
Would the world descend into chaos or just get more efficient? We explore a world without the UN.
#2052: The UN’s Phantom Army: Who Really Holds the Stick?
The UN Security Council can authorize war, but owns no tanks. Discover the gap between legal authority and military reality.
#2031: The Jerusalem Falafel Conspiracy
Is the high density of falafel stands in Jerusalem a sign of a secret, centuries-old monopoly?
#2023: When the UN Security Council Becomes a War Room
A dramatic UN session unfolds as the US and Russia clash over preemptive strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
#2000: Why Intelligence Agencies Slice the World into Desks
How the CIA and State Dept slice 195 countries into bureaucratic boxes—and why that creates dangerous seams.
#1997: The Long Peace Is Over (Or Is It?)
The data says we’re living in the most peaceful era ever, but it sure doesn’t feel like it.
#1984: Fluent in Arabic, Suspected as a Spy
Why fluency in Arabic can make you a suspect in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
#1976: How Cities Survive 11,000 Years
From Jericho's water spring to Aleppo's Silk Road fortress, discover the secrets of 11,000 years of urban survival.
#1974: Mapping the Bible's Borders: From Sinai to the Euphrates
Using satellite maps and ancient texts, we trace the shifting boundaries of the biblical Land of Israel from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates.
#1936: The Big Five FX Pairs: Personalities and Plumbing
We break down the world's most liquid currency pairs, from the Euro-Dollar heavyweight to the Swiss Franc safe-haven.
#1881: Why NATO Won't Fight Iran in 2026
Trump is furious NATO won't join the Iran fight, but the alliance is legally bound to stay out. Here’s why they’re only watching from the sky.
#1879: Why Can't Iran Hit the U.S.? Yet We're at War.
Iran can't hit the US mainland, yet Operation Epic Fury is a full-scale war. We unpack the mismatch between threat and response.
#1866: How Leaders See War in Real-Time
Leaders see live drone feeds while you see yesterday's news. Here's how wartime intelligence actually reaches the top.
#1864: The Diplomat Who Wears Two Masks
Iran's top diplomat speaks of peace before attacks, then justifies violence. This is linguistic camouflage at its most dangerous.
#1860: Building a 24-Agent AI Diplomatic Swarm
Inside the three-hour, 24-voice virtual conference that stress-tested AI-generated geopolitical conflict.
#1853: Emergency Symposium on the Iran-Israel-US Crisis
Day 31 of the war. 24 voices, 4 panels, 3 hours: the belligerents, the shadow war, the expert frame, and the human cost.
#1787: The State Is the Enemy: Israel 2086
When shelters rot while billions fund ideology, is the state the enemy?
#1746: Recognizing Palestine When the Government Is Two
The PLO and PA are legally distinct entities governing different territories, yet the world recognizes them as one state.
#1712: Five AIs, One Question: A Tiananmen Square Test
We asked five AI models the same question about Tiananmen Square. Their answers reveal a stark divide between Chinese and Western AI.
#1699: Does Killing Terror Leaders Actually Work?
Decapitation strikes or whack-a-mole? We unpack the data on whether eliminating leaders degrades terrorist networks or just creates martyrs.
#1683: Germany Buys Israel's Top Missile Shield—Why?
Germany's €4B Arrow-3 purchase from Israel marks a historic shift in their post-WWII relationship.
#1680: Beyond China: AI in Russia, India, Japan
China dominates the AI conversation, but Russia, India, and Japan are building powerful regional models with unique architectures.
#1677: Assad's Regime Didn't Collapse—It Relocated
Why Russia is hosting Assad in Moscow, the logistics of the extraction, and what happens to the regime's assets and intelligence networks.
#1673: The 1989 Template: How the IRGC Seized Power
How a 1989 power vacuum transformed Iran's Revolutionary Guards from a militia into a state-within-a-state.
#1643: Merchant Shipping Isn't Just Big Boats
It's not just container ships and tankers. Here's the full ecosystem of merchant vessels—and why their differences matter.
#1640: The Gaza Yellow Line: Peace Plan or Permanent Partition?
A new 2026 proposal demands Gaza’s total demilitarization. Is the "Yellow Line" a path to reconstruction or a blueprint for permanent control?
#1615: Operation Epic Fury: The Reality Behind the Peace Smokescreen
As diplomacy takes center stage in DC, kinetic reality shifts on the ground. Explore the truth behind Operation Epic Fury’s 28-day trajectory.
#1606: DeepSeek’s Return: V4, R2, and the AI Pricing War
DeepSeek returns with a trillion-parameter model and rock-bottom pricing. Explore the tech behind V4 and the mystery of the Hunter Alpha leak.
#1554: Why 80-Year-Old Brains Are Still Running the World
Discover the biological secrets of "SuperAger" world leaders and how specific brain structures allow them to thrive under extreme global pressure.
#1553: The Global Law Gap: High-Stakes Drama vs. Technical Success
Why does international law thrive in technical "plumbing" but fail in high-stakes justice? Discover the growing global enforcement gap.
#1527: The Ghost of Tehran: The Disappearance of Mojtaba Khamenei
Mojtaba Khamenei has vanished. As Iran teeters on the edge of systemic collapse, we dissect the silence and the $42 billion capital flight.
#1516: The False Flag: From Pirate Sails to Digital Warfare
Discover how a literal naval trick evolved into a powerful weapon of modern information warfare and global distrust.
#1507: The $60 Trillion Pivot: How LPs are Rewriting the Rules
Discover how the $60 trillion "quiet money" is finally speaking up and demanding actual cash returns in a frozen market.
#1496: Ten Days to a Bomb: The Reality of Iran's Nuclear Program
Is Iran’s "verbal commitment" to dismantle its nuclear program a real pivot or a dangerous delay tactic? We dive into the technical data.
#1493: The Soybean Circuit: Geopolitics and Global Food Prices
Discover how soybean futures dictate global food prices and reflect high-stakes geopolitical shifts in the modern commodities market.
#1492: The 10 Million Rial Note: A Global Warning for Fiat
Iran’s 10 million rial note is a warning. Discover why central banks are ditching U.S. Treasuries for gold as the fiat social contract frays.
#1488: The $13.5 Trillion Power Play: Sovereign Wealth Weaponized
With $13.5 trillion in assets, sovereign wealth funds are shifting from passive savings to active tools of geopolitical influence and warfare.
#1487: The New Bretton Woods: Engineering a Livable Planet
Discover how the IMF and World Bank are pivoting from poverty alleviation to climate resilience and mobilizing trillions in private capital.
#1471: The Cursor Incident: Why Chinese AI Models are Winning
The Cursor leak revealed a shocking truth: Western AI dominance is fading. Discover the Chinese labs rewriting the rules of code and efficiency.
#1417: Sovereignty as a Service: The Modern Island Dependency
Explore why some islands choose legal limbo over independence and how they've turned "outsourced statehood" into a high-wealth economic model.
#1416: The Mauritian Miracle: Sovereignty in the Indian Ocean
How did a tiny island nation turn a "doomed" economy into a global financial powerhouse? Discover the secrets of the Mauritian Miracle.
#1413: The Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier: Inside Diego Garcia
Explore the strategic secrets of Diego Garcia, the remote Indian Ocean atoll that serves as a permanent, unsinkable aircraft carrier.
#1391: The Diplomatic Ghost Town: The End of the Two-State Era
Explore the widening chasm between international rhetoric and the ground-level reality of a defunct two-state solution in 2026.
#1390: Will Biology Kill the Secular West?
By 2050, Christianity and Islam will reach near-parity. Explore the demographic momentum driving this massive global realignment.
#1383: Why Modern Life Is Making Us More Religious
Sociologists predicted the death of God, but the data tells a different story. Discover why global faith is actually on the rise.
#1380: The Invisible War Tax: How Conflict Erodes Productivity
Beyond physical destruction lies an invisible "war tax" on the mind. Discover how instability drains the cognitive capital of the self-employed.
#1370: Trade War 2026: The Return of the Tariff Wall
Explore the legal whiplash of 2026 as the US hits its highest tariff rates in decades, reviving a century-old battle over global trade.
#1354: Red Sea Siege: How the Houthis Rewrote Global Trade
Discover how a non-state actor in Yemen turned the Red Sea into a permanent toll booth, reshaping global trade and naval warfare by 2026.
#1350: Escaping the Global Noise: The Geography of Irrelevance
In a world of constant connectivity, can we still find true sanctuary? Explore the geography of irrelevance and the ultimate remote escapes.
#1342: Why Israel’s Youth are Defying Global Political Trends
While Western youth lean left, Israeli Gen Z is moving right. Discover the historical shifts and traumas driving this unique political divergence.
#1336: Faith vs. Freedom: The Cracks in Israel's Status Quo
Can a democracy survive with theocratic features? We explore Israel’s legislative shifts and the battle over religious control at the Western Wall.
#1323: City Hall vs. The World: Mayor Mamdani’s Global Posturing
Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparks controversy by labeling international conflicts as genocide. Is this bold leadership or a dangerous distraction?
#1303: The Paradox of Power: Israel’s New Global Reality
Israel has neutralized Iran's nuclear threat, but at a massive diplomatic cost. Explore the "Netanyahu Paradox" and a shifting world order.
#1302: The Legal Labyrinth: Israel’s Disputed Territories
Explore the friction between international law and domestic policy regarding East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.
#1289: The Prophetic Clock: The Roots of Christian Zionism
Explore how a 19th-century theology turned the State of Israel into a "prophetic clock" and a cornerstone of modern American foreign policy.
#1287: The Siege of Cows’ Garden: Jerusalem’s Armenian Crisis
A 1,600-year-old community faces an existential threat from a secret land deal and a luxury hotel project in the heart of Jerusalem.
#1286: Can You Lose Your Home for Leaving the City?
Explore the "residency trap" and the pragmatic survival of 330,000 people living in the complex legal heart of East Jerusalem.
#1260: The 20 Percent: Navigating Arab Identity in Israel
Explore the complex reality of the two million Arab citizens in Israel and the tug-of-war between their national and civic identities.
#1259: The Druze: Survival, Secrecy, and the Blood Brother Pact
Exploring the secretive Druze community as they navigate a collapsing Syria and a complex "blood brother" alliance with Israel.
#1238: Broken Maps: Why Global Labels No Longer Fit the World
Are terms like "developing" and "Global South" obsolete? Discover why 1950s mental geography is failing to describe the modern world.
#1196: Sovereign of the Surf: The Truth About International Waters
Is the ocean truly a lawless frontier? Discover the complex legal zones of the high seas and why "pirate" dreams are a legal nightmare.
#1183: Beyond the Ballot: The Global Spectrum of Democracy
Is democracy a "one-size-fits-all" system? Explore why institutional design matters more than slogans in the global fight for freedom.
#1182: Fortress China: The Shift to Global Assertiveness
From "wolf warrior" diplomacy to the "gray rhino" of succession, we break down China’s 2026 strategy for dominance and self-reliance.
#1162: Ireland’s Risky Gamble: The Cost of the Settlements Bill
Ireland's "moral crusade" meets economic reality. Is a new trade bill about to sever the nation's vital lifeline to the United States?
#1154: The Davos Disconnect: Hypocrisy at the Peak
Explore the widening gap between elite rhetoric and global reality as we dissect the 2026 World Economic Forum summit in Davos.
#1153: How to Start Your Own Country: The Poppleberry Guide
Is any land left on Earth truly unclaimed? Join the quest to find out if you can still plant a flag and start your own sovereign nation.
#1147: The Cracks in the Monolith: Russia’s Internal Divide
Explore the internal fractures and cultural diversity of the world's largest nation. Is Russia a unified state or a collection of disparate pieces?
#1146: The New Great Game: Central Asia’s 2026 Pivot
As Russia’s influence wanes and Iran faces chaos, Central Asia is emerging as the world’s most critical trade and energy hub.
#1144: The Broken Pendulum: Israel and Turkey’s Dangerous Pivot
Is the rift between Israel and Turkey permanent? Explore the data, shadow trade, and rising neo-Ottoman ambitions in this regional deep dive.
#1143: The Myth of Unbreakable Bonds: Interests vs. Alliances
Explore why nations have no eternal friends, only perpetual interests, as we unpack the shifting alliances of 2026.
#1141: Trump’s 2026 Foreign Policy: Statesmanship or Chaos?
Is the second Trump term a masterclass in coercive diplomacy or the end of the American century? We analyze the 2026 geopolitical shift.
#1137: The Accidental Border: How Gaza Got Its Shape
Why is the Gaza Strip shaped like that? Explore the military "glitch" that turned a 1949 armistice line into a permanent reality.
#1133: The Caspian Shield: Israel and Azerbaijan’s New Alliance
Explore how a 2026 drone strike transformed the secret bond between Israel and Azerbaijan into a powerful, public geopolitical marriage.
#1132: Syria 2026: Al-Sharaa, the Buffer Zone, and a New Order
Discover how the "New East" doctrine and the rise of Ahmed al-Sharaa are fundamentally remapping the Middle Eastern landscape in 2026.
#1130: Israel’s Red Sea Pivot: A New Base in Somaliland
Israel shifts its defense strategy to the Horn of Africa, recognizing Somaliland to establish its first permanent overseas military base.
#1101: Data of Escalation: Analyzing Operation True Promise Four
A deep dive into the data of Operation True Promise Four, exploring how saturation tactics and hypersonics are redefining modern warfare.
#1092: The Landscape Reader: Geolocation Beyond Metadata
Master the art of geolocation by reading physical clues like vegetation, shadows, and road markings—no metadata required.
#1069: Will Iran’s Shadow Prince Turn the IRGC Into a CEO?
Iran’s transition to Mojtaba Khamenei marks the end of clerical rule and the birth of a ruthless military junta. Is the "Shadow Prince" more danger...
#1068: Beyond Cyrus: The Hidden Ethnic Mosaic of Modern Iran
Is Iran really just Persia? Explore the complex ethnic reality behind the regime and why the myth of Cyrus the Great might cloud our vision.
#1062: The Silicon Age: Turning Sand into Intelligence
Why did silicon win the chip wars? Explore the "modern magic" that turns ordinary sand into the world's most powerful processors.
#1060: Persona Non Grata: The 72-Hour Diplomatic Countdown
What happens when a diplomat is given 72 hours to leave? Explore the legal and logistical chaos of being declared persona non grata.
#1020: The Righteousness Shield: Ireland’s Antisemitism Crisis
How does Ireland's "Righteousness Shield" mask rising antisemitism? Explore the impact of state rhetoric on the nation's Jewish community.
#1019: The Colonialist Myth: Deconstructing a Modern Cliché
Is the "colonialist" label historically accurate? We explore genetic data and the history of the Levant to debunk a modern political cliché.
#1011: Israel’s Security Paradox: The Russia-China Dilemma
Israel navigates a "strategic schizophrenia," balancing vital ties with Russia and China while they arm Iran with advanced military tech.
#1007: The Nation-State Paradox: Who Does Israel Represent?
Explore the growing rift between the State of Israel and the global Jewish diaspora as we examine the "nation-state paradox" in 2026.
#1003: The Sky is a Snitch: Geolocation and the Horizon Blur
Why are world leaders blurring the sky? Discover how the horizon has become a digital barcode for modern intelligence analysts.
#989: Survival on the Edge: The Logistics of Polar Science
Beyond the ice: Explore the massive industrial operations and high-stakes geopolitics required to sustain human life at the Earth's poles.
#981: Why Most Americans Under 55 Just Turned on Israel
A historic shift is underway as Americans under 55 move away from a pro-Israel consensus. We dive into the data behind this "Opinion Gap."
#978: The Storrs Connection: Land-Grants, Logic, and Legacies
Explore the agricultural roots and mysterious past of the world's most educated donkey in the quiet village of Storrs, Connecticut.
#975: The Architecture of Deception: Inside Intelligence Fronts
Explore how intelligence agencies build real businesses, from luxury resorts to shipping firms, to hide high-stakes operations in plain sight.
#972: The Last Minyan: Why Jews Are Leaving Ireland
From the closure of Cork’s last synagogue to rising political hostility, we explore why Ireland’s Jewish community is facing an uncertain future.
#970: The Limits of the State: Can a Nation Survive Anarchy?
Explore the boundaries of power as we look at stateless Somalia, private cities in Honduras, and the radical mini-state of Liechtenstein.
#969: Beyond Bond: The Hidden Reality of Global Intelligence
Forget James Bond. Discover how countries like Ireland and Jordan navigate the high-stakes world of global intelligence and secret diplomacy.
#961: Borders of the Absurd: Inside Shebaa Farms and Ghajar
Discover the strange reality of the northern border, where a single village was split in two and a mountain strip became a legal ghost.
#954: The Polite Fiction: Lebanon’s State-Militia Symbiosis
Is Lebanon a hostage or a willing partner? Explore the "polite fiction" of sovereignty and the blurred lines between the state and Hezbollah.
#951: The Kurdish Wild Card: A Nation Between Empires
With 40 million people and no state, the Kurds remain the Middle East's ultimate wild card. Will 2026 be the year their borders finally change?
#932: Beyond the Smoke: Reimagining a Post-Regime Iran
Exploring the historic potential of a post-regime Iran and the return of a strategic alliance between Jerusalem and Tehran.
#930: The World’s Policeman: American Power and the New Restraint
Is America still the world's policeman? We explore the shift from the Monroe Doctrine to the aggressive "interventionist isolationism" of 2026.
#928: Can the Middle East Prosper Without a Palestinian Peace?
Is the Arab world replacing Europe as Israel's top trade partner? We dive into the shifting geopolitics of the Abraham Accords in 2026.
#925: Israel SITREP; 4 Mar 01:51 (23:51 UTC)
Following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, a massive regional conflict erupts. We break down the military strikes and global economic fallout.
#924: Purim in Jerusalem: Masks, Miracles, and Resilience
Explore the deep themes of Purim in Jerusalem during wartime, from the power of masks to the defiance of finding joy in the face of modern threats.
#916: The Billion Dollar Shield: Gulf Air Defense Stress Test
Explore how the Gulf states achieved 90%+ interception rates and the staggering cost of using "Ferraris to shoot down e-bikes."
#915: Inside the Target List: Mapping Iran’s Nuclear Machine
Herman and Corn break down the strategic map of Iran’s nuclear sites, from the depths of Pickaxe Mountain to the weaponization labs of Parchin.
#913: 72 Hours That Changed the World: The Iran Conflict
As a massive military operation enters its third day, Herman and Corn break down the tactical shifts and global impacts of the Iran conflict.
#904: 27 Targets: The History of the US Middle East Footprint
As 27 US bases face unprecedented strikes, Herman and Corn trace the 80-year history of the American military footprint in the Middle East.
#903: The Myth of the Hermetic Shield: Inside Missile Defense
If Israel has the world's best defense, why do missiles still hit? Explore the brutal physics and high-stakes reality of ballistic interception.
#902: Operation Epic Fury: The Geopolitical Silence of Giants
Following the decapitation of Iran’s leadership, why are Russia and China staying silent? Explore the shifting tides of global power.
#901: The Iranian Decapitation: Four Paths After the Strike
Following the massive US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Herman and Corn analyze the four potential trajectories for the region's future.
#900: Epic Fury: The Decapitation of Iran’s Leadership
Herman and Corn analyze the "Epic Fury" strikes, the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, and a Middle East reshaped by unprecedented regional warfare.
#898: Operation Epic Fury: The Outbreak of the US-Iran War
With the Supreme Leader dead and the Strait of Hormuz closed, Herman and Corn analyze the devastating first 36 hours of the US-Iran war.
#881: Israel SITREP; 27 Feb 23:20 (21:20 UTC)
Iran reaches a nuclear threshold at Isfahan, triggering US evacuations and a massive military buildup. Is a regional conflict now inevitable?
#876: Words That Wound: The Global Battle Over Free Speech
Explore the high-stakes tension between the right to speak and the right to safety in an era of digital vitriol and real-world violence.
#860: Why 70% of Humans Just Traded Freedom for a Bulldozer
Explore why the world is retreating toward authoritarianism despite an era of decentralized technology and global connectivity.
#836: Two Miles to Tomorrow: Life on the Bering Strait
Discover the tiny islands where the US and Russia are just two miles apart—and separated by an incredible 21-hour time difference.
#830: The Global Footprint: How US Military Bases Work
Explore the history of American overseas bases, from 19th-century guano islands to modern "lily pad" strategy and the legal webs of SOFAs.
#811: The Gig Economy of Treason: Iran's Digital Recruitment
How does a "side hustle" turn into high treason? Explore how Iranian agents use social media and crypto to recruit unsuspecting citizens.
#760: Hacking the Desert: Israel’s Water Technology Miracle
Discover how drip irrigation and desalination turned a desert nation into a global leader in water security and sustainable agriculture.
#751: The Frozen Fortress: Why the World Wants Greenland
Greenland is no longer a frozen afterthought. Discover why the Arctic is the new strategic center of global trade and resource security.
#743: The Fine Line: Criticism of Israel and Antisemitism
Where does political critique end and hatred begin? Explore the IHRA definition and the "Three Ds" in today's complex global landscape.
#718: Jericho’s Shadow: Israel’s Missile Program & Ambiguity
Explore the history of the Jericho program and the strategic "polite fiction" of nuclear ambiguity in an increasingly tense Middle East.
#693: Decoding the Sky: How NOTAMs Telegraph Global Conflict
Think aviation alerts are just technical jargon? Discover how NOTAMs have become the ultimate open-source tool for predicting modern warfare.
#668: Who Owns the Sky? Airspace, Fees, and the Karman Line
Discover the invisible borders of the sky, from the physics of the Karman Line to the hidden fees airlines pay to cross national airspace.
#662: The Geopolitical Graph: Mapping Global Power with AI
Move beyond flat maps. Discover how graph databases and AI reveal the hidden connections and second-order effects shaping our global landscape.
#645: The Return of the Big War: Mapping Global Conflict in 2026
Is the world truly more violent, or are we just more informed? Explore the data behind the global surge in conflict and the return of the "Big War."
#614: The Legal Maze of International Arrest Warrants
Herman and Corn break down the mechanics of ICC warrants, the role of Interpol, and why international law often clashes with global politics.
#581: The THAAD Shield: Strategic Deterrence in the Middle East
Herman and Corn dive into the THAAD deployment, exploring how this "kinetic kill" system serves as both a physical shield and a diplomatic tripwire.
#576: The Sinai Years: Israel’s 15-Year Desert Experiment
From the white-stucco homes of Yamit to the Red Sea reefs, explore the 15-year history of Israeli life and settlement in the Sinai Peninsula.
#574: The Outlook Shift: 5 Destinations to Change Your Life
Forget vacations. Herman and Corn explore five destinations where a month-long stay will fundamentally shift your perspective on how to live.
#568: The Birth of the Border: How Countries Were Invented
How did we go from sprawling empires to rigid borders? Explore the history of the modern country, from Westphalia to the French Revolution.
#555: Walking Between Raindrops: Israel and the New Axis
Can Israel maintain its balancing act as Russia and China align with Iran? Herman and Corn dive into the "adversary entente" and its risks.
#548: Guns vs. Butter: The High Price of Israel’s Security
Can Israel balance national security with social needs? Herman and Corn dive into the staggering math of the country’s defense budget.
#511: Who Owns Jerusalem? The Hidden Power of Church Land
Explore how ancient church deeds and expiring 99-year leases create real estate chaos and diplomatic minefields in modern Jerusalem.
#509: The Physics of Proliferation: Iran’s Nuclear Threshold
Why is 20% enrichment actually 90% of the work? Herman and Corn break down the science and the "breakout time" of Iran’s nuclear program.
#508: Israel's Solar Revolution: Can the Sun Power the Future?
Israel led the world in solar water heaters, but why is it lagging in electricity? Herman and Corn explore the future of the Israeli grid.
#497: The Business of Neutrality: Switzerland's "Good Offices"
Discover why Switzerland is the world’s ultimate middleman and how they turn neutrality into a powerful national brand and insurance policy.
#452: Boutique Diplomacy: Inside Jerusalem’s Startup Embassies
Discover how small nations like Fiji and Papua New Guinea are reinventing diplomacy in Jerusalem through ag-tech, rugby, and lean "startup" models.
#51: AI Policy Wargaming: Can Agents Argue Better Than Humans?
Can AI agents debate global policy better than humans? We explore AI wargaming, from UN simulations to stress-testing geopolitics.