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Who Is The New Ayatollah? What Every American Should Know Mar 16, 2026

Show notes

Benham Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Iran program, joins Jenna for a look at Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and what his rise could mean during wartime. Taleblu says the regime is hardening under a national security deep state and has moved closer to a military dictatorship, arguing the most important institution is the armed apparatus rather than the clergy. He outlines Mojtaba's background, including ties to the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp (a designated foreign terrorist organization by the U.S.) and his reported service during the Iran-Iraq war. Benham warns his leadership could be more aggressive and push Iran toward a North Korea-like model. He stresses the need to consider military gains in a broader political strategy, avoid premature victory, and pursue a five-part approach: do no harm, take cues from Iranian protesters, maintain maximum pressure, maximize support for communications and organizing, and fracture the security forces. Plus ~ a personal reflection from Benham who has family ties to Iran, and why he has opposed war in the past but discusses a tipping point when he realized the need for force. 00:00 Meet our guest, Iran expert Benham Ben Taleblu 00:28 Who Leads Iran Now 02:26 Name Pronunciation 02:48 Power Structure Shift 03:48 Is It A Monarchy 05:41 New Leader Background 08:24 Will The Regime Survive 10:01 Defanging Versus Strategy 10:53 Iranian Uprising Momentum 13:14 How To Support Protesters 16:32 Five Part Pressure Plan 18:10 White House Outreach 18:50 Personal Toll And Hope 20:56 Closing Thanks

China, Crisis & The Global Power Play: Is The Risk of War Rising? Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Is China at the center of all current global conflict? Is the risk of war rising? Whether we take a closer look at Venezuela or Iran, we find roads that lead to China. Why? And what should we know about the state of the largest communist nation in the world? Jenna interviews author and analyst Gordon Chang about China's growing instability and global posture amid shifting events involving Venezuela, Iran, and potential Trump–Xi talks. Chang argues China appears strong but is structurally weak and increasingly dangerous. He describes China's deep ties to Venezuela and says recent American actions cost China a key Latin American outpost. He calls Iran similarly dependent on China, noting China buys about 87–90% of Iran's crude and 45–50% of China's crude imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, with price spikes after attacks. Chang says Xi's purges, including "disappearing generals," have damaged China's military command structure, raising risks of accidental escalation. From U.S.-based Chinese biolabs to the fentanyl/drug war, Chang warns the U.S. must treat China as an enemy in "unrestricted warfare." 00:00 Meet Gordon Chang 00:40 From Law to China Watcher 01:50 Why China Looks Weak 02:36 Stories Converge on China 04:18 China and Venezuela Ties 07:01 Iran Oil and China 08:58 China Economic Shock 09:56 Inside the Two Sessions 12:09 Why Xi Rules by Fear 14:09 Disappearing Generals Purge 18:05 What It Means for Taiwan 20:45 South China Sea Flashpoints 23:56 Red Lines and US Strategy 26:09 Exports Signal Weakness 29:16 Xi Power Grab Fallout 30:08 Trump Xi Summit Stakes 31:44 Why Trump Shouldnt Go 36:32 China Election Interference 39:01 Secret Biolab Raids 45:17 Fentanyl As Weapon 47:53 TikTok Data And Algorithm 49:02 China Russia And Priorities 52:34 Unrestricted Warfare Warning 54:45 Living With The Threat

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SCOOP: The Untold Impact of Iran's Conflict - From Petroleum To The Press Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

01:05 Dignified Transfer Explained

03:23 Media Access and Family Consent

04:54 Steve Witkoff Emotional Moment

07:44 Jobs Report Breakdown

11:02 Oil Prices Surge and Inflation

16:21 Strait of Hormuz Shipping Crunch

18:22 War Risk Insurance Explained

22:07 CENTCOM Warning to Iran

24:39 Ayatollah Succession on X

25:13 Iran Hardliner Continuity

26:10 What Winning Looks Like

27:03 School Strike Claims

27:57 New York Times Evidence

31:26 Civilian Shields Context

35:54 Press Briefing Clash

40:55 Replaying Hegseth Quote

44:17 Media Trust and Messaging

50:31 Wrap Up and Next Week

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How Safe Are We? Iran Conflict Updates, Economic Risks, DHS Shutdown, and Child Exploitation Hearing Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

00:00 How Safe Are We

01:49 Economic Ripple Effects

02:22 Strait of Hormuz Map

04:18 Suez Canal Shipping Risks

06:38 Prices and Supply Chains

07:54 Iran Ship Sunk

10:07 Pentagon Strategy Shift

14:11 White House Safety Message

17:41 DHS Shutdown Stakes

21:48 Child Exploitation Hearing

27:24 Refocus on What Matters

28:19 Closing and Next Updates

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From Iran to Your Backyard: The Global Conflict and Its Reach with War Correspondent Hollie McKay Mar 02, 2026

Show notes

War correspondent and writer Hollie McKay joins us to provide unique insight and perspective, to this rapidly developing story in the Middle East. We highlight the latest news, hear from multiple points-of-view and tackle tough-to-report on stories like the Iranian reports of a bombing of a girl's school. 00:00 Breaking News Overview

01:08 Meet War Correspondent Holly

02:38 Austin Shooting Fallout

04:29 Pentagon Briefing Details

07:08 Holly Reacts to Objectives

10:11 Why Iran Matters Globally

13:42 Ayatollah Death Stakes

16:24 Why Now Timeline Questions

20:17 Force Posture and Go Order

22:15 Operation Epic Fury Breakdown

27:44 Nuclear Talks and Terror Links

31:19 Iran Foreign Minister Responds

33:09 School Strike Claims Context

36:09 Human Shields and Media Limits

37:34 Interview Challenge on Protests

38:08 Protests Turn Violent

39:00 Blame Game and Infiltration Claims

40:36 Obama Deal and Media Voices

42:00 Ben Rhodes on War Risks

44:21 Legality and Reinforcements

45:30 Reza Pahlavi and Succession

50:59 Inside Iran Public Mood

53:39 Traveling Iran as Journalist

57:45 Spy Plane Story

01:00:35 Regional Spillover and Allies

01:04:46 Worth It and Final Message SUPPORT OUR MISSION:

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Rolling Thunder: What We Know and Don't Know After U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran and the Ayatollah's Death Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

00:00 Breaking News Kickoff

00:58 Rolling Thunder News Cycle

03:17 War Reality Check

04:02 President Announces Strikes

06:31 Who Hit What When

07:36 Ayatollah Death Fallout

10:42 What Victory Looks Like

11:27 Regional Reactions

12:41 Retaliation Proxies Sleeper Cells

14:32 "Why Now?"

16:05 Casualties Info Gap - **including in Iran**

17:08 The President's message To Iranian People

19:34 Wrap Up What Comes Next

State of the Union Cheat Sheet: Key Moments, Context, and What Was Missing Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

00:00 Showtime Setup

00:32 Why Our Report Delivers Something Different.

01:54 SOTU History Primer

04:54 Media Optics Explained - How Does How You Watch Impact How You Feel?

07:58 Opening Golden Age

09:15 Speech Style Breakdown

12:10 Cartel Kingpin Claim

15:04 War on Fraud

17:08 BRAND NEW: Venezuela Raid Details

26:51 The Most Combustible Political Moment.

31:17 What Was Missing

33:04 Time Capsule Closing

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SCOOP: The Backstory To USA Hockey Gold and What To Know: The Supreme Court Tariff Ruling, Cartel Unrest In Mexico and A Shooting At Mar-a-Lago. Feb 23, 2026

Show notes

00:00 Olympic Hockey Gold

00:59 Jack Hughes Interview

03:34 Hughes Family Backstory

05:38 Gaudreau Tribute

07:52 Drunk Driving Reminder

09:34 From Olympics to Politics

12:24 Mar-a-Lago Security Shooting

16:15 DHS Funding Shutdown

17:56 Cartel Boss Killed

21:54 Epstein and Prince Andrew

24:24 GDP and Tariffs Tease

24:52 GDP Growth Slows

26:04 Tariffs Explained

27:59 Supreme Court Blocks IEEPA

31:31 Trump Reacts and Pivots

37:36 What Happens Next

39:00 Refunds and Economic Fallout

45:00 Washington Farewell Address Tradition In the Senate

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SCOOP: Marco Rubio's Moment - Plus: The Middle East, A Capitol Hill Scare & Stephen Colbert Vs. CBS Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

From an arrest on Capitol Hill to an ongoing partial government shutdown to a big speech on center stage overseas, what you need to know in the week ahead.

00:00 Welcome Back: Why a Wednesday Scoop + What's Ahead

02:21 Capitol Security Scare: 18-Year-Old Arrested Near the U.S. Capitol

03:54 Missing Nancy Guthrie: Reward Raised, Leads Still Thin

05:05 DHS Funding Lapse: Partial Shutdown and What It Means for Travelers

06:53 U.S.–Iran Tensions: Negotiations, Military Posture & the Strait of Hormuz

10:20 Colbert vs. CBS vs. FCC: The 'Equal Time' Debate (and Why It Matters)

17:19 Rubio in Munich: Why This Speech Sets the Trump Admin 'Paradigm'

20:08 One Western Civilization: Rubio's Reassurance to Europe

23:27 From Praise to Policy: Re-Industrialization, Migration, and a 'New Western Century'

27:12 Reforming the Global Order: UN Critique and the Case for American Leadership

34:18 What the Speech Signals: Applying the Paradigm to Borders, Ukraine, Iran & More

38:28 Wrap-Up: Severe Weather, Safety Notes, and How to Follow Along

Sec. Rubio's full speech in Munich

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Hidden Truths About George Washington Feb 16, 2026

Show notes

Jenna Lee marks the federal holiday of George Washington's birthday by examining the history of the celebration and his enduring Farewell Address warnings about political parties and regionalism. The report features unique historical insights, including Washington's 'Rules of Civility' and his personal connection to Betsy Ross. Jenna also shares lighthearted facts about the first president's life at Mount Vernon, from interior decorating to custom shoe shopping for his wife, Martha. *Timestamps* 00:00 George Washington's Holiday History 01:19 The Farewell Address Tradition 02:58 Three Surprising Personal Facts 05:13 George Washington's Enduring Legacy Love nonpartisan news? Want a bigger serving of the serious headlines? Here's how you can become a SCOOP insider: https://www.scoop.smarthernews.com/get-the-inside-scoop/ Shop our gear! https://smarthernews.com/shop/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smarthernews/ Website: https://smarthernews.com/

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