White House Shooting, Thomas Massie Loses, The Rise of Jihadist Militants in Africa, and U.S.-Cuba Tensions

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 Welcome to another World of Blaze.

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 Today's episode, we're gonna discuss Thomas Massey's loss,

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 the alleged claims that Israel worked to unseat Thomas Massey

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 and all the rhetoric coming out of the land

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 of Podcastistan.

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 If you're unfamiliar with Podcastistan,

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 because you live in the real world

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 and not on the internet,

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 Podcastistan has been a label used

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 to group certain individuals in the podcast community

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 who seem to overvalue or overestimate their influence

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 and who they really are

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 and how they matter to the United States of America.

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 And these will be people, now there's some people

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 that I'm going to name are recognizable,

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 even the everyday person doesn't pay attention

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 to this stuff knows Tucker Carlson.

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 And of course there's Candice Owens,

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 but then there's others like Dave Smith,

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 there's Owen Schreuer.

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 There's a long list of people

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 that would be considered part of the land of Podcastistan.

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 And these are people who seem to believe

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 that Trump has no influence,

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 his popularity is near zero in the United States

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 of America, and they were going to stand up

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 for making sure Thomas Massey was reelected.

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 Why?

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 Well, because everybody seemed to turn on Donald Trump.

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 And with all of this going on,

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 they were gonna make sure that they got behind

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 using their power and influence

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 to platform Thomas Massey, support Thomas Massey,

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 because they believe that America believed

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 what they were saying, especially Tucker Carlson.

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 Tucker Carlson actually had Massey on his show

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 as a way to help his campaign.

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 But in the end, all the alleged influence

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 that they thought they had, Tucker included,

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 didn't seem to be too influential

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 as Thomas Massey still lost his seat

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 in Kentucky's fourth district.

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 So we're gonna discuss that a little bit.

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 Then we're gonna move on to Cuba.

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 We're gonna discuss what's going on with Cuba,

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 what's happening between the United States

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 of America and Cuba, Cuba's importance.

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 Why is Cuba being focused on right now

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 by the Trump administration?

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 Well, let's just say Cuba and the US

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 have been at each other for quite some time.

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 And Cuba is proximity to the United States.

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 Their ties to Russia and activity and connections

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 to also Iran, as well as China,

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 definitely is a point of contention

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 for the United States of America.

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 It's also been reported that Cuba has

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 harbored terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

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 Donald Trump absolutely wants regime change

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 and Cuba, and for good reason.

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 They're in our backyard.

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 They're right there in the southwestern hemisphere

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 of the United States of America.

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 So we're gonna discuss that a bit.

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 And we're gonna talk about whether or not

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 Trump may or may not take action.

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 Again, hopefully you understand

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 that I'm not saying he will,

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 but we're gonna discuss the tensions there

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 and what might come next.

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 So stick around for that.

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 Then we're gonna discuss Africa.

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 Africa, Africa, Africa has not been talked about enough.

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 Now we know that there's activity in Nigeria.

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 We know that Christians have been targeted

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 and are being slaughtered there.

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 We know that Somalia's been a hot topic.

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 We also hear a lot about South Africa.

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 But what's not being talked about

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 is the consistent steady growth and rise

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 and power of fundamental extreme jihadist organizations.

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 And we're talking about groups like ISIS

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 and al-Qaeda, al-Shabaab.

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 There's been a lot of activity,

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 a lot of Islamic extremist groups there

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 that have risen to power and are right now

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 struggling between each other

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 or fighting each other for power.

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 ISIS has been there for quite some time.

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 Al-Qaeda, much longer.

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 Now, according to reports,

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 about 85% of ISIS's activity is controlled

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 and or originates from Africa.

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 And it's been considered to now be ISIS's headquarters.

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 There are many, many, many different factions of ISIS

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 that control various provinces within Africa.

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 So Africa is absolutely something

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 that needs to be talked about,

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 something we need to pay attention to,

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 especially when we consider how long Russia

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 has been working to create relationships with Africa,

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 China as well.

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 And geopolitically, they are a major player.

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 They're rich in resources.

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 And if we're not paying attention to the growth

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 and control of Africa by terrorist organizations,

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 we're probably gonna be in trouble.

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 So let's talk about Africa for sure.

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 Now, before we get to all that in the show,

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 there's been developments this weekend.

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 It's been busy.

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 First, let's talk about the shooting of the White House.

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 It has been reported that on Saturday,

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 an individual tried to storm the White House,

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 trying to get past a checkpoint and firing 30 shots.

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 This individual has done this before,

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 although previously in July of 2025,

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 did not use a weapon,

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 but did try to storm the White House.

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 This individual, being Nasir Best, was stopped.

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 In fact, he's no longer with us

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 as Secret Service acted quickly and killed him

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 as they worked to protect the president

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 and all those inside the White House.

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 Nasir Best believes he's Jesus.

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 And so this person did have

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 what's considered to be mental issues.

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 But let's talk about what we know,

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 and let's go to a CBS report.

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 And according to CBS,

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 according to CBS, go ahead and read this,

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 this is what we know.

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 Gunman killed after opening fire

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 on Secret Service checkpoint outside White House.

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 So a gunman was killed after opening fire

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 on a US Secret Service checkpoint

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 near the White House Saturday evening.

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 Secret Service officers returned fire,

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 hitting the suspect who later died at a hospital.

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 A bystander was also wounded.

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 President Trump was at the White House

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 during the incident, but was not impacted.

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 The suspect was identified by a person

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 familiar with the investigation

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 as 21-year-old Nasir Best.

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 According to the source,

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 Best had a previous run-in with Secret Service

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 in July of 2025,

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 when she tried to gain entry to the White House

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 and was arrested and sent to a psychiatric ward

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 for mental health issues.

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 So Nasir Best has tried to do this previously,

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 this time with a weapon in hand,

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 this time firing shots,

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 this time he himself getting killed.

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 What's interesting and of note here,

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 this is the fifth time the White House

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 has been shot at while President Trump

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 has been at the White House

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 during his first term and now in a second term.

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 He was fired at in 2016,

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 or at least the White House was fired upon,

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 2016, 2018, 2020,

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 again in 2025,

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 and 2026.

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 So very curious as to what's going on here.

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 Obviously the world doesn't want

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 Donald Trump around apparently.

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 It's either that or people are buying up the AI slop

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 and narratives being pushed on social media.

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 I think people are just mentally deranged these days

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 and just can't handle the world.

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 And of course they want to point a blame at Donald Trump,

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 which we can definitely blame him for many things,

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 but not all.

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 But the fact that people are becoming more emboldened

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 to carry out these violent actions is very concerning.

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 Also this Saturday, what happened?

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 Apparently, allegedly, there was assassination plot again,

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 but not necessarily against Trump himself,

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 against his family members.

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 And it's been reported that Ivanka Trump herself

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 was a target.

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 Also developing this weekend or Saturday,

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 we might actually have a peace deal on the table

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 between Iran and the U.S. and the other Gulf states.

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 Both J.D. Vance and Donald Trump were hurried

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 to Washington so that they can get on a call

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 with the other Gulf nations.

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 We don't know the details of that call.

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 We don't even know if that call was directly related

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 to the alleged peace deal or negotiations.

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 But regardless, this happened because shortly after

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 it has been reported that there was another deal

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 on the table from Iran.

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 All reports are saying that we're getting close

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 to actually having something here.

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 But I'm going to refrain from saying too much

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 because there is just, I mean truth be told,

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 not enough information.

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 We don't know all the details.

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 Many people are jumping to be first to report.

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 And all I'm going to do is exactly what I just did.

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 I'm going to bring it up.

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 I'm going to make you aware of it.

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 By the time you hear this episode,

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 there might be further developments.

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 And so if you know anything before I say anything,

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 please leave comments on the episode

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 in your favorite podcast aggregator,

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 whether you're listening to me on Apple or Spotify

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 or if you're just watching me on YouTube,

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 leave the comments, give me some updates.

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 But for those who have watched the show

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 for a long time, you already know

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 that I'm going to be diving into this.

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 So I guarantee probably by the next episode,

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 we're going to have something to say on this.

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 That being said, let's go ahead and move on to Thomas Massey.

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 Now, Thomas Massey lost his seat in Kentucky,

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 fourth district.

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 And many people believe that he was unseated

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 because Israel, it was because Israel went ahead

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 and worked to unseat him directly.

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 Why?

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 Because there was a lot of money involved.

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 Apparently APAC donated, I want to say 9 million.

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 I'm going to correct myself here in a minute

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 because I'm going to show you the report that I did here.

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 But it looks like everybody is saying

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 that Massey's loss is a win for Israel.

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 I'm not quite sure that is true.

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 But what people do say is Massey was probably

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 the only America first principled person

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 serving in Congress.

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 He voted on protecting the constitution

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 and his votes, according to many,

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 were based on the constitution itself

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 and also stood for fiscal responsibility.

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 What got Massey here?

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 Well, he did have a problem with Donald Trump.

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 Actually, even from Donald Trump's first term,

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 Massey has been very opposed to much

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 of Donald Trump's policies and everything

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 that he wanted to get done in Congress.

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 Thomas Massey, while being principled,

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 and please hear me out,

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 not saying being principled is wrong,

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 a principled man is something to admire,

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 but when it comes to politics,

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 there's a give and take.

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 You're playing chess here.

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 You got to give a little to get a little.

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 And that was the one thing

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 that Thomas Massey didn't seem to realize.

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 His principles became so principled

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 that he was literally a brick wall to progress.

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 And unfortunately, Thomas Massey didn't see

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 that to affect real change in America,

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 especially when you're in the political realm,

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00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:43.240
 you have to give a little so you can get a little.

262
00:12:43.900 --> 00:12:45.600
 And then once you get that little bit,

263
00:12:46.780 --> 00:12:48.200
 your fellow congresspeople are gonna go,

264
00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.400
 that made sense.

265
00:12:49.420 --> 00:12:50.540
 That made sense for America.

266
00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:52.360
 The results are great.

267
00:12:52.740 --> 00:12:55.420
 And they're more inclined to support you the next time.

268
00:12:55.760 --> 00:12:59.240
 And little by little, you get more and more and more.

269
00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:04.040
 But the problem was Thomas was trying to win the sprint

270
00:13:04.040 --> 00:13:05.400
 and not the marathon.

271
00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:07.880
 He was trying to see how fast he can get across

272
00:13:07.880 --> 00:13:09.120
 the street rather than whether or not

273
00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.280
 he was going to win the 24-hour Lamans.

274
00:13:13.380 --> 00:13:15.780
 Massey took his eye off the ball

275
00:13:16.300 --> 00:13:18.060
 and that came to bite him in the ass.

276
00:13:18.180 --> 00:13:21.800
 That plus being opposed to a good amount

277
00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:27.940
 of Republican agendas wasn't working for him.

278
00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:30.960
 And in my mind, many people can say it was

279
00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.860
 because of APAC and the amount of money donated

280
00:13:32.860 --> 00:13:37.040
 and spended that is the reason Thomas Massey

281
00:13:37.040 --> 00:13:37.880
 is no longer there.

282
00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:40.760
 But the reality is Thomas Massey was one

283
00:13:40.760 --> 00:13:43.240
 of the most well-known politicians

284
00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:44.700
 in the United States of America.

285
00:13:45.020 --> 00:13:48.140
 It was platformed by many in the land of podcast-istan.

286
00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:51.220
 Tucker Carlson had him on his show.

287
00:13:51.220 --> 00:13:53.880
 And in fact, many of these people felt,

288
00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:58.580
 including Tucker and Dave Smith and Owen Schreuer

289
00:13:58.580 --> 00:14:02.700
 and all these other guys, and so was even,

290
00:14:03.180 --> 00:14:05.960
 hell, even Nick Fuentes was supporting Thomas Massey.

291
00:14:07.320 --> 00:14:09.560
 They all thought that their power and influence

292
00:14:09.560 --> 00:14:12.900
 that they seemed to have because of their affirmations

293
00:14:12.900 --> 00:14:19.120
 from the land of X that their reach

294
00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:22.520
 and their influence was actually more than it really was.

295
00:14:22.700 --> 00:14:23.180
 Why?

296
00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.620
 Well, because they have millions of followers on X

297
00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.960
 and they get a lot of likes and clicks.

298
00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:28.840
 But that doesn't always translate

299
00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:32.180
 to whether or not people really take you serious.

300
00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:36.260
 And so with everything that these people tried to do

301
00:14:36.260 --> 00:14:38.680
 to push Massey into the spotlight

302
00:14:38.680 --> 00:14:40.680
 and to convince people that he's the guy

303
00:14:40.680 --> 00:14:42.880
 that you needed back in Kentucky and District Four,

304
00:14:44.060 --> 00:14:44.860
 he still lost.

305
00:14:45.260 --> 00:14:46.580
 And so the counter-argument was,

306
00:14:46.580 --> 00:14:49.260
 well, Israel spent so much money

307
00:14:49.260 --> 00:14:51.560
 that there's no way Massey could have won.

308
00:14:51.660 --> 00:14:52.540
 It wasn't a fair election.

309
00:14:53.260 --> 00:14:56.020
 Well, Thomas Massey himself raised a good amount of money.

310
00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.520
 And his opponent, Ed Galrin,

311
00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:04.200
 he wasn't getting promoted by these notable podcast

312
00:15:04.200 --> 00:15:08.340
 figures who allegedly had this huge reach and influence.

313
00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:10.260
 Ed Galrin wasn't getting any of that.

314
00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:13.420
 Thomas Massey was getting free publicity,

315
00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:18.120
 was getting the exposure from all these big-name podcasters

316
00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:19.820
 and ex-influencers,

317
00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:24.180
 something that his opponent, Ed Galrin, wasn't getting.

318
00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:28.960
 So in the end, two things happened here.

319
00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:34.720
 Did AIPAC, the American-Israeli lobby,

320
00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:38.360
 as people say or call it, were they a thing?

321
00:15:38.760 --> 00:15:41.660
 Was it really why Thomas Massey lost?

322
00:15:42.420 --> 00:15:45.020
 Well, they did contribute a lot of money

323
00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:48.380
 towards Thomas Massey's opponent.

324
00:15:49.300 --> 00:15:52.800
 But on the flip side, Thomas Massey had a lot

325
00:15:52.800 --> 00:15:54.800
 of media exposure and a lot of backing

326
00:15:56.540 --> 00:15:59.980
 from influential individuals and podcasters, right?

327
00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:03.780
 So I think it's a toss-up.

328
00:16:03.780 --> 00:16:06.560
 And if anything, this proves that these people

329
00:16:06.560 --> 00:16:10.240
 in the land of podcastistan, such as Tucker Carlson,

330
00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:15.480
 Dave Smith, Owen Schreuer, Hodge Twins, all these people,

331
00:16:16.280 --> 00:16:20.160
 if this proved anything, it proved that your influence

332
00:16:20.160 --> 00:16:22.920
 isn't very influential, that maybe people are listening

333
00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:26.260
 to you for entertainment, but not taking it too serious.

334
00:16:27.460 --> 00:16:29.920
 But hey, maybe I'm getting off track here.

335
00:16:30.380 --> 00:16:33.500
 So let's discuss a little bit of what happened here

336
00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:34.640
 with this race.

337
00:16:34.880 --> 00:16:38.520
 So this race is considered a historic defeat.

338
00:16:40.750 --> 00:16:42.250
 And before I move on, let me just say

339
00:16:42.250 --> 00:16:45.390
 that Thomas Massey himself has been serving

340
00:16:45.390 --> 00:16:46.870
 for nearly 14 years.

341
00:16:47.810 --> 00:16:50.370
 So it's not guaranteed he was gonna get elected again

342
00:16:50.370 --> 00:16:52.230
 anyway, but still, let's move on.

343
00:16:53.450 --> 00:16:57.730
 So the 2026 primary, what stood out?

344
00:16:57.850 --> 00:16:59.250
 Well, the election results in spending.

345
00:16:59.610 --> 00:17:02.830
 Massey secured approximately 45.2% of the vote,

346
00:17:02.930 --> 00:17:07.250
 losing to Ed Galarin's 54.8%.

347
00:17:07.250 --> 00:17:10.250
 The financial scale of the primary was unprecedented.

348
00:17:11.089 --> 00:17:13.270
 Total spending was estimated at 35 million,

349
00:17:13.369 --> 00:17:16.470
 which surpassed the 2024 record that was set in New York.

350
00:17:17.210 --> 00:17:21.589
 Massey's fundraising raised 5.5 million on his side

351
00:17:21.589 --> 00:17:22.930
 from his own committee.

352
00:17:24.470 --> 00:17:27.290
 Outside opposition though, over 20 million was spent

353
00:17:27.290 --> 00:17:30.970
 against Massey, including 9 million

354
00:17:30.970 --> 00:17:34.090
 from pro-Israeli groups like AIPAC

355
00:17:34.090 --> 00:17:36.170
 and the United Democracy Project.

356
00:17:37.250 --> 00:17:42.150
 Who labeled him the most anti-Israel Republican

357
00:17:43.230 --> 00:17:44.090
 in the house.

358
00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.580
 So the administrator chaos.

359
00:17:48.080 --> 00:17:49.980
 Final days of the campaign were marked by controversy

360
00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.540
 regarding polling locations.

361
00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:53.380
 Approximately one week before the election,

362
00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:56.160
 early voting sites were moved without notice.

363
00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:58.480
 Supporters argued this invalidated millions

364
00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:02.260
 of mailed ballots and introduced administrative confusion

365
00:18:02.260 --> 00:18:02.980
 into the race.

366
00:18:03.520 --> 00:18:05.300
 So people are unhappy and they're trying

367
00:18:05.300 --> 00:18:09.600
 to claim election interference, shenanigans.

368
00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:14.460
 That's yet to be proven, but those are the claims.

369
00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.680
 Now let's talk about the foreign interests

370
00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:18.140
 because everybody wants to say,

371
00:18:18.540 --> 00:18:20.660
 or everyone has been saying, maybe not you,

372
00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:22.300
 but most people in the land of Podcastistan,

373
00:18:22.340 --> 00:18:27.180
 as I said earlier, those mega influencers are an X.

374
00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.580
 That it was foreign interests that won the seat

375
00:18:32.440 --> 00:18:34.740
 or took the seat rather away from Thomas Massey

376
00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:36.520
 and won it for his opponent, Ed Gowren.

377
00:18:37.520 --> 00:18:39.660
 A lot of people view Massey as so principled

378
00:18:39.660 --> 00:18:41.900
 and so America first, but they don't even realize

379
00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:46.360
 that Thomas Massey himself has had ties,

380
00:18:46.540 --> 00:18:47.660
 either directly or indirectly,

381
00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:50.020
 to people who could be considered

382
00:18:50.020 --> 00:18:51.520
 those of foreign influence.

383
00:18:52.040 --> 00:18:54.280
 A lot of people say Israel unseated Massey,

384
00:18:54.340 --> 00:18:56.980
 but a lot of people don't want to discuss Massey's ties

385
00:18:57.800 --> 00:19:00.160
 to mega donor, Jeff Yass.

386
00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:04.260
 Now I'm gonna read just a few of these

387
00:19:04.260 --> 00:19:08.360
 foreign influential ties here, or foreign influence ties.

388
00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:13.020
 Jeff Yass, he has a minority stake in ByteDance,

389
00:19:13.300 --> 00:19:14.040
 TikTok owner.

390
00:19:15.280 --> 00:19:18.520
 He contributed 7.5 million to Protect Freedom Pack.

391
00:19:18.840 --> 00:19:20.400
 One million, one million of this

392
00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:22.600
 went to the pro-Massey Kentucky first pack.

393
00:19:23.860 --> 00:19:25.600
 The Integrity Pack, or IPAC,

394
00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:28.960
 described as having foreign ties well beyond Kentucky.

395
00:19:29.880 --> 00:19:34.500
 Officially endorsed Massey, Chairman Rafad al-Jabouri

396
00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:37.320
 chairs a Gaza-focused NGO,

397
00:19:37.320 --> 00:19:39.080
 and I'm sorry, I probably mispronounced that name,

398
00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:40.640
 but you get the point.

399
00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:43.620
 And then there's the Iran lobby,

400
00:19:44.280 --> 00:19:47.400
 and that is the National Iranian American Council.

401
00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:49.400
 They're described as the tip of the spear

402
00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:51.440
 for the Iranian regime.

403
00:19:52.760 --> 00:19:57.580
 Again, no direct PAC funds went to Massey from this,

404
00:19:57.580 --> 00:20:04.120
 but Massey has been consistently aligned in his voting

405
00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:08.340
 in a way that benefits the Iranian lobby,

406
00:20:09.020 --> 00:20:10.360
 which is very interesting.

407
00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:14.980
 And then we have Sam Marouk,

408
00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:17.280
 or Marouk, however you pronounce that.

409
00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:20.280
 He is a Palestinian-raised businessman.

410
00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:24.160
 So he himself donated the maximum of $7,000,

411
00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:26.480
 I mean, you know, the most any individual can donate.

412
00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:33.360
 But Marouk's family also contributed the maximum amounts,

413
00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.480
 totaling tens, I mean, tens of thousands of dollars

414
00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.900
 that went to Thomas Massey

415
00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:40.660
 from this Palestinian-raised businessman

416
00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:47.200
 who had Palestine at the top of his mind,

417
00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:49.900
 meaning foreign interests.

418
00:20:51.100 --> 00:20:53.080
 And those are only three examples here.

419
00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:54.620
 But let's go ahead and break down

420
00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:55.920
 the bite dance connection here,

421
00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.320
 because this is very important.

422
00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:01.320
 Massey was one of the few House members to vote against,

423
00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:02.180
 listen to this,

424
00:21:02.300 --> 00:21:05.160
 to vote against the Protecting Americans

425
00:21:05.160 --> 00:21:10.480
 from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

426
00:21:11.800 --> 00:21:15.920
 Hmm, this legislative alignment with billionaire Jeff Yaz

427
00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:20.640
 who holds a stake in TikTok's Beijing-based parent company

428
00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:24.960
 drew intense scrutiny regarding potential foreign influence.

429
00:21:25.060 --> 00:21:26.860
 Oh, wait a minute.

430
00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:29.040
 Wasn't Massey the most principled

431
00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:31.760
 America First congressional person?

432
00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.200
 Interesting, right?

433
00:21:34.600 --> 00:21:37.080
 There's also the Muslim-American support.

434
00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:40.360
 So the Integrity Political Action Committee,

435
00:21:40.600 --> 00:21:42.020
 IPAC, which I spoke about earlier,

436
00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:44.600
 the coalition advocating for immigrant rights

437
00:21:44.600 --> 00:21:45.860
 and challenging ICE,

438
00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:49.420
 endorsed Massey as a true America First candidate.

439
00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:53.100
 The group praised his opposition to APAC influence.

440
00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:57.120
 Massey also received significant individual contributions

441
00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:58.900
 from prominent activists,

442
00:21:59.320 --> 00:22:01.640
 notably the Maruk family,

443
00:22:01.700 --> 00:22:03.420
 which I mentioned earlier as well.

444
00:22:06.330 --> 00:22:08.110
 And then, so here's the legislative conflicts

445
00:22:08.110 --> 00:22:09.210
 and policy positions.

446
00:22:09.750 --> 00:22:11.610
 Now, and again, Massey's a principled man, right?

447
00:22:11.630 --> 00:22:12.810
 He stands on the laurels.

448
00:22:13.230 --> 00:22:15.310
 He stands for fiscal responsibility.

449
00:22:17.410 --> 00:22:19.750
 He's very constitutional first.

450
00:22:20.290 --> 00:22:21.630
 But let's go through a few things here.

451
00:22:22.310 --> 00:22:25.990
 So Massey's career was defined by his Mr. No persona,

452
00:22:27.610 --> 00:22:29.890
 a philosophy that viewed legislative compromise

453
00:22:29.890 --> 00:22:34.450
 as betrayal of long-term constitutional and fiscal goals.

454
00:22:35.390 --> 00:22:36.510
 That right there was a problem

455
00:22:36.510 --> 00:22:38.510
 because that's not necessarily true,

456
00:22:39.230 --> 00:22:41.130
 as Massey found out.

457
00:22:41.430 --> 00:22:42.910
 Friction with the Trump administration.

458
00:22:43.410 --> 00:22:46.470
 So despite voting with Trump 91% of the time,

459
00:22:47.650 --> 00:22:50.610
 several high-profile clashes defined their relationship.

460
00:22:51.350 --> 00:22:53.850
 Massey was one of the only two Republicans

461
00:22:53.850 --> 00:22:58.230
 to oppose the one big, beautiful bill act,

462
00:22:58.230 --> 00:23:00.110
 labeling it a debt bomb

463
00:23:00.560 --> 00:23:02.310
 that would increase the national deficit,

464
00:23:02.390 --> 00:23:05.090
 which is kind of funny because I remember Massey

465
00:23:05.090 --> 00:23:07.410
 actually voted to raise the debt ceiling

466
00:23:09.170 --> 00:23:11.990
 under Biden's administrative years.

467
00:23:12.830 --> 00:23:13.390
 Interesting.

468
00:23:14.850 --> 00:23:16.110
 Jeffrey Epstein files.

469
00:23:16.890 --> 00:23:19.430
 Massey partnered with the progressive Ro Khanna

470
00:23:19.430 --> 00:23:21.590
 on the Epstein File Transparency Act.

471
00:23:22.050 --> 00:23:23.870
 Trump's opposition to this effort led him

472
00:23:23.870 --> 00:23:26.670
 to publicly call Massey a moron and a lowlife.

473
00:23:27.810 --> 00:23:30.830
 Now, this one I can agree with and side with Massey.

474
00:23:31.030 --> 00:23:34.550
 We needed transparency for the Epstein victims,

475
00:23:34.650 --> 00:23:36.010
 for whoever was involved,

476
00:23:36.030 --> 00:23:38.590
 but Massey also was kind of bluffing himself.

477
00:23:39.510 --> 00:23:41.470
 I think he used this as a tool

478
00:23:41.470 --> 00:23:47.450
 to try to get Trump to bend the knee to Massey's will,

479
00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:49.250
 which was never gonna happen.

480
00:23:50.470 --> 00:23:53.350
 And also, Massey alleged that he would read

481
00:23:53.350 --> 00:23:55.030
 all the names of everyone involved

482
00:23:55.030 --> 00:23:56.790
 because he knows all the names,

483
00:23:56.790 --> 00:23:59.070
 but to this day, he still has not done so.

484
00:23:59.090 --> 00:24:00.910
 So I think Massey was a bit of,

485
00:24:01.010 --> 00:24:02.350
 well, let's just say he was full of shit.

486
00:24:03.290 --> 00:24:04.390
 But now that he's out,

487
00:24:04.690 --> 00:24:06.450
 I mean, he still has to finish out his term,

488
00:24:06.450 --> 00:24:07.390
 but now that he's out,

489
00:24:07.550 --> 00:24:10.110
 nothing's stopping him from going up there next week

490
00:24:10.110 --> 00:24:11.290
 or the week after,

491
00:24:11.870 --> 00:24:14.810
 taking the microphone and reading those names off.

492
00:24:15.690 --> 00:24:18.470
 But I think we all know he's not gonna do that.

493
00:24:19.710 --> 00:24:22.410
 And then there was this COVID-19 relief in 2020.

494
00:24:23.250 --> 00:24:24.930
 So Massey forced a roll call vote

495
00:24:24.930 --> 00:24:27.690
 on a $2.2 trillion relief package,

496
00:24:27.890 --> 00:24:31.190
 leading Trump to call him a third rate grandstander.

497
00:24:31.410 --> 00:24:34.010
 So during COVID, when everybody was working remote

498
00:24:34.010 --> 00:24:36.850
 and not trying to travel and getting everyone's faces

499
00:24:36.850 --> 00:24:38.510
 and continue to spread COVID,

500
00:24:39.310 --> 00:24:42.130
 Massey was like, oh, you guys are coming in the office

501
00:24:42.130 --> 00:24:43.750
 and this is how it's gonna be handled

502
00:24:43.750 --> 00:24:45.010
 and if you don't come in person,

503
00:24:45.130 --> 00:24:46.530
 we're not getting any of this passed.

504
00:24:47.870 --> 00:24:50.330
 I think Massey was just flexing his muscles a bit,

505
00:24:50.750 --> 00:24:52.430
 trying to prove that he was in control.

506
00:24:52.590 --> 00:24:53.810
 He can say he was principled,

507
00:24:53.810 --> 00:24:56.850
 but I think he was grandstanding personally.

508
00:24:58.430 --> 00:25:00.090
 And then let's look at the foreign policy

509
00:25:00.090 --> 00:25:01.390
 and non-interventionism.

510
00:25:02.230 --> 00:25:05.250
 Massey's foreign policy often left him

511
00:25:05.250 --> 00:25:08.330
 as a lone dissenter within the GOP.

512
00:25:09.230 --> 00:25:12.770
 Israel, he cast the sole 2021 Republican vote

513
00:25:12.770 --> 00:25:14.850
 against the Iron Dome funding

514
00:25:14.850 --> 00:25:17.050
 and introduced the AIPAC Act

515
00:25:17.050 --> 00:25:20.990
 to require the group to register as a foreign agent.

516
00:25:21.670 --> 00:25:26.130
 Now on that point, these are American Israelis

517
00:25:26.130 --> 00:25:29.150
 or American Jews that advocate for rights

518
00:25:30.430 --> 00:25:34.970
 for people from Israel who live in America

519
00:25:34.970 --> 00:25:37.170
 for rights of those individuals,

520
00:25:37.250 --> 00:25:40.650
 but the reality is it seems like much

521
00:25:40.650 --> 00:25:44.690
 of what they push for or want really is that

522
00:25:44.690 --> 00:25:48.950
 that somehow benefits Israel or the nation of Israel.

523
00:25:49.750 --> 00:25:52.730
 And I understand being of a certain heritage

524
00:25:52.730 --> 00:25:54.290
 and wanting to stand for your heritage,

525
00:25:55.150 --> 00:25:59.010
 but at some point, I think it is fair

526
00:25:59.010 --> 00:26:01.630
 for AIPAC to register as a foreign agent.

527
00:26:03.450 --> 00:26:04.790
 My opinion, by the way.

528
00:26:05.070 --> 00:26:07.330
 Now, don't take that as me saying I hate Israel

529
00:26:07.330 --> 00:26:09.250
 or I hate Jews because I don't,

530
00:26:09.250 --> 00:26:11.870
 but if you're lobbying for things

531
00:26:11.870 --> 00:26:17.810
 that affect the ability or the relationship

532
00:26:18.510 --> 00:26:22.670
 or the policies that affect Israel, for example,

533
00:26:22.950 --> 00:26:24.890
 then I would say that you're lobbying

534
00:26:24.890 --> 00:26:27.630
 for on the behalf of another nation

535
00:26:27.630 --> 00:26:29.810
 and we do call that foreign influence.

536
00:26:31.190 --> 00:26:32.850
 So I'm gonna side with Massey on this.

537
00:26:32.910 --> 00:26:34.770
 I think AIPAC should register as a foreign agent.

538
00:26:34.890 --> 00:26:35.830
 That's just my opinion.

539
00:26:36.030 --> 00:26:37.910
 I know some people are gonna hate that I said that,

540
00:26:37.910 --> 00:26:41.290
 but I believe that to be the truth of the matter.

541
00:26:42.410 --> 00:26:43.650
 Also, let's talk about Russia.

542
00:26:44.350 --> 00:26:46.950
 Thomas Massey was the only Republican

543
00:26:46.950 --> 00:26:51.150
 to vote against a 2019 act refusing

544
00:26:51.150 --> 00:26:55.750
 to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.

545
00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.460
 Read that again.

546
00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:02.980
 He was the only Republican to vote against a 2019 act

547
00:27:02.980 --> 00:27:08.380
 refusing to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea.

548
00:27:09.300 --> 00:27:12.620
 So Massey was all for recognizing

549
00:27:12.620 --> 00:27:17.980
 that Crimea was annexed to Russia?

550
00:27:21.820 --> 00:27:24.480
 Let's look at the Mr. No ideology,

551
00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:26.740
 principles over compromise.

552
00:27:27.320 --> 00:27:28.600
 I discussed that a lot earlier.

553
00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:31.160
 So Massey's legislative strategy was rooted

554
00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:35.540
 in a strict interpretation of constitutional checks

555
00:27:35.540 --> 00:27:37.280
 and balances and fiscal discipline.

556
00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:40.380
 So that fiscal discipline,

557
00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:43.620
 he voted against every omnibus funding bill

558
00:27:43.620 --> 00:27:44.460
 during his tenure.

559
00:27:44.820 --> 00:27:46.440
 Regardless of which party held the presidency,

560
00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:49.340
 he argued that the spending cuts promised

561
00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:51.720
 in later years by leadership never come.

562
00:27:51.820 --> 00:27:53.440
 And he's pretty much right.

563
00:27:55.040 --> 00:27:56.160
 Spending cuts never come.

564
00:27:56.840 --> 00:27:57.860
 But at the same time,

565
00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:02.200
 he did raise the debt ceiling under Biden.

566
00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:05.960
 So let's discuss his constitutional checks.

567
00:28:06.520 --> 00:28:08.140
 Massey defended his no votes

568
00:28:08.140 --> 00:28:11.140
 as a check on executive power,

569
00:28:11.140 --> 00:28:13.500
 stating if the legislative branch always votes

570
00:28:13.500 --> 00:28:16.160
 with the president, we do have a king.

571
00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:20.260
 Sounds like you're pandering with the Democrats there.

572
00:28:20.660 --> 00:28:23.560
 Massey, the left, the whole no kings thing agenda,

573
00:28:23.580 --> 00:28:24.560
 like get out of here.

574
00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:28.520
 That's a straight slap in the face to Donald Trump.

575
00:28:29.540 --> 00:28:31.700
 And as much as he says that he's trying

576
00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:35.300
 to create the checks and balances by voting no,

577
00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:37.940
 we know what it really was,

578
00:28:38.100 --> 00:28:40.280
 was Massey trying to stand up,

579
00:28:40.460 --> 00:28:43.040
 heads and shoulders above everybody else,

580
00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:46.640
 grandstanding, look at me, I care.

581
00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:50.820
 Sure, buddy, I'm not buying it.

582
00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:53.520
 And then there's the unlikely alliances.

583
00:28:54.020 --> 00:28:55.580
 So to fight government overreach,

584
00:28:55.780 --> 00:28:58.280
 Massey frequently partnered with progressives,

585
00:28:58.580 --> 00:29:02.300
 Democrats like Jim McGovern, Ayanna Presley,

586
00:29:02.300 --> 00:29:04.720
 and Joe Ro Khanna on issues of transparency

587
00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:07.480
 and war powers.

588
00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:10.500
 Massey has also been supported by other Democrats,

589
00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:15.060
 such as AOC, Rashida Tlaib.

590
00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:19.240
 And it seems like Massey was more,

591
00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:22.100
 I mean, we can argue that he was more bipartisan

592
00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.360
 in his approach,

593
00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:25.580
 but it seemed like what he really was

594
00:29:25.580 --> 00:29:28.100
 was opposed to anything to do

595
00:29:28.100 --> 00:29:29.140
 with the Trump administration.

596
00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:32.320
 Again, going back to 2016, to Trump's first term.

597
00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:35.920
 And they can say that he voted 90% of the time with Trump.

598
00:29:37.260 --> 00:29:38.760
 Eh, I guess.

599
00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.740
 But at the same time,

600
00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:44.140
 he was also very vocal in opposing Trump,

601
00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:47.040
 at least on issues where he thought

602
00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:48.320
 that his voice would matter

603
00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:49.780
 or he would get the attention.

604
00:29:50.600 --> 00:29:53.220
 So I would say that Massey lost

605
00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:55.820
 because he wasn't a team player.

606
00:29:56.580 --> 00:29:57.440
 That's number one.

607
00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.600
 Two, he took his eyes off the ball.

608
00:30:00.120 --> 00:30:03.100
 Look, regardless of how much money was invested in this,

609
00:30:03.320 --> 00:30:04.240
 in this primary,

610
00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:07.520
 Massey had access to media

611
00:30:08.280 --> 00:30:12.300
 and being platformed by very well-known influencers

612
00:30:12.300 --> 00:30:14.660
 and podcasters that Ed Galrin didn't.

613
00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:17.720
 Massey was able to get on any news channel he wanted.

614
00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:19.200
 Massey was extremely popular.

615
00:30:19.560 --> 00:30:22.180
 Just about everybody knew who Thomas Massey was,

616
00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.520
 yet he still lost.

617
00:30:24.300 --> 00:30:26.580
 So the takeaway here is,

618
00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:31.360
 Thomas Massey was over-principled for his own good.

619
00:30:32.340 --> 00:30:34.820
 He didn't want to compromise,

620
00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:36.640
 which left him out in the cold

621
00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:39.960
 and not progressing forward with, well, much.

622
00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:44.400
 And I think the people of Kentucky, District Four,

623
00:30:44.860 --> 00:30:46.420
 just decided it was time to move on.

624
00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:51.680
 Look, Massey had about 14 years, 14 years in the seat.

625
00:30:53.300 --> 00:30:54.800
 And how much has he accomplished

626
00:30:54.800 --> 00:30:58.740
 outside of gaining the moniker of Mr. No,

627
00:31:00.300 --> 00:31:02.320
 being known for just opposing Trump?

628
00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:04.940
 Sure, pushing for the Epstein files,

629
00:31:05.300 --> 00:31:06.280
 give him credit for that,

630
00:31:08.250 --> 00:31:10.430
 but those files were already being released.

631
00:31:10.690 --> 00:31:12.890
 The problem was Massey wanted more and more

632
00:31:12.890 --> 00:31:14.010
 and more of it,

633
00:31:14.370 --> 00:31:16.330
 which I honestly am not opposed to.

634
00:31:16.370 --> 00:31:17.690
 So I guess it's not really a problem,

635
00:31:17.690 --> 00:31:19.670
 but it didn't work in his favor

636
00:31:21.090 --> 00:31:23.930
 as he really just annoyed Trump more than anything.

637
00:31:24.770 --> 00:31:30.110
 I think Trump was tired of being pressured by Massey

638
00:31:30.110 --> 00:31:32.990
 as being someone who was not on the right side of history

639
00:31:32.990 --> 00:31:37.550
 and trying to really find a way

640
00:31:37.550 --> 00:31:39.630
 for there to be real justice

641
00:31:39.630 --> 00:31:41.650
 when it came to the Jeffrey Epstein files

642
00:31:41.650 --> 00:31:43.090
 and the investigations.

643
00:31:44.570 --> 00:31:47.570
 But much of what happened in the Epstein case

644
00:31:47.570 --> 00:31:50.430
 has been fumbled, lost, burned,

645
00:31:50.510 --> 00:31:52.010
 a lot of information not there.

646
00:31:52.010 --> 00:31:55.010
 And then we can talk about the redactions of information,

647
00:31:55.450 --> 00:31:56.890
 but again, a lot of that was there

648
00:31:56.890 --> 00:31:58.130
 to protect victims and whatnot.

649
00:31:58.630 --> 00:32:02.390
 Me personally, I say anyone involved in the Epstein files

650
00:32:02.390 --> 00:32:03.310
 or Epstein case should burn.

651
00:32:03.390 --> 00:32:05.010
 I really don't care who they are.

652
00:32:06.410 --> 00:32:08.950
 And Massey's claim of knowing who all the people

653
00:32:08.950 --> 00:32:12.470
 who were involved in the Epstein files and case,

654
00:32:12.810 --> 00:32:15.170
 again, Massey threatened many, many times.

655
00:32:15.170 --> 00:32:16.890
 I think this threat was only a way

656
00:32:16.890 --> 00:32:19.110
 to try to get people to bend to his will.

657
00:32:19.550 --> 00:32:22.950
 He claimed, I will read the names on the floor.

658
00:32:23.090 --> 00:32:24.450
 I will read those names aloud.

659
00:32:24.910 --> 00:32:26.410
 To this day, he has done nothing.

660
00:32:26.850 --> 00:32:27.850
 He has done nothing.

661
00:32:28.150 --> 00:32:28.550
 Why?

662
00:32:28.670 --> 00:32:30.250
 Because he doesn't have the names.

663
00:32:30.650 --> 00:32:32.350
 I think Thomas Massey was full of shit.

664
00:32:32.990 --> 00:32:34.710
 I think Thomas Massey was grandstanding.

665
00:32:35.190 --> 00:32:37.570
 I think Thomas Massey would have been much more effective

666
00:32:37.570 --> 00:32:40.410
 if he had the ability to actually be a politician

667
00:32:41.250 --> 00:32:44.590
 and work with his fellow Congress people

668
00:32:45.230 --> 00:32:49.110
 and moving the big picture results forward.

669
00:32:49.450 --> 00:32:51.830
 Sure, you're not gonna get everything you want, Thomas,

670
00:32:52.670 --> 00:32:54.530
 but you're gonna get enough here and there.

671
00:32:54.650 --> 00:32:57.950
 And by the end, if you're consistent, savvy enough,

672
00:32:59.010 --> 00:33:01.070
 you would have ended up getting what you wanted.

673
00:33:01.830 --> 00:33:05.570
 But instead, you decided to be a brick wall to progress.

674
00:33:05.850 --> 00:33:07.310
 And that's why you lost.

675
00:33:08.250 --> 00:33:09.790
 So get over it.

676
00:33:09.910 --> 00:33:11.750
 I'm sure you're gonna go on a podcast tour.

677
00:33:12.510 --> 00:33:14.150
 I'm sure you're gonna make your media appearances,

678
00:33:14.150 --> 00:33:16.930
 your speaking engagements, whatever you gotta do.

679
00:33:17.550 --> 00:33:19.330
 But your time in Congress is over.

680
00:33:20.830 --> 00:33:23.670
 And whether or not Ed Gellarine was the guy,

681
00:33:24.390 --> 00:33:25.770
 whether or not the rest of America felt

682
00:33:25.770 --> 00:33:26.990
 he should have had the seat,

683
00:33:27.750 --> 00:33:32.290
 well, Ed is a decorated veteran and a Navy SEAL.

684
00:33:33.770 --> 00:33:36.390
 So I don't know how much you can really say about him.

685
00:33:37.290 --> 00:33:38.090
 We're gonna give him a shot.

686
00:33:38.470 --> 00:33:39.770
 Kentucky's gonna give him a shot.

687
00:33:40.510 --> 00:33:42.850
 And they don't have to vote for him

688
00:33:42.850 --> 00:33:44.550
 when it comes time for reelection.

689
00:33:45.190 --> 00:33:48.830
 But as of now, well, that seat is not yours.

690
00:33:49.510 --> 00:33:52.590
 So good luck to you, Thomas.

691
00:33:53.810 --> 00:33:54.930
 Good luck to you and your principals.

692
00:33:56.350 --> 00:33:58.350
 Now, moving on from Thomas Massey,

693
00:33:58.770 --> 00:34:00.570
 but kind of staying related,

694
00:34:01.570 --> 00:34:06.290
 the claim has been, again, by the members of Podcastistan,

695
00:34:07.870 --> 00:34:11.350
 that this whole thing with Thomas Massey

696
00:34:12.050 --> 00:34:13.429
 was due to foreign influence.

697
00:34:13.429 --> 00:34:15.250
 The reason he lost was foreign influence.

698
00:34:16.650 --> 00:34:18.370
 And everybody screams about Israel.

699
00:34:18.590 --> 00:34:19.710
 Israel, Israel, Israel.

700
00:34:19.929 --> 00:34:20.989
 Israel owns America.

701
00:34:21.170 --> 00:34:23.929
 Israel is spending so much money to influence policy.

702
00:34:24.870 --> 00:34:26.610
 Israel's behind the curtain pulling the strings.

703
00:34:28.150 --> 00:34:30.330
 So let's talk about that foreign influence, huh?

704
00:34:31.710 --> 00:34:33.310
 There's a website called OpenSecrets.

705
00:34:33.389 --> 00:34:34.570
 Actually, there's a few different websites

706
00:34:34.570 --> 00:34:35.670
 that will do this.

707
00:34:36.010 --> 00:34:38.570
 But OpenSecrets, they keep track

708
00:34:38.570 --> 00:34:40.010
 of just about everything.

709
00:34:40.570 --> 00:34:43.170
 And let's talk about this foreign influence.

710
00:34:44.010 --> 00:34:46.070
 Let's talk about the fact

711
00:34:46.070 --> 00:34:49.230
 that Israel themselves as a nation

712
00:34:49.969 --> 00:34:51.590
 isn't even in the top five.

713
00:34:52.090 --> 00:34:52.889
 And throughout the years,

714
00:34:52.889 --> 00:34:54.489
 they're not even in the top 10

715
00:34:54.489 --> 00:34:57.730
 as far as foreign influence is concerned.

716
00:34:59.830 --> 00:35:01.230
 So let's go over to OpenSecrets.

717
00:35:01.630 --> 00:35:03.210
 So on this screen,

718
00:35:03.410 --> 00:35:06.310
 you can see that if we're looking at the top 10 countries

719
00:35:06.310 --> 00:35:08.850
 between 2016 and 2025,

720
00:35:09.850 --> 00:35:13.410
 the country that has donated the most

721
00:35:13.410 --> 00:35:17.690
 to effect change and policy in their favor is China.

722
00:35:18.870 --> 00:35:22.470
 China has donated over $500 million

723
00:35:22.470 --> 00:35:25.490
 so far since 2016.

724
00:35:26.990 --> 00:35:31.770
 In fact, it was $562,676,323.

725
00:35:33.790 --> 00:35:37.090
 The second on that list since 2016 is Japan.

726
00:35:39.530 --> 00:35:40.730
 504 million.

727
00:35:41.210 --> 00:35:42.990
 Liberia comes in at number three.

728
00:35:43.190 --> 00:35:44.050
 Liberia, that's right.

729
00:35:44.250 --> 00:35:46.550
 Liberia has lobbied the United States of America

730
00:35:46.550 --> 00:35:53.410
 to attune a $432,968,270.

731
00:35:54.890 --> 00:35:57.230
 And then we have Saudi Arabia.

732
00:35:57.350 --> 00:35:58.670
 Of course, we all knew Saudi Arabia

733
00:35:58.670 --> 00:36:00.370
 was trying to effect policy.

734
00:36:01.550 --> 00:36:03.590
 We have the Marshall Islands,

735
00:36:03.610 --> 00:36:05.170
 which I had no idea about.

736
00:36:05.810 --> 00:36:07.330
 And then we have South Korea.

737
00:36:07.810 --> 00:36:08.810
 We have the Bahamas.

738
00:36:08.910 --> 00:36:10.930
 The Bahamas, since 2016,

739
00:36:11.670 --> 00:36:13.690
 have tried to lobby the United States

740
00:36:13.690 --> 00:36:19.610
 to the tune of $269,529,107.

741
00:36:19.650 --> 00:36:20.770
 Didn't even know that.

742
00:36:21.550 --> 00:36:22.370
 And then, of course, Qatar.

743
00:36:22.530 --> 00:36:23.510
 We all know Qatar's there.

744
00:36:23.830 --> 00:36:25.650
 In fact, outside of the money they donate,

745
00:36:25.730 --> 00:36:30.490
 they're also trying to effect and control

746
00:36:30.490 --> 00:36:32.090
 higher education in the United States.

747
00:36:32.090 --> 00:36:35.050
 Qatar has made some of the biggest donations

748
00:36:35.050 --> 00:36:38.070
 to major universities in America.

749
00:36:39.770 --> 00:36:41.730
 And then now at number 10.

750
00:36:42.630 --> 00:36:44.630
 This is since 2016, by the way.

751
00:36:45.350 --> 00:36:46.410
 We got Israel.

752
00:36:47.930 --> 00:36:51.490
 215,168,616 dollars.

753
00:36:52.010 --> 00:36:54.670
 Now, keep in mind this is since 2016.

754
00:36:55.830 --> 00:36:57.130
 So let's break it down a bit.

755
00:36:57.190 --> 00:37:00.430
 Let's see how influential Israel has been

756
00:37:00.430 --> 00:37:01.070
 throughout the years.

757
00:37:01.630 --> 00:37:04.490
 So in this tab, I go back to 2022.

758
00:37:05.330 --> 00:37:06.830
 So in 2022, it doesn't look like

759
00:37:06.830 --> 00:37:08.050
 Israel really made the list.

760
00:37:08.250 --> 00:37:09.670
 Looks like number one is still China.

761
00:37:09.770 --> 00:37:10.810
 Then we got South Korea.

762
00:37:10.890 --> 00:37:12.390
 We got the Bahamas still up there.

763
00:37:12.450 --> 00:37:14.690
 We have Japan, Marshall Islands,

764
00:37:15.590 --> 00:37:17.910
 Liberia, United Arab Emirates,

765
00:37:18.210 --> 00:37:20.710
 Hong Kong, Ireland, and again, there's Qatar.

766
00:37:21.850 --> 00:37:22.970
 Okay, so that was 2022.

767
00:37:24.410 --> 00:37:24.850
 2023.

768
00:37:25.710 --> 00:37:27.270
 I still don't see Israel on the list.

769
00:37:27.990 --> 00:37:31.090
 But at number 10, we got Canada at 22 million.

770
00:37:32.210 --> 00:37:34.670
 Number one in 2023 was Liberia,

771
00:37:34.890 --> 00:37:37.830
 then Saudi Arabia, China, in the top three there.

772
00:37:38.130 --> 00:37:40.150
 Japan, Hong Kong, Bahamas again,

773
00:37:40.370 --> 00:37:42.870
 Marshall Islands, United Arab Emirates, South Korea.

774
00:37:44.130 --> 00:37:46.830
 And then if we go to 2024,

775
00:37:47.590 --> 00:37:48.590
 number one contributor,

776
00:37:49.710 --> 00:37:52.050
 trying to influence policy and change in their favor

777
00:37:52.470 --> 00:37:53.770
 with the United States of America,

778
00:37:54.150 --> 00:37:54.930
 the Marshall Islands.

779
00:37:54.930 --> 00:37:56.310
 Number two is Japan.

780
00:37:56.850 --> 00:37:57.910
 Saudi Arabia at number three.

781
00:37:57.910 --> 00:37:59.410
 China on the list at number four.

782
00:37:59.710 --> 00:38:03.210
 We have Liberia again, South Korea, United Arab Emirates,

783
00:38:03.430 --> 00:38:05.850
 Turkey, Ireland, Bermuda,

784
00:38:06.390 --> 00:38:08.150
 and Israel doesn't make the top 10.

785
00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:12.840
 And then if we go to 2025,

786
00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:15.920
 number one contributor in 2025

787
00:38:17.260 --> 00:38:19.240
 as it relates to foreign influence,

788
00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:26.480
 Saudi Arabia, 91,995,847 dollars.

789
00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:29.220
 Number two in 2025 was China, then it was Japan.

790
00:38:30.060 --> 00:38:31.780
 Turkey made the list in 2025.

791
00:38:32.140 --> 00:38:35.280
 Marshall Islands once again, Bahamas again, Liberia,

792
00:38:35.680 --> 00:38:38.920
 then Australia, United Arab Emirates,

793
00:38:39.040 --> 00:38:41.200
 and again at number 10, Canada.

794
00:38:45.320 --> 00:38:48.400
 So is Israel throwing enough money

795
00:38:49.140 --> 00:38:52.540
 every year to really affect change?

796
00:38:54.680 --> 00:38:55.840
 Doesn't seem so.

797
00:38:56.600 --> 00:38:58.560
 If we're looking at APAC specifically,

798
00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:04.250
 well, sure, I believe so.

799
00:39:04.470 --> 00:39:06.250
 I believe APAC's donated a lot of money,

800
00:39:06.670 --> 00:39:09.790
 but they're also not the only pack.

801
00:39:10.010 --> 00:39:12.090
 I mean, again, we have the

802
00:39:12.090 --> 00:39:13.930
 National Iranian American Council.

803
00:39:14.090 --> 00:39:16.570
 We also have IPAC, the integrity pack.

804
00:39:17.930 --> 00:39:22.430
 We have many foreign influencers in America

805
00:39:22.430 --> 00:39:25.870
 trying to gain votes in the direction that,

806
00:39:25.890 --> 00:39:29.430
 well, will benefit their organization

807
00:39:29.430 --> 00:39:33.090
 or even the country they are from or stand for.

808
00:39:34.490 --> 00:39:35.610
 And so,

809
00:39:36.330 --> 00:39:36.390
 Israel,

810
00:39:38.070 --> 00:39:40.650
 yes, they are trying to influence United States.

811
00:39:41.610 --> 00:39:43.930
 I mean, let's not say they're not,

812
00:39:43.950 --> 00:39:45.890
 because you know who else does the same thing?

813
00:39:45.970 --> 00:39:47.110
 The United States of America.

814
00:39:47.890 --> 00:39:49.930
 We dump so much money

815
00:39:51.210 --> 00:39:54.010
 by trying to affect policy changes

816
00:39:55.110 --> 00:39:58.150
 and gain favor and influence with other countries.

817
00:39:58.830 --> 00:40:01.030
 You think we're the only ones that do it?

818
00:40:01.110 --> 00:40:02.570
 You think Israel's the only one to do it?

819
00:40:02.810 --> 00:40:07.030
 Because the number one country on paper

820
00:40:08.250 --> 00:40:10.250
 trying to influence the United States of America

821
00:40:10.250 --> 00:40:10.970
 is China.

822
00:40:11.710 --> 00:40:13.050
 It's always been about China.

823
00:40:16.020 --> 00:40:17.900
 And so Israel, in and of itself,

824
00:40:18.680 --> 00:40:19.860
 like this talking point,

825
00:40:19.980 --> 00:40:22.080
 I mean, to be honest, I'm done with it.

826
00:40:22.660 --> 00:40:25.540
 The narrative isn't proving to be true.

827
00:40:26.440 --> 00:40:28.120
 Sure, APAC spends a lot of money,

828
00:40:28.580 --> 00:40:31.020
 but we have a lot of PACs that spend a lot of money.

829
00:40:31.380 --> 00:40:32.940
 We have a lot of members of these PACs

830
00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:34.140
 that have their own agendas.

831
00:40:35.220 --> 00:40:37.080
 It's not all about Israel, guys.

832
00:40:37.200 --> 00:40:37.900
 It's just not.

833
00:40:38.420 --> 00:40:40.400
 There isn't any irrefutable proof

834
00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:41.760
 that it's about Israel.

835
00:40:42.720 --> 00:40:44.380
 You guys need to be concerned with China.

836
00:40:44.820 --> 00:40:45.540
 You need to be concerned

837
00:40:45.540 --> 00:40:47.260
 with why they're buying up the farmland.

838
00:40:47.400 --> 00:40:48.160
 You need to be concerned

839
00:40:48.160 --> 00:40:50.800
 with why Qatar is donating so much money

840
00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:51.920
 to our universities.

841
00:40:52.860 --> 00:40:55.940
 Because Qatar, I guess, absolutely understands

842
00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:58.060
 the way that you affect a nation

843
00:40:58.060 --> 00:40:59.640
 if you want to really influence a nation

844
00:40:59.640 --> 00:41:00.900
 is through indoctrination.

845
00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:02.000
 And how's that done?

846
00:41:02.520 --> 00:41:04.100
 Through our educational institutions.

847
00:41:06.580 --> 00:41:07.900
 Why are we not discussing these things?

848
00:41:07.940 --> 00:41:08.880
 Why are we dismissing them?

849
00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:10.620
 Why are we not talking about the influence

850
00:41:10.620 --> 00:41:13.060
 of these foreign lobbies,

851
00:41:13.780 --> 00:41:16.640
 whether they are registered as a foreign agent or not?

852
00:41:17.960 --> 00:41:18.780
 The money's there.

853
00:41:22.190 --> 00:41:26.110
 Israel, well, they don't spend that much money directly.

854
00:41:28.510 --> 00:41:31.630
 Actually, in fact, Israel in 2025 as a nation,

855
00:41:31.650 --> 00:41:33.590
 let me go back over here for you.

856
00:41:33.850 --> 00:41:39.120
 As a nation, as a nation, as a nation,

857
00:41:41.670 --> 00:41:53.250
 $2,297,525 total non-government spending

858
00:41:53.250 --> 00:42:01.450
 in 2025 was $17,552,212, and that was in 2025.

859
00:42:04.830 --> 00:42:07.720
 So again, it looks like who's trying

860
00:42:07.720 --> 00:42:10.620
 to really, really influence the country.

861
00:42:11.720 --> 00:42:13.000
 If you're looking at the list here

862
00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:14.880
 is the Marshall Islands.

863
00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:17.160
 Again, had no idea.

864
00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:22.020
 Qatar, China, Japan, Turkey,

865
00:42:23.420 --> 00:42:26.000
 everyone's trying to get the USA to do what they want.

866
00:42:26.540 --> 00:42:28.180
 But China has an agenda.

867
00:42:28.420 --> 00:42:30.860
 China, and I'm gonna say even Qatar,

868
00:42:30.860 --> 00:42:34.380
 even though CENTCOM, our largest military base

869
00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:36.560
 in the Middle East is based out of Qatar,

870
00:42:37.700 --> 00:42:43.940
 we can't dismiss Qatar for siding with some individuals

871
00:42:44.580 --> 00:42:46.340
 that have been known to be terrorists.

872
00:42:48.100 --> 00:42:49.760
 Qatar has their own agenda,

873
00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:52.400
 regardless of how close it may seem

874
00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:53.900
 our relationship is with them.

875
00:42:54.680 --> 00:42:57.640
 Again, foreign influence is a real thing,

876
00:42:58.360 --> 00:43:00.060
 and it's not all about Israel.

877
00:43:01.260 --> 00:43:03.080
 It's about all the nations.

878
00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:04.980
 And we gotta pay attention to which nations

879
00:43:04.980 --> 00:43:06.980
 are trying to influence America.

880
00:43:08.060 --> 00:43:10.180
 And again, I already hear it.

881
00:43:10.620 --> 00:43:14.080
 But Israel, but Israel, but Israel.

882
00:43:15.280 --> 00:43:17.080
 I'm done, I'm done.

883
00:43:17.660 --> 00:43:23.170
 Listen, think for yourselves, think critically,

884
00:43:23.690 --> 00:43:26.150
 do a little research, looking at what's really going on.

885
00:43:27.090 --> 00:43:28.970
 The numbers don't lie, they're out there,

886
00:43:28.970 --> 00:43:30.430
 and there's plenty of places you can look.

887
00:43:30.430 --> 00:43:33.610
 And again, you can look at FARA, FARA's actual site.

888
00:43:33.730 --> 00:43:35.370
 You can look at, again, OpenSecrets.

889
00:43:35.830 --> 00:43:38.550
 Go right to OpenSecrets.org, do some digging around.

890
00:43:39.270 --> 00:43:40.150
 You'll see the truth.

891
00:43:40.170 --> 00:43:41.670
 You'll see what's happening out there.

892
00:43:42.210 --> 00:43:43.410
 But the whole talk about

893
00:43:43.410 --> 00:43:45.850
 Israel is the reason Thomas Massey lost.

894
00:43:46.430 --> 00:43:49.210
 Israel is the reason that all of Trump's picks

895
00:43:49.210 --> 00:43:49.750
 are winning.

896
00:43:50.390 --> 00:43:53.270
 Israel is the reason that Trump is at war with Iran.

897
00:43:53.670 --> 00:43:55.750
 Israel is the reason that Israel,

898
00:43:55.930 --> 00:43:58.910
 like, it's just, let's just stop.

899
00:43:59.430 --> 00:44:00.410
 Let's just stop.

900
00:44:01.850 --> 00:44:02.590
 It's not true.

901
00:44:03.530 --> 00:44:04.150
 It's not true.

902
00:44:05.210 --> 00:44:05.950
 Do they have an agenda?

903
00:44:06.450 --> 00:44:06.930
 Yeah.

904
00:44:07.710 --> 00:44:08.130
 It's China?

905
00:44:09.110 --> 00:44:09.450
 Yeah.

906
00:44:09.590 --> 00:44:11.910
 Oh, why are we not talking about that?

907
00:44:12.750 --> 00:44:14.710
 Cause it's not the thing,

908
00:44:15.270 --> 00:44:16.730
 not the popular thing online.

909
00:44:17.550 --> 00:44:18.570
 Is that why?

910
00:44:21.270 --> 00:44:23.570
 Not getting you the likes and clicks to talk about China.

911
00:44:24.390 --> 00:44:25.810
 It's not getting you the likes and clicks

912
00:44:25.810 --> 00:44:28.310
 to talk about Qatari influence in higher education.

913
00:44:28.310 --> 00:44:29.550
 It isn't?

914
00:44:29.810 --> 00:44:29.990
 No?

915
00:44:32.190 --> 00:44:33.910
 That's why you're not talking about it.

916
00:44:34.030 --> 00:44:35.270
 It's not popular.

917
00:44:36.230 --> 00:44:37.030
 People don't care.

918
00:44:37.330 --> 00:44:39.850
 Because you worked up and drummed up

919
00:44:39.850 --> 00:44:43.050
 this anti-Israel rhetoric for so long

920
00:44:43.850 --> 00:44:45.370
 and you got it spinning,

921
00:44:45.530 --> 00:44:47.230
 the wheels spinning at a certain speed

922
00:44:47.230 --> 00:44:48.230
 and this train's rolling

923
00:44:49.070 --> 00:44:50.530
 and you don't know how to stop it.

924
00:44:50.530 --> 00:44:52.870
 So you're just gonna keep jumping on board

925
00:44:52.870 --> 00:44:54.990
 and you're gonna continue to feed the coals

926
00:44:54.990 --> 00:44:57.370
 into that combustion engine

927
00:44:58.100 --> 00:45:00.170
 and you're just gonna keep moving,

928
00:45:00.610 --> 00:45:02.190
 just rolling over everybody,

929
00:45:02.750 --> 00:45:04.310
 forcing people to see it your way

930
00:45:04.310 --> 00:45:07.630
 when, well, you're wrong.

931
00:45:08.130 --> 00:45:08.590
 You're wrong.

932
00:45:09.330 --> 00:45:10.550
 Maybe it's just my opinion.

933
00:45:11.370 --> 00:45:12.410
 You don't have to believe me.

934
00:45:12.430 --> 00:45:13.630
 You don't have to side with me.

935
00:45:14.590 --> 00:45:17.450
 But to say that Israel

936
00:45:18.470 --> 00:45:22.390
 is the only nation trying to affect change,

937
00:45:22.760 --> 00:45:27.290
 to say that they donate the most amount of money

938
00:45:27.290 --> 00:45:29.930
 over anyone in the world is false.

939
00:45:31.190 --> 00:45:32.890
 So let's pull our heads out of our ass.

940
00:45:33.690 --> 00:45:37.390
 Let's move forward and focus on what we can control.

941
00:45:38.570 --> 00:45:42.450
 And that is voting for people to represent you

942
00:45:42.450 --> 00:45:43.250
 as a starter,

943
00:45:43.810 --> 00:45:45.410
 which is exactly what happened

944
00:45:46.240 --> 00:45:47.770
 in Kentucky's fourth district

945
00:45:47.770 --> 00:45:50.650
 as Thomas Massey is no longer going

946
00:45:50.650 --> 00:45:52.590
 to be serving in Congress.

947
00:45:53.710 --> 00:45:55.270
 All right, everybody, now let's talk about Cuba.

948
00:45:55.390 --> 00:45:57.190
 Let's leave old Tommy Massey behind.

949
00:45:58.530 --> 00:46:00.490
 Let's discuss the importance of Cuba.

950
00:46:00.870 --> 00:46:02.290
 And let's also discuss

951
00:46:02.290 --> 00:46:04.770
 why Trump wants regime change in Cuba.

952
00:46:05.150 --> 00:46:08.230
 Now, the relationship between Cuba and the U.S.

953
00:46:08.570 --> 00:46:11.210
 has always kind of been in flux.

954
00:46:12.430 --> 00:46:14.510
 It's never been a great relationship.

955
00:46:14.690 --> 00:46:15.770
 There's a lot of tension there,

956
00:46:15.850 --> 00:46:17.610
 a lot of opposition between the two.

957
00:46:18.490 --> 00:46:21.330
 And this relationship, as far as Cuba's concerned,

958
00:46:21.490 --> 00:46:24.330
 as an independent nation or independent state,

959
00:46:24.990 --> 00:46:28.110
 goes back to, I think, at least 1902.

960
00:46:28.530 --> 00:46:29.910
 So there's a long history there.

961
00:46:30.590 --> 00:46:32.530
 But when Fidel Castro took power

962
00:46:32.530 --> 00:46:35.190
 and decided to take over Marxist communist principles

963
00:46:35.190 --> 00:46:38.170
 and become the de facto dictator of the land,

964
00:46:39.530 --> 00:46:41.790
 Fidel Castro opposed the United States of America,

965
00:46:42.130 --> 00:46:42.970
 sided with Russia.

966
00:46:43.890 --> 00:46:45.430
 Russia then worked with Cuba

967
00:46:45.430 --> 00:46:49.250
 to set up shop so that they can spy

968
00:46:49.250 --> 00:46:50.530
 on the United States of America

969
00:46:50.530 --> 00:46:52.030
 from a very close location.

970
00:46:52.470 --> 00:46:54.730
 Russia even had nuclear weapons in Cuba,

971
00:46:55.010 --> 00:46:58.490
 which were aimed squarely at the United States of America.

972
00:46:58.910 --> 00:47:01.310
 This is what set off the Cuban Missile Crisis.

973
00:47:03.430 --> 00:47:05.730
 Trump wants to make sure

974
00:47:05.730 --> 00:47:10.470
 that the southwestern hemisphere is a safe hemisphere.

975
00:47:11.350 --> 00:47:13.050
 It's literally the United States backyard.

976
00:47:14.070 --> 00:47:15.690
 We are the superpower in the region.

977
00:47:16.330 --> 00:47:18.290
 And the whole point of Trump

978
00:47:18.290 --> 00:47:19.910
 going after Maduro in Venezuela

979
00:47:19.910 --> 00:47:23.530
 was to further clamp down on control and security

980
00:47:23.530 --> 00:47:25.430
 as it relates to the United States of America.

981
00:47:26.510 --> 00:47:26.790
 Why?

982
00:47:27.210 --> 00:47:28.930
 Well, a lot of people don't even know

983
00:47:28.930 --> 00:47:30.950
 that the real reason that we went to Venezuela

984
00:47:30.950 --> 00:47:33.650
 wasn't the oil and it wasn't about necessarily drugs,

985
00:47:33.650 --> 00:47:35.310
 although that was a major thing.

986
00:47:35.810 --> 00:47:37.270
 I've gone over that in previous episodes,

987
00:47:37.270 --> 00:47:38.770
 so you're welcome to go to the back catalog

988
00:47:38.770 --> 00:47:39.630
 and listen to those.

989
00:47:41.110 --> 00:47:42.850
 But China was heavily involved in Venezuela.

990
00:47:43.750 --> 00:47:44.450
 So was Iran.

991
00:47:45.030 --> 00:47:45.870
 So was Iran.

992
00:47:48.020 --> 00:47:52.700
 And Iran actually had terrorist proxies set up

993
00:47:53.120 --> 00:47:53.900
 in Venezuela.

994
00:47:55.740 --> 00:47:59.040
 And so Venezuela was a real issue.

995
00:48:00.280 --> 00:48:04.340
 And the other country, small nation in the area, Cuba,

996
00:48:05.380 --> 00:48:07.300
 well, they were pretty much doing the same thing.

997
00:48:07.700 --> 00:48:09.860
 You see, they were not just aligned with Russia,

998
00:48:09.900 --> 00:48:12.060
 but they were also becoming very close

999
00:48:12.060 --> 00:48:14.340
 and aligned with China and even Iran.

1000
00:48:15.800 --> 00:48:17.860
 So there's no way that we can let,

1001
00:48:17.860 --> 00:48:19.280
 as the United States of America anyway,

1002
00:48:19.760 --> 00:48:22.940
 let China, Russia and Iran set up shop

1003
00:48:22.940 --> 00:48:25.120
 in our own backyard so they can spy on the US,

1004
00:48:25.340 --> 00:48:29.600
 set up strategic, geographically close locations

1005
00:48:29.600 --> 00:48:33.040
 from which they can launch weapons,

1006
00:48:33.300 --> 00:48:35.520
 as in missiles at the United States of America,

1007
00:48:36.760 --> 00:48:40.400
 set up insurgents or military bases

1008
00:48:40.400 --> 00:48:43.100
 or operations within the area right in our backyard.

1009
00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:45.140
 Trump wasn't gonna have that.

1010
00:48:45.700 --> 00:48:48.820
 So Trump went ahead, took care of Maduro,

1011
00:48:49.080 --> 00:48:51.120
 clamped down on the activities in Venezuela.

1012
00:48:51.740 --> 00:48:53.700
 And now Trump is turning a sights on Cuba.

1013
00:48:55.120 --> 00:48:58.380
 Now, does Trump have Cuba's people,

1014
00:48:58.440 --> 00:49:00.360
 the people of Cuba, their best interests in mind?

1015
00:49:01.120 --> 00:49:05.420
 You can argue that making sure that

1016
00:49:05.420 --> 00:49:10.940
 the de facto dictators or authoritarian organizations

1017
00:49:11.640 --> 00:49:14.340
 or regimes of Cuba being removed

1018
00:49:14.340 --> 00:49:17.980
 is in fact a move to benefit the people of Cuba.

1019
00:49:18.680 --> 00:49:22.780
 But reality is it's really about strategic command

1020
00:49:22.780 --> 00:49:27.440
 of the area and security for the United States of America.

1021
00:49:27.480 --> 00:49:29.220
 And that's what this really is about.

1022
00:49:30.560 --> 00:49:33.940
 The rhetoric is that Trump is going to attack Cuba

1023
00:49:33.940 --> 00:49:36.000
 and remove its leadership.

1024
00:49:37.800 --> 00:49:40.440
 Now, I can't say that's true as of now.

1025
00:49:40.660 --> 00:49:42.200
 I personally don't have enough information

1026
00:49:42.200 --> 00:49:44.100
 that points that direction,

1027
00:49:44.780 --> 00:49:47.580
 but we can't ignore that the US military

1028
00:49:47.580 --> 00:49:49.620
 under Trump's direction hasn't been posturing

1029
00:49:49.620 --> 00:49:50.900
 very heavily in the area.

1030
00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:55.180
 Through sanctions and embargoes

1031
00:49:55.180 --> 00:49:58.940
 and control of shipments of oil, et cetera,

1032
00:49:59.020 --> 00:50:01.000
 in the area by the United States of America,

1033
00:50:01.480 --> 00:50:02.520
 Cuba is hurting.

1034
00:50:02.800 --> 00:50:04.840
 Cuba is on the brink of collapse

1035
00:50:04.840 --> 00:50:08.300
 just for the very fact that they can't get

1036
00:50:08.300 --> 00:50:10.360
 outside resources into the country.

1037
00:50:11.660 --> 00:50:14.100
 So I put together a little executive summary,

1038
00:50:14.300 --> 00:50:15.820
 a little bit of analysis on this

1039
00:50:15.820 --> 00:50:16.860
 and we're gonna go through it.

1040
00:50:16.880 --> 00:50:17.820
 Hopefully you can hang with me.

1041
00:50:17.820 --> 00:50:21.140
 I'm gonna go over a few of the historical points

1042
00:50:21.720 --> 00:50:23.300
 that led to where we are.

1043
00:50:25.450 --> 00:50:28.450
 So with that being said, let's go for it, huh?

1044
00:50:28.450 --> 00:50:30.710
 Strategic analysis of the US-Cuba relationships

1045
00:50:30.710 --> 00:50:33.110
 in the 2026 natural emergency.

1046
00:50:33.770 --> 00:50:36.050
 I say natural national, national emergency.

1047
00:50:36.470 --> 00:50:37.070
 There you go.

1048
00:50:37.330 --> 00:50:38.570
 All right, so here's the executive summary.

1049
00:50:38.790 --> 00:50:41.130
 As of mid-2026, the United States has entered

1050
00:50:41.130 --> 00:50:42.970
 a period of maximum pressure,

1051
00:50:43.410 --> 00:50:46.110
 regardless of the government of Cuba

1052
00:50:46.110 --> 00:50:48.470
 or actually regarding the government of Cuba.

1053
00:50:49.070 --> 00:50:51.790
 Characterized by the declaration of a national emergency

1054
00:50:51.790 --> 00:50:55.030
 and the imposition of severe economic sanctions,

1055
00:50:55.330 --> 00:50:56.990
 the current administration views Cuba

1056
00:50:56.990 --> 00:50:59.750
 as an extraordinary threat to national security,

1057
00:51:00.290 --> 00:51:03.170
 primarily due to its role as a strategic hub

1058
00:51:03.170 --> 00:51:05.450
 for global adversaries, including,

1059
00:51:05.450 --> 00:51:08.950
 as I stated earlier, Russia, China, and Iran.

1060
00:51:09.550 --> 00:51:12.150
 And its support for transnational terrorist groups,

1061
00:51:12.350 --> 00:51:14.770
 oh, I forgot to mention this, like Hamas and Hezbollah.

1062
00:51:15.770 --> 00:51:18.910
 So Cuba has harbored, literally harbored,

1063
00:51:19.010 --> 00:51:21.950
 Hamas and Hezbollah in Cuba.

1064
00:51:23.470 --> 00:51:27.150
 So you got the proxy terrorists of Iran themselves

1065
00:51:27.970 --> 00:51:33.310
 and Iran or at least Iranian delegates or negotiators

1066
00:51:34.130 --> 00:51:34.950
 in Cuba.

1067
00:51:36.210 --> 00:51:37.910
 Combine that with China's involvement

1068
00:51:38.750 --> 00:51:40.690
 and Russia's long-standing involvement,

1069
00:51:41.330 --> 00:51:42.550
 I would say that's a direct threat

1070
00:51:42.550 --> 00:51:45.210
 to the United States of America, absolutely.

1071
00:51:47.330 --> 00:51:49.730
 So historically, the relationship has evolved

1072
00:51:49.730 --> 00:51:52.170
 from a state of conditional independence

1073
00:51:52.170 --> 00:51:53.690
 under the Platt Amendment,

1074
00:51:54.590 --> 00:51:57.270
 which was between 1902 and 1934,

1075
00:51:58.170 --> 00:52:00.810
 to a decades-long embargo codified

1076
00:52:00.810 --> 00:52:03.470
 by the Helms-Burton Act in 1996,

1077
00:52:04.310 --> 00:52:06.950
 while the 2014 through 2016 period

1078
00:52:06.950 --> 00:52:10.230
 saw a diplomatic thaw, to a degree, by the way,

1079
00:52:10.290 --> 00:52:11.090
 but there was.

1080
00:52:11.730 --> 00:52:13.270
 Subsequent years have been marked

1081
00:52:13.270 --> 00:52:14.910
 by a return to hostilities,

1082
00:52:15.090 --> 00:52:19.450
 culminating in the 2026 indictment of Raul Castro

1083
00:52:19.890 --> 00:52:24.410
 for the 1996 shooting down of civilian aircraft.

1084
00:52:24.970 --> 00:52:27.490
 And that, I believe, was two civilian aircraft

1085
00:52:27.490 --> 00:52:29.330
 that were shot down by the government of Cuba.

1086
00:52:29.990 --> 00:52:32.310
 Current U.S. policy aims to force a transition

1087
00:52:32.310 --> 00:52:33.810
 to a democratic society

1088
00:52:33.810 --> 00:52:36.790
 by targeting the Cuban military's economic interests,

1089
00:52:37.350 --> 00:52:40.690
 restricting energy supplies via third-party tariffs,

1090
00:52:41.810 --> 00:52:44.210
 and preparing for potential instability

1091
00:52:44.210 --> 00:52:48.470
 or mass migration via U.S. Southern Command

1092
00:52:48.910 --> 00:52:50.750
 or Southcom contingencies.

1093
00:52:51.210 --> 00:52:52.870
 So here's a bit of the historic timeline

1094
00:52:52.870 --> 00:52:53.790
 I was talking about.

1095
00:52:55.810 --> 00:52:58.170
 I have this on the screen for those who aren't watching.

1096
00:52:59.190 --> 00:53:00.970
 We're just gonna go through the points here.

1097
00:53:00.990 --> 00:53:02.270
 So the historical timeline

1098
00:53:02.270 --> 00:53:06.490
 of conflict intentions, which go back to 1902,

1099
00:53:07.170 --> 00:53:10.190
 all the way to 2026, and hopefully not beyond,

1100
00:53:10.670 --> 00:53:12.050
 but time will tell.

1101
00:53:13.170 --> 00:53:14.030
 So here we go.

1102
00:53:14.850 --> 00:53:16.570
 The periods start here.

1103
00:53:16.710 --> 00:53:19.290
 1902 to 1934 was the Platt Amendment Act,

1104
00:53:19.530 --> 00:53:20.830
 established conditional independence,

1105
00:53:21.050 --> 00:53:24.610
 granted the U.S. the right to intervene in Cuban affairs.

1106
00:53:25.290 --> 00:53:27.650
 This created a deep Cuban resentment

1107
00:53:27.650 --> 00:53:30.550
 and anti-American nationalism.

1108
00:53:30.920 --> 00:53:35.630
 In 1903 to 1934, it was also the Guantanamo Bay lease.

1109
00:53:36.050 --> 00:53:37.790
 U.S. acquired complete jurisdiction

1110
00:53:38.340 --> 00:53:40.470
 and control over the naval station.

1111
00:53:41.190 --> 00:53:44.970
 The 1934 treaty stipulates the lease can only be ended

1112
00:53:44.970 --> 00:53:49.030
 by mutual agreement or U.S. abandonment.

1113
00:53:49.330 --> 00:53:53.070
 So regardless, if Cuba wanted the U.S. out,

1114
00:53:53.810 --> 00:53:56.130
 Cuba technically didn't have to leave

1115
00:53:56.130 --> 00:53:57.930
 because the U.S. would have to go,

1116
00:53:57.930 --> 00:53:58.990
 well, I don't want to.

1117
00:53:59.310 --> 00:54:00.790
 I'm not agreeing to this mutually.

1118
00:54:01.610 --> 00:54:02.350
 So there's that.

1119
00:54:02.830 --> 00:54:04.590
 1959 is when everything really started taking a turn,

1120
00:54:04.770 --> 00:54:06.910
 though, the Cuban Revolution.

1121
00:54:07.590 --> 00:54:10.390
 So Fidel Castro overthrows Batista,

1122
00:54:11.310 --> 00:54:13.510
 nationalizes U.S. assets,

1123
00:54:13.570 --> 00:54:16.430
 and aligns with the Soviet Union.

1124
00:54:17.950 --> 00:54:20.150
 In 61 through 62, we had the Bay of Pigs

1125
00:54:20.150 --> 00:54:23.550
 missile crisis, a failed U.S.-backed invasion,

1126
00:54:23.810 --> 00:54:27.110
 followed by a nuclear standoff over Soviet missiles,

1127
00:54:27.110 --> 00:54:30.990
 U.S. imposes a full trade embargo.

1128
00:54:31.170 --> 00:54:33.750
 And of course, this was the Cuban Missile Crisis here.

1129
00:54:34.790 --> 00:54:37.850
 In 1980, Mariel boat lift.

1130
00:54:38.470 --> 00:54:42.530
 So approximately 125,000 Cubans flee to the U.S.

1131
00:54:42.790 --> 00:54:45.490
 after Castro opens Mariel Harbor.

1132
00:54:47.130 --> 00:54:49.450
 1982, there was a terrorism designation.

1133
00:54:49.550 --> 00:54:52.590
 So the U.S. designated Cuba as a state sponsor

1134
00:54:52.590 --> 00:54:57.230
 of terrorism or SSOT for supporting militant groups

1135
00:54:57.230 --> 00:55:00.890
 like in Africa and Latin America.

1136
00:55:01.850 --> 00:55:05.170
 In 96, the Helms-Burton Act codified the embargo,

1137
00:55:05.910 --> 00:55:08.990
 allows lawsuits for confiscated property

1138
00:55:08.990 --> 00:55:11.990
 triggered by the Cuban military shoot down

1139
00:55:11.990 --> 00:55:14.170
 of the two civilian aircrafts.

1140
00:55:14.170 --> 00:55:16.650
 And of course, this is also what they're using

1141
00:55:16.650 --> 00:55:18.330
 to go after Raul Castro,

1142
00:55:18.330 --> 00:55:21.210
 reaching back to this incident in 1996

1143
00:55:21.210 --> 00:55:24.390
 when he gave the order where he shot down

1144
00:55:24.390 --> 00:55:25.930
 these two civilian aircrafts.

1145
00:55:27.650 --> 00:55:30.850
 2014 through 2016, there is the thaw.

1146
00:55:31.250 --> 00:55:34.030
 Obama and Raul Castro restored diplomatic ties.

1147
00:55:34.170 --> 00:55:37.150
 Cuba is removed from the state sponsor

1148
00:55:37.150 --> 00:55:40.010
 of terrorism list and embassies reopen.

1149
00:55:41.670 --> 00:55:44.770
 Between 2017 and 2021, there was a policy reversal.

1150
00:55:44.930 --> 00:55:47.750
 So Trump said, not doing it.

1151
00:55:48.010 --> 00:55:50.130
 He reinstates the travel and business restrictions.

1152
00:55:51.950 --> 00:55:55.570
 He also led to embassy staff withdrawal

1153
00:55:56.090 --> 00:55:59.930
 and Cuba is re-designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.

1154
00:56:00.950 --> 00:56:02.590
 So Trump basically reversed everything

1155
00:56:02.590 --> 00:56:05.670
 that Obama was trying to do, but for good reason.

1156
00:56:06.370 --> 00:56:10.430
 Because Cuba was absolutely opposed to the U.S.

1157
00:56:10.890 --> 00:56:14.210
 Cuba was still harboring and supporting terrorists.

1158
00:56:14.590 --> 00:56:17.850
 Cuba was fully aligned with the now Russia.

1159
00:56:18.650 --> 00:56:22.410
 And they were working with China in the background as well.

1160
00:56:23.950 --> 00:56:27.010
 In 2025, late term Biden actions,

1161
00:56:27.370 --> 00:56:28.910
 brief attempts to ease sanctions

1162
00:56:28.910 --> 00:56:32.070
 and remove the state sponsor of terrorism status

1163
00:56:32.070 --> 00:56:34.550
 as part of a deal to release political prisoners.

1164
00:56:35.430 --> 00:56:37.470
 2026, a national emergency.

1165
00:56:37.790 --> 00:56:39.210
 President Trump declares a national emergency

1166
00:56:39.210 --> 00:56:42.410
 citing Cuba's alignment with Russia, China,

1167
00:56:42.850 --> 00:56:45.130
 and its role as a regional destabilizer.

1168
00:56:45.590 --> 00:56:47.330
 I'm gonna go back to that late term Biden action.

1169
00:56:47.330 --> 00:56:49.190
 So it seemed like what Biden was trying to do

1170
00:56:49.190 --> 00:56:52.190
 was reinstate some of what Obama tried to do with Cuba.

1171
00:56:52.870 --> 00:56:57.850
 Why Obama and Biden both wanted

1172
00:56:57.850 --> 00:57:02.970
 to ease restrictions on Cuba is really questionable

1173
00:57:04.450 --> 00:57:07.230
 given their position against the United States of America.

1174
00:57:08.290 --> 00:57:09.970
 We're gonna get into more detail here in a minute.

1175
00:57:10.670 --> 00:57:15.150
 And so as of May, 2026,

1176
00:57:15.630 --> 00:57:18.170
 there was an indictment of Raul Castro.

1177
00:57:18.550 --> 00:57:20.830
 So the Department of Justice indicts,

1178
00:57:21.950 --> 00:57:23.270
 by the way, he's 94 years old,

1179
00:57:23.710 --> 00:57:28.210
 the 94 year old former president for the 1996 shoot down

1180
00:57:28.210 --> 00:57:30.890
 of Brothers to Rescue aircraft.

1181
00:57:32.590 --> 00:57:34.750
 And that was two planes that were shot down.

1182
00:57:37.550 --> 00:57:40.610
 So there is definitely, and I know that was kind of

1183
00:57:40.610 --> 00:57:44.010
 wordy, but there was definitely a long history

1184
00:57:44.010 --> 00:57:49.910
 of contention and tension between the US and Cuba there.

1185
00:57:51.810 --> 00:57:54.370
 So here's the contemporary strategic threats.

1186
00:57:54.490 --> 00:57:55.870
 And this is what we need to go over here.

1187
00:57:56.470 --> 00:57:58.510
 US government identifies the Cuban regime

1188
00:57:58.510 --> 00:58:02.110
 as an unusual and extraordinary threat

1189
00:58:02.110 --> 00:58:05.490
 based on several specific factors outlined in 2026.

1190
00:58:06.730 --> 00:58:10.330
 So here we go, hosting foreign adversaries.

1191
00:58:10.330 --> 00:58:15.510
 Cuba blatantly hosts military and intelligence capabilities

1192
00:58:15.510 --> 00:58:17.130
 for the Russian Federation

1193
00:58:17.130 --> 00:58:19.050
 and the People's Republic of China.

1194
00:58:20.010 --> 00:58:22.670
 This includes Russia's largest, again,

1195
00:58:23.230 --> 00:58:26.610
 this is Russia's largest overseas signals intelligence

1196
00:58:26.610 --> 00:58:31.070
 facility or signet used to intercept sensitive

1197
00:58:31.070 --> 00:58:33.410
 US national security information.

1198
00:58:34.310 --> 00:58:36.070
 And to that point, or to add to that point,

1199
00:58:36.130 --> 00:58:39.710
 China was also setting up various surveillance

1200
00:58:39.710 --> 00:58:41.590
 equipment, radio towers, et cetera,

1201
00:58:41.770 --> 00:58:44.870
 that were actually built by Huawei, for example,

1202
00:58:46.610 --> 00:58:49.090
 TP link and other Chinese companies.

1203
00:58:50.470 --> 00:58:52.570
 So between Russia and China,

1204
00:58:52.870 --> 00:58:55.410
 they were basically setting up their spy operations

1205
00:58:55.410 --> 00:58:59.070
 in close proximity to the US so they can monitor

1206
00:58:59.070 --> 00:59:01.490
 not just the US, but also the Cuban people, by the way,

1207
00:59:01.670 --> 00:59:04.110
 but to monitor the US intercept communications.

1208
00:59:05.730 --> 00:59:07.910
 And again, spy on America.

1209
00:59:08.950 --> 00:59:13.410
 So there's also support for transnational terrorism.

1210
00:59:14.910 --> 00:59:15.470
 How do you say?

1211
00:59:15.790 --> 00:59:19.190
 Well, the regime of Cuba provides a safe environment

1212
00:59:19.190 --> 00:59:22.210
 for groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.

1213
00:59:22.690 --> 00:59:25.190
 These organizations reportedly use the island

1214
00:59:25.190 --> 00:59:27.970
 to build economic and security ties intended

1215
00:59:27.970 --> 00:59:30.210
 to destabilize the Western hemisphere.

1216
00:59:31.490 --> 00:59:32.410
 Of course they do.

1217
00:59:33.250 --> 00:59:34.630
 Intelligence and defense cooperation.

1218
00:59:35.510 --> 00:59:38.110
 Cuba continues to deepen its intelligence ties

1219
00:59:38.110 --> 00:59:41.270
 with the PRC, or the People's Republic of China,

1220
00:59:41.630 --> 00:59:44.830
 and provide security assistance to other US adversaries

1221
00:59:44.830 --> 00:59:48.050
 in the region to help them evade international sanctions.

1222
00:59:49.090 --> 00:59:50.950
 There's the regional destabilization.

1223
00:59:51.550 --> 00:59:55.170
 The regime is accused of spreading communist ideologies

1224
00:59:55.170 --> 00:59:58.150
 and practices across the hemisphere,

1225
00:59:58.750 --> 01:00:02.010
 specifically supporting the Maduro regime in Venezuela

1226
01:00:02.010 --> 01:00:06.110
 until it's captured by the US recently here in 2026.

1227
01:00:07.530 --> 01:00:09.930
 And then there's the migration as a weapon.

1228
01:00:10.670 --> 01:00:12.490
 So the US identifies the regime,

1229
01:00:13.730 --> 01:00:17.390
 their use of migration as a tool for destabilization.

1230
01:00:17.690 --> 01:00:20.090
 Economic mismanagement and political repression

1231
01:00:20.090 --> 01:00:25.350
 have driven over 1 million Cubans to flee since 2020.

1232
01:00:26.030 --> 01:00:28.550
 And so let's talk about the maximum pressure

1233
01:00:28.550 --> 01:00:33.250
 and regime change objectives of President Donald J. Trump.

1234
01:00:33.610 --> 01:00:35.190
 The Trump administration's 2026 policy

1235
01:00:35.190 --> 01:00:37.150
 is designed to achieve a transition

1236
01:00:37.150 --> 01:00:39.690
 to a democratic government

1237
01:00:39.690 --> 01:00:42.470
 through several high intensity mechanisms.

1238
01:00:43.370 --> 01:00:45.570
 So there's economic asphyxiation and tariffs.

1239
01:00:46.050 --> 01:00:49.070
 So basically choking off the economy of Cuba.

1240
01:00:49.630 --> 01:00:51.430
 And then there's the sectorial sanctions.

1241
01:00:52.810 --> 01:00:54.870
 Executive orders that have blocked all property

1242
01:00:54.870 --> 01:00:58.430
 in interests of individuals and entities operating

1243
01:00:58.430 --> 01:01:01.890
 in key sectors of the Cuban economy.

1244
01:01:02.590 --> 01:01:05.630
 So there's targeting the core of state power,

1245
01:01:05.770 --> 01:01:07.990
 restricting resource-based revenue,

1246
01:01:08.610 --> 01:01:11.270
 isolating the regime from the global banking system.

1247
01:01:11.850 --> 01:01:14.370
 And then we have a specific focus

1248
01:01:14.370 --> 01:01:18.250
 placed on the military-run conglomerate,

1249
01:01:18.550 --> 01:01:24.170
 the Grupo de Administración Empresial SA,

1250
01:01:24.510 --> 01:01:26.470
 which controls much of the island's economy.

1251
01:01:27.590 --> 01:01:30.450
 And then the use of legal accountability.

1252
01:01:30.850 --> 01:01:32.930
 There was the indictment of Raul Castro

1253
01:01:33.550 --> 01:01:35.330
 and five co-defendants

1254
01:01:35.330 --> 01:01:37.630
 for the 1996 civilian plane shoot down,

1255
01:01:37.970 --> 01:01:40.290
 which serves as a pivot point for the US policy.

1256
01:01:41.750 --> 01:01:43.350
 This move frames a regime,

1257
01:01:43.790 --> 01:01:44.990
 not as a legitimate government,

1258
01:01:45.050 --> 01:01:46.690
 but as a criminal enterprise

1259
01:01:47.270 --> 01:01:50.210
 responsible for the deaths of US citizens.

1260
01:01:51.210 --> 01:01:52.970
 And then we have the humanitarian

1261
01:01:52.970 --> 01:01:54.570
 and migration contingencies.

1262
01:01:55.190 --> 01:01:57.650
 So US South Command or Southcom,

1263
01:01:57.830 --> 01:02:00.410
 led by General Francis L. Donovan,

1264
01:02:01.210 --> 01:02:04.590
 prepared contingency plans for potential mass exodus.

1265
01:02:05.070 --> 01:02:07.370
 These plans involved establishing migrant camps

1266
01:02:07.370 --> 01:02:09.510
 at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

1267
01:02:10.650 --> 01:02:13.870
 There's also supporting the Department of Homeland Security

1268
01:02:13.870 --> 01:02:15.950
 and managing sea and land arrivals.

1269
01:02:16.190 --> 01:02:17.890
 And then there's maintaining security

1270
01:02:17.890 --> 01:02:20.010
 for the US Embassy in Havana

1271
01:02:20.010 --> 01:02:23.810
 amidst rising local protests and prolonged blackouts.

1272
01:02:25.310 --> 01:02:29.830
 And so let's discuss why the regime is hostile to the US.

1273
01:02:31.250 --> 01:02:33.090
 There is the Platt Amendment legacy,

1274
01:02:33.430 --> 01:02:34.910
 which people never forgot about.

1275
01:02:35.150 --> 01:02:38.390
 So the Cubans historically viewed US protection

1276
01:02:38.390 --> 01:02:44.070
 more as like a chain or a yoke

1277
01:02:44.070 --> 01:02:46.670
 that granted only semi sovereignty.

1278
01:02:46.830 --> 01:02:48.750
 So it wasn't like complete sovereignty

1279
01:02:48.750 --> 01:02:50.150
 to the Cuban people.

1280
01:02:50.610 --> 01:02:51.890
 It was kind of like,

1281
01:02:53.140 --> 01:02:56.160
 was but not really because the US was so involved

1282
01:02:56.160 --> 01:02:57.940
 and at any given time they could reach in

1283
01:02:57.940 --> 01:03:00.240
 and affect change and affect policy for Cuba.

1284
01:03:01.940 --> 01:03:04.220
 There's also the economic dependencies.

1285
01:03:04.720 --> 01:03:07.380
 So the early republics reliance on the US sugar markets

1286
01:03:07.380 --> 01:03:10.860
 and loans created by pseudo republic dynamic

1287
01:03:10.860 --> 01:03:14.000
 that modern Cuban leaders use to frame US pressure

1288
01:03:14.680 --> 01:03:16.820
 as an existential threat to the nation.

1289
01:03:17.260 --> 01:03:18.960
 And then there's a sovereignty arguments.

1290
01:03:20.280 --> 01:03:21.940
 Cuban government views US sanctions

1291
01:03:21.940 --> 01:03:24.140
 and the pressure at Guantanamo Bay

1292
01:03:24.140 --> 01:03:28.260
 as a criminal behavior and violation of human rights.

1293
01:03:29.800 --> 01:03:31.020
 So Cuba has an argument.

1294
01:03:31.640 --> 01:03:32.800
 Cuba has a right.

1295
01:03:33.160 --> 01:03:35.520
 It seems to be a little pissed off at the US.

1296
01:03:38.150 --> 01:03:40.570
 And so a way to retaliate

1297
01:03:40.570 --> 01:03:42.950
 and give the US the big middle finger.

1298
01:03:43.850 --> 01:03:46.550
 Cuba years ago under Fidel Castro's reign

1299
01:03:46.550 --> 01:03:51.130
 decided to become communist, spread communist ideas

1300
01:03:51.130 --> 01:03:54.530
 side with the then USSR, which is now Russia,

1301
01:03:56.460 --> 01:04:02.020
 work with China and other opposing nations to the US

1302
01:04:02.020 --> 01:04:06.720
 to help them circumnavigate sanctions,

1303
01:04:06.980 --> 01:04:09.320
 set up spy operations.

1304
01:04:11.160 --> 01:04:12.500
 So Cuba is a bit of an issue

1305
01:04:12.500 --> 01:04:15.280
 in our Southwestern hemisphere.

1306
01:04:15.500 --> 01:04:16.780
 They really are.

1307
01:04:17.160 --> 01:04:18.980
 But from the Cuban perspective,

1308
01:04:19.460 --> 01:04:21.940
 they never really felt that the US

1309
01:04:21.940 --> 01:04:24.940
 allowed them to be an actual sovereign nation.

1310
01:04:25.680 --> 01:04:28.360
 That restrictions that were constantly imposed on Cuba

1311
01:04:28.360 --> 01:04:32.720
 through embargoes and sanctions and tariffs, et cetera,

1312
01:04:33.540 --> 01:04:36.040
 intentionally hurt Cuba's growth and their economy.

1313
01:04:36.760 --> 01:04:39.400
 And one can argue that the US

1314
01:04:39.400 --> 01:04:42.780
 maybe intentionally pushed Cuba into the arms of Russia,

1315
01:04:43.520 --> 01:04:45.460
 pushed them into the arms of adopting

1316
01:04:46.100 --> 01:04:51.660
 the philosophy of Marxism and taking up communism.

1317
01:04:52.580 --> 01:04:56.380
 It can be argued that the US created this situation.

1318
01:04:57.780 --> 01:05:02.360
 But under Obama, they tried to establish ties with Cuba,

1319
01:05:02.460 --> 01:05:04.320
 tried to hit the reset button.

1320
01:05:04.700 --> 01:05:06.860
 Trump, when he took over said,

1321
01:05:07.240 --> 01:05:08.540
 nope, not doing it.

1322
01:05:08.960 --> 01:05:10.240
 And for various reasons,

1323
01:05:11.000 --> 01:05:14.740
 those reasons being harboring of terrorist organizations,

1324
01:05:15.520 --> 01:05:18.860
 the continued relationship with Russia, China,

1325
01:05:19.540 --> 01:05:22.040
 working with other various CD organizations

1326
01:05:22.040 --> 01:05:26.620
 and criminals to circumvent US sanctions.

1327
01:05:28.860 --> 01:05:31.040
 There's a give and take here, it goes both ways,

1328
01:05:31.060 --> 01:05:33.320
 but the United States of America,

1329
01:05:34.120 --> 01:05:35.600
 regardless of how we feel about Cuba,

1330
01:05:36.720 --> 01:05:40.620
 can't allow another nation to harbor opposing nations

1331
01:05:40.620 --> 01:05:42.140
 to the United States of America

1332
01:05:42.140 --> 01:05:43.660
 and even terrorist organizations.

1333
01:05:44.480 --> 01:05:48.380
 I mean, what is Cuba like 90 miles away

1334
01:05:48.380 --> 01:05:52.080
 from the coast of United States of America?

1335
01:05:52.200 --> 01:05:53.000
 Something like that.

1336
01:05:53.480 --> 01:05:58.870
 And if that's the case, why should the US tolerate,

1337
01:06:01.440 --> 01:06:05.220
 why should they tolerate a large installation by Russia

1338
01:06:05.220 --> 01:06:06.960
 to spy on the United States of America?

1339
01:06:07.040 --> 01:06:10.840
 Why should they tolerate China's building

1340
01:06:10.840 --> 01:06:15.180
 of radio towers and spy facilities as well in Cuba?

1341
01:06:16.000 --> 01:06:19.080
 Why should they tolerate, why should the US tolerate

1342
01:06:19.080 --> 01:06:22.860
 Hezbollah and Hamas being helped by Cuba

1343
01:06:22.860 --> 01:06:27.780
 so that they can circumvent sanctions and whatnot

1344
01:06:27.780 --> 01:06:32.660
 or economic gang to further build up their power

1345
01:06:32.660 --> 01:06:33.560
 and resources?

1346
01:06:34.340 --> 01:06:35.780
 None of this makes sense.

1347
01:06:35.820 --> 01:06:37.820
 I don't think any nation would like

1348
01:06:37.820 --> 01:06:40.640
 or allow this to happen or develop.

1349
01:06:41.500 --> 01:06:45.160
 So the United States is protecting their sovereignty

1350
01:06:45.740 --> 01:06:47.020
 protecting their backyard.

1351
01:06:48.660 --> 01:06:51.100
 And that is why Trump, he himself

1352
01:06:51.100 --> 01:06:52.620
 is pushing for regime change.

1353
01:06:52.700 --> 01:06:53.940
 If we can get rid of the regime,

1354
01:06:54.000 --> 01:06:56.980
 get rid of the communism,

1355
01:06:57.800 --> 01:07:00.600
 we can get rid of the dictators

1356
01:07:01.960 --> 01:07:05.980
 and we can flip Cuba to be a democratic state,

1357
01:07:08.020 --> 01:07:10.460
 then maybe we can start to see a shift

1358
01:07:10.460 --> 01:07:14.480
 and a turn away from Russia, from China, from Iran.

1359
01:07:15.920 --> 01:07:19.080
 Maybe we might see another nation

1360
01:07:20.220 --> 01:07:22.080
 in our Southwestern hemisphere

1361
01:07:22.720 --> 01:07:24.960
 become another strategic ally

1362
01:07:24.960 --> 01:07:26.220
 for the United States of America.

1363
01:07:26.560 --> 01:07:27.620
 But I don't know if we're gonna be able

1364
01:07:27.620 --> 01:07:29.300
 to achieve this by force alone.

1365
01:07:30.200 --> 01:07:31.520
 All the military posturing or thing

1366
01:07:31.520 --> 01:07:33.720
 isn't going to do any good.

1367
01:07:34.040 --> 01:07:35.900
 And once a dictator has power,

1368
01:07:36.520 --> 01:07:38.920
 once they have power, they're not gonna just give it up.

1369
01:07:39.220 --> 01:07:43.400
 It's hard to flip any dictatorship into a democracy.

1370
01:07:43.880 --> 01:07:46.440
 In fact, I don't even recall when it's been done.

1371
01:07:46.460 --> 01:07:47.240
 I'm sure it has.

1372
01:07:47.380 --> 01:07:50.580
 I just don't recall, but it's not gonna be easy.

1373
01:07:51.420 --> 01:07:53.720
 And so I hope that we don't go to war with Cuba.

1374
01:07:53.980 --> 01:07:55.140
 I hope that we don't have to take

1375
01:07:55.140 --> 01:07:57.160
 any strategic military action to that effect.

1376
01:07:58.660 --> 01:07:59.940
 But the pressure is on.

1377
01:08:00.100 --> 01:08:02.220
 The pressure is on Cuba and the Cuban government.

1378
01:08:02.740 --> 01:08:07.160
 And right now, Cuba is barely hanging on as a nation.

1379
01:08:07.420 --> 01:08:08.500
 Economically, they're devastated.

1380
01:08:09.820 --> 01:08:13.360
 Resources that they need, such as oil for energy,

1381
01:08:14.660 --> 01:08:17.340
 not getting it, not getting it like they need it.

1382
01:08:18.439 --> 01:08:20.740
 They've been in a continuous blackout.

1383
01:08:21.399 --> 01:08:23.680
 They have an issue with food supplies.

1384
01:08:24.600 --> 01:08:27.380
 Much of this honestly was a result of

1385
01:08:27.380 --> 01:08:30.920
 the communist regime that ruled Cuba for so many years.

1386
01:08:31.520 --> 01:08:33.140
 But at the same time,

1387
01:08:35.160 --> 01:08:36.340
 I don't think we can all sit here

1388
01:08:36.340 --> 01:08:39.060
 and just watch another group of humans suffer

1389
01:08:40.859 --> 01:08:43.740
 because of the disagreements between two nations.

1390
01:08:46.149 --> 01:08:47.390
 Cuba needs to come to the table.

1391
01:08:47.850 --> 01:08:49.410
 The United States needs to be amicable

1392
01:08:49.870 --> 01:08:52.350
 and they need to be realistic about this situation.

1393
01:08:53.330 --> 01:08:55.750
 And again, you track more flies with honey, right?

1394
01:08:55.850 --> 01:08:59.630
 So we're not gonna be able to turn the screws to Cuba

1395
01:08:59.630 --> 01:09:00.630
 like we've been trying to do

1396
01:09:00.630 --> 01:09:01.750
 in the Middle East with Iran.

1397
01:09:01.950 --> 01:09:03.450
 This is a more delicate situation.

1398
01:09:03.490 --> 01:09:04.430
 They're closer to home.

1399
01:09:05.250 --> 01:09:07.149
 They're not very far from our shores.

1400
01:09:07.770 --> 01:09:09.410
 And so I hope that we can come to an agreement.

1401
01:09:09.410 --> 01:09:12.010
 I hope that we can show Cuba that we can support them

1402
01:09:12.010 --> 01:09:16.250
 and that we can negotiate where Cuba can give up

1403
01:09:16.250 --> 01:09:18.310
 certain things such as for one,

1404
01:09:19.229 --> 01:09:22.029
 getting rid of the Russian spy installations.

1405
01:09:23.229 --> 01:09:28.090
 Same thing with the Chinese installed spy installations.

1406
01:09:29.330 --> 01:09:32.090
 And hey, stop working with fucking terrorists.

1407
01:09:32.109 --> 01:09:33.450
 How about that one, huh?

1408
01:09:34.210 --> 01:09:35.950
 Maybe that'd be good for everybody.

1409
01:09:37.029 --> 01:09:41.550
 So that is my assessment and two cents on the issue in Cuba.

1410
01:09:42.250 --> 01:09:43.689
 Let's hope that we don't have to have

1411
01:09:43.689 --> 01:09:46.490
 any kinetic confrontation with Cuba

1412
01:09:49.290 --> 01:09:51.990
 because that may trigger China's response,

1413
01:09:52.550 --> 01:09:53.930
 might trigger Russia's response,

1414
01:09:55.010 --> 01:09:57.810
 but I'm not sure how much China's going to be able

1415
01:09:57.810 --> 01:10:01.890
 to take from their supposed or alleged allies

1416
01:10:01.890 --> 01:10:06.630
 being constantly attacked or being forced

1417
01:10:07.130 --> 01:10:09.290
 to bend their will to the United States.

1418
01:10:10.690 --> 01:10:11.910
 It's going to be very interesting.

1419
01:10:12.870 --> 01:10:13.970
 It's going to be very interesting,

1420
01:10:13.970 --> 01:10:15.510
 but let's hope this works out for Cuba,

1421
01:10:16.210 --> 01:10:17.170
 the Cuban people,

1422
01:10:17.190 --> 01:10:18.970
 and it works out for the United States as well.

1423
01:10:19.070 --> 01:10:20.750
 Hopefully we can find a mutual agreement

1424
01:10:20.750 --> 01:10:22.130
 that is good for both nations.

1425
01:10:22.710 --> 01:10:23.950
 And if it was up to me,

1426
01:10:23.950 --> 01:10:27.550
 I would love to see the eradication of communism

1427
01:10:28.490 --> 01:10:29.250
 in Cuba.

1428
01:10:30.190 --> 01:10:31.490
 Now, before moving on from Cuba,

1429
01:10:31.490 --> 01:10:35.210
 let's do a quick recap on the strategic threat assessment.

1430
01:10:36.590 --> 01:10:38.430
 So if you can see my cursor,

1431
01:10:38.430 --> 01:10:39.370
 we're going to go around this.

1432
01:10:39.890 --> 01:10:41.030
 We're going to try to go around this real quick

1433
01:10:41.030 --> 01:10:42.510
 so we can move on to Africa here.

1434
01:10:44.450 --> 01:10:45.730
 So again, here we go.

1435
01:10:45.810 --> 01:10:48.710
 The Russia strategic military and energy lifeline.

1436
01:10:48.930 --> 01:10:51.330
 So consistent naval presence, warships,

1437
01:10:51.550 --> 01:10:54.110
 nuclear powered submarines like Kazan,

1438
01:10:54.310 --> 01:10:58.250
 critical oil shipments sustain island during US blockade.

1439
01:10:58.250 --> 01:11:01.490
 China, so there's the financial surveillance architecture,

1440
01:11:02.110 --> 01:11:05.670
 $80 million, okay, $80 million of financial aid.

1441
01:11:06.390 --> 01:11:07.910
 There's the telecom infrastructure,

1442
01:11:08.410 --> 01:11:09.870
 again built by Huawei,

1443
01:11:11.070 --> 01:11:12.550
 used for intelligence gathering

1444
01:11:12.550 --> 01:11:15.010
 and monitoring of US activities.

1445
01:11:16.030 --> 01:11:19.610
 We have the Iran drone and security partnership.

1446
01:11:20.430 --> 01:11:22.170
 Military advisors, primary source

1447
01:11:22.170 --> 01:11:24.610
 for expanding UAV program,

1448
01:11:24.750 --> 01:11:27.330
 which mirrors Middle Eastern tactics.

1449
01:11:29.070 --> 01:11:31.770
 And then if we go over to the military capabilities

1450
01:11:31.770 --> 01:11:32.930
 and asymmetric threat,

1451
01:11:33.150 --> 01:11:35.330
 there were 300 plus military drones

1452
01:11:35.330 --> 01:11:41.090
 that were acquired from Russia and Iran since 2023, okay?

1453
01:11:42.470 --> 01:11:44.770
 They're modernized air defense systems

1454
01:11:44.770 --> 01:11:45.950
 with the help of Belarus.

1455
01:11:46.790 --> 01:11:48.690
 They have a territorial defense

1456
01:11:48.690 --> 01:11:49.810
 versus power projections.

1457
01:11:50.190 --> 01:11:52.530
 So strategically positioned for static defense

1458
01:11:52.530 --> 01:11:56.750
 and urban ambushes to maximize local resistance costs,

1459
01:11:57.430 --> 01:11:59.170
 though technologically inferior,

1460
01:11:59.570 --> 01:12:01.390
 they still have 900 tanks.

1461
01:12:02.910 --> 01:12:05.310
 And then we got to look at the intelligence front here.

1462
01:12:06.230 --> 01:12:09.190
 So there's a persistent signet threat,

1463
01:12:09.490 --> 01:12:12.310
 which is because they host Russia's

1464
01:12:12.310 --> 01:12:14.810
 largest overseas signet facility

1465
01:12:15.630 --> 01:12:17.610
 and Chinese linked sites

1466
01:12:18.570 --> 01:12:22.330
 that intercept US satellite and military communications.

1467
01:12:23.030 --> 01:12:25.430
 There's proximity to critical US infrastructure.

1468
01:12:27.290 --> 01:12:29.870
 The proximity of Cuba to the US

1469
01:12:29.870 --> 01:12:33.050
 allows monitoring of sensitive rocket launches

1470
01:12:33.770 --> 01:12:37.650
 from Florida and tracking US naval operations

1471
01:12:37.650 --> 01:12:38.570
 in the Caribbean.

1472
01:12:39.670 --> 01:12:40.470
 And then of course,

1473
01:12:40.510 --> 01:12:44.290
 there's a harboring of malign actors,

1474
01:12:44.870 --> 01:12:47.390
 alleged safe environment for transnational groups

1475
01:12:47.390 --> 01:12:50.390
 like Hezbollah and Hamas to build regional ties.

1476
01:12:52.450 --> 01:12:54.550
 So I'm gonna leave this graphic up for a bit

1477
01:12:54.550 --> 01:12:56.050
 so you guys can look at this.

1478
01:12:56.050 --> 01:12:59.690
 But from the US perspective,

1479
01:13:00.290 --> 01:13:02.870
 again, Cuba has become a threat to the US.

1480
01:13:03.830 --> 01:13:04.810
 But as I said earlier,

1481
01:13:05.110 --> 01:13:08.350
 I hope that we can come to an amicable agreement

1482
01:13:08.830 --> 01:13:10.890
 between the US and Cuba.

1483
01:13:11.990 --> 01:13:14.450
 I hope it's one that works out for the people of Cuba.

1484
01:13:14.870 --> 01:13:17.950
 I hope that we can see communism

1485
01:13:17.950 --> 01:13:19.710
 go by the wayside in Cuba.

1486
01:13:19.890 --> 01:13:22.530
 I hope that Cuba can become a strategic ally

1487
01:13:22.530 --> 01:13:23.570
 to the United States of America,

1488
01:13:23.710 --> 01:13:25.690
 that we can open up trade, lift the embargoes.

1489
01:13:25.690 --> 01:13:27.550
 Hell, I wanna buy Cuban cigars again.

1490
01:13:27.710 --> 01:13:29.710
 Come on, make this happen.

1491
01:13:31.190 --> 01:13:34.250
 But until then, we can't ignore the threat

1492
01:13:34.770 --> 01:13:37.350
 that Cuba has become due to their relationships

1493
01:13:37.350 --> 01:13:39.890
 and their strategic geographical locations

1494
01:13:39.890 --> 01:13:41.210
 in the United States of America.

1495
01:13:43.790 --> 01:13:44.990
 So let's hope for the best, everyone.

1496
01:13:45.590 --> 01:13:46.450
 Let's hope for the best.

1497
01:13:47.210 --> 01:13:48.590
 Okay, so let's start with an infographic

1498
01:13:48.590 --> 01:13:50.510
 that better highlights the timeline

1499
01:13:50.510 --> 01:13:52.870
 of the hottest evolution in Africa here.

1500
01:13:54.150 --> 01:13:55.770
 So as you can see from the infographic,

1501
01:13:55.810 --> 01:13:56.810
 for those not watching,

1502
01:13:56.810 --> 01:13:59.430
 this activity goes all the way back to 1991.

1503
01:13:59.430 --> 01:14:01.450
 I'm gonna blow this up a bit.

1504
01:14:02.270 --> 01:14:03.390
 91 through 2007.

1505
01:14:03.810 --> 01:14:05.970
 So that's when Al-Qaeda really took root.

1506
01:14:06.270 --> 01:14:09.690
 This is when Osama bin Laden, between 91 and 96,

1507
01:14:10.310 --> 01:14:11.890
 relocates Al-Qaeda to the Sudan.

1508
01:14:12.630 --> 01:14:16.370
 In 98, we had the US embassy bombings.

1509
01:14:16.370 --> 01:14:18.470
 This marked the first major strike

1510
01:14:18.470 --> 01:14:21.170
 against US interests by Al-Qaeda.

1511
01:14:22.250 --> 01:14:25.290
 There was also in 2007, the birth of the AQIM.

1512
01:14:25.290 --> 01:14:29.970
 This is when the Algerian GSPC formally rebrands as Al-Qaeda.

1513
01:14:31.250 --> 01:14:33.490
 And then in 2010 through 16,

1514
01:14:33.990 --> 01:14:37.590
 we see a fragmentation between different factions

1515
01:14:37.590 --> 01:14:39.670
 and we also see a pivot with ISIS.

1516
01:14:40.190 --> 01:14:42.890
 So Al-Shabaab officially joins Al-Qaeda in 2012

1517
01:14:42.890 --> 01:14:45.310
 after years of local insurgency

1518
01:14:45.310 --> 01:14:47.510
 and resisting Ethiopian intervention.

1519
01:14:49.150 --> 01:14:50.570
 The Somali-based Al-Shabaab

1520
01:14:50.570 --> 01:14:52.530
 formally aligns with Al-Qaeda Central.

1521
01:14:53.390 --> 01:14:57.310
 In 2014 through 15, ISIS establishes provinces.

1522
01:14:58.030 --> 01:15:00.950
 So instead of just being one large group

1523
01:15:00.950 --> 01:15:03.390
 with a central command,

1524
01:15:04.230 --> 01:15:07.110
 they actually established provinces

1525
01:15:07.110 --> 01:15:09.830
 in which different factions of ISIS would rule over.

1526
01:15:11.270 --> 01:15:14.530
 So this was between 2010 and 2016.

1527
01:15:15.390 --> 01:15:18.070
 And then we move on to 2017 through 23.

1528
01:15:18.570 --> 01:15:21.450
 This is when the JNM or JNIM was formed.

1529
01:15:21.450 --> 01:15:24.850
 So there was a Sahelian merger.

1530
01:15:25.410 --> 01:15:27.710
 So there were major Al-Qaeda affiliates

1531
01:15:27.710 --> 01:15:30.790
 and the Sahel merged to form the JNIM,

1532
01:15:31.070 --> 01:15:34.310
 adopting a community defender strategy

1533
01:15:34.310 --> 01:15:36.190
 to build local legitimacy.

1534
01:15:37.790 --> 01:15:41.250
 ISIS themselves also did a few things here.

1535
01:15:41.590 --> 01:15:44.630
 Following their territorial losses in Iraq and Syria,

1536
01:15:44.710 --> 01:15:48.030
 ISIS shifts its media focus to African successes

1537
01:15:48.030 --> 01:15:50.170
 declaring the Central Africa province

1538
01:15:50.170 --> 01:15:55.770
 or the Islamic State of Central African province, the ISCAP.

1539
01:15:56.670 --> 01:16:01.170
 In 2020, ISIS captures a major port in Mozambique.

1540
01:16:02.310 --> 01:16:05.330
 And then in 24 through now, 2026,

1541
01:16:07.130 --> 01:16:10.370
 the withdrawal of the U.S. from Niger

1542
01:16:11.510 --> 01:16:13.070
 because of a following coup,

1543
01:16:13.530 --> 01:16:18.950
 the U.S. is forced to abandon two strategic drone bases,

1544
01:16:19.390 --> 01:16:21.330
 a $1 billion investment,

1545
01:16:22.150 --> 01:16:24.870
 severely degrading regional surveillance capabilities.

1546
01:16:27.520 --> 01:16:30.480
 86%, I said 85% earlier in the episode, I believe,

1547
01:16:30.560 --> 01:16:35.240
 but 86% of global ISIS operations by early 2026,

1548
01:16:36.200 --> 01:16:39.500
 the vast majority of all Islamic State activity worldwide

1549
01:16:39.500 --> 01:16:42.960
 is concentrated in its African provinces.

1550
01:16:43.820 --> 01:16:46.620
 And then there was a technological proliferation.

1551
01:16:47.280 --> 01:16:49.680
 The drone boom, jihadist groups like JNIM

1552
01:16:49.680 --> 01:16:52.220
 rapidly adopted UAV technology,

1553
01:16:52.700 --> 01:16:55.680
 increasing from a single drone attack in 2023

1554
01:16:55.680 --> 01:16:58.740
 to over 80 drone attacks by 2025.

1555
01:17:00.440 --> 01:17:05.680
 So there has been a steady increase and rise

1556
01:17:05.680 --> 01:17:09.540
 in jihadist factions, jihadist groups,

1557
01:17:10.340 --> 01:17:13.340
 more notably so al-Qaeda and ISIS.

1558
01:17:13.640 --> 01:17:15.920
 Al-Qaeda had many different groups.

1559
01:17:15.980 --> 01:17:18.860
 They did combine to become JNIM

1560
01:17:18.860 --> 01:17:20.220
 within certain regions.

1561
01:17:20.280 --> 01:17:22.060
 And then ISIS took the other approach

1562
01:17:22.060 --> 01:17:25.220
 to where they were ruling through provinces.

1563
01:17:27.540 --> 01:17:30.880
 So they've continued to root themselves in Africa

1564
01:17:30.880 --> 01:17:34.640
 in order to gain power and control over resources,

1565
01:17:35.560 --> 01:17:38.860
 wealth, weapons, et cetera.

1566
01:17:39.680 --> 01:17:41.300
 But there's also a power struggle

1567
01:17:41.300 --> 01:17:43.980
 between al-Qaeda and ISIS as well.

1568
01:17:44.440 --> 01:17:45.380
 Now let's dive a little deeper

1569
01:17:45.380 --> 01:17:47.980
 into the jihadist insurgency in Africa.

1570
01:17:50.180 --> 01:17:53.500
 As of early 2026, the African continent has become

1571
01:17:53.500 --> 01:17:56.020
 primary theater for global jihadist activity.

1572
01:17:56.600 --> 01:17:58.840
 Islamic State, ISIS now conducts approximately

1573
01:17:58.840 --> 01:18:02.060
 86% of its global operations within Africa,

1574
01:18:02.600 --> 01:18:05.620
 significant increase from 79% in 2025.

1575
01:18:06.560 --> 01:18:10.520
 This shift reflects a decentralized organizational model

1576
01:18:10.520 --> 01:18:13.660
 where regional affiliates such as ISWAP

1577
01:18:13.660 --> 01:18:16.740
 or the Islamic State of West Africa province

1578
01:18:16.980 --> 01:18:18.300
 in the Lake Chad Basin

1579
01:18:18.300 --> 01:18:22.720
 and JNIM in the Sahel operate with high degree of autonomy,

1580
01:18:23.080 --> 01:18:25.900
 making them remarkably resilient to leadership losses.

1581
01:18:26.820 --> 01:18:29.240
 While the United States and its allies view these groups

1582
01:18:29.240 --> 01:18:32.100
 as first line defense issues for homeland security,

1583
01:18:33.020 --> 01:18:35.120
 the landscape is increasingly complicated

1584
01:18:35.120 --> 01:18:36.780
 by geopolitical competition.

1585
01:18:37.740 --> 01:18:40.960
 The withdrawal of Western forces from strategic locations,

1586
01:18:41.040 --> 01:18:44.040
 notably the 2024 exit from Niger,

1587
01:18:45.040 --> 01:18:46.680
 has created security vacuums being filled

1588
01:18:46.680 --> 01:18:50.700
 by Russian-backed Africa Corps, formerly the Wagner Group.

1589
01:18:52.120 --> 01:18:54.560
 Simultaneously, jihadist groups have established

1590
01:18:54.560 --> 01:18:56.400
 sophisticated parallel states,

1591
01:18:59.440 --> 01:19:02.020
 funding their insurgencies through illegal taxation,

1592
01:19:02.400 --> 01:19:03.660
 transnational smuggling,

1593
01:19:03.840 --> 01:19:07.320
 and the plunder of natural resources like gold and gas.

1594
01:19:08.440 --> 01:19:11.460
 The result is a multifaceted crisis

1595
01:19:12.190 --> 01:19:14.280
 where local grievances are subsumed

1596
01:19:14.280 --> 01:19:16.200
 into a global jihadist narrative

1597
01:19:16.200 --> 01:19:20.900
 fueled by a glocal strategy

1598
01:19:20.900 --> 01:19:23.820
 that adapts international directives

1599
01:19:23.820 --> 01:19:28.240
 to local economic and ethnic marginalization.

1600
01:19:30.730 --> 01:19:31.710
 Now I'm gonna skip down a bit.

1601
01:19:31.710 --> 01:19:33.530
 So let's go to the global pivot.

1602
01:19:33.710 --> 01:19:35.470
 So the rise of ISIS in Africa,

1603
01:19:36.770 --> 01:19:40.310
 the fall of the territorial Caliphate in Iraq

1604
01:19:40.310 --> 01:19:45.490
 and Syria in 2019 triggered a strategic media shift

1605
01:19:45.490 --> 01:19:49.750
 toward Africa to project continued movement strength.

1606
01:19:50.350 --> 01:19:53.390
 So here's key ISIS provinces and capabilities.

1607
01:19:53.830 --> 01:19:56.470
 So remember earlier when I spoke about

1608
01:19:56.470 --> 01:19:59.650
 how ISIS had decided to strategically,

1609
01:19:59.850 --> 01:20:02.550
 not splinter, but create multiple provinces

1610
01:20:02.550 --> 01:20:04.690
 so that they can manage their presence

1611
01:20:05.070 --> 01:20:09.810
 on the African continent in a more decentralized way,

1612
01:20:09.810 --> 01:20:11.970
 which gives them the ability to react quicker

1613
01:20:12.690 --> 01:20:14.690
 and take advantage of the regions

1614
01:20:14.970 --> 01:20:16.250
 without having to rely

1615
01:20:16.250 --> 01:20:19.750
 from necessarily a central leadership.

1616
01:20:21.730 --> 01:20:26.270
 So there's ISWAP, which is by the Lake Chad Basin,

1617
01:20:26.370 --> 01:20:30.090
 and that is the Islamic State of West Africa province.

1618
01:20:30.190 --> 01:20:31.570
 This is the largest province.

1619
01:20:32.330 --> 01:20:34.890
 Manages a Zakat office,

1620
01:20:34.990 --> 01:20:37.030
 providing justice and health services

1621
01:20:37.030 --> 01:20:40.710
 to 800,000 to three million civilians.

1622
01:20:41.630 --> 01:20:45.290
 There's also the Islamic State of the Sahel province,

1623
01:20:46.310 --> 01:20:49.070
 which is located in Mali and Niger.

1624
01:20:49.610 --> 01:20:52.430
 Doubled its territory in Mali by 2023.

1625
01:20:52.910 --> 01:20:53.930
 Launched major attacks

1626
01:20:53.930 --> 01:20:57.130
 on Niami's international airport in 2026.

1627
01:20:57.850 --> 01:21:01.370
 You have the Islamic State of Central Africa province,

1628
01:21:01.470 --> 01:21:04.830
 which is the DRC and Uganda.

1629
01:21:05.470 --> 01:21:08.650
 Deadliest group were civilians in the DRC.

1630
01:21:08.650 --> 01:21:10.610
 Recently adopted suicide bombings

1631
01:21:10.610 --> 01:21:13.690
 and exported terror to Uganda.

1632
01:21:14.310 --> 01:21:17.230
 Then you also have the Islamic State of Somalia.

1633
01:21:17.710 --> 01:21:21.010
 So in Somalia, small force, 300 members,

1634
01:21:22.150 --> 01:21:26.330
 but critical as the Al Qahar hub

1635
01:21:26.330 --> 01:21:28.910
 for global command and finance.

1636
01:21:29.150 --> 01:21:32.030
 And then you have the Islamic State

1637
01:21:32.030 --> 01:21:33.770
 of Mozambique province.

1638
01:21:34.630 --> 01:21:36.330
 In Mozambique, formerly part

1639
01:21:36.330 --> 01:21:40.170
 of the Islamic State of Central Africa province,

1640
01:21:40.570 --> 01:21:43.950
 officially designated its own province in May of 2022.

1641
01:21:45.790 --> 01:21:48.250
 So those are the key provinces

1642
01:21:49.310 --> 01:21:51.790
 as far as the Islamic State is concerned.

1643
01:21:52.810 --> 01:21:55.510
 Now Al Qaeda's regional evolution and hegemony,

1644
01:21:56.350 --> 01:21:57.590
 despite the rise of ISIS,

1645
01:21:57.770 --> 01:21:59.390
 Al Qaeda remains a dominant force

1646
01:21:59.390 --> 01:22:01.630
 through a global strategy,

1647
01:22:01.950 --> 01:22:03.850
 embedding itself in local disputes

1648
01:22:03.850 --> 01:22:07.270
 while maintaining a global anti-Western agenda.

1649
01:22:08.270 --> 01:22:10.710
 Historical context and key affiliates,

1650
01:22:11.150 --> 01:22:13.670
 the Sudan period, as I discussed previously,

1651
01:22:14.070 --> 01:22:15.450
 between 91 and 96,

1652
01:22:15.550 --> 01:22:18.270
 where Osama Bin Laden established a financial

1653
01:22:18.270 --> 01:22:21.250
 and agricultural foundation in Sudan,

1654
01:22:22.070 --> 01:22:25.490
 leading to the 1998 US embassy bombings

1655
01:22:25.490 --> 01:22:27.270
 in Kenya and Tanzania.

1656
01:22:28.230 --> 01:22:31.050
 There's Al Shabaab, the Horn of Africa,

1657
01:22:31.050 --> 01:22:34.390
 aligned with Al Qaeda since 2012,

1658
01:22:34.390 --> 01:22:36.590
 commands over 10,000 members

1659
01:22:36.590 --> 01:22:40.090
 and controls large rural swaths of Somalia

1660
01:22:40.090 --> 01:22:42.570
 through sophisticated taxation.

1661
01:22:43.190 --> 01:22:45.670
 And there's JNM, which is in the Sahel,

1662
01:22:45.870 --> 01:22:51.550
 formed in 2017 via a merger of Sahelian groups.

1663
01:22:51.810 --> 01:22:54.250
 It portrays itself as a community defender,

1664
01:22:54.550 --> 01:22:57.190
 particularly for Fulani communities

1665
01:22:57.190 --> 01:22:59.170
 to build local legitimacy.

1666
01:22:59.910 --> 01:23:03.890
 And then there's the strategy of embeddedness.

1667
01:23:04.290 --> 01:23:06.330
 Unlike ISIS's hyperviolence,

1668
01:23:06.590 --> 01:23:09.750
 JNM often focuses on isolating provincial capitals

1669
01:23:09.750 --> 01:23:11.510
 and blockading major cities,

1670
01:23:11.870 --> 01:23:16.010
 such as the 2026 blockade of Bamaku, Mali.

1671
01:23:17.610 --> 01:23:18.730
 So the jihadist economy,

1672
01:23:19.130 --> 01:23:21.410
 blood, gold, natural resources.

1673
01:23:23.390 --> 01:23:26.730
 The jihadist groups have transitioned from self-financing

1674
01:23:26.730 --> 01:23:28.490
 to establishing parallel states

1675
01:23:28.830 --> 01:23:32.370
 that control the economic livelihoods of millions.

1676
01:23:33.490 --> 01:23:35.850
 So resource plunder and taxation.

1677
01:23:37.610 --> 01:23:39.990
 Mineral exploitation in the DRC

1678
01:23:39.990 --> 01:23:42.450
 and also in the Islamic State

1679
01:23:42.450 --> 01:23:46.270
 of Central African province uses abductees

1680
01:23:46.270 --> 01:23:49.330
 for illegal gold mining in the Sahel.

1681
01:23:49.550 --> 01:23:52.950
 Groups compete to control for artisanal mining sites.

1682
01:23:53.930 --> 01:23:56.570
 There's the method of parallel taxation.

1683
01:23:56.570 --> 01:23:59.950
 Groups like the Islamic State of West Africa province

1684
01:23:59.950 --> 01:24:04.030
 and Al-Shabaab enforce zakat on agriculture,

1685
01:24:04.550 --> 01:24:05.750
 fishing, and trade.

1686
01:24:06.690 --> 01:24:09.230
 These systems are often perceived as less corrupt

1687
01:24:09.230 --> 01:24:10.710
 than state institutions,

1688
01:24:10.890 --> 01:24:15.150
 facilitating grassroots support, transnational smuggling.

1689
01:24:16.070 --> 01:24:18.930
 Insurgents are deeply involved in the illicit trade

1690
01:24:18.930 --> 01:24:24.370
 of heroin, ivory, and charcoal to sustain operations.

1691
01:24:25.090 --> 01:24:27.350
 And then this discussed the human costs.

1692
01:24:27.870 --> 01:24:29.270
 So abductions and forced labor.

1693
01:24:29.910 --> 01:24:33.310
 The allied democratic forces relies on kidnapping

1694
01:24:33.310 --> 01:24:35.550
 as its primary recruitment tool,

1695
01:24:35.730 --> 01:24:36.790
 forcing children into labor

1696
01:24:36.790 --> 01:24:38.210
 and women into sexual slavery.

1697
01:24:39.030 --> 01:24:40.310
 Destruction of infrastructure.

1698
01:24:40.650 --> 01:24:42.830
 So groups systematically burn schools and clinics

1699
01:24:42.830 --> 01:24:47.230
 to dismantle secular education and state presence.

1700
01:24:49.190 --> 01:24:50.850
 And so before I move on,

1701
01:24:50.890 --> 01:24:52.630
 that's a very important point right there.

1702
01:24:53.450 --> 01:24:55.090
 These groups, these jihadist groups

1703
01:24:55.090 --> 01:24:57.830
 are working to isolate people

1704
01:24:58.430 --> 01:25:00.910
 from outside influence, education,

1705
01:25:01.470 --> 01:25:04.070
 and further removal from the actual state governance

1706
01:25:04.610 --> 01:25:06.850
 to where they can continue to drive a wedge

1707
01:25:06.850 --> 01:25:08.990
 between the people and the state government,

1708
01:25:10.110 --> 01:25:13.550
 subjugating them under the jihadist control.

1709
01:25:14.130 --> 01:25:15.830
 And of course, educating them in the ways

1710
01:25:15.830 --> 01:25:18.970
 of their extreme Islamic doctrine or religion,

1711
01:25:19.030 --> 01:25:20.130
 whatever you want to call it.

1712
01:25:20.910 --> 01:25:25.310
 So that's an important point there that I just read.

1713
01:25:25.610 --> 01:25:28.210
 And very important to remember in how they're able

1714
01:25:28.210 --> 01:25:31.850
 to subjugate and control a people

1715
01:25:32.410 --> 01:25:34.730
 and also guide them into believing

1716
01:25:34.730 --> 01:25:36.030
 what they want them to believe.

1717
01:25:39.170 --> 01:25:40.290
 Okay, let's move on to displacement.

1718
01:25:40.530 --> 01:25:43.530
 So there's terrorism-related deaths in the Sahel

1719
01:25:43.530 --> 01:25:48.770
 increased by 1,000% from 2007 to 2021,

1720
01:25:48.770 --> 01:25:51.790
 triggering massive humanitarian crisis.

1721
01:25:52.830 --> 01:25:54.850
 And so what is the strategic interest

1722
01:25:54.850 --> 01:25:56.450
 in geopolitical rivalries?

1723
01:25:56.610 --> 01:25:58.370
 Like, why should we be paying attention?

1724
01:25:59.170 --> 01:26:04.190
 What's the importance of Africa to the United States

1725
01:26:04.890 --> 01:26:06.050
 or to the world in general?

1726
01:26:06.970 --> 01:26:09.010
 Well, United States strategy in Africa

1727
01:26:09.010 --> 01:26:11.430
 is increasingly defined by the intersection

1728
01:26:11.430 --> 01:26:15.390
 of counter-terrorism and competition with Russia and China.

1729
01:26:15.710 --> 01:26:17.490
 So there's both getting ahead

1730
01:26:17.490 --> 01:26:19.510
 of these jihadist terrorist groups

1731
01:26:19.510 --> 01:26:22.430
 and maintaining control and stopping the spread,

1732
01:26:22.930 --> 01:26:26.770
 but also the geopolitical competition

1733
01:26:26.770 --> 01:26:30.190
 between Russia and China, as everyone is jockeying,

1734
01:26:30.190 --> 01:26:33.430
 or at least we are jockeying against Russia and China

1735
01:26:33.430 --> 01:26:35.370
 for continued control and power

1736
01:26:35.370 --> 01:26:37.570
 on the global scale or the global stage.

1737
01:26:38.870 --> 01:26:41.190
 So let's talk about US counter-terrorism strategies.

1738
01:26:42.590 --> 01:26:45.130
 Homeland defense, US officials view

1739
01:26:45.130 --> 01:26:48.050
 African jihadist expansion as a direct threat

1740
01:26:48.050 --> 01:26:50.690
 due to the recruitment of foreign fighters

1741
01:26:50.690 --> 01:26:52.890
 and plots like Al-Shabaab's

1742
01:26:52.890 --> 01:26:56.190
 foiled 9-11-style aircraft hijacking.

1743
01:26:57.030 --> 01:26:59.310
 Targeted missions, so in February, 2026,

1744
01:26:59.370 --> 01:27:01.610
 200 US personnel deployed to Nigeria

1745
01:27:02.030 --> 01:27:03.610
 for intelligence, fusion,

1746
01:27:03.990 --> 01:27:05.850
 and ISR intelligence surveillance

1747
01:27:05.850 --> 01:27:07.730
 and reconnaissance support.

1748
01:27:08.790 --> 01:27:10.050
 Somalia air campaign,

1749
01:27:10.590 --> 01:27:14.470
 there was a significant escalation in 2025

1750
01:27:14.790 --> 01:27:17.370
 that saw 38 strikes in the first few months,

1751
01:27:17.830 --> 01:27:19.890
 four times the 2024 total.

1752
01:27:21.270 --> 01:27:23.650
 And let's talk about strategic setbacks and challenges.

1753
01:27:24.270 --> 01:27:25.810
 Withdraw from Niger in 2024,

1754
01:27:26.130 --> 01:27:28.250
 while that loss of two strategic drone bases,

1755
01:27:28.370 --> 01:27:29.870
 which was a billion-dollar investment,

1756
01:27:30.630 --> 01:27:33.390
 that took into surveillance capabilities in the Sahel.

1757
01:27:34.430 --> 01:27:36.830
 There was the securitization failure.

1758
01:27:37.870 --> 01:27:40.750
 Analysts argue that an over-reliance on military tactics

1759
01:27:40.750 --> 01:27:43.170
 has ignored socioeconomic root causes,

1760
01:27:43.170 --> 01:27:46.930
 providing recruitment opportunities for militants.

1761
01:27:47.250 --> 01:27:48.950
 And it's exactly what these guys do.

1762
01:27:49.270 --> 01:27:50.510
 They play on the struggles,

1763
01:27:50.590 --> 01:27:52.350
 they play on the sentiment of the people

1764
01:27:52.350 --> 01:27:53.270
 who feel oppressed,

1765
01:27:53.970 --> 01:27:56.350
 and these jihadist organizations come in,

1766
01:27:56.350 --> 01:27:58.730
 these groups, and they prey on that

1767
01:27:58.730 --> 01:28:01.730
 in order to recruit people to their size,

1768
01:28:01.950 --> 01:28:04.210
 to take up their weapons, take up their mantle,

1769
01:28:04.370 --> 01:28:08.850
 and continue to spread the doctrine

1770
01:28:08.850 --> 01:28:12.070
 of these extreme jihadist groups.

1771
01:28:13.170 --> 01:28:15.130
 And then we have the Russian intervention.

1772
01:28:15.550 --> 01:28:17.010
 So the Russian-backed Afrika Korps,

1773
01:28:17.170 --> 01:28:18.470
 which was the Wagner Group,

1774
01:28:19.330 --> 01:28:22.350
 exploits security vacuums to gain resources.

1775
01:28:24.510 --> 01:28:27.570
 So concessions, which would be gold, diamonds,

1776
01:28:28.210 --> 01:28:29.730
 in exchange for security services,

1777
01:28:29.890 --> 01:28:33.070
 often failing to contain the actual insurgency.

1778
01:28:35.570 --> 01:28:37.810
 So Russia taking advantage of the situation

1779
01:28:37.810 --> 01:28:40.170
 back in this Afrika Korps,

1780
01:28:40.170 --> 01:28:42.610
 but, you know, Afrika Korps themselves

1781
01:28:43.550 --> 01:28:46.710
 by basically going ahead and holding people ransom,

1782
01:28:46.810 --> 01:28:48.090
 like, look, we'll protect you

1783
01:28:48.090 --> 01:28:51.410
 in exchange for gold, diamonds, whatever.

1784
01:28:51.530 --> 01:28:52.990
 And you know that a lot of that

1785
01:28:52.990 --> 01:28:54.530
 gets kicked back up to Russia.

1786
01:28:55.390 --> 01:28:57.370
 And through this strategic relationship,

1787
01:28:57.490 --> 01:29:00.250
 I mean, that's why we saw some of the Afrika Korps

1788
01:29:00.250 --> 01:29:02.690
 out there fighting in the Ukraine War

1789
01:29:02.690 --> 01:29:03.890
 alongside Russia.

1790
01:29:04.830 --> 01:29:06.750
 So there's a strategic relationship

1791
01:29:06.750 --> 01:29:08.490
 between the Afrika Korps and Russia,

1792
01:29:08.490 --> 01:29:10.530
 and Russia has absolutely taken advantage

1793
01:29:10.530 --> 01:29:11.390
 of that relationship.

1794
01:29:12.450 --> 01:29:14.610
 They're training specialized soldiers

1795
01:29:14.610 --> 01:29:16.570
 and militants in Africa

1796
01:29:17.210 --> 01:29:19.570
 without having to take full responsibility

1797
01:29:19.570 --> 01:29:20.450
 of the outcomes.

1798
01:29:21.130 --> 01:29:24.190
 And in doing so, they're gaining strategic partner

1799
01:29:25.090 --> 01:29:29.130
 that they can use as a tip of the spear,

1800
01:29:29.190 --> 01:29:31.590
 or even possibly, or even possibly,

1801
01:29:31.750 --> 01:29:34.270
 in special operations conditions.

1802
01:29:34.430 --> 01:29:35.330
 It's hard to say.

1803
01:29:35.330 --> 01:29:39.110
 But Russia has a vested interest in the area

1804
01:29:39.850 --> 01:29:42.870
 in order to take advantage

1805
01:29:43.590 --> 01:29:46.790
 of independent, decentralized militants

1806
01:29:47.630 --> 01:29:49.450
 to be able to use them

1807
01:29:49.830 --> 01:29:52.030
 for whatever it is Russia needs done.

1808
01:29:53.190 --> 01:29:55.230
 And this is a training ground for that.

1809
01:29:55.810 --> 01:29:58.370
 So there's that as well.

1810
01:29:59.670 --> 01:30:01.270
 Now let's talk about the regional focus.

1811
01:30:01.970 --> 01:30:04.230
 The Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.

1812
01:30:04.230 --> 01:30:06.330
 The insurgency in North Mozambique illustrates

1813
01:30:06.330 --> 01:30:08.690
 the transition from local grievances

1814
01:30:08.690 --> 01:30:12.130
 to global jihadist affiliation.

1815
01:30:12.590 --> 01:30:14.610
 So between 2011 and 2015,

1816
01:30:14.970 --> 01:30:17.810
 there was a discovery of massive offshore gas fields

1817
01:30:17.810 --> 01:30:21.450
 followed by the emergence of Ansar al-Sunnah,

1818
01:30:21.650 --> 01:30:24.030
 fueled by the perceived marginalization

1819
01:30:24.030 --> 01:30:28.610
 of the Mawani and Macau ethnic groups.

1820
01:30:30.170 --> 01:30:31.890
 2017 through 2020,

1821
01:30:31.890 --> 01:30:34.530
 the insurgency began with police station raids

1822
01:30:34.530 --> 01:30:38.250
 and Mossimboa da Praia,

1823
01:30:38.250 --> 01:30:39.410
 I think I said that correctly,

1824
01:30:41.370 --> 01:30:43.090
 Mossimboa da Praia.

1825
01:30:43.270 --> 01:30:44.290
 Probably mispronounced that.

1826
01:30:44.630 --> 01:30:47.250
 Anyway, escalating to the capture of the town in 2020.

1827
01:30:47.650 --> 01:30:51.690
 2021, a brutal siege in Palma forced total energies

1828
01:30:51.690 --> 01:30:55.150
 to pause a multi-billion dollar LNG project.

1829
01:30:56.190 --> 01:30:57.730
 And then 25 through 26,

1830
01:30:57.790 --> 01:31:00.190
 where we are now following interventions by Rwanda

1831
01:31:00.190 --> 01:31:04.570
 and SADC forces, the Islamic State, Mozambique province

1832
01:31:05.040 --> 01:31:09.010
 has adopted a more political, less violent posture

1833
01:31:09.010 --> 01:31:11.810
 toward local Muslims to build legitimacy.

1834
01:31:13.830 --> 01:31:23.390
 So what all that means is Africa right now

1835
01:31:23.390 --> 01:31:32.270
 is a testing ground for how these jihadist groups

1836
01:31:34.610 --> 01:31:37.830
 can train their personnel militarily,

1837
01:31:38.170 --> 01:31:39.870
 how they can practice tactics,

1838
01:31:40.590 --> 01:31:45.030
 how they control a people, a group,

1839
01:31:45.370 --> 01:31:47.010
 how they learn to fight governments,

1840
01:31:47.310 --> 01:31:49.410
 both politically and through kinetic force.

1841
01:31:50.670 --> 01:31:53.050
 And they've been doing this for a while

1842
01:31:53.710 --> 01:31:55.450
 and they're becoming more and more emboldened,

1843
01:31:55.470 --> 01:31:57.630
 more powerful, smarter.

1844
01:31:58.990 --> 01:32:00.650
 And Russia and China are watching this

1845
01:32:00.650 --> 01:32:03.010
 and they're looking at how they can take advantage

1846
01:32:03.010 --> 01:32:05.790
 of all of this disarray in Africa

1847
01:32:06.410 --> 01:32:09.070
 and make side deals with these groups

1848
01:32:09.070 --> 01:32:12.650
 in order to get natural resources

1849
01:32:13.190 --> 01:32:15.770
 and or just simple funding and money.

1850
01:32:15.970 --> 01:32:17.670
 Also tapping some of these groups

1851
01:32:17.670 --> 01:32:19.590
 to be able to do things for them.

1852
01:32:20.010 --> 01:32:21.750
 And this is the case when it comes

1853
01:32:21.750 --> 01:32:24.050
 to the Russian backed Africa core.

1854
01:32:24.750 --> 01:32:27.390
 So there is a major concern.

1855
01:32:28.070 --> 01:32:30.450
 It's like the old wild wild west

1856
01:32:30.450 --> 01:32:32.170
 is what Africa is right now.

1857
01:32:32.170 --> 01:32:36.450
 And whoever can get in and create these relationships

1858
01:32:37.730 --> 01:32:40.610
 and quell the growth of the jihadist groups

1859
01:32:41.510 --> 01:32:44.150
 and bring these nations in Africa

1860
01:32:44.830 --> 01:32:46.730
 back to a point of where the governments

1861
01:32:46.730 --> 01:32:47.950
 are actually in charge

1862
01:32:48.630 --> 01:32:50.770
 and the people start to feel safe again

1863
01:32:51.230 --> 01:32:52.890
 and reinvigorate the economies,

1864
01:32:54.050 --> 01:32:58.510
 then we could be in a good position geographically

1865
01:32:58.510 --> 01:33:02.410
 for one, and two, there could be an opportunity

1866
01:33:02.410 --> 01:33:06.250
 to increase our relations between the US

1867
01:33:06.250 --> 01:33:07.550
 and these African nations

1868
01:33:08.430 --> 01:33:11.370
 and gain strategic allies in the area.

1869
01:33:11.870 --> 01:33:14.530
 Now we don't have a great history in Africa,

1870
01:33:14.770 --> 01:33:15.710
 United States of America,

1871
01:33:16.610 --> 01:33:19.010
 but it doesn't mean that we abandoned them.

1872
01:33:19.110 --> 01:33:22.310
 And so in 2026, we have seen a ramping up

1873
01:33:22.310 --> 01:33:25.450
 of activities from United States of America.

1874
01:33:26.450 --> 01:33:34.050
 And remember that Trump in 2025 also bombed

1875
01:33:34.050 --> 01:33:37.650
 Islamic insurgents in Africa as well,

1876
01:33:37.930 --> 01:33:39.250
 sending a clear message.

1877
01:33:40.170 --> 01:33:43.410
 And so we can't fight on all fronts.

1878
01:33:43.690 --> 01:33:44.770
 There's so much going on,

1879
01:33:44.970 --> 01:33:50.150
 but to ignore the transmigration

1880
01:33:50.150 --> 01:33:53.750
 or let's say ISIS transplanting themselves,

1881
01:33:53.750 --> 01:33:55.510
 like removing themselves from the Middle East

1882
01:33:55.510 --> 01:33:57.310
 ever so slowly into Africa,

1883
01:33:57.310 --> 01:33:59.050
 where they're able to create a base of operations

1884
01:33:59.050 --> 01:34:02.250
 and grow and grow exponentially

1885
01:34:02.250 --> 01:34:05.490
 and create separate provinces

1886
01:34:05.490 --> 01:34:07.590
 where they're creating this decentralized way

1887
01:34:07.590 --> 01:34:09.750
 of governing themselves or this organization

1888
01:34:09.750 --> 01:34:13.230
 and continuing to recruit and radicalize individuals.

1889
01:34:13.410 --> 01:34:15.770
 They're growing stronger and stronger,

1890
01:34:16.550 --> 01:34:19.330
 especially when groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda

1891
01:34:19.330 --> 01:34:22.250
 have a stranglehold on the resources

1892
01:34:22.250 --> 01:34:23.750
 within much of the region.

1893
01:34:24.570 --> 01:34:27.350
 They're able to bolster themselves up economically,

1894
01:34:27.930 --> 01:34:29.390
 which means they're getting the money,

1895
01:34:30.030 --> 01:34:30.730
 they're getting the weapons,

1896
01:34:31.030 --> 01:34:31.950
 they're getting the training,

1897
01:34:32.470 --> 01:34:34.730
 they're creating these strategic relationships,

1898
01:34:34.970 --> 01:34:36.730
 possibly with China and Russia.

1899
01:34:39.060 --> 01:34:43.560
 And so Africa absolutely should not be ignored

1900
01:34:45.040 --> 01:34:47.880
 and the U.S. has to go in

1901
01:34:47.880 --> 01:34:50.640
 and back whatever allies they have left

1902
01:34:50.640 --> 01:34:53.220
 to make sure they're still standing at the end of the day.

1903
01:34:53.920 --> 01:34:56.520
 If this continues, it will be,

1904
01:34:56.760 --> 01:35:00.620
 Africa could very well become a complete continent

1905
01:35:00.620 --> 01:35:03.200
 that is literally an Islamic state.

1906
01:35:05.200 --> 01:35:08.220
 And that would definitely tilt the balance of power

1907
01:35:08.220 --> 01:35:10.860
 globally, no matter who you are.

1908
01:35:11.860 --> 01:35:14.780
 That'll be a very, very hard thing to contend with.

1909
01:35:15.760 --> 01:35:19.040
 Giving them a place to increase their wealth,

1910
01:35:19.560 --> 01:35:21.400
 increase their power, their capabilities.

1911
01:35:23.680 --> 01:35:25.140
 It's a very dangerous thing right now.

1912
01:35:25.940 --> 01:35:29.800
 So ignoring Africa would be literally to our detriment.

1913
01:35:30.300 --> 01:35:31.980
 And I think the whole world needs to start looking

1914
01:35:31.980 --> 01:35:34.760
 at Africa and taking it more serious.

1915
01:35:38.380 --> 01:35:41.000
 Well, look, everyone, that's the show for now.

1916
01:35:42.940 --> 01:35:44.640
 I know it was wordy, it was lengthy.

1917
01:35:45.040 --> 01:35:46.200
 I tend to do that.

1918
01:35:46.440 --> 01:35:48.820
 I don't know why, but I have to dive deep

1919
01:35:48.820 --> 01:35:50.140
 and I have to get into things.

1920
01:35:51.220 --> 01:35:52.820
 I'm gonna do my best to maybe

1921
01:35:52.820 --> 01:35:57.500
 shorten these up a bit or keep them a little more concise,

1922
01:35:57.760 --> 01:36:00.460
 maybe not as lengthy in terms of the data

1923
01:36:00.460 --> 01:36:02.360
 or the information I'm trying to present.

1924
01:36:02.400 --> 01:36:06.040
 But I do hope you guys actually appreciate

1925
01:36:06.040 --> 01:36:07.000
 what I'm trying to do here.

1926
01:36:07.620 --> 01:36:09.640
 This takes a lot of time to put together,

1927
01:36:10.020 --> 01:36:11.360
 a lot of time to put together.

1928
01:36:11.440 --> 01:36:12.480
 I enjoy doing it.

1929
01:36:12.840 --> 01:36:14.840
 And the reason I do these things is because

1930
01:36:15.400 --> 01:36:17.400
 I wanna tell you guys what's going on out there.

1931
01:36:17.440 --> 01:36:18.920
 I wanna get down to the bottom of things,

1932
01:36:18.920 --> 01:36:22.100
 give you the opposing view, the truth,

1933
01:36:23.120 --> 01:36:24.220
 what's really happening.

1934
01:36:24.780 --> 01:36:26.740
 And you don't have to agree with my assessments

1935
01:36:26.740 --> 01:36:30.220
 or my opinions, but at least listen to the information

1936
01:36:31.020 --> 01:36:33.620
 and then you'll become a more informed person

1937
01:36:33.620 --> 01:36:35.760
 and you can form your own opinions on the subject.

1938
01:36:36.500 --> 01:36:39.260
 But regardless, let me know if you enjoy what I'm doing.

1939
01:36:39.460 --> 01:36:42.280
 Let me know if you like the direction

1940
01:36:42.280 --> 01:36:44.540
 that I have been going as of late.

1941
01:36:45.560 --> 01:36:46.760
 It's just how my mind works.

1942
01:36:46.760 --> 01:36:48.920
 I'm one of those guys that just, like I said,

1943
01:36:48.920 --> 01:36:50.460
 I like to dive deep and get down to the bottom of things.

1944
01:36:50.960 --> 01:36:52.860
 So that being said, leave me a comment.

1945
01:36:53.780 --> 01:36:56.220
 You can go ahead and contact me on social media.

1946
01:36:56.960 --> 01:36:58.820
 And if you're really, really enjoying this, man,

1947
01:36:58.900 --> 01:37:00.300
 keep spreading the word of World of Blaze.

1948
01:37:00.620 --> 01:37:02.560
 Let everybody else know that you like World of Blaze.

1949
01:37:02.740 --> 01:37:03.600
 Spread it with others.

1950
01:37:04.240 --> 01:37:05.520
 The YouTube channel has been growing.

1951
01:37:06.920 --> 01:37:08.660
 Next step for us is get to 500.

1952
01:37:09.080 --> 01:37:10.340
 So for anybody who doesn't know,

1953
01:37:10.400 --> 01:37:13.860
 the YouTube channel at one time was doing very well

1954
01:37:13.860 --> 01:37:16.280
 and then YouTube went in and took away

1955
01:37:16.280 --> 01:37:17.800
 a bunch of subscribers trying to say

1956
01:37:17.800 --> 01:37:18.720
 they weren't real subscribers.

1957
01:37:18.760 --> 01:37:19.960
 I don't even know what's going on.

1958
01:37:20.440 --> 01:37:22.620
 But my channel was targeted by YouTube.

1959
01:37:22.700 --> 01:37:26.540
 I had to literally squash it, start it up again.

1960
01:37:26.700 --> 01:37:28.740
 And it's been completely organic.

1961
01:37:29.020 --> 01:37:31.100
 I haven't been advertising anything.

1962
01:37:31.380 --> 01:37:34.020
 It's just, I'm just letting it play out.

1963
01:37:34.100 --> 01:37:36.340
 So it's been a really slow growth,

1964
01:37:36.340 --> 01:37:39.220
 but I'm almost there to 500 subs.

1965
01:37:39.660 --> 01:37:42.720
 So if you can spread the word on my YouTube channel

1966
01:37:43.540 --> 01:37:45.960
 and bring me up to 500 subscribers,

1967
01:37:45.960 --> 01:37:47.140
 as soon as you can.

1968
01:37:47.520 --> 01:37:50.320
 We're like maybe a little over a hundred away or so.

1969
01:37:50.620 --> 01:37:53.720
 So let's go ahead and let's make that happen.

1970
01:37:54.620 --> 01:37:57.940
 And with that being said, have a great day.

1971
01:37:58.960 --> 01:38:01.600
 Devils hide behind redemption.

1972
01:38:02.320 --> 01:38:05.580
 Honesty is a one way gate to hell.