How Israel’s War with Hamas Could Escalate Into a Regional Conflict
Jan 10, 2024
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The podcast covers the war between Israel and Hamas, the differences between Netanyahu and Biden, and the risks of regional conflict. They also discuss Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization, foreign corruption involving Trump and Senator Bob Menendez, upcoming elections in Taiwan and Germany, and global security. Taiwanese journalist Emily Wu talks about Taiwan's upcoming election.
The Israeli war effort is facing increasing criticism within the Democratic Party, posing challenges to post-war planning.
There is an escalating risk of a regional war involving Iranian-backed proxy groups like the Houthi rebels and militia groups in Iraq and Syria.
The upcoming Taiwan election involves delicate considerations of maintaining sovereignty, navigating relations with China, and countering Chinese influence campaigns.
Deep dives
Russian aggression continues in Ukraine
Despite the winter setting in, Russia is continuing its offensive in Ukraine. Cities are being bombarded with missiles, causing casualties and damaging civilian infrastructure. Russian forces are now using glide bombs, which are proving highly effective and lethal. The British defense ministry estimates that Russia could lose half a million personnel in the next year. Additionally, Russia is receiving support from North Korea, with reports of shipments of artillery shells. The situation remains dire, and efforts to find a peaceful resolution continue.
Allegations of corruption against Senator Bob Menendez
New allegations have surfaced against Senator Bob Menendez, accusing him of accepting luxury items in exchange for positive comments about Qatar. This comes after previous allegations of bribery involving a businessman with ties to Egypt's intelligence services. The reports shed light on Menendez's alleged corruption and raises questions about his position on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
House Democrats reveal evidence of Trump's foreign earnings
House Democrats have released evidence showing that Donald Trump earned at least $7.8 million from foreign entities during his time in office. The figures include $5.5 million from Chinese entities, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and violations of the emoluments clause. The revelation highlights the need for transparency and further investigation into Trump's financial dealings while in office.
Summary of the strange story regarding Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's health issues
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin underwent a medical procedure to treat prostate cancer, which resulted in complications requiring hospitalization and eventual transfer of some responsibilities to Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks. However, the issue became public only days after the events occurred, leading to questions about the notification process and protocols in the Department of Defense. While sympathizing with Austin's health struggles, concerns have been raised about the need for improved procedures to ensure proper communication and readiness in critical defense matters.
Election Overview
The upcoming presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan are garnering significant attention due to the country's delicate relationship with China. Both the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT) are vying for power, with the DPP looking to continue its foreign policy approach of closer ties with the United States while maintaining a cautious stance towards China. The KMT, on the other hand, is more open to negotiating with China and seeks to strengthen relations. The third-party Taiwan People's Party (TPP) is also in the running, offering an alternative to both major parties. Taiwan's voters are weighing the importance of maintaining their sovereignty and democratic system against the potential risks of engaging with or provoking China.
Chinese Influence and Disinformation
The Taiwanese election is not only about domestic issues but is also affected by Chinese influence campaigns and disinformation. China has been known to disseminate misleading information to sway Taiwanese public opinion. Taiwanese civil society groups are actively fact-checking and countering such disinformation. The government and citizens alike are vigilant about Chinese interference in the election. While disinformation poses a significant challenge, Taiwanese voters are resilient and remain committed to the democratic process.
Ben and Tommy cover the major developments in the war between Israel and Hamas, including the widening difference between Netanyahu and Biden on post-war planning, increasing criticism of the Israeli war effort within the Democratic Party, and the escalating risks of a regional war with Iranian-back proxy groups like the Houthi rebels and militia groups in Iraq and Syria. Then they discuss Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s secret hospitalization, foreign governments funneling money to Donald Trump and NJ Senator Bob Menendez, reports that US objectives in Ukraine are changing, and the fallout from an “almost naked” party in Moscow, the stabbing of an opposition leader in South Korea, protests in Germany, and a new Prime Minister in France. Finally, Ben speaks with Taiwanese journalist and podcaster Emily Wu about Taiwan’s upcoming election on January 13th.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
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