The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters PREVIEW LIVE: Realpolitik #26 | The Year in Review
Jan 6, 2026
Firas dives into the seismic shifts in global geopolitics, examining the unraveling of the liberal order and the fading support for Israel. He unpacks the US military's limits in facing asymmetric threats and debates the clash between Western identity politics and Zionist influences. The looming economic crisis, rising national identity tensions, and the implications for upcoming elections are also explored. Finally, the podcast touches on US strategies in Latin America and the challenges posed by Mexico's cartels.
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US Ceasefire Undermined Israeli Confidence
- US bombing of the Houthis and a subsequent ceasefire signaled to Israel an erosion of American reliability.
- Firas Modad sees the May 2025 ceasefire as a turning point in perceived US commitment to Israeli security.
US Military Limitations Exposed
- The June strikes on Iran and the 12-day war exposed limits in US military sustainment and intelligence.
- Firas Modad highlights depleted THAAD interceptors and uncertainty over the nuclear program's full status.
Asymmetric Warfare Curtails US Hegemony
- Modern warfare lets the US inflict massive damage but not easily control asymmetric actors like tribesmen or proxy forces.
- Firas Modad argues this reduces the US's ability to unilaterally shape outcomes as it did in the 1990s–2000s.