DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall

Blue Glove Blues | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou

Mar 18, 2026

A fast-paced rundown of TSA staffing shortfalls threatening small airports and long security lines. Tense talk about Israel urging Iranian unrest publicly while private cables warn of slaughter. Discussion of targeted killings in Iran and risks of radicalizing leadership. Reports on heavy strikes in Lebanon and Beirut, AIPAC’s waning clout, and looming oil shortages if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed.

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INSIGHT

Israel Urges Revolt While Predicting Bloodshed

Israel's public calls for Iranians to revolt contradict private warnings that uprisings would lead to mass slaughter.
Ted Rall cites a leaked State Department cable showing Israeli officials privately telling the U.S. Iranians would "get slaughtered" if they rise up.

INSIGHT

Assassinations Are Strengthening Hardliners

Targeted assassinations against Iranian officials risk radicalizing the government by removing moderates.
Ted Rall notes recent killings like Ali Larijani and Ismail Khatib are decimating Iran's moderate bench and could strengthen hardliners.

INSIGHT

Hormuz Shutdown Risks Rapid Regional Collapse

Strait of Hormuz disruptions create acute fuel shortages for many Asian countries within weeks.
Ted Rall cites SocGen analysis: Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines ~30 days of oil; Singapore 40 days; Thailand 50; Taiwan/Bangladesh ~100 days with rationing already in Bangladesh.

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Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou deprogram you from mainstream media every weekday at 9 AM EST.

Today we discuss:

• If the Homeland Security Dept. shutdown continues, some smaller airports may have to shut down entirely within weeks due to a shortage of TSA security screeners. Typically, under 2% of TSA workers call in sick or do not report to work. At Atlanta, JFK and Houston, no-show rates are about 20%.

• In public, Israel is urging Iranians to revolt against their government. Privately, senior Israeli officials are telling the U.S. that Iranians will “get slaughtered” if there’s an uprising, according to a leaked State Department cable.

• Israel and the U.S. are relying on targeted assassinations in their war against Iran. But decapitation strikes against figures like Ali Larijani, Iran’s de facto leader, and Esmail Khatib, intelligence minister, has its limits, and may even prove counterproductive by radicalizing the government and marginalizing moderates. Iranian missiles are flying all over the Middle East.

• Israel has ordered a mass evacuation of southern Lebanon and is subjecting central Beirut to heavy bombing in its attacks against Hezbollah.

• Democrats are turning against AIPAC. Only two out of four AIPAC-backed candidates won special elections yesterday.

• The Strait of Hormuz shutdown has several countries on the ropes. Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines, according to the SocGen commodities team, 80%+ of their oil via Hormuz, and only have about a month of oil in storage before they run out. Singapore has 40 days of inventory. Thailand has 50 days. Taiwan can last about 100 days. Bangladesh can last about 100 days, and has already instituted fuel rationing and shuttered fertilizer plants.

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