The Paikin Podcast World on Edge: What China Wants and the Rising Nuclear Threat
Feb 26, 2026
Ryan Hass, a U.S.-China policy expert, and Janice Stein, an international relations scholar, explore the risks of U.S. action toward Iran and the limits of military options. They debate China’s ambitions, its domestic drivers, and how close it is to using force on Taiwan. They also consider rising global nuclear dangers and what a steady Canada-China-U.S. balance might look like.
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U.S. Force Posture Near Iran Signals Escalation Risk
- The U.S. has concentrated an extraordinary portion of its deployable air power near Iran, signaling serious escalation risk.
- Ryan Hass notes 40–50% of deployable U.S. air power is in theater, an unprecedented masking of force that raises the chance of conflict.
Limited Strikes Could Backfire Politically And Strategically
- Limited strikes are politically tempting but strategically ambiguous and unlikely to achieve regime change.
- Janice Stein warns a token strike could embolden the Iranian regime or force costly escalation like a Hormuz blockade that raises oil prices.
Explain Objectives Before Using Military Force
- Leaders should clearly state objectives and why force is necessary before asking the public to bear costs.
- Ryan Hass recommends explaining the goal, alternatives tried, and how force advances that goal, ideally via major addresses like the State of the Union.