The News Items Podcast Episode Eight: Ben Hodges
5 snips
Mar 21, 2026 
Ben Hodges, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and author, outlines how cheap drones, energy chokepoints, maritime sabotage, and Arctic maneuvering are reshaping conflict. He discusses Ukraine’s grinding war, Iran’s asymmetric tactics, threats to shipping and infrastructure, and Europe’s industrial and political strains. Sharp and urgent conversation about how future wars may already be unfolding.
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Targeting Energy Exports Could Halt Russia Fast
- Destroying Russia's oil and gas exports is a plausible path to ending its war economy quickly.
- Targeting refineries and stopping the shadow fleet carrying Russian oil would degrade Russia's ability to finance the conflict.
Why Putin Has Incentive To Keep Fighting
- Vladimir Putin has incentives to continue the war because casualties and veterans returning to a shattered economy would threaten his regime.
- Only a crippling blow to Russia's export revenue would force a strategic recalculation.
Sanctions Relief Strengthens Russia And Splits Allies
- U.S. temporary sanctions relief around Iranian-related oil created a windfall for Russia and risks fracturing U.S.-European cohesion.
- Europeans are irritated because U.S. moves undercut existing EU sanctions and advance Russian objectives to wedge NATO.
