DeProgram with Ted Rall and Jamarl Thomas Mideast on Alert | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Feb 24, 2026
Tense military buildup near Iran and fears of a major US strike. Growing concerns about Afghanistan and regional safe havens for Islamist militants. Diplomatic fallout in France over controversial comments by a US ambassador. Heated debate about US support for Israel, media bias, and geopolitical consequences.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Ambassador Ghosting Sparks Diplomatic Crisis With France
- France banned U.S. ambassador Charles Kushner from meeting officials after he skipped a summoned meeting about comments on a French killing.
- John Kiriakou warns ghosting a foreign minister risks expulsion and breaks diplomatic norms.
Witnessing An Execution In Kashgar
- Ted Rall recounts witnessing a public execution in Kashgar years ago to illustrate severity of Chinese repression in Xinjiang.
- He describes loudspeaker announcements, a man shot on a flatbed truck, and cultural erasure via Han migration.
Uyghurs Found In Al Qaeda Safe House Looking For Work
- John Kiriakou describes arresting Uyghurs in an al-Qaeda safe house who had gone to Afghanistan seeking construction work, not jihad.
- Interpreters identified them as Uyghurs who'd unknowingly landed in Tora Bora before the U.S. bombing campaign.