Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

They debate a presidential threat to pull the U.S. out of NATO and the politics around alliance funding. They unpack a drone strike on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and what Iraq’s instability reveals. They examine military readiness, Iran’s capabilities, and fallout from political resignations and conservative backlash.

Yanis Varoufakis, economist and former Greek finance minister, offers geopolitical and economic analysis of the Iran war. Jeremy Scahill, investigative journalist and DropSite News co-founder, reports on U.S.-Iran communications and diplomatic outreach. They discuss the assassination of a top Iranian official, the White House reaction to DropSite reporting, military options around the Strait of Hormuz, and wider regional and economic fallout.

Glenn Deason, professor and YouTuber on Russian affairs and geopolitics, breaks down the Iran war's wider fallout. He discusses regime change risks, how Europe and China are affected, and the push toward a multipolar world. Conversation also covers U.S. strategic priorities clashing with regional aims and the political shock of a national security resignation.

Murtaza Hussain (Maz), journalist and commentator on Middle East military and technical issues. He breaks down Israel’s interceptor shortages and munitions problems. He outlines Iran’s resilient drone and missile production. He discusses regional escalation risks, economic fallout from oil shocks, and the geopolitical consequences of U.S. support.

They unpack threats to prosecute news outlets and how censorship risks rise during wartime. Discussion covers FCC pressure on broadcasters and the dangers of deepfakes undermining truth. They examine claims of intelligence targeting a prominent commentator and legal risks for reporters. The conversation also warns about talk of nuclear escalation and broader geopolitical fallout.

Dr. Trita Parsi, executive VP at the Quincy Institute and U.S.-Iran policy expert, breaks down Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and why limited strikes may signal U.S. weakness. He analyzes conflicting messaging from Trump, regional pressures from Saudi and Israeli actors, and the risks and costs of military escalation and reopening Hormuz.

A rapid update on a major strike against Karg Island and its impact on regional oil exports. Coverage of damaged US refueling planes and the shifting military posture with Marines and warships moving into the Gulf. Discussion of market and geopolitical ripple effects, rising risks of wider escalation and plans for a major ground operation in Lebanon.

Brad Lander, former NYC comptroller and congressional candidate, talks about his campaign and local policy. He debates war and Iran policy, responds to a synagogue attack with calls for de-escalation, and addresses AIPAC, disclosure reforms, and state tax options to fund services. Short, direct conversations on politics, safety, and campaign strategy.

They unpack reporting that US casualty numbers were underreported and survivors described devastating strikes. They examine satellite imagery and hospital overload suggesting wide damage to US bases. Political claims of victory and nuclear rhetoric are scrutinized. Multiple tankers, including a US-flagged ship, were struck and global supply risks from oil and fertilizer disruptions are explored.

Robert Pape, University of Chicago political scientist known for work on air power and escalation. He discusses why air campaigns often fail. He outlines multidimensional risks like energy shocks and system-level surprises. He explains how parallel precision attacks and nuclear dispersal create new dangers. He compares strategic aims and warns about diverging regional interests.