Mehdi Unfiltered

Mohamed ElBaradei, former IAEA director and Nobel laureate, explains why inspectors found no proof of an Iranian weapons program. He compares current nuclear claims to the bogus WMD case for Iraq. He discusses Iran’s 60% enrichment as a political move, the risks of unequal nuclear rules, and the need for a regional security framework.

Ali Vaez, Iran affairs expert and director at the International Crisis Group, gives a concise, on-the-ground take. He discusses reports of US/Israeli contacts with Kurdish and border groups. He outlines why air strikes alone cannot topple Iran and the conditions that could spark state collapse or armed internal conflict. He maps possible power vacuums and who might negotiate with external powers.

A sharp comparison between Russian tactics in Ukraine and recent U.S./Israeli actions toward Iran. Examination of language used to deny it's a war and to justify preemptive strikes. Scrutiny of claims about imminent threats and how they match past falsehoods. Accounts of strikes on civilian sites like schools and hospitals.

André Carson, Democratic U.S. Representative from Indiana and Intelligence Committee member, brings perspectives on intelligence, foreign policy, and homeland security. He questions claims of an imminent Iran threat. He explores motives behind strikes, Netanyahu’s influence, risks to Americans abroad, possible long-term blowback, and the need for stronger congressional oversight.

Mohsen Mahdawi, a Columbia grad student and Palestinian activist who was detained by ICE, gives a firsthand account of immigration detention and its toll. He discusses campus free speech, the chilling effect on protests and scholarship, targeted divestment actions, and efforts to sustain solidarity and resistance despite legal threats.

David Hogg, gun control activist and founder of Leaders We Deserve PAC, discusses being ousted as DNC vice chair and why fresh progressive challengers matter. He breaks down primaries as a test, DNC neutrality conflicts, fundraising battles with big-money groups, and tactics that helped Zoran Mamdani win. Short, sharp takes on changing the party through young leaders.

Katie Phang, attorney and legal analyst who left cable for independent commentary, joins to unpack the Epstein files and DOJ transparency. They dig into Trump’s ties to Epstein, missing FBI records, and how enforcement gaps could test the courts. Conversation also covers accountability, prosecutorial pace, and the political stakes ahead.

Seth Moulton, U.S. congressman and Iraq War veteran running for Senate, speaks on bold policy shifts. He calls to abolish ICE and move border enforcement to the DOJ. He explains conditioning U.S. aid to Israel and returning AIPAC donations. He also discusses confronting Trump-era corruption and pushing generational change in politics.

A deep dive into the SAVE America Act and why its voter ID framing hides bigger changes. Discussion of harsh new proof-of-citizenship rules and how name changes could disenfranchise married women. Worries about eliminating mail and online registration and forcing rural voters to travel. Concerns about federal access to voter rolls and faulty verification tools creating false flags.

Sari Bashi, an Israeli human-rights lawyer and leader of the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, co-wrote a memoir about loving a Palestinian under occupation. She discusses family life across Gaza and the West Bank. She talks about legal and social taboos, daily realities at checkpoints, raising mixed children, and arguments for one democratic state and equal rights.