Daniel Davis Deep Dive

Steve Jermy, former Royal Navy Commodore and combat aviator, offers expert analysis on naval and air power. He explains carrier strengths and limits, risks of saturation from missiles and drones, and why air-sea strikes alone likely cannot force regime change. They discuss unintended escalations, underground missile networks, political pressures toward war, and why restraint and negotiation matter.

Alastair Crooke, former British diplomat and MI6 officer and founder of the Conflicts Forum, offers a seasoned view of Iran’s strategic stance. He outlines gaps in US-Iran talks, the hard-to-reverse momentum of military mobilization, Israeli messaging dynamics, Iran’s deterrent posture and dispersed missile infrastructure, and how regional escalation risks could unfold.

A fiery critique of rhetoric pushing the U.S. toward conflict with Iran, comparing current messaging to the lead-up to Iraq. Examination of reported negotiations, missile and nuclear scare claims, and calls to strike Iranian capabilities. A deep look at how elites and media stoke fear and how sanctions and covert actions shape Iranian unrest. Warning about rising domestic polarization and the risk of political violence.

Ian Proud, former British diplomat and Peacemonger podcast host, reflects on European politics and the Ukraine war. He dissects why European elites keep backing Kyiv, the gap between Zelensky's claims and battlefield realities, and how EU politics, Hungary, and fiscal limits complicate negotiations. He also explores military weaknesses, sanctions' limits, and the risks of broader regional escalation.

John Waters, former USAF F-16 pilot with nearly 200 combat missions and Afterburn podcast host. He breaks down the scale of air assets in the region. He explains SEAD and Wild Weasel roles, challenges of Iran’s integrated air defenses, tanker and logistics limits, and how different fighters would be used in high-risk strikes.

Col Douglas Macgregor, retired U.S. Army colonel and defense analyst, weighs in on U.S. military posture in the Middle East. He critiques media narratives on Iran, examines limits of air and naval power, and warns about logistics, allied shortfalls, and risks of wider intervention. He also discusses Israeli influence on U.S. policy and parallels with other conflicts.

A forceful warning about why attacking Iran would be a strategic mistake. Discussion of how history and recent conflicts shaped Tehran’s readiness to fight. Explanations of Iran’s subterranean defenses, mobile missile networks, and lessons learned from the 2025 war. Arguments that air power alone cannot compel Iran and that military buildup alerts and empowers Tehran.

Larry Johnson, former CIA analyst and national security commentator, brings blunt analysis. He breaks down why U.S. posture did not equal a viable strike plan on Iran. They cover air-refueling and air-defense challenges, risks of limited strikes sparking all-out war, problematic recruitment messaging, and how a U.S.-Iran fight would ripple into the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Alexander Mercouris, political commentator and co-host of The Duran, known for sharp geopolitical analysis. He breaks down shifting military and economic balances in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He weighs Ukraine’s chances, NATO risks, and missed negotiation windows. He questions claims about an imminent Iranian nuclear threat and explores how strikes or escalation could reshape regional alliances.

Glenn Deason, political scientist and analyst on international security, offers sharp commentary on Iran and the Russia–Ukraine war. He explains why a limited strike on Iran risks large retaliation and erosion of deterrence. He questions imminent-threat claims and stresses the need for mutual constraints and clear U.S. objectives. He also assesses diplomatic failures and possible moves to reduce escalation in Europe and Ukraine.