Provoked with Darryl Cooper and Scott Horton

They revisit World War II from the perspective of ordinary Germans to challenge familiar narratives. They explore how dehumanization and national mythmaking shape who gets labeled the enemy. The conversation ties historical contingency and diplomacy to modern conflicts and examines the moral costs of military action and the psychological toll on soldiers and societies.

Arta Moeini, Managing Director of the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy and international political theorist, offers a realist take on U.S.-Iran tensions. She discusses recent Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure and Tehran’s shift to attritional, asymmetric strategies. The conversation covers risks of escalation, muddled American aims, economic levers like sanctions, and the broader strategic consequences for regional and global power dynamics.

Buck Johnson, host of the CounterFlow podcast and Orthodox commentator, joins to steer the conversation and raise probing questions. They unpack military movements, regional timelines, and Iran's long game. They examine propaganda shifts, social media noise, and the political dynamics pushing toward escalation. Short, sharp, and focused on the big geopolitical stakes.

Kyle Anzalone, radio/podcast host stepping in to guide the conversation. He and Daryl dig into the US-Israel attack on Iran. Short takes on failing air defenses, interceptor shortages, and damaged regional radar. They discuss naval risks, Strait of Hormuz vulnerabilities, motives behind US involvement, and tough choices about how this conflict might end.

Darryl Cooper & Scott Horton discuss the military moves being made by the US and NATO forces, foreshadowing an imminent regime change operation in Iran. They also discuss escalating tensions in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the ongoing war in Ukraine, including alarming frontline accounts and the leadership's shift toward seeking peace. Chapters: 0:00 Hello and Welcome 1:36 Global Conflicts and War Rhetoric 3:14 Trump's War Games: Iran and Israel 6:34 The Pressure on President Trump 8:58 Negotiations and Diplomatic Maneuvers 11:24 Iran's Nuclear Concessions 13:37 Congressional Dynamics and War Decisions 15:24 The Political Landscape of War 17:08 The Stakes of Military Action 18:38 The Role of Public Opinion 19:41 The Nature of Current Conflicts 22:20 The Propaganda Machine 24:36 Israel's Strategic Dilemmas 27:22 The Clock is Ticking 30:22 China's Growing Influence 31:37 New Alliances in the East 36:26 Escalation and Military Responses 40:47 Mediation Efforts and Diplomatic Tensions 42:48 The Consequences of War 44:48 The Importance of Public Pressure 46:45 The Role of Media in Conflict 50:28 Pakistan and Afghanistan Tensions 54:06 Ukraine's Struggles and Human Cost 57:20 The Reality of Warfare 1:00:41 Leadership and Warfare Strategies 1:02:26 The Future of Conflict and Resolution 1:04:46 Concluding Thoughts on Global Issues (Cleaned up w/ the Podsworth app. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podsworth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Provoked show site: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://provoked.show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Darryl's links: X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@martyrmade⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.martyrmade.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Scott's links: X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@scotthortonshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://scotthortonacademy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://libertarianinstitute.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://antiwar.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://scotthorton.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://scotthorton.org/books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.scotthortonshow.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trita Parsi, foreign policy analyst and co-founder of the Quincy Institute, offers a concise take on U.S.-Iran-Israel dynamics. He discusses Trump's unpredictability and the real risks of limited strikes escalating into full war. He examines Iran's internal pressures, Israel's strategic aims, regional consequences of conflict, and how sanctions and outside powers shape the stakes.

They unpack newly released Nixon grand jury pages and alleged military and intelligence roles in his downfall. They dive into the Epstein file disclosures and the broader patterns of elite corruption. They explore mysterious documents, financial links, and why careful verification matters. They finish with a discussion of Iran’s deterrent, Israeli strategic worries, and the global nuclear debate.

Saagar Enjeti, political commentator and Breaking Points co-host known for investigative takes on elite networks, unpacks the latest Epstein files. He highlights the exposed nexus of power and intelligence ties. The conversation probes money flows, international links, normalization of vice, and why secrecy shields the powerful.

Tense analysis of the naval buildup near Iran and what those warships actually bring to a fight. A close look at missile and air defense capabilities that could complicate strikes. Discussion of political pressures shaping decisions and how regional escalation might unfold. Brief detours into released files and domestic law enforcement and immigration controversies.

Joe Solis Mullen, economist and Libertarian Institute fellow and professor, critiques claims about Trump’s economic record. He dissects inflation, soaring national debt, and who actually bears monetary policy costs. The conversation also covers de-dollarization, housing affordability, and the geopolitical fallout between Gulf states tied to U.S. policy.