American Prestige

Andrew Hartman, historian and author of Karl Marx in America, offers a sharp mini bio as a scholar of Marx’s influence in the US. He previews how Marx’s philosophy shaped politics and culture across American history. Short, lively teasers highlight key themes and what to expect from the series.

Sam Biddle, technology journalist known for investigative reporting on surveillance, AI, and defense. He discusses how AI and LLMs are being used to select and prioritize targets, tools like Palantir’s Maven and Claude speeding airstrike decisions, risks from stale or misinterpreted intelligence, and how human review and policy guardrails may be bypassed.

An update on the Iran conflict, covering the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and who can pass. Discussion of strikes on South Pars and their effects on Gulf energy infrastructure. Reports on casualty figures across Iran, Lebanon, and others. Consideration of U.S. and Israeli targeting of Iranian leaders and the prospect of a wider ground invasion.

Coverage of targeted killings in Iran and how they reshape regional power dynamics. Reporting on Israel's ground offensive in southern Lebanon and ongoing strikes in Gaza. Discussion of large U.S. war funding requests and possible troop deployments. Examination of U.S. pressure on Zambia over mineral deals and shifting diplomatic moves in Venezuela and Cuba.

Annelle Sheline, a Quincy Institute research fellow and former State Department officer who resigned over Gaza policy, breaks down Gulf–Iran tensions. She discusses Gulf fears of Iranian retaliation. She explains strains on the Gulf economic model tied to stability and foreign investment. She outlines risks to energy and desalination infrastructure and shifting security alignments.

Harrison Mann, a former U.S. Army intelligence officer and DIA executive who resigned over U.S. support for Israel, discusses how the U.S.–Iran confrontation unfolded. He walks through planning failures, risks of permissive rules of engagement, scenarios for raids or island seizures, and the practical limits of holding the Strait of Hormuz. He closes by urging political action to oppose further war funding.

A rundown of recent military strikes on Kharg Island and why oil infrastructure was left untouched. Discussion of Iran’s retaliation in the UAE and implications for Gulf energy routes. Analysis of strategic moves around the Strait of Hormuz and regional escalation risks. Notes on reported injuries to Iran’s new leader and international responses.

Robert Pape, political scientist at the University of Chicago who studies air power and coercion, joins to unpack the theory and history of strategic bombing. He outlines the 'smart bomb trap' and how precision strikes can succeed tactically yet fail strategically. The conversation covers dispersed enriched uranium, risks of proxy use and horizontal escalation, and the hard limits of ground operations.

Spencer Ackerman, journalist and author of Reign of Terror and Forever Wars, brings expertise on the war on terror and U.S. military policy. He traces Iran conflict roots to 1953 and post‑9/11 power shifts. He explores diverging U.S.-Israel aims, naval and logistical strains, regional economic vulnerabilities, and why Iran might move toward nuclearization.

Rising casualties and displacement across Iran and Lebanon and threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s targeting of Gulf financial and tech centers and a new supreme leader’s first address. Deepening aid shortages in Gaza. Escalating drone campaigns in Sudan and Haiti. Renewed US ties with Mali and probing of a US strike linked to AI-assisted targeting.