Following the US strikes on Larak Island, Iran has launched retaliatory missile strikes on US bases in Jordan and Qatar (Al Udeid). In this episode, Charlie and Peter Erickson dive deep into the reality of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. They debunk the Pentagon's "demining" narratives, expose the critical ammunition depletion facing US forces, and discuss a leaked report showing top US military commanders issuing "non-concur" orders.

Are US troops being used as human tripwires in an un-winnable war? Is Donald Trump considering a tactical nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain to save face? We analyze the strategic collapse of the US empire, the grip of the Israel lobby on US policy, and why the global community is quietly rooting for the US military to get a "bloody nose."

• 00:00 - Introduction & Weekend Update
• 00:20 - The Escalation: US Strikes Larak Island & Iran Retaliates
• 01:40 - Strait of Hormuz: The Axios Demining Report Debunked
• 04:15 - Why Iran is Mining the Strait & Moving Shipping Corridors
• 05:30 - Air Defense Realities: Depleting the US Patriot Missile Batteries
• 07:36 - CENTCOM Narrative vs. Reality: Feeding Trump's Delusions
• 12:03 - Disconnected Realities: The Economic and Midterm Election Danger
• 15:37 - Can Congress Stop the War? The Grip of AIPAC on US Politics
• 19:21 - J.D. Vance, the Israel Lobby, and the Search for an Exit Strategy
• 24:33 - Are US Troops in the Middle East Being Used as "Human Tripwires"?
• 26:15 - US Military Broken? Leaked Reports of Commanders Rejecting Orders
• 27:30 - The Financial Strain on the Navy: Payroll Money Diverted for Munitions
• 29:45 - Loss of Morale: US Troops Turn to Dissident Media
• 31:22 - How Iran Easily Exposed the "Most Powerful Military in History"
• 34:32 - The Fox News Bubble vs. Geopolitical Reality
• 37:15 - The Tactical Nuke Option: Will Trump Strike Pickaxe Mountain?
• 41:30 - The Root of the Crisis: Gaza, Zionism, and Empire Blowback
• 48:00 - How Israel Has Destroyed Its Own Long-Term Security and Legitimacy
• 54:24 - Looking Ahead: What the Collapse of US Military Power Means for Ukraine

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