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Listen to the article with analysis from the author: There are multiple indicators that the US will soon launch an attack on Iran. Iran and the US appear to be positioning their military for war, and a Western military official warned that an attack could be imminent. A Western official told Reuters on Wednesday, “All the signals are that a U.S. attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy.” The US appears to be on the brink of war with Iran over President Donald Trump’s threats to intervene in Iran if the government continued to kill protesters. Hundreds of people have died since protests broke out in Iran in late December. Trump has encouraged and vowed to assist the demonstrators. Some protests have turned into riots, and members of the Iranian security forces have been killed. The President has suggested that he could take military action against Iran for killing protesters. Multiple reports have said the White House is considering strikes on non-military targets, sanctions, cyber warfare, and restoring the internet in Iran. In recent months, Trump has also threatened to attack Iran for rebuilding its civilian nuclear program and its missile sites. The US is moving its military assets in the Middle East in preparation for Iranian retaliatory attacks. Iran has said that it is prepared for an attack and will respond with strikes on US bases in the Middle East and Israel. European airlines are rerouting flights in preparation for a potential conflict. In a sign that Trump may be backing away from strikes on Iran, the President said Wednesday that Iran had called off planned executions of alleged rioters.

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: President Donald Trump called on Iranians to continue protesting. Rights groups say at least 500 people have been killed since demonstrations began over two weeks ago. “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers,” the President wrote on Truth Social Tuesday. “They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!!” Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham have sported hats that say “Make Iran Great Again” (MIGA) in recent weeks. President Trump poses with Lindsey Graham and a “Make Iran Great Again” hat. pic.twitter.com/YqwkSh41Mp — The American Conservative (@amconmag) January 5, 2026 The protests in Iran began in late December. Tehran’s crackdown has resulted in hundreds of deaths. Some of the demonstrators have engaged in arson, and dozens of members of the Iranian security forces have been killed. Trump did not provide details on what kind of assistance would be provided to the protests. Reports have said the White House is considering a range of actions in Iran, including strikes on non-military targets in Tehran, restoring internet, cyber attacks, and new sanctions. Additionally, Trump ruled out further talks with Tehran while the protests are ongoing. Israel is also stoking the protests by planting information in news outlets, according to Axios reporter Brack Ravid. Barak Ravid, the former IDF intelligence officer who writes for Axios, had this to say about Iran International a few years ago. https://t.co/Ga14F2EFYm pic.twitter.com/TSnMN01ZKH — Dave DeCamp (@DecampDave) January 13, 2026

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: The UK is attempting to build a new tactical missile for Ukraine that will have a range of over 300 miles. The initiative, dubbed “Project Nightfall,” aims to develop a ground-launched tactical ballistic missile with a range of 310 miles and a 450-pound warhead. If that metric is met, it will be one of the longest-range weapons the West has provided to Ukraine. The project will come with a substantial price tag for London and likely take years before the missiles are operational. The UK has awarded three companies $12 million to design a prototype missile. London expects to conduct the first testfire in a year. The UK expects each Project Nightfall missile to cost over $1 million once the munition enters production. London also expects to incorporate the missiles into its arsenal. Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard, said, “A secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine. These new long-range British missiles will keep Ukraine in the fight and give Putin another thing to worry about.” Moscow views the West supplying Ukraine with long-range munitions as highly provocative. Kiev has launched multiple attacks on military, civilian, and energy targets inside Russia. Moscow has also pummeled Ukraine with nightly waves of missile and drone attacks. Last week, Russia destroyed a Ukrainian aircraft repair facility with an Oreshnik hypersonic missile.

Download Audio. Scott interviews writer Chris Brunet about Paul Singer, American oil companies and everyone else who stands to benefit from what Trump is doing in Venezuela. Discussed on the show: “The Biggest Winner in Venezuela: Paul ‘The Vulture’ Singer” (Substack) Vultures’ Picnic by Greg Palast Christopher Brunet is an investigative journalist. He began his career as an economist for the Canadian government before moving into conservative media. He now writes full-time on Substack. Follow him on X @chrisbrunet Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show! For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/47jMtg7 (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/3tgMCdw Fool’s Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/3HRufs0 Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott’s full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Incorporated https://rrbi.co Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com You can also support Scott’s work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/https://scotthortonshow.com or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: The Russian Defense Ministry said an Oreshnik hypersonic missile strike hit a military site in western Ukraine. “On the night of January 9th, the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant was put out of action by the Oreshnik mobile ground-based missile system,” Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Monday. It added that an airfield and a drone warehouse were also destroyed. Kiev claimed the hypersonic missile hit a civilian target. The Oreshnik is one of Russia’s most advanced missiles. Friday’s attack is the second public use of an Oreshnik, and was a response to a Ukrainian drone attack on one of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s residences in the Novgorod Region. While President Donald Trump is attempting to negotiate an end to the conflict, the war is continuing to escalate. Ukraine has launched several long-range drone attacks on Russian military and oil infrastructure. Moscow has attacked Ukrainian military and energy sites. Additionally, Russian forces are making small gains along multiple areas of the front lines. Trump has expressed frustration with Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky for refusing to agree to an end to the conflict. The two sides remain far apart over several key issues, including war crimes tribunals, Ukrainian neutrality, and territory. On Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine was using provocation, such as the attack on Putin’s home, to delay negotiations.

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: President Donald Trump invoked the National Emergencies Act to ensure he controls the funds generated from selling stolen Venezuelan oil. “The attachment or the imposition of other judicial process against the Foreign Government Deposit Funds will substantially interfere with our critical efforts to ensure economic and political stability in Venezuela,” the executive action signed by Trump on Friday stated. “The failure of these critical efforts would jeopardize major foreign policy objectives of the United States.” After ordering the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, Trump claimed that the US was controlling the country. The White House policy calls for taking the South American country’s oil, selling it, and using the money to run Venezuela. Additionally, the US has seized five oil tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in recent weeks. A senior US official told Axios that the US would be running Venezuela’s oil industry “indefinitely.” Trump’s plan for controlling Venezuela’s oil is already facing challenges. On Friday, major oil executives met with Trump in the White House and failed to make significant commitments to the President’s plan to rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. “It’s uninvestable,” ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods told White House officials after hearing Trump’s proposal to invest in the country.“There are a number of legal and commercial frameworks that would have to be established to even understand what kind of returns we would get on the investment.” First Published at Antiwar.com

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: President Donald Trump threatened that he was willing to take control of Greenland the “hard way.” “I’m not talking about money for Greenland yet. I might talk about that. But right now we are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not,” the President said Friday. “I would like to make a deal. You know, the easy way. But if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way.” Trump’s plan to take over Greenland will face several challenges. Greenland is a colony of Denmark, a NATO ally. Copenhagen says it will not give the US control of its colony. Last week, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned “unacceptable pressure” by the Trump administration to acquire Greenland, warning it would destroy NATO. “If the United States were to choose to attack another NATO country, then everything would come to an end,” Frederiksen said. “The international community as we know it, democratic rules of the game, NATO, the world’s strongest defensive alliance – all of that would collapse if one NATO country chose to attack another.” Additionally, Greenland’s government opposes becoming an American colony. “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Friday. During Trump’s remarks to the press, he challenged Denmark’s claim to Greenland. “You know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn’t mean that they own the land pure.” The President added, “We had lots of boats go there also.” Trump claimed the US needed to seize Greenland to prevent China and Russia from taking control of the Danish colony. “If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland. And we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor,” the President said. First Published at Antiwar.com

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: Senior Department of War officials have told President Donald Trump they need more time to consolidate American troops deployed to the Middle East before the US launches an attack on Iran. According to The Telegraph, “Trump has been warned that the US military needs more time to prepare for strikes against Iran.” Military commanders in the Middle East stated they need to “consolidate US military positions and prepare defences” in anticipation of an Iranian retaliatory attack. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that if it attacks Iran, the Islamic Republic will strike Israel and US bases in the Middle East. Trump has threatened Iran several times in recent weeks. “If Iran [shoots] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump said earlier this month. Demonstrations began in Iran two weeks ago, and some protests have escalated into riots. Some groups report that 200 people have been killed during the demonstrations, including over 40 members of Iranian security forces. Iranian authorities have reportedly used live ammunition to break up protests, and Tehran has cut off internet service in an attempt to quell the movement. Israel Hayom spoke with American officials who said the White House is preparing a range of actions against Iran, including using Starlink to provide protesters with internet access, a cyber attack, new sanctions, and kinetic military action. The Telegraph reports that potential targets of US strikes include non-military targets in Tehran and Iranian security forces. At the end of last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to the US to lobby Trump to restart the war with Iran. In June, Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran that ignited a 12-day war. During the conflict, Trump ordered American bombers to strike three Iranian nuclear sites. The Islamic Republic responded by striking a US military base in Qatar. The Iranian response was viewed as symbolic, and a ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran was reached shortly after. First Published at Antiwar.com

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: US forces boarded and took control of an oil tanker in the Caribbean on Friday. The Olina is the fifth ship seized by the US in recent weeks. “In a pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea without incident,” a statement from US Southern Command explained. SOUTHCOM claimed the raid was in defense of “our homeland by ending illicit activity and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere.”   An oil industry source told The Guardian that the Olina left Venezuela last week after President Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped by US forces. The tanker later turned around and was sailing back to Venezuela when it was seized by US forces. President Donald Trump claimed that the Olina was seized in coordination with the interim government in Venezuela, led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez. “Today, the United States of America, in coordination with the Interim Authorities of Venezuela, seized an oil tanker which departed Venezuela without our approval,” the President wrote on Truth Social. “This tanker is now on its way back to Venezuela, and the oil will be sold through the GREAT Energy Deal, which we have created for such sales.” Last week, the US seized a Russian-flagged tanker in the northern Atlantic. Russia’s Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, calling for the US to treat any Russian nationals on the crew “humanely” and for them to be allowed to return home as quickly as possible. A Russian warship and submarine were reportedly in the vicinity of the Marinera during the seizure, but there was no confrontation between US and Russian forces. First Published at Antiwar.com

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: Multiple outlets report that Israeli leaders are drawing up military plans to launch an invasion of Gaza City in March. The Wall Street Journal spoke with people familiar with the planning in Tel Aviv, who explained that the IDF has new battle plans for ground operations in Gaza. A ground invasion in Gaza would destroy the ceasefire and peace deal that was brokered by President Donald Trump. Israel has violated the truce over 1,000 times in three months and blocked aid from entering Gaza. While over 425 Palestinians have been killed by Israel during the truce, Israel was killing scores of Palestinians daily before the ceasefire. At least three Palestinians were killed in Gaza on Sunday. The Times of Israel reports speaking with an Israeli official who said the new operations would begin in March and start with an invasion of Gaza City. One Arab diplomat told the outlet that he believes President Donald Trump could prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from resuming negotiations in Gaza. Netanyahu and Trump are demanding that Hamas give up power in Gaza and disarm as a condition for continuing the ceasefire. Hamas has stated it is willing to hand over power to an independent Palestinian government in Gaza and would disarm in the process of creating an independent Palestinian state. While Israel has decimated the Strip, its forces are likely to face stiff resistance from Gaza if it restarts the invasion. Tel Aviv estimates Hamas has at least 20,000 fighters and 60,000 rifles. First Published at Antiwar.com

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Download Audio. Scott interviews journalist Ramzy Baroud about what’s happening in Gaza, how the so-called “ceasefire” has impacted how many Palestinians Israel kills every day, the broader moves towards ethnic cleansing and more. Discussed on the show: “The Gaza War is Lost: But Will Netanyahu Concede?” (Antiwar.com) Ramzy Baroud is a US-Arab journalist and is the editor-in-chief of the Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of My Father Was A Freedom Fighter: The Untold Story of Gaza and The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story, These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons, and more. His new book is Our Vision For Liberation. Follow Ramzy on Twitter @RamzyBaroud and read his work at RamzyBaroud.net. Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show! For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/47jMtg7 (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/3tgMCdw Fool’s Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/3HRufs0 Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott’s full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Incorporated https://rrbi.co Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com You can also support Scott’s work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/https://scotthortonshow.com or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow

I discuss the current state of the economy, how Trump is attempting to recover a nation of vitality, and we watch the 1992 presidential debate.

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: Following reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to restart Israel’s aggressive war against Iran, the Iranian Foreign Minister said the Islamic Republic is prepared for conflict. “America and Israel have tested their attack on Iran, and this attack and strategy faced extreme failure. If they repeat it, they will face the same results,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday. “We are ready for any choice. We don’t desire a war but we are ready for it.” In June, Israel attacked Iran without provocation. The strikes targeted Iranian scientists, officials, military sites, civilian infrastructure, and nuclear facilities. Over 1,000 people were killed in Iran. The US joined the war on Iran and targeted three Iranian nuclear sites. Last week, Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump in Florida to lobby the American leader to restart the war with Iran. Netanyahu’s claims that the Islamic Republic presents a threat to the Jewish State is disputed by a top Israeli think tank analyst. “Stability serves [Iran] well, because even when there is no immediate existential threat, instability makes the regime feel challenged,” Danny Citrinowicz, a fellow in the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a former head of the Iran desk in the IDF Intelligence Directorate, told yNet. He continued, “The first objective is to restore order, and to do that, it does not want to find itself in an external confrontation, neither with the United States nor with Israel. The last thing Iran needs right now is to attack Israel or the United States.” The aggressive war derailed the nuclear talks between the US and Iran. Araghchi said diplomacy between Washington and Tehran was still possible. But I say that the negotiations should be based on mutual respect and mutual interests.” He added, “We believe that once the Americans reach the outcome that constructive and positive negotiations rather than ordering dictation are the framework, then at that time the results of these negotiations become fruitful.”

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: Israeli strikes across Gaza killed at least ten people, including children. One Israeli strike hit a school. Journalist Osama Abu Rabee reported on Thursday that the Abu Hussein School in northern Gaza was hit with an Israeli strike, killing one person. The school was being used as a shelter for displaced Palestinians. Preliminary reports indicate one martyr and several injuries following Israeli shelling of Abu Hussein School, which shelters displaced people, in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. pic.twitter.com/0VoCYuxWHB — Osama Abu Rabee أسامة أبوربيع (@dn_osama_rabee) January 8, 2026 In southern Gaza, a strike on a camp for displaced Palestinians killed four people, including three children. Another Israeli bomb dropped on the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis killed a Palestinian father and injured his son. President Donald Trump brokered the ceasefire and hostage exchange. The President has claimed the deal brought historic peace to the Middle East. Israeli forces have violated the ceasefire over 1,000 times, killing at least 425 Palestinians, since agreeing to a ceasefire in October. Additionally, Tel Aviv has continued to restrict aid deliveries into Gaza, leading to the deaths of about a dozen children during the truce. During a press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Trump said Israel had “lived up to the plan 100%,” despite the daily ceasefire violations by Israel.

A president is kidnapped, the government remains, and we’re told it isn’t regime change. We pull back the curtain on what our guest calls “regime changeover,” a strategy that uses spectacle and lawfare to force leverage without admitting occupation. From sanctions that harden national unity to a reworked indictment against Nicolás Maduro that quietly retreats from early cartel claims, we dissect how narratives are built, sold, and then reshaped when facts don’t fit the script. We get specific about why Venezuela resists the usual playbook. The Bolivarian civil-military structure blunts elite-driven coups, and a hybrid economy makes redistribution politics both urgent and volatile. When sanctions stall, pressure shifts to the shadows: covert action, destabilization, and the threat of a managed civil war. But force carries a heavy price. Without the will to occupy, Washington risks isolating itself across Latin America and the Global South while strengthening alternative alliances. That’s where heavy crude and strategic minerals enter the story—these aren’t just commodities; they’re logistical lifelines for militaries and power systems in a world edging toward multipolar confrontation. The regional map matters. Cutting fuel flows to Cuba raises the stakes, inviting Russian or Iranian lifelines and reviving Cold War optics—tankers instead of missiles. Meanwhile, the financial track turns sanctions into profit centers, enabling distressed-asset deals and court-enabled seizures that move wealth under the veneer of legality. At home, executive overreach and headline diplomacy make lasting agreements harder, not easier. Durable deals rely on predictability and trust; tweets and tariffs deliver neither. We close with a clear takeaway: if the policy toolkit is limited to pressure and spectacle, the outcome is shrinking leverage, hardened resistance, and a region looking elsewhere for partners. If this perspective challenges how you’ve seen Venezuela, Cuba, and U.S. foreign policy, share the episode, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss future deep dives. Your feedback shapes what we dig into next.

It’s been quite some time since I have responded to “mail” so I have curated five questions to address:. What are your thoughts on the Maduro and VZ kerfuffle? How do you fix the defense acquisition system and fraud? What should the US Navy do in the 21st century? How did GEN Paul Emil Lettow-Vorbeck do it? Are American SOF capable of 21st century mission success? References: Soryu (16SS) class Attack Submarine – SSK Robert Gaudi African Kaiser: General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Great War in Africa, 1914-1918 David Smith The East Africa Campaign 1914–18: Von Lettow-Vorbeck’s Masterpiece (Campaign, 379) RAND wish-casting on drones in 2015. Slaughterbots (2017) Slaughterbots: if human: kill() (2021) How are Drones Changing Modern Warfare? Sun Tzu The Art of War Carl von Clausewitz On War Miyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy H. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO’s Contribution to Warfare Christian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare Qiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America My Substack Email at [email protected]

A pre-dawn post, a capital in darkness, and a president in cuffs aboard a U.S. ship—what started as a “one-night raid” is already morphing into something far bigger. We unpack how the strike on Venezuela unfolded, why the official story leaves key gaps, and what it means when the White House says, without hesitation, that we’ll “run the country” until a “judicious transition.” If that sounds like regime change and occupation, it’s because that’s exactly how it’s being sold. We walk through the mechanics of the operation—air defenses knocked out, a citywide blackout, special operators intercepting Maduro before a reinforced bunker—and the uncomfortable questions that raises about access and complicity. Then we pull the legal thread: the Article II claim that troops were inserted first and then “defended” with airstrikes, the decision to bypass Congress entirely, and the attempt to rebrand a cross-border assault as “law enforcement.” War powers aren’t a suggestion, and treating sovereignty like a paperwork issue invites blowback that won’t stop at Venezuela’s borders. The promises don’t get sturdier from there. “Oil will pay for it” clashes with reality: a battered energy sector, massive capital needs, sabotage risks, and the legitimacy crisis that follows any U.S.-installed authority. We map potential power paths—opposition figures abruptly dismissed, Delcy Rodríguez floated for continuity—and ask the hard question: if negotiation was possible, why bomb first? Along the way, we hit the regional shockwaves, from casual warnings aimed at Cuba and Colombia to the mismatch between cocaine narratives and the fentanyl crisis that actually kills Americans. Expect migration pressure, market risk, and a new precedent great powers will cite when it suits them.

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: In an interview, a senior Israeli security analyst said that Iran is attempting to avoid war and conflict with the US and Israel. “Stability serves [Iran] well, because even when there is no immediate existential threat, instability makes the regime feel challenged,” Danny Citrinowicz, a fellow in the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and a former head of the Iran desk in the IDF Intelligence Directorate, told yNet He continued, “The first objective is to restore order, and to do that, it does not want to find itself in an external confrontation, neither with the United States nor with Israel. The last thing Iran needs right now is to attack Israel or the United States.” INSS is a top security think tank in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the US last week and urged President Donald Trump to restart the war against Iran. After the meeting, the President threatened to attack the Islamic Republic if it continued to rebuild its missile and nuclear programs. In June, Israel launched an unprovoked war on Iran that killed thousands and destroyed the country’s civilian nuclear program. The US joined Israel’s war and bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities.

Listen to the article with analysis from the author: North Korea claimed it conducted a successful test of a hypersonic missile. “A sub-unit under a major firing strike group of the Korean People’s Army conducted a missile launching drill on January 4,” a statement in North Korean state media said. “The drill was conducted as part of the operational evaluation of the sustainability, effectiveness, and operation of the DPRK’s war deterrent while evaluating the readiness of the hypersonic weapon system, verifying and confirming its capability for fulfilling mission and developing the missile soldiers’ firing capability.” Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the missile test. “To be honest, our such activity is clearly aimed at gradually putting the nuclear war deterrent on a highly developed basis.” He continued, “The reason why it is necessary is exemplified by the recent geopolitical crisis and complicated international events.” The test was conducted shortly after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was kidnapped by US forces. While Kim did not link the test to Maduro’s capture, the North Korean leader has often argued that Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal prevents the US from attempting an Iraq or Libya-style regime change. The North Korean Foreign Ministry denounced the US attack on Venezuela. “The incident is another example that clearly confirms once again the rogue and brutal nature of the US which the international community has so frequently witnessed for a long time.” The statement added, “The Foreign Ministry of the DPRK strongly denounces the U.S. hegemony-seeking act committed in Venezuela as the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty and as a wanton violation of the UN Charter and international laws with respect for sovereignty, non-interference and territorial integrity as their main purpose.” Sunday’s missile launch follows North Korea testing a long-range strategic cruise missile and a new anti-aircraft system late last year.

COI #863, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the latest news in Venezuela, Ukraine, and Israel. The Kyle Anzalone Show Odysee Rumble Donate LBRY Credits bTTEiLoteVdMbLS7YqDVSZyjEY1eMgW7CP Donate Bitcoin 36PP4kT28jjUZcL44dXDonFwrVVDHntsrk Donate Bitcoin Cash Qp6gznu4xm97cj7j9vqepqxcfuctq2exvvqu7aamz6 Patreon Subscribe Star YouTube Facebook Twitter MeWe Apple Podcast Amazon Music Google Podcasts Spotify iHeart Radio

Download Audio. Scott interviews Jason Jones from the Vulnerable People Project about why American Christians are wrong to see the Israeli government as an ally. Discussed on the show: The Jews by Hilaire Belloc “The Hindutva Lobby” (Harper’s Magazine) The Vulnerable People Project Jason Jones is a film producer, author, activist, popular podcast host, and dedicated human rights worker. And he is the founder and president of The Vulnerable People Project. Subscribe to his Substack. Audio cleaned up with the Podsworth app: https://podsworth.com Use code HORTON50 for 50% off your first order at Podsworth.com to clean up your voice recordings, sound like a pro, and also support the Scott Horton Show! For more on Scott’s work: Check out The Libertarian Institute: https://www.libertarianinstitute.org Check out Scott’s other show, Provoked, with Darryl Cooper https://youtube.com/@Provoked_Show Read Scott’s books: Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine https://amzn.to/47jMtg7 (The audiobook of Provoked is being published in sections at https://scotthortonshow.com) Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism: https://amzn.to/3tgMCdw Fool’s Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan https://amzn.to/3HRufs0 Follow Scott on X @scotthortonshow And check out Scott’s full interview archives: https://scotthorton.org/all-interviews This episode of the Scott Horton Show is sponsored by: Roberts and Roberts Brokerage Incorporated https://rrbi.co Moon Does Artisan Coffee https://scotthorton.org/coffee; Tom Woods’ Liberty Classroom https://www.libertyclassroom.com/dap/a/?a=1616 and Dissident Media https://dissidentmedia.com You can also support Scott’s work by making a one-time or recurring donation at https://scotthorton.org/donate/https://scotthortonshow.com or https://patreon.com/scotthortonshow

On Jan 3, 2026 the US sent forces into Venezuela to arrest Maduro and in the process sent a message to the world-global power dynamics have changed. The Delta Doctrine

Headlines shout certainty, but the fine print tells a different story. We dig into three flashpoints—Gaza, Venezuela, and Ukraine—where big claims mask unresolved terms, blurred red lines, and mounting risks that rarely make the chyron. First, Gaza. The soundbite that Hamas “agreed to disarm” collapses a phased, conditional process into a false binary. Negotiators accepted a ceasefire and hostage exchange while leaving timelines, enforcement, and political conditions open. We unpack what mediators said at the time, why U.S. officials flagged unanswered questions, and how that gap has been spun to score points rather than secure peace. We also trace the hard consequences of policy on the ground: repeated ceasefire violations, shrinking aid access, and the removal of key medical providers that keep Gaza’s fragile health system alive. Next, Venezuela. A blast at a port and public hints of U.S. involvement revive core questions about war powers, oversight, and evidence. If covert authorities stretch to sabotage without debate or proof, what guardrails remain? We connect seizures, blockades, and lethal operations across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to a pattern that Americans would call war if the roles were reversed. The strategic risks and constitutional stakes are real—and largely missing from mainstream coverage. Finally, Ukraine. Reports of a 91-drone strike aimed near a Putin residence signal a dangerous turn in a drone campaign shaped by foreign tech, training, and intelligence. We examine what Western involvement might mean, why Moscow’s response could escalate rapidly, and how Kyiv’s desperation intersects with waning European funds and shifting U.S. support. Peace requires specific end states, not slogans: territory, security guarantees, sanctions relief, timelines. Without that clarity, each strike narrows the space for diplomacy.