Ben Swann

ISRAEL’S ELECTION, AMERICA’S STAKES: WHO SHAPES THE NEXT CHAPTER OF WAR? Israel’s election could end Benjamin Netanyahu’s hold on power, but losing the lead would not necessarily force him out. His rival, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, shares many of his hardline security positions while demanding greater accountability. Either side needs a coalition commanding at least 61 parliamentary seats. Without one, Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister as negotiations drag on. He has already alleged election fraud while facing corruption charges at home, an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes, and protesters demanding an independent investigation into the failures surrounding October 7. Trump has endorsed Netanyahu’s reelection, praising him as a “warrior” and linking his leadership to confronting Iran. Reports also describe private discussions among Trump-administration associates about a unity government that could preserve Netanyahu’s position even if his party finishes second. Meanwhile, growing opposition to the Iran war, including among younger Americans and some Republicans, is sharpening questions about American lives, taxpayer dollars, and Washington’s relationship with Israel. Israelis choose their parliament, and America’s foreign policy. Their next government could profoundly influence the wars in Iran and Gaza, with consequences reaching far beyond Israel’s borders. If Netanyahu cannot build a governing majority, will Trump accept that outcome, or try to help him stay? As Americans approach their own midterm elections, the larger question remains: how much influence will they have over the next chapter of a war that could reshape their lives? Jimmy Dore (@jimmy_dore) joins me to examine the consequences of elections and who shapes them.

ANTHROPIC WANTS BILLIONS FOR AI IT WARNS COULD THREATEN HUMANITY Anthropic, the company behind Claude, has filed to go public in what could become the largest IPO in history. Its pitch includes an extraordinary warning: advanced AI could pose catastrophic, even existential, risks to humanity. The company reported $16.3 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026, fourteen times the year-earlier figure, along with an $80.7 billion net loss. Most of that loss came from a one-time accounting charge; its operating loss was roughly $693 million. Reports put its commitments for chips, data centers, and computing power at up to $807 billion over the next decade, though some deals remain unfinished. Why pour so much into making AI more powerful when its builders warn they may lose control? CEO Dario Amodei, who has estimated a 10–25% chance of AI seriously derailing human civilization, says the goal is to reduce those risks. Anthropic warns about biological weapons, cyberattacks, authoritarian surveillance, economic disruption, and advanced systems escaping human control, even as its AI helps develop more advanced versions of itself. These disclosures do not mean catastrophe is imminent. AI could also accelerate medical breakthroughs and scientific research, and SEC filings must disclose potential risks. Anthropic says its governance structure protects that safety mission: its seven cofounders would retain majority voting power over certain decisions, while a special trust would have authority to elect most of the board. But that protection also concentrates enormous influence in relatively few hands. Who decides how far this technology should go, and who holds those decision-makers accountable? Anthropic is asking investors to finance increasingly powerful AI while warning about the consequences if control fails. The question is not just whether the investment pays off. If something goes wrong, will the decision-makers bear the cost, or will everyone else? Larry Ward joins me to break this down.

TRUMP WANTS THE STRIKES TO STOP. IS THE CIA HELPING UKRAINE KEEP THEM GOING? Elon Musk says Ukraine’s military used Starlink for offensive drone strikes in violation of its terms, and SpaceX closed the loophole. Ukraine denies abusing the service, but an earlier Zelensky post acknowledging its use for strikes has resurfaced. Musk says Starlink remains vital to Ukraine’s defense. His argument is straightforward: keeping troops connected doesn't mean letting a civilian service support offensive attacks. The Atlantic reports that the CIA continues sharing intelligence that has helped Ukraine strike Russia, even as Trump threatens to cut support over attacks on Russian oil infrastructure. A strike deep inside Siberia raises further questions about outside assistance. Is the administration working toward a deal, or working against itself? And if anyone is defying presidential orders, where is the accountability? Meanwhile, Zelensky says he would accept a freeze along the front lines but rejects neutrality and limits on his military. Russia wants different terms. So what are the meetings and negotiations actually achieving? America needs a clear answer: what is the objective, and how much longer will it commit resources to a war with no clear path to peace? Scott Horton (@scotthortonshow) breaks it down.

FORTRESS AMERICA: THE PENTAGON PREPARES FOR BLACKOUTS. WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE? The Pentagon wants major U.S. military bases ready to operate for at least 90 days without outside support. Its FORTRESS plan envisions independent power grids, portable nuclear reactors, stockpiles of fuel and ammunition, and civilian factories ready to produce military supplies. The message is clear: planners can no longer assume the next major war will stay overseas. That raises urgent questions about civilian preparedness. America’s reliance on foreign-made electrical equipment has fueled concerns about power-grid vulnerabilities. Officials have investigated Chinese-made transformers and undocumented communications devices in power inverters, although a later Energy Department investigation found no evidence those devices were malicious. Meanwhile, Britain’s defense secretary is urging households to keep emergency supplies for natural disasters and disruptions involving terrorists or hostile states. With Middle East tensions rising, what happens if electricity, communications, and supply chains fail together? None of this proves an imminent global war or a secret plan. Preparing for catastrophe does not mean catastrophe is coming. But if military bases are planning to keep operating while surrounding infrastructure fails, Americans deserve to know the civilian plan. Who keeps hospitals running, food moving, and communities connected? FORTRESS America addresses military survival. What protects the millions outside its gates? David Pyne joins me to discuss.

GEN Z IS TAKING TO THE STREETS. COULD AMERICA BE NEXT? Across Europe, young people are protesting a future they feel is slipping away. Students and workers in France are challenging policing, education, and economic pressures. In Milan, demonstrations over low wages and rising fuel costs have reportedly turned violent. Elsewhere, housing, corruption, and government policies are driving anger. From Spain and Portugal to Greece and Albania, Jared Kushner’s luxury development has drawn environmental and transparency concerns. Different grievances. The same frustration: leaders are not listening. Not every protest is about Iran, and Washington did not create every European crisis. Europe’s own energy decisions, including cutting Russian supplies, also carry consequences. But wars in Ukraine and Iran deepen the pressure. Higher energy costs make transport, food, heating, and manufacturing more expensive. Foreign-policy decisions cross borders. Ordinary families pay the bill. Students protesting in Indonesia face their own economic pressures and the same question: what future are their governments leaving them? With the U.S. midterms approaching, Americans face familiar frustrations: expensive energy, economic uncertainty, and the cost of foreign wars. Could that anger bring people into the streets, or send them straight to the ballot box? These movements do not share one agenda. They share a feeling that leaders decide their futures without living with the consequences. The question is not just why young people are protesting. It is why governments seem surprised. Dr. George Szamuely (@GeorgeSzamuely) joins me to break it down.

IS TRUMP CUTTING ZELENSKY LOOSE BEFORE THE MIDTERMS? Is the Trump administration preparing to step back from Zelensky, and from a war voters increasingly want resolved? Ukraine says U.S. intelligence sharing was briefly disrupted as tensions rose over Kyiv’s refinery strikes and Trump’s diesel deal with Russia. Steve Witkoff then met Putin, secured the release of an American prisoner, and reopened the path to U.S.-Russia-Ukraine talks. Does Zelensky want a deal, or does he need the war to continue to keep power? Trump is pursuing cheaper diesel and a potential ceasefire while global energy prices remain high. That has alarmed Ukraine’s backers, who fear Washington is shifting away from Kyiv and toward negotiations with Moscow. Across Europe, protests are growing in London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. Rising energy costs, economic strain, and political instability are making a longer war harder to sustain. Could the midterms decide what happens next? A new Congress could support Trump’s push for a settlement, or send more money, weapons, and support to Zelensky. CIA whistleblower @JohnKiriakou joins me to discuss.

TRUMP’S MIDTERM NIGHTMARE: STEPHEN MILLER, JARED KUSHNER, AND PETE HEGSETH UNDER FIRE Reports say Stephen Miller is blaming Jared Kushner for the Iran war’s political damage. Kushner is reportedly blaming Miller’s immigration crackdown for alienating Hispanic voters. They could both be right. But Republicans may have a larger problem: voters who backed Trump to end endless wars, secure the border, and shrink Washington may feel those promises have been abandoned. Now Pete Hegseth faces impeachment articles over the Iran war and strikes on suspected drug boats. If Democrats retake the House, Pentagon officials could cooperate with investigations into his conduct, how he handled military information, and the war itself. Democrats are also preparing investigations into Trump’s inner circle, including Miller, Kushner, Trump family business dealings, and the Epstein files. Republicans have not lost the House. No one has been fired. But when elections go badly, Washington looks for a scapegoat. If Republicans lose the midterms, who takes the fall: Miller, Kushner, Hegseth, or someone else?

AMERICA IS MOVING PEOPLE OUT. IS A WEEKEND ATTACK ON IRAN THE NEXT POSSIBILITY? The U.S. is pulling non-essential diplomats and families from Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks intensify. That does not prove strikes are imminent, but the timing is hard to ignore. Reports say the U.S. and Israel have plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterms, targeting energy sites, nuclear facilities, and missile and drone infrastructure. Pete Hegseth’s unannounced meeting with Netanyahu adds to the pressure. Trump says something could happen “fairly soon,” but also says no strike will happen before Election Day. So what is Washington doing: using military pressure to force a deal, or preparing for war after the vote? Israel votes Tuesday. America votes November 3. Netanyahu is fighting for his political future, and a new war could reshape the election overnight. Iran says it will retaliate. The Houthis are already striking Saudi airports and energy targets. Diplomats are leaving. Strike plans are reportedly ready. The region is on edge. This does not prove an October surprise. But with elections days away, another Iran war is back on the table. The question is not just whether the U.S. and Israel strike again. It is when, and what follows. Col. Douglas Macgregor (@DougAMacgregor) joins us to discuss what happens next.