Geopolitics and Security

International affairs, wars, militaries, intelligence, and diplomacy, including Israel's wars and external security.

1165 episodes Page 18 of 59

#3715: The Head-Mounted Tool Belt

What if we moved our wallets, power banks, and speakers from our pockets to our heads?

gallbladder-removal

#3689: Can You Navigate by the Stars When GPS Fails?

If GPS goes down, can you find your position using just the night sky and your phone? Yes — here’s how.

gallbladder-removal

#3670: CBRN Masks vs. Chemical Treaties: The Reality

The difference between a CBRN mask and a chemical mask, and why the global ban on chemical weapons has enforcement gaps.

civil-defensedefense-industrynuclear-weaponsterrorism-and-extremismprotective-equipment

#3669: The Dewey Decimal System for Things That Go Boom

Standardized codes that let investigators, diplomats, and deminers speak the same language about munitions.

international-lawmilitary-strategynuclear-weaponssanctions

#3668: White Phosphorus: The Weapon That Won't Stop Burning

How white phosphorus evades legal bans, which militaries use it, and why its effects devastate civilians.

international-lawmilitary-strategycivil-defensenuclear-weapons

#3646: What Replaces the CIA World Factbook?

The CIA killed its iconic almanac. Here are the best alternatives for country data.

intellectual-propertydigital-privacy

#3645: Syria’s Minorities After Assad: Alawites, Druze, and the New Map

What happens to the Alawites and Druze after the regime falls? A look at Syria’s shifting sectarian landscape.

ceasefires-and-peace-dealsmilitary-strategyisraelwest-bank

#3634: When Building Your Own Island Goes Wrong

A real estate mogul tried to build a libertarian utopia on artificial islands. A king showed up with convicts and a brass band.

sanctionsinternational-lawurban-designtaxonomy-and-classification

#3624: How the Military Invented the Shipping Container

The military invented the shipping container before Amazon existed. Inside the parallel universe of defense logistics.

military-strategysupply-chainshipping-and-freightaircraft-technology

#3623: How to Hide an Airbase in Plain Sight

From secret Israeli desert runways to modern camouflage — how militaries hide airstrips from satellites.

osintmilitary-strategyair-powermiddle-east-historyiran

#3622: How OSINT Spots Electronic Warfare

How hobbyists track GPS jamming, radar ghosts, and the hidden signals of modern conflict.

electronic-warfareosintsignals-intelligenceelectronic-warfaresurveillance

#3621: How Israel Rebuilds the EW Nervous System on American Jets

Why Israel rips out American EW suites and installs its own on nearly every fighter it flies.

electronic-warfareisrael-defense-forcesair-powermilitary-strategydefense-industry

#3620: How Israel Destroyed Syria's Secret Reactor

The inside story of the 2007 Israeli airstrike on Syria's covert nuclear reactor and what it reveals about Iran today.

air-powernuclear-weaponsintellectual-property

#3619: How Israel Built Its Own Fighter Jets

From smuggled Messerschmitts to modified F-35s — the extraordinary story of the Israel Air Force's fleet evolution.

air-powerdefense-industryisrael-defense-forcesmilitary-strategy

#3618: How Israel Achieves Air Superiority Over Iran

Air superiority isn't a switch you flip. Here's what Israel actually did to own the sky over Iran.

air-powermissiles-and-missile-defenseiranmilitary-strategy

#3615: Israel vs Iran: Reading the Tea Leaves Before a Strike

What signals to watch for if Israel goes it alone against Iran’s nuclear program after being locked out of the US deal.

iranisraelunited-statesceasefires-and-peace-dealsmilitary-strategy

#3611: Who Are Trump’s Iran Negotiators?

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are Trump’s top Iran negotiators. What does their real estate background mean for diplomacy?

united-statesiranceasefires-and-peace-dealssanctionsmaritime-security

#3610: How Empathy Works in Interrogation and Trauma Work

Why the people who last in high-trauma jobs aren't cold — they're empathic regulators.

stress-and-traumatherapy-and-counselingintellectual-property

#3609: The PDF Diplomacy Era: US-Iran's Secret MoU

What does a secret, electronically-signed MoU between the US and Iran actually mean — and why is opacity the point?

ceasefires-and-peace-dealsiranunited-statesmaritime-securityoil-and-gas

#3603: How to Salvage Construction Dumpster Lumber Safely

Know your lumber, your rights, and your timing before you grab that "free" two-by-four.

emergency-suppliestourism