Why is America at war with Iran — and how did we get here?On this episode of The Deep Focus Show, host Arn Menconi sits down with Scott Horton, radio host, author, Director of the Libertarian Institute, Editorial Director of Antiwar.com and host of The Scott Horton Show.Horton takes a long historical view of American foreign policy, tracing the history behind the wars in Iran and Ukraine and examining the role of Israel, NATO expansion, U.S. military intervention, sanctions and the broader strategy of American power.The conversation also explores the U.S. relationship with Iran, the history of the Middle East from the Iranian Revolution through the Iraq wars, the rise of the Houthis, the war in Ukraine and NATO expansion after the fall of the Soviet Union.Horton also discusses the U.S. dollar, sanctions, national debt, inflation and what he believes could happen if the long-term economic consequences of American foreign policy continue.Scott Horton is the author of Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism, and Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine.He also discusses his Scott Horton Academy of Foreign Policy and Freedom.00:00 The Greatest Threat to the Dollar?00:34 Introducing Scott Horton01:40 Daniel Ellsberg & the History of American War02:26 Why Is America at War With Iran?08:49 The “Clean Break” Strategy & Iran12:13 The Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex14:05 Is the Petrodollar Behind the Iran War?15:17 The Dollar as a Weapon18:07 Did Netanyahu Push Trump Toward War?27:07 Why Are We in Ukraine?28:56 The History Behind U.S.-Iran Policy36:22 The Abraham Accords & Israel's Regional Strategy38:13 October 7, Gaza & the War With Iran42:31 Has Iran Become a Regional Power?44:24 The Houthis & the Consequences of U.S. Intervention47:50 How Long Could the Iran War Last?48:44 Why Is America in Ukraine?49:30 NATO Expansion & Russia56:58 The Strategy Behind the Ukraine War58:40 The Cost of the Ukraine War01:00:16 Russia, China & the American Strategy01:02:47 The Bigger Picture: American Empire01:04:14 The Dollar, Debt & the End of Empire01:06:59 Inflation, Debt & the Coming Reckoning01:08:19 How Empires Destroy Their Currency01:11:08 The History Behind America's WarsNote: This interview presents Scott Horton's analysis, interpretations and arguments about U.S. foreign policy and international events. Claims and characterizations made during the conversation are attributed to him and are not presented as independent findings by The Deep Focus Show.What do you think? Let us know in the comments.Subscribe to The Deep Focus Show for in-depth conversations with journalists, authors, newsmakers and leading voices on global politics, economics and the stories behind the headlines.#ScottHorton #Iran #Ukraine #USForeignPolicy #Israel #NATO #DeepFocus #TheDeepFocusShow

What is the United States' role in the war in Gaza — and how has the relationship between Washington and Israel evolved?In this episode of The Deep Focus Show, host Arn Menconi speaks with Institute for Policy Studies fellow Phyllis Bennis, an author and longtime analyst of U.S. foreign policy, the Middle East and the United Nations.Bennis discusses the humanitarian situation in Gaza, the history of the U.S.-Israel relationship, changing public opinion in the United States, the political impact of the war, and developments in the West Bank.The conversation also examines reporting about warnings surrounding the October 7 attack, the role of the United States in providing military assistance to Israel, and what Bennis believes could change U.S. policy.Bennis is the author and editor of 12 books, including her 2025 book Understanding Palestine and Israel, as well as Before and After: U.S. Foreign Policy in the War on Terror and Challenging Empire.00:00 Gaza, U.S. Policy & the Israel-Palestine Conflict01:30 Introducing Phyllis Bennis01:59 How Did We Get Here?03:34 The U.S. Role in Israel's Military Support07:35 Is Public Opinion Changing?10:55 The War With Iran & Its Impact on Palestine14:21 The Human Cost in Gaza17:51 What Is Happening in the West Bank?22:27 What Did Israel Know Before October 7?27:18 The U.S.-Israel Relationship29:42 What Can Change U.S. Policy?Note: This interview presents Phyllis Bennis's analysis, arguments and interpretation of events. Claims and characterizations discussed in the conversation are attributed to her and are not presented as independent findings by The Deep Focus Show.What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments.Subscribe to The Deep Focus Show for in-depth conversations with journalists, authors, newsmakers and leading voices on global politics, economics and the stories behind the headlines.#PhyllisBennis #Gaza #IsraelPalestine #USForeignPolicy #DeepFocus #TheDeepFocusShow

What happens when the climate crisis becomes a crisis of democracy?In this episode of The Deep Focus Show, Arn Menconi sits down with Roger Hallam, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, to discuss climate change, political power, civil disobedience and the future of democratic society.Hallam argues that conventional protests and political reform are no longer enough to address the climate crisis. He makes the case for a fundamental transformation of political systems, including citizens’ assemblies and sustained nonviolent civil resistance.The conversation explores why Hallam believes the climate movement needs a new strategy, how ordinary people might influence political decision-making, and why he sees community, spirituality and a sense of service as essential to sustaining movements over the long term.Arn and Hallam also discuss the limits of traditional environmental advocacy, the role of mass mobilization, and the difficult question at the heart of the interview: Who gets to decide the future — political and economic elites, or ordinary people?Roger Hallam is a climate campaigner, author and co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil. His books include Common Sense for the 21st Century and This Is Not a Drill contributor-related works, as well as Suicide: The Political and Legal Implications of Creating Endless Mass Death.This interview presents Hallam’s views and arguments. His claims and forecasts are discussed as part of the conversation and should not be taken as independently established conclusions simply because they are presented here.Subscribe to The Deep Focus Show for in-depth conversations with investigative journalists, authors, activists and leading voices on global politics, economics and the stories behind the headlines.00:00 Who Gets to Decide? Roger Hallam on Democracy00:50 Introducing Roger Hallam: Extinction Rebellion & Just Stop Oil02:41 Why Hallam Says the Climate Movement Isn’t Acting With Urgency08:56 Climate Change, Political Will & the Case for Revolution14:05 Citizens’ Assemblies: Can Ordinary People Lead?17:16 What Would a Nonviolent Political Revolution Look Like?23:23 Why Hallam Says One-Day Protests Aren’t Enough30:25 Climate Change, Political Power & Who Gets to Decide38:51 Spirituality, Community & Preventing Activist Burnout45:45 Building a Movement: What Hallam Wants People to DoLinks to Roger Hallam's work and how to get involved:https://rogerhallam.com/https://rebellion.global/Links to Arn Menconi's work:https://substack.com/@arnmenconihttps://x.com/ArnMenconihttps://arnmenconi.netThanks for tuning in!

The Epstein story dominated headlines — until the Iran war changed the news cycle.Investigative journalist Nick Bryant has spent 14 years digging into Jeffrey Epstein, and he says there are still major questions surrounding the case, the government’s handling of it, and what remains missing from the public record.In this interview with Arn Menconi, Bryant discusses the release of millions of pages of Epstein-related files, why he believes media coverage of the story faded, and what he found when his own name appeared in the newly released documents.We also discuss Epstein’s powerful connections, alleged intelligence ties, political blackmail, the people Bryant believes deserve greater scrutiny, and his call for an independent congressional investigation into the Epstein case.What is still missing from the Epstein story — and why did the public conversation go quiet?00:36 — Why the Epstein Story Disappeared From the News04:51 — Who Is Being Protected in the Epstein Files?08:18 — The Fight to Release the Remaining Files11:28 — The Moral Horror Behind the Epstein Files15:40 — What the Evidence Says About Epstein's Crimes18:08 — The Alleged Bipartisan Cover-Up20:59 — Trump, Epstein & the Allegations29:34 — Epstein, Intelligence & Political Blackmail36:13 — Why Bryant Wants an Independent Epstein Commission48:24 — Can the Right and Left Unite Over Epstein?53:09 — “Do We Deserve a Democracy?”56:24 — Political Blackmail Has Been Around for Centuries58:02 — The Franklin Scandal & Epstein Connection01:01:00 — Seymour Hersh, Intelligence & Epstein01:04:27 — Why Epstein's Network Matters TodayLinks to Arn Menconi's work:https://substack.com/@arnmenconihttps://x.com/ArnMenconihttps://arnmenconi.netTo Support Nick Bryant's work: https://epsteinjustice.com/#Epstein #JeffreyEpstein #NickBryant #EpsteinFiles #TheDeepFocusShow #ArnMenconi #InvestigativeJournalismEditorial note: This interview presents the views, analysis and allegations of the guest regarding the Epstein case and related individuals and institutions. Statements made by the guest are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of The Deep Focus Show. Viewers should evaluate claims and allegations discussed in the interview independently.Thanks for tuning in please like, subscribe and share!

What happens when voters are removed from the rolls before they ever get to cast a ballot?Investigative journalist Greg Palast joins The Deep Focus Show to examine the battle over voting rights ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.Palast discusses voter-roll purges, mail-in voting, citizenship requirements, ballot drop boxes, voter intimidation and the tactics he says could prevent eligible Americans from casting their votes.We also look at the history of voter suppression in American elections, what happened in Florida, Ohio and Georgia, and why Palast believes the fight over voting access could be decisive in 2026.Palast argues that the biggest danger isn't simply convincing voters to choose one candidate over another — it's determining who gets to vote in the first place.He also explains his new Jim Crow Reloaded project and the resources available through SaveYourVote.org to help voters check their registration and understand the rules surrounding their ballots.No party gets a free pass. The question is whether every eligible voter gets the chance to make their choice.This is an important conversation about voting, election integrity, political power and the future of American democracy.Watch, share and check your voter registration.https://www.saveyourvote.org#GregPalast #VotingRights #Election2026 #ElectionIntegrity #TheDeepFocusShow00:00 — Are Voters Being Intimidated at the Ballot Box?01:13 — The Purge: Millions of Voters Removed From the Rolls04:42 — How Voter Purges Could Shape the 2026 Election06:32 — The New Tactics Targeting Voters of Color08:29 — Where Is the Evidence of Illegal Noncitizen Voting?10:36 — Why Mail-In Voting Is Under Attack12:26 — Once an Election Is Stolen, Can It Be Reversed?13:18 — How Voter Suppression Has Changed Elections17:30 — Could the 2024 Election Have Been Changed by Vote Suppression?18:43 — Voter Intimidation, Militias & the 2026 Election

What happens when the world’s dominant economic power begins to lose its edge?In this wide-ranging conversation, Professor Richard Wolff joins The Deep Focus Show to examine the forces reshaping the global economy—and why he believes the decline of American economic power is already underway.Wolff breaks down the widening gap between the U.S. and China, the extraordinary rise of the Chinese economy, America’s mounting debt and inequality, the housing crisis, stagnant wages, and why a booming stock market doesn't necessarily mean the American economy is healthy.We also discuss tariffs, oil, the dollar, BRICS, the future of the global economic order, and whether the United States is heading toward another major economic crisis.Wolff argues that the U.S. is confronting a historic transition: the economic dominance it enjoyed after World War II is fading, while China has emerged as a formidable economic and technological power.And as that balance of power shifts, one question becomes increasingly important:Can the United States and China manage this transition peacefully—or are we heading toward a much more dangerous confrontation?Join investigative journalist and host Arn Menconi for a deep conversation about capitalism, empire, inequality, China, and the changing world economy.Subscribe to The Deep Focus Show for in-depth conversations with leading newsmakers, investigative journalists, economists, and thinkers you won't hear on mainstream media.#RichardWolff #China #USEconomy #Economy #Capitalism #Geopolitics #TheDeepFocusShow

01:49 — Richard Wolff: The Decline of the American Empire07:53 — America’s Failed Wars and the Cost of Empire15:44 — The Economic Shift From America to China20:53 — China’s Rise and America’s Declining Dominance28:41 — Is the U.S. Heading Toward Another Economic Crash?31:18 — Why the Stock Market Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story40:54 — Why China’s Economic Model Is Different47:01 — China, Electric Cars and the Race for the Future52:36 — The U.S. Empire Is Over — What Happens Next?

What if we’re getting climate change wrong?On the episode of Deep Focus Arn Menconi speaks with award-winning author and journalist John Vaillant, author of "Fire Weather" about a climate crisis he believes is already reshaping the world—and why many of our responses may be little more than temporary fixes.Vaillant discusses extreme heat, wildfires, the shrinking carbon budget, fossil-fuel politics, mass migration, “global weirding,” AI's growing energy demands, and the limits of adaptation.He also explains why he sees the energy transition as a potential bright spot—and why humanity may be forced to confront limits we were unwilling to impose on ourselves.Watch the full conversation and let us know what you think in the comments! Thanks for tuning in, we appreciate your time and support!00:00 – The Climate Crisis Is Already Accelerating05:45 – What Will the World Look Like in 20 Years?11:17 – The 1.5°C Deadline Is Slipping Away13:27 – Why Did We Ignore the Warning?18:04 – Who Is Blocking Climate Action?20:05 – We’re Already Living Through the Transformation25:49 – Has the Paris Agreement Failed?27:17 – The “New Normal” Is Actually Abnormal41:15 – “Global Weirding” and an Unpredictable Climate42:12 – Is AI Making the Climate Crisis Worse?44:25 – Can Nuclear Power Survive Extreme Heat?46:23 – The Consequential Decade Ahead51:45 – Are We Headed Toward Forced Rationing?54:17 – Is There Still Hope?Links to Arn Menconi's work:https://substack.com/@arnmenconihttps://x.com/ArnMenconihttps://arnmenconi.net

In this episode of The Deep Focus Show, Arn Menconi sits down with retired U.S. Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, for a deeply consequential conversation about the wars, political decisions and shifting alliances that are reshaping the world.Wilkerson argues that the conflicts in Ukraine and Southwest Asia are becoming part of a much larger geopolitical struggle involving the United States, China, Russia and Iran. He warns that the world may be repeating the catastrophic miscalculations that led to World War I — only this time, nuclear weapons are part of the equation. Is the world already moving toward World War III?The conversation also examines why Wilkerson believes President Donald Trump is increasingly trapped by the Iran war, the roles of Benjamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and how the conflicts in Israel, Iran and Ukraine are becoming increasingly interconnected. Menconi and Wilkerson also discuss China's challenge to American economic and financial power, the future of the U.S. dollar, stablecoins and the global financial system.The conversation then turns to the future of American democracy, the 2026 elections, the role of the military, political violence and the possibility of civil conflict inside the United States — as well as what Wilkerson believes Americans should be paying attention to right now.This is a sobering conversation about nuclear weapons, war, geopolitics, economics, American power and the future of the United States with one of America's most outspoken military and foreign policy critics.**CHAPTERS**2:40 – Are We Already in World War III?5:20 – America Is an Empire in Decline6:15 – The Growing Danger of Nuclear War10:34 – The Iran War Is a Global Conflict13:09 – How a Regional War Could Become Global16:12 – Are We Repeating the Mistakes of 1914?17:31 – Is There Any Way Out of the Iran War?23:13 – The Economics Behind War and Political Power25:20 – Is the Iran War Really About the Dollar?32:33 – What Do We Tell Our Children About the Future?38:00 – Will Trump Try to Control the 2026 Elections?40:06 – Could America Face Another Civil War?**ABOUT THE DEEP FOCUS SHOW**The Deep Focus Show features in-depth conversations with leading newsmakers, investigative journalists, authors, whistleblowers and independent voices examining global politics, geopolitics and the major issues shaping our world.Subscribe to The Deep Focus Show for more long-form conversations that go beyond the headlines.#LawrenceWilkerson #WorldWarIII #IranWar #NuclearWar #Geopolitics #Trump #Ukraine #DeepFocus