MW—Obviously, Trump 2.0 is simply scrambling, juggling conflicting “options” when they’re trapped with no off ramp available.

Iran pounced almost immediately after these reports came out. They clearly know that Trump has painted himself into a corner, and that the electoral damage will happen no matter what. This is the thinking behind Iran’s new unilateral escalations—to force the cornered rat to turn. There is zero chance that Iran will give Trump a breather until November. Note, too, that Iran is ignoring Israeli threats.

DW—This video features a conversation between host Nima Alkhorshid and analyst Pepe Escobar regarding the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and its geopolitical implications. Second part features economists and geopolitical analysts Michael Hudson and Richard D Wolff. They focus on the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and the escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Russia, China, and the United States.

BM—For Zelensky, the threat is existential and immediate. If he signals any willingness to surrender or accept terms unfavorable to maximalist war objectives, these armed nationalist factions would likely move against him. The president is thus trapped: he must continue the war to satisfy his Western patrons who fund and arm his government, while simultaneously appeasing or controlling the nationalist elements who would eliminate him if he showed weakness. This creates a perverse incentive structure where escalation becomes the only viable political path, and any move toward peace becomes politically impossible and personally dangerous.

DD—This video features an interview with Roger Waters, where he discusses his perspective on the music industry, modern society, and politics. Below is a summary of the key topics covered in the conversation:
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The High Cost of Concerts: Waters reflects on the shift toward unaffordable ticket prices for live music (2:23-4:24). He notes that while he previously tried to keep his own tours accessible, he argues that the current state of neoliberal capitalism has made it increasingly difficult for working-class people to enjoy cultural events.
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Critique of Capitalism and Wealth: A significant portion of the interview is dedicated to his critique of modern wealth inequality, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk (4:24-10:08). He describes the economic system as a “cesspit of greed” and expresses support for labor activists like Chris Smalls who challenge corporate power.
Geopolitical Views: Waters discusses his advocacy for Palestinian rights, comparing the plight of Palestinians to the economic struggles of the American working class

GD—Kent expresses concern over the lack of defined U.S. objectives in the region, noting that traditional military force cannot achieve the goal of regime collapse (0:53). He warns that the current path creates risks of escalation, including potential discussions of tactical nuclear weapons (11:21).
The Charlie Kirk Assassination: The discussion covers the circumstances surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk. Kent voices skepticism regarding the “lone gunman” narrative and criticizes the premature closure of the federal investigation, which prevented further examination of potential foreign or domestic leads (31:31).
NATO-Russia Tensions: Kent describes the war in Ukraine as an existential fight for Russia (37:26). He suggests that Western nations have miscalculated by ignoring Russia’s red lines and warns that continued direct involvement in targeting Russian infrastructure could lead to a dangerous escalation ladder (35:46).

DH—US is attacking Iran as war spirals out of control. Journalist and filmmaker Abby Martin joins the show for the first time to tell us how her new film investigating the inner workings of the US military and its impact on the planet relates to the restart of the Iran war. She is joined by rapper and journalist Lowkey for a massive discussion on why Trump and the US empire’s war is going worse than you think.