The Team House

We break down what the midterm results could mean for U.S. foreign policy, how much power Congress actually has over the executive branch, and why tools like war powers resolutions and sanctions often fall short in practice. We also discuss CENTCOM’s new Task Force Iron Gate, the Iran nuclear issue, growing concerns about U.S. military readiness, and how Israel’s political shift could affect the next phase of the Iran war.

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Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/

Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
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Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett

Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer

Find Andy Milburn here: 
Twitter ⬇️
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LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations

00:00 – Start
00:26 – Midterms & What They Mean for U.S. Foreign Policy
01:33 – Can Congress Rein In the President?
05:42 – War Powers & Executive Authority
10:24 – Why Civic Institutions Are Breaking Down
14:07 – Task Force Iron Gate Explained
17:23 – Why Sanctions Haven’t Stopped Iran
19:18 – CENTCOM’s New Role in Economic Pressure
23:06 – CENTCOM Launches a Podcast
28:42 – The Military’s Problem With Dissent
32:45 – $20 Million for Iran Nuclear Information
36:41 – The IAEA, JCPOA & Iran’s Nuclear Program
42:51 – Is the U.S. Losing Ground in the Middle East?
44:45 – A Counterterrorism Military Facing Iran
48:37 – What Happens Next With Iran?
50:13 – Israel’s Election & the Future of the Iran War

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Historian Patrick K. O’Donnell returns to discuss Revolutionary Snipers, the story of the elite riflemen, scouts, and frontiersmen who helped shape the American Revolution from Quebec and Trenton to Saratoga, Cowpens, and Yorktown. We also dig into Daniel Morgan, Benedict Arnold, the brutal realities of 18th-century warfare, and how these early marksmen helped pioneer tactics that would echo through American special operations history.

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___________________________________________________
GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN" 
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
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00:00 – Start
01:16 – The First Revolutionary Snipers
04:59 – The Pennsylvania Long Rifle, the “Widowmaker”
09:34 – The Riflemen Mutiny
10:16 – Benedict Arnold & the March to Quebec
11:21 – Starvation in the Maine Wilderness
16:23 – The Siege of Quebec
20:05 – Daniel Morgan’s Rise
24:02 – Fort Ticonderoga & Benedict Arnold
29:40 – Hessian Mercenaries & Britain’s Manpower Problem
34:57 – Washington Confronts British Atrocities
36:53 – The Forgotten Forage War
37:40 – Trenton & the Sniper Shot That Changed the Battle
42:14 – Washington Strikes at Princeton
45:47 – Washington Creates the Rifle Corps
47:24 – Morgan’s Rifle Corps Heads to Saratoga
54:27 – General Fraser Goes Down
56:24 – Burgoyne’s Army Surrenders at Saratoga
1:00:20 – Cowpens & Morgan’s Defense in Depth
1:03:59 – Yorktown & the End of the War
1:17:26 – Benedict Arnold: From Hero to Traitor

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We break down Tucker Carlson’s claim that the U.S. could use a nuclear weapon against Iran’s deeply buried Pickaxe Mountain facility, what tactical nukes can actually do, and why the idea is far less straightforward than it sounds. We also discuss the risks of radioactive fallout, whether the leak itself could be strategic signaling, the limits of another air campaign, and whether diplomacy with Iran is starting to become the only realistic path forward.
VAER Watches ⬇️
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get a free watch roll with your purchase.
20% for active duty, veteran, leo, & first responders 
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Find Andy Milburn here: 
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:01 – Tucker Carlson Claims the U.S. Could Nuke Iran
00:58 – Why Pickaxe Mountain Is at the Center of the Story
02:32 – How Plausible Is a Nuclear Strike?
04:13 – Can Any Weapon Actually Reach the Tunnels?
04:43 – Why a Tactical Nuke Wouldn’t Solve the Problem
06:44 – Netanyahu, Hegseth & Pressure for Another Strike
08:18 – Has U.S. Nuclear Doctrine Changed?
09:16 – There Is No Such Thing as a “Small” Nuclear War
10:00 – What Happens to Enriched Uranium If the Site Is Hit?
11:11 – How Presidents Are Briefed on Extreme Military Options
12:58 – What Tactical Nuclear Weapons Does the U.S. Actually Have?
14:39 – B-2s, Diego Garcia & Delivery Options
16:04 – Hiroshima vs. Modern Tactical Nuclear Yields
17:07 – How Much Force Would It Take to Penetrate Pickaxe Mountain?
18:56 – Was Iran’s Nuclear Program Ever Really “Obliterated”?
19:02 – The Risk of Radioactive Material Going Airborne
20:22 – What Aerosolized Nuclear Material Could Do to Civilians
21:08 – Considering the Source: Tucker Carlson
22:20 – Could the Leak Be Deliberate Signaling to Iran?
24:06 – Why Tucker Could Be the Perfect Conduit for a Leak
25:51 – Why Another Short Air Campaign Probably Won’t Work
27:53 – Pickaxe Mountain, Fordow & Natanz
29:45 – Iran Has Far More Nuclear Sites Than Just One Mountain
31:30 – Why Pickaxe Mountain Was Chosen in the First Place
33:27 – Would Even a Nuclear Weapon Be Enough?
33:47 – Why Repeated Penetrator Strikes Have Limits
35:01 – How Blast Energy Actually Moves Through Rock
36:03 – The Limits of Nuclear Penetrators
36:40 – Tucker Carlson’s Recent Track Record
38:31 – Netanyahu’s Long History of Nuclear Warnings
39:35 – Why Nuclear Weapons Haven’t Been Used in 80 Years
41:16 – Could a New Iran Deal Be Taking Shape?
43:18 – Netanyahu’s Political Clock Is Running
45:10 – Eight Months of War & the Same Unanswered Questions
47:09 – When Would the U.S. Actually Resume Strikes?
47:54 – Elections, Timing & What Happens Next
48:49 – Is Tucker Being Used as a “Useful Idiot”?
49:16 – MAGA, Anti-Israel Influencers & the Strange Coalition
50:11 – The Left-Right Convergence on Israel & Ukraine
51:16 – Russian & Iranian Influence in Alternative Media
51:56 – Closing Thoughts

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We break down the delayed Patriot sale to Ukraine, Washington’s increasingly contradictory Russia policy, and what that dysfunction looks like to U.S. allies and partners. We also examine the possible paths forward with Iran, including renewed strikes, economic pressure, negotiations, the risks of retaliation, and why no option offers an easy route to victory.
VAER Watches ⬇️
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get a free watch roll with your purchase.
20% for active duty, veteran, leo, & first responders 
Support the show on Patreon:⬇️
https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse
Jack's news outlet:⬇️
https://thehighside.substack.com/
Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️
Jon's Twitter:
https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Jon's LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Jon's books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett
Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett
Find Marc P here:
https://x.com/Mpolymer
Find Andy Milburn here: 
Twitter ⬇️
https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8
LinkedIn ⬇️
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023
Substack ⬇️
https://amilburn.substack.com/
Andy’s book ⬇️
https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations
00:00 – Start
00:37 – Patriot Missiles for Ukraine… in 2030?
01:30 – Why the Announcement Does Nothing for Ukraine This Winter
03:02 – Is the Patriot Deal Really About U.S. Domestic Politics?
04:07 – Europe, Canada & Norway Help Fund the Sale
05:00 – Russia Escalates Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Infrastructure
05:30 – U.S. Diesel Deals With Russia & Sanctions Waivers
06:27 – Washington Pressures Ukraine to Stop Striking Russian Oil
07:00 – Starlink & Starshield Disruptions
08:27 – Is U.S. Policy Quietly Shifting Toward Russia?
09:00 – CIA Targeting Support vs. White House Policy
10:09 – Why the National Security Process Is Breaking Down
12:04 – America’s Grand Strategy Problem
12:35 – The National Security Council Isn’t Working
14:09 – What U.S. Policy Confusion Looks Like to Our Allies
15:00 – How Ukrainian Troops View Washington
16:19 – Why Britain Is Seen Differently in Ukraine
17:00 – The Importance of Consistent Support to Allies
18:00 – What Saudi Arabia Is Seeing From the U.S.
19:05 – America’s Relationship With Arab Partners
20:19 – Marc’s Story About the Kurds & U.S. Betrayal
21:34 – Turning Our Back on the SDF
22:21 – Why Allies Compare Their Support to Israel’s
23:33 – Is This Specifically a Trump Administration Problem?
24:38 – Iran War Depletes U.S. Air Defense Stockpiles
24:47 – Shifting to Iran
25:53 – Five Possible U.S. Courses of Action Against Iran
27:31 – Are U.S.-Iran Negotiations Actually Different This Time?
28:39 – Economic Pressure vs. Renewed Military Action
29:25 – The Escalation Ladder With Iran
30:16 – The Missing Question: What Is the Objective?
32:07 – Why Escalation Without an End State Is Dangerous
33:26 – The NSC’s Binary Approach to Iran
34:07 – Option 1: Make a Deal
34:30 – Option 2: Continue Economic Warfare
35:00 – Option 3: Limited Strikes Around Hormuz
35:30 – Option 4: Major Strikes on Iran
36:01 – Can Another Air Campaign Actually Change Iran’s Position?
36:30 – Option 5: Strikes Aimed at Regime Collapse
37:40 – Predictions: What Happens After the Midterms?
38:04 – Jonathan Predicts Broader Infrastructure Strikes
38:56 – Andy Predicts a Short, Sharp Campaign
39:36 – Could Election Results Push Trump Toward Escalation?
41:30 – Is a Deal With Iran Still Possible?
41:59 – What Would Jim Mattis Tell Trump?
42:20 – Iranian Retaliation & Risks to U.S. Forces
42:57 – What Has the War Actually Achieved?
44:00 – The Doomsday Prepping Panic
45:13 – Costco Runs, Generators & Cyberattack Fears
46:11 – Why Dee Didn’t Prep
46:46 – Why Oil Is Still So Expensive
47:03 – Risk Premiums, Insurance & Shipping Through Hormuz
48:55 – Why Brent Crude Doesn’t Reflect Today’s Conditions
50:01 – What’s Going on in Poland?
50:09 – Poland’s Political Crisis Explained
51:33 – Midterm Election Predictions
52:09 – What Would Dee Buy for Doomsday Prepping?

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Alex Dekker looks back on his path from conventional infantry in Ramadi to 5th Special Forces Group, combat in Afghanistan, the Special Forces Combat Diver course, the fight against ISIS, and his final decade in a more specialized Army special operations unit. We also discuss his transition out of the military and how his experiences in Special Forces, intelligence, archaeology, and the Middle East shaped his debut novel, Desert Heist.
Grab Alex's book here: https://a.co/d/00h03vHa
Find Alex here: https://www.alexdekkerofficial.com/
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___________________________________________________
GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN" 
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/
Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️
https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured
"Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio"
00:00 – Start
00:53 – Alex Dekker’s Interest in Archaeology
02:17 – Growing Up as an Army Brat
03:43 – His Father’s Career in Military Intelligence
04:00 – Why Special Operations Was Always the Goal
05:29 – Starting Out in the Conventional Army
06:39 – Deploying to Ramadi With 1st Infantry Division
07:20 – Seeing Special Forces in Iraq for the First Time
08:52 – What Conventional Infantry Life Was Really Like
10:32 – Leaving the Army & Going Back to College
11:00 – Returning on an 18X Contract
12:48 – Passing SFAS & Starting the Q Course
13:58 – Learning Arabic for 5th Special Forces Group
14:41 – Joining a Combat Dive Team
16:28 – Deploying to Afghanistan Six Weeks After Arriving
17:00 – His First Special Forces Deployment
18:16 – The Taliban Ambush That Nearly Killed Him
20:34 – Taking Over After the Team Was Wounded
22:53 – Fighting Through the Ambush With Shrapnel in His Leg
24:44 – Recovering & Returning to Afghanistan With a Cane
26:54 – Preparing for Combat Diver School After Being Wounded
29:06 – Inside the Special Forces Combat Diver Course
31:13 – Drown Proofing & Learning Not to Panic Underwater
32:26 – The 5th Group Guys Watching Everyone Else Deploy Somewhere Nice
33:41 – Sitting in Kuwait as the ISIS War Begins
35:30 – The Early U.S. Response to ISIS in Iraq
36:53 – Training While Waiting for the Mission to Expand
38:28 – Returning Home & Preparing for the Next Deployment
39:10 – Becoming an 18 Fox Intelligence Sergeant
41:15 – Targeting, Intelligence & Building the Battlefield Picture
43:04 – Working the Syria Problem as an 18 Fox
44:41 – Training Partner Forces Against ISIS
46:17 – Why ISIS Struggled Against Professional Forces
48:48 – What Special Forces Is Actually Designed to Do
50:15 – Looking for the Next Step Beyond 5th Group
52:03 – Moving Into a More Specialized Army Special Operations Unit
53:13 – What He Can Say About the Final Decade of His Career
54:48 – Retiring From the Secret Side of the Military
56:39 – The Honor Foundation & Transitioning Special Operators
57:34 – Why Networking Matters More Than Blind Job Applications
59:28 – Meeting His Wife, a Former CIA Operations Officer
1:00:09 – Leaving Two Secretive Careers Behind
1:01:52 – Why Intelligence Officers Struggle With Transition Too
1:03:34 – Writing Desert Heist in Three Months
1:05:32 – Finding a Literary Agent
1:08:00 – Combining Indiana Jones, Special Forces & Real History
1:09:22 – Building Characters From Real ODA Personalities
1:11:06 – Why Veterans Sometimes Miss the Chaos
1:13:03 – The Lost City at the Center of Desert Heist
1:14:28 – Green Berets, Russian Mercenaries & the Bigger Conspiracy
1:16:21 – Turning Desert Heist Into a Series
1:17:25 – What to Expect From the Next Nate Wilde Book
1:19:07 – Where to Find Alex & Desert Heist
1:20:21 – Jack & Alex Compare the Fiction Publishing Process
1:22:27 – Planning Storylines Several Books in Advance
1:23:31 – What Comes Next for Both Series
1:24:07 – Keeping Survival & Combat Realistic in Fiction
1:25:23 – Closing Thoughts  

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