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Ben Meisellis
World leaders are ditching Donald Trump in the United States, freezing out Trump in the US Forging and forming their own alliances and calling checkmate. A new security umbrella is being formed in the Middle East. We saw that with the announcement of the Mecca Pact between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey, Egypt is likely going to be joining that as well. Iran applauded the formation of the Mecca Pact. We believe that Qatar and other Arab nations could be joining as well. Pay close attention. But China is just waiting and ready to go. They are watching as the United States implodes and self destructs. You read the headlines of the Chinese newspapers right now and they're talking about how Donald Trump is self destructing and China's just waiting for it to further assert itself in the region. We have China cutting deals with the Houthis in. Did you know that was happening? Why do you think the Chinese ships are so easily able to leave the Bab El Mandab Strait? China and Houthis have an agreement. China and Iran, of course, have an agreement. And deeper understanding. There's a full fledged alliance there as part of Iran's access of resistance, which extends to the Houthis as well. China showing a great degree of resiliency while Donald Trump is saying we control it, we own the Strait of Hormuz. You know how Donald Trump said that the United States under former President Biden and other presidents was a laughing stock to the world? Well, Donald Trump in the United States quite literally are a laughing stock when it comes to China and Russia and other countries like that. North Korea and the rest of the world looks on horrified at what the United States has become. So weak where the so called commander in chief was exposed, hiding on a airport catering container, leaving the old Air Force One and leaving the press to go on a plane because Donald Trump was so terrified thinking that Iran was going to kill him at the end of the NATO summit. No, Donald, Iran doesn't want to kill you. They want to protect you at all costs. Because the damage and destruction you have done to the United States has created the vision that Iran always wanted for the Middle East. A Middle east where the Arab brotherly nations, as they call it, are more united with each other. Where the United States is pushed off of its military bases. The US has indeed abandoned mostly all of its military bases now in the Middle east other than its base in Israel right now. And now Israel's terrified under Netanyahu because they thought with the Abraham Accords, they were bringing certain Arab nations closer to them and isolating Iran. They're seeing the opposite take place right now. What they forged a recent alliance with Somaliland recently, but you've got Netanyahu pointing to the Golan Heights yesterday and saying that's ours. We're never gonna have a free Palestine. We're never going to allow Palestinian statehood. We're never going to allow it. I don't think that that is the, to put it lightly, I think that's the complete wrong approach right now at this time. I think the world sees the genocide in Palestine, they see the killing in Leb. American taxpayers like we don't want our money going there at all. What the heck is even happening? And you're seeing a lot more self reliance with them, with and among Arab nations. Take a look at what Qatar's foreign minister had to say. The Qatari foreign ministry said the following about the Mecca alliance. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt's gonna join. Qatar's into it. Qatar says we welcome any regional cooperation for the sake of security and stability and defense of the region. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan are countries that we have good relationships with. We have brotherly relations based on common destiny and common worries. And we welcome this step and we support it. He says Qatar is present in these platforms. We have our own activity and it's a little early to determine our involvement. But relations between the leaders of these countries in Qatar are very good with daily relations and daily contact this. As the Wall Street Journal reports, Gulf states accept a new normal. In Hormuz, Iran is in control. Oil and gas exporters saying to themselves, look, this is the best we can do. The United States lost. It is what it is. Iran has demonstrated that its ballistics have advanced to the point where the American interceptors aren't able to shoot it down. The ballistics have developed capabilities to change routes or while it's in the air. The Iranian shaheds are cutting edge. Iran has developed a repertoire of weapons demonstrating that it is a regional power. That's just the reality. You don't have to. Whatever you feel about it, the feeling is irrelevant. That's, it's the reality of what's actually happening. I mean, I'll show you Donald Trump saying we own the Strait of Hormuz. We control the straight up. This is what Donald Trump said last night. Here, play it.
Donald Trump
Iran is going fine. Going just absolutely fine. We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else. Only us. Our navy is unbelievable and things are going great for our country. Go ahead again.
Ben Meisellis
It's just so utterly Weak. And we don't control it. We don't own it. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis have a great deal of control over Bab El Mandab in the Red Sea. And China is kind of the Kaiser Sosei, if you will, from usual suspect. They're behind the scenes in all of this right now, just kind of watching and waiting and seeing what's happening while they grow in power. Iran's foreign spokesperson, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson says there is no reason for us to be concerned that this pact between the two neighboring countries, Turkey, Pakistan as well as Saudi Arabia, three countries with which we share deep religious, historical and civilizational bonds, is directed against it. We don't believe this is directed against Iran. Civilizational bonds. That's how Iran is talking while Donald Trump. We control the Strait, we control. Iran's talking about religious, historical, civilizational bonds. The history of friendship between the nations of Turkey and Pakistan as two neighboring Muslim countries is long standing. This development is an important sign of a shift in regional perceptions. And Iran's Foreign Minister Aragchi talked about these regional perceptions. And he said, look, Iran is now a regional superpower. And he says that when the various foreign ministers from across the world speak with him, they said, you did it. You stopped the United States. You were able to do it against all odds. You've demonstrated a fearlessness and a courage. That's what Iran's foreign minister says that all these other foreign ministers are saying to him. Recently, Iran's foreign minister spoke with the Foreign Minister of Germany, Abbas Ragchi, the foreign Minister of Iran, and Johan Wadfel, the Minister of Foreign affairs of Germany, had a telephone conversation to discuss international developments. The foreign ministers noted that the insecurity imposed on the Strait of Hormuz is exclusively the result of the military aggression by the United States. Iran's foreign minister also spoke with the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani as well. And obviously continuing conversations with Oman, continuing conversations with Pakistan. But also you have those conversations taking place with Germany and Italy and other NATO countries, which I think is important.
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Ben Meisellis
and this is from the South China Morning Post. This is a Chinese paper China waits in wings as the Mecca pack signals a Gulf shift away from the US Security umbrella this is what I've been talking about like a broken record for what, months now? I've been saying this and this is the headline right now from the South China Morning Post. NATO style deal between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey highlights the growing doubts in the region about over reliance on Washington the grand security bargain between the United States and Gulf countries is widely perceived to be fraying is what it's viewed as in Beijing, creating what analysts see as an opening for Beijing to expand its presence in the region. It talks about how for decades Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states relied on Washington's defensive shield, while it in turn relied on them for access, energy and influence. Riyadh's decision to sign this mutual defense agreement with Turkey and Pakistan is the clearest sign of a shift away from a relationship with the United States. The Mecca Pact is like a NATO of Arab nations and it goes beyond the new regional security arrangement. Three middle powers, a Gulf energy giant, a NATO member and nuclear armed South Asian state Pakistan are taking steps to reduce reliance on the US dominated security architecture and build their own collective defense network. It's like I wrote that article. It's exactly what I've been telling you has been happening. As Imran Khrushchud from the US based Middle East Forum writes, China is using Pakistan for weapons promotion as a gateway to enter the region's defense landscape. Moreover, if the potential Islamic NATO that many of these countries, including Pakistan and Turkey, discuss, take shape, China might believe it has an augmented market. China has aggressively advertised its weapon platforms and builds narratives around its defense systems in the region, including claims about the success of the JF17 fighter jet and other Chinese weapons during last year's India Pakistan conflict. So think about it while Iran as well China is working with Iran and these nations. But while China is developing Cutting edge drone technology, drone swarms, FPV drones, robotics, unmanned submersives. Right, that's what they're focused on. The US Under Donald Trump. This deranged psychopathic lunatic is like we need to do battleships that look like the battleships between 1920 and 1940. Because Trump doesn't like the way stealth looks. He doesn't like the way modern military systems look. So Trump has demanded that the United States, that the United States spend 300 to $400 billion at least based on a Trump class of nuclear battleships which a drone could easily take out. That's where our taxpayer money is going. Just think about this. Since 2016, over $10 trillion has gone to the military for Trump and Hegseth to get to go through all of our weapons and for us to run out of ammunition to have our sailors at an all time low morale on the super carriers that remain in the region. $10 trillion. Leave it to Hegseth and Trump and Rubio to to have the US run out of weapons and completely lose the war to Iran. Also as I noted at the outset, China has been cutting deals with the Houthis as, as the Houthis and China adjust for a long term security architectural restructuring in the Middle East. This article goes. The Al Monitor article says the US and Israel war are in its six month. The disruptions at the Bab El Mandab and Hormuz Straits, Bab El Mandab is Red Sea, Hormuz is Persian Gulf have sent shockwaves through global markets. China has maintained access to Middle east crude through two distinct channels. Saudi oil has reached China on Chinese list tankers transiting waters blockaded by the Houthis while the Iranian crude has moved toward China through ship to ship transfers and oil stored aboard vessels off of Malaysia. And this is a very tactical move by China. Also Oman's top officials, foreign ministers have been meeting with China, meeting with Wang Yi, China's foreign minister as well. So with all of this taking place, I mean Israel and under the Netanyahu regime, they hate this, they hate the security architecture because they were like we have the, we thought that, you know, the US was going to be the top dog, the big power in the region. What the hell is happening now? We're isolated in the US Is isolated. Israel's agriculture Minister Avi Dichter said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, this is a very problematic Sunni alliance for the state of Israel. Egypt is going to join this alliance as well. There was an Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon access which we cut down and Syria and Lebanon have left the game. Now we have another alliance. This requires us to be very, very careful. Pakistan is a country with nuclear weapons and on this issue we need to remain on guard. This only strengthens the need for an alliance with a global superpower on the scale of the United States. Israel's Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Kahil says we. So this is how they're trying to think about it in Israel right now. Under Netanyahu, we created a system of alliances in Europe unlike anything that existed before with the deep conservative right vox in Spain, led by a basketball. Today he is the most Zionist voice there is in Spain. The same goes for Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen in France. With these people, a genuine closeness was created. We may see civil wars in Europe, as crazy as that sounds. We see the right in Britain. I brought Tommy Robinson here. Many, that's the far right wing extremists in the uk. Um, many people in Britain are with us. They are with us. We are heading toward very profound changes both in Britain and France. Changes that in turn could also provoke counter reaction. So you have Netanyahu and Trump working to try to encourage civil wars in Europe. I mean you, you hear them in their own words, basically by backing these far right wing MAGA like parties in Europe to create this far right wing alliance to kind of weaken liberal democracies. But that creation in turn in their attack on NATO has ended up having the impact of actually weakening the west and weakening the US position and strengthening China's hand and strengthening the Sunni alliance. And that's actually what we're seeing take place. I know, you know, this, there's a lot of detail here, you know, and there's a lot that's not being, you know, covered elsewhere. I just think it's important that we focus this, this is some of the biggest issues. A restructuring of the entire global order right now around China as the main provider of the. China knew this was coming, But China thought 20, 30 years, 40 years, but it's happening right away because Trump just destroyed everything of the post World War II architecture of the United States. That's what's gone down right before our very eyes. That's going to have a long term detrimental negative impact though, in the US as well. The petrodollar, the American bond market, people, the dollar, the value of the dollar, US debt is one massive Ponzi scheme and it relies on people continuing to buy treasury bonds and to use the dollar. If that changes, the United States is absolutely screwed. And that's what Trump's doing. I mean who would have thought though the guy who bankrupted his casinos, who bankrupted most of the companies he does, would bankrupt our military, would destroy our strategic petroleum reserves, would create a situation where we have the lowest morale ever on our super carriers. Who would have thought? Who would have thought?
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Ben Meisellis
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This episode dives deep into the shifting landscape of global security alliances in the wake of Donald Trump’s actions as U.S. president. The hosts, particularly Ben Meiselas, analyze how Trump’s foreign policy isolationism and unpredictability have led key countries in the Middle East to form new defense agreements, notably the Mecca Pact. The episode also outlines China’s growing influence in the region, Israel’s resulting isolation, and the broader implications for U.S. global standing and economic security. The tone is urgent, critical, and laced with the show's usual mix of information-driven analysis and biting commentary.
“World leaders are ditching Donald Trump in the United States, freezing out Trump in the US. Forging and forming their own alliances and calling checkmate.” (00:00)
“China is just waiting and ready to go. They are watching as the United States implodes and self destructs... talking about how Donald Trump is self destructing and China’s just waiting for it to further assert itself in the region.” (00:40)
“We welcome any regional cooperation for the sake of security and stability and defense of the region... we support it.” (03:40)
“We totally control the Strait of Hormuz. We have control over it. Nobody else. Only us... things are going great for our country.” (05:31, Trump Audio)
“It’s just so utterly weak. And we don’t control it. We don’t own it. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz...” (05:47)
“The dollar, the value of the dollar, US debt is one massive Ponzi scheme... If that changes, the United States is absolutely screwed. And that’s what Trump’s doing.” (16:00)
On U.S. Decline:
“Who would have thought though the guy who bankrupted his casinos, who bankrupted most of the companies he does, would bankrupt our military, would destroy our strategic petroleum reserves, would create a situation where we have the lowest morale ever on our super carriers. Who would have thought?“ (16:40, Ben Meisellis)
On Israel’s New Reality:
“Israel’s agriculture Minister Avi Dichter said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, this is a very problematic Sunni alliance for the state of Israel. Egypt is going to join this alliance as well... This only strengthens the need for an alliance with a global superpower.” (15:10)
On the Petrodollar:
“The petrodollar... it relies on people continuing to buy treasury bonds and to use the dollar. If that changes, the United States is absolutely screwed.” (16:00)
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Introduction to global isolation of Trump and new Middle East alliances | | 01:15 | Deep dive: The Mecca Pact and its implications | | 03:40 | Qatar's response supporting new regional cooperation | | 05:31 | [Clip] Trump claims U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz | | 05:47 | Ben refutes Trump, outlines reality of Strait control | | 09:07 | South China Morning Post: China’s rising role, fraying U.S. ties | | 11:50 | China's military tech push vs. U.S. outdated spending | | 14:00 | Israel’s reaction to new Sunni alliance and strategic isolation | | 15:10 | Israeli ministers discuss need for new alliances, outreach to right-wing European parties | | 16:00 | Ben’s critique on the collapse of the post-WWII U.S.-centric global order, petrodollar warning | | 16:40 | Rhetorical reflection on Trump’s record of bankruptcies and their national consequences |
The episode is delivered in the signature Meiselas style—sharp, fast-paced, and often laced with sarcasm or incredulity at recent events. The mood is both critical and urgent, particularly regarding the Trump administration’s foreign policy and the dire ramifications for American and global security.
For listeners seeking a comprehensive, unapologetically pro-democracy take on the latest seismic geopolitical shifts, this episode provides an urgent, in-depth breakdown. The Meiselas brothers (with heavy commentary from Ben) dissect the unraveling of the U.S.-led order, the rise of a Middle Eastern “NATO,” China’s patient strategizing, Israel’s isolation, and the grave risks posed to both American security and the world’s liberal democracies. This is essential listening for anyone seeking to understand the current realignment of global power—and the urgent need for renewed democratic leadership and alliances.