Breaking Point with David Zere – December 13, 2025

Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: David Zere
Date: December 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this dynamic and wide-ranging episode, host David Zere explores the shifting landscape of American commercial real estate and the evolving U.S. defense and national security ecosystem. Zere welcomes Ann Hambly (First Service Solutions) for an insider’s analysis of the challenges and future of commercial real estate, then speaks with El Todd Wood (CDM Press) about Christian demographics and geopolitics in the Middle East, aggressive moves by Turkey, and overlooked Christian communities worldwide. Finally, Zere provides an inside look at the U.S. Navy’s Rapid Capabilities Office with exclusive interviews from the Washington Navy Yard, highlighting the drive for public-private innovation, rapid acquisition, and “Trump time” decision-making to counter modern threats.

Key Segments & Insights

1. State of Commercial Real Estate — Ann Hambly

[01:16 – 11:24]

Main Discussion Points

• Hambly and Zere both have nearly four decades of experience and discuss how the industry is a bellwether for broader economic trends.
• Massive Debt Maturity Looms:
  • Approx. $5 trillion in U.S. commercial real estate debt exists, with half maturing in the next three years.
  • “A good chunk of that is not going to be refinanceable. So something has to be done.” – Ann Hambly [04:29]
• Foreclosures and Ownership Changes:
  • Anticipated rise in foreclosures and transitions as older owners walk away rather than refinance unfavorably.
  • "We're also looking at a lot of just changing of hands… That doesn't mean that I'm going to necessarily get it foreclosed on. I might sell it to someone." – Ann Hambly [05:19]
• Retail and Office Space Upheaval:
  • Permanent behavioral shifts—online shopping, remote work—are repurposing malls into warehouses or medical facilities and converting office buildings to residential or mixed use.
  • “Malls are just not relevant as much. Right. Office, same.” – Ann Hambly [06:16]
• Industrial/Manufacturing Upside:
  • Industrial property is the “darling” of commercial real estate due to ongoing need for warehousing, especially as U.S. manufacturing returns.

Notable Quotes

• “If you got a loan today in 2025, the lender has to make sure that they know what you're going to do to pay their loan off in 2035. Well, that’s what’s happening now…” – Ann Hambly [04:29]
• "If you have a problem property, or want to invest opportunistically, this is a great time to look." – Ann Hambly [09:34]
• “By the way, I didn’t buy this in a store, I bought this tie online.” – David Zere [11:00]

Resources

• Ann Hambly offers free consultations for commercial real estate owners/investors: 1stss.com or call 817-756-7227 [10:43]

2. Pentagon & Middle East Geopolitics — El Todd Wood

[14:17 – 25:33]

Main Discussion Points

• Background:
  • Wood is a former Air Force special operations pilot (MH53J), former Wall Street banker, and now investigative journalist/founder of CDM Press.
  • Both attended recent “New Media Week” at the Pentagon, emphasizing transparency and access under new policies.
• Middle East—Lebanon as a Christian Enclave Under Threat:
  • Lebanon’s Christian population declined from 70% in the 1970s to a marginalized minority today due to orchestrated demographic changes (Palestinian influx, Syrian civil war, funding from outside NGOs).
  • “It was really the only Christian country in the Middle East… Now you have Syrian Sunni refugees that are in Lebanon and they won't go back… It's changing the demographic and economic balance.” – El Todd Wood [17:45]
• Turkey’s Neo-Ottoman Ambitions:
  • Turkey is actively seeking to expand influence, particularly by supporting Sunni migrations and controlling militant groups in the region.
  • “They’re reestablishing this power structure… their fingerprints are all over the place.” – El Todd Wood [19:51]
• Policy Blind Spots:
  • U.S. policies over decades have often overlooked or harmed Christian communities (examples: Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Armenia).
  • “If you look back over American policy, the consequence is always the destruction of Christian communities, unfortunately.” – El Todd Wood [21:07]

Notable Quotes

• “Why are we listening to everybody but the Christians? That's my point. They are being ignored on purpose, and it's really hurting them.” – El Todd Wood [19:51]
• “There was a video the other day where they attacked a monastery with chainsaws and then beat all the priests inside. This is an attack on the Christian church in Ukraine.” – El Todd Wood [22:11]

Follow & Learn More

• CDM Press for global investigations: cdm.press
• Follow Todd Wood: @RealLToddWood, @CDM_Press [23:28]

3. Navy Modernization & Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO)

[27:17 – 51:57]

Pentagon & Navy Department Highlights

a) Urgency of Modernization

• U.S. Navy faces fast-evolving threats: missile attacks near the Harry S. Truman, cyber/AI challenges, and rapid Chinese naval expansion.
• “We had a missile come near us in the Red Sea… You’ve got a lot of emerging threats out there.” – David Zere [27:17]
• Trump administration’s push for accelerated, innovative defense acquisition—now being codified under the NDAA.

b) Exclusive Interviews from Rapid Capabilities Office Launch

• Patrick George (Senior Advisor to the Navy Assistant Secretary):

  • "Everything is getting aligned for the first time in a long time… We're doing deals differently and we need you [private industry]." [31:29–32:10]
  • Palantir partnership highlighted for AI-driven shipbuilding (Ship OS); first time public and private shipyards are connected on this scale.
  • “We want to share that risk with [private sector]. We’ll bet on ourselves as entrepreneurs… Protecting taxpayer dollars, rewarding our winners.” [33:47]

• Andrew Maglia Chetty (Director, Small Business Operations):

  • New attitude at the Navy—making it easier for startups and VCs to work with, focusing on “real time” readiness.
  • “The superpower of the RCO is that we cut that red tape and… make things happen quickly. People making the decisions are three stars and above.” [38:16]
  • Emphasis on accountability and rapid scaling for successful tech solutions.

c) Shipbuilding Modernization & Palantir’s Role

• Jason Potter (Assistant Secretary Performing Duties) & Mike Gallagher (former Congressman/Palantir):

  • Ship OS from Palantir brings commercial AI to shipyards, enabling the transition from “desktop to prototypes quicker.”
  • “There is probably no more complex manufacturing problem in the world than how we build nuclear submarines.” – Mike Gallagher [43:46]
  • Acquisition now moves at a “war footing”: what once took months now takes days.
  • “We have to change how we do business. When we see a winner, we double down, we scale up. If something’s not working, we… move quicker.” – Jason Potter [44:05]

• Vice Admiral Seiko O’Connell (Director, Navy RCO):

  • “The character of warfare is changing faster than the acquisition can move… this [RCO] is a culture shift.” [49:08]
  • RCO’s mandate: Identify urgent operational needs, partner with industry, and iterate to field capabilities quickly.
  • “We are absolutely in sync. This is the entire department… I think we’re seeing real movement at scale, at velocity here.” [51:22]

Notable Quotes

• “This is not just an office… This is a culture shift.” – Vice Admiral Seiko O’Connell [49:08]
• “From the president on down… the naval industrial base in particular [needs to be] on a war footing. That sort of emergency mentality… that’s what’s going to make the difference.” – Mike Gallagher [47:24]

Memorable Moments

• Zere’s tie anecdote: “By the way, I didn’t buy this in a store, I bought this tie online.” [11:00]
• On generational shifts in shopping/workplace: “My kids or grandkids, they would never think to go to a mall to buy what they're going to buy. They're going to just go online.” – Ann Hambly [06:16]
• On Pentagon media transparency: “We asked the questions that… maybe were not in their agenda, like vax issues, getting service members back in…” – El Todd Wood [16:43]
• On public-private defense: “For the first time, both public and private shipyards have been connected… we are open for business.” – Patrick George [32:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Content | |-------------|-------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:16-11:24 | Commercial Real Estate with Ann Hambly | | 14:17-25:33 | Pentagon & Middle East Geopolitics with El Todd Wood | | 27:17-51:57 | Navy Rapid Capabilities Office; Shipbuilding & Innovation | | 30:18+ | Patrick George on public-private partnerships | | 34:34+ | Andrew Maglia Chetty on Navy as a business partner | | 41:29+ | Ship OS & Palantir/AI for the Navy (Potter & Gallagher) | | 48:32+ | Vice Admiral Seiko O’Connell on RCO’s vision |

Episode Tone & Language

• Candid, no-nonsense, and patriotic.
• Host and guests are critical of status quo bureaucracy, openly supportive of “Trump time” efficiency, and highlight American innovation and values.
• Technical but accessible; uses real examples and clear metaphors (e.g., Mike Tyson’s lost dominance, cultural shifts in shopping).

Summary

This episode’s deep dive into commercial real estate exposes systemic financial turbulence ahead and an era of transformation as technology and post-COVID behaviors reshape property markets. The show pivots to spotlight U.S. defense—unveiling a new competition mindset at the Pentagon and within the Navy. The rapid acceleration of acquisition and public-private ventures is illustrated with real-world partnerships (e.g., Palantir’s Ship OS/AI integration), signaling a commitment to outpace adversaries. Throughout, Zere’s guests emphasize actionable insights, convey urgency, and reinforce the importance of adapting quickly to new realities, whether in real estate or national security.

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