SECURING AMERICA WITH FRANK GAFFNEY — January 17, 2026

Podcast: Real America’s Voice / iHeartPodcasts
Host: Frank Gaffney

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode of "Securing America" with Frank Gaffney is a substantive deep-dive into pressing geopolitical, security, and cultural concerns affecting the United States and its allies. The episode primarily addresses the crisis in Iran, threats to minority populations in Syria, the shifting landscape with China under Xi Jinping, the US government’s approach to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, and the risks posed by foreign (especially Chinese) acquisition of US land near sensitive military installations. Gaffney brings on seasoned experts — Dr. David Wormser (Middle East analyst), Shadi Kalul (Israeli Christian Aramaic NGO leader), Gordon Chang (China analyst), and George Raceley (Conservative HQ) — to discuss these multifaceted challenges and the US's responses.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. Iran's Uprising and America’s Role

[02:06–12:05]

• Frank Gaffney introduces the dire situation in Iran, where mass protests against the regime have led to violent repression. He expresses disappointment in the reluctance of the US to decisively support the protesters despite previous promises.

• Dr. David Wormser provides deep background and analysis:

  • The recent Iranian uprising had unprecedented energy, partly supported by pronouncements from President Trump, but ultimately was met with overwhelming lethal force from the regime.
  • Wormser laments the missed strategic opportunity:

    “We had the Iranian street worth 10,000 bombs able to help us here bring down the regime...and unfortunately...the Iranian street has literally been slaughtered into submission.” (04:32)

  • With the protests crushed, the regime will likely exercise further behind-the-scenes brutality, conducting executions after the spotlight fades.
  • Strategic danger remains: The moment for leveraging domestic unrest as a strategic US asset has passed, and other actors (the US or Israel) may soon face hard choices about acting against Iran’s emboldened regime.

• Gaffney raises the danger of quiet, ongoing repression:

  “Is it likely that the regime will quietly be going about murdering those who were in the street...in a way that is not as visible?” (08:36)

• Wormser affirms:

  “Exactly. They have it in their interest...to slaughter the people who are arrested. And there’s over 20,000 people arrested.” (09:06)

Memorable Quote

"The silence of the grave is descending on the streets of Tehran, and that was one of the biggest assets the United States had here."
— Dr. David Wormser (04:24)

2. Minority Communities in Syria—Facing Genocide

[14:24–24:03]

• Frank Gaffney highlights targeted violence by the Syrian government (and aligned jihadist elements) against ancient ethnic and religious minorities—Kurds, Druze, Alawites, Yazidis, and Christians.

• Shadi Kalul (Israeli Christian leader) gives a firsthand account:

  • Historical native groups like Aramaic Christians are “in the crosshairs,” with little real voice in international policy discussions.
  • Reports of Aleppo’s evacuation ahead of mass violence by Assad-aligned forces are credible. The brutality is likened to ISIS's past atrocities, emphasizing continuity of violent Sharia-centric ideology.
  • Kalul calls the violence explicitly “genocidal,” refuting government narratives that blame only terrorist groups.
  • Policy recommendation:

    "You don't have to impose... a central government, but have a different system to rule this region—with federations in Syria and Lebanon... Not central government and don’t require these groups to disarm as long as they are being threatened." (23:27–24:00)

Notable Quote

“It just remind[s] me about 10 years ago...how they treated Yazidis and Christians by actually ISIS back then. It's the same ISIS attitudes, ISIS mentality. Nothing changed.”
— Shadi Kalul (19:45)

3. China’s Weakness as a Source of Danger

[26:04–37:26]

• Gordon Chang (China analyst) is brought on to address the nature of the Chinese threat:
  • Consequences of US pressure: Despite belligerent propaganda, China has not responded with concrete actions against recent US moves.
  • China’s internal instability:
    • Military purges and infighting indicate deep dysfunction.
    • Economic distress is worsening, with declining growth and spiraling debt.
    • Xi Jinping’s control over the military is tenuous, making large-scale offensive operations (like an invasion of Taiwan) unlikely as a matter of deliberate policy—but miscalculation is a serious risk.
  • Chang warns: The danger comes not from China’s strength but from its instability and the risk that Xi will “blunder” into war to shore up his position.
  • US vulnerabilities:
    • US failure to weed out Chinese operatives on home soil increases internal risks.
    • Policy uncertainty about South Korea’s reliability as an ally.
    • US military planning is lagging behind the pace and readiness required for a potential conflict.

Memorable Quote

“China is a big threat, but not because it's strong, but because it is weak... the danger of war in East Asia with China is really high, but it's not high because China is going ... to launch an invasion ... Xi Jinping can blunder into a war and probably will.”
— Gordon Chang (27:49)

4. Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist Networks in the US

[39:38–45:07]

• George Raceley (Conservative HQ) discusses the government’s recent partial designation of Muslim Brotherhood foreign chapters as terrorist organizations.

  • Critiques the US for stopping short of designating domestic Brotherhood chapters and the broader “Mother Movement,” which allows networks to persist and potentially pivot from subversive activities to violent jihad at any time.
  • External lobbies (notably, Qatar and Turkey) and elements within the intelligence community are blamed for hamstringing more comprehensive action.
  • Key concern:

    "We have to recognize that these so-called chapters...are decentralized, diffuse terrorist cells. They operate both to encourage violent jihad attacks in this country and also subversion." (41:21)

• Gaffney underscores the doctrinal risk:

  “When they see the enemy... exhibiting a kind of weakness or lack of resolve... that only... feeds into a doctrinal direction under Sharia to redouble the effort, as they say, to make them feel subdued.” (42:42)

Notable Quote

"The real problem we have here is the lobbying of gutter [Qatar], Turkey, longstanding interests within the deep state...that have waived the president off of this."
— George Raceley (43:30)

5. Chinese Land Ownership Near US Military Installations

[49:34–52:16]

• Gaffney and Raceley discuss investigative reports revealing Chinese-owned land near Barksdale Air Force Base (home to a critical nuclear command).
  • This is presented as part of a countrywide pattern of China buying properties near sensitive US infrastructure.
  • Raceley criticizes gaps in federal policy, noting that the Treasury-led Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) prioritizes economic over security interests, leading to risky oversight failures.
  • State-level efforts (like Florida's restrictions) are highlighted, but a call is made for robust federal action.
  • Key Point:

    "Obvious idea of a Chinese intelligence operator owning huge swathes of property around Barksdale Air Force Base somehow doesn't get up the food chain to a...prior restraint type of situation. That's why it ends up in the courts." (51:41)

TIMESTAMPS FOR IMPORTANT SEGMENTS

• 02:06–12:05 — Iran protests, regime crackdown, US & Israeli strategy (Gaffney/Wormser)
• 14:24–24:03 — Syrian minorities under threat, calls for new policy approach (Gaffney/Kalul)
• 26:04–37:26 — China’s internal instability and international risk profile (Gaffney/Chang)
• 39:38–45:07 — Muslim Brotherhood designation and domestic subversion (Gaffney/Raceley)
• 49:34–52:16 — Chinese land purchases near sensitive military sites and implications (Gaffney/Raceley)

MEMORABLE QUOTES & MOMENTS

• Wormser (on Iran’s missed opportunity):

  “We had the Iranian street worth 10,000 bombs... Unfortunately... we've lost such a major opportunity.” (04:32)

• Kalul (on the threat in Syria):

  “It’s the same ISIS attitudes, ISIS mentality. Nothing changed. That's their ideology... against anyone who is not a Muslim.” (19:45–20:30)

• Chang (on China’s weakness):

  “China is a big threat, but not because it's strong, but because it is weak.” (27:49)

• Raceley (on the Muslim Brotherhood):

  “These are decentralized, diffuse terrorist cells... very adept at switching back and forth between violent jihad and subversion.” (41:19–41:21)

CONCLUSION

The episode paints a picture of a world in flux and under threat: democratic uprisings crushed, ancient minorities targeted, great power rivals destabilized by their own rot, and hostile networks operating with relative impunity inside America. The throughline is a call for the US to adopt a stronger, more strategically coherent response—whether confronting Iran’s regime, defending minorities in the Middle East, preparing for Chinese destabilization, or rooting out domestic extremist networks. Gaffney and his guests urge vigilance and a restoration of "peace through strength" for the challenges ahead.