Redacted News — March 3, 2026

"Iran Missiles SMASH Tel Aviv, US F-15’s Downed, Israel Begins Phase 2"

Host: Clayton & Natali Morris
Guests: Col. Daniel Davis (Deep Dive with Daniel Davis), Drew Berquist (Former Counterterrorism Officer)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the dramatic escalation of conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US, as Iran launches a massive missile strike on Tel Aviv, US air assets reportedly take losses, and Israel initiates what’s being called "Phase 2" of the war. Clayton and Natali Morris aim to cut through mainstream media narratives, bringing in military and intelligence experts to analyze the rapidly evolving situation, highlight strategic miscalculations, and examine the profound risks now facing US global and domestic security.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Media Silence and Narrative Control

• Mainstream Blackout: Both Clayton and Natali open by emphasizing the lack of coverage by Fox News and mainstream media of the events in Tel Aviv ([00:54], [01:23]), attributing this to entrenched pro-war narratives and Washington establishment interests.
• Information Suppression: “You're not going to find it on Fox News or the mainstream media, which of course is in lockstep with the neocons in Washington D.C.” — Clayton ([01:36]).

2. War Objectives and US/Israeli Strategy

• Objectives Outlined: Clayton reviews official White House objectives, including neutralizing Iran’s missiles and navy, ending their nuclear ambitions, and halting proxy support ([04:20]).
• Skepticism and Indefinite War: Natali points out the vagueness of the objectives, especially "directing terrorist armies," as a pretext for endless intervention ([05:35]).
• Iran Preparedness: The guests note Iran’s military has anticipated such a conflict for two decades, building ‘deep underground missile bases’ ([07:23]).

3. Depleting Western Air Defenses

• Missile Shortages:
  • Col. Daniel Davis: Highlights fast-dwindling US, Israeli, and European stocks of interceptor missiles ([09:01], [10:44]).
  • “We had a limited number of interceptor missiles because we've given so many to Israel over the last two and a half years and to Ukraine over the previous four years... These wars are making our own national security more vulnerable.” — Davis ([09:53]).
• Potential Consequences: Running out of air defense capability would endanger not only Israel/US allies but US bases globally.

4. Strategic Miscalculations & Military Logistics

• No Clear Plan B: According to Davis, US & Israeli leadership "rolled the dice," banking on regime collapse in Iran and assuming a quick victory akin to Iraq in 2003.
  • “It will be a huge blunder of enormous proportions… The only thing you can do is to err.” — Davis ([13:08], [18:53]).
  • The US lacks both the munitions and ground force strength to invade or sustain a prolonged conflict in Iran ([18:53]).
• Comparison to Past Wars: Citing failures to subdue Gaza or Hezbollah, Davis is critical of thinking Iran would be different ([13:08]).
• Logistics Are Key:
  • “In wars, the true professionals are ultimately the logisticians.” — Adm. Stavridis, quoted by Clayton ([12:41])
  • “This should have been done way back in the planning stage…” — Davis ([13:08]).

5. Fraying Alliances & Geopolitical Fallout

• Perception of US Weakness: Davis warns US credibility is being severely damaged among allies in the Middle East and NATO as American promises of protection prove hollow ([21:05]).
  • “Does it make sense to continue to be friends with the United States when because of their actions, not only do they not protect you, but they spawn an attack on you?” — Davis ([21:47], [22:59]).
• Attacks on Oil Infrastructure:
  • Iranian retaliation targets oil fields — like Saudi’s Tenora— aiming not just for military/strategic aims but long-term economic/political leverage ([23:06]).

6. Propaganda, Causality & the "Who Started It?" Debate

• US/Israeli Preemptive Strikes: Natali and Davis outline four separate times since April 2024 when Iran was attacked first, pushing back on the White House/State Dept. narrative that Iran started the war ([26:20], [27:25]).
• Davis sharply rebukes officials:
  • “Rubio was just flat out lying when he said that they would have attacked us. There's no way they would have attacked us. They haven't ever.” ([27:25])
  • Calls out the "Doordash" analogy of Israel ordering up US military support at will ([34:40]).

7. Missile & Drone Warfare — New Technology Paradigm

• Failed Missile Defense: Interceptor systems are failing to block Iranian missiles and drones ([24:51], [25:53]).
• Iranian Drone Capabilities:
  • Significant advancements due in part to technology-sharing with Russia ([38:09]).
  • “The Iranian missile program, I'm sorry, the drone manufacturing base only expanded and increased.” — Davis ([38:09]).

8. Domestic Security: Sleeper Cells & Blowback

• Potential for Terrorist Attacks in the US:
  • Drew Berquist: Asserts that while visible attacks from organized sleeper cells haven’t materialized yet, risk of lone-wolf or coordinated attacks has never been higher due to open borders and escalation in the Middle East ([46:33], [48:20]).
  • “You should always have your head on a swivel. You should definitely have your head on a swivel right now.” — Berquist ([48:20])
• Cycle of Blowback:
  • “If you kill my father, I'm coming for you...that's just how it's going to go, and that's how this cycle continues.” — Berquist ([49:45])
• False Flag Concerns: Discussion on whether some domestic attacks might be cynically used as justification or distraction ([53:52], [54:25]).

9. Strategic & Political Consequences

• US at Risk of Strategic Loss:
  • "If the President stops it for any reason short of [stated objectives], he can't claim any of those things are successful, so we'll all know that it's not, and that Americans have died in the meantime…" — Davis ([35:16])
• Political Fallout: With war dragging on and negative economic impacts (soaring oil/gas prices), Trump risks catastrophic losses in upcoming midterms, especially as he campaigned as a “peace president” ([37:02]).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “This is a huge blunder of enormous proportions.” — Col. Daniel Davis ([13:08])
• "They're saying this will not be a protracted war. We have objectives. We have goals. I’d love to know what those objectives and goals are." — Clayton ([01:36])
• “We had a plan A which was let’s go in and blow a bunch of crap up...It didn’t work. And so I don’t think there was a Plan B.” — Davis ([32:56])
• "I think that Iran does have enough offensive missiles to at least drag this out for multiple months longer than we can." — Davis ([11:03])
• “We have started a war with Iran. FYI.” — Clayton ([44:11])
• “Once the oil infrastructure is destroyed, this is not something, this is not a genie you can put back in the bottle.” — Clayton ([23:06])
• “You're not going to invade Iran and have any success.” — Davis ([19:40])
• “If you kill my father, I'm coming for you...that's just how this cycle continues.” — Berquist ([49:45])
• “That app may not work. They may be pushing the button, but nothing's going to be happening after that.” — Davis on US military support availability to Israel ([36:00])

Timestamps: Important Segments

• Opening critiques of media coverage ([00:54]–[02:11])
• Reviewing US objectives & skepticism ([04:20]–[07:43])
• Col. Daniel Davis on missile shortages & strategic risk ([09:01]–[11:03])
• Debating the realism of ground invasion ([18:40]–[20:43])
• Fraying alliances and loss of US credibility ([21:05]–[23:28])
• Drone/missile defense failures ([24:32]–[26:20])
• Debate over who initiated conflict ([27:25]–[29:44])
• No Plan B and military stalemate ([32:45]–[35:16])
• Economic and political consequences ([37:02]–[39:41])
• Iranian sleeper cells and domestic terror risk ([46:33]–[49:45])
• Blowback, cycle of vengeance, and false flag debate ([53:52]–[54:25])

Final Thoughts

The episode delivers a bleak, no-spin assessment of escalating US/Iran/Israel hostilities, the collapse of pre-war assumptions, and the long-term dangers of depleted military resources, shaken alliances, and domestic instability. The guests—a retired Army Colonel and a former counterterrorism officer—warn repeatedly of the risks of believing official optimism, call for urgent reevaluation of US policy, and stress the inevitability of unforeseen consequences when war begins without a credible exit plan. Throughout, the hosts and guests maintain a critical, sometimes sardonic tone, repeatedly urging viewers to “keep their head on a swivel” both at home and in media consumption.