Redacted News Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Title: Israel got busted BIG in Iran and Putin is FURIOUS, War averted?
Date: January 16, 2026
Hosts: Clayton Morris, Natali Morris
Guests: Larry Johnson (former CIA intelligence officer), Peter Schiff (economist), Maria Z (Australian journalist), David Creighton (Canadian journalist)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Redacted examines breaking developments around the Israel-Iran conflict, exploring the covert actions, power dynamics, and interventions that averted open war. The hosts bring in intelligence and financial experts to unpack 1) Israel’s actions in Iran and Putin’s alleged furious response, 2) the impact of shifting alliances and economic warfare, 3) economic warning signs in the surge of precious metals, 4) Australia’s controversial anti-Semitism/hate speech bill, and 5) Alberta’s secession movement in Canada. The tone is candid, critical of mainstream narratives, and focused on uncovering details the hosts claim are being hidden.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Averted” War with Iran: Behind the Mainstream Narrative

Segment start: 05:25

• Conflicting Media Narratives:

  • The mainstream press claims Israeli PM Netanyahu “called off” an Iran strike after discussions with Trump.
  • The hosts argue this is misleading; Israel is pushing for the U.S. to act militarily while trying to avoid the “aggressor” label.

• Israel’s Dual Track Strategy:

  • Reports indicate Israel assured Iran via Russia they wouldn’t strike first (Washington Post), while simultaneously lobbying the U.S. for an attack.

    “Israel is pretending that they won't initiate the war on its own, so long as they can get the US to do it for him... mostly for the PR of it, because of Gaza. They realize they can't be seen as the continual aggressors, but that's clearly what they want.”
    — Natali Morris [06:29]

• Reaction from Iran:

  • Iran is skeptical, aware the U.S.-Israel axis can't be trusted and recognizes the potential for the U.S. to lead strikes.

2. Larry Johnson (Ex-CIA) Dissects the Subterfuge and Russian Intervention

Segment start: 07:49

• Covert Economic Attack on Iran:

  • Coordinated CIA/Mossad operation tanked the Iranian currency, fomenting economic protests (Dec 2025), using ethnic minorities, Kurds, and the MEK to stir unrest.

    “The plan was that the government [Iran] was going to be put into such a degree of chaos that when we launched the military strikes yesterday, that would have brought the whole house down. Well, it failed.”
    — Larry Johnson [09:49]

• How the Plot Unraveled:

  • Iranian security forces, aided by Russia and China’s electronic warfare, discovered smuggled Starlink terminals and shut down protester communications.

  • Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey) refused to allow overflights for a strike—allegedly due to Russian pressure.

    “Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey both told the United States, you're not flying over our territory to do this. And I think part of that was pressure that the Russians were bringing on to all of them...”
    — Larry Johnson [12:00]

• Energy Leverage and Global Risks:

  • 45% of global oil passes the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran could shut, sending oil prices soaring and wreaking economic havoc—deterrence impacting U.S./Israeli calculations.
  • Russia and China have deepened military/economic ties with Iran post-June ‘25 war, making Iran’s position much stronger than historical parallels with Syria.
  • The West’s simplistic regime-change or military strike narrative is “nonsense” and “gaslighting.” [14:37]

3. Would Israel Actually Use Nukes? The Danger of Escalation

Segment start: 18:10

• Israel’s Nuclear Posturing:

  • Reports of possible nuclear testing at Dimona raised new alarms.
  • Israeli sources in Tel Aviv allegedly admit their defenses cannot stop an all-out Iranian/Russian missile barrage—Iron Dome is “essentially a joke against hypersonic missiles.” [23:30]
  • Larry: If existentially threatened, Israel might consider nukes, but this could trigger responses from North Korea, Pakistan.

• U.S. Military Posture:

  • Ongoing deployments, not withdrawals, indicate continued war preparations.

  • Johnson predicts the U.S. will ultimately attack Iran given the entrenched political/media war narrative:

    “We're going to attack them. They're going to look for the next excuse.”
    — Larry Johnson [24:09]

4. Surging Silver and Gold: A Warning of U.S. Economic Crisis

Guest: Peter Schiff, Segment start: 27:33

• Market Signals:

  • Gold over $4600/oz, silver near $92/oz—enormous price jumps.
  • Schiff likens it to the subprime warning before the 2008 crash—now a warning of a “dollar crisis and a US treasury crisis that are coming.” [29:15]

• Foreign Abandonment of Dollar:

  • Central banks pivoting to gold, away from treasuries; U.S. global financial status (“reserve” currency) is eroding.

• Personal Effects of Collapse:

  • As the dollar loses reserve status, Americans’ purchasing power will collapse due to the trade deficit:

    “We live way beyond our means, and that's been enabled by the rest of the world accepting dollars in exchange for real goods. As the dollar collapses... the dollars that they earn, the dollars that they saved, will buy a lot less.”
    — Peter Schiff [34:40]

  • $15 McDonald’s hamburgers could become $30 or $50.

  • Schiff: “Get out of your paper, into real money. The country is going to be in a lot of trouble, and the fewer Americans who go broke, the better.” [41:10]

5. Australia’s “Hate Speech” Bill: Threat to Free Speech & Christianity?

Guest: Maria Z., Segment start: 47:11

• Bill Details:

  • Five-year imprisonment for “causing fear” with speech—applicable even if no harm occurs, and applies retroactively.

  • Broad definition of “public space” includes online speech; government can declare “prohibited” groups/symbols with no recourse.

  • Maria Z.:

    “There is no such thing as hate speech. Hate speech is simply speech that certain people don’t like... you don’t get to decide who is and isn’t allowed to say what they want to say.” [47:41]

• Implications:

  • Law is vague, allows prosecution even without evidence someone felt fear.

  • Religious “protections” seem to only apply to Jews, Sikhs, and in some Canadian precedent, Islamic clergy; Christianity explicitly excluded.

  • Maria Z.:

    “It feeds into that digital ID ecosystem... all words you express or even think will form part of your digital dossier and eventually be used against you in a social credit system.” [53:24]

• Australian Public’s Response:

  • Historically passive, but resistance is growing; fear that opposition is too little, too late.

6. Alberta Secession: Canada’s Internal Revolt

Guest: David Creighton, Segment start: 65:12

• Growing Independence Movement:

  • Record polling (45%+) in favor of Alberta breaking away from Canada, driven mostly by the federal government’s imposition of unpopular progressive policies and “equalization payments.”

    “Albertans are paying billions of dollars so Ontario [and Quebec] can use Albertan’s money to pay for social programs... People resent that tremendously.”
    — David Creighton [68:11]

• Energy, Pipelines, and U.S. Alliance:

  • U.S. is Alberta’s natural trade partner (88% of exports).
  • Trump administration reportedly open to Alberta joining as the 51st state if independence is achieved.
  • Federal government (Ottawa) seen as obstructing Alberta’s oil industry and prosperity through policy.

• Prospects:

  • Provincial referendum expected in Fall 2026: “Should Alberta be independent and leave Canada?”
  • Debate over whether Albertans would want statehood with the U.S. or simply to stand alone.

Notable Quotes/Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• On Western Media & War:

  “This simplistic crap that was being spun in the West that all we've gotta do is put enough pressure and the Ayatollah is going to flee to Moscow. Nonsense.”
  — Larry Johnson, [14:37]

• On Iran’s Right to Self-Defense:

  “In terms of who's been killing more of the other side, it is the United States that's got the most blood on its hands, not Iran. And yet we persist with this lie that Iran is a terrorist state. I challenge anybody. Show me the numbers.”
  — Larry Johnson, [19:15]

• On Nuclear Sabre-Rattling:

  “Faced with an existential threat... Israel would be tempted to use a nuclear weapon. Yes. But that comes at a potential very high cost when you've got countries such as North Korea and Pakistan who are also nuclear powers.”
  — Larry Johnson, [22:57]

• On Canada-style Speech Laws in Australia:

  “These countries bring in hate speech bills about controlling the population... Christians get arrested for praying outside of an abortion clinic... It always ends up protecting all religions and Christians being treated as criminals.”
  — Maria Z., [53:24, 54:25]

• On the Alberta Secession Vote:

  “This is the most, potentially the most real opportunity for Alberta to become an independent nation independent state in the history of Canada.”
  — David Creighton, [65:12]

• On Economic Collapse and Precious Metals:

  “I think it’s now a race to get out of the dollar, to get out of US stocks, to get out of US Bonds. We have a real crisis coming and we can't do anything to prevent it, but we can do something to protect ourselves.”
  — Peter Schiff, [41:10]

Important Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Topic/Guest | Timestamp | |-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|---------------| | Israel-Iran Situation | Media breakdown, guest intro (Larry Johnson) | 05:25 - 07:49 | | CIA/Mossad Operations; Putin’s Role | Larry Johnson full breakdown | 09:11 - 18:10 | | Israeli Nukes & Stalemate | Larry Johnson; Israeli source view | 18:10 - 23:56 | | Gold & Silver Surge, U.S. Crisis | Peter Schiff | 27:33 - 41:33 | | Silver Shorts & Bank Collapse? | Schiff, inflation’s personal impact | 34:18 - 37:30 | | Australia Antisemitism Law | Maria Z., free speech, Christianity | 47:11 - 61:03 | | Alberta Independence | David Creighton, secession movement | 65:12 - 80:06 |

Summary Takeaways

• The “averted” Iran war is less a story of de-escalation and more a tale of failed covert action, Russian intervention, and energy/geopolitical realities forcing Western retreat—temporarily.
• Western media narratives about Israel’s intentions are, in the hosts’ view, largely misleading PR; real risk remains of war being postponed, not prevented.
• Economic signals—soaring gold and silver, rapid global de-dollarization—point to a looming U.S. financial crisis of historical magnitude.
• Australia’s proposed hate speech law is not just about antisemitism; guests argue it threatens civil liberties and targets Christianity.
• Alberta’s secession sentiment is at historic highs, driven by economic grievance and political alienation from Ottawa; U.S. partnership, even statehood, is on the table.

The discussion is laced with skepticism towards government and corporate media, a strong defense of free speech and personal sovereignty, and warnings to ordinary people to prepare economically and politically for turbulent years ahead.