badlands podcast by borzou daragahi

Borzou Daragahi
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Politics
  • Updated Semiweekly

incisive and engaging commentary and intelligence on global affaiirs borzou.substack.com

  1. 19h ago

    US Wants To ‘Mow The Lawn’ In Iran. It Won’t Work (S01E141)

    Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Istanbul The US appears to be floating the notion that it could manage the crisis in Iran and the Persian Gulf by adopting the Israeli strategy of “mowing the lawn.” In the latest edition of badlands, I explain why it won’t work in Iran, and didn’t even work for Israel. Plus, I discuss how badly the US scheme of isolating Iran is already going. Finally, I talk about the latest in Iran with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  2. 1d ago

    Back To Bombs: US Launches Fresh Attacks On Iran (S01E140)

    Monday, August 31, 2026, Istanbul The US claimed it launched attacks on two missile launchers preparing to attack Persian Gulf shipping on Iran’s Larak Island. Iran says two military personnel were killed and two injured, and launched overnight counterattacks targeting US military sites in Jordan and the Arabian Peninsula. In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss the inevitability of the return to warfare as well as the escalating rhetoric preceding the bombing and the danger of the type of “preemptive” war thinking that drives the US thinking. In an interview with BBC News, I also discuss the deadly capsizing of a ferry departing from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Plus more talk about Iran as well as the CIA chief’s visit to Moscow last week in interviews with India’s NewsX World. badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Season 1, Episode 123 Trailer

    Who Screwed Lebanon? Iran? Israel? US? (S01E123)

    Thursday, August 6, 2026, Chicago Israel continues to hammer away at Lebanon and occupy much of the country’s south, even as the US and Iran appear to be heading toward another deal on the Persian Gulf. In the latest episode of badlands, scholar Nadim Shehadi joins me for a deep analysis and debate about which country—Iran, Israel, or the US—ultimately played the biggest role in turning Lebanon into a basketcase, and a site for regional conflict. Also in the episode, I discuss the latest effort by corporate Democrats in the US to grapple with the rise of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed and the leftwing of the party. Instead of voting blue no matter who, they are launching a $15 million effort to sabotage Democrat Socialists of America by digging up dirt and publicly smearing them. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  4. 4d ago

    US Bases, How Low You Can You Go? (S01E139)

    Friday, August 28, 2026, Istanbul It’s the six-month anniversary of the Iran war, and the conflict shows no sign of ending soon, even as fighting has momentarily calmed down. It is shaping up to be another forever war, but one that has ramifications for the whole world. In the latest episode of badlands, I briefly assess the state of the conflict, with a focus on the US bases that were hit by the Iranians during the war and may never ever be rescuscitated. I also examine the diplomatic fallout of the conflict, including a new strategic alliance formed by regional countries in reaction to the chaos and unpredictability of the US, which I discuss in an interview with South Era Networks. badlands is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, please, please, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Season 1, Episode 138 Trailer

    Oil’s Well That Ends Well In The Persian Gulf (S01E138)

    Thursday, August 27, 2026, Istanbul An extraordinary series of images published by Tanker Trackers showed the ship-to-ship transfers being used by the US to get oil across the Strait of Hormuz despite an Iranian blockade of the waterway. In the latest edition of badlands, energy analyst Nader Itayim joins me to sort through the lies and hype to figure out just how much oil is being moved out of the Persian Gulf and whether global energy supplies are dwindling. In an interview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the latest US efforts to impose Iran sanctions on other countries. Will they comply or not? I also discuss, Microsoft founder and Epstein class member Bill Gates attempt to rehabiliate his image by rebranding himself as an advocate for controls on artificial intelligence. Should we trust tech oligarchs to police themselves when it comes to AI? badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  6. 6d ago

    Iran Sanctions Could Tank The World Economy (S01E137)

    Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Istanbul Both US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Iran Parliament acknowledged that the US is treading on fragile economic ice with bond yields spiking and oil reserves plummeting. In the latest edition of badlands, I discuss why the US imposition of sanctions on Iran risks damaging an already weakened global economy. Also in this edition, I discuss the potential efficacy of the sanctions with India’s NewsX World. Also, in this episode I discuss the Pakistan’s continuing mediation efforts with the US and Iran in an interview with Pakistan’s Asia One. badlands is a viewer-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Season 1, Episode 136 Trailer

    Neocon Wars Have All Been Failures. Will Iran Be Different?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Istanbul US Secretary of State Scott Bessent launched the Trump administration’s “D-Day” sanctions on Iran to much fanfare. In the latest edition of badlands, I delve into the sanctions and attempt to assess whether they will be any more effective than previous rounds of sanctions on Iran. Plus, Nadim Shehadi and I debate models for the future of the Middle East, whether glittery global-connectedness of Dubai or the gritty resilience of Tehran is more desirable or feasible, as well as the successes and failures of the US wars in the Middle East. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

  8. Aug 24

    Economic War Against Iran: Will It Work?

    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit borzou.substack.com Monday, August 24, 2026, Istanbul After full-throttled war and half-hearted diplomacy, the administration of Donald Trump has settled on sanctions as away of achieving its goals on Iran. But does it even know what those goals are, and are they achievable? In the latest edition of badlands, retired American diplomat Alan Eyre joins me for a discussion about the ever-shifting nature of US policy on. Alan is a noted Iran specialist and fluent Persian speaker who became famous on Iranian social media for his eloquent posts and stellar language skills. Also in this episode, join for me a lively discussion with Pakistan TV about the efficacy of US sanctions—whether the Trump administration’s scheme to use economic pressure to get Tehran to accede to its demands might work. In a separate inteview with India’s NewsX World, I discuss the recent shift by Iran’s armed forces toward a more aggressive posture. And in non-Iran news, I discuss the recent attempts by governments and courts to rein in the abuses and power of big tech social media companies. badlands is a listener-supported podcast. To receive new episodes and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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incisive and engaging commentary and intelligence on global affaiirs borzou.substack.com

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