The Continuum

By Rejil

Welcome to the Continuum! Here we look at what is happening now and how it connects to history. rejil.substack.com

  1. APR 4

    The Forgotten War That Killed a Million People | Iran-Iraq War

    In September 1980, Iraq invaded Iran. Saddam Hussein expected it to be over in weeks. It lasted eight years. It killed over a million people. It used chemical weapons on a scale not seen since World War One. This is Part 1 of our two-part series on the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988). This episode covers the ground war — the invasion, the human wave attacks, the chemical weapons, and the economic destruction. In this episode: — Why Iraq invaded Iran in 1980 — The human wave attacks and trench warfare that defined the conflict — How Iraq used chemical weapons — The final cost: a million dead, no territory gained, two economies destroyed This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    10 min

  2. MAR 28

    "We Did Iwo Jima" — What Lindsey Graham Got Wrong and What That Battle Actually Cost

    This week, Senator Lindsey Graham went on Fox News and said “We did Iwo Jima — we can do this” to argue for sending U.S. Marines to seize Iran’s Kharg Island. Republicans and Democrats immediately pushed back. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna called it “a lack of respect for life.” Rep. Jason Crow noted that nearly 7,000 Americans died and 19,000 were wounded at Iwo Jima. Rep. Nancy Mace said Graham “needs to be removed from the Situation Room.” Kharg Island and Iwo Jima are not the same. But when a U.S. Senator uses that name on national television to justify a military operation — the name deserves to be understood fully. Not as a symbol. Not as a slogan. As a specific, documented, devastating thing that happened to real people. This episode tells that story — through the numbers, through the terrain, and through the words of the men who survived it. In this episode we cover: — Why Iwo Jima was strategically critical — and why Japan’s commander built an underground city to defend it — What the beach was actually like on Day One — and why 2,400 Americans became casualties before nightfall — The real story behind Rosenthal’s flag photograph — and the 31 days of fighting that came after it — The Meat Grinder, Bloody Gorge, and the named killing grounds of the northern advance — Survivor testimony: what veterans said Iwo Jima did to them, in their own words — What Graham said, what his colleagues said back, and why the weight of this name matters This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    13 min

  3. MAR 21

    The CIA Coup That Broke Iran — 1953 Operation Ajax

    In August 1953, the CIA and British intelligence MI6 overthrew Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in a covert operation codenamed Operation Ajax. They did it in four days. They did it for oil. And for seventy years, they denied it. This is the full story — from the 1901 British oil concession that handed Iran’s resources to a foreign company, to the global embargo that strangled Iran’s economy, to the CIA operative who crossed into Tehran under a false name with a million-dollar budget and a plan to manufacture a revolution. And it’s a story that didn’t end in 1953. The coup that brought the Shah back to power laid the groundwork for the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the hostage crisis, decades of sanctions, and the Iran-U.S. conflict that continues today. In this episode we cover: — The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and 50 years of exploitation — Why Mosaddegh nationalized Iran’s oil — and why the West couldn’t allow it — Operation Ajax: the three-part CIA playbook of press, streets, and army — The first coup attempt that failed — and the three days that changed everything — The Dulles brothers’ conflicts of interest and who really profited — The direct line from 1953 to the Iran we know today. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    15 min

  4. MAR 14

    The 1973 Oil Crisis: How America Lost Control of Its Own Energy

    In 1972, a gallon of gas cost 36 cents. By 1980, the world had changed forever. This is the story of the 1970s energy crisis — the oil embargo that blindsided America, the gas lines that stretched for miles, and the political fallout that reshaped the country for decades. In October 1973, Arab members of OPEC launched an oil embargo against the United States in response to American support for Israel during the Yom Kippur War. What followed was one of the most dramatic economic shocks in modern American history — skyrocketing oil prices, fuel rationing, fistfights at gas stations, and a president asking citizens to turn down their thermostats. Then, in 1979, it happened again. The Iranian Revolution triggered a second energy crisis — and America realized it had never truly solved the first one. In this episode, we cover: — What caused the 1973 OPEC oil embargo — How the energy crisis affected everyday Americans — The political failures of Nixon, Ford, and Carter — The long-term consequences: fuel standards, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and the rise of Reagan — Why the lessons of 1973 still matter today This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    11 min

  5. MAR 7

    The Bridge That Exposed Political Cronyism: The Gordie Howe Bridge

    A billion-dollar bridge. A private billionaire. A sudden presidential threat.This is how the Gordie Howe Bridge exposed political cronyism in plain sight. The Gordie Howe International Bridge was designed to strengthen trade between the United States and Canada. Instead, it became the center of a controversy involving private business interests, government officials, and a last-minute threat that shocked both countries. This investigative documentary breaks down how a closed-door meeting between a powerful bridge owner and a top U.S. official was followed by a presidential attempt to block a major international infrastructure project — raising serious questions about corruption, influence peddling, and favoritism. Through reporting, timelines, and context, we examine how public policy can be shaped behind the scenes by those closest to power. This is not about steel and concrete — it’s about who really controls decisions that affect millions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    7 min

  6. FEB 28

    Julius Caesar: How War and Politics Made Him Ruler of Rome

    Before emperors ruled Rome, one man showed it could be done. Julius Caesar did not destroy the Roman Republic overnight. He survived it, learned from it, and mastered the broken system it had already become. In this episode of our Roman Emperors series, we follow Caesar’s life from his violent childhood during Rome’s civil wars to the battles, political maneuvering, and personal risks that made him the most powerful man Rome had ever seen. This is not just the story of Caesar’s assassination — it is the story of how war, debt, loyalty, and ambition slowly turned the Republic into a stage for one man’s authority. We explore: * Caesar’s early life under Sulla’s terror and Marian legacy * How debt, popularity, and spectacle built his political power * The First Triumvirate and the collapse of Republican norms * The Gallic Wars and the making of a military legend * The Rubicon decision and the civil war against Pompey * Cleopatra, dictatorship, and the fear of kingship * Why killing Caesar did not save the Republic — and never could Julius Caesar did not invent tyranny.He proved the Republic could no longer stop it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    15 min

  7. FEB 21

    How Fake Science Was Used to Justify Racism

    They used skulls, rulers, and fake science to decide who was human.This documentary exposes how pseudoscience was weaponized to justify racism. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, so-called scientists claimed they could measure intelligence, morality, and worth by measuring skulls. This episode examines phrenology, craniometry, and scientific racism, revealing how false data and biased methods were used to justify slavery, segregation, colonialism, and genocide. This is not fringe history. These ideas influenced governments, universities, immigration laws, and public policy — shaping racial hierarchies that still echo today. Through a narrative, evidence-based approach, this documentary shows how racism hid behind the language of science — and why confronting these lies still matters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    6 min

  8. FEB 14

    Leslie Wexner: The Billionaire Who Funded Jeffrey Epstein’s World

    Leslie Wexner is often remembered as the billionaire behind Victoria’s Secret and L Brands—but his influence went far beyond retail. In this video, we examine Leslie Wexner’s business empire, political donations, and financial networks, and how they intersected with Jeffrey Epstein, one of the most notorious figures of the modern era. Using documented records, court filings, and investigative reporting, this episode breaks down how money, shell companies, and political access created insulation from scrutiny for decades. This is not speculation or conspiracy—it’s a detailed look at how wealth and power operate behind the scenes, how financial structures obscure accountability, and why Epstein’s rise cannot be understood without examining the system that enabled him. We explore:• Leslie Wexner’s rise and retail empire• His political donations and institutional influence• Epstein’s power of attorney and access to Wexner’s wealth• Shell companies, trusts, and hidden money flows• Why Epstein retained power even after his first conviction• The unanswered questions that remain today This video is for educational and informational purposes and relies on publicly available sources. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rejil.substack.com

    6 min
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About

Welcome to the Continuum! Here we look at what is happening now and how it connects to history. rejil.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    By Rejil
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    61
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rejil
  • Show Website
    The Continuum