Did America Just Switch Sides on Ukraine? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

John Kiriakou is a former CIA officer who worked as both an analyst and operations officer, serving on the Iraq portfolio, in Greece, and in Pakistan, where he helped lead the capture of Abu Zubaydah. He later became a prominent whistleblower on the CIA’s post-9/11 torture program, was prosecuted under the Espionage Act, served time in federal prison, and has since worked as an author, commentator, and lecturer.

Krishna Thapa looks back on his journey from growing up in Nepal and earning a place in the Gurkhas to passing SAS selection and serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other operations around the world. We also discuss mountain warfare, the culture of the SAS, the loss of fellow operators, and how meditation and the “Warrior Monk” mindset helped shape his life after military service. Today's Sponsors: VAER Watches ⬇️ https://www.vaerwatches.com/theteamhouse get a free watch roll with your purchase. 20% for active duty, veteran, leo, & first responders GhostBed ⬇️ https://www.ghostbed.com/house FOR 10% off! PrizePicks ⬇️ Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/TEAMHOUSE and use code TEAMHOUSE and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! For ad free video and audio and access to live streams...JOIN OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse To help support the show and for all bonus content including: -live shows and asking guest questions -ad free audio and video -early access to shows -Access to ALL bonus segments with our guests Subscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse ___________________________________________________ GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN" ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/ Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured Jack Murphy's book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/ Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️ https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouse Social Media: ⬇️ The Team House Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_link The Team House Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePod Jack’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_link Jack’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21 Team House Discord: ⬇️ https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6 "Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio" 00:00 – Start 01:04 – Growing Up in Nepal & the Gurkha Bloodline 04:56 – His Grandfather, World War II & the Kukri 07:21 – The Kukri: Tool, Symbol & Weapon 08:07 – Being Born Into a Gurkha Family Legacy 10:37 – The History of the Gurkhas 13:03 – Attempting Gurkha Selection at 17 14:10 – The Brutal Doko Race 16:14 – Growing Up in the Himalayas & Preparing for Selection 17:50 – Failing Gurkha Selection the First Time 18:36 – Coming Back & Making It on His Second Attempt 19:55 – Gurkha Basic Training & Learning English 21:39 – British Officers & the Gurkha Command Structure 24:22 – Joining 1st Royal Gurkha Rifles 25:09 – Life Inside a Gurkha Battalion 27:27 – Years of Training, Courses & Preparing for War 28:41 – Jungle Warfare in Brunei 29:32 – How the SAS Suddenly Entered the Picture 31:07 – The First Gurkha Trial for SAS Selection 33:41 – Arriving at SAS Selection With 375 Candidates 37:05 – The Mental Pressure of SAS Selection 38:33 – Only Two Gurkhas Make It Through 40:10 – Adapting to SAS Culture 43:16 – Jungle Selection in Brunei 46:08 – Joining SAS Mountain Troop 48:00 – Learning Mountaineering From Scratch 49:36 – Why Mountain Warfare Is So Difficult 52:08 – Nepalese Operators in the SBS 52:40 – Mentoring Fellow Nepalese Special Operators 54:12 – The Culture Shock of Joining the SAS 56:56 – Deployments With the SAS 58:03 – Going to War in Iraq 59:16 – The Missions That Stayed With Him 1:00:44 – Using Mountain Warfare Skills in Afghanistan 1:02:02 – Becoming Chief of Mountain & Winter Warfare 1:03:29 – Teaching Special Forces Around the World 1:05:01 – His Final Assignment in UK Special Forces 1:05:40 – Gurkhas, British Citizenship & Life After Service 1:07:09 – Planning for Retirement 1:08:06 – Meditation as a Secret Weapon During War 1:09:58 – Leaving the Military & Starting Over 1:10:33 – How the “Warrior Monk” Began 1:12:00 – Teaching People How to Fight and How to Heal 1:13:50 – Working With Veterans, PTSD & Civilians 1:14:37 – Warrio

original air date 3|1|24

We break down the escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the growing pressure on Riyadh’s air defenses, and whether the U.S. could be pulled into a new campaign in Yemen. We also discuss Trump’s Russian diesel deal, Iran’s use of Moscow as a diplomatic channel, and the deeper political dysfunction and public apathy shaping American decision-making. VAER Watches ⬇️ https://www.vaerwatches.com/theteamhouse get a free watch roll with your purchase. 20% for active duty, veteran, leo, & first responders Support the show on Patreon:⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse Jack's news outlet:⬇️ https://thehighside.substack.com/ Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️ Jon's Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett Jon's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett Jon's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackett Twitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackett Find Andy Milburn here: Twitter ⬇️ https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8 LinkedIn ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023 Substack ⬇️ https://amilburn.substack.com/ Andy’s book ⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations 00:00 – Start 00:19 – Houthis Strike Saudi Airports 01:20 – Deadly Ballistic Missile Attack on Riyadh Airport 03:30 – Houthis Warn Airlines Away From Saudi Airspace 04:40 – Is Saudi Arabia Running Low on Air Defense Interceptors? 06:30 – Should the U.S. Strike Houthi Missile Launchers? 07:30 – An American Killed in the Airport Attack 09:19 – Saudi-Backed Ground Offensive in Yemen 11:13 – Jack Joins the Conversation 11:32 – Is Iran Opening a Second Front Through the Houthis? 13:44 – What a New U.S. Air Campaign in Yemen Could Look Like 14:46 – Could the U.S. Put Ground Troops Into Yemen? 16:51 – Could Saudi Forces Handle the Ground War? 19:48 – Would Another Air Campaign Against the Houthis Work? 22:15 – The Real Goal: Protecting Saudi Arabia 23:31 – Bab al-Mandab, Houthi Missiles & the Ground Offensive 25:37 – Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal 27:09 – Why Ukraine Has Little Reason to Stop Striking Russia 28:10 – Russia, Iran & the Contradictions in U.S. Policy 31:07 – Diesel Prices, Midterms & the Russia Deal 34:18 – Havana Syndrome & a New Russia Investigation 36:55 – Iran Sends Negotiating Terms Through Putin 38:18 – Is the American Political System Becoming Permanently Gridlocked? 39:47 – Why Andy Thinks the U.S. Is Different From European Democracies 44:31 – Apathy, Doomerism & Losing Faith in Institutions 47:02 – What Could Actually Trigger a Systemic Crisis? 48:42 – Politics, Fandom & Escapism 49:49 – Why Americans Talk Sports More Than Geopolitics 53:26 – Why So Many Americans Have Checked Out of Politics 55:06 – Would Higher Voter Turnout Actually Change Anything? 56:15 – The Slow Erosion of American Institutions 57:55 – Politics as Entertainment 59:01 – Money in Politics & Endless Campaign Seasons 1:00:17 – Andy Signs Off 1:01:15 – AUSA, Drones & the Defense Industry 1:02:33 – Chinese Honeypots at AUSA 1:04:10 – Closing Thoughts

Naveed Jamali tells the story of how he went from a family business in New York to working with the FBI as a double agent against Russian military intelligence before eventually becoming a Naval Intelligence officer. We also discuss how the Russians recruit assets, the psychological toll of undercover work, encounters with suspected Chinese intelligence, and why counterintelligence still matters today. Today's Sponsors: VAER Watches ⬇️ https://www.vaerwatches.com/theteamhouse get a free watch roll with your purchase. 20% for active duty, veteran, leo, & first responders GhostBed ⬇️ https://www.ghostbed.com/house FOR 10% off! Quince⬇️ go to: https://www.quince.com/house for free shipping and 365 day returns Housecall Pro ⬇️ Ready to save time and win more jobs? For a limited time only, our listeners get 50% OFF base plans for their first 3 months at https://HousecallPro.com/HOUSE For ad free video and audio and access to live streams...JOIN OUR PATREON! https://www.patreon.com/c/TheTeamHouse To help support the show and for all bonus content including: -live shows and asking guest questions -ad free audio and video -early access to shows -Access to ALL bonus segments with our guests Subscribe to our Patreon! ⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse ___________________________________________________ GRAB JACK'S NEW BOOK "THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN" ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/803651/the-most-dangerous-man-by-jack-murphy/paperback/ Subscribe to the new EYES ON podcast here:⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/@EyesOnGeopoliticsPod/featured Jack Murphy's book "We Defy: The Lost Chapters of Special Forces History" ⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/We-Defy-Chapters-Special-History-ebook/dp/B0DCGC1N1N/ Or make a one time donation at: ⬇️ https://ko-fi.com/theteamhouse Social Media: ⬇️ The Team House Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.team.house?utm_medium=copy_link The Team House Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTeamHousePod Jack’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/jackmcmurph?utm_medium=copy_link Jack’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackmurphyrgr?s=21 Team House Discord: ⬇️ https://discord.gg/wHFHYM6 "Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio" 00:00 – Start 05:24 – How a Future Navy Intel Officer Became an FBI Asset 08:18 – Growing Up Around New York’s Espionage World 10:22 – Why New York Is a Hub for Foreign Intelligence 13:18 – How His Parents Became Involved With the FBI 14:25 – A KGB Officer Walks Into the Family Business 18:04 – Russian Surveillance & Sending a Message 19:15 – Meeting Oleg, the GRU Officer 20:15 – Why the Russians Wanted Open-Source Military Material 22:02 – Robert Hanssen & Rebuilding Russia’s Spy Network 23:40 – Russia’s Long-Term Plan to Cultivate an American Asset 26:32 – 9/11 & Wanting to Join Naval Intelligence 28:21 – Pitching Himself to the FBI 30:24 – Using Counterintelligence Work to Get Into the Navy 34:39 – Designing His Own Double-Agent Operation 36:28 – “Does Oleg Have a Gun?” 39:04 – The Psychological Toll of Living Undercover 39:52 – MICE: Why People Become Spies 44:43 – Convincing the Russians He Was Motivated by Money & Ego 48:30 – Taking the Relationship With Oleg to the Next Level 51:06 – Moving the Spy Meetings Out of the Office 52:28 – When Russia Started Tasking Him for Intelligence 53:31 – Walking Into Northrop Grumman for the FBI 55:03 – How Dangerous Was the Operation? 57:05 – Russian Intimidation After the Operation 59:03 – A Suspicious Encounter With Russia Today 1:02:04 – A Russian Approach Targeting a National Security Journalist 1:06:06 – Intelligence Agencies & the Press 1:09:29 – Influencers, Propaganda & Russian Money 1:12:22 – Being Surveilled by Suspected Chinese Intelligence 1:15:29 – A Surveillance Vehicle Outside His Home 1:17:06 – Why Chinese Intelligence Was Interested in Him 1:19:05 – The Counterintelligence Threat From China 1:23:28 – Showing Oleg a Sensitive Government Database 1:25:08 – The Russian Thumb Drive That Nearly Blew Everything Up 1:26:20 – The FBI Turns on Him