Are we really on the brink of World War Three — or are we simply being herded into panic by a media economy that thrives on fear?

In this episode of Mark and Pete, we take a clear-eyed, historically grounded look at rising tensions between the United States and Iran, with Donald Trump once again looming large in the background of global affairs. Missile tests, proxy conflicts, sanctions, and strong rhetoric are all familiar features of this long-running geopolitical drama — but familiarity doesn’t stop headlines from screaming “WW3” at the slightest provocation.

Rather than joining the chorus of alarm, Mark and Pete ask harder questions. How often has the world stood closer to catastrophe than we realise? Why does modern media benefit from amplifying fear? And why does Trump’s loud, unpredictable style often coincide with a surprising reluctance to start new wars?

Drawing on Cold War history, biblical theology, and cultural analysis, this episode challenges the assumption that conflict automatically means collapse. Jesus warned about wars and rumours of wars — not as countdown clocks, but as features of a fallen world where power constantly jostles for position.

For Christians, the call is neither denial nor doom-scrolling, but calm discernment. History is noisy. God is not absent. And panic has never been a spiritual gift.

A sober, thoughtful conversation for anyone tired of being told the end is always five minutes away.