Armenian News Network - Groong: Week In Review Podcast

Groong Week in Review - March 15, 2026

Arthur Martirosyan examines the ongoing U.S.–Israel war on Iran and its uncertain trajectory, focusing on escalation risks, strategic objectives, and potential diplomatic offramps. The discussion then turns to regional spillover effects, particularly the risks for Armenia amid Iran–Azerbaijan tensions and broader geopolitical shifts. We conclude with an analysis of Armenia’s upcoming parliamentary elections, including the fragmented opposition landscape, concerns about electoral fairness, and contradictions in public opinion reflected in recent polling.

Topics

• Iran War
• Effect on Armenia
• June Parliamentary Elections

Guest

• Arthur G Martirosyan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 522 | Recorded: March 16, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/522

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We discuss with Hrant Mikaelian the expanding war on Iran and what it could mean for the region. We took a close look at the latest IRI poll and its disputed methodology and findings, and the emerging shape of Armenia’s parliamentary race. Hrant Mikaelian argued that Iran’s leadership transition signals greater resolve rather than collapse, that Azerbaijan is still constrained from direct action against Iran unless the Iranian state seriously weakens, and that the IRI poll raises major methodological and interpretive questions. The discussion then turned to the opposition field in Armenia, where newer forces may have room to grow, but where media imbalance and weak opposition reach remain major structural obstacles.

Topics

• Iran War Update
• IRI Poll Review
• Political Landscape

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 521 | Recorded: March 8, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/521

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Groong Week in Review - March 1, 2026

Topics

• US and Israel launch war against Iran
• Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties
• Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands
• Armenia leadership silent
• Sumgait remembered

Guest

• Hrant Mikaelian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 520 | Recorded: March 2, 2026

#IranWar #EpicFury #MiddleEastWar #ArmeniaForeignPolicy #Sumgait1988 #IranIsraelConflict

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Groong Week in Review - February 22, 2026

Topics:

• Iran War Fears
• June Parliamentary Elections
• Attacks on the Armenian Church

Guest: Dziunik Aghajanian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 519 | Recorded: February 25, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/519

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1FFkLOeY2lI

#Armenia #Iran #ArmeniaElections #ArmenianChurch #SouthCaucasus

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Groong Deep History - February 24, 2026

In the inaugural Groong Deep History episode, historian Prof. Zaroui Pogossian joins the show to unpack the Vardanank wars and the Battle of Avarayr (451 AD). The conversation sets the longer political and religious context behind the conflict, explains what we can and cannot know from the main Armenian sources, and revisits the standard “moral victory” story through modern source criticism. Pogossian also discusses her work on medieval Armenia and previews an upcoming scholarly volume on Medieval Yeghegis, then uses a critical reading by Hayk Hakobyan to question common assumptions about Avarayr’s scale, geography, and strategy.

Topics:

• Vardanank Wars and The Battle of Avarayr
• Armenian Sources, Yeghishe and Parpetsi
• Politics, Christianity, Nakharar Power Dynamics

Guest: Zaroui Pogossian

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 518 | Recorded: February 22, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/518

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/1-o4Gv1v4vw
 
#GroongDeepHistory #Vardanank #BattleOfAvarayr #ArmenianHistory #ZarouiPogossian

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Conversations on Groong - Feb 15, 2026

• Vance visit, protocol and optics
• Tsitsernakaberd tweet, “autocorrect diplomacy”
• TRIPP corridor stake and sovereignty risks
• Nuclear SMR deal, costs and dependency
• Firebird AI project, power and value
• Drones, church silence, Baku charter and prisoners

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 517 | Recorded: February 13, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/517

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/4FEVG-lJVkE

#Groong #Armenia #JDVance #Tsitsernakaberd #TRIPP

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Groong Week in Review - February 8, 2026

Topics

• A European View of America
• JD Vance in Armenia
• Pashinyan vs. The Armenian Church
• Europe and Armenia

Guest

• Philippe Raffi Kalfayan

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 516 | Recorded: February 9, 2026

https://podcasts.groong.org/516

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Global Affairs in the Age of Trump 2.0

Conversations on Groong

Topics

• Trump 2.0 and the “Donroe Doctrine”
• Rules-Based Disorder?
• Iran vs. the “Big, Beautiful Armada”
• US Cohesion and Midterms
• JD Vance in the South Caucasus

Guests

• James Carden
• Pietro Shakarian

Hosts

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/515

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Conversations on Groong - February 5, 2026

Topics:

• Defining the “Canceling Russia” phenomenon
• The “cancel Russia” lobby
• Containment shifts to coercive transformation
• Russian Orthodox Church as battleground
• Kremlin “towers” and civilizational logic

Books by Tsygankov:

• “Canceling” Russia (2026): https://a.co/d/0izauT7T
• Russia’s Foreign Policy (2025): https://a.co/d/07NNNT6d

Guest: Andrei Tsygankov

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 514 | Recorded: February 4, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/514

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/WOLR5AuizEQ

#CancelingRussia #RussianForeignPolicy #UkraineWar #StateCivilization #TowersOfTheKremlin #RussianOrthodoxChurch

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Conversations on Groong - February 4, 2026

Topics:

• CSI Visits Jailed Cleric
• IRF Summit
• PACE MP Speaks Up

Guest: Joel Veldkamp

Hosts:

• Hovik Manucharyan
• Asbed Bedrossian

Episode 513 | Recorded: February 3, 2026

SHOW NOTES: https://podcasts.groong.org/513

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/gi1yk302jts

#ArmenianChurch #ReligiousFreedom #ClergyArrests #IRFSummit2026 #ChristianSolidarityInternational

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