On COI #198, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman update the Iran talks, tensions in eastern Europe, and America’s Cold War with China.

Kyle reports on today’s talks between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tensions continue to rise over the Ukrainian-Russian border and war in the Donbas is threatened. Moscow wants legally binding guarantees that the U.S. will not deploy more troops and military equipment to its borders, as well as an immediate halt to NATO’s eastward expansion.

Connor covers the latest on the JCPOA talks. The U.S. claims Tehran is intransigent and not taking the  negotiations seriously. Connor examines both sides' demands and argues that it is the Americans who refuse to engage in good faith. Tel Aviv is dispatching the head of the Mossad and the Israeli Defense Minister to Washington. Reportedly, they will push the U.S. to attack Iran, increase sanctions, and spread lies regarding Iran’s supposed race to build a bomb. But the CIA Director has now announced Tehran is not seeking a nuclear weapon.

Kyle also breaks down the latest developments in Washington’s multi-layered anti-China campaign. U.S. diplomats will boycott the next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics over discredited and debunked claims that China is committing a “genocide” against their Uighur population. Biden has set new records for how many spy planes the U.S. is flying in the South China Sea. Last month, 94 such sorties were recorded. Defense Chief Lloyd Austin has proclaimed the U.S. is a “pacific power” and there is even talk of expanding the AUKUS military pact.