The Israel–Iran confrontation has shifted from covert operations to open brinkmanship, dragging big-tech platforms, energy markets, and nuclear red lines into the same fight. In this episode Aparna and Harinda unpack the war’s geopolitical chessboard, explain the historical triggers, and map how Silicon Valley, surveillance AI, and information control now shape every battlefield decision.

🔍 What you’ll gain

• Context you can trust — a concise timeline of Iran–Israel tensions and why 2025 is different.

• Tech-power insight — how drone chips, satellite internet, and data centers became strategic weapons.

• Actionable perspective — questions to ask when headlines frame the conflict as simple-good-vs-evil.

📌 Chapters

00:00 The Chessboard of Geopolitics

01:31 Understanding the Israel-Iran Conflict

02:56 Historical Context and Current Dynamics

06:52 The Role of the United States

10:20 Global Reactions and Implications

14:35 The Human Cost of Conflict

20:42 Intelligence and Complexity in Geopolitics

20:59 The Role of Big Tech in Warfare

21:42 Energy Dynamics and Nuclear Technology

23:38 Military Contracts and Tech Companies

24:50 Tech Leaders in Military Operations

29:24 Ethics in Warfare and Big Tech

30:14 The Question of Ethics in Conflict

35:23 Censorship and Information Control

38:13 Nuclear Proliferation and Sovereignty

39:32 The Role of PR in Modern Warfare

👥 Stay connected

• Aparna Bhushan • Harinda Katugaha • More context & full transcripts: rethinkingtech.co

Follow the show for weekly briefings that connect technology, geopolitics, and ethics — without the noise.