Political cartoonist Ted Rall and CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou deprogram you from mainstream media every weekday at 9 AM EST.

Today we discuss:

• Middle East War: The Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, U.S. officials said, as thousands of American soldiers and Marines arrive in the Middle East for what could become a dangerous new phase of the war. Trump says he might attack Kharg Island and claims the U.S. might steal Iran’s oil. Yemen’s Houthis threaten Bab-el-Mandeb, an alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz via the Red Sea.

• Cuban Crisis: The U.S. allows a Russian tanker to deliver oil to Cuba. The Castros step back into the breach. The U.S. blockade of medical supplies is killing Cuban medical patients.

• Pope Leo says that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have “hands full of blood,” and called the Middle East conflict “atrocious” and said Jesus cannot be ⁠used to justify any wars. The proselytizing Christian campaign of Pete Hegseth violates norms, risks unconstitutionality, and undermines the bonds of mutual respect between troops that are essential, especially in wartime.

• Pickax CEO Jeff Dornik joins to discuss free speech online.

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