In this episode, Alex shares hesitant optimism after learning that Jim Jordan is no longer attempting to be the speaker of the house after a failed third vote. Next, Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, told a parliamentary group about a three-step plan to establish a “new security reality” involving the war against Hamas and how to treat Gaza. Alex goes through each point and expresses worries that this plan could take years and years and could only backfire. He argues that democracies are still treating the war on terror as if it is a traditional war and this is the wrong way to approach it. Next, Alex gives an analysis of Joe Biden’s address last night from the Oval Office. The speech was important and again highlights Biden’s moral clarity in defending freedom, open societies, and holding autocrats accountable. Finally, a new pepper has passed the Carolina Reaper was the hottest pepper in the world. This pepper is called Pepper X and is 2.7 million on the Scoville Heat Units system.