Note: We had a tech issue and Connor's audio did not record. We are releasing the shortened show with Kyle discussing Yemen and Afghanistan. 

On COI #296, Kyle Anzalone and Connor Freeman cover the latest Afghanistan, Yemen, and Iran news. Kyle breaks down how Antony Blinken’s State Department and Samantha Power’s Agency for International Development are stonewalling the top oversight official for Afghanistan’s critical investigations and audits. Kyle also reports that the UN’s World Food Program will make severe cuts to its humanitarian aid mission for Yemen. Having just raised a quarter of its $2 billion funding target, cuts to the Yemen mission will see 13 million people currently reliant on WFP emergency food assistance, almost half the population, reviving only half or a quarter of their daily food requirement. Connor details the latest Iran/JCPOA news including a recent round of talks the Qataris hosted and arranged by the EU. Once again, these negotiations saw the Americans and the Iranians speaking via intermediaries. Having already made considerable concessions, Tehran purged hardliners from its negotiating team as well. Nevertheless, talks reportedly saw no progress. Iranian media says Washington refused to offer any guarantees on sanctions relief benefits.