🔥 Iran's Largest Missile Barrage Yet! 🔥 In this explosive episode of The Focus, we dive into the unprecedented Iranian missile strikes on Israel in 2024, the largest of its kind since the conflict began. With 200 ballistic missiles fired, retaliation for the assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and Israel's air defenses pushed to the limit, we sit down with Professor Scott Lucas, an expert in international relations, to break down what this all means for the future of the Middle East. Could this be the flashpoint for a larger conflict? 🚨 Don't miss this must-listen episode!



SHOW NOTES:

X: @ScottLucas_EA

Website: eaworldview.com

Books:

(Eds. Bevan Sewell & Scott Lucas ) Challenging US Foreign Policy: America and the World in the Long Twentieth Century, 2011.

(Eds. Scott Lucas & Ali Fisher) The Trials of Public Diplomacy, 2010.

Scholarly Articles:

Lucas, Scott & Paraszczuk, Joanna. (2014). The Middle East: Between Geography and Power. Bustan: The Middle East Book Review. 5. 17-23. 10.1163/18785328-00501002. 

🔥 Iran's Largest Missile Barrage Yet! 🔥 In this explosive episode of The Focus, we dive into the unprecedented Iranian missile strikes on Israel in 2024, the largest of its kind since the conflict began. With 200 ballistic missiles fired, retaliation for the assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, and Israel's air defenses pushed to the limit, we sit down with Professor Scott Lucas, an expert in international relations, to break down what this all means for the future of the Middle East. Could this be the flashpoint for a larger conflict? 🚨 Don't miss this must-listen episode!
 
SHOW NOTES:
X: @ScottLucas_EA
Website: <a href="http://eaworldview.com">eaworldview.com</a>
Books:
(Eds. Bevan Sewell &amp; Scott Lucas ) Challenging US Foreign Policy: America and the World in the Long Twentieth Century, 2011.
(Eds. Scott Lucas &amp; Ali Fisher) The Trials of Public Diplomacy, 2010.
Scholarly Articles:
Lucas, Scott &amp; Paraszczuk, Joanna. (2014). The Middle East: Between Geography and Power. Bustan: The Middle East Book Review. 5. 17-23. 10.1163/18785328-00501002.

The news today is often biased at the personal, organisational and structural levels, polarising our societies. The Focus is a program designed to cut through this bias to get at the heart of a topic. Join Host Dr. John Bruni and Producers Malcolm Hughes and Neil Smart as they examine the pressing issues of our time whether in Australia or overseas. In an interdependent, troubled and fast-moving world, knowing what questions to ask can lead us to understand and adapt to new and disruptive circumstances.

The Focus

Middle East at War | Israel vs. Iran

Can Ukraine’s security dilemma reshape the global nuclear order? Join us as we explore the chilling realities of nuclear escalation, broken international promises, and what it takes to secure lasting peace with expert Mariana Budjeryn.

Show Notes:

https://www.belfercenter.org/person/mariana-budjeryn

https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/mariana-budjeryn-personal-perspective-war-ukraine

https://thebulletin.org/2024/11/biden-allowing-ukraine-to-strike-into-russia-is-much-ado-for-little-consequence/#post-heading

https://thebulletin.org/2024/10/why-russia-is-more-likely-to-go-nuclear-in-ukraine-if-its-winning/#post-heading

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-04-08/was-ukraine-wrong-give-its-nukes

https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/02/should-ukraine-have-kept-nuclear-weapons-deconstructing-the-decision-to-disarm?lang=en

Books - 

Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023) 

Can Ukraine’s security dilemma reshape the global nuclear order? Join us as we explore the chilling realities of nuclear escalation, broken international promises, and what it takes to secure lasting peace with expert Mariana Budjeryn.
Show Notes:
<a href="https://www.belfercenter.org/person/mariana-budjeryn">https://www.belfercenter.org/person/mariana-budjeryn</a>
<a href="https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/mariana-budjeryn-personal-perspective-war-ukraine">https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/mariana-budjeryn-personal-perspective-war-ukraine</a>
<a href="https://thebulletin.org/2024/11/biden-allowing-ukraine-to-strike-into-russia-is-much-ado-for-little-consequence/#post-heading">https://thebulletin.org/2024/11/biden-allowing-ukraine-to-strike-into-russia-is-much-ado-for-little-consequence/#post-heading</a>
<a href="https://thebulletin.org/2024/10/why-russia-is-more-likely-to-go-nuclear-in-ukraine-if-its-winning/#post-heading">https://thebulletin.org/2024/10/why-russia-is-more-likely-to-go-nuclear-in-ukraine-if-its-winning/#post-heading</a>
<a href="https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-04-08/was-ukraine-wrong-give-its-nukes">https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-04-08/was-ukraine-wrong-give-its-nukes</a>
<a href="https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/02/should-ukraine-have-kept-nuclear-weapons-deconstructing-the-decision-to-disarm?lang=en">https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/02/should-ukraine-have-kept-nuclear-weapons-deconstructing-the-decision-to-disarm?lang=en</a>
Books - 
Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023)

Ukraine’s Nuclear Crossroads?

🔥 What Will Trump 47 Mean for America and the World? 🚨 From immigration crackdowns to a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, we're diving deep with Dr. Roy Casagranda into the policies, global impacts, and controversies that could define Donald Trump’s second term. 🌍 Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on how his leadership might reshape domestic politics, the economy, education, and America’s role on the world stage. 🎙️ Tune in now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else!

Show Notes:

Roy Casagranda Links

X: @RoyCasagranda 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

Books by Roy:

The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

Articles by Roy:

Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

Glossary of Terms:

Affluenza is a term that combines "affluence" and "influenza" to describe the negative psychological, social, and ethical consequences of excessive wealth or materialism. It often refers to a condition where individuals, particularly in affluent societies, prioritize material gain and consumerism over meaningful relationships, personal fulfillment, or social responsibility.

Key characteristics of affluenza include:

1.     Entitlement Mentality: A belief that one deserves special treatment or privileges due to wealth or social status.

2.     Lack of Accountability: Difficulty in understanding or facing the consequences of one's actions, often attributed to a sheltered or overly privileged upbringing.

3.     Emotional Detachment: Feelings of emptiness, dissatisfaction, or unhappiness despite material abundance.

4.     Consumer Culture: A compulsion to acquire more possessions, equating them with happiness or success, often leading to financial strain or debt.

The term is often used in both psychological discussions and cultural critiques to highlight the downsides of material wealth and unchecked consumerism. It gained broader recognition after being used in legal contexts to describe the behavior of individuals whose privilege was cited as a factor in poor decision-making or lack of moral responsibility.

Filibuster is a parliamentary tactic used primarily in the U.S. Senate to delay or block legislative action by extending debate on a proposed bill or other matters.

World War I, Battle of Jutland The Battle of Jutland, fought from May 31 to June 1, 1916, was the largest naval battle of World War I and a pivotal clash between the British Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet. It took place in the North Sea, near Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula.

🔥 What Will Trump 47 Mean for America and the World? 🚨 From immigration crackdowns to a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, we're diving deep with Dr. Roy Casagranda into the policies, global impacts, and controversies that could define Donald Trump’s second term. 🌍 Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion on how his leadership might reshape domestic politics, the economy, education, and America’s role on the world stage. 🎙️ Tune in now for insights you won’t hear anywhere else!
Show Notes:
Roy Casagranda Links
X: @RoyCasagranda 
TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc</a>
Website: <a href="https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html">https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html</a>
Books by Roy:
The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.
Articles by Roy:
Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, <a href="https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408">https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408</a>.
Glossary of Terms:
Affluenza is a term that combines "affluence" and "influenza" to describe the negative psychological, social, and ethical consequences of excessive wealth or materialism. It often refers to a condition where individuals, particularly in affluent societies, prioritize material gain and consumerism over meaningful relationships, personal fulfillment, or social responsibility.
Key characteristics of affluenza include:
1.     Entitlement Mentality: A belief that one deserves special treatment or privileges due to wealth or social status.
2.     Lack of Accountability: Difficulty in understanding or facing the consequences of one's actions, often attributed to a sheltered or overly privileged upbringing.
3.     Emotional Detachment: Feelings of emptiness, dissatisfaction, or unhappiness despite material abundance.
4.     Consumer Culture: A compulsion to acquire more possessions, equating them with happiness or success, often leading to financial strain or debt.
The term is often used in both psychological discussions and cultural critiques to highlight the downsides of material wealth and unchecked consumerism. It gained broader recognition after being used in legal contexts to describe the behavior of individuals whose privilege was cited as a factor in poor decision-making or lack of moral responsibility.
Filibuster is a parliamentary tactic used primarily in the U.S. Senate to delay or block legislative action by extending debate on a proposed bill or other matters.
World War I, Battle of Jutland The Battle of Jutland, fought from May 31 to June 1, 1916, was the largest naval battle of World War I and a pivotal clash between the British Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet. It took place in the North Sea, near Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula.

Election 2024 | Postmortem

In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Roy Casagranda to delve into the high-stakes landscape of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With democracy, alliances, and the global order on the line, Dr. Casagranda unpacks the complexities surrounding Trump AND Harris as presidential candidates, exploring how their policies and political manoeuvres could reshape America and its role on the world stage. Join us for this in-depth analysis of an election that could redefine the future.

Show Notes:

Roy Casagranda Links

X: @RoyCasagranda 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Website: https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html

Books by Roy:

The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.

Articles by Roy:

Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408.

Glossary of Terms:

NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), 1 July 2020.

FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt), 32nd President of the United States.

Jill Stein from Pennsylvania is an American physician, activist & politician associated with the Green Party. Her political campaigns primary revolve around the Green New Deal.

In our latest episode of The Focus, we sit down with Dr. Roy Casagranda to delve into the high-stakes landscape of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. With democracy, alliances, and the global order on the line, Dr. Casagranda unpacks the complexities surrounding Trump AND Harris as presidential candidates, exploring how their policies and political manoeuvres could reshape America and its role on the world stage. Join us for this in-depth analysis of an election that could redefine the future.
Show Notes:
Roy Casagranda Links
X: @RoyCasagranda 
TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc">https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.roy.casagranda?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc</a>
Website: <a href="https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html">https://gov.casagranda.com/index.html</a>
Books by Roy:
The Blood Throne of Caria (Empire of the Nightingale Book 3), Sekhmet Liminal Press, LLC, 2018.
Articles by Roy:
Nationalism and the Left: Liberation not Supremacy, IAI News, March 3, 2023, <a href="https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408">https://iai.tv/articles/nationalism-and-the-left-roy-casagranda-auid-2408</a>.
Glossary of Terms:
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), 1 July 2020.
FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt), 32nd President of the United States.
Jill Stein from Pennsylvania is an American physician, activist &amp; politician associated with the Green Party. Her political campaigns primary revolve around the Green New Deal.

Middle East at War | Israel vs. Iran

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