1. Iran’s Leadership Structure Is Unclear and Fragmented
- Historically, Iran had a centralized system led by the Supreme Leader (Ayatollah) with ultimate authority over government, military, intelligence, and foreign policy.
- The text claims that after a major leadership disruption, there is no longer one clear decision-maker.
- Current leadership appears uncertain, divided, and harder to identify.
2. Power May Have Shifted to the IRGC (Military Control)
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is described as now holding major influence.
- IRGC controls:
- Military and missile programs
- Intelligence operations
- Proxy groups across the Middle East
- Economic/business networks
- This suggests Iran may be transitioning from a religious (clerical) system to a military-driven power structure.
3. Leadership Is Possibly a “Committee” Instead of One Leader
- Analysts suggest power is now shared among:
- IRGC commanders
- Security council members
- Multiple factions
- This creates:
- Slow decision-making
- Confusion in negotiations
- Higher risk of miscalculation during conflict
4. Increased Global Risk Due to Unclear Authority
- Without a single leader:
- Foreign governments don’t know who is actually making decisions
- Negotiations take longer and become unreliable
- This raises the risk of:
- Military escalation
- Aggressive actions (especially regarding nuclear policy and regional conflicts)
5. Shift From Religious Authority to Military Power
- Iran may be evolving from:
- “Divine/clerical rule” → “hard power/military rule”
- Military leadership tends to:
- Prioritize survival and strength
- Be less willing to compromise
- Act more aggressively
6. Civilian Government May Be Largely Symbolic
- Iran still has:
- A president
- Parliament
- Diplomatic officials
- However, these institutions likely operate under strict control of security/military leadership, not as independent decision-makers.
7. U.S. Political Context (Trump and Midterms)
-
- Emphasizes importance of midterm elections to Trump’s agenda
- Warns that losing Congress could lead to investigations and impeachment efforts
- Highlights:
- Political polarization
- Importance of voter turnout and swing states
8. Concerns About Chinese Influence and Espionage Example 1: Local Government Spy Case
- A California mayor allegedly worked as an agent for China:
- Spread propaganda
- Coordinated with Chinese officials
- Used media targeting Chinese-American audiences
Example 2: Attempted U.S. Government Infiltration
- A suspected Chinese operative offered:
- Money to a congressional aide
- In exchange for sensitive policy insights
- Demonstrates tactics like:
- Financial incentives
- Gradual recruitment
- Long-term influence operations
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right now.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
One of the biggest questions that I get asked on
a regular basis is who exactly is running Iran. The
truth is it is an incredibly complicated answer. For decades,
By the way, if you go back and look at history,
Iran had a very clear power structure. At the very
(00:20):
top was a supreme leader. Now, first it was the
Iatola kohmaning after the nineteen seventy nine Islamic Revolution. I
mentioned this, by the way, on this show before, and
I'm going to say it again. If you've never watched
the movie Rgo, go watch it. True story of the
fall of the Shaw of Iran and then what happened
(00:42):
afterwards with the American hostage crisis.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
It's an incredible.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Movie and it just gives you a lot of perspective
on what's happening now and how we got to where
we are. So if you go back to seventy nine,
you understand the Islamic Revolution, and then for decades it
was the iotola, right who's in charge? The Supreme Leader
was ultimately the authority. That authority was even above the president,
(01:06):
it was above parliament, it was above the military. The
Iatola controlled the armed forces. That's how it gave him
the legitimacy to be able to do whatever you want
to do and to be crazy right. Intelligence services were
also under the Iola. State media was also under the Iatola.
Nuclear policy was also under the Iotola, and major foreign
(01:28):
policy decisions did not go to the President of Iran.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
It went to the Ayatola.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Now, after the Americans took out the leader the Iatola,
the chaos and fallout from the war with the US
and Israel, that is where RAN's leadership structure appears more
fractured and honestly more murky than any point in decades.
It's the reason why the president has also been well,
(01:56):
honestly so understanding in the negotiations and trying to keep
the ceasefire. You're really trying to figure out who actually
is in charge because after the reported death, chaos within
the ranks and the power struggle was real. Now, officially
the new supreme Leader is believed to be the son
(02:17):
of Ali Komani, but according to multiple reports, including Reuters
and other international analysts, there is another person that may actually.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Be making the decisions instead.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Now many experts believe the real power is actually shifted
to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard known as the RGC, and
that changes absolutely everything. Now you have to understand something.
The IRGC is not just a military organization. They're more
than that. They're a terrorist organization. It is a political
empire with them as well. They control the intelligence operations
(02:56):
in Iran, They control the missile programs in Iran. They
also control and fund the proxy militious across the Middle East.
They also control and have massive business interests that fund them,
and much of Iran's internal security apparatus is run by
the IRGC. Now that means it has enormous influence inside
(03:20):
of the government. It's almost a government within the government.
But they have all the weaponry and the guns, the
power to blow things up. That's why many believe that
the IRGC is much more than a military organization. They're
running the show now.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
For years.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
To put in perspective, the Supreme Leader acted as the
referee between competing factions inside of the regime. Right, you
had the clerics, which were the religious radicals, the nuts.
You had the military, which was really a terrorist organization.
You then had the hardliners and the government as well.
You had the pragmatists that were trying to just say, hey,
(03:58):
can we calm down a little bit and live life
and enjoy it. We have a lot of resources. Then
you had Parliament and then you had the presidency. That
is a lot of people to deal with and a
lot of different perspectives that are all coming from radical ideology.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
But now analysts.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Say the referee may be gone all together, which is
the most interesting point of all. Reuters for example, they
recently reported that Iran no longer has a quote single
undisputed clerical arbiter at the top of the system, and
that wartime power has consolidated around the IRGC commanders and
(04:38):
the Supreme National Security Council. In other words, what Reuters
is saying is, instead of one man calling the shots,
you may now have a committee style power structure that's
dominated by multiple generals and multiple security officials. Now that
is where the uncertainty becomes enormous. I want to take
(05:00):
a moment and ask you to help the people in Israel,
with my friends at the IFCJ working right now on
the ground for all those in need. When we talk
about Israel, we're not just talking about a place. We're
talking about a people connected to a promise, a promise
made by God. One he has never broken, and one
that continues even today. Because God's character doesn't change what
(05:24):
he begins, He sustains what he promises, he fulfills, and
that matters today. Right now in Israel, families run to
shelters as sirens sound. Now, this isn't just a crisis.
It's a call to respond for Christians. Caring for Jewish
people isn't rooted in politics. It's rooted in trust and
(05:45):
a God who keeps his word. So we don't stay distant.
We step in with prayer and practical help. The International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews is on the ground, bringing food,
caring for the vulnerable, and reminding people they're not alone.
This is what it looks like to ligne your heart
with Gods, to pray, to show up, and to care.
(06:07):
So join us and praying for peace of Jerusalem and
for the people who need it right now. Visit pray
IFCJ dot org. That's pray IFCJ dot org. When countries
have unclear chain of commands, you've got a problem with
decision making and slowdowns. You have confusion over what decision
(06:30):
may have even been made, and then you have miscalculations
that become more likely within the government, especially than when
it's dealing with a foreign power like the United States
of America or Israel. And we're already seeing major signs
of that, especially over the last week. One report quote
officials saying that negotiations with.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Iran now take days longer.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Because there doesn't appear to be one single authority that
is capable of giving any answers me mediately. That's impossible.
So that's where the danger comes in. And this is
why you may be asking yourself the question why is
President Trump seeming so calm when dealing with the Iranians.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Well, look at the other side of this.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
We're talking about nuclear negotiations, We're talking about negotiations on
the strain of war moves as is there's also a
tax happening on ships in the Strait. You're talking about
dealing with military and militia proxies. You're talking about missile
strikes and potential military escalation with the United States of
America or Israel. So that also becomes another question. Who
(07:38):
in Iran is giving the final order? Is it the
IRGC commander is the Supreme National Security Council is a
coalition of hardline generals, and the answer appears to be
this all of the above, and that's why intelligence agencies
around the world right now are not only watching around closely,
(07:59):
but they're all also trying to figure out who's really
calling the shots, because historically, authoritarian systems often become unstable,
especially during leadership transitions. You've got the power struggles happening
behind closed doors. You then have very different factions competing
for influence. You have military leaders that begin assessing and
(08:22):
asserting themselves into places where they normally wouldn't do so,
trying to gain power. And in Iran's case, you also
have ideology, and then you've got religion and military power,
all of them colliding exactly at the same time. That
is abnormal for Iran. Some analysts now say Iran has
(08:42):
shifted from a clerical dictatorship to what amounts to a
military security state. One expert described it this way, saying, quote,
we've gone from divine power to hard power, and that's
a massive transformation for any country, especially Iran, because for decades,
(09:03):
Iran's legitimacy came from religious authority, the iatolis. But now,
according to reports, the generals may be running the show
while the clerics provide symbolic legitimacy at best, and that
matters because military regimes often behave very differently than religious ones.
(09:24):
Military leaders tend to prioritize survival and then deterrence and
then power projection, and they can also be more aggressive
because compromise may be viewed also as weakness if you're
wearing a uniform. And that's why some experts believe now
that Iran can become even more confrontational in the months
or weeks or days ahead, especially on nuclear issues and
(09:49):
regional military operations that can include attacks on their neighbors,
including Israel. Now, at the same time, Iran still is
maintaining the appearance of a civilian government. Technically, there is
still a president right now. Technically there's still a parliament
right now, there are still ministers, and there's still diplomats.
(10:11):
But most analysts agree these institutions only operate within limits
set by the security that's been established by the Supreme
Leader's office. So when Americans hear statements from Iran's president
or foreign minister, just remember it's important to understand that
you may not actually be listening to the ultimate decision
(10:34):
maker at all.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
The real authority is.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Probably sitting inside of a military bunker somewhere where the
IRGC commanders can basically dictate because they have the true
power to do, in essence, whatever the hell they want
in Iran. Right now, President Donald Trump he is very
concerned about the midterm elections, and it's clear that he's
(10:58):
trying to be president of the United States America. But
he also understands that if he doesn't turn into Donald
Trump the campaigner right now, that we could have major
problems come November. Now, President Trump is making it very
clear that the Republicans better get their act together, saying
that the midterm elections are not just another political fight,
(11:20):
but in his words, they are make or break for
his presidency, his agenda in the future direction of the country.
We also are learning now that behind closed doors, it's
also getting really intense. Trump has been warning Republicans that
if they lose control of Congress, Democrats will immediately move
(11:40):
to cripple's second term with investigation, subpoenas, and potentially even
another impeachment effort. Democrats have said they're actually willing to
go further than Donald Trump and impede the Vice President j.
D Vance and also go after and try to impeach
cabinet members as well. There was a House Republican retreat
(12:00):
that happened earlier this year. Trump bluntly told the lawmakers,
you gotta win the midterms, and he warned that if
Republicans lose, they'll find a reason to impeach me. Now,
whether you love President Trump or hate him, there's no
denying the political reality behind what he's saying. This is
a party, and I'm talking about the Democratic Party that's
(12:22):
made it clear they are going to weaponize government to
subpoena and to destroy anyone that is around Donald Trump.
Why because that's all they have to run on. They
hate Donald Trump and it seems to make their base
want to show up to vote. The White House knows
that if Democrats retake the House, the next two years
(12:44):
will turn into non stop political warfare. And it's exactly
what they did back in twenty sixteen, twenty eighteen, and
really every year even when Joe Biden was in office.
There will be committee investigations. They will explode overnight. I'm
quoting Democrats. We've already said that hearings will dominate cable news.
It's not a legitimate agenda for America. It's a legitimate
(13:08):
agenda destroy the presidency of the United States of America.
And that's why Donald Trump has been aggressively pressuring Republicans
to unify around a simple message. We secure the border,
we strengthen the economy, we lower prices, we restore law
and order. And you compare that to the radical Democrat chaos.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
The President also saying this about the midterms at the
White House earlier.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Okay, then I said, yeah, he's a dumb guy, and
then I said he's a Democrat. And I don't know
if people are gonna like that term or not. It
maybe catches on and maybe it doesn't. But it's true
that policies are insane and they would drive our country
into ruin. And we've got to do great in the midterms,
and if we don't, they will do everything they can
to destroy our country. There's something wrong with them. The
(13:56):
flow of deadly fenonel across our border is down, by
the way by over sixty percent, which is a record
nobody ever thought it was even possible. And coming in
by sea, it's down by ninety seven percent. And again
we're trying to find the three percent because we consider
them to be.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Among the bravest people anywhere in the world.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Anybody willing to get into one of those votes after
what they've witnessed, we would consider them to be among
the bravest in the world. These gains have been the result.
And what a job our military and others are doing.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
With respect is.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
That right, Paul, With respect to drugs coming in by sea,
meaning drugs coming in by water, by the ocean, by
the say, a lot of people don't know what I
mean by sea.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
President Trump talking at the White House and again making
it clear the control of the House is literally going
to come down to just a handful of districts in
states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, the swing states.
In many of those races, President Warrens will be decided
(14:59):
by suburban swing voters who have bounced back and forth
between Republican candidates and Democratic candates over the last several
election cycles. Trump is also facing another challenge presidents always
encounter in the midterms. There is a voter complacency. The
team that's in charge usually they stay home because they
(15:20):
feel like everything's fine, and the team that hates the
leadership in Washington. They show up, they're focused, they're angry,
and they want to get rid of conservatives. When your
side wins the White House, some supporters actually, well, they relax, right.
The opposition is energized, and as we know from the
Democratic leaders, they're angry.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Now. Democrats are already organizing around.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Abortion rights, healthcare costs, and accusations of course, that Trump
is abusing his executive power. Republicans now fear that there's
a real enthusiasm gap. I'm one of those, and that's
why Donald Trump is making it very clear he may
not be on the ballot come November, but his agenda
(16:06):
certainly is. He's essentially telling Republicans, if you want this
presidency to succeed, you have to treat the mid terms
like a presidential election. And behind the scenes, the stakes
are enormous. Trump's entire legislative agenda depends on Congress. We're
talking about things that matter to everyday Americans. The most
(16:29):
incredible tax cuts of our lifetime, energy independence and expansion
in the US, immigration reform, judicial appointments, which have been
phenomenal for President Trump. Budget fights, Yes, the President saying
we're spending too much money, getting rid of waste fraud,
and of use and military spending, which Democrats always hate.
(16:51):
You even have the fight over the Save Act electional
law changes, all of it becomes dramatically harder if Democrats
regain power. In many ways, Donald Trump is now saying
the twenty twenty six is literally the firewall protecting the
rest of his presidency. And there's another major factor here
(17:12):
as well. Republicans like to stay home when they're in
power historically, and what the President is saying is the
Democrats aren't going to stay home, so you shouldn't either.
We have two very interesting stories that we're going to
start off with today, and a lot of it deals
with China and just how much they're trying to infiltrate
(17:34):
and being successful at it in this country, possibly stealing
major national security secrets and government information, as well as
influencing the towns that many of you are living in.
Perfect example of this is what we've just learned about
a celebrated Democrat, a female California mayor, is now admitted
(17:55):
to being a secret spy for China, and she looks
very different to her photoshopped original images, which is part
of the story. Now, the mayor of the wealthy southern
California city has since resigned after admitting she secretly acted
as an agent for the Chinese government. According to the
federal plea agreement that was unsealed on Monday, the former
(18:19):
Arcadia mayor, just outside of La her name was Wang,
She's fifty eight, and she agreed to plead guilty to
felony charge of acting as an illegal foreign agent for
the People's Republic of China and helping push pro Beijing
propaganda inside the US. Now, you may ask yourself, why
(18:41):
would they want a random mayor. Well, let's be clear,
China wasn't getting a random mayor. They were getting a
mayor of a very wealthy suburb of LA and that
is exactly how she could help push pro Beijing propaganda
not only inside the US, but also with those that
have so much influence over our culture in law Los Angeles. Now,
(19:01):
the interesting part about the crime that she's been charged
with is it carries a sentence of up to ten
years in federal prison. The stunning case prompted immediate fallout
in Arcadia, where city officials confirm Wang stepped down from
both the city council and the Mayor's office on Monday.
Federal prosecutors alleged Wang spent years, let me say it again,
(19:23):
years working under the direction of Chinese government officials before
rising into elected office in Los Angeles County. They also
claim she used a Chinese language news website to distribute
propaganda favorable to Beijing while secretly coordinating with officials tied
to the Chinese Communist Party.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
This wasn't a low level operation.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
This was full influence on the Communist Party in China.
Authorities described the website as a fake news platform specifically
targeting Chinese Americans and that's where they find many of
their spies. Now the case is also triggered intense scrutiny
of Wang's carefully crafted public image. Again, China plays at
(20:09):
a different level. They've gone pro is the best way
I can describe it. Campaign photos and promotional images used
during her political rise depicted Wang and heavily polished and
retouched portraits that projected a glamorous and approachable persona to
the voters. I'll go back to the core point here.
China has gone pro in influencing America.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Now, the unedited.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Public images reveal a stark contrast to the stylized campaign
photographs that once appeared across city political materials and social media.
Her dramatic downfall came just hours after the City of
Arcadia announced Wang's resignation from the City Council and her
departure as the mayor. As a May eleventh, twenty sixteen,
(20:57):
Wang resigned from the Arcadia City Council, vacant her position
as mayor, the city said in a simple statement posted
online now. In its next meeting, the city Council says
they will select a new mayor and a Mayor pro
tem from among the remaining council members and will begin
discussing how Arcadia is District III will be represented until
next year's election cycle in November. Wang was elected to
(21:21):
the Arcadia City Council in twenty twenty two, and later
elevated to mayor through the city's rotating leadership system. According
to the Department of Justice, however, Wang's ties to Chinese
officials stretched back well before she ever took office, which
is exactly how they have so much influence in America
right now. Federal authorities say that from late twenty twenty
(21:45):
through twenty twenty two, Wang worked alongside her then fiance
under the direction and control of officials tied to the
Chinese government. Together, prosecutors say they operated the website called
us This News Center, which presented itself as a legitimate
Chinese American news outlet, while allegedly serving as nothing more
(22:07):
than a propaganda vehicle for Beijing, specifically to have major
influence in the US. According to the court filings, Chinese
officials sent Wang's articles and directives through the encrypted messaging
app we Chat, instructing her and others to publish content
that would be favorable to the Chinese Communist Party. One
(22:28):
of the most explosive examples outlined in the plea agreement
involved propaganda denying allegations of genocide and forced labor in China.
On June tenth, twenty twenty one, at Chinese government official
also allegedly sent Wang a pre written article. It was
titled China's stance on the of course forced labor issue.
(22:50):
Now there is no genocide. It started with there is
no such thing as forced labor in any production activity,
including cotton production, spreading such rumor as to defame China
and destroy the safety instability the message rate. According to prosecutors,
now we all know that there are many people that
are actually yes slaves and slave labor in China, like
(23:12):
the Wigers, which is a huge problem for China because
the world knows that many of them are enslaved against
their will and are being abused as.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
We speak now.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
The court document also says that Wang immediately reposted the
Chinese Communist Party propaganda to her website literally within minutes,
and then immediately sent the official link proving that it
had been published in America.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
So fast.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Thank you everyone, the official responded. Authorities say Wang repeatedly
reported analytics and audience engagement data back to Chinese officials
after publishing the propaganda articles for years in the US,
and one August twenty twenty one exchange side in the
plea agreement, Wang sent screenshots showing an article had to
receive more than fifteen thousand views after officials requested edits
(24:01):
to the story, saying great, the official responded, According to
the prosecutors, thank you, leader, Wang replied now. Federal prosecutors
say Wang never disclosed that the Chinese government was directing
the content appearing on her website. The case became even
more alarming to investigators because Wang ultimately assented into public office.
(24:23):
Now this isn't the only story that should be shocking
you right now, which brings me to part two of
what I was saying about just how concern you should
be about what's happening with China. We now know from
a New York Times report that their headline pretty much
says it all.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Quote.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
He offered a lawmaker's aid quick cash. Was he spying
for China? A staff member on the House China Committee
was promised ten thousand dollars for US policy insights on
issues like Venezuela and rare earth minerals. Identifying himself as
Chris Chen, reached out this winter to an aid on
(25:05):
the House committee focus on threats from China. He came
armed with a lucrative offer. The staff member, mister Chen
proposed could earn ten thousand or more by barely lifting
a finger. All he would need to do is agreed
to phone calls every other week to share information about
the committee's work and US foreign policy about China. Insights
(25:28):
into US trade or national security issues, including the Trump
administration's planned for Venezuela and the aftermath of the January
military operation there would be especially valuable mister Chen said.
To sweeten the pot, mister Chen reportedly promised to send
the aid two thousand dollars up front. The offer seemed
too good to be true. Instead of quietly accepting the deal,
(25:51):
the aid, whose identity The New York Times, agreed to
withhold because he works on sense of policy issues related
to China, he reported to his bosses on the House
Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The panel quickly
concluded mister Chin was not the Singapore based business consultant
he claimed to be, but instead likely a Chinese intelligence
(26:13):
officer or contractor seeking a new recruit. By framing the
initial offers a quote trial period, we learned mister Chang
dangled the expectation of a longer relationship, obviously with more
payments to come. It's a common recruitment offer to hook
up spies with real cash for those that are willing
(26:34):
to just drop a little information now. Rather than cut
off contact, the committee's Republican majority staff agreed to keep
talking to mister Chen. They record a series of calls
this winter to learn more about mister Chin's tactics as
well as his interests. Transcripts to those calls, which the
committee shared with The Times, alongside some of the recorded audio,
(26:57):
depict a determined and at times impatient individual eager to
earn the trust of his mark and get down to business,
meaning having results for the Chinese Communist Party. Mister Chin
mixed holiday greetings with elaborate questions about manufacturing, for example,
(27:17):
in Vietnam and Mexico, as well as the future of
Venezuela's oil industry. Now, what's truly incredible about this story
is the fact that the outreach by mister Chin to
an aid on the very committee that's responsible for investigating
Chinese national security threats appears to provide an unusually vivid
(27:39):
portrait of how Beijing spy services seeks to gain access
to sense of information from within the corridors of the
power in Washington. We also know about Chinese spies that
are sleeping with well former members of Congress while they
were in Congress. You may remember the guy from California
(27:59):
that was well sleeping with Fang Fang, the Chinese spy.
We also found out there was another Chinese spy that
for years, actually decades, was driving around a top Democratic senator.
So if you think this is a one off, it's not.
The scary part is right now there's hotelling how many
people are willing to take money from China to sell
(28:20):
out the United States of America, within our government, all
over the country.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
We'll keep following this story.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
I can promise you that we've got a lot more
that's going to happen the days ahead, So make sure
you don't forget. Grab our podcast, The Ben Ferguson Podcasts
wherever you get your podcasts as well, hit that subscriber
aught or download button so you don't miss any of
the breaking news.
Right now.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
One of the biggest questions that I get asked on
a regular basis is who exactly is running Iran. The
truth is it is an incredibly complicated answer. For decades,
By the way, if you go back and look at history,
Iran had a very clear power structure. At the very
(00:20):
top was a supreme leader. Now, first it was the
Iatola kohmaning after the nineteen seventy nine Islamic Revolution. I
mentioned this, by the way, on this show before, and
I'm going to say it again. If you've never watched
the movie Rgo, go watch it. True story of the
fall of the Shaw of Iran and then what happened
(00:42):
afterwards with the American hostage crisis.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
It's an incredible.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Movie and it just gives you a lot of perspective
on what's happening now and how we got to where
we are. So if you go back to seventy nine,
you understand the Islamic Revolution, and then for decades it
was the iotola, right who's in charge? The Supreme Leader
was ultimately the authority. That authority was even above the president,
(01:06):
it was above parliament, it was above the military. The
Iatola controlled the armed forces. That's how it gave him
the legitimacy to be able to do whatever you want
to do and to be crazy right. Intelligence services were
also under the Iola. State media was also under the Iatola.
Nuclear policy was also under the Iotola, and major foreign
(01:28):
policy decisions did not go to the President of Iran.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
It went to the Ayatola.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Now, after the Americans took out the leader the Iatola,
the chaos and fallout from the war with the US
and Israel, that is where RAN's leadership structure appears more
fractured and honestly more murky than any point in decades.
It's the reason why the president has also been well,
(01:56):
honestly so understanding in the negotiations and trying to keep
the ceasefire. You're really trying to figure out who actually
is in charge because after the reported death, chaos within
the ranks and the power struggle was real. Now, officially
the new supreme Leader is believed to be the son
(02:17):
of Ali Komani, but according to multiple reports, including Reuters
and other international analysts, there is another person that may actually.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Be making the decisions instead.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Now many experts believe the real power is actually shifted
to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard known as the RGC, and
that changes absolutely everything. Now you have to understand something.
The IRGC is not just a military organization. They're more
than that. They're a terrorist organization. It is a political
empire with them as well. They control the intelligence operations
(02:56):
in Iran, They control the missile programs in Iran. They
also control and fund the proxy militious across the Middle East.
They also control and have massive business interests that fund them,
and much of Iran's internal security apparatus is run by
the IRGC. Now that means it has enormous influence inside
(03:20):
of the government. It's almost a government within the government.
But they have all the weaponry and the guns, the
power to blow things up. That's why many believe that
the IRGC is much more than a military organization. They're
running the show now.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
For years.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
To put in perspective, the Supreme Leader acted as the
referee between competing factions inside of the regime. Right, you
had the clerics, which were the religious radicals, the nuts.
You had the military, which was really a terrorist organization.
You then had the hardliners and the government as well.
You had the pragmatists that were trying to just say, hey,
(03:58):
can we calm down a little bit and live life
and enjoy it. We have a lot of resources. Then
you had Parliament and then you had the presidency. That
is a lot of people to deal with and a
lot of different perspectives that are all coming from radical ideology.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
But now analysts.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Say the referee may be gone all together, which is
the most interesting point of all. Reuters for example, they
recently reported that Iran no longer has a quote single
undisputed clerical arbiter at the top of the system, and
that wartime power has consolidated around the IRGC commanders and
(04:38):
the Supreme National Security Council. In other words, what Reuters
is saying is, instead of one man calling the shots,
you may now have a committee style power structure that's
dominated by multiple generals and multiple security officials. Now that
is where the uncertainty becomes enormous. I want to take
(05:00):
a moment and ask you to help the people in Israel,
with my friends at the IFCJ working right now on
the ground for all those in need. When we talk
about Israel, we're not just talking about a place. We're
talking about a people connected to a promise, a promise
made by God. One he has never broken, and one
that continues even today. Because God's character doesn't change what
(05:24):
he begins, He sustains what he promises, he fulfills, and
that matters today. Right now in Israel, families run to
shelters as sirens sound. Now, this isn't just a crisis.
It's a call to respond for Christians. Caring for Jewish
people isn't rooted in politics. It's rooted in trust and
(05:45):
a God who keeps his word. So we don't stay distant.
We step in with prayer and practical help. The International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews is on the ground, bringing food,
caring for the vulnerable, and reminding people they're not alone.
This is what it looks like to ligne your heart
with Gods, to pray, to show up, and to care.
(06:07):
So join us and praying for peace of Jerusalem and
for the people who need it right now. Visit pray
IFCJ dot org. That's pray IFCJ dot org. When countries
have unclear chain of commands, you've got a problem with
decision making and slowdowns. You have confusion over what decision
(06:30):
may have even been made, and then you have miscalculations
that become more likely within the government, especially than when
it's dealing with a foreign power like the United States
of America or Israel. And we're already seeing major signs
of that, especially over the last week. One report quote
officials saying that negotiations with.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Iran now take days longer.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Because there doesn't appear to be one single authority that
is capable of giving any answers me mediately. That's impossible.
So that's where the danger comes in. And this is
why you may be asking yourself the question why is
President Trump seeming so calm when dealing with the Iranians.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
Well, look at the other side of this.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
We're talking about nuclear negotiations, We're talking about negotiations on
the strain of war moves as is there's also a
tax happening on ships in the Strait. You're talking about
dealing with military and militia proxies. You're talking about missile
strikes and potential military escalation with the United States of
America or Israel. So that also becomes another question. Who
(07:38):
in Iran is giving the final order? Is it the
IRGC commander is the Supreme National Security Council is a
coalition of hardline generals, and the answer appears to be
this all of the above, and that's why intelligence agencies
around the world right now are not only watching around closely,
(07:59):
but they're all also trying to figure out who's really
calling the shots, because historically, authoritarian systems often become unstable,
especially during leadership transitions. You've got the power struggles happening
behind closed doors. You then have very different factions competing
for influence. You have military leaders that begin assessing and
(08:22):
asserting themselves into places where they normally wouldn't do so,
trying to gain power. And in Iran's case, you also
have ideology, and then you've got religion and military power,
all of them colliding exactly at the same time. That
is abnormal for Iran. Some analysts now say Iran has
(08:42):
shifted from a clerical dictatorship to what amounts to a
military security state. One expert described it this way, saying, quote,
we've gone from divine power to hard power, and that's
a massive transformation for any country, especially Iran, because for decades,
(09:03):
Iran's legitimacy came from religious authority, the iatolis. But now,
according to reports, the generals may be running the show
while the clerics provide symbolic legitimacy at best, and that
matters because military regimes often behave very differently than religious ones.
(09:24):
Military leaders tend to prioritize survival and then deterrence and
then power projection, and they can also be more aggressive
because compromise may be viewed also as weakness if you're
wearing a uniform. And that's why some experts believe now
that Iran can become even more confrontational in the months
or weeks or days ahead, especially on nuclear issues and
(09:49):
regional military operations that can include attacks on their neighbors,
including Israel. Now, at the same time, Iran still is
maintaining the appearance of a civilian government. Technically, there is
still a president right now. Technically there's still a parliament
right now, there are still ministers, and there's still diplomats.
(10:11):
But most analysts agree these institutions only operate within limits
set by the security that's been established by the Supreme
Leader's office. So when Americans hear statements from Iran's president
or foreign minister, just remember it's important to understand that
you may not actually be listening to the ultimate decision
(10:34):
maker at all.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
The real authority is.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Probably sitting inside of a military bunker somewhere where the
IRGC commanders can basically dictate because they have the true
power to do, in essence, whatever the hell they want
in Iran. Right now, President Donald Trump he is very
concerned about the midterm elections, and it's clear that he's
(10:58):
trying to be president of the United States America. But
he also understands that if he doesn't turn into Donald
Trump the campaigner right now, that we could have major
problems come November. Now, President Trump is making it very
clear that the Republicans better get their act together, saying
that the midterm elections are not just another political fight,
(11:20):
but in his words, they are make or break for
his presidency, his agenda in the future direction of the country.
We also are learning now that behind closed doors, it's
also getting really intense. Trump has been warning Republicans that
if they lose control of Congress, Democrats will immediately move
(11:40):
to cripple's second term with investigation, subpoenas, and potentially even
another impeachment effort. Democrats have said they're actually willing to
go further than Donald Trump and impede the Vice President j.
D Vance and also go after and try to impeach
cabinet members as well. There was a House Republican retreat
(12:00):
that happened earlier this year. Trump bluntly told the lawmakers,
you gotta win the midterms, and he warned that if
Republicans lose, they'll find a reason to impeach me. Now,
whether you love President Trump or hate him, there's no
denying the political reality behind what he's saying. This is
a party, and I'm talking about the Democratic Party that's
(12:22):
made it clear they are going to weaponize government to
subpoena and to destroy anyone that is around Donald Trump.
Why because that's all they have to run on. They
hate Donald Trump and it seems to make their base
want to show up to vote. The White House knows
that if Democrats retake the House, the next two years
(12:44):
will turn into non stop political warfare. And it's exactly
what they did back in twenty sixteen, twenty eighteen, and
really every year even when Joe Biden was in office.
There will be committee investigations. They will explode overnight. I'm
quoting Democrats. We've already said that hearings will dominate cable news.
It's not a legitimate agenda for America. It's a legitimate
(13:08):
agenda destroy the presidency of the United States of America.
And that's why Donald Trump has been aggressively pressuring Republicans
to unify around a simple message. We secure the border,
we strengthen the economy, we lower prices, we restore law
and order. And you compare that to the radical Democrat chaos.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Now.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
The President also saying this about the midterms at the
White House earlier.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Okay, then I said, yeah, he's a dumb guy, and
then I said he's a Democrat. And I don't know
if people are gonna like that term or not. It
maybe catches on and maybe it doesn't. But it's true
that policies are insane and they would drive our country
into ruin. And we've got to do great in the midterms,
and if we don't, they will do everything they can
to destroy our country. There's something wrong with them. The
(13:56):
flow of deadly fenonel across our border is down, by
the way by over sixty percent, which is a record
nobody ever thought it was even possible. And coming in
by sea, it's down by ninety seven percent. And again
we're trying to find the three percent because we consider
them to be.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Among the bravest people anywhere in the world.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Anybody willing to get into one of those votes after
what they've witnessed, we would consider them to be among
the bravest in the world. These gains have been the result.
And what a job our military and others are doing.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
With respect is.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
That right, Paul, With respect to drugs coming in by sea,
meaning drugs coming in by water, by the ocean, by
the say, a lot of people don't know what I
mean by sea.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
President Trump talking at the White House and again making
it clear the control of the House is literally going
to come down to just a handful of districts in
states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Wisconsin, the swing states.
In many of those races, President Warrens will be decided
(14:59):
by suburban swing voters who have bounced back and forth
between Republican candidates and Democratic candates over the last several
election cycles. Trump is also facing another challenge presidents always
encounter in the midterms. There is a voter complacency. The
team that's in charge usually they stay home because they
(15:20):
feel like everything's fine, and the team that hates the
leadership in Washington. They show up, they're focused, they're angry,
and they want to get rid of conservatives. When your
side wins the White House, some supporters actually, well, they relax, right.
The opposition is energized, and as we know from the
Democratic leaders, they're angry.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Now. Democrats are already organizing around.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
Abortion rights, healthcare costs, and accusations of course, that Trump
is abusing his executive power. Republicans now fear that there's
a real enthusiasm gap. I'm one of those, and that's
why Donald Trump is making it very clear he may
not be on the ballot come November, but his agenda
(16:06):
certainly is. He's essentially telling Republicans, if you want this
presidency to succeed, you have to treat the mid terms
like a presidential election. And behind the scenes, the stakes
are enormous. Trump's entire legislative agenda depends on Congress. We're
talking about things that matter to everyday Americans. The most
(16:29):
incredible tax cuts of our lifetime, energy independence and expansion
in the US, immigration reform, judicial appointments, which have been
phenomenal for President Trump. Budget fights, Yes, the President saying
we're spending too much money, getting rid of waste fraud,
and of use and military spending, which Democrats always hate.
(16:51):
You even have the fight over the Save Act electional
law changes, all of it becomes dramatically harder if Democrats
regain power. In many ways, Donald Trump is now saying
the twenty twenty six is literally the firewall protecting the
rest of his presidency. And there's another major factor here
(17:12):
as well. Republicans like to stay home when they're in
power historically, and what the President is saying is the
Democrats aren't going to stay home, so you shouldn't either.
We have two very interesting stories that we're going to
start off with today, and a lot of it deals
with China and just how much they're trying to infiltrate
(17:34):
and being successful at it in this country, possibly stealing
major national security secrets and government information, as well as
influencing the towns that many of you are living in.
Perfect example of this is what we've just learned about
a celebrated Democrat, a female California mayor, is now admitted
(17:55):
to being a secret spy for China, and she looks
very different to her photoshopped original images, which is part
of the story. Now, the mayor of the wealthy southern
California city has since resigned after admitting she secretly acted
as an agent for the Chinese government. According to the
federal plea agreement that was unsealed on Monday, the former
(18:19):
Arcadia mayor, just outside of La her name was Wang,
She's fifty eight, and she agreed to plead guilty to
felony charge of acting as an illegal foreign agent for
the People's Republic of China and helping push pro Beijing
propaganda inside the US. Now, you may ask yourself, why
(18:41):
would they want a random mayor. Well, let's be clear,
China wasn't getting a random mayor. They were getting a
mayor of a very wealthy suburb of LA and that
is exactly how she could help push pro Beijing propaganda
not only inside the US, but also with those that
have so much influence over our culture in law Los Angeles. Now,
(19:01):
the interesting part about the crime that she's been charged
with is it carries a sentence of up to ten
years in federal prison. The stunning case prompted immediate fallout
in Arcadia, where city officials confirm Wang stepped down from
both the city council and the Mayor's office on Monday.
Federal prosecutors alleged Wang spent years, let me say it again,
(19:23):
years working under the direction of Chinese government officials before
rising into elected office in Los Angeles County. They also
claim she used a Chinese language news website to distribute
propaganda favorable to Beijing while secretly coordinating with officials tied
to the Chinese Communist Party.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
This wasn't a low level operation.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
This was full influence on the Communist Party in China.
Authorities described the website as a fake news platform specifically
targeting Chinese Americans and that's where they find many of
their spies. Now the case is also triggered intense scrutiny
of Wang's carefully crafted public image. Again, China plays at
(20:09):
a different level. They've gone pro is the best way
I can describe it. Campaign photos and promotional images used
during her political rise depicted Wang and heavily polished and
retouched portraits that projected a glamorous and approachable persona to
the voters. I'll go back to the core point here.
China has gone pro in influencing America.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
Now, the unedited.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Public images reveal a stark contrast to the stylized campaign
photographs that once appeared across city political materials and social media.
Her dramatic downfall came just hours after the City of
Arcadia announced Wang's resignation from the City Council and her
departure as the mayor. As a May eleventh, twenty sixteen,
(20:57):
Wang resigned from the Arcadia City Council, vacant her position
as mayor, the city said in a simple statement posted
online now. In its next meeting, the city Council says
they will select a new mayor and a Mayor pro
tem from among the remaining council members and will begin
discussing how Arcadia is District III will be represented until
next year's election cycle in November. Wang was elected to
(21:21):
the Arcadia City Council in twenty twenty two, and later
elevated to mayor through the city's rotating leadership system. According
to the Department of Justice, however, Wang's ties to Chinese
officials stretched back well before she ever took office, which
is exactly how they have so much influence in America
right now. Federal authorities say that from late twenty twenty
(21:45):
through twenty twenty two, Wang worked alongside her then fiance
under the direction and control of officials tied to the
Chinese government. Together, prosecutors say they operated the website called
us This News Center, which presented itself as a legitimate
Chinese American news outlet, while allegedly serving as nothing more
(22:07):
than a propaganda vehicle for Beijing, specifically to have major
influence in the US. According to the court filings, Chinese
officials sent Wang's articles and directives through the encrypted messaging
app we Chat, instructing her and others to publish content
that would be favorable to the Chinese Communist Party. One
(22:28):
of the most explosive examples outlined in the plea agreement
involved propaganda denying allegations of genocide and forced labor in China.
On June tenth, twenty twenty one, at Chinese government official
also allegedly sent Wang a pre written article. It was
titled China's stance on the of course forced labor issue.
(22:50):
Now there is no genocide. It started with there is
no such thing as forced labor in any production activity,
including cotton production, spreading such rumor as to defame China
and destroy the safety instability the message rate. According to prosecutors,
now we all know that there are many people that
are actually yes slaves and slave labor in China, like
(23:12):
the Wigers, which is a huge problem for China because
the world knows that many of them are enslaved against
their will and are being abused as.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
We speak now.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
The court document also says that Wang immediately reposted the
Chinese Communist Party propaganda to her website literally within minutes,
and then immediately sent the official link proving that it
had been published in America.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
So fast.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Thank you everyone, the official responded. Authorities say Wang repeatedly
reported analytics and audience engagement data back to Chinese officials
after publishing the propaganda articles for years in the US,
and one August twenty twenty one exchange side in the
plea agreement, Wang sent screenshots showing an article had to
receive more than fifteen thousand views after officials requested edits
(24:01):
to the story, saying great, the official responded, According to
the prosecutors, thank you, leader, Wang replied now. Federal prosecutors
say Wang never disclosed that the Chinese government was directing
the content appearing on her website. The case became even
more alarming to investigators because Wang ultimately assented into public office.
(24:23):
Now this isn't the only story that should be shocking
you right now, which brings me to part two of
what I was saying about just how concern you should
be about what's happening with China. We now know from
a New York Times report that their headline pretty much
says it all.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Quote.
Speaker 2 (24:41):
He offered a lawmaker's aid quick cash. Was he spying
for China? A staff member on the House China Committee
was promised ten thousand dollars for US policy insights on
issues like Venezuela and rare earth minerals. Identifying himself as
Chris Chen, reached out this winter to an aid on
(25:05):
the House committee focus on threats from China. He came
armed with a lucrative offer. The staff member, mister Chen
proposed could earn ten thousand or more by barely lifting
a finger. All he would need to do is agreed
to phone calls every other week to share information about
the committee's work and US foreign policy about China. Insights
(25:28):
into US trade or national security issues, including the Trump
administration's planned for Venezuela and the aftermath of the January
military operation there would be especially valuable mister Chen said.
To sweeten the pot, mister Chen reportedly promised to send
the aid two thousand dollars up front. The offer seemed
too good to be true. Instead of quietly accepting the deal,
(25:51):
the aid, whose identity The New York Times, agreed to
withhold because he works on sense of policy issues related
to China, he reported to his bosses on the House
Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The panel quickly
concluded mister Chin was not the Singapore based business consultant
he claimed to be, but instead likely a Chinese intelligence
(26:13):
officer or contractor seeking a new recruit. By framing the
initial offers a quote trial period, we learned mister Chang
dangled the expectation of a longer relationship, obviously with more
payments to come. It's a common recruitment offer to hook
up spies with real cash for those that are willing
(26:34):
to just drop a little information now. Rather than cut
off contact, the committee's Republican majority staff agreed to keep
talking to mister Chen. They record a series of calls
this winter to learn more about mister Chin's tactics as
well as his interests. Transcripts to those calls, which the
committee shared with The Times, alongside some of the recorded audio,
(26:57):
depict a determined and at times impatient individual eager to
earn the trust of his mark and get down to business,
meaning having results for the Chinese Communist Party. Mister Chin
mixed holiday greetings with elaborate questions about manufacturing, for example,
(27:17):
in Vietnam and Mexico, as well as the future of
Venezuela's oil industry. Now, what's truly incredible about this story
is the fact that the outreach by mister Chin to
an aid on the very committee that's responsible for investigating
Chinese national security threats appears to provide an unusually vivid
(27:39):
portrait of how Beijing spy services seeks to gain access
to sense of information from within the corridors of the
power in Washington. We also know about Chinese spies that
are sleeping with well former members of Congress while they
were in Congress. You may remember the guy from California
(27:59):
that was well sleeping with Fang Fang, the Chinese spy.
We also found out there was another Chinese spy that
for years, actually decades, was driving around a top Democratic senator.
So if you think this is a one off, it's not.
The scary part is right now there's hotelling how many
people are willing to take money from China to sell
(28:20):
out the United States of America, within our government, all
over the country.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
We'll keep following this story.
Speaker 2 (28:27):
I can promise you that we've got a lot more
that's going to happen the days ahead, So make sure
you don't forget. Grab our podcast, The Ben Ferguson Podcasts
wherever you get your podcasts as well, hit that subscriber
aught or download button so you don't miss any of
the breaking news.
Host
Ben Ferguson
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