Guests – Ava Chen, Dave Smith
Wildcats Surge into Final Four as Tucson Tracks Iran Conflict, CCP Strategy, and Local Sheriff Accountability
Kathleen Winn opens the show celebrating the Arizona Wildcats' path to the Final Four, urging fans to bear down and support the team all the way. She notes the excitement of the tournament and the tough competition ahead, hoping for a national championship run.
Ava Chen on CCP's Decades-Long Cultivation of Iran as Proxy, 80-90% Military Support, and the Path to Decoupling
Ava Chen, spokesperson for the New Federal State of China, details the Chinese Communist Party's long-term strategy in the Middle East. She explains that the CCP has cultivated Iran as a proxy for decades, beginning with uranium and nuclear technology sharing in the early 1980s and extending to modern military aid. "They have been cultivating the Middle East proxy in the region for decades... So basically, they have been warming the soil. And now you see in the conflict, in this conflict, in the regional conflict, they basically strategize everything for Iran."
Chen emphasizes that Iran serves as a front while the CCP supplies the bulk of capabilities. "So they use Iran as a front. But in terms of where to hit, in terms of the military weaponry power, and in terms of the weaponry and equipment, and even satellite guidance, and even intelligence, 80, 90% are from CCP." She highlights drone technology transfer, assembly lines established in Iran, and chip supplies from the CCP, asking how Iran could advance so rapidly under sanctions without such support. "You have to ask for the question that you would understand the Iranian region will be able to thrive and avoid sanction to be able to live like this is because of the CCP."
She connects the conflict to Miles Guo's 2017 revelations about the CCP's "Three S" strategy—sow chaos, disintegration, and destruction—to target the United States. Guo disclosed this top-secret plan in a livestream and a planned press conference, which was disrupted by CCP threats to the hosting institute. "Miles Guo just gave the world the most important secrets of the Chinese Communist Party against the West on Livestream... He broadcast it to the world." Chen notes the limited media coverage despite the national press club event, underscoring how critical intelligence has been ignored. "Americans don't hear the most important intelligence of our time. And right now, we're just living afterwards the consequences of ignoring this."
Chen warns against conflating the Chinese people with the CCP regime, stressing that the vast majority are ordinary citizens and victims. She urges resistance to racial generalizations that create chaos the CCP exploits. "I really want you to understand... There's a lot of Chinese descent in the United States... But among those, the Chinese descent, I would actually argue majority, overwhelming majority of them are just ordinary people... They are not CCP agents themselves." She calls for focusing on the handful of kleptocrat families at the CCP's core and decoupling economically to collapse the regime without prolonged kinetic war. "The end is when the CCP is gone... Without CCP, Iran or ICG will fall."
On the current Iran conflict, Chen advises a quick resolution to avoid benefiting the CCP through prolonged economic strain, inflation, and alternative currency pushes. She points to vulnerabilities like the Strait of Malacca for energy supplies and hidden oil reserves near Shanghai. "The longer the war dragged out, the worst for the United States... If the war continues... we're probably pushing the UN dominance for replacing the US dollars." She predicts the CCP would exploit any Taiwan opportunity if U.S. assets remain diverted. "If CCP move on Taiwan... How would Taiwan defense... Where would they attack in order to defend themselves?"
Dave Smith on Sheriff Accountability, Parallels Between Utah Resignation and Pima County Nanos Recall, and the Need for Competence Over Politics
Dave Smith, former law enforcement officer and trainer, discusses the resignation of Utah's Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby after complaints about office operations. Smith notes the sheriff's 30-year career and the national attention drawn to the case. "This guy, I know he's under a lot of pressure up there in Utah... It just like our fellow down here is under a lot of pressure because, you know, when national attention comes down, you're going to have both the positive and the negative."
He draws direct parallels to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, criticizing the lack of leadership and accountability. Smith references the Arizona Sheriffs Association's public distancing, noting Nanos opted out by letter and failed to seek assistance from border sheriffs during the Nancy Guthrie case. "The Arizona Sheriff's Association has distanced themselves because Sheriff Nanos... has not been a part of their organization and they wanted to be clear that they did not stand by him in his recent actions." He highlights the 241-0 no-confidence vote from Pima deputies and calls for resignation as the dignified path. "If concerns could cause people to resign, we've got a long list happening here in Pima County... The rank and file... not one came to his rescue."
Smith stresses that law enforcement must remain apolitical and competent, regardless of party affiliation. "I really don't care what your political affiliation as sheriff, as long as you do a competent job leading and managing... The law is the law for everybody. The predators don't care how we vote." He praises the bipartisan grassroots momentum behind the Nanos recall, viewing it as unifying Tucson around accountability rather than partisanship. "This is the beauty of it. We're rejecting a Democrat sheriff, but based on competency and not because a party... God bless him for unifying Tucson."
The conversation underscores the need for leaders who nurture the spirit of their organizations, much like successful coaches, rather than allowing bureaucracy and politics to erode morale. Smith notes the ongoing loss of experienced deputies due to politicization and failed policies, emphasizing that competence and merit must guide promotions and operations.