Guests - Stephen Mundt, Jason "JC" Sheppard

Israel-Iran Conflict and Global Security Concerns

Israel's Preemptive Strike on Iran's Nuclear Capabilities

The weekend of June 13-15, 2025, marked a significant escalation in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and Iran. Israel launched what appears to be a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership, citing imminent danger from Iran's nuclear weapons program. According to retired General Stephen Mundt, this conflict has been building for decades.

"This war has been going on for decades," explains General Mundt. "Iran has funded Hezbollah, Hamas, the Iranian Republican Guard. I mean, all these things that – and I mean even the Houthis. They have all been attacking Israel for some time."

The catalyst for Israel's action came from intelligence suggesting Iran was just weeks away from having operational nuclear weapons. As General Mundt explains, "Israel got word that nuclear weapon was a lot closer than people thought it was, and they were talking a matter of two weeks."

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, in an interview with Brett Baer that aired shortly before the conflict erupted, emphasized the existential threat Iran posed not just to Israel but to the broader region and even the United States.

"They have missiles that will travel 8,000 miles. They can range the east coast of the United States with a nuclear warhead," Mundt recounts from Netanyahu's statements. "They can not only attack us, they can attack all of Europe, they can attack the United States. And we knew that for the survival of the state of Israel, we had to take action."

Israel's strikes were precisely targeted at Iran's leadership, nuclear scientists, and hard targets for nuclear development. According to reports, Israel successfully eliminated much of Iran's leadership and damaged critical nuclear infrastructure.

Iran's Response and U.S. Involvement

Iran quickly responded with missile attacks on Israel, some of which penetrated Israeli defenses despite the Iron Dome system. Notably, one missile struck the U.S. Embassy compound, though damage was reportedly minimal. This attack on U.S. property potentially forces America's hand in the conflict.

"President Trump said clearly, 'Look guys, do not hit an American target,'" notes General Mundt. "So they've kind of forced our hand then. Then you can say we weren't going to, we were staying out of this, but now you've attacked America."

Following several days of exchanges, Iran signaled through intermediaries in Dubai that it wanted to de-escalate hostilities with Israel and negotiate. However, General Mundt remains skeptical of Iran's intentions.

"The whole issue with them is that we need to buy time, and the only reason they want to buy time is so that they can rejuvenate their nuclear capability. Because that's the end state. In the Ayatollah's mind, if they lose the nuclear card, his regime is done."

This assessment highlights the strategic importance of nuclear capability to the Iranian regime's survival and regional ambitions. The conflict centers on one deeply fortified Iranian nuclear site that only U.S. capabilities could penetrate, potentially drawing America further into the conflict.

The Human Cost and Civilian Targeting

A critical distinction in this conflict is the targeting strategies employed by both sides. General Mundt emphasizes that while Israel targets military and nuclear facilities, Iran deliberately targets civilian populations.

"What the Iranians have been hitting is targets of Israeli people. Those [have] military significance. You know, these are buildings housing civilians. And for anybody to think that they're launching things that don't know the difference, that's crazy. They know exactly what those targets are."

The general stresses that targeting civilians violates fundamental principles of warfare: "Everything we've ever learned about warfare in all the years that I spent in the military, we don't attack civilian populations. That's not what we do. They're non-combatants. We call them non-combatants for a reason."

This distinction underscores the moral divide between the two sides' approaches to the conflict, with Iran openly seeking to terrorize Israeli civilians while Israel focuses on neutralizing specific threats.

The U.S. Army's 250th Anniversary and Modern Military Transformation

Against the backdrop of international tensions, the United States celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which was formed on June 14, 1775 – a year before the country itself was established. The celebration included a military parade showcasing the evolution of America's oldest military branch over two and a half centuries.

General Mundt defends the celebration against critics of its cost, explaining: "Recruiting in this country – because most people don't realize that we are down below 20% of all Americans age eligible that are eligible to join the military service – we spend almost a billion dollars a year in advertising. How much advertising do you think that one event took for recruitment?"

The anniversary comes as the Army undergoes its largest restructuring in a generation, shifting focus from manned to unmanned systems. However, this transition presents significant challenges. General Mundt cautions against moving too quickly away from traditional capabilities:

"If I was making the decisions, and I'm not, but if I was making the decisions, I think I would be looking at a much more balanced approach. I would be bringing on the new capabilities, I'd be feeling the new capabilities, I'd be testing those with the current capabilities. But I want to make sure that I'm not discarding something that I may need to go and fight."

He emphasizes his steadfast commitment to service members' safety: "I am never, ever, ever going to ask a soldier to go in harm's way without the very, very best this nation can offer."

Political Violence in Minnesota and Domestic Unrest

Amid these international tensions, a shocking domestic incident occurred in Minnesota. Two Democratic legislators were targeted in what appears to be politically motivated violence. Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed, while State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were wounded in separate but related attacks.

The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Vance Luther Boelter, was captured after a massive manhunt. He allegedly possessed a list of potential targets and materials related to the "No Kings" protests that were occurring nationwide that weekend. These protests coincided with the Army's 250th anniversary celebration and former President Trump's birthday.

"When we have transcended where someone is armchair quarterbacking and determines you should live or die based on your vote, that's anarchy," says Kathleen Winn, reflecting on the Minnesota shooting. "It's chaos, it's treasonous."

This violence highlights the growing tension in American politics, with Winn noting: "You have the right to say 'I don't like the president.' What you don't have the right to do though is to destroy property, to try to harm those that are doing their job."

General Mundt connects this domestic violence to the broader degradation of civic discourse: "We have got to find the kind of civility again. Yes, we do. We have to have common sense."

The Fentanyl Crisis and Border Security

The show's final segment featured JC Sheppard, founder of the Fentanyl Test, discussing the ongoing fentanyl crisis and its connection to border security and drug cartels. Sheppard highlighted the recent designation of cartels as terrorist organizations and the impact of stronger border policies.

"Border crossings are down between 94 and 97%," notes Shepard. "I just saw an incredible statistic that over 1 million have self-deported since Trump took office."

A recent drug bust in Pinal County, Arizona, resulted in the seizure of five million fentanyl pills, highlighting the scale of the problem. More concerning is the emergence of even more potent substances like "car fentanyl," which is 100 times stronger than regular fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine.

"When you think about the old adage, first and foremost, when you look at a penny, if you cover the date of that penny alone, just with pure fentanyl powder, that's two milligrams. And that's enough pretty much to kill every single person with the average body mass index," Sheppard explains. "Now, when you do that with car fentanyl, it's such a minute little amount that can literally take your life."

Sheppard's company has developed testing technologies that can detect these substances and potentially save lives. He advocates for their adoption by law enforcement agencies, particularly at border crossings and in communities struggling with the influx of these deadly drugs.

The discussion underscores the connection between border security, international criminal organizations, and the devastating impact of synthetic opioids on American communities.

Conclusion: Navigating Multiple Crises

These interconnected crises – international conflict, military transformation, domestic political violence, and the fentanyl epidemic – represent significant challenges for American policymakers and citizens alike. The discussions highlight the complex nature of these issues and the need for thoughtful, strategic responses.

As General Mundt notes regarding Israel's conflict with Iran: "Netanyahu and the president of Israel, they are trying to – I think he said, 'We have been through one Holocaust. We will not go through another.' I mean, that they're very clear in what they're saying."

This sentiment captures the high stakes and historical weight of the decisions being made by leaders around the world as they navigate these turbulent times. The coming weeks and months will likely determine whether these crises escalate further or whether diplomatic solutions can be found to restore stability and security.