Erick Stakelbeck: Iran's Regime is Crumbling | Stakelbeck Tonight

April 16, 2026 | 23:29

From wars and rumors of war abroad, to the rise of anti-Christian, "woke" ideology here at home, it's clear that Americans are living in perilous and unprecedented times. Some would even say that we're witnessing biblical prophecy unfold in real time. Stakelbeck Tonight will make sense of these stunning developments through a bold and biblical lens.

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Stakelbeck Tonight | Erick Stakelbeck: Iran's Regime is Crumbling | Stakelbeck Tonight | April 16, 2026
  • But. welcome to stakelbeck tonight.
  • 00:01:29.856 --> 00:00:05.128
  • I'm erick stakelbeck and the gathering storm against
  • 00:00:05.128 --> 00:00:08.498
  • America has hit a very rough patch.
  • 00:00:08.498 --> 00:00:12.068
  • I've called the alliance
  • 00:00:12.068 --> 00:00:13.169
  • Between china, russia, north korea and iran.
  • 00:00:13.169 --> 00:00:16.473
  • The gathering storm coalition three nuclear armed tyrannies
  • 00:00:16.473 --> 00:00:21.444
  • Plus iran's regime, which is obsessed
  • 00:00:21.444 --> 00:00:23.880
  • With getting the bomb,
  • 00:00:23.880 --> 00:00:25.148
  • All of them aligned against the united states and the west.
  • 00:00:25.148 --> 00:00:29.586
  • Over the biden years, they had the wind at their backs.
  • 00:00:29.586 --> 00:00:32.755
  • Together, they were on the march and taking advantage
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  • Of weak leadership in washington.
  • 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:39.329
  • And then came donald trump.
  • 00:00:39.329 --> 00:00:41.931
  • His return to office in january 2025 put a major dent
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  • In the gathering storm. coalitions plans.
  • 00:00:45.902 --> 00:00:48.538
  • Common sense
  • 00:00:48.538 --> 00:00:49.806
  • And a peace through strength approach had suddenly returned.
  • 00:00:49.806 --> 00:00:53.910
  • America was back on the offensive and reclaiming
  • 00:00:53.910 --> 00:00:57.046
  • Its role as leader of the free world.
  • 00:00:57.046 --> 00:01:00.183
  • We've seen it most clearly in iran, where president
  • 00:01:00.183 --> 00:01:02.852
  • Trump has done what seven of his predecessors
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  • Had refused to do confront iran's evil
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  • Regime directly and destroy its nuclear weapons program.
  • 00:01:09.726 --> 00:01:14.197
  • As a result, a vital cog in this gathering storm
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  • Coalition has been reduced to a mere drizzle.
  • 00:01:17.734 --> 00:01:21.337
  • And the shockwaves are being felt
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  • By the remaining members of this unholy alliance.
  • 00:01:23.139 --> 00:01:26.976
  • None more so than communist china.
  • 00:01:26.976 --> 00:01:30.246
  • Up next, we get the inside story on why beijing
  • 00:01:30.246 --> 00:01:32.982
  • May be the biggest loser when the dust settles in iran.
  • 00:01:32.982 --> 00:01:37.620
  • And it all starts now.
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  • From china's
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  • Economic pressure to russia's information warfare
  • 00:01:57.507 --> 00:02:00.877
  • To the escalating situation in iran.
  • 00:02:00.877 --> 00:02:03.780
  • The global chessboard is shifting fast.
  • 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:06.583
  • So where does united states stand in all of this?
  • 00:02:06.583 --> 00:02:10.853
  • We're joined now by lisa smith, author of the china matrix
  • 00:02:10.853 --> 00:02:13.856
  • The epic story of how donald trump shattered a deadly pact.
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  • Folks, it is a must read li.
  • 00:02:17.293 --> 00:02:19.395
  • Always great to see.
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  • My friend will dig into china in a minute as well as russia.
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  • But first.
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  • You've been covering the middle east for a long time as well.
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  • State of play. right now, li.
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  • It seems like the iranian regime,
  • 00:02:28.571 --> 00:02:29.872
  • God willing, may be on its last legs,
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  • But what seems clear is that the regime will never be
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  • What it once was.
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  • Once the dust settles.
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  • How do you see it?
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  • No, i think that's a very accurate way to put it, erick.
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  • I mean, you know,
  • 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:44.020
  • When people are pushing against donald trump saying,
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  • Well, you didn't get the regime change
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  • You wanted, first of all, that was never that.
  • 00:02:48.324 --> 00:02:50.760
  • That was never one of the key goals
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  • Of the trump administration.
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  • Second of all, the fact is, is that the regime change wars,
  • 00:02:54.197 --> 00:02:57.934
  • Change regimes, and that's what's happened to the iranians.
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  • And this is one of the things that we saw
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  • With the iranian delegation last week that went to pakistan
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  • To negotiate with the u.s.
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  • Team led by vice president jd vance.
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  • The reason that there were so many people
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  • And that iranian delegation, including security officials
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  • And including media, all of which are intelligence
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  • Officials, is that no one trust each other.
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  • They were all scared that
  • 00:03:22.959 --> 00:03:24.260
  • They'd be selling each other out at these negotiations,
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  • Because right now it's a effectively a leaderless
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  • Regime with different factions vying for power.
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  • And we're going to see that getting worse.
  • 00:03:33.703 --> 00:03:35.471
  • And worse over the coming days and weeks.
  • 00:03:35.471 --> 00:03:38.241
  • Yeah, the iranian regime obviously weakened
  • 00:03:38.241 --> 00:03:40.376
  • And the regime in beijing
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  • Weakened as well, by extension through this war.
  • 00:03:42.078 --> 00:03:44.681
  • I think of the strait of hormuz being blockaded right now.
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  • This deal between the u.s.
  • 00:03:47.550 --> 00:03:48.851
  • And indonesia gives the u.s.
  • 00:03:48.851 --> 00:03:50.486
  • Kind of some eyes and ears in the strait of malacca
  • 00:03:50.486 --> 00:03:52.722
  • As well, where china get some 80% of its oil passes
  • 00:03:52.722 --> 00:03:56.192
  • Through that strait on a daily basis.
  • 00:03:56.192 --> 00:03:58.161
  • And now,
  • 00:03:58.161 --> 00:03:59.195
  • Look, china is threatening to punish companies
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  • That don't use chinese suppliers.
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  • Is this a show of desperation by the regime in beijing?
  • 00:04:03.700 --> 00:04:07.170
  • Well, i think that what's been and i think that what the trump
  • 00:04:07.170 --> 00:04:10.573
  • Administration
  • 00:04:10.573 --> 00:04:11.674
  • Has been doing in the tariff regime is a big deal.
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  • And then we've also seen venezuela
  • 00:04:15.211 --> 00:04:16.713
  • And we've seen iran right now.
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  • And the president,
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  • The president has been very generous,
  • 00:04:19.882 --> 00:04:21.784
  • Saying, yes, we're opening up the straits
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  • Of hormuz for everyone, for china as well.
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  • And china is grateful and should be grateful.
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  • Look, the fact is that things have changed.
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  • Very quickly over the last several months.
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  • You will remember that it was, not that long ago when
  • 00:04:33.663 --> 00:04:37.734
  • Jinping thought he was in the catbird
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  • Seat by saying, yeah,
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  • We're going to cut the us off of rare earth materials.
  • 00:04:40.770 --> 00:04:43.206
  • Well, right now,
  • 00:04:43.206 --> 00:04:44.474
  • The united states, controls part of and will likely soon
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  • Control more of the oil that china gets at steep
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  • Discounts and got them from venezuela.
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  • And it gets them from iran as well.
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  • And it looks like that soon going to change.
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  • So yeah, the
  • 00:04:58.721 --> 00:05:00.156
  • The chessboard hasn't exactly been flipped over,
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  • But the president's moves have, have greatly altered
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  • The state of play.
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  • And lee, great breakdown.
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  • President trump obviously goes to beijing
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  • Next month for a meeting with xi jinping.
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  • It seems like
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  • He comes into that meeting with a whole lot of leverage.
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  • What will be our agenda?
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  • Do you think in that meeting,
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  • That superpower summit between the u.s. and china next month?
  • 00:05:21.377 --> 00:05:25.114
  • Well, i mean, what i'd like to see happen, before that
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  • Meeting is i would like to see the president,
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  • The president, accomplish his two red lines, which are,
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  • First of all, iran cannot enrich uranium.
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  • None at all. not now, not ever.
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  • The president's been very clear about that.
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  • The other one is
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  • He wants that, half a ton of highly enriched uranium.
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  • And of course, what he would like is
  • 00:05:47.370 --> 00:05:48.638
  • He would like the iranians to give it up freely or not freely.
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  • I'm sure that that will there's consider a future considered,
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  • Considerations at stake.
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  • But he wants that out.
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  • And if he doesn't get it freely from the iranians,
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  • Then he'll take it.
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  • So i think for the president to, underscore his two red lines
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  • And to accomplish both of those things
  • 00:06:08.558 --> 00:06:10.593
  • Before his meeting was in paying are very, very crucial.
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  • Yeah, very good point.
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  • And speaking of which,
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  • We talked about china's desperation.
  • 00:06:16.132 --> 00:06:18.201
  • And look, it's continued information
  • 00:06:18.201 --> 00:06:19.902
  • War against the u.s..
  • 00:06:19.902 --> 00:06:21.170
  • We've written about and you've written
  • 00:06:21.170 --> 00:06:22.371
  • The great book, the china matrix, a must read.
  • 00:06:22.371 --> 00:06:24.740
  • You've written
  • 00:06:24.740 --> 00:06:25.875
  • About china and russia meddling internally in the u.s..
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  • Information warfare, etcetera.
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  • Tell us more about that.
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  • Why we should be so concerned?
  • 00:06:31.747 --> 00:06:33.883
  • Well, we see this going on all the time.
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  • And i believe the president just said recently
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  • And in an interview
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  • Said, yeah, you know, that the chinese have been hacking us
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  • And, you know, i mean, it's what the chinese do.
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  • And this is an enormous problem that our, our data
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  • Is, is, is very vulnerable to what the chinese have done.
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  • And the president has indicated that, you know, that that
  • 00:06:52.602 --> 00:06:55.338
  • That we're pushing at china's vulnerabilities as well,
  • 00:06:55.338 --> 00:06:58.441
  • Because our adversaries, in particular china and russia,
  • 00:06:58.441 --> 00:07:01.444
  • As well as the iranians, are, are trying to
  • 00:07:01.444 --> 00:07:05.581
  • To destabilize us and to poison our, our, our public sphere.
  • 00:07:05.581 --> 00:07:10.419
  • At least so people know.
  • 00:07:10.419 --> 00:07:11.721
  • You mentioned china, russia,
  • 00:07:11.721 --> 00:07:13.022
  • Iran, north korea, the fourth member of that gathering storm
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  • Coalition. i've called it.
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  • How closely do they work together?
  • 00:07:17.827 --> 00:07:19.795
  • This is a concerted effort by these four powers,
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  • In particular, to bring down the united states and the west.
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  • Well, it's a very, very it's very important,
  • 00:07:26.068 --> 00:07:29.071
  • I think, that
  • 00:07:29.071 --> 00:07:30.273
  • People need to understand that it's not just that we have,
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  • These separate foes, that these foes are working together.
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  • And again,
  • 00:07:37.713 --> 00:07:38.748
  • But it's not just them,
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  • Because if we look
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  • At the iranian proxies, hezbollah and hamas as well,
  • 00:07:41.083 --> 00:07:43.719
  • The houthis.
  • 00:07:43.719 --> 00:07:44.820
  • So they're all taking an enormous setback right now.
  • 00:07:44.820 --> 00:07:48.090
  • So it's very good for the united states
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  • And very good for the trump administration
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  • To be moving forward in this direction
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  • And to have our adversaries, as they are around the world, on
  • 00:07:54.163 --> 00:07:57.800
  • Their back heels. yeah. great point.
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  • And you would think this would be a time
  • 00:08:00.102 --> 00:08:01.370
  • For the western world, for western civilization,
  • 00:08:01.370 --> 00:08:04.106
  • To capitalize and press the agenda.
  • 00:08:04.106 --> 00:08:06.409
  • And yet nato is taking a pass here.
  • 00:08:06.409 --> 00:08:09.011
  • Lee, it seems that israel is america's
  • 00:08:09.011 --> 00:08:11.314
  • Most dependable ally in the world right now,
  • 00:08:11.314 --> 00:08:13.549
  • And with great britain in particular, in shambles,
  • 00:08:13.549 --> 00:08:16.118
  • It's not even close.
  • 00:08:16.118 --> 00:08:17.653
  • How do you see
  • 00:08:17.653 --> 00:08:18.888
  • Israel's place as an american ally, especially with nato?
  • 00:08:18.888 --> 00:08:22.124
  • Sadly, on the downside and
  • 00:08:22.124 --> 00:08:24.193
  • And unwilling to defend western civilization?
  • 00:08:24.193 --> 00:08:27.597
  • Well,
  • 00:08:27.830 --> 00:08:28.464
  • I mean, erick,
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  • The way that i've been talking about it for a while
  • 00:08:29.665 --> 00:08:31.434
  • Is saying that israel has now proven
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  • To be america's greatest wartime allies since the since great
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  • Britain in world war two.
  • 00:08:36.706 --> 00:08:38.107
  • But others have said, no, you don't understand
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  • The way the israelis are.
  • 00:08:40.443 --> 00:08:41.544
  • Guess what the brits did.
  • 00:08:41.544 --> 00:08:42.878
  • What churchill did during world war two is fantastic.
  • 00:08:42.878 --> 00:08:45.281
  • Great leadership from winston churchill.
  • 00:08:45.281 --> 00:08:47.516
  • But what the israelis are doing have they're pressing forward.
  • 00:08:47.516 --> 00:08:51.420
  • Have they're fighting on, on multiple fronts.
  • 00:08:51.420 --> 00:08:53.656
  • Again, it's not just they're fighting the iranians.
  • 00:08:53.656 --> 00:08:55.958
  • They're fighting that iranian battalion,
  • 00:08:55.958 --> 00:08:58.794
  • On the eastern mediterranean, hezbollah.
  • 00:08:58.794 --> 00:09:00.963
  • And they're wiping them out. right.
  • 00:09:00.963 --> 00:09:02.665
  • We see pictures coming from bint jbeil,
  • 00:09:02.665 --> 00:09:04.834
  • Formerly a hezbollah stronghold,
  • 00:09:04.834 --> 00:09:06.502
  • And the commander of the cavalry brigade yesterday,
  • 00:09:06.502 --> 00:09:08.437
  • The day before, is going through
  • 00:09:08.437 --> 00:09:10.172
  • What's effectively the hezbollah hall of fame.
  • 00:09:10.172 --> 00:09:12.274
  • So, no, i mean, israel's,
  • 00:09:12.274 --> 00:09:15.945
  • Power as an
  • 00:09:16.278 --> 00:09:17.580
  • Ally, as an american ally is just astonishing.
  • 00:09:17.580 --> 00:09:20.716
  • So again, we see all of this noise on twitter.
  • 00:09:20.716 --> 00:09:23.419
  • We see people, you know, garbage people on the left, garbage
  • 00:09:23.419 --> 00:09:26.589
  • People on the right saying this
  • 00:09:26.589 --> 00:09:27.957
  • And that about israel, this and that about american jews.
  • 00:09:27.957 --> 00:09:31.594
  • But when it really comes down to it, who's out there fighting?
  • 00:09:31.594 --> 00:09:35.097
  • Who's fighting, who's fighting on the side of america,
  • 00:09:35.097 --> 00:09:38.901
  • For western civilization, not just our interest,
  • 00:09:38.901 --> 00:09:42.138
  • Our shared interests, but for the furtherance of our
  • 00:09:42.138 --> 00:09:46.008
  • Of our civilization, how we live as a people.
  • 00:09:46.008 --> 00:09:49.311
  • Amen.
  • 00:09:49.545 --> 00:09:50.212
  • Well said.
  • 00:09:50.212 --> 00:09:51.447
  • Israel, tiny israel, the size of the state of new jersey.
  • 00:09:51.447 --> 00:09:53.783
  • In the belly of the beast. really?
  • 00:09:53.783 --> 00:09:55.251
  • The first line of defense for western civilization.
  • 00:09:55.251 --> 00:09:58.054
  • It's been amazing to see this historic u.s.
  • 00:09:58.054 --> 00:09:59.855
  • Israeli operation over the past six weeks.
  • 00:09:59.855 --> 00:10:02.158
  • And more to come, perhaps.
  • 00:10:02.158 --> 00:10:03.492
  • Lee, great job as always, folks.
  • 00:10:03.492 --> 00:10:05.461
  • The china matrix is a must read. pick it up right now.
  • 00:10:05.461 --> 00:10:08.097
  • Amazon.com wherever books are sold.
  • 00:10:08.097 --> 00:10:09.899
  • Lee god bless my friend. great work.
  • 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:11.967
  • We'll see you again soon.
  • 00:10:11.967 --> 00:10:13.269
  • And senator marsha blackburn with us after the breaks.
  • 00:10:13.269 --> 00:10:16.439
  • Folk folks, the rise of ai.
  • 00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:18.908
  • How does it affect you?
  • 00:10:18.908 --> 00:10:19.975
  • What's being done about it on capitol hill here
  • 00:10:19.975 --> 00:10:22.378
  • From senator blackburn after the break, stick around.
  • 00:10:22.378 --> 00:10:29.005
  • From senator blackburn after the break, stick around.
  • 00:10:29.005 --> 00:10:32.054
  • Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight.
  • 00:10:32.822 --> 00:10:34.857
  • Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a staple
  • 00:10:34.857 --> 00:10:38.594
  • In everyday life, and many are now calling
  • 00:10:38.594 --> 00:10:41.063
  • For regulations around ai as it grows in significance.
  • 00:10:41.063 --> 00:10:45.468
  • One voice leading the charge on this is senator marsha
  • 00:10:45.468 --> 00:10:48.237
  • Blackburn, whose recent policy initiative is aimed
  • 00:10:48.237 --> 00:10:51.607
  • At protecting vulnerable groups from ai overreach.
  • 00:10:51.607 --> 00:10:54.710
  • She joins us now. senator, great to see you.
  • 00:10:54.710 --> 00:10:57.146
  • Hey, you've been very busy on capitol hill doing great work.
  • 00:10:57.146 --> 00:10:59.548
  • You recently introduced a framework, the trump america
  • 00:10:59.548 --> 00:11:02.952
  • Ai act. and senator, i love this.
  • 00:11:02.952 --> 00:11:04.854
  • The framework is aimed at protecting what you call
  • 00:11:04.854 --> 00:11:07.123
  • The four cs children creators, conservatives, and communities.
  • 00:11:07.123 --> 00:11:12.194
  • How does this act in particular,
  • 00:11:12.194 --> 00:11:13.729
  • This framework protect children from ai overreach?
  • 00:11:13.729 --> 00:11:17.566
  • Yes, indeed.
  • 00:11:17.900 --> 00:11:18.968
  • And when the president did his executive order on ai,
  • 00:11:18.968 --> 00:11:22.772
  • He used my forces in that.
  • 00:11:22.772 --> 00:11:25.674
  • And with children, we have had the guardian act,
  • 00:11:25.674 --> 00:11:29.512
  • Which
  • 00:11:29.745 --> 00:11:30.980
  • Is there to protect children with the use of these chat bots,
  • 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:34.550
  • And also the kids online safety act,
  • 00:11:34.550 --> 00:11:37.353
  • Which is broadly bipartisan.
  • 00:11:37.353 --> 00:11:38.921
  • And it came out of the senate 91 to 3 last year.
  • 00:11:38.921 --> 00:11:43.025
  • And the house is finally moving forward with that legislation.
  • 00:11:43.025 --> 00:11:47.863
  • But the kids online safety act puts safety by design and duty
  • 00:11:47.863 --> 00:11:52.468
  • Of care safety standards into the virtual space.
  • 00:11:52.468 --> 00:11:56.172
  • You know, the only industrial sector in our country
  • 00:11:56.172 --> 00:12:00.109
  • That does not have safety standards is the virtual space.
  • 00:12:00.109 --> 00:12:05.548
  • And the kids online
  • 00:12:05.548 --> 00:12:06.682
  • Safety act would put those in place for our children.
  • 00:12:06.682 --> 00:12:10.519
  • Thank god, senator.
  • 00:12:10.519 --> 00:12:11.420
  • And look, there's really,
  • 00:12:11.420 --> 00:12:12.388
  • As you said, the guardrails seem to be few
  • 00:12:12.388 --> 00:12:14.456
  • And far between thus far with ai.
  • 00:12:14.456 --> 00:12:17.426
  • How rapidly is this technology advancing?
  • 00:12:17.426 --> 00:12:19.628
  • A lot of people watching might say, well, i
  • 00:12:19.628 --> 00:12:21.330
  • It sounds like science fiction, but it's really here.
  • 00:12:21.330 --> 00:12:23.833
  • It's really growing.
  • 00:12:23.833 --> 00:12:24.867
  • How rapidly is it expanding?
  • 00:12:24.867 --> 00:12:26.735
  • And should we be concerned?
  • 00:12:26.735 --> 00:12:28.237
  • We we should be paying close attention to this.
  • 00:12:29.171 --> 00:12:32.274
  • You know, i'm from tennessee, and in 1978, the oak ridge
  • 00:12:32.274 --> 00:12:36.712
  • National labs
  • 00:12:36.712 --> 00:12:38.013
  • Started the first artificial intelligence project.
  • 00:12:38.013 --> 00:12:41.884
  • And you look at how slowly it grew for decades.
  • 00:12:41.884 --> 00:12:45.521
  • And now there are new applications in utilizations
  • 00:12:45.521 --> 00:12:49.792
  • That come forward every single week.
  • 00:12:49.792 --> 00:12:52.361
  • For most areas, when you talk about advanced
  • 00:12:52.361 --> 00:12:56.131
  • Manufacturing, additive manufacturing, logistics
  • 00:12:56.131 --> 00:13:01.036
  • And health care, energy production and distribution,
  • 00:13:01.036 --> 00:13:06.575
  • Rooting out fraud in financial systems,
  • 00:13:06.575 --> 00:13:09.845
  • I can be just a truly useful tool.
  • 00:13:09.845 --> 00:13:14.516
  • When you talk about protecting name, image, likeness,
  • 00:13:14.516 --> 00:13:18.087
  • Or the rights of
  • 00:13:18.087 --> 00:13:19.421
  • Creators and innovators to benefit from their works
  • 00:13:19.421 --> 00:13:23.759
  • And their their writings and and their creations
  • 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:27.696
  • Are when you talk about the harm that is being done to children
  • 00:13:27.696 --> 00:13:31.400
  • On social media platforms and by ai chat bot,
  • 00:13:31.400 --> 00:13:35.571
  • You're seeing an area that is broadly unregulated.
  • 00:13:35.571 --> 00:13:40.309
  • So what the american people are saying is
  • 00:13:40.309 --> 00:13:43.379
  • Let's put the guardrails in place.
  • 00:13:43.379 --> 00:13:45.347
  • If you go buy a car or a toaster oven or a hair dryer
  • 00:13:45.347 --> 00:13:49.685
  • Or a mattress, there are always safety
  • 00:13:49.685 --> 00:13:52.788
  • Standards and there are warnings.
  • 00:13:52.788 --> 00:13:55.324
  • But on the virtual space, there are no safety standards
  • 00:13:55.324 --> 00:13:58.994
  • And no warnings.
  • 00:13:58.994 --> 00:14:00.429
  • So the american people want that.
  • 00:14:00.429 --> 00:14:03.098
  • They also want to make certain that
  • 00:14:03.098 --> 00:14:05.401
  • If we have those guardrails in place,
  • 00:14:06.201 --> 00:14:08.871
  • That we are going to be number one in innovation in how to use
  • 00:14:08.871 --> 00:14:15.411
  • Ai to push us forward and to achieve,
  • 00:14:15.411 --> 00:14:19.882
  • New innovations that are going to spur
  • 00:14:20.649 --> 00:14:23.552
  • Our economy and help create jobs, etc..
  • 00:14:23.552 --> 00:14:26.588
  • You've been sounding alarm on this
  • 00:14:26.588 --> 00:14:27.790
  • For a while and doing such a great job on it.
  • 00:14:27.790 --> 00:14:29.491
  • By the way, you represent the great state of tennessee.
  • 00:14:29.491 --> 00:14:31.293
  • Of course, i think of nashville
  • 00:14:31.293 --> 00:14:32.695
  • Profoundly creators there affected by.
  • 00:14:32.695 --> 00:14:35.030
  • I have about a minute left.
  • 00:14:35.030 --> 00:14:36.832
  • Then we'll bring it right back after the break.
  • 00:14:36.832 --> 00:14:38.434
  • President trump taking the lead on this as well.
  • 00:14:38.434 --> 00:14:40.736
  • How important is this, senator, for the u.s.
  • 00:14:40.736 --> 00:14:42.538
  • To stay ahead of china, in particular in the ai race?
  • 00:14:42.538 --> 00:14:46.208
  • And it really has become a modern day arms race of sorts,
  • 00:14:46.208 --> 00:14:50.312
  • Indeed.
  • 00:14:50.546 --> 00:14:51.780
  • You know, that china is trying to innovate.
  • 00:14:51.780 --> 00:14:54.083
  • They're trying to supercharge
  • 00:14:54.083 --> 00:14:55.884
  • Their ai and their energy development.
  • 00:14:55.884 --> 00:14:59.355
  • And this is why it's important for us to have a national policy
  • 00:14:59.355 --> 00:15:04.159
  • And to put the guardrails in place
  • 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.595
  • So that our innovators know this is how
  • 00:15:06.595 --> 00:15:10.132
  • They are supposed to be moving forward,
  • 00:15:10.132 --> 00:15:13.135
  • And know that they are going to be able to benefit
  • 00:15:13.135 --> 00:15:16.605
  • From their innovations.
  • 00:15:16.605 --> 00:15:18.474
  • Yeah. good stuff. senator.
  • 00:15:18.474 --> 00:15:19.575
  • More of a senator marsha blackburn after the break.
  • 00:15:19.575 --> 00:15:21.410
  • What about fraud?
  • 00:15:21.410 --> 00:15:22.511
  • Have you heard about what's happening in minneapolis?
  • 00:15:22.511 --> 00:15:23.846
  • What can we do to crack down on that nationally?
  • 00:15:23.846 --> 00:15:26.181
  • Iran voter id much more of a senator
  • 00:15:26.181 --> 00:15:28.617
  • Marsha blackburn after the break.
  • 00:15:28.617 --> 00:15:30.686
  • Stick around.
  • 00:15:30.686 --> 00:15:36.001
  • Stick around.
  • 00:15:36.001 --> 00:15:38.762
  • Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight
  • 00:15:39.496 --> 00:15:40.864
  • We're talking to tennessee senator marsha blackburn.
  • 00:15:40.864 --> 00:15:43.199
  • Senator, the fraud accountability
  • 00:15:43.199 --> 00:15:45.402
  • Act much needed. we see
  • 00:15:45.402 --> 00:15:46.669
  • What's happening in places like minneapolis, california.
  • 00:15:46.669 --> 00:15:50.306
  • It's all being all being revealed now
  • 00:15:50.306 --> 00:15:52.876
  • And on capitol hill.
  • 00:15:52.876 --> 00:15:53.977
  • You're leading the fight against this in particular
  • 00:15:53.977 --> 00:15:56.813
  • Holding non-citizens who commit fraud accountable.
  • 00:15:56.813 --> 00:16:00.550
  • Tell us more about that and how prevalent it is.
  • 00:16:00.550 --> 00:16:03.920
  • Yeah.
  • 00:16:04.154 --> 00:16:04.988
  • So one of the things that we have seen
  • 00:16:04.988 --> 00:16:07.290
  • Is that sometimes the individuals
  • 00:16:07.290 --> 00:16:10.226
  • That have come in on refugee status are there
  • 00:16:10.226 --> 00:16:13.763
  • Illegally in the country, they are defrauding the u.s.
  • 00:16:13.763 --> 00:16:19.569
  • Public or local, state or federal governments.
  • 00:16:19.569 --> 00:16:23.206
  • And as the issues happened in minnesota, we realized that
  • 00:16:23.206 --> 00:16:27.844
  • The immigration and nationality act does not treat all fraud
  • 00:16:27.844 --> 00:16:33.083
  • As a deportable offense or
  • 00:16:33.083 --> 00:16:37.187
  • As a naturalization process.
  • 00:16:37.187 --> 00:16:41.324
  • A trigger.
  • 00:16:41.324 --> 00:16:42.592
  • So the fraud accountability act strengthens
  • 00:16:42.592 --> 00:16:46.329
  • The immigration and nationality act in this area.
  • 00:16:46.329 --> 00:16:50.533
  • If you defraud anyone,
  • 00:16:50.533 --> 00:16:53.603
  • Whether it's a dollar or $10,000,
  • 00:16:53.603 --> 00:16:57.107
  • Which has been the threshold, any dollar amount,
  • 00:16:57.107 --> 00:17:01.044
  • Then you that would trigger a deportation
  • 00:17:01.044 --> 00:17:05.081
  • And a naturalization hearing for you.
  • 00:17:05.081 --> 00:17:09.085
  • It could be defrauding u.s.
  • 00:17:09.085 --> 00:17:11.054
  • Citizens.
  • 00:17:11.054 --> 00:17:12.021
  • Are your local, state or federal government.
  • 00:17:12.021 --> 00:17:14.591
  • And there again, the threshold had been $10,000.
  • 00:17:14.591 --> 00:17:18.962
  • So think about that.
  • 00:17:18.962 --> 00:17:20.063
  • Someone who is committing fraud, if they've got several
  • 00:17:20.063 --> 00:17:24.033
  • Family members, they could do fraud of $9,999
  • 00:17:24.033 --> 00:17:28.872
  • Every month for months on end, and they would be under that
  • 00:17:28.872 --> 00:17:35.178
  • Threshold that would trigger naturalization, deportation.
  • 00:17:35.178 --> 00:17:41.251
  • If they're here as a permanent legal residents
  • 00:17:41.251 --> 00:17:44.154
  • Or on a visa or if they're here illegally.
  • 00:17:44.154 --> 00:17:48.057
  • So, this cleans it up and make certain
  • 00:17:48.057 --> 00:17:51.427
  • If you are caught committing fraud, then you immediately go
  • 00:17:51.427 --> 00:17:56.399
  • To a federal court for a hearing and you will be deported.
  • 00:17:56.399 --> 00:18:01.204
  • And if you have achieved citizenship,
  • 00:18:01.204 --> 00:18:04.307
  • You will be naturalized as you are deported at.
  • 00:18:04.307 --> 00:18:08.111
  • The level of fraud.
  • 00:18:08.111 --> 00:18:08.745
  • Senator is really astounding
  • 00:18:08.745 --> 00:18:10.046
  • And more and more of it is coming to light.
  • 00:18:10.046 --> 00:18:11.581
  • Now, this seems to go hand in hand
  • 00:18:11.581 --> 00:18:13.349
  • To degree with the save act,
  • 00:18:13.349 --> 00:18:15.618
  • Where it would require people to show id to,
  • 00:18:15.618 --> 00:18:18.354
  • I don't know, vote for president.
  • 00:18:18.354 --> 00:18:19.689
  • Seems like common sense.
  • 00:18:19.689 --> 00:18:21.191
  • You're on the hill, you're in the senate.
  • 00:18:21.191 --> 00:18:22.725
  • Why hasn't the save act passed yet?
  • 00:18:22.725 --> 00:18:26.162
  • We keep
  • 00:18:26.396 --> 00:18:27.497
  • Trying to get the votes that are necessary to pass it.
  • 00:18:27.497 --> 00:18:30.500
  • You have some people that are trying to make it easy to cheat,
  • 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:35.071
  • And we keep saying,
  • 00:18:35.071 --> 00:18:36.372
  • Let's make it easy to vote and harder to cheat.
  • 00:18:36.372 --> 00:18:40.243
  • We think that is an imperative.
  • 00:18:40.243 --> 00:18:42.745
  • And dhs has a database that lists people
  • 00:18:42.745 --> 00:18:47.183
  • That are here on visas, that are here
  • 00:18:47.183 --> 00:18:50.320
  • As permanent residents, people that are here illegally.
  • 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:53.890
  • Every state should be required to check their voter
  • 00:18:53.890 --> 00:18:56.859
  • Roll against that database.
  • 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:59.829
  • And that is something we are hopeful to achieve in our dhs,
  • 00:18:59.829 --> 00:19:05.335
  • A reconciliation bill that we're constructing right now.
  • 00:19:05.335 --> 00:19:09.839
  • Busy times for you on capitol hill, senator.
  • 00:19:09.839 --> 00:19:11.841
  • Hey, last question. busy times for president trump as well.
  • 00:19:11.841 --> 00:19:14.077
  • Last question about a minute left iran.
  • 00:19:14.077 --> 00:19:16.546
  • To me, senator seems like a smashing success.
  • 00:19:16.546 --> 00:19:18.915
  • The iranian regime severely, severely weakened.
  • 00:19:18.915 --> 00:19:21.784
  • How do you see it?
  • 00:19:21.784 --> 00:19:22.719
  • And can we see maybe an endgame?
  • 00:19:22.719 --> 00:19:25.088
  • What is the endgame look like?
  • 00:19:25.088 --> 00:19:26.589
  • Hopefully, god willing, the iranian regime
  • 00:19:26.589 --> 00:19:28.891
  • Crippled beyond repair.
  • 00:19:28.891 --> 00:19:30.793
  • Yes. and the president was
  • 00:19:31.361 --> 00:19:32.996
  • Definitive about what he wanted to accomplish, to make certain
  • 00:19:32.996 --> 00:19:37.200
  • That we destroyed their missile capacity,
  • 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:41.070
  • To make certain that they did not have any capacity
  • 00:19:41.070 --> 00:19:45.241
  • To manufacture more missiles, and to destroy their navy,
  • 00:19:45.241 --> 00:19:50.113
  • And also to make certain that their nuclear capability
  • 00:19:50.113 --> 00:19:54.651
  • Was removed.
  • 00:19:54.651 --> 00:19:56.486
  • And we see that, yes, indeed, it has been a success.
  • 00:19:56.486 --> 00:20:01.591
  • And they are working through an agreement right now.
  • 00:20:01.591 --> 00:20:06.396
  • I do believe you will see
  • 00:20:06.396 --> 00:20:08.431
  • Their enriched uranium turned over to the iaea.
  • 00:20:08.431 --> 00:20:12.335
  • That's the international atomic energy.
  • 00:20:12.335 --> 00:20:15.071
  • And we do think that
  • 00:20:15.071 --> 00:20:17.740
  • The strait of hormuz will end up being opened.
  • 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:21.444
  • These are issues that are going to drive iran
  • 00:20:21.444 --> 00:20:24.947
  • To the negotiating table.
  • 00:20:24.947 --> 00:20:27.050
  • If they're not able to get oil out of the strait of hormuz,
  • 00:20:27.050 --> 00:20:31.154
  • They have absolutely no economy.
  • 00:20:31.154 --> 00:20:35.158
  • And, of course, we want to make certain
  • 00:20:35.158 --> 00:20:38.127
  • That they stop and scenting and funding terrorism.
  • 00:20:38.127 --> 00:20:41.864
  • When you look at hezbollah, the houthis, hamas, 90%
  • 00:20:41.864 --> 00:20:46.002
  • Of the budget of each of those every year comes to them
  • 00:20:46.002 --> 00:20:49.872
  • Courtesy of the government of iran.
  • 00:20:49.872 --> 00:20:52.842
  • Senator. well said. great breakdown.
  • 00:20:52.842 --> 00:20:54.610
  • We may be on the verge
  • 00:20:54.610 --> 00:20:55.845
  • Of a new day in the middle east, because peace through strength
  • 00:20:55.845 --> 00:20:58.881
  • Always works.
  • 00:20:58.881 --> 00:20:59.816
  • We're seeing in real time right now.
  • 00:20:59.816 --> 00:21:01.317
  • Senator. great stuff folks.
  • 00:21:01.317 --> 00:21:02.652
  • Be sure to follow senator blackburn on x
  • 00:21:02.652 --> 00:21:04.520
  • And across social media center. god bless.
  • 00:21:04.520 --> 00:21:06.422
  • Thanks again. we'll see you again soon.
  • 00:21:06.422 --> 00:21:08.124
  • And coming.
  • 00:21:08.124 --> 00:21:08.958
  • Got it. my final thoughts. don't move.
  • 00:21:08.958 --> 00:21:16.999
  • Got it. my final thoughts. don't move.
  • 00:21:16.999 --> 00:21:19.469
  • Welcome back to stakelbeck tonight folks.
  • 00:21:20.336 --> 00:21:21.971
  • As we wrap up here, quick reminder,
  • 00:21:21.971 --> 00:21:23.606
  • We've been covering all of the middle east wars
  • 00:21:23.606 --> 00:21:25.675
  • Very closely since october 7th, 2023.
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  • That's why i think you will really appreciate
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  • A brand new documentary here on tbn, hosted by yours truly.
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  • On the ground in israel, it's called the heroes of october 7th
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  • And beyond.
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  • It's airing every sunday night at 11 p.m.
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  • Eastern time, right here on tbn.
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  • Here's a sneak peek october 7th, the day everything changed
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  • From the flames of massacre heroes rows,
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  • Ordinary men and women ran toward gunfire.
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  • Soldiers left their homes to defend their people.
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  • And as missiles rained down, the nation stood as one.
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  • Hamas in gaza tunnels, hezbollah in the north, the houthis,
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  • Iraqi militias and the regime that armed it all iran.
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  • Heroes. october 7th and beyond.
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  • Folks, i really believe there's
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  • Interviewed prime minister netanyahu,
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  • Eight part documentary series filmed on the ground
  • 00:22:52.662 --> 00:22:55.731
  • In israel again every sunday night right here on tbn, 11 p.m.
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  • Eastern time.
  • 00:22:59.368 --> 00:23:00.436
  • New episode coming this sunday.
  • 00:23:00.436 --> 00:23:01.971
  • And if you missed any of the previous episodes
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  • Of this eight part series, check it out at tbn plus.com.
  • 00:23:03.940 --> 00:23:08.411
  • Again, the heroes of october 7th and beyond this sunday night,
  • 00:23:08.411 --> 00:23:12.081
  • 11 p.m. eastern.
  • 00:23:12.081 --> 00:23:13.349
  • Don't miss it. tomorrow, pastor troy brewer is with us.
  • 00:23:13.349 --> 00:23:15.718
  • Some great prophetic insights. you won't want to miss that.
  • 00:23:15.718 --> 00:23:18.454
  • Until then, god bless you and we'll see you soon.
  • 00:23:18.454 --> 00:23:18.454