Buckle up—this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast cuts straight into the pressure points shaping Russia’s world right now, and nothing about it is quiet or subtle
In RH 1.5.26 | Russia — Drones Over Moscow, Maduro Gone, Budanov Moves In, we break down a 24-hour window that perfectly captures where Moscow stands in early 2026: stretched, reactive, and increasingly boxed in—militarily, diplomatically, and psychologically.
We start with Russia’s surprisingly muted reaction to the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that removed Nicolás Maduro, one of the Kremlin’s most reliable overseas partners. For a country that prides itself on projecting strength and defending its allies, Moscow’s response was heavy on rhetoric and light on action. No deployments. No meaningful escalation. Just statements, complaints, and familiar outrage. What does it say when Russia watches a partner fall and can only issue press releases?
From there, we shift to Ukraine’s internal power moves—and they’re anything but routine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has pulled military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov directly into the political command center, reshaping how Kyiv governs while the war is still raging. We unpack why this matters, how corruption scandals forced Zelensky’s hand, and what it signals to Washington, Moscow, and Ukraine’s own parliament as peace talks creep forward.
On the battlefield and beyond it, the pace is accelerating. Ukraine’s drone campaign is no longer occasional or symbolic. Russian officials claim Moscow has been targeted every single day of 2026 so far—and whether you take that number literally or not, the disruption is real. Airports closing. Flights grounded. Defense factories catching fire. This episode explains how drones have become Ukraine’s most effective way to reach inside Russia’s comfort zone and make the war impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, Russia is responding the way it knows best: more strikes, more repression, and more pressure on civilians. We walk through the latest wave of attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, why Russia is now targeting substations instead of power plants, and what that means for daily life during winter blackouts. At the same time, Moscow is tightening the screws at home—new laws expanding FSB powers, harsher penalties for “foreign agents,” and headline-grabbing prison sentences designed to send a message.
And then there’s the shadow war. Damaged undersea cables in the Baltic. Sanctioned tankers changing flags like fake mustaches. Information operations framing Europe as the real villain. This episode connects those dots and shows how Russia is still playing a global game—even when the pieces aren’t falling its way.
If you want a fast-moving, sharp, and unfiltered breakdown of Russia’s military pressure, Ukraine’s evolving strategy, and the quiet signals coming out of Moscow, this episode delivers. Serious analysis, high energy, and just enough edge to keep it real.
Hit play. Russia’s having a week—and it shows.
In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down a wild 24 hours that sent shockwaves straight through Beijing—and rippled across Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and beyond.
The headline moment: the United States executes a stunning overnight operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, abruptly ending China’s long-running effort to prop up one of its closest partners in the Western Hemisphere. The timing couldn’t have been worse for Beijing. Just hours before the raid, senior Chinese diplomats were meeting Maduro in Caracas, reinforcing political and economic support—only to watch that entire investment vanish in real time. China’s response was fast, furious, and framed around sovereignty, international law, and U.S. “hegemonic behavior,” but the deeper story is about credibility, power, and what happens when guarantees fail.
From there, we pivot straight into Taiwan, where China is steadily pushing the envelope. Massive PLA exercises, warships and coast guard vessels operating inside Taiwan’s contiguous zone, missile activity, and the normalization of high-risk proximity all point to a deliberate effort to wear down buffers without firing the first shot. At the same time, China’s cyber campaign against Taiwan is running at industrial scale—millions of intrusion attempts per day targeting power grids, hospitals, telecom networks, government agencies, and semiconductor infrastructure. This is pressure by design, synchronized across military, cyber, and political timelines.
We also unpack the human side of the fight: China’s expanding espionage efforts targeting Taiwan’s military and civil service, using dating apps, financial schemes, and old-school grooming tactics. Taiwan’s response—restoring military courts and rolling out sweeping counter-espionage measures—signals just how seriously Taipei is taking the threat.
While all of this is happening, Beijing is scrambling diplomatically. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung lands in China amid North Korean missile launches, signing new economic deals while quietly navigating the security minefield of North Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the U.S. alliance system. China courts South Korea hard, even as cultural bans and strategic mistrust linger beneath the surface.
Over in Europe, China makes a targeted play for Ireland, pitching cooperation on AI, pharmaceuticals, and the digital economy while simultaneously punishing the EU with retaliatory tariffs. It’s carrot-and-stick diplomacy, executed with precision.
And hovering over everything is the PLA’s start to 2026: nationwide, combat-focused training across every service—drones, destroyers, stealth fighters, hypersonic missiles, and joint operations—signaling readiness, not restraint.
This episode connects the dots between Latin America, East Asia, cyber warfare, espionage, diplomacy, and military power—delivered with high energy, sharp context, and just enough bite to call things what they are. If you want to understand how China is reacting to U.S. unpredictability, how Taiwan is being squeezed without a war, and why the global security environment feels tighter by the day, this is one you don’t want to miss.
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In this explosive episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, Ryan Fugit is joined by Glenn Corn and David Fitzgerald—a 37-year CIA veteran and former multi-time Chief of Station—to break down one of the most consequential geopolitical operations in recent history: the U.S. apprehension of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.
In the early morning hours of January 2, U.S. forces executed a highly coordinated interagency, combined-arms operation involving Delta Force, special operations aviation, CIA, DEA, NSA, NGA, and conventional forces. The mission—described publicly as an apprehension operation—resulted in Maduro and his wife being moved to the United States.
This conversation goes far beyond headlines to explain how it was done, why it matters, and what comes next.
INSIDE THIS EPISODE:
• How the U.S. intelligence community set the conditions months in advance
• CIA operations without diplomatic cover—and what that really means
• Why Venezuela’s oil industry (PDVSA) is central to the transition plan
• Chevron’s unique role and why it never left Venezuela
• Lessons from Panama, Haiti, Iraq—and what not to repeat
• The real power dynamics inside Venezuela’s ruling party
• Narco-state realities, cartel corruption, and Cuban intelligence penetration
• China’s strategic dilemma and why Beijing may stay surprisingly neutral
• What this operation signals to Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, and beyond
• Why the hard part starts now after the capture of Maduro
This is a rare, candid discussion between professionals who have planned, supported, and executed real-world intelligence and stabilization operations. No cable-news fluff—just clear, experienced analysis from people who’ve been there.
ABOUT THE GUESTS
David Fitzgerald is a former CIA officer with nearly four decades of experience, including multiple tours as Chief of Station across Latin America and senior roles supporting major counterterrorism and stabilization operations.
Glenn Corn is a former senior CIA officer and geopolitical risk expert, known for his deep regional expertise and strategic advisory work.
Find Glenn Corn and David Fitzgerald at Vector One Global
https://www.vectoroneglobal.com/our-company
Glenn Corn is also with Great South Bay Consulting, providing high-level strategic insight for leaders navigating global instability
https://greatsouthbayinc.com/
WHY THIS MATTERS:
The apprehension of Maduro isn’t just about Venezuela—it reshapes the balance of power across the Western Hemisphere. What happens next will determine whether this becomes a model for successful transition… or a warning of what not to do.
Don’t miss the next move.
Go to 👉 https://restrictedhandling.com
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EPISODE CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
06:10 – Inside the CIA & Delta Force Mission
13:45 – What Happens After Maduro?
20:40 – Narco-State Reality & Cuban Influence
28:55 – Global Ripple Effects: China, Russia & Cuba
35:40 – The Hard Part Begins
China rang in the new year by turning the pressure dial way up—and this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast breaks it all down with energy and clarity.
In RH 1.2.26 | China, we dig into Beijing’s most aggressive Taiwan-focused military activity to date and why it matters far beyond the Taiwan Strait. Over just 48 hours, China ran massive, snap military drills simulating a blockade of Taiwan, pushed warships and coast guard cutters closer than ever before, fired rockets into contested waters, and layered it all with propaganda, cyber activity, and economic leverage. This wasn’t a drill for show—it was a rehearsal.
We walk through how China used the People’s Liberation Army and the China Coast Guard together, blurring the line between “law enforcement” and military coercion. Coast guard vessels didn’t just patrol—they practiced boarding, interception, and expulsion near Taiwan’s outlying islands, copying the same gray-zone tactics China has perfected in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, PLA naval forces, bombers, rocket units, and amphibious ships quietly practiced the kind of moves that make defense planners lose sleep.
But the episode doesn’t stop at ships and missiles.
We also break down how this military pressure coincided with China tightening its grip on rare earth exports, a critical choke point for global tech, clean energy, and defense industries. At the same time, Washington renewed select semiconductor export licenses to keep mature chip production running in China—highlighting the uncomfortable reality that competition and dependence still coexist.
You’ll hear how the fallout spread across the region, from Taiwan activating emergency defense drills to the Philippines confronting a Chinese vessel near sensitive waters, to South Korea balancing diplomacy with Beijing while watching tensions rise between China, Japan, and the United States.
We also cover the cyber and intelligence layer flying just below the radar: a major data breach that exposed Chinese cyber tradecraft, global surveillance targets, and preparation activities that mirror what’s happening at sea. Add in China’s new internal security and data-control laws taking effect on January 1, and the picture becomes clear—this is a whole-of-state pressure campaign, not a single event.
If you care about China, Taiwan, Indo-Pacific security, gray-zone warfare, military coercion, cyber operations, or how modern great-power pressure really works in practice, this episode is for you.
Strap in. China didn’t whisper this message—it broadcast it.
Get ready for a fast-moving, no-nonsense breakdown of one of the most consequential moments of the war as we roll into 2026. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dig deep into Russia’s end-of-year military push, Ukraine’s expanding strike campaign, and the political theater unfolding around U.S.-led peace talks. This is not surface-level commentary—this is a tightly woven, intelligence-style narrative built for listeners who want to understand what actually matters.
We start with Russia’s battlefield reality check. Moscow wants the world to believe 2025 was a year of momentum, but the numbers tell a different story. Yes, Russian forces moved faster than in 2024, but they paid for inches of ground with staggering casualties. We unpack how Russia shifted tactics—leaning heavily into drones, battlefield air interdiction, and small-unit infiltration—while still failing to secure its headline objectives in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Sumy. It’s adaptation without breakthrough, attrition without decision.
Then we flip to Ukraine’s response. Kyiv didn’t just hold the line—it went hunting in the rear. Ukrainian long-range and mid-range drone strikes hit oil refineries, energy nodes, logistics hubs, radar sites, and military bases across occupied Ukraine, Crimea, and deep inside Russia. This episode walks through what was struck, where, and why it matters, showing how Ukraine is increasingly targeting the systems that keep Russia’s war machine alive rather than chasing symbolic wins.
We also tackle one of the strangest information operations of the year: Russia’s claim that Ukraine tried to assassinate Vladimir Putin by attacking his residence. The timing, the evidence gaps, the shifting numbers—it all raises eyebrows. We lay out what Russia claimed, how the story evolved, how the U.S. and Europe reacted, and why this episode looks far more like a negotiating spoiler than a real military incident. If you want to understand how disinformation intersects with diplomacy, this is required listening.
On the diplomatic front, we break down where peace talks actually stand. European leaders are signaling serious post-war security commitments to Ukraine, while Kyiv makes clear it won’t sign a deal that locks in Russian gains. At the same time, Russia appears to be maneuvering for leverage—on the battlefield, in negotiations, and through narrative warfare.
We also zoom out to the bigger system. China’s continued purchases of Russian LNG, despite Western sanctions, show how Moscow is keeping revenue flowing. Inside Russia, leaked complaints expose coercion, abuse, and deep strain within the military. Add in intelligence operations, internal power consolidation, and questions surrounding key regional leaders, and you get a picture of a state projecting confidence while quietly managing pressure from all sides.
If you care about Russia, Ukraine, China, great-power competition, modern drone warfare, or how wars actually end—or don’t—this episode delivers context, clarity, and momentum. Sharp analysis, clean storytelling, and just enough edge to keep it honest.
As 2025 comes to a close, Ryan Fugit and former senior intelligence officer Glenn Corn sit down for a wide-ranging, no-spin assessment of the global security landscape—and what lies ahead in 2026.
👉 Subscribe to The Restricted Handling Podcast🔗 https://www.restrictedhandling.com/ -->Get exclusive insights into: Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and the Middle East
In this year-end episode of the Restricted Handling podcast, Ryan and Glenn break down the most consequential geopolitical developments of the past year, from the grinding war in Ukraine to rising pressure on Taiwan, instability across the Middle East, and growing uncertainty in Europe, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere.
The conversation opens with Russia’s war in Ukraine, examining staggering casualty figures, the toll on Russia’s economy, and the political calculations shaping negotiations. They analyze President Putin’s year-end address, Zelensky’s engagement with President Trump, and whether a ceasefire or peace agreement is realistically within reach in 2026.
From there, the discussion expands globally. China’s posture toward Taiwan, psychological pressure campaigns, and the quiet but critical semiconductor race are unpacked in detail. Ryan and Glenn explore Iran’s internal unrest, protests, and the possibility—however uncertain—of regime change. They also examine Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, Venezuela, and underreported regions like the Arctic, Africa, and North Korea’s expanding role alongside Russia.
One of the most powerful segments highlights individuals showing extraordinary courage under authoritarian regimes—from Russian anti-war activists and lawyers to Chinese and Hong Kong dissidents risking imprisonment to speak the truth. These stories underscore the human cost behind geopolitical headlines and why these struggles matter far beyond their borders.
The episode also reflects on 2025’s biggest surprises, disappointments, and under-the-radar developments—including the transformation of modern warfare through drones and AI, shifting U.S.–Europe relations, and the rise of economic and commercial diplomacy as a core tool of statecraft.
They close with practical advice for policymakers, lessons learned from decades of intelligence and diplomacy, and personal reflections on leadership, service, and resilience.
If you want sober analysis, insider perspective, and a clear-eyed view of where the world is heading—this is a must-watch conversation.
🔔 Subscribe for in-depth discussions on global security, intelligence, geopolitics, and foreign policy.
💬 Drop your questions and predictions for 2026 in the comments.
⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Intro
2:00 – Russia, Ukraine & the State of the War
6:45 – Who Actually Plans U.S. Strategy on Russia & Iran?
10:00 – China, Taiwan & the Psychological Battlefield
14:30 – Europe, NATO & Fracturing Alliances
18:55 – Courage Under Authoritarian Regimes (Russia & China)
24:50 – 2026 Predictions: Ukraine, Venezuela, NATO & Markets
30:20 – Final Takeaways, Resolutions & What Comes Next
Glenn Corn
Institute of World Politics – Faculty Profilehttps://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/
Great South Bay Inc.https://greatsouthbayinc.com/
An Exceptional Podcast on China | Deep Expertise, Real Tradecraft, No Noise
This is an outstanding, high-signal conversation on China, grounded in decades of real intelligence experience and focused on how Chinese espionage, covert influence, and strategic manipulation actually work in practice.
In this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, hosts Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn sit down with Nick Eftimiades, one of the most respected experts on Chinese intelligence and espionage. Nick spent over three decades in the U.S. Intelligence Community, much of it focused on China, and is the author of Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics.
Rather than headlines or speculation, this episode digs into tradecraft, strategy, and institutional failure, why the U.S. underestimated China for decades, how Beijing runs a whole-of-society intelligence campaign, and what that means for U.S. national security today.
Why the U.S. Intelligence Community historically underinvested in China expertise
How Chinese covert influence operations target U.S. state and local governments
The Linda Sun case and what it reveals about United Front tradecraft
Why U.S. states are uniquely vulnerable to foreign influence
China’s aggressive economic espionage campaign, especially semiconductors and AI
Illegal Nvidia chip transfers and how export controls are enforced and evaded
China’s strategy toward Taiwan, pressure, psychology, cyber, and espionage short of war
Why an invasion is not the only or even preferred option
Whether the U.S. can realistically split China and Russia
Which allies truly understand the China threat and which still do not
This is a serious topic for serious listeners but in a lighthearted approach that policy makers, military professionals, intelligence practitioners, and anyone who wants to understand how great-power competition actually operates behind the scenes.
00:00 – Introduction: Why China Has Been the Blind Spot
01:10 – The U.S. Intelligence Gap on China
05:20 – Covert Influence and the Linda Sun Case
11:00 – United Front Operations and State-Level Targeting
18:50 – Taiwan: Espionage, Psychological Warfare and “2027”
25:10 – China, Russia, and the Myth of a Strategic Split
30:30 – Economic Espionage: Semiconductors and Nvidia Chips
36:10 – What to Expect from China in 2026 and Beyond
Nick Eftimiades
Nick Eftimiades is a former U.S. intelligence officer with more than three decades of experience across the Intelligence Community, including extensive work on China, espionage, and counterintelligence. He has testified before Congress, briefed senior policymakers, and built one of the most comprehensive open-source databases of Chinese espionage cases worldwide. His work focuses on tradecraft, covert influence, economic espionage, and China’s whole-of-society approach to intelligence operations.
📘 Chinese Espionage Operations and Tactics
👉 https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Espionage-Operations-Nicholas-Eftimiades/dp/0997618833/
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eftimiades
🌐 Website: https://www.shinobienterprises.com/
Stay ahead of the world’s most critical flashpoints with PDB-style daily intelligence.
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🔹 Includes:
A daily intelligence brief covering China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and the Middle East
Two companion daily podcasts focused exclusively on China and Russia
Clear, concise analysis designed for decision-makers
Glenn Corn
🌐 https://greatsouthbayinc.com/
Former Senior CIA Operations Officer, Member of the Senior Intelligence Service, and Adjunct Professor of Russian and Soviet Studies. With 34 years across CIA, Defense, and State, Glenn served in some of the world’s most challenging postings, including multiple tours as a Chief of Station. Today he advises on intelligence, risk, and strategic security while teaching at the Institute of World Politics.
Today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast covers the biggest Russia developments from December 29, 2025—and it’s one of those days where diplomacy looks promising in headlines while the Kremlin is busy loading the fine print with landmines.
The centerpiece is the Trump–Zelensky meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where the two leaders worked through a revised 20-point peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. President Trump told reporters a deal is “maybe very close,” but also warned it might not happen and said the next few weeks will determine whether this becomes a real agreement or another stalled draft. Zelensky called it a “great meeting” and said the joint U.S.–Ukraine proposal is nearly complete, emphasizing that security guarantees must be strong enough to prevent a repeat of 2022.
A major update from the New York Times reporting: Trump said he spoke with Vladimir Putin for more than two hours before meeting Zelensky—and claimed Putin wants a deal, adding: “I believe him.” That’s not a throwaway line; it’s Trump personally vouching for Putin’s stated intent, even as Russia continues rejecting several Western-backed concepts. European leaders stayed plugged in, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen describing an hourlong call with Trump and Zelensky and saying Europe welcomes progress but insists on ironclad security guarantees from day one.
And here’s the friction point: Russia is still swatting down key elements. Moscow rejected the idea of European peacekeepers in Ukraine, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov went further—calling any such troops “legitimate targets” and accusing Europe of being the main obstacle to peace. Meanwhile, the hardest issues remain unresolved: territory in Donetsk/Donbas and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP)—Europe’s largest, seized by Russia in 2022. Trump suggested Putin is interested in working with Ukraine to get the plant operating, but Ukraine has repeatedly rejected joint operation under Russian occupation. Adding to the day’s significance, the IAEA said it brokered a local multi-day ceasefire so crews can restore key power transmission links near the ZNPP complex—an operational reminder that nuclear infrastructure is still a live risk factor, not just a bargaining chip.
On the battlefield-information front, ISW assessed Russia is escalating an influence campaign using more sophisticated flag-raising montage videos to exaggerate “seizures” like Myrnohrad and Hulyaipole, while open-source evidence indicates contested control and infiltration-style activity rather than clean takeovers. At the same time, Russia continued drone strikes affecting Ukrainian energy systems, and Ukraine hit back with reported strikes on the Syzran oil refinery, an alleged Shahed drone depot in Makiivka, and reported hits on Russian special-operations and naval-drone infrastructure in occupied territory.
We also break down a key Baltic signal: Estonia’s foreign intelligence chief says Russia is not currently preparing to attack NATO, but urges calling sabotage and cyberattacks by their real names—not softening them as “hybrid.” And we close on Russia’s internal tightening: a new law enabling Moscow to ignore certain foreign and international criminal court rulings, plus a court move dismissing a WhatsApp/Telegram class-action challenge to Roskomnadzor restrictions—underscoring the Kremlin’s continued push to control both accountability abroad and communications at home.
If you’re tracking Russia, Ukraine peace talks, Trump, Zelensky, Putin, Donbas, Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, European peacekeepers, IAEA ceasefire, Russian information operations, drone strikes, and refinery attacks.
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Get exclusive insights into:
Russia
China
Iran
North Korea
The Middle East
Lebanon. Syria. Iran. Hezbollah. Israel. Russia.
Few people on Earth can connect all of these threads from firsthand experience—Ambassador David Hale can.
In this special holiday edition of the Restricted Handling Podcast, hosts Ryan Fugit (former Army & CIA officer) and Glenn Corn (34-year CIA veteran, multiple-time CIA Chief of Station) sit down with one of America’s most accomplished diplomats for a no-nonsense deep dive into the Middle East power shift unfolding right now.
With 40 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, Ambassador Hale has served as U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon, and Jordan, including three tours in Lebanon, giving him rare longitudinal insight into how U.S. policy, Iranian influence, and regional conflicts truly evolve over time.
🎙️ In this episode, we cover:
Why Lebanon is at a historic inflection point after decades of Syrian and Iranian dominance
The real status of Hezbollah’s degradation—and why persistence is everything
How Iran was finally disrupted, and the danger of U.S. disengagement
Assad’s fall and the hard truths about Syria’s new leadership
Why Israel is expanding security belts—and where it clashes with U.S. policy
Russia’s long game in the Levant—and why Moscow ultimately abandons its allies
Whether U.S. or French troops in Lebanon would stabilize or explode the situation
The future of American diplomacy—and whether young people should still pursue the Foreign Service
This conversation is a masterclass in strategic realism—how intelligence, diplomacy, and military power intersect when theory collides with reality. Ambassador Hale also pulls back the curtain on how U.S. administrations repeatedly surge, retreat, and leave vacuums adversaries are happy to fill.
If you want to understand:
✔️ Middle East geopolitics beyond headlines
✔️ U.S.–Iran confrontation dynamics
✔️ Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Hezbollah in context
✔️ How policy decisions are actually made
…this episode is essential.
📘 Featured Guest & Host Links
Ambassador David Hale
Institute of World Politics – Faculty Profile
https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/ambassador-david-hale/
Wilson Center – Distinguished Fellow
https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/david-hale
Book: American Diplomacy Toward Lebanon: Lessons in Foreign Policy in the Middle East
https://www.amazon.com/American-Diplomacy-Toward-Lebanon-Institute/dp/0755652223
Glenn Corn
Institute of World Politics – Faculty Profile
https://www.iwp.edu/faculty/glenn-corn/
Great South Bay Inc.
https://greatsouthbayinc.com/
⏱️ Time Stamps
00:00 – Intro
02:15 – Lebanon’s Turning Point: Hezbollah on the Ropes
06:05 – Iran’s Strategy: Why Silence Is Dangerous
10:30 – Can Lebanon Prevent Hezbollah’s Return?
14:55 – Syria After Assad: Hard Truths About the New Regime
20:10 – Israel’s Security Strategy & U.S. Policy Tensions
24:40 – Russia’s Role: Why Moscow Abandons Its Allies
28:45 – Why America Always Walks Away
32:50 – Should Young Americans Still Join the Foreign Service?
35:45 – Final Thoughts & Holiday Send-Off
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast — where global power plays, battlefield blunders, and backroom deals collide. In today’s high-voltage episode, “Blackouts, Blasts & Backchannels,” we’re diving straight into 24 hours of Russian chaos that feel like a Cold War reboot with TikTok-level pacing.
First up, Moscow’s Christmas “gift” to Ukraine: one of the largest drone and missile barrages of the war. We’re talking more than 600 drones, Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, and cruise strikes lighting up the night sky from Odesa to Kyiv. Ukraine’s F-16s finally got their cinematic debut, downing most of what Russia threw — but not before massive blackouts rolled through western Ukraine. Putin’s message to the world? Bah humbug.
Then we hit the diplomatic drama. President Volodymyr Zelensky isn’t just playing defense — he’s rewriting the script. He dropped a new U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan proposing a demilitarized zone in Donetsk. It’s the boldest move yet in the Miami-mediated peace process that’s become half geopolitical thriller, half reality show. Washington loves the progress; the Kremlin’s playing hard to get. But with both sides talking borders again, this might be the first draft of an actual deal — not just another round of photo ops and posturing.
Meanwhile, inside Russia, the paranoia meter’s red-lining. In Moscow, a car bomb killed Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, followed days later by another blast that took out two cops near the same spot. That’s two explosions in two days in the heart of the capital. Add in the assassination of neo-Nazi militia leader Stanislav “Spaniard” Orlov — reportedly by Russia’s own security services — and the empire’s starting to look more John Wick than Red Square.
The Kremlin’s also bleeding money faster than it’s firing missiles. Oil tankers are literally circling the globe with no buyers, gas revenues are scraping five-year lows, and defense factory bosses are lighting themselves on fire — literally — under Stalin-era pressure to meet impossible quotas. Medvedev’s threatening prison time for late deliveries while the ruble gasps for air. It’s a Soviet flashback with fewer medals and more corruption.
Plus, we unpack Russia’s growing “digital Gulag,” the Baltic Sea sabotage chess game, and a wild new backchannel deal with Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko — complete with Boeing parts, sanctions relief, and a weight-loss drug cameo.
If you want to understand how Moscow’s trying to wage war, hide weakness, and spin collapse into confidence, this episode has it all — explosions, diplomacy, drama, and delusion — Russia-style.
Subscribe now and share The Restricted Handling Podcast — where geopolitics meets chaos with a dash of gallows humor.
Step beyond the headlines and official spin to uncover the deeper realities inside Russia and China’s economies. We take a close look at how Moscow and Beijing project power abroad while grappling with fragile foundations at home, from Russia’s unsustainable wartime spending to China’s faltering growth and anxious workforce. We cut through state narratives to reveal the costs of these economies, costs borne not by leaders, but by ordinary citizens facing higher prices and shrinking opportunities. With insights from data, policy shifts, and on-the-ground reports, we trace how these two authoritarian powers strain to maintain control, and how their choices reverberate across global markets, diplomacy, and the lives of millions.
China’s turning up the heat this Christmas Eve — and we’re breaking it all down with the precision of a DF-31 missile launch (minus the fallout). In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dive headfirst into Beijing’s latest nuclear flex, its record-breaking arms race with the U.S., and the rapidly evolving standoff over Taiwan. If you thought yesterday’s episode had fireworks, today’s has enough geopolitical caffeine to fuel an entire carrier group.
The Pentagon’s new report confirms what many have feared: China’s moving to a “launch-on-warning” nuclear posture, putting its arsenal on a hair-trigger. That means the People’s Liberation Army could fire back before an incoming missile even hits — a Cold War-style shift that could rewrite deterrence as we know it. We’ll break down how this new posture ties into Xi Jinping’s 2030 nuclear expansion plan, the growing web of missile silos in northern China, and what it all means for the U.S. homeland’s vulnerability.
Then we head to Taiwan, where the United States has approved its largest-ever arms sale — over $11 billion in HIMARS, ATACMS, howitzers, and drones designed to shred any Chinese invasion force before it reaches the beach. But there’s a catch: Taiwan’s legislature is gridlocked in a constitutional crisis that could delay funding for the deal. We’ve got all the latest on the political knife fight inside Taipei that could decide the island’s defense future.
Meanwhile, Beijing’s Navy is showing off like it’s auditioning for Top Gun: Maritime Edition. Over 100 Chinese warships are now deployed across East Asia — the biggest show of force in modern history — just as Beijing pushes plans to build six new aircraft carriers by 2035. Japan’s bracing for impact, arming its remote islands, and tightening coordination with Washington, while the PLA’s growing presence is rewriting the region’s military balance in real time.
We also tackle the semiconductor chess match — with Trump delaying tariffs on Chinese chips until 2027, Beijing screaming “suppression,” and Chinese scientists claiming to have built a homegrown EUV light source that could leapfrog Western tech bans. Add in the FCC’s fresh ban on Chinese drones, Iran calling China “hypocritical” over the Hormuz islands, and Russia teaming up with Beijing to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon, and you’ve got yourself one wild end-of-year geopolitical cocktail.
Grab your coffee, plug in your earbuds, and settle in. RH 12.24.25 | China: Nukes, Carriers, Chips & Power Plays is your inside look at the moves, misfires, and machinations shaping the world’s next great power showdown.
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast — your unfiltered daily intel drop on what’s really happening across the global power map. In today’s episode, we’re diving straight into a wild 24 hours inside China’s fast-moving—and increasingly volatile—chess game.
The big headline: China’s not just flexing; it’s arming up. A leaked Pentagon report confirms Beijing has loaded over 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles into new silos near the Mongolian border. These DF-31 solid-fuel missiles represent the sharpest edge of China’s nuclear expansion, and the report suggests the stockpile could hit 1,000 warheads by 2030. Beijing insists it’s all “defensive,” but with Xi Jinping purging his generals midstream and promoting new theater commanders, it’s clear the PLA is being reshaped for something bigger.
From the skies to the seas, China’s sending a message. Satellite imagery shows the Liaoning and the new Fujian aircraft carriers parked together in Qingdao, fueling speculation of a joint Pacific deployment — a first for China. The Fujian’s electromagnetic catapults put it in the same class as U.S. carriers, and its appearance in the Taiwan Strait adds a little extra adrenaline to an already tense region.
Meanwhile, Japan’s keeping pace. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has locked in a record-breaking $71 billion defense budget, hitting 2% of GDP years early. Tokyo’s aiming to show it’s no longer just America’s dependable ally — it’s a power in its own right, ready to counter China’s aggression and hedge against any unpredictability from Washington.
Back in the U.S., the tech and trade battle with China is red hot. The FCC has officially banned new foreign-made drones, effectively locking DJI out of the market. At the same time, the White House is scrambling to secure domestic supplies of lithium-ion batteries and rare-earth metals after China flexed its control over both. And while Nvidia’s AI chips might be trickling into China under a 25% tariff, lawmakers are warning that even small leaks could turbocharge Beijing’s AI-military complex.
We also cover the U.S. Coast Guard’s interception of a China-bound oil tanker near Venezuela, Beijing’s angry response, the chaos in China’s debt-ridden real estate sector, and the explosive rise of Chinese AI stocks like Moore Threads and MetaX.
It’s nukes, carriers, chips, oil, and debt — the perfect storm of 21st-century geopolitics. Tune in for sharp analysis, high energy, and a dose of truth you won’t find in your morning headlines.
Welcome to The Restricted Handling Podcast, where global power plays meet unfiltered storytelling. In today’s episode, we’re heading straight into the storm swirling around Moscow — and trust us, it’s messy.
Vladimir Putin’s inner circle is turning into a real-life “Game of Thrones” without the dragons (though, give him time). Russia’s top generals are feeding him doctored battlefield reports so optimistic they make Soviet propaganda reels look subtle. We’re talking inflated Ukrainian casualty numbers, imaginary victories, and rosy maps that exist only in PowerPoint. The result? Putin’s building strategy on make-believe, convinced his army’s winning a war that’s draining his economy and morale faster than a leaky oil tanker.
Meanwhile, Russia’s financial engine is sputtering. Sanctions are biting hard, oil profits are crashing, and economists are whispering the words “banking crisis” for 2026. Even Kremlin-friendly technocrats admit the money’s gone, inflation’s roaring, and defense factories are choking on bad contracts. There’s even a tragic twist — a defense scientist literally set himself on fire in Red Square after being accused of missing production quotas. If that’s not a metaphor for the state of Putin’s war machine, nothing is.
On the diplomatic front, it’s Miami Vice meets Cold War redux. U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are hosting Ukrainian and Russian negotiators in Florida to hash out a 20-point peace plan. The talks are 90 percent done, but Russia’s still stonewalling — rejecting a Christmas ceasefire and demanding permanent control of its occupied territories. Zelensky’s holding firm, Trump’s team is trying to play peacemaker, and the Kremlin’s pretending it’s in charge while its generals keep getting blown up.
Oh yeah — about that. Another Russian general just went boom. Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was assassinated in Moscow by a car bomb, the latest in a string of mysterious explosions targeting Putin’s military elite. Add in an ultranationalist warlord gunned down in Crimea, and it’s open season inside Russia’s power structure.
Meanwhile, Russia’s hitting Ukraine’s energy grid with hundreds of missiles and drones — and Ukraine’s firing right back, torching oil terminals and ammo depots in Russian territory. The fighting’s gone high-tech too: NATO intelligence says Russia’s developing a space weapon to knock out Starlink satellites. Because apparently, Earth’s not enough anymore.
From fake victories and blown-up generals to Florida peace talks and orbital weapons, this episode dives deep into a Russia spinning its own myths while the ground keeps shifting beneath it.
Tune in, share it, and strap in — this is Restricted Handling. The world’s wildest geopolitical theater just got another act.
The temperature in East Asia just dropped—and not because of the weather. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dive into the rapidly chilling relationship between China and Japan, where saber-rattling, nuclear talk, and economic brinkmanship are all on the table.
Hosting this one with a touch of fire and just enough swagger, we unpack how Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi managed to set off Beijing’s alarms by saying Japan might help defend Taiwan. That one statement triggered a week of fighter jets, diplomatic protests, and online rage in China that looks straight out of 2012—but this time, Beijing’s playing the long game, keeping the public fury bottled up to protect its shaky economy.
Meanwhile, Tokyo’s not backing down. Japan just signed off on its biggest military budget since World War II—2% of GDP, fast-tracked years ahead of schedule—and it’s loading up on long-range missiles, drone defense systems, and cyber capabilities. Think of it as Japan re-entering the major leagues after decades on the bench.
But the tension isn’t just military. Niigata’s controversial restart of the world’s largest nuclear plant has protesters in the streets, and Beijing’s new warning about Japan’s “plutonium stockpile” has the tone of a threat, not diplomacy. It’s old ghosts meeting new arsenals.
We then pivot to Beijing’s growing naval power—two Chinese aircraft carriers spotted together up north, a third lurking in the South China Sea, and an arms industry that’s gone from knockoff to cutting-edge. China’s building ships like it’s in a Cold War speedrun, fielding stealth fighters, and churning out batteries and missiles with the same industrial intensity it used to make iPhones.
Add Russia to the mix: Moscow’s gas exports to China jumped 25%, but Putin’s empire is running on Beijing’s terms now. Energy profits are tanking, and the once-mighty Russian gas giant Gazprom has become more of a supplier-for-hire to Xi’s China than an equal partner.
And as if global friction wasn’t enough, Trump’s America is back to seizing ships—this time, tankers carrying Venezuelan oil to China. Beijing calls it “piracy,” Washington calls it “enforcement,” and somewhere in between, the world just got a little more combustible.
There’s even a strange twist of cooperation: U.S. intel helped China bust a money-laundering ring involving tens of thousands of accounts. Proof that—even in a new Cold Snap—these two giants still occasionally share a crime-fighting cigarette break.
It’s a fast, sharp, and charged ride through the power plays shaping Asia’s next big flashpoint. China, Japan, Russia, Trump, nukes, and oil—this episode’s got all of it.
Tune in now to RH 12.22.25 | China, Japan, and the New Cold Snap — because geopolitics just got cinematic.
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast — the show that breaks down global power plays like it’s Monday Night Football, but for geopolitics. In this episode, we’re diving headfirst into the chaos out of Moscow, where Russia’s mixing battlefield theatrics with diplomatic drama, economic desperation, and some serious Cold War energy. Buckle up — this one’s loaded.
Russia’s trying to convince the world it’s launching a big new northern offensive, but let’s be honest — it’s all smoke, fog, and propaganda mirrors. We’ve got Putin’s troops sneaking across the Ukrainian border into tiny border villages in Sumy and Kharkiv, staging “photo ops” in the mud to make it look like Ukraine’s frontlines are collapsing. Except, they’re not. Ukraine’s calling the move what it is: a psychological operation dressed up like an invasion. Meanwhile, 50 civilians were reportedly deported from one of those villages to Russia — another reminder of how Moscow uses civilians as pawns in its information war.
Then we jump to the beaches of Miami — yes, Miami — where U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian delegations are holding separate “peace” talks hosted by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Everyone’s calling the meetings “productive,” which in diplomatic speak means nothing happened but nobody flipped a table. The U.S. is pitching a 20-point peace plan, Ukraine’s pushing back on any deal that trades land for promises, and the Kremlin’s grumbling that the West just doesn’t get it. It’s a geopolitical soap opera with too many main characters.
And while all that’s happening, a car bomb goes off in Moscow, killing Russian Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov — the guy in charge of the army’s training program. Kyiv’s not confirming or denying involvement, but given recent Ukrainian special ops hits inside Russia (including torching $100 million worth of fighter jets near Lipetsk), the timing’s a little too perfect.
We’ll also hit on the other big headlines: U.S. intel says Putin’s long game hasn’t changed one bit — still wants all of Ukraine and a chunk of Europe while pretending it’s about “security.” Russia’s economy, meanwhile, is staggering under sanctions and military overspending; analysts say a banking crisis could hit by late 2026. Oh, and Russia might be developing a space weapon to take down Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites — because apparently, destroying the internet is on brand now.
From fake offensives to real explosions, and from Miami boardrooms to Moscow backstreets, this episode unpacks how Russia’s trying to fight a war, spin a narrative, and keep the lights on — all at once.
Tune in now for your daily dose of restricted intel — fast, factual, and just the right amount of chaotic.
A weekly deep dive into the latest spy stories and intelligence updates from across the globe. We spotlight the hidden dynamics driving security crises, geopolitical maneuvering, and covert operations—all with a sharp, unvarnished perspective. From cyber threats to clandestine influence campaigns, this episode pulls together the week’s most critical developments, cutting through the noise and spin. Join us as we uncover the storylines shaping tomorrow’s conflicts, power plays, and intelligence battles.
The heat is rising in Beijing — and this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast dives straight into the chaos. From billion-dollar missile sales to purged generals and the world’s first “intellectual property” police dog, China’s been busy flexing, fuming, and fumbling all at once.
We kick things off with Washington’s monster $11 billion weapons deal with Taiwan — the biggest arms sale to the island in history. Think HIMARS rocket launchers, self-propelled howitzers, and cutting-edge drones all heading for Taipei. China’s losing its mind over it, threatening “forceful measures” while rolling out its shiny new aircraft carrier, the Fujian, for another headline-grabbing strut through the Taiwan Strait. It’s classic show-of-force theater — Beijing can’t resist the spotlight.
But that’s just the opening volley. Inside China, the drama’s gone full Shakespearean. Xi Jinping has unleashed an indefinite corruption probe into the entire Air Force — a sweeping purge that’s already swallowed senior commanders. Generals are vanishing, online bios are being erased, and the PLA is bracing for another loyalty test disguised as an anti-graft campaign. It’s part of Xi’s broader crusade to keep absolute control over a military that’s modernizing faster than it’s stabilizing.
Meanwhile, China’s secretive “Manhattan Project” for semiconductors is making waves. New reporting reveals that its Shenzhen team has built a working prototype of an extreme-ultraviolet lithography machine — the holy grail of chipmaking — by reverse-engineering Western tech. Huawei’s running point, and Beijing’s betting it can break the U.S.-led chip blockade by 2030. If that happens, global tech’s balance of power could flip overnight.
Beyond the labs and launchpads, Beijing’s juggling geopolitical headaches. It’s backing the UAE in a Persian Gulf island dispute — angering Iran — while trying to help broker a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Add in Japan and the Philippines expanding missile deployments with U.S. support, and you’ve got a full-blown regional chess match that’s tightening the noose around China’s maritime ambitions.
And because no day in Xi’s China is complete without something bizarre, we’ve got the Ministry of Public Security bragging about the “Kunming dog,” a homegrown wolf-dog hybrid hailed as China’s first police dog with “independent intellectual property rights.” Yes, seriously — they’re patenting canines now.
All that, plus the latest on the TikTok-Oracle deal, a new wave of Chinese cyber espionage, and Beijing’s growing youth unemployment crisis. It’s missiles, purges, propaganda, and police dogs — all in one episode.
Tune in to The Restricted Handling Podcast, where geopolitics meets caffeine and classified cables — no briefing room required.
The chaos continues, and today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is pure geopolitical adrenaline. In RH 12.19.25 | Russia: Nukes, Hackers, and Hovercrafts, we break down another 24 hours of high-stakes drama from Moscow to Brussels to the Baltic. Putin’s going full Cold War theater again, Europe’s barely keeping its financial unity intact, and Russian hackers are making the internet feel like the new front line.
We start with Vladimir Putin’s marathon press conference, where he delivered what might as well have been titled “Same War, New Lies.” He’s sticking to his maximalist invasion goals—no peace unless Ukraine surrenders land and NATO dreams. He claimed Russian forces are advancing everywhere (spoiler: they aren’t) and bragged about seizing cities that Ukrainian troops are still standing in. It’s Putin’s greatest hits of propaganda, all wrapped in Soviet nostalgia.
Then we head to Brussels, where the EU finally pulled together a massive €90 billion loan to keep Ukraine financially afloat. But the real story is how they did it—without touching the €210 billion in frozen Russian assets. Why? Because Belgium, sitting on most of that cash, is terrified of Russian lawsuits and GRU retaliation. Western intelligence confirms the Kremlin’s intimidation playbook is in overdrive—threats, cyberattacks, and even drone buzzings targeting Belgian officials and Euroclear’s CEO.
Meanwhile, Belarus just went nuclear—literally. Lukashenko announced that Russian Oreshnik hypersonic missiles are now on combat alert. These Mach-10 monsters can hit nearly anywhere in Europe, a chilling new reminder that Putin’s nuclear brinkmanship is alive and well. Add to that a growing hybrid war—Russian cyber units burrowing into Western energy networks, Estonian border breaches by hovercraft (because, sure, why not), and a full-scale disinformation blitz—and you’ve got Cold War 2.0 running in 4K.
On the battlefield, Ukraine’s not backing down. Kyiv’s drones and missiles are punching deep into Russia’s rear—taking out refineries, S-400 systems, and a shadow fleet tanker that’s been fueling Moscow’s war economy. Inside Russia, dissent brews quietly as one of Putin’s longtime allies, Dmitri Kozak, remains out after resigning over his opposition to the war.
This episode’s got everything—nuclear threats, cyber skulduggery, battlefield grit, and geopolitical absurdity. If you want to understand how the world’s most dangerous chessboard is shifting—and laugh a little while doing it—this is the episode you don’t skip.
Listen now: Putin’s nuclear saber-rattling, Europe’s financial scramble, Russia’s cyber games, and that hovercraft incursion everyone’s still trying to figure out. It’s all here, it’s all real, and it’s all in today’s Restricted Handling Podcast.
Strap in — today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is a full-throttle ride through China’s latest power plays, tech breakthroughs, and international flare-ups. From billion-dollar weapons deals to billion-dollar lawsuits, Beijing’s making moves on every front — and we’re breaking it all down with the energy and insight you’ve come to expect.
First up, the Trump administration’s $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan is officially moving forward, sending shockwaves through Beijing and the Taiwan Strait. The package includes HIMARS rocket launchers, howitzers, and a wall of Javelin missiles that would make any invading force think twice. China’s furious response set the stage for an even bigger flex — the Fujian, its newest aircraft carrier, cruised through the Taiwan Strait with the whole world watching. We’ve got the latest details and analysis on what that move really means, and how Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S. are responding.
Speaking of hardware, China’s secret “Manhattan Project” for semiconductors just hit a major milestone. Engineers in Shenzhen have built a working prototype of an EUV lithography machine — the holy grail of chipmaking tech that the West has spent years trying to keep out of Beijing’s hands. We break down how Huawei and a network of ex-ASML engineers pulled it off, why it matters for the global AI race, and how it could upend the balance of power in tech for decades to come.
But Beijing’s ambitions don’t stop at microchips. In cyberspace, Chinese hackers are running wild again — this time hijacking European government networks to launch espionage campaigns across Africa and Southeast Asia. We’ll unpack how the “Ink Dragon” group is using ShadowPad malware and Outlook’s cloud features to hide in plain sight. And if that’s not enough intrigue, the Ministry of State Security is now warning that foreign spies are brainwashing China’s youth through anime and video games. Yes, seriously.
We’ll also cover China’s courtroom showdown with Missouri, where Beijing is suing the U.S. state for a staggering $50 billion in pandemic-related “defamation.” It’s legal theater on a geopolitical scale — and it could redefine how far lawfare goes between global powers. Add in ZTE’s latest corruption probe, Germany’s car industry meltdown in China, and the quiet diplomacy playing out between Beijing and New Delhi, and you’ve got one packed update.
If you want sharp, entertaining, detailed analysis on China’s military, cyber, and tech fronts — this is the episode. Subscribe, share, and stay ahead of the game with The Restricted Handling Podcast.