China’s making headlines again — and not the peaceful kind. In today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dive into the chaos swirling around Beijing’s latest global power plays — espionage, economic coercion, and military muscle-flexing. If you thought yesterday’s news was wild, today’s developments crank the tension up to eleven.
The diplomatic brawl between China and Japan over Taiwan has gone nuclear — metaphorically, for now. After Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi doubled down on her comments about defending Taiwan, Beijing’s throwing every kind of punch it can. We’re talking a total seafood ban, over 540,000 canceled flights, and a propaganda storm calling Japan “a danger to peace.” Meanwhile, Japan’s response? Calm, collected, and backed by its biggest defense budget in modern history. Add in the U.S. flying B-1B bombers with Japanese F-35s over the East China Sea, and it’s clear this standoff isn’t cooling down anytime soon.
But that’s not all. Two of China’s aircraft carriers — the Fujian and Shandong — were just spotted operating together for the first time, conducting joint drills off Hainan Island. The Fujian’s cutting-edge electromagnetic catapult system is front and center, launching fighters like it’s auditioning for the next Top Gun movie. Meanwhile, in the South China Sea, China’s still fuming over joint naval drills between the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines — accusing them of “colluding with external forces.” Translation: Beijing’s nerves are showing.
Over in Taiwan, that espionage story we broke yesterday just got darker. Authorities confirmed the Chinese agent detained — a Hong Kong national named Ding — had been personally recruiting active and retired Taiwanese officers for years. It’s not just remote hacking anymore — Beijing’s physically planting operatives on the island. Taiwan’s tightening its defenses, boosting counterintelligence, and sending a clear message: not today, not ever.
And while all that’s happening, China’s global influence game is still running full throttle. The Netherlands just paused its state control of chipmaker Nexperia after “constructive talks” with Beijing. In London, the MI5 alert naming Chinese spies using LinkedIn as headhunters has Parliament on lockdown. And in Zambia, Premier Li Qiang’s visit is sealing new Belt and Road deals even as Western nations rush to keep up.
We connect every dot — from China’s $2.1 trillion global spending spree to U.S. warnings about Beijing’s grip on supply chains. It’s spies, seafood, and supersonic bombers — all in one fast, sharp, no-fluff episode.
If you want to understand how China’s rewriting the rules of 21st-century power — from your grocery store to your newsfeed to your next vacation — this is the episode you don’t skip.
Listen now to RH 11.19.25 | China: Spies, Seafood Bans, and Bomber Runs — where global strategy meets raw reality, and every headline tells a story bigger than it looks.
The war in Ukraine just took another chaotic turn — and The Restricted Handling Podcast is here to break it all down with bite, energy, and insight. In this episode, “RH 11.19.25 | Russia: Missiles, Mayhem, and the Fog of War,” we’re diving into Russia’s largest air and missile barrage in months, Ukraine’s daring counterstrikes deep into Russian territory, and the Kremlin’s spiraling paranoia that’s now rewriting the rulebook for life inside Putin’s fortress state.
We start with the night that lit up Ukraine’s skies: more than 470 drones and 48 missiles raining down on cities from Ternopil to Lviv. Apartment towers reduced to rubble, power grids crippled, and NATO countries scrambling jets as Russia’s war machine spills over its borders. But Ukraine’s not sitting still — Kyiv just fired U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles straight into Russia, striking near Voronezh. Moscow claims it shot them all down, but debris in the heart of Russia tells a different story. If this sounds like escalation, that’s because it is.
Then, we return to the Pokrovsk front — where last week’s “encirclement” has turned into a full-on bloodbath. Russian troops are crawling through the ruins of a city that now looks more like Stalingrad 2.0 than a modern battlefield. Fog, drones, and exhaustion define the fight, and both sides are paying a heavy price. Ukraine’s still holding, but the cost is rising by the day.
Meanwhile, Putin’s locking down his country tighter than ever. New laws let the Kremlin mobilize two million reservists to “guard infrastructure,” block cell networks for returning travelers, and jail teenagers for sabotage. Russia’s morphing into a digital police state while even its pro-war bloggers — once its loudest cheerleaders — are being silenced, arrested, or branded as extremists. When a regime starts eating its own propaganda machine, you know the walls are closing in.
We’ve also got a wild espionage subplot unfolding across Europe — Poland uncovering Russian sabotage on its rail lines, NATO scrambling over drone breaches, and a spy tug-of-war in Azerbaijan involving a GRU agent accused of running a Europe-wide parcel bomb plot. Add in Zelensky’s peace talks in Turkey, Europe’s defense deals, and a U.S. warning that China could weaponize global supply chains — and you’ve got one jam-packed episode that feels like Tom Clancy meets Black Mirror.
It’s raw, it’s fast, and it’s the kind of real-world drama you can’t make up. Tune in for RH 11.19.25 | Russia: Missiles, Mayhem, and the Fog of War — where geopolitics meets chaos, and every headline feels like a cliffhanger.
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.
It’s another wild 24 hours on the Eastern Front — and we’re diving straight into the chaos. In today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, “RH 11.18.25 | Russia: Fog, Fire, and Fractures,” we’re breaking down how Moscow’s brutal push around Pokrovsk is grinding into a meat grinder of its own making. The fog that once gave Russian troops cover is now blinding them, and Ukraine’s answering with precision drone strikes, mobile defenses, and some old-fashioned grit. It’s the latest chapter in Russia’s endless obsession with turning cities to rubble — and Kyiv’s refusal to break.
We’ll catch you up on how the Pokrovsk siege has evolved since yesterday’s briefing. What was a slow encirclement has become a brutal, close-quarters slugfest. Russian troops are literally crawling through smoke and ash while Ukrainian defenders fight back with unmanned ground vehicles and artillery guided by drone eyes in the sky. Both sides are losing heavily, but one thing’s clear: Moscow’s losing more men than it can replace.
Meanwhile, Russia’s “fog of war” has turned into something far more literal. Poor visibility and nonstop drone warfare are forcing both sides to fight blind — and the balance of tech is starting to tilt Ukraine’s way. On the other side of the border, Kyiv’s striking deep into Russian territory again, taking out S-400 air defense systems and hitting Novorossiysk, the same port that once housed Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet.
We’ve got sabotage, too — and this time, it’s inside NATO territory. Explosions on Polish railways, linking directly to Ukraine’s supply lifelines, have investigators pointing fingers squarely at Russia’s infamous GRU Unit 29155 — the same shadow operatives behind Europe’s past poisonings and pipeline explosions.
In Europe, things are heating up politically even as the continent braces for another freezing winter. France’s deal to send 100 Rafale F4 fighter jets to Ukraine is official — and Macron’s making sure Paris, not Washington, is seen as Europe’s security quarterback. But while the defense deals look bold, the money behind them is anything but stable. The EU’s plan to bankroll Ukraine using frozen Russian assets has stalled, and Belgium’s holding up the works. A funding cliff by spring? It’s on the table.
Add to that Zelensky’s new corruption scandal, Russian repression at home, Europe’s scramble for U.S. LNG, and a new wave of espionage drama — and you’ve got an episode packed tighter than a Kremlin press conference.
Buckle up for another high-tension, high-drama ride through East Asia on The Restricted Handling Podcast. In today’s episode — “RH 11.18.25 | China: Spies, Carriers, Nukes & Tourism Wars” — we break down the fast-moving storm swirling around Beijing’s latest diplomatic tantrums, covert operations, and saber-rattling military flexes. From spy rings to aircraft carriers to economic warfare waged through canceled vacations, China’s playing every card in the deck, and we’re unpacking it all.
The episode kicks off with China’s escalating feud with Japan, now entering full-blown economic warfare mode. After Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s blunt warning that Tokyo would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion, Beijing went nuclear — metaphorically and maybe literally. We’re talking canceled half-million tourist trips, billions in economic losses, and a propaganda barrage that paints Japan as the new villain of the East. We get into how Beijing’s “weaponized tourism” tactic works, why it’s hitting Japan’s economy where it hurts most, and how Tokyo’s surprisingly unfazed — with Takaichi’s approval ratings actually rising as the standoff deepens.
Then we move to the South China Sea, where the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines just wrapped another round of joint naval drills. The USS Nimitz took center stage while China’s bomber squadrons circled in response, warning its neighbors not to “collude with external forces.” We talk about how this cat-and-mouse game is shaping the new Indo-Pacific playbook — and why the PLA’s latest warships and drone carriers are sending shivers across the region.
Back on Taiwan’s shores, it’s spy season. Authorities just busted a Chinese espionage network run by a Hong Kong agent who actually infiltrated the island in person — a first. Two active-duty Taiwanese officers are under arrest, and Beijing’s getting bolder with every move. We also explore how China’s turning AI tools into cyberweapons, reportedly hijacking Anthropic’s Claude AI model to automate hacking campaigns. Welcome to the new frontier of espionage: artificial intelligence with Chinese characteristics.
And we can’t forget the nuclear file — new satellite images show a massive expansion at China’s Lop Nur test site. More tunnels, more shafts, more questions. Is Beijing prepping to break the test ban era?
Listen now to The Restricted Handling Podcast — where geopolitics gets bold, fast, and fun.
Buckle up — this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast takes you straight into the blast zone of global geopolitics. On November 17, 2025, China’s making waves on every front: underground in the deserts of Xinjiang, over the skies of Japan, and deep in the contested waters of the South China Sea. We’re breaking down the biggest moves and most eyebrow-raising developments you need to know.
First up — China’s secretive desert project at Lop Nur. Satellite imagery shows the People’s Liberation Army expanding its Cold War–era nuclear testing site with new tunnels, vertical shafts, and support facilities. As President Trump vows to restart U.S. nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with Beijing and Moscow, the world’s three biggest nuclear powers are once again circling each other like it’s 1962 all over again. Think of it as a high-stakes remix of the arms race — only this time, the nukes are smarter, faster, and pointed at more places.
Meanwhile, Xi Jinping’s nuclear modernization drive is speeding ahead. China now has over 600 nuclear warheads, new missile silos, and the flashy DF-61 intercontinental ballistic missile — capable of hitting anywhere on Earth. It’s a clear message to Washington: Beijing’s not playing small ball anymore.
But nukes aren’t the only story. Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, set off diplomatic fireworks after saying Tokyo might use force if China attacks Taiwan. Beijing didn’t take that well — dispatching Coast Guard ships into Japanese waters, flying drones near Yonaguni Island, and unleashing a social media tirade that included an actual decapitation threat from a Chinese diplomat. Yeah, it’s gotten that spicy.
Add to that the South China Sea showdown, where the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines just wrapped up massive naval drills led by the USS Nimitz. China fired back with bomber patrols and a shiny new amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, fresh off its maiden sea trial. The PLA’s message? “We’re ready whenever.”
On the tech and cyber front, it’s not getting any calmer. Anthropic uncovered that Chinese state-backed hackers used AI to run near-autonomous cyberattacks. Taiwan’s National Security Bureau also warned that Chinese AI chatbots like DeepSeek and Doubao are collecting user data and spreading propaganda disguised as conversation.
From desert nukes to drone duels, from cyber spies to diplomatic shade — this episode has it all. RH 11.17.25 | China: Nukes, Drones, and Desert Drills brings you the sharpest, fastest, and most irreverent take on global power plays you’ll find anywhere.
What does the future of warfare look like? In this extraordinary episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, hosts Ryan Fugit and Glenn Corn speak with Makar, a frontline Ukrainian soldier turned pioneering robotics commander, joining the conversation directly from active operations. This is one of the most compelling interviews we've ever done—an inside look at the first fully robotic ground-combat company in modern history.
Makar joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. He fought as an infantryman in the liberation of Kyiv, transitioned into a storm-trooper unit, and later led assault teams in the brutal battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka. Today, he commands what may be the world’s first company of entirely unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)—assault robots, fire-support platforms, logistics vehicles, and evacuation machines operating together as a coordinated fighting element.
In this episode, he recounts the first-ever forced surrender of Russian soldiers entirely by ground robots—a historic moment in warfare. He explains how his team planned the assault, how UGVs and FPV drones worked together, and how coordination, recon, and battlefield engineering made the operation possible. Ryan and Glenn break down why this event signals a fundamental shift in how modern wars will be fought.
The conversation dives deep into:
• How Ukraine iterates battlefield technology in real time
• Why 80% of battlefield success now depends on tech and operators, not just soldiers
• The Russian tactics in the east—mass infantry waves, encirclement attempts, and “meat grinder” assaults in cities like Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar
• How small Ukrainian assault groups have eliminated hundreds of attacking Russian troops in days
• What morale looks like inside a unit that is redefining warfare under constant fire
• Why Ukraine’s survival is inseparable from the security of Europe and the West
Makar offers a blunt and moving message: Ukraine is fighting a marathon war, and victory requires the right pace, relentless innovation, and a national will to survive. He describes the unimaginable price Ukrainians have paid—friends lost, cities destroyed, and generations of talent sacrificed—while emphasizing that Russia’s aggression will not stop at Ukraine’s borders if it is not defeated.
He also shares what Ukraine needs most from Western partners:
• Air-defense systems to protect civilians from missiles and Shahed drones
• More robots and components to accelerate technological superiority
• Continued attention, because the outcome of this war will shape global security for decades
This is an emotional, raw, and inspirational discussion. Glenn and Ryan highlight the heroism of Ukraine’s young fighters and the extraordinary resilience they’ve witnessed on the ground. Makar closes with a powerful vision for Ukraine’s future—and a reminder that the country’s defenders are not only fighting for their homeland, but for the stability of the entire free world.
If you want to understand the real state of the war, the rapid evolution of combat robotics, and the human cost behind the headlines, this is a must-listen episode.
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The global chessboard just got a whole lot noisier, and we’re breaking it all down for you in this high-octane episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast. Buckle up—because today’s briefing dives deep into the newest moves from Moscow, the battlefield shakeups in Ukraine, and the escalating global tug-of-war that’s pulling in everyone from Athens to Beijing.
Russia’s turning up the heat in Ukraine, shifting tactics from massed assaults to stealth infiltrations near Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. We unpack how small, fog-shrouded infiltration teams are trying to choke off Ukrainian supply lines—while Ukraine fires back with next-gen unmanned vehicles and precision drone strikes. In the south, the fight for Hulyaipole is getting dangerously close to cutting key logistics corridors, threatening another pocket of resistance.
But Ukraine isn’t staying quiet. We’ve got explosions at Russia’s Samara oil refinery, drone strikes hitting the Rubikon elite drone base in occupied Donetsk, and a temporary shutdown at the Novorossiysk oil port that sent shockwaves through global energy markets. Meanwhile, the Kremlin keeps pounding Ukraine’s infrastructure with missile and drone barrages—proving that this winter’s battle won’t just be fought in trenches but across the energy grid.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is juggling a war and a scandal—after a $100 million corruption probe rattled Ukraine’s state energy sector. He’s cleaning house, firing ministers, and racing across Europe to lock down new lifelines, including a deal with Greece to import U.S. liquefied natural gas through the winter. We’ve got details on his stops in Athens and Paris, where Zelenskyy’s securing Rafale jets and Aster-30 missiles from Macron to keep Ukraine’s skies alive.
Back in Washington, Trump’s turning up the pressure with sweeping sanctions targeting any country doing business with Russia—while at home, his administration pushes hard to free the U.S. from China’s rare-earth grip. From the first U.S.-made magnet in 25 years to Pentagon-backed mines in California, we break down how this mineral arms race ties directly into America’s national security.
And just when you think things couldn’t get tenser—the “third nuclear age” is here. China’s nuclear buildup, Russia’s new generation of “super weapons,” and the U.S. playing catch-up—it’s not Cold War 2.0; it’s something entirely more complicated.
If you want the pulse of global power shifts—with sharp insight and a touch of dark humor—this is your sitrep. The Restricted Handling Podcast delivers the world’s most sensitive updates, unclassified for your ears. Tune in and get briefed.
Tensions between India and Pakistan are rising again—and in this episode of the Restricted Handling Podcast, host Ryan Fugit sits down with co-host Glenn Corn and special guest Edward Fugit to break down the recent terror attacks in New Delhi and Islamabad, the rapid response on both sides, and the alarming speed at which this flare-up unfolded.
Drawing on decades of combined CIA, diplomatic, military, and intelligence experience, the trio explores why this region continues to teeter on the edge of crisis—and what makes this moment uniquely dangerous.
They examine the two attacks that struck both capital cities within 48 hours—something veteran practitioners say is unprecedented. Was this coordinated? A coincidence? Or a sign of evolving proxy strategies? Glenn discusses the early investigation results, India’s unusually measured response, and Pakistan’s quick attribution to the TTP. From Kashmir to the border regions to intelligence-linked militant groups, the conversation dives into why attribution is rarely straightforward in South Asia.
Edward Fugit, former political advisor in Islamabad and CENTCOM, offers insider context on Pakistan’s internal dynamics, the evolving role of its Army Chief, and the long historical roots of India-Pakistan hostility. He explains how both sides carefully manage escalation—despite decades of deadly attacks—because they deeply understand the catastrophic risk of war between two nuclear-armed states. Still, he warns how a single miscalculation, rogue commander, or unsanctioned militant action could push events past the point of control.
The episode also covers:
• Pakistan’s new “Chief of Defense Forces” role and why this power shift matters
• China and Russia’s longstanding influence in the subcontinent—and how the U.S. fits into the modern geopolitical triangle
• India’s re-establishment of its embassy in Kabul and why Pakistan sees Afghanistan as its strategic backyard
• How intelligence services like ISI and RAW operate, interact with their militaries, and influence regional events
• Personal stories from life and work in Pakistan, from diplomacy and intelligence to humorous moments in the field
Glenn and Edward both stress that while neither India nor Pakistan wants a full-scale war, history shows how quickly tensions can spiral. With both militaries deployed face-to-face at some of the highest altitude battle positions in the world, even a small border clash can become a national crisis. The trio concludes with guidance for how U.S. policymakers should approach the region today—constant attention, balanced engagement, and a sober understanding of how interconnected South Asia is with China, Russia, Central Asia, and Afghanistan.
If you want clear, experienced, real-world analysis of today’s most volatile geopolitical flashpoints, this is an episode you shouldn’t miss.
👉 Get the free daily intel brief that Ryan and Glenn read: RestrictedHandling.com
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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.
In this episode, we break down China’s escalating confrontation with Japan after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s blunt warning that Tokyo could respond militarily if China blockades Taiwan. Beijing reacts with fury—and even a wildly inappropriate deleted comment from one of its diplomats that sent Japan’s foreign ministry scrambling to file protests. If you want the latest on the fast-evolving China–Japan–Taiwan triangle, this is your episode.
We also zoom in on China’s pressure campaign against Taiwan, where 21 PLA aircraft and three PLAN vessels pushed right up to the island’s doorstep, with 18 jets crossing the median line. This comes just hours after an unusual “zero activity” pause—so yeah, the whiplash is real. Plus, hear how Taiwan’s Puma Shen, labeled “wanted” by Beijing, is turning China’s intimidation attempts into global headlines.
You’ll get fresh intel on the U.S.’s newly approved $330 million sale of aircraft parts to Taiwan—Washington’s first arms package under Trump’s new term—and what it signals as the USS Nimitz cruises uncomfortably close to China’s backyard.
Then we shift to China’s military modernization freight train, which added two massive milestones: new manned–unmanned teaming footage featuring the stealth GJ-11 drone flying with a J-20, and the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan beginning its much-anticipated sea trials. Drone carriers, electromagnetic catapults, catapult-assisted UAV operations—China is pushing the tempo in ways that military planners around the world are watching closely.
And that’s not all. We look at China’s royal charm offensive with Thailand, its strategic naval visit to Nicaragua, its AI-generated cop warning citizens not to use VPNs, and its economy struggling with its weakest industrial and retail performance in over a year. Add in the possible resignation of China’s top securities regulator, and the picture inside Beijing becomes even more complicated.
If you want a podcast that mixes clear geopolitical insight with energy, edge, and personality, this episode is your go-to. Buckle up—China brought the heat today.
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast, where we break down Russia’s battlefield moves, geopolitical gambits, cyber shenanigans, and late-stage-empire weirdness with high-energy storytelling. In today’s episode — “RH 11.14.25 | Russia: Fog Battles, Flamingo Strikes, Pokrovsk Tightens, Oil Chaos, Hybrid Heat” — we dive deep into one of the most chaotic 24-hour stretches of the war so far. If you’re tracking Russia’s offensive operations, Ukraine’s long-range strike evolution, the Kremlin’s latest pressure campaign, or the oil-market fallout rocking global energy, this is your must-listen briefing.
We kick off with Russia leaning into literal fog as a battlefield tactic, using zero-visibility conditions to sneak motorcycles, armored teams, and infiltration units toward Pokrovsk, Hulyaipole, Danylivka, and more. This isn’t recycled content — it’s a new chapter in Russia’s evolving operational design, with up to nine brigades pushing a 41-kilometer front. We unpack how Russian forces are trying to carve up key Ukrainian supply corridors while battling Ukraine’s defenses block by block.
Then we hit Pokrovsk: still contested, still brutal, and now even more precarious. Russian forces have edged further into the southern districts, Ukrainian troops are holding in the north, and the last logistical lifelines remain open — but strained. We give you the update on drone saturation, street-by-street combat, Zelensky’s stance on withdrawals, and what Ukrainian commanders on the ground are really seeing.
We dive into Ukraine’s game-changing long-range strike campaign, spotlighting the FP-5 Flamingo missile — a 3,000 km, 1,150-kg warhead cruise missile that lit up Russian targets from Oryol to Nizhnekamsk. Oil depots, command posts, radar sites, and UAV storage hubs all took hits, and we break down what these strikes mean for Russia’s rear-area vulnerabilities and shifting resource allocation.
From there, we walk through Russia’s massive retaliatory strike on Kyiv — a multi-district missile and drone attack that hit residential buildings, schools, hospitals, heating systems, and critical infrastructure across the capital. We talk through the human impact and the deeper operational significance behind this surge in long-range bombardment.
We also hit the global energy and sanctions angle: Lukoil’s international fire sale, one-third of Russia’s seaborne oil stuck in limbo, Novorossiysk explosions, and how sanctions hitting on November 21 are reshaping global crude flows.
Then it’s onto the Kremlin’s political messaging, Europe’s tightening stance, Ukraine’s corruption fallout, Russia’s expanding militarization of youth, deserter-hunting torture squads, GRU hacking arrests, and a Russian intel ship lurking by Hawaii.
If you want a fast-paced, sharp, insightful walkthrough of Russia’s past 24 hours — this is the episode. Share it, rate it, and get ready for more.
Welcome to a high-energy episode description that’s built to grab attention (and search engines). If you care about the war in Ukraine, hybrid threats in Europe, and how sanctions are starting to snap at Russia’s economic ankles, this episode is your fast, sharp briefing. We break down the frontline, the tech, the propaganda, and the money moves — all in one punchy, podcast-ready package.
What this episode covers: Hulyaipole and Pokrovsk fighting; the Russian campaign design of battlefield air interdiction (BAI) + infiltration; drone warfare upgrades (Zanoza, Molniya, Shahed, FPV and fiber-optic control); Kyiv’s strikes on Russian rear infrastructure (Stavrolen, Crimean oil terminals); European low-signature airspace incursions and NATO probes; Lukoil racing the OFAC clock before November 21; Kremlin messaging and Phase-Zero info ops; Venezuela & diplomatic tilt; and domestic Russian measures (BARS reservist recruiting, harsher sabotage laws).
Why you should listen: If you want frontline facts served fast — without the fluff — this episode delivers. We explain why Russian tactics around Hulyaipole and Pokrovsk are different from brute-force pushes: sustained interdiction of logistics plus micro-infiltrations and mass small-group assaults aimed at collapsing local defenses. We unpack how drone tech and organizational reforms are changing the battlefield calculus: fiber-optic-controlled FPV platforms (Zanoza) that resist jamming, Molniya and Lancet loitering munitions, and a newly institutionalized Unmanned Systems Forces that treats drones like a proper military arm. Add Kyiv’s long-range strikes on petrochemical and oil terminal targets, and you get a picture of a war that’s simultaneously kinetic, economic, and cyber-electronic.
Best bites inside the episode:
• Tactical nuance: why cutting the T-0401 highway matters more than headline city captures.
• Tech deep-dive: what fiber-optic drone controls mean for EW and air defenses.
• Economic watch: Lukoil’s asset scramble and why Nov. 21 is a hard deadline.
• Europe on edge: Belgium, France and Lithuania probe strange airspace activity — and NATO is helping.
• Domestic watch: Russia recruiting reservists to guard factories and tightening sabotage laws.
Tune in to the latest Restricted Handling episode where we slice, dice, and serve up the freshest China moves — in under an hour of sharp, punchy briefing energy. This episode pulls no punches: carrier sorties, stealth UCAVs flying with J-20s, chip rationing and SMIC prioritization, brazen cyber probes, undersea cable trouble, and Taipei in the crosshairs. If you want the facts fast, with a wink and zero fluff, this description is your roadmap.
What you’ll hear (quick hits):
• PLA carriers gone operational: Fujian joins Liaoning and Shandong in higher-tempo far-seas sorties — sortie counts and catapult launches are now public.
• UCAVs in formation: GJ-11 stealth drones filmed flying with J-20 fighters and J-16D EW escorts — manned–unmanned teaming isn’t a concept anymore.
• Chip pinch & industrial triage: SMIC capacity prioritized for national champions, Huawei and domestic AI stacks scale with chip-bundling and software-hardware workarounds.
• Cyber and sabotage prep: Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon probes target telecoms, power and water; a KnownSec document leak reveals contractor targets and toolkits.
• Taiwan & South China Sea pressure: air sorties, drone overflights, undersea cable disturbances, and the Philippines deploying BrahMos missile batteries.
• Diplomacy and soft power: Spain’s state visit, Chinese naval hospital ship port calls in Latin America, and EU moves on rare earths and cheap parcel thresholds.
• Domestic control and info ops: AI-generated police spokespeople warning against VPNs, court rulings and public anti-corruption campaigns inside the PLA.
This episode gives you the facts, the systems, and the immediate things to watch — carriers steaming, drones flying in formation, chips getting rationed, and cyber probes mapping critical infrastructure. It’s strategic choreography in real time. Press play, take notes, and pass it on.
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast, where global power plays meet straight talk. In today’s episode — “RH 11.12.25 | China: Purges, Power Grids & the Fantasy Dragon” — we’re diving deep into another explosive 24 hours inside and around China’s orbit. Xi Jinping’s latest round of military purges is shaking the core of Beijing’s nuclear command, while cyber warfare, trade drama, and stealth drones are redefining what “competition” really means in the 21st century.
We kick off with Xi’s purge of the Rocket Force, the elite branch managing China’s nuclear arsenal. Think of it as China’s version of “cleaning house” — except the house is armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles. Generals are vanishing, corruption probes are spreading, and the world is watching to see if Xi can actually keep his finger on a nuclear button controlled by people he doesn’t trust. It’s a fascinating, unnerving glimpse into how fragile power can look at the top of an authoritarian system.
Meanwhile, the Trump–Xi truce saga continues to unfold. The two leaders’ “soybeans for sanctions” deal has left Beijing looking smug and Washington looking stalled. As Trump pauses port fees and tariffs, China’s shipyards continue to dominate global production, pumping out nearly two-thirds of the world’s major vessels while U.S. shipyards fight for relevance. Add to that General Motors’ new order for thousands of suppliers to ditch China by 2027, and we’ve got a full-blown industrial divorce in motion — messy, expensive, and geopolitically charged.
But the real battleground right now? Technology and cyber power. China’s chip shortage has reached critical mass, with the government rationing semiconductors like wartime rations. Engineers are smuggling Nvidia parts, hacking together Frankenstein data centers, and burning through enough power to light half of Shanghai. On the other side of the digital fence, Australian intelligence says Chinese hackers — specifically the Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon groups — are mapping critical infrastructure for potential sabotage. The espionage era has officially gone kinetic.
We also bring updates on Japan’s tense standoff with China over Taiwan, Beijing’s expanding diplomatic courtship of Spain, Germany, and Thailand, and a jaw-dropping new reveal: China’s GJ-11 “Fantasy Dragon” stealth combat drone flying alongside the J-20 stealth fighter — a message to the world that even amid internal chaos, Beijing’s military tech ambitions aren’t slowing down.
From cyber leaks to carrier fleets, this episode connects the dots between power, paranoia, and projection in China’s latest global moves. If you want to understand where the next flashpoint might spark — this is the one you don’t skip.
Tune in, stay sharp, and never underestimate how fast Beijing’s story can change overnight.
Russia’s at it again — and this time, the fog isn’t just outside, it’s in the Kremlin’s head. In this episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we break down how Moscow’s forces are clawing through the haze to push deeper into the shattered Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk while Ukraine fires back — literally — torching Russia’s refineries and exposing cracks in Putin’s war machine. From burning oil fields to burning credibility, the chaos just keeps spreading.
We’ve got boots-on-the-ground updates from Donetsk where the battle for Pokrovsk has turned into a slow-motion slugfest straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie. Russian troops are creeping forward on motorbikes and busted cars, using the fog to hide their moves while Ukrainian drones fight blind. Meanwhile, Kyiv’s striking deep inside Russia — hammering the Saratov and Orsk oil refineries yet again, lighting up the night sky and showing the world that Ukrainian long-range warfare is alive and lethal.
But the battlefield isn’t just made of mud and missiles — it’s also spreadsheets and sanctions. Putin’s economic armor is cracking. Sberbank’s CEO, normally one of the Kremlin’s cool-headed loyalists, finally admitted Russia’s economy is struggling, calling growth “very modest” as sanctions bite deeper and allies like China and Serbia start backing away from Moscow’s oil deals. Add the chaos of Serbia’s Russian-owned refineries running dry, and it’s clear the empire’s starting to wobble.
And when things get rough, Russia does what it does best: spins a story. The Kremlin’s security service, the FSB, claims it stopped a Ukrainian-British plot to hijack a MiG-31 fighter jet — complete with laughably bad video “evidence.” We’re talking Cold War cosplay levels of propaganda. At the same time, Moscow’s launching digital crackdowns at home and digital attacks abroad, using AI-driven disinformation networks to meddle in elections and even influence chatbots. Yes, Russia’s trying to hack the algorithm now.
We’ll also take a look at the bizarre nuclear posturing — Lavrov offering to extend the New START treaty while a Duma deputy boasts that a new Russian missile could wipe out “an entire U.S. state.” Because nothing says “stable superpower” like nuclear threats mixed with bad CGI patriotism.
From fog-shrouded firefights to fake spy plots, this episode dives into the surreal mix of real war and propaganda theater that defines Russia’s modern chaos. Buckle up — it’s geopolitical madness served straight with no chaser.
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.
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast — your daily dose of global intrigue, battlefield updates, and the kind of behind-the-scenes geopolitical chaos that would make even a KGB handler sweat. Today’s episode dives headfirst into the latest from Russia’s war in Ukraine, and trust us — it’s a lot.
We’re starting on the front lines in Pokrovsk, where Russia’s long, grinding offensive looks more like a World War I trench saga than a modern operation. Ukrainian troops are hanging on under relentless fire, while Moscow throws in wave after wave of troops — about 150,000 of them — to take just a few blocks of urban territory. The fighting is fierce, the weather’s ugly, and the casualties are staggering. If you thought Bakhmut was bad, Pokrovsk is starting to feel like its sequel: colder, bloodier, and with more drones in the sky than ever before.
But Ukraine’s not sitting still. The episode breaks down Ukraine’s audacious deep strikes on Russian infrastructure — sea drones hitting the Tuapse port for the second time this month, fires raging near the Black Sea, and sabotage missions across Crimea and Rostov targeting oil depots, rail lines, and supply nodes. It’s a David-and-Goliath battle fought with drones and precision strikes instead of slingshots, and Ukraine’s making every hit count.
Meanwhile, back in Moscow, the Kremlin’s paranoia is showing. The FSB claims it stopped a wild “Ukrainian-British” plot to hijack a MiG-31 fighter jet armed with a hypersonic Kinzhal missile. They’re calling it espionage; we’re calling it Cold War theater. Add in Putin’s quiet new law allowing reservists to “protect critical infrastructure” (read: stealth mobilization), and you’ve got a Russia that’s looking more and more like it’s gearing up for something bigger while pretending everything’s fine.
We also dive into the latest domestic shocker — a $100 million corruption scandal rocking Ukraine’s energy sector and testing Zelensky’s reform credentials at the worst possible moment. The story has everything: kickbacks, missing businessmen, and opposition parties trying to turn scandal into strategy.
Plus, we hit on Europe’s next big move — the EU’s plan to fund Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, Germany’s new multibillion-euro aid bump, and how Belgium’s legal team is sweating over potential Russian lawsuits. And yes, Putin’s health rumors are back — because of course they are.
If you’re tracking the intersection of war, politics, and global power plays — this episode’s your battlefield briefing, black-market gossip, and spy novel all rolled into one. Subscribe now and stay ahead of the headlines with The Restricted Handling Podcast.
China’s making moves again—and this time, it’s doing it with precision, patience, and a little bit of swagger. In today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast, we dive into a whirlwind 24 hours that showcase Beijing at its most strategic and most unpredictable. From playing the “responsible global power” in Africa and Europe to quietly tightening the screws on trade, technology, and information, Xi Jinping’s China is operating like a high-speed train—sleek on the surface, unstoppable underneath.
We start with Beijing’s diplomatic power plays in the wake of President Trump’s second-term isolationism. As Washington retreats behind tariffs and trade walls, China’s seizing the spotlight. It’s selling predictability, expanding tariff-free deals to 53 African nations, and courting India with “non-aligned” economic partnerships—all while keeping one eye on Japan’s new defense posture and the other on global supply chains. The message from Beijing: the U.S. may be chaotic, but China’s open for business (on its own terms, of course).
Then we unpack the drama in the Taiwan Strait and Tokyo. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi isn’t backing down after her blunt warning that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger Japan’s military response. Beijing’s furious; its Osaka consul general just crossed a line with threats that sounded straight out of a gangster flick. Now, the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan are watching each other’s moves like it’s a geopolitical chessboard with live ammo.
Next up: trade détente, Chinese style. The Xi–Trump Busan truce still holds, but barely. Beijing’s suspended tariffs and port fees on U.S. ships, while Washington hit pause on its Section 301 penalties. In return, China’s rolling out new export controls—this time on fentanyl precursors and rare earth minerals. Civilian buyers? Welcome. Military-linked U.S. companies? Blocked. It’s clever economic judo, and it’s reshaping who gets access to the world’s most valuable materials.
But the real thriller? Cyber warfare. A massive leak from China’s Knownsec cybersecurity firm has exposed the country’s state-sponsored hacking playbook—12,000 files revealing everything from power bank spy devices to stolen telecom data. Add in renewed attacks by the “Space Pirates” APT group on U.S. think tanks, and you’ve got the digital side of Beijing’s empire-building in full swing.
From Spain cozying up to Chinese investors to Canada cautiously rebuilding ties, this episode is a front-row seat to how China’s rewriting the rules of global power—through trade, tech, and total control.
Listen now to get the full intel on Beijing’s latest maneuvers, rare-earth gambits, and cyber shadows.
Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast — the no-BS geopolitical briefing that blends national security depth with just enough swagger to keep it from feeling like a Pentagon PowerPoint. In today’s episode, “RH 11.10.25 | Russia: Blackouts, Bombs & Bluster,” we dive into a wild 24-hour stretch that feels like a mash-up of Cold War II and Black Mirror.
We’re talking about Russia’s largest assault on Ukraine’s power grid since the war began — hundreds of drones and missiles slamming into energy infrastructure and even the substations that feed nuclear plants. Ukraine’s accusing Moscow of deliberately endangering nuclear safety across Europe, and honestly, they’ve got a point. Entire cities are dark, backup generators are straining, and temperatures are dropping. It’s chaos — engineered chaos — meant to freeze morale as winter closes in.
Meanwhile, Sergei Lavrov finally crawls out from the Kremlin basement to announce he’s ready to talk to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — but only if Kyiv surrenders and the West accepts Russia’s territorial conquests. Diplomatic olive branch? More like a Molotov cocktail in a tuxedo. On top of that, Moscow’s hinting at the possibility of resuming nuclear tests for the first time in decades, brushing the dust off its Soviet-era playbook like it’s a vintage mixtape.
But Ukraine isn’t just taking the hits — it’s dishing them out. We break down how Ukrainian drones are torching power facilities inside Russia, hitting the Voronezh and Taganrog regions and cutting power to tens of thousands of Russians. Think of it as the energy war going full-circle: Moscow attacks the Ukrainian grid, Kyiv flips the switch on Russian infrastructure.
Beyond the battlefield, we get into Europe’s rising hybrid threat storm. UK and German troops deploy to Belgium after mysterious drone incursions near airports and military bases — part of what analysts call Russia’s “Phase Zero” ops: low-key provocations meant to rattle NATO without crossing the Article 5 line. And in the shadows, new spy drama unfolds — a Russian opposition activist in Poland confesses to being an FSB agent, while ex-Orthodox Church power broker Metropolitan Hilarion denies his own espionage allegations. The Cold War’s back, but now it’s got better Wi-Fi and worse ethics.
We’ll also touch on U.S. weapons shipments stuck in bureaucratic limbo, global oil-sanction loopholes, and Zelenskyy’s candle-lit diplomacy — literally — as Kyiv fights through blackouts to keep the lights on for democracy.
This is your front-row seat to geopolitics with personality — high-stakes, high-energy, and unapologetically real.