Haass/Ellis Podcast.
Episode #15 of 'Alternate Shots'.
Richard and I started this episode of ‘Alternate Shots’ with what are always called “tensions in the Middle East”. U.S. military “assets” are amassing within striking range of Iran, a weakened Iranian government is threatening to retaliate in the event of a U.S. attack, the world watches and weighs what consequences might await.
Minneapolis is next: ICE’s lethal lack of professionalism, how the Democrats may parlay a political gift into a political liability and the Trump administration’s fear that its “base” sees “de-escalation” as evidence of weakness.
Brain drain follows. Science magazine reported that over 10,000 PhDs have left the U.S. government since January 2025, a truly unnerving development, given that the battle for brain power may well prove decisive in the years ahead.
The “sports section” wraps things up with the denial of Bill Belichick’s entrance into the NFL’s Hall of Fame and the dwindling prospects of the Saudi-backed LIV golf tour. The former is ridiculous. The latter is almost certainly good news for professional golf.
(‘Alternate Shots” Episode #15. Hosts: Richard Haass and John Ellis. Produced by Dale Eisinger.)
If you prefer, you can listen to this episode and all the previous episodes on Apple, Amazon, Spotify and most of the other major podcast platforms.