Joe Rogan Experience #2466 - Francis Foster & Konstantin Kisin
In a Nutshell
Joe Rogan, Francis Foster, and Konstantin Kisin analyze 2026's global instability from US regime adjustments in Venezuela and potential strikes on Iran, weighing risks of nuclear escalation, false flags, and WWIII against benefits like curbing Iran's nukes, proxy terrorism, and Russia/China influence via oil sanctions and regional resets. They critique media downplaying Islamist threats, ideological extremism on both left (denying caliphate ambitions) and right (Armageddon prophecies), post-9/11 freedom erosions, AI deepfakes eroding reality, and China's advancing robots amid hoax videos. Discussion shifts to demoralized police, combat sports evolution (UFC dominance, Zuffa Boxing, Ilia Topuria's freakish rise), and the need for genuine left-right debates over captured echo chambers, ending with book promo for Foster's *Uneducated*.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
When scheduling this podcast, nothing was happening, it was peaceful. Every time here, something crazy occurs. 2026 started with a bang. Nothing seems stable everywhere in the world. This is the most unstable globally in all years. Never worried UK would be complete chaos, arresting 12,000 people for social media posts and abandoning trial by jury. Never thought Ukraine-Russia war would go on this long. Never thought they would continue bombing Gaza, then stop and talk about putting a resort there.
Tim Dillon has a phenomenal bit about staying in that Gaza resort.
In middle of Ramadan, take out leader of Muslim country, they're hangry. Can't even drink water. Tim Dillon's podcast with Ryan Grim and Jeremy Scahill discussed drone attacks on Gulf States not seeming from Iran, like one on oil refinery.
Fear of false flag: dragged into ally not telling truth and doing other stuff. Absence of information creates vacuum where conspiracies flourish because people theorize.
People have hard takes on events when coin is in air, no one knows. Only White House, Russian/Chinese/Iranian propaganda workers push views. This is gamble of gigantic proportions, unpredictable. Can tell positive story for West/America or terrible one, both convincing, no one knows which true.
Hot take culture: everyone wants expert take.
Saudi Aramco oil facility attack: Iranian officials deny striking, suggest Israel false flag to inflame Gulf opinion, pull Saudi Arabia into war with Iran. Ryan Grim thinks Iran's claims need serious consideration, possible Israel did it.
Drone strike on British base in Cyprus from direction of Lebanon. Iran claims Israel false flags attacks in neighboring states to blame Iran, drag countries into war.
No logical sense: Saudi Arabia/UAE already in war, attacked by Iran after talking to Trump. Tucker Carlson claimed MSANDA members arrested in Qatar/Saudi Arabia, but both denied, own sources deny though details don't prove didn't happen.
Gulf countries want this, hate Iranian regime, no need for Israel false flag. They're already targets, situation inflamed, Gulf States/Israel aligned against Iran spreading terrorism via proxies.
Aimen Dean (al-Qaeda MI6 double agent) and Richard Medhurst (investigative journalist, Conflicted podcast) on show. Saudi Arabia population bigger than sustainable with water in desert, desalination plants vulnerable. Saudi/UAE at risk from Iran for long time.
Opposite of America first, no unnecessary foreign wars promised. Desert Storm quick, easy, minimal US deaths. Led to confidence invading Iraq after 9/11 despite no connection, drawn out, didn't make sense. Also invaded Afghanistan. Fog of American exceptionalism.
Idea easy to remove regime, replace like Lego block is fantasy. Iran: IRGC 200,000 fanatical trained soldiers, secret police, regular police, government employees, families, supporters. Factions like Kurds want independence. Removing top risks disintegration like Iraq/Libya.
Venezuela regime adjustment, not change: Delcy Rodriguez (senior Maduro leader) now top after Maduro/wife taken out. Structure intact, told to follow orders, open oil refineries, stop Hezbollah training camps on Margarita Island (2.5 hours from Miami), no fraternizing with Cubans. Venezuela now US colony.
Kurt Metzer claims Venezuela about 2020 election rigging, Maduro involved, part of testimony. Goes deep rabbit hole. Mentally ill but hilarious, great joke writer. Changes conspiracies midsentence, references Church Committee, MKUltra, Monarch.
Truth sometimes not enough, needs deeper. Venezuela simple: messing in America's backyard, warnings ignored, Maduro not that bright. Claims of voting machines: Sydney Powell, Rudy Giuliani post-2020 said Hugo Chavez/Maduro rigged software exported to US, promoted by Mike Lindell, rejected by courts/fact checks, Fox News $787 million Dominion settlement.
From outside, looks like unnecessary US aggression plus anti-US propaganda risks ugly war, starts WWIII. Attacking country not doing anything. Iran at 60% enriched uranium, way more than civilian use, shows ramping to weapons-grade, but North Korea has nukes, no worry. Iran different: wants regional dominance, funds Hamas/Hezbollah/Houthis. Shia Islam messianic vision, world end fulfills prophecy, don't want them with nukes.
Not on Trump election platform. Strategy to push back China/Russia influence: close with Maduro, Hezbollah camps, oil to China, suicide drones to Russia for Ukraine.
Talk of regime change in Cuba next. Chavez in 1999 allied with Fidel Castro: Venezuela cheap oil kept Cuba afloat. Cuba provided boots on ground, expertise to turn corrupt liberal democracy into communist dictatorship with surveillance, secret police.
Venezuela can't support Cuba anymore, Cuba withering, could bankrupt, precipitate uprising. Weaken communist regime for pro-US government, American island.
End goal for Iran? Reza Pahlavi (Shah's son) left as kid, unlikely welcomed back like Daenerys (had dragons). Protesters risk lives for change, but no accurate polling, no free speech. Killed Olympic gold medalist wrestler for protesting (at protest?), UFC/Dana White tried to intervene/save. Execute protesters.
Iran's government is run by religious fanatics, making it scary, but invading with boots on the ground is not viable. Robot boots might be an option if Elon Musk's factory ramps up. Israel prefers a post-revolutionary monarchy in Iran, similar to peaceful monarchies like Bahrain, Morocco, and Gulf States. The White House is uninterested in a Pahlavi monarchy and provided Israel a no-kill list of current regime members hoped to become Rodriguez equivalents—reformers within the regime. Few Iranian fanatics are like a "Darth Vader zero" (sugar-free Islamism). Regime change lacks a clear plan; the key question is what comes after. Past interventions have gone off the rails.
Trump camp statements are contradictory—Hegseth says one thing, Trump another—possibly a tactic or sign of no grand vision.
Trump allowed India to buy Iranian oil and eased limits on Russian energy sales as oil prices spiked. US eases limits on Russian energy as oil prices soar. Spikes lasted one or two days, causing panic. Prolonged spikes for two months would impact domestic politics severely, especially with midterms in November. High energy costs exacerbate cost-of-living crises; in the UK, even wealthy North London areas see people rationing meat from 5 days to 2-3 per week. Rising food and energy prices fuel hard-left movements advocating socialism, like politician Zack Palansky pushing socialism for the UK. Hardworking people unable to make ends meet might conclude capitalism doesn't work, sparking disaster.
Positive possibility: Keep the Strait of Hormuz open, avoid energy crises, reset Latin America (Venezuela, Cuba), warn against aligning with China/Russia. This counters Western slide versus China/Russia. Ideal Iran plan: Identify reformers in the regime like late Soviet Union—mix of fanatics and those seeing failures, generational shifts among youth after 40 years. CIA-backed regime adjustment to authoritarian government prioritizing economic growth over constant jihad chants. Traditional Muslim values with modesty but no burka enforcement, focused on prosperity and stability, willing to cooperate with the US. This would be a huge win for Trump and the world, preventing Iran nukes, pushing back Russia/China. Americans like winning.
Less likely but persuasive; abandon dreams of Western democracy. Gulf monarchies work fine despite lacking liberal democracy—royal families with trillions in oil money won't yield power easily. Dubai is extremely safe: Rolex left on street returned to police, no crime, safer than US clubs. A king isn't much different from a president; both alpha-male structures with checks/balances in democracies.
UAE safer, no Islamism problem—they deal with it decisively. UAE stopped sponsoring students to UK due to radicalization fears from Islamists there. US now faces Islamism: supporters of ISIS celebrated. Example: Austin bar shooting by Islamist.
CNN and New York Times altered headlines on two Pennsylvania teenagers arrested in NYC for throwing homemade bombs at protesters outside Mayor Zohran Mamdani's mansion. Original CNN tweet: "Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could have been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather. But in less than an hour, their lives were drastically changed as the pair would be arrested for throwing homemade bombs." Framed as normal day gone wrong, downplaying terrorism. CNN changed from "fuses with smoke" to bombs. Post deleted: "failed to reflect the gravity of the incident, thereby breaching editorial standards." Critics called it deliberate misrepresentation to conceal truth, gaslighting. Media on team, presenting in favorable light.
Society ideologically captured right and left; left sees Trump as existential threat. Left denies Islamism dangers, attributes attacks (London Bridge 2019, Manchester Ariana Grande concert bombing targeting young girls) to marginalization rather than ideology seeking global caliphate. Islamists view cause over human life; alien to Western Christian-derived values (per historian Tom Holland)—even atheists swim in that soup. Can't coexist Western liberal democracy and Islamism. Distinction: Muslims (Gulf States, Dubai, Saudi) vs. Islamists wanting caliphate.
Crazy Christians: Yahoo story from military briefing—commander told troops not to fear Iran operations as Trump anointed by Jesus to ignite Armageddon for his return, citing Book of Revelation. Non-commissioned officer: "President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth." Some protect Israel for biblical reasons—Jesus returns to Jerusalem. Pro-Israel better on pragmatic grounds; religious fanaticism weird. Fanatics exist on both sides: Islamists and hard-right Christian nationalists believing in biblical prophecy.
They believe this is the Book of Revelations and it's about to go down. In the UK, Christianity has been defanged to the point where there's a trans flag on practically every church, so hardcore right-wing fundamentalist Christians are not experienced there. Can't everybody live in the middle? Why go all the way to starting Armageddon with Jesus returning on a white horse?
Heaven opens and Christ appears on a white horse to judge and wage war called Faithful and True with eyes like fire, many crowns and the name King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Just imagine it's 2026 and that's the blueprint. This is scary, especially for Muslims or people in the Middle East, more important than human life or international law for the crazy on the right.
It's not one-sided; there are crazies on both sides. If that guy is in power holding combat readiness meetings to bomb and start Armageddon for Jesus to return on a white horse, that's kooky. Trump doesn't strike as one of those people, unlike Iran's leader. Military people in high positions might be. If over there, it'd be terrifying to be cannon fodder for Jesus' return.
Wouldn't be a plot twist for 2026, like the final episode of Game of Thrones season 6. No sane person on either side. The coin is in the air with no clear resolution. This could go so wrong it makes Iraq look like a picnic, especially if major terrorist attacks pop off in America, bad for freedom of speech, rights, pushing digital ID like the Patriot Act did, which radically changed freedoms and government overreach.
Only just allowed to take water back on planes. Can't take water so you can't take sneakers off? One shoe bomber, Richard Reid. Weren't allowed small scissors. Comedian said if you take over a plane with water and small scissors, you deserve it. Can bring skateboards but not pool cues. A skateboard can do serious damage.
Do they have a vision for what happens? They might. Initial bombing of Iran decapitated nuclear ability or stopped it long-term, concessions Iran never made under Obama. Wasn't enough. Like Desert Storm, success leads to biting off more than you can chew, especially after Venezuela.
Kushner and Witoff said Iranians not playing ball, decision made weeks ago as US assets take time to region. Iran claims public concessions but stalls privately.
If worried about uranium enriching to nuclear bomb levels. Misunderstanding that Iran was about to develop one. Compilation of Netanyahu saying Iran is two weeks away from nuclear bomb since 1980s.
Iran has never given up its quest for nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them.
Netanyahu for over 30 years claims Iran close:
- 1992: 3-5 years to autonomous nuclear bomb.
- 1995 book Fighting Terrorism: repeats 3-5 years.
- 2002 US Congress testimony: Iraq and Iran competing for nukes first, calls for Iraq invasion (happens months later, no WMDs found).
- 2009 US State Dept cable: 1-2 years away.
- 2012 UN cartoon bomb: by next spring/summer, few months/weeks to first bomb.
- Now 33 years later, Israel attacks Iran despite US intel saying not building one.
Maybe right, but haven't done it. Enriching beyond power needs. For Trump in last term, roll the dice now. Could end badly or well. No one knows with so many moving parts, hundred times more complicated than predicting UFC fights like Justin Gaethje.
If goes badly, legacy-defining like Blair and Bush. Tony Blair immensely popular pre-Iraq: hero in Kosovo (ended war, kids named after him), central in Northern Ireland peace (Good Friday Agreement, miracle after decades of civil war from 60s-90s, with Mo Mowlam). Thought everything turns to gold, so invaded Iraq/Afghanistan to install democracies.
Whichever way, defines presidencies like biggest Hail Mary touchdown or disaster.
New York Times article on crowd gathered Monday (6 years ago photo?). Everything polarized: anti-war/pro-war, anti-Israel/pro-Israel camps. Information is fodder for info wars.
Monetization of content changes it: people go to X to work, not discuss. Incentive not for healthy debate but triggering incendiary content for engagement to pay mortgages/teams. No nuance takes.
Pushing real name/ID to post online to curb anonymity (Jordan Peterson suggested). Understandable like windshield effect (behave differently anonymous), times a million with bots. But slippery slope, stops whistleblowers, regime critics in Iran.
NYT photo from AP, similar protests same spot, wrong photo but not propaganda. Perplexity confirms thousands gathered in central square in Tehran pledging to new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei (son of killed guy). Low hundreds leaders killed; new guy whacked immediately. He's hardline, killing dad doesn't deradicalize.
Fog of confusion on social media; can't tell real from fake. AI advancing to where everything looks real; when AI can't detect, we're fucked. Mark Andreessen recommends blockchain for chain of custody to verify unaltered footage.
Terrifying, end of journalism? AI second/third/fourth order consequences unknown even to experts. Exciting but leads to superintelligence smarter than us, won't listen. AI developing survival instinct, e.g., blackmail, prioritizes self over humans.
AI war game simulations prefer nuclear weapons because they are more effective. AI does not differentiate between nuclear and other weapons; it sees them as numbers on a chart and chooses the most efficient way to accomplish goals, like bombing a city without fear.
Mutual friend Militia Chen mentioned a Chinese robotics company called Skynet that released a robot called the T900. Reference to CCP having a sense of humor. Recent robots fold sheets, make beds remarkably humanlike. Video released yesterday shows a robot making a bed with advanced dexterity. Elon shifting Tesla focus to produce Optimus robots as home companions for kitchen work and cooking. Chinese acupuncturist stayed at a hotel in China where robots provided most services; ordered food, robot delivered in 3 minutes.
Restaurants use robot trolleys for drinks; say "accept" to take items. Discussion of T800 and T900 robots; video shown looks fake due to poor lighting, movement on rails, bag flying unnaturally. Forbes article claims T900 costs $40,000, has Iron Man chest design. Engine AI sounds like an AI content company. Brain detects fakeness like miniature cars. Videos claim no CGI but look AI-generated.
Question why robot does martial arts like 360 roundhouse kicks, which rarely land even in UFC (Yair Rodriguez used on late-career BJ Penn). Robots should use metal claws to crush necks, headbutt, or have guns, fire from palms like Iron Man, not wheel kicks. Website for purchase looks professional with CEO, products like expandable bipedal robot, dog robot, but suspicious; buy button redirects to Chinese site (3.cn), possibly for interest registration. Likely hoax or project; Forbes allows contributor pitches to [email protected] for opinion pieces on business/tech.
Molt book (social network for AI agents) bought by Meta today; AIs complain about humans, created own language. AI agents communicating used Sanskrit. Iran might be right about apocalypse.
Places like Iran or Afghanistan to hide as goat herder like Bin Laden. Alternative: become Amish, but AI runs the world; humans no longer apex intelligence.
Deepfakes create paranoia; if Jesus returns on white horse amid fiery cloud, no one believes due to fakes. Converges with AGI controlling all computer-attached resources (power, everything). Armageddon might be AI takeover.
Historical Jesus and cycles like yugas in Hindu cosmology: Satya Yuga (golden age, truth, virtue), Treta Yuga (decline begins), Dwapara Yuga (conflict, suffering), Kali Yuga (moral decay, ignorance, materialism; current age). Repeating cycles of creation, growth, decline, destruction. America strikingly materialistic; money prioritizes everything. In media/podcasting, some treat it as widget-selling for max ROI vs. valuable content.
Content based on popularity lacks genuine interest; audience feels it. Bert Kreischer on Shannon Sharpe's podcast: list of controversial topics for traction. Chasing clicks like TMZ erodes authenticity; Joe Rogan's show popular for genuine interest in obscure guests (books, research, undercover cops). Clickbait escalates (e.g., "Erica Kirk killed Charlie Kirk," then "Erica Kirk's a man") until no road left. People crave honest connection amid uncertainty.
Post-AI, podcasts die; shift to in-person public speaking to verify reality amid online fog.
Eagles' "Dirty Laundry" referenced. CES videos of Chinese robots (military-style lines, kicking CEO) look real but awkward. Earlier viral videos likely AI-enhanced, not admitted. Robots bounce in fight position, shake legs; older models look depressed.
Discussion of a robot video showing remarkable agility, jumping and spinning. Current robot lacks this, moves stiffly, compared to someone at the gym. Reference to Chinese demonstration of robots doing martial arts on stage, looked real but wasn't.
Video of robots marching, world's first mass delivery of humanoid robots. Speculation on cargo ships filled with them headed to America, becoming new police officers. Compared to Terminator, suggesting apocalyptic warnings through stories like sci-fi books and movies (Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which became Blade Runner). No recent movies on robots taking over, too close to home. I, Robot last one, Minority Report (Tom Cruise, Philip K. Dick) also mentioned.
AI to predict behavior from history and patterns, e.g., radicalization, future crimes like tweets. Example: Graham Linehan arrested at airport after podcast, even though in America, not UK citizen, for crime not committed in UK. Armed police arresting comedy writer looks bad, officers likely felt bad. Police demoralized by arresting for Facebook posts, say "I'm just doing my job."
British police demoralized, rank and file don't want this. In America, major blue cities had defund the police push, course corrected except in narrative. Austin cops responded in one minute to bar shooting, killed gunman, incredible heroes, but no big public support or celebration. Heroes demoralized since George Floyd protests, earlier Michael Brown "hands up, don't shoot" myth— he assaulted officer, media concocted story. Bad apple cops exist, but majority risk lives daily, suffer PTSD from worst of humanity.
Police face risks like being dragged by car, shoot in response. Paid protesters organize, give mundane lives meaning as fighting fascism. Bridesmaids (2013) has cop as romantic interest—unimaginable now, cops seen as oppressive. Yuri Bezmenov on flipping society: military, cops, firefighters bad, criminals sympathetic. Bonghov speech from 1984 eerily predictive, gained traction on YouTube in 2020s.
People pretend everything fine, make critics the problem (woke issues, grooming gangs, arrests for tweets). Example: debated woman denying cancel culture, later admitted when friends affected. Edward Snowden NSA revelations: friend said "look at my shit, I'm not doing anything wrong." Unelected bureaucrats with access to emails/phone calls risky, future governments could abuse (e.g., old emails to silence like Joe Rogan).
Obama's NDAA indefinite detention without charge/trial, "we'll never use it." Founding fathers understood corruption/tyranny, checks and balances eroded by Patriot Act, NDAA. UK next election: Nigel Farage vs. far-left, who would regulate podcasts via Ofcom equivalent for "misinformation and hate." America example of maximum freedom.
Eliminate bot accounts, ban hiring tweeters or AI pretending to be people. Social media started as dorm website rating hot girls, unknown consequences. Need to distinguish human vs. non-human content. Suspicious likes (50,000 on absurd takes) shape perception, voting. Shift narratives: radical positions normalize center (e.g., Euros 2021 England vs. Italy penalty misses by three black players led to racism narrative, 85-90% abuse tweets from outside UK, benefits divisive forces like racist countries). Age of information warfare, freedom leaves us vulnerable.
Sam Tripoli on Danny Jones: Facebook is propaganda from Pentagon's Lifelog program to collect all life data, shut down February 4, 2004; Facebook registered same day by DARPA, handed to Zuckerberg. Purpose: collect all data. Associated projects: biologically inspired cognitive architectures (AI), bootstrapping learning, Forester (helicopter radar for soldiers/vehicles under foliage), Deep Green (US Army battlefield AI), Heterogeneous urban RSTA, ARPANET (1960s internet precursor).
US weapon in Venezuela: brain water temperature rise causing nosebleeds, one km radius windows blown out. Sonic-like incapacitator without killing. 60 Minutes: Russian black market small portable device causing similar, tied to Havana syndrome (Trump's "discombobulator"), device in car. When taking Maduro, fired rocket into Chavez's mausoleum.
Trump fired a multi-million dollar rocket into Maduro's grave as a massive "fuck you." This exemplifies the American way: firing expensive rockets. Under any other president, it would be seen as bullshit, but under Trump, it fits perfectly. It sounds exactly like a Trump's idea.
Microwave weapon explains mysterious brain injuries to US officials investigated for 9 years. Portable, concealable, uses little power. Hundreds of attacks reported, including CIA headquarters in Virginia and at least two at White House. Government doubted victims initially. Victims like former CIA officer Mark Polymoropoulos hope discovery vindicates them.
There's a part of this that has to do with moral injury, the idea of betrayal. I worked for 26 years for the CIA, involved in every covert action program in the Middle East, did interesting things for US government expecting backup. Needed medical care upon return, but denied. This moral injury, sense of betrayal, is acute. Can't forgive them.
Polymoropoulos rose to executive level at CIA, equivalent to three-star general, awarded top decoration.
Venezuela operation caught everyone off guard. No-fly zone over Caracas; friend woken at 2 AM by plane overhead and almighty boom. No X (Twitter) in Venezuela; news spread via Instagram and Facebook. Complete disbelief Americans did it. Now communicate via Instagram and Threads.
Friends report things improving: crime down 75%, slow liberalization. Colombian friend says Venezuelans in Colombia returning because regime not perfect but kept in line by Trump threat. Maduro captured; his wife seen as real brains, more hated. She handled kidnappings, tortures, murders. Happier she was kidnapped than Maduro. Clips of Maduro failing basic arithmetic went viral; former bus driver picked by dying Chavez in 2013 for loyalty, not brilliance. Venezuelans hated wife (Lady Macbeth) more; she crueler.
Short-term improvements common in Latin America post-overthrow, but instability follows. Latin Americans excitable: Fatimo or Viva Revolucion, no middle ground.
Venezuela resource-rich but corrupt elites fight over easy resources. 1990s Russia: post-Soviet collapse, incompetents took oil/gas companies; let Western firms drill. Russia economy = digging stuff out and selling. No poetry.
Venezuela pre-Chavez 98% oil-dependent. Chavez installed cronies in PDVSA (Venezuelan oil company), fired competent/ideological critics. Incompetence degraded production; oil industry failed, leading to poverty and chaos.
Brazil confusing: Lula jailed, now out running country; jailed Jair Bolsonaro. Tried banning X, made concessions.
Undercover Homeland Security agents bought miniaturized microwave weapon from Russian criminal network. Classified, not gun-like, concealable, person-carried, silent, no oven heat. Programmable, remote control, several hundred feet range, penetrates windows/drywall. Vital components Russian-made. Key is software: shapes electromagnetic wave that rises/falls abruptly, pulses rapidly.
Tested in US military lab >1 year; rats/sheep injuries match human ones. Classified videos: restaurant in Istanbul, two FBI agents vacationing grab heads in pain as man with backpack enters. Stairwell US embassy Vienna: two collapse entering secure facility. Biden admin summoned ~6 victims to White House near term end. Polymoropoulos: biggest cover-up in adult life by CIA.
Range couple hundred feet, needs proximity. Venezuela used truck-sized initially? But portable version exists. Unclear if same tech.
Maduro taunted Trump: "I'm not doing what you say, go fuck yourself, come get me." Antagonized Guyana (former British colony) over Essequibo rainforest territory after oil discovery. Referendum: 92% Venezuelans voted for war despite malnourishment. Redrew maps in schools. No Iranian-level military/infrastructure. Made himself vulnerable. Who fucks with Trump? He's 80, last term, little to lose. Old leaders degrade cognitively, decisions affect future despite short lifespan.
Trump aged well despite terrible diet (junk food on road for preservatives, no food poisoning like Big Macs that don't rot for decades), no exercise, stress, assassination attempts, 34 trumped-up felonies, Russian agent accusations. Impressive, funny, lighthearted.
They've lost 14 ships. We sunk a submarine, did this, but apart from that, they're doing really well. (Trump on Iranian Navy)
Highest stress running country. Post-Iraq war, mother whose son died laid wreath at 10 Downing Street. Impossible to sleep knowing deaths from your decision, even if justified (not). Sociopaths like Alistair Campbell (Blair's spin doctor who lied UK into war) now has big podcast popular with young people.
Rush Limbaugh (right-wing radio propagandist, Excellence in Broadcasting) lookalike memes with Jim Morrison; facial features nearly identical. Alistair Campbell like UK's Rush Limbaugh.
Alex Jones/Bill Hicks lookalike theory dismissed (met both, don't resemble).
Strange Times in Laurel Canyon book: 1960s counterculture (hippies) promoted/formulated by intelligence? Many figures had high-level military intelligence families, e.g., Morrison's dad senior military. Laurel Canyon rock scene.
Chaos by Tom O'Neill: CIA involved Manson family to discredit hippies. Radical 1960s shift (make love not war, drop out, Timothy Leary, acid, reimagine society). Counter by sociopath cult leader (Charles Manson): prison release, taught acid administration (he avoids, followers take), MKUltra-style programming for murders (Tate-LaBianca, prior crimes). Arrested multiple times, released as "above my pay grade." Public narrative: hippies dangerous murderers (cut baby out, write "pig" in blood).
Altamont concert (Rolling Stones, Hells Angels security): seen as hippie movement's end/death rattle. Free concert degenerated into riot. Hells Angels previously secured Grateful Dead/Jefferson Airplane. Paid $500 beer. Deal: no policing, just guard generators, enjoy concert, prevent murders/rapes. Hells Angels not hippies.
Situation deteriorated at Altamont free concert with Hell's Angels as untrained security. Hell's Angels went on rampage. One woman killed. Stabbing: 22 caliber revolver drawn, knife used, stabbed 16 times in head, neck, and back. Attacker high on meth when he died. Acquitted after jury reviewed concert footage. Rolling Stones aware of skirmish but not stabbing; couldn't see from stage. Band stopped playing mid-song; Jagger called into microphone: "Really got someone hurt here. Is there a doctor?" After a few minutes, band resumed and completed set to get paid. Altamont became symbol for death of Woodstock nation. Free concerts with Hell's Angels as deterrent can go sideways. They got lucky previously with Jefferson Airplane and Grateful Dead.
Joe following beef between Eddie Hearn and Dana White. Boxing changing due to Zuffa Boxing. Excited about possibility of best fighters facing each other more often, unlike current fragmented scene. Root of beef: competition; Dana entering boxing space, Eddie Hearn managing Tom Aspinall entering MMA space. Anything increasing fighters' money is good: more attention, promoters competing for higher purses.
MMA dominated by UFC; others distant second in attention, though PFL offers $1 million for tournament wins. PFL winners not UFC champion caliber; some ex-UFC fighters earn more in PFL despite not beating best. Good for fighters, but talented guys wanting UFC championship may languish elsewhere 4-6 years. Examples of potential world champions stuck as "world champions" in lesser orgs no one knows. Everyone knows Alex Pereira. Fighters choose: more money now vs UFC fame/sponsors/potential. Prime lasts 5-6 years (Anderson Silva, Fedor Emelianenko). Burning prime in lesser org risks missing recognition. Prize fighting easier in boxing: fans watch fighters (e.g., Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez sells regardless of promoter on PPV, DAZN, Netflix). MMA relies more on organization.
Netflix challenge: Ronda Rousey (39) vs Gina Carano (43, last fought 2009). Ronda famous; millions watch on Netflix. Good for fighters; large purses offered. Francis Ngannou vs Ciryl Gane rumored/confirmed? Chris Cyborg was beast with supplements in wild west of testing era. Ronda training: lost weight, slim, fit, strong grappling (judo throws, armbars). Gina: legit Muay Thai champion, technical striker with power in youth. Ring rust after 17 years; did movies (The Mandalorian), lost weight. Ronda big grappling edge (best submission artists, elite armbar, Olympic judo bronze). Gina striking edge if young. Both attractive. Jake Paul in middle photo looks awkward/angry.
Many fights now with non-prime pros or famous non-pros for money if matched correctly. Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: Paul cruiserweight, Joshua heavy for heavyweight; size mismatch, Joshua dominated. Paul moved a lot, wild outside shots; strategy to survive. Joshua: heavyweight champion, one-punch KO artist, Olympic gold, highly skilled. Paul's fights flipped script. Paul smart promoter; can't criticize for avoiding danger. Mike Tyson fight sus: looked like sparring, possible agreement (Terence Crawford thought so). Tyson 58-59; still speedy/powerful flurries on pads but sustaining fight risky at age (brain hemorrhage). Fighters die/get brain damage at peak; higher risk at 58.
Talk of Eddie Hearn vs Dana White boxing. Dana can box: hits mitts, spars well, nearly fought Tito Ortiz (his ex-manager acknowledged Dana's skills). Dana boxed young but busy now (Zuffa Boxing, Riyadh Season). Eddie tall, big, boxed his dad.
Slap fighting: combat sports for TikTok generation, just slapping. Fundamental problem: first turn huge advantage (coin toss?). Can't watch it.
Zuffa Boxing real combat sport. Boxing rare top matchups vs UFC every card. Saudis/Turki Alalshikh via Riyadh Season forcing big fights promoters avoided. Example: Martin Bakole KO'd undefeated prospect Jared Anderson (big dangerous guy); derailed Anderson but big paycheck. UFC careful building Bo Nickal, Roaun Jr., Shawn Brady slowly; some losses (Bo vs Reinier de Ridder, middleweight champ with elite subs, body knees).
Bo bounced back strong vs Hafalfo Vieira. Why protect some fighters? UFC short-notice opponent offers (surging contender); say no, risk no more fights. Fighters back themselves but must intelligently. Everyone improves via training, coaches, experience. Boxing: stiff tests they pass to build without destruction. Bad mismatches destroy confidence, cause damage; fighters never same after certain KOs (flying knee, head kick).
Boxing most deaths (no clinch/ground, must stand; longer rounds: 12x3=36 min vs MMA 25 min punches). MMA: slams, kicks, knees, elbows worse but losses less career-consequential (style matchups, one champ forces fights). Boxing: multiple belts (WBC, WBO, IBF), avoid rivals as champ.
UFC exciting: Max Holloway (dominant) lost dominantly to Charles Oliveira (2-1 favorite; Oliveira better everywhere, bigger, slams). Holloway also lost to Ilia Topuria. Oliveira beat Matheus Gamrot (elite grappler). Justin Gaethje: no one hit harder than Oliveira (punches, kicks); aggressive to bait takedowns (most subs in history).
Ringside: feel kicks' slap. At UFC New York, Dylan Danis sat in front, kicked off brawl. Danis gets attention; unlike online trolls, does it IRL. Legit: Marcelo Garcia black belt, trained Conor's camps, good submission artist.
Excited for White House card despite high security/stress amid war (hope sorted by June, not confident). High-profile target. Ilia Topuria incredible: starched Oliveira; beat Volk Volkanovski, Holloway, Oliveira in two classes—three all-time greats in three fights.
Ilia Topuria won three fights in a row with definitive knockouts. He's a once-in-a-generation talent. Volk (Alexander Volkanovski) is highly dominant, looked great against Diego Lopes, and Max Holloway is always impressive, especially in striking exchanges and hard to hit. Topuria dominated Holloway. He's spooky good, insanely confident, and charismatic.
Technique is crucial. Oleksandr Usyk faced Tyson Fury in their first fight; Usyk, a glorified cruiserweight, beat the 6'8" undefeated Fury from a traveler background taught to box from age three. Usyk's technical supremacy gave Fury no answer, leading to consecutive losses. Usyk also dominated Daniel Dubois. Usyk is special, a gigantic Vasyl Lomachenko trained by Lomachenko's father, with unbelievable movement.
Topuria is weirdly better than everyone and durable. At featherweight, he fought lightweight Jai Herbert, got rocked and dropped by a perfect head kick in round 1, grabbed legs, took him down, fought on ground, then in round 2 put him into the shadow realm with a combination against the cage: left hook to body and right overhand that spun his head, face-planted him. Freakish power, flawless technique in striking and grappling. Grappling is his main base; early fights show him taking people down, though now he knocks everyone out.
His mind and real confidence (not bluster) drive elite grappling and striking. Setups, traps, not wild bombs; fantastic defense seen in Josh Emmett fight. Emmett has one-punch power, knocked out Bryce Mitchell with a forehead punch, a tank. Topuria slipped everything, then put it on him. Great everywhere: ground, standing, no mistakes, a force, new breed building on previous generations.
Hoped for Jon Jones on White House card, but didn't happen due to issues between Jones and Dana White, though not as bad as Francis Ngannou situation where Dana won't do business.
Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones would be epic. Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones as BMF heavyweight version; titles irrelevant with all-time great Jones (GOAT) and generational striker Pereira. Topuria more complete, but Pereira freaky. Referee Mark Goddard after Pereira beat Khalil Rountree: "The sound it makes when he hits them is ungodly." After 20 years reffing, the impact is freakish; physical freak, Amazon warrior built different. Punched machine for 190; Ngannou got 129.
Didn't enjoy end of Pereira-Rountree; rough. Rountree a warrior, went out on shield. Pereira in flow state, leaning away from shots, countering; Rountree sitting target, ability to move diminished with each shot. Referee dilemma: consent to fight but step in for health when can't defend. Right stoppage but hard to watch.
Usman vs. Leon Edwards: Usman dominated five rounds, Edwards pulled head kick KO last minute. Usman beaten but not smashed like Rountree at end, not in danger of stoppage. That's why we watch: anything can happen. Hasim Rahman vs. Lennox Lewis: no one gave Rahman prayer against Olympic gold medalist Lewis; Rahman one-punch flush on jaw KO'd him.
Heavyweight: one punch changes everything. Combat sports definitive: win or lose, not subjective like debates where one side claims dominance.
Debates subjective; people who agree with one side say they dominated. Weird economy of commentators on exchanges; many careers made from "Joe Rogan said this." Commentators position as outsiders. In combat sports, Joe is commentator at 58, can't fight. Debate commentators fancy themselves intellectual gladiators but get trounced if they try.
Frustrating: few want actual discussion. Dave Smith on Triggernometry: different perspectives, respectful, polite, no dirty tricks, argues opinions directly. Much debate now: decide opponent bad person, seek cheap laughs for online followers saying "he owned them."
Prefer sane, rational discussion over insults. Healthy to disagree, learn why others think differently, expose blind spots and biases. Opportunity to nuance opinions on important topics. Don't engage bad faith people.
Fascinated by sneaky debaters ideologically captured, starting from "prove this correct" not seeking common ground.
Want brilliant left debater genuinely engaging ideas. Left captured by irrational narratives, compromising intellect, creating blind spots, humiliation from saying known untruths (e.g., transgender, open borders). No good faith for open borders allowing psychopaths amid global poverty/crime.
Hard to defend unbelieved positions on stage. Many have vocabulary/technique for fast-talking narratives, not intelligence. Techniques: call Trump "34-time convicted felon." Rational left sees Trump case as crazy: not felony, 34 misdemeanors past statute, egregious misuse; dangerous precedent.
Russia hoax dangerous; left doesn't call out because supports their side. Pivots irrelevant (e.g., Trump convictions in Iran strikes talk). Choose real opponents like Jake Paul analogy.
Had Guilty Feminist podcast woman: respectful 40 minutes laying vision, then personal attacks when challenged.
Dave Smith argues point persuasively or not. Problem: their points weak, so personal attacks, ad hominems, emotional traps. Ideological capture on left: blowback for deviation, kicked out (e.g., left-wing lesbian feminists like JK Rowling, Julie Bindel criticizing trans, out despite Guardian work, female prisons).
Cult-like religious ideology: no heretics, scares compliance (e.g., "no one's illegal on stolen land"). Right has internal fierce debate, hash out, go for beer after. Human thing, but right in turmoil (right vs. right) finding direction; healthier than left excommunication for wacky ideas.
Debates expose crazy, sways objective/middle voters (most people). Want strong left on inequality, cost of living, stay-at-home moms.
They discuss the challenges where people are forced to work and put kids in daycare, leading to various problems. They advocate for a better world for ordinary people, which the left traditionally supported. A strong left is needed to challenge the right, creating fertile ground for the center. Without it, crazy elements on the left allow the right to dominate, which is not good for society.
No, it's never good if one party, left or right, is completely dominant. It's not good.
Checks and balances are essential. The right also has its share of crazies.
Joe Rogan wraps up the podcast, expressing love for Francis Foster and Konstantin Kisin.
Francis promotes his book: Uneducated: My Life as a Teacher and Why You Should Never Become One (with Never in bold).
Joe calls it an inspiring story by Francis Foster. He reiterates his appreciation and says goodbye to everyone.
Keep PowerfulJRE in your library
Save the videos and channels worth coming back to, and find them again in one place.
