In today's episode, we unpack the strategic lessons learned from one of the most costly war games in U.S. history, where unconventional tactics by General Van Riper dramatically challenged traditional military doctrines. We analyze how these lessons hold up against the backdrop of today’s geopolitical tensions with Iran, examining potential strategies, the r ... Show More
Sep 11
What Do Democratic Socialists Actually Want?
The Democratic Socialists of America just hit 129,000 members, the most socialists in US history. So what do democratic socialists actually want? We watched two viral videos to find out, and it got weird fast. Is democratic socialism a real movement or a vibe with a membership ca ... Show More
1h 59m
Jun 2025
Iran and the U.S., Part Two: Rules of Engagement
Military confrontations, early-morning attacks, and digital warfare: the story of Iran and the U.S. from the 1979 Iranian revolution to the fraught moment we're in today. This episode originally ran as Rules of Engagement. You can find more of Throughline's coverage into the orig ... Show More
46m 39s
Jun 2025
Iran and the U.S., Part Three: Soleimani's Iran
The Iran-Iraq war, 9/11, and the story of Iranian Revolutionary Guard general Qassem Soleimani, from his rise to power, to his assassination, by the U.S., to the power his legacy wields now.This episode originally ran as Soleimani's Iran. You can find more of Throughline's covera ... Show More
45m 33s
Jul 2024
Destruction instruction: Western armies learn from Gaza
From tunnels to tanks to drones, Gaza’s horrors provide object lessons in urban warfare. We ask what Western forces will be learning about their own future conflicts. Silicon Valley types may relish the prospect of J. D. Vance, a former tech investor, becoming America’s vice-pres ... Show More
25m 34s