Rania Khalek Dispatches

Ali Abunimah joins Rania Khalek on Dispatches to discuss the dramatic collapse of global support for Israel, the growing backlash against Western support for genocide in Gaza, and why governments are increasingly resorting to repression as public opinion shifts in favor of Palestine.
In this episode they discuss:
New polling showing Israel’s popularity collapsing across the world
Why propaganda and celebrity endorsements aren’t working anymore
The crackdown on Palestine solidarity activists in the U.S. and Europe
The October 7 rape narrative versus documented Israeli sexual violence against Palestinians
Lebanon, Iran, and why submission to Israel doesn’t bring peace
Whether Israel controls the U.S. or serves U.S. imperial interests
The rise of anti-Israel voices on the American right
Why Ali believes Israel is facing a long-term legitimacy crisis
The Gwyneth Paltrow debacle
This is just part of this episode. The full interview is available to Breakthrough News Members only. Become a member at breakthroughnews.org/subscribe

As Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues and Lebanon faces ongoing aggression and political pressure to capitulate, many people are grappling with fear, exhaustion, and despair.
But what if hopelessness itself is part of the strategy?
Psychoanalyst and author Lara Sheehi joins Dispatches with Rania Khalek to discuss the psychological dimensions of fascism, empire, colonial violence, and resistance — from Israeli psychological warfare and sexual humiliation as a tool of domination, to the weaponization of sectarianism in Lebanon, the role of media propaganda, and why revolutionary optimism is itself a political act.
Sheehi also discusses her new book, From the Clinic to the Streets: Psychoanalysis for Revolutionary Futures, and explains why the work of Frantz Fanon is more urgent than ever.
Topics include:
Psychic militancy and psychological warfare
How fascism reshapes society psychologically
Israeli violence, humiliation & domination
Lebanon, sectarianism & capitulation politics
Why empire depends on despair
The limits of liberalism
The politics of the wellness industry
Media propaganda and psychological control
Revolutionary optimism and resistance
🎥 The full episode is available to Breakthrough News members.
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Follow Lara’s podcast Psychic Militancy on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PsychicMilitancy
And on IG: @psychicmilitancypod https://www.instagram.com/psychicmilitancypod/# 
Follow Lara on IG: @psychoanalystactivist https://www.instagram.com/psychoanalystactivist/

The U.S. and Israel launched a massive war on Iran expecting quick capitulation. Instead, Iran absorbed the assault, retaliated across the region, and exposed major limits to American and Israeli power.

Now the Trump administration appears to be searching for an off-ramp while Israel continues pushing for escalation, including in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, sanctions, economic warfare, and the risk of a wider regional conflict continue to threaten the entire Middle East.

To break down the latest developments, the shaky ceasefire negotiations, Trump’s contradictory messaging, and whether this war is entering a dangerous new phase, Rania Khalek is joined by Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute.

The Trump administration has announced a new military operation in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran is warning that any unauthorized U.S. presence will be treated as hostile.
At the same time, Washington is rejecting key parts of Iran’s proposal to end the war, including sanctions relief and limits on the blockade.
So what is this “ceasefire,” really?
Is Iran actually weakened, as Trump claims — or has the war strengthened internal support for resistance?
And is the next round already underway?
In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek is joined from Tehran by Iranian-American academic Navid Zarrinnal, to discuss:
Whether the war is actually over — or just paused
The escalating standoff in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s real military capacity vs. U.S. claims
Public opinion inside Iran after the attacks
The economic pressure of sanctions and war
Iran’s 14-point proposal — and why Washington is rejecting it
Why nuclear enrichment is a red line
The role of Lebanon in any regional settlement
Gulf state positioning behind the scenes
China, Russia, and Pakistan’s role
How Iran may be winning the information war online — especially in English
What the left’s position should be — and why opposing U.S. aggression means defending Iranian sovereignty
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Follow Navid on Instagram @navidwahraman: https://www.instagram.com/navidwahraman/

As war spreads across Lebanon and Iran, the U.S. and Israel claim they are making progress.

But on the ground, the picture looks far more complicated.

After a supposed pause in fighting and failed negotiations, Israel escalated dramatically, launching massive strikes on Beirut while continuing its ground invasion in southern Lebanon. 

At the same time, Iran has held firm in negotiations, raising questions about whether Washington’s strategy is working.

So who’s actually winning?

In this episode of Dispatches, Rania Khalek speaks with journalist Jon Elmer of The Electronic Intifada to break down the military realities:

-Israel’s war in south Lebanon and the battle for Bint Jbeil
-Hezbollah’s resurgence and military capabilities
-The U.S.-Israel strategy against Iran
-What the failed negotiations reveal
-Whether this war is escalating toward a second phase