Is America's Influence Eroding? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

Is America's Influence Eroding? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

Author: dee takos September 17, 2026 Duration: 51:00
We break down Russia’s use of gig-economy recruits and online networks for espionage and violence, the growing damage to U.S. bases across the Middle East, and what Iran may be gaining strategically from the conflict. We also discuss the Houthis’ leverage over another maritime choke point, the messy legacy of U.S. proxy warfare in Syria, and how Saudi, Emirati, Omani, and other regional actors are hedging as American influence erodes.
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00:00 – Start
01:05 – Russia’s New Gig-Economy Espionage Model
02:36 – Foreign Governments Hiring Proxies for Assassinations
03:18 – Russian Online Networks & Recruitment for Violence
05:00 – The KGB’s History of Using Terrorist Proxies
06:11 – Is Russia Directing Online Chaos?
07:24 – Chinese Influence, Ghost Guns & Suspicious Networks in the U.S.
09:20 – Accelerationism & Using Chaos as a Weapon
10:14 – Recruiting Vulnerable People Online
11:20 – How Intelligence Services Slowly Escalate Recruits
12:27 – Iran Recruiting Israelis Through Fake Relationships
14:03 – The Damage to U.S. Bases Across the Middle East
15:06 – Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain Is Effectively Abandoned
15:59 – Losing America’s Foothold Inside the Strait of Hormuz
16:41 – Did the Pentagon Expect Its Gulf Bases to Get Hit?
18:34 – Why Deterrence Against Iran Failed
19:32 – Has Iran Strategically Defeated the U.S.?
20:50 – What Would It Actually Take to Defeat Iran?
21:21 – Iran’s Likely Endgame in the Strait of Hormuz
23:19 – Gulf States Are Beginning to Hedge Away From Washington
24:47 – Houthis Threaten a Second Maritime Choke Point
25:39 – Why the U.S. Is Now Talking Directly to the Houthis
27:23 – Houthis Say Saudi Shipping Is the Target
27:58 – The Mecca Agreement Is Already Being Tested
28:56 – Who Actually Struck Mecca?
30:08 – Saudi Arabia’s Secret Counter-Iran Programs
31:26 – The Gig Economy of Proxy Warfare
32:35 – Timber Sycamore & the Chaos of the Syrian War
34:45 – The Myth of the “Moderate Rebels”
36:30 – When the U.S. Bought Syrian Rebels Xboxes
37:05 – Trying to Get U.S. TOW Missiles Back From Warlords
37:43 – Did the TOW Missile Program Actually Work?
39:21 – Assad’s Intelligence Services & Fear as a Weapon
40:52 – Why the Houthis Aren’t Simply...

Hosted by Jack Murphy, The Team House is a long-form conversation built around a simple, powerful premise: to understand national security, you need to listen to the people who have been there. This podcast deliberately steps away from the partisan noise, offering a fiercely apolitical space where special operations veterans, intelligence professionals, and frontline reporters can share their experiences and analysis. Many guests here are speaking publicly for the very first time, providing raw, firsthand accounts that you won't find elsewhere. Each episode is a deep dive into the realities of conflict, the nuanced tradecraft of intelligence work, and the underlying geopolitical forces that shape global events. The conversations are detailed, often technical, and always grounded in the lived expertise of the guests. Alongside this main show, the The Team House network includes the sister program Eyes On Geopolitics, hosted by Mick Mulroy, Andy Milburn, and Jason Lyons, which continues the focus on global dynamics with a similarly experienced lens. For listeners seeking substance over soundbites, this podcast delivers complex narratives about modern warfare, espionage, and international relations, told directly by the individuals who have operated within these shadowed worlds. It’s a rare opportunity to hear unfiltered perspectives on the most critical security challenges of our time, making each episode an immersive lesson in the human and strategic dimensions of power.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Team House
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