Surviving the Taliban with Lynne O’Donnell and Alexander Nazaryan on Lawfare’s Influence in Politics
Release Date: 01/31/2025
Chapters of the War in Ukraine, the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis and the South African Constitution
Breaking Battlegrounds
Our first guest today is Alessandra Hay, reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine. Alessandra discusses a growing humanitarian crisis: the lack of space to bury the dead. Severe shortages of cemetery plots have forced burials outside designated cemeteries, raising concerns about contamination of local water supplies. Ukraine is now in the final stages of constructing a crematorium in Kyiv to address the issue. Hay also explains that announcements of peace talks have little impact on daily life for Ukrainians, as Russia shows no genuine interest in ending the war. Many Ukrainians believe there is no option...
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Venezuela Edition – “What the heck’s going on down there?”
Breaking Battlegrounds
On today’s special, we turn our full attention to Venezuela, exploring the need for intervention with four guests who offer varied firsthand experiences and perspectives on the country and President Trump’s role. Our first guest is Santiago Vidal Calvo, a cities policy analyst focused on government accountability and transparency through the Manhattan Institute’s Freedom of Information Law initiatives. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Vidal Calvo immigrated to the United States in 2021. He explains why President Trump’s actions were lawful under Article II of the U.S. Constitution and...
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Anna Giaritelli discusses border crossings under the Trump Administration and the Bondi attack is radical Islamic terrorism with Drew Pavlou
Breaking Battlegrounds
Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2026 we discuss the border and the focus shifting to the interior of country, the American Dream, Australia and the Bondi attacks and positive outlook forecasted for our economy and market. First, Anna Giaritelli, an award-winning journalist and writer whose reporting for the Washington Examiner, shines light on the Trump Administration’s latest effort to secure our Southern border - deploying buoys in the Texas river as a marine wall, how the immigration crisis at the border is slowing but the focus is now shifting to the interior of the country with...
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Merry Christmas from Breaking Battlegrounds
Breaking Battlegrounds
This Christmas on Breaking Battlegrounds, we celebrate the history, meaning, and enduring spirit of the season with two beloved guests. First, nationally known speaker, best-selling author, and Amerisearch president William Federer returns to take listeners on a fascinating journey through the true history of Christmas, exploring the real story of Saint Nicholas, the origins of beloved holiday traditions, and pivotal moments when Christmas shaped American history, from Valley Forge to the post–World War II era. Then, #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Paul Evans joins the show to...
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Scott Johnson on Rep. Ilhan Omar Marrying Her Brother and Minnesota’s Somali Fraud
Breaking Battlegrounds
Scott Johnson, an original contributor to the blog Power Line, joins the show to break down his decade-long reporting on Rep. Ilhan Omar marrying her brother and the extensive fraud issues tied to Minnesota’s Somali community. Johnson walks through the documentation, court records, and investigative reporting that underpin the marriage allegations, explains why the story has been ignored or downplayed by much of the media, and connects it to broader patterns of political protection and accountability failures. He also discusses Minnesota’s ongoing Somali fraud scandals, how taxpayer...
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China’s AI War, Haiti’s Humanitarian Crisis, and Rep. Ilhan Omar Marrying Her Brother
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck Warren and Sam Stone are joined by four expert guests to unpack the biggest issues shaping national security, global stability, media accountability, and the economy. Dr. Mike Waller, national security expert, investigative journalist, and former CIA operative, explains why artificial intelligence is America’s most critical strategic asset, how China and Russia deploy espionage and “honeypot” tactics to steal U.S. technology, and why U.S. dominance in AI is essential to national survival. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald journalist and Maria...
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America’s Wake Up Call on China, Schools, and Taxes
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we take on three of the biggest issues shaping America’s future: national security, education, and taxes. First, Dr. Meg Reiss, founder and CEO of SolidIntel, joins the show to explain how American red tape is strengthening China’s dominance over rare earth minerals. Then, National Emmy winning investigative reporter Chris Papst of Fox45 Baltimore joins to discuss his book Failure Factory, which uncovers America’s public education crisis, including how billions in taxpayer dollars are spent while student outcomes stagnate and what parents...
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Peer Review Gone Wild, the New GOP, and Trump Accounts
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we examine the state of American institutions, the GOP, and family finances with three great guests. First, Goldwater Institute Senior Fellow joins the show to discuss his new report “,” which argues that major academic journals are prioritizing ideology over rigorous scholarship, undermining public trust in taxpayer-funded research and evidence-based policymaking. Then, , vice president of external affairs at the Manhattan Institute, breaks down his new analysis “,” exploring shifting voter coalitions, the emerging Republican base, and what recent...
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Inside Gen Z Politics and What the Epstein Files Reveal
Breaking Battlegrounds
This week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Sam Stone joins National Review columnist and Locked In host Caroline Downey and Manhattan Institute Fellow Daniel Di Martino in person at Arizona State University for a conversation on "Gen Z: The Future of American Politics," exploring cultural trends, campus movements, and the shifting ideological landscape among younger voters. Later in the show, Chuck and Sam are joined by investigative reporter Ben Wieder of McClatchy's Washington bureau and the Miami Herald as he breaks down the newly released Epstein files, what the documents reveal, and the...
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The Real History of Thanksgiving, American Traditions, and Honoring Our Veterans and Allies
Breaking Battlegrounds
This Thanksgiving week on Breaking Battlegrounds, we’re grateful for all our listeners and hope you enjoy a special show filled with history, tradition, and service. We kick things off with best-selling author and historian William Federer, who walks us through the real story behind Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims, and how the holiday became a national celebration. Then Kiley shares the fascinating and nearly forgotten history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, including the years when giant helium balloons were released into the sky for cash rewards and why that tradition suddenly ended....
info_outlineThis week on Breaking Battlegrounds, Chuck and Sam are first joined by award-winning journalist Lynne O'Donnell, who shares the harrowing details of her capture by the Taliban and what the world is overlooking in Afghanistan. Next, Alexander Nazaryan breaks down the growing influence of lawfare and how it’s reshaping liberalism and American politics. Finally, Tucson Fire Captain Travis North gives us a firsthand look at how first responders handle crises like the DCA tragedy—and the lasting toll it takes on them. Stream these eye-opening conversations and more, only on Breaking Battlegrounds!
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About our guests:
Lynne O’Donnell is an author, journalist, and broadcaster, specializing in South and Central Asian affairs, war, and terrorism. You can read her work on Substack at Lynne O'Donnell and follow her on X @lynneKodonnell.
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Alexander Nazaryan writes about politics, culture and science. You can follow him on X @alexnazaryan.
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Travis North is the Tucson Fire Captain.
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