CrossTalking with Mohammad Marandi, Luciano Zaccara, and Syed Farid Alatas.

Just look at the recent incidents in the Strait of Hormuz: while Iran was keeping things calm during the ceasefire, the US decided to ramp up tensions by attacking commercial ships, with civilians on board – arguably, war crimes.

What's the US endgame? Higher gas prices? Who exactly benefits from this chaos?

Rick and Stanislav agree that Israel seems to be calling the shots. With reports of the US vice president repeatedly making calls to the Israeli prime minister, it's clear that the Trump administration is operating like an asset for Israel. As Bibi himself put it, the Americans are ‘reporting to me,’ which suggests an eyebrow-raising level of subservience.

We also examine another conflict: Ukraine. Stanislav speaks in-depth about the battle for Sumy Region. After a winter slowdown, the Russians are back in action, and the fighting for Kupyansk rages on. What else is happening along the front lines? We break it all down with the latest developments.

As the US faces an AI-driven energy crisis and a lack of domestic enrichment capacity, is the uranium “heist” in Iran a matter of national survival? Was the mission to save a US pilot a cover-up to attack a uranium site?

We also analyze the “soft mutiny” within the US Navy, the internal factions vying for control of Washington’s foreign policy, and why the current military-industrial complex is structurally incapable of winning a long-term war.

In this episode of RT’s ‘Sanchez Effect’ Rick dives into the murky waters of EU politics. The new prime ministers of Hungary and Bulgaria are about to be chosen, and are already taking over headlines. Peter Magyar who is poised to lead Hungary has clashed with a TV presenter, saying he will cut state funding for news agencies. Lubos Blaha, the Slovak MEP joining Rick in the studio, says it’s fine to attack the free press in an EU friendly government. Blaha notes this hypocrisy extends beyond the world of media, as Western countries who plundered and destroyed nations across the globe take shots at Russia and China. Rick takes it further, saying Russia’s internal politics outpace the West in terms of democracy: ‘If you want to find the KGB, go to London’. Watch the whole episode here, on RT International or on BitChute at ‘ricksancheztv’.

Lukashenko wants the potential deal to be mutually beneficial and a possible stepping stone towards warm relations between Russia and the US. This goal puts Minks at odds with Europe, which would gladly topple the Belarusian leadership, according to Lukashenko.

To answer the Western politicians labeling him a dictator, the Belarusian President offers this response: ‘how can you lecture us on human rights when you bomb schools in independent countries?’. You’ll hear many more strong statements from one of the world’s most experienced statesmen here on RT International.

CrossTalk with Mark Sleboda and George Szamuely.

The Straits of Hormuz are opening and closing faster than Lindsey Graham’s Grindr profile.

But fear not, Zelensky’s Ukroreich will save the world.

Tune in!

Finally, New Order’s Zarah Khan asks questions from you the viewers to Afshin Rattansi. You can send in your questions to be answered to @AfshinRattansi on X to be answered on next week’s episode!

And a question for you, the viewers: Should Iran pursue the same strategy as North Korea in developing a nuclear deterrent?

CrossTalking with Lionel, Niko House, and Jason Zaharis

Responding to Donald Trump’s remarks that Cuba could be targeted next after Venezuela and Iran, he asserts that Cuba remains an obstacle to American dominance in the region and that Cubans are prepared to face any military aggression and defend their sovereignty.

On global alliances, the ambassador underscores the importance of Russia and China to the island nation, recalling Russia’s critical oil delivery after a severe three-month shortage, a gesture for which, he says, Cubans felt deep gratitude toward the Russian people.

We analyze the breakdown of diplomacy between US Vice President J.D. Vance and the Iranian delegation. Is the US strategy a calculated move for regional dominance, or a sign of diminishing diplomatic options? We look into the reality of the Strait of Hormuz crisis and the ‘information war’ that is shifting global perceptions of power.

We also explore how civilian casualties get normalized in global coverage and why Western media turn a blind eye to assassination calls for Iranian negotiators.

CrossTalking with Muhannad Ayyash, Esteban Carrillo Lopez, and Ali Alizadeh.

CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda and George Szamuely.

Finally, New Order’s Zarah Khan asks questions from you the viewers to Afshin Rattansi. You can send in your questions to be answered to @AfshinRattansi on X to be answered on next week’s episode!

And a question for you, the viewers: Will the rising cost of living because of the Trump-Netanyahu war on Iran cause political chaos around the world?

CrossTalking with Marco Carnelos, Ali Mamouri, and Maral Karimi.

We also speak to Sanjiv Arora, former Indian ambassador to Lebanon and Qatar, who brings in the Indian perspective, explaining what developments around Iran mean for India’s energy security and its efforts to diversify oil supplies.

In this episode, we examine what Donald Trump as president actually signals for the international rules-based order. We also look into the “weaponization of Christianity.” How is religious rhetoric used to justify imperial interests today?

Tadhg shares what really happened when Israel disrupted the Freedom Flotilla’s effort in 2024 and how the activists were treated. We explore the resilience of nations like Iran under decades of sanctions.

From the collapse of traditional “diplomatic decorum” to the rise of a post-truth political era, we analyze the systemic tremors reshaping our world.

CrossTalking with Larry Johnson and Ethan Levins.

CrossTalking with George Szamuely and Mark Sleboda.

CrossTalking with Kevork Almassian, Setareh Sadeqi, and Abdolreza Alami.

Sachs questions whether the US president, with his hubristic claims about America’s role in the conflict, is either delusional or an outright liar. History has a way of revealing the truth, as evidenced by the Vietnam War, when US officials insisted their military was doing well, before ultimately losing.

We also examine Trump’s machinations for Cuba, which he insists the US can seize. We delve into this topic with RT correspondent Donald Courter, who has just returned from the Caribbean nation. Don’t miss the latest, here on RT!

CrossTalking with Sami Al-Arian, Jenin Younes, and Julia Rokinfard.

However, when US ground troops start dying, he will lose his own base. Also in this episode, a look at the possibility of an off-ramp for Trump, with Rick asking whether his ability to read the room might help the US escape the situation and save the president’s ratings. Trita Parsi discussed how everything depends on which room Trump is reading, with him having a weakness for the Israeli lobby. Catch the full episode on RT International.

We examine the “culture of impunity” and the unique status of Israel as what Galloway calls America’s “51st state.” Is the world witnessing a dangerous slide toward a “Second Vietnam” in Iran? We also dive into the “eschatological mania” driving current US defense policy and Galloway’s own recent legal battles, and his “exile in the East” following his arrest under UK terrorism laws.

Also in this interview, he told how the American people are the victims of Trump’s terrible decisions and the Israeli lobby’s influence. That’s as the US president has grown desperate in the face of military failure and Tehran’s unwavering position, announcing negotiations that have not even happened, according to Iran. Watch the whole exclusive interview here on RT International or on Bitchute ‘ricksancheztv’.

We break down the harrowing details of the Israeli strike on Sweeney’s press crew and investigate claims of systemic targeting of media and medical workers. From the use of chemical agents on ancient olive groves to the controversial “regeneration” plans for the border region, are we witnessing a new blueprint for ethnic cleansing? We also dive into the legal pressures facing journalists in the West, discussing Sweeney's own detention under UK anti-terror laws.

CrossTalking with Dmitry Babich and Tarik Cyril Amar.

Read Joel Rubin’s Substack: https://substack.com/@joelrubin 

The “Winning” keeps coming as the latest US war rolls on.

Iran keeps (inconveniently) fighting back (how dare they) and the victory timelines are shifting.

And a lone green goblin begs for attention.

Finally, New Order’s Zarah Khan asks questions from you the viewers to Afshin Rattansi. You can send in your questions to @AfshinRattansi on X to be answered on next week’s episode!

And a question for you, the viewers: Should India continue its policy of neutrality during the war against Iran?

CrossTalking with Joshua Landis, Lionel, and Eddie Gonzales.

In this episode of RT’s Sanchez Effect, Rick and his guest talk predictions, the specialty of Jiang Xueqin, an accomplished academic and the host of the YouTube show ‘Predictive History’.

Professor Jiang explains that Trump is desperate for two things: public support and congressional approval of funding of war in Iran. He thinks that such desperation is pushing Trump to launch this senseless, limited invasion of Iran, which will produce two potential results: the successful takeover of Iran’s islands in the Persian Gulf or the islands will become the final resting place of the invading US troops. And, he stresses, either scenario will cause anti-Iranian sentiment to grow. The professor has also predicted huge chaos in world’s economy and the downfall of the ‘American empire’. You can learn about it all here on RT International, or on Bitchute ‘ricksancheztv’.

In this episode of RT’s ‘Sanchez Effect’ Rick looks at the European Union’s policies with Belgian lawmaker Rudi Kennes. He is one of the few European politicians who is shocked with how the EU’s leaders handle their duties. He agrees with Rick that it can be described in one sentence: ‘shooting themselves in the foot’.

In terms of the war on Iran, he says that it was clear that the country is not going to succumb to the same scenario as Venezuela because Tehran’s leadership had planned for the conflict and geography rules out any ground invasion. Kennes says that despite the EU publicly proclaiming its distance from the war on Iran, many members of the bloc and the UK are heavily involved.

He says it is because the European leadership emerged from industry and now their lobbyists own them, especially military manufacturers.

Watch the whole interview here, on RT International or on Bitchute ‘ricksancheztv’.

CrossTalking with Stanley L. Cohen, Abdel Bari Atwan, and Kanwal Sibal.

There is talk of an upcoming US ground invasion of Iran, which Nixon finds insane considering the mountainous terrain of the country – ‘Iran has geographical advantages impossible to overcome’.  

Scott Ritter is also pessimistic about ‘Epic Fury’ as he says ‘the optics are horrible for the Navy’. The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier has faced disaster after disaster throughout the whole operation and even before – could it be sabotage? Who knows!

What Ritter knows is ‘this is supposed to be the most advanced ship in the world but it is not designed to fight a war’.

Blaha says EU officials should urgently rethink their strategy and engage in talks with Russia, but he fears common sense is a thing of the past for Brussels. Say goodbye to rationality and hello to a new era of insanity! How long can the EU hang on with this mindset, especially as the US-Israeli war with Iran shows no signs of letting up?

Rick also sheds light on Trump’s latest flip-flop – now claiming the US is in talks with Iran right after issuing ultimatums and vowing to obliterate its power infrastructure. Is there any truth left, or just a deck full of lies? Tune in for all the latest, only on RT!

CrossTalking with Mark Sleboda and George Szamuely.

CrossTalking with Ramzy Baroud, Sharmine Narwani, and Zachary Foster.

In this episode of ‘Sanchez Effect’ we hear from RT correspondent Steve Sweeney who was, in the words of one expert, ‘deliberately targeted’ by the IDF, when an artillery shell exploded only a few steps away from him. He is very fortunate and grateful to have only received shrapnel wounds on his arms and not lost his life.

Today, we also heard from Scott Horton, famous American author, director of the Libertarian Institute and host of The Scott Horton Show. He commented on the recent ban on Rick Sanchez’s channel on YouTube, calling the company a ‘monopolistic search engine.’ He also discussed US claims that Iran posed an imminent threat, advising people to remember Washington’s rhetoric before the invasion of Iraq, when the American government used the same playbook. Watch the whole episode here on RT International and catch our live streams on our new platform Bitchute!

This might just be the wake-up call the West needs, as it navigates its own mess with Iran that it started after throwing away good-faith attempts at negotiations. And now as Trump acts all surprised at the mess he caused, he comes up with this jaw-dropper: ‘We were shocked’ that Iran targeted US bases in the Middle East! Really, who saw that coming? Anyone paying attention to Iran, perhaps?

The world is now feeling the fallout. The Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary reveals that his country is already facing tough times, relying on oil, produce, and fertilizers from the Gulf region – all of which is complicated by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. With reserves dwindling, how long can Kenya hold out? And what other ripple effects are looming? Tune in to find out, only on RT!