Is America's Influence Eroding? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS
Is America's Influence Eroding? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS  
Podcast: The Team House
Published On: Thu Sep 17 2026
Description: 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.Support the show on Patreon:⬇️https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouseJack's news outlet:⬇️https://thehighside.substack.com/Find Jon Hackett here:⬇️Jon's Twitter:https://x.com/jonathanhackettJon's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackettJon's books:https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0C5L659N5?ccs_id=e11a2062-f8d3-498e-bfd7-7d2f3869caf6Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejonathanhackettTwitter: https://x.com/jonathanhackettCheck out Mick's new podcast here:⬇️Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/pub-and-porch-applied-stoicism/id1836955475Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/1k3QPmkAMwnGJxMLDwUSSd?si=n6piIu8XRcag1Z0K43A3bQYoutube:https://www.youtube.com/@UCd0Hq6QFk8CoTu5j-VU0Ong Find Mick Mulroy here: Fogbow ⬇️https://fogbow.com/Lobo Institute ⬇️https://www.loboinstitute.org/Twitter ⬇️https://x.com/mickmulroy?s=21&t=-Ze3F_Ix2vlJ18KFvORTCALinkedIn ⬇️https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-patrick-mulroy-31198b52/Whitefish security summit ⬇️https://whitefishsecuritysummit.comFind Marc P here:https://x.com/MpolymerFind Andy Milburn here: Twitter ⬇️https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8LinkedIn ⬇️https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023Substack ⬇️https://amilburn.substack.com/Andy’s book ⬇️https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations00:00 – Start01:05 – Russia’s New Gig-Economy Espionage Model02:36 – Foreign Governments Hiring Proxies for Assassinations03:18 – Russian Online Networks & Recruitment for Violence05:00 – The KGB’s History of Using Terrorist Proxies06:11 – Is Russia Directing Online Chaos?07:24 – Chinese Influence, Ghost Guns & Suspicious Networks in the U.S.09:20 – Accelerationism & Using Chaos as a Weapon10:14 – Recruiting Vulnerable People Online11:20 – How Intelligence Services Slowly Escalate Recruits12:27 – Iran Recruiting Israelis Through Fake Relationships14:03 – The Damage to U.S. Bases Across the Middle East15:06 – Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain Is Effectively Abandoned15:59 – Losing America’s Foothold Inside the Strait of Hormuz16:41 – Did the Pentagon Expect Its Gulf Bases to Get Hit?18:34 – Why Deterrence Against Iran Failed19:32 – 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 Hormuz23:19 – Gulf States Are Beginning to Hedge Away From Washington24:47 – Houthis Threaten a Second Maritime Choke Point25:39 – Why the U.S. Is Now Talking Directly to the Houthis27:23 – Houthis Say Saudi Shipping Is the Target27:58 – The Mecca Agreement Is Already Being Tested28:56 – Who Actually Struck Mecca?30:08 – Saudi Arabia’s Secret Counter-Iran Programs31:26 – The Gig Economy of Proxy Warfare32:35 – Timber Sycamore & the Chaos of the Syrian War34:45 – The Myth of the “Moderate Rebels”36:30 – When the U.S. Bought Syrian Rebels Xboxes37:05 – Trying to Get U.S. TOW Missiles Back From Warlords37:43 – Did the TOW Missile Program Actually Work?39:21 – Assad’s Intelligence Services & Fear as a Weapon40:52 – Why the Houthis Aren’t Simply Iranian Proxies42:11 – Who Was Operating the Captured Saudi Equipment?43:32 – Saudi vs. Emirati Proxy Forces in Yemen43:59 – Oman’s Role in the Yemen & Hormuz Crisis45:50 – JSOC Operations in Eastern Yemen46:32 – The Failed U.S. Strike in Yemen During the Soleimani Operation47:24 – Could Yemen’s Rival Factions Be Turned Against Each Other?47:30 – UAE Mercenaries & Covert Operations in Yemen48:14 – The UAE’s Huge Paydays for Former U.S. Intelligence Personnel48:45 – Foreign Officers Running Emirati Elite Units49:00 – Training the UAE Presidential Guard50:36 – Closing Thoughts51:02 – American Insurgent & Final Plug51:29 – EndBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support.