The Gist
The Gist
Peach Fish Productions
Michael A. Cohen: "There Is an Inherent Bias Toward Exaggerating the Benefits of Using Military Force"
43 minutes Posted Jun 22, 2026 at 10:17 pm.
0:00
43:24
Download MP3
Show notes

Today on The Gist, the alarming strategic ramifications of the $300 billion in indirect Gulf state investments heading to Iran as a ceasefire condition. Then, foreign policy expert Michael A. Cohen of the Stimson Center joins the show to discuss his co-authored report evaluating the hidden costs, failures, and hubris of recent U.S. military campaigns in Venezuela and Iran. Cohen breaks down why the Trump administration completely failed to anticipate second-order consequences like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, how the precision assassination of the Ayatollah counterproductively empowered pro-nuclear hardliners, and how Benjamin Netanyahu's domestic military overreach in Lebanon completely alienated his superpower benefactor.

Produced by Corey Wara

Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig

Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at https://www.mikepesca.com/

For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://subscribe.mikepesca.com/

For Mike's daily takes on Substack, subscribe to The Gist List https://mikepesca.substack.com/

Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_bh0wHgk2YfpKf4rg40_g⁠⁠⁠⁠
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pescagist/
https://x.com/pescami
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pescagist

To advertise on the show, contact ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.