# DEFCON ZERQ Ep. 053: China's Shadow War and the Iran Endgame

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/badlands-media-5934327/defcon-zerq-ep-053-china-s-shadow-war-and-the-iran-endgame
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/badlands-media-5934327/defcon-zerq-ep-053-china-s-shadow-war-and-the-iran-endgame.md
Podcast: [Badlands Media](https://stenobird.com/podcast/badlands-media-5934327)
Published: 2026-07-22T05:47:26+00:00
Episode link: https://badlandsmedia.podbean.com/e/defcon-zerq-ep-053-chinas-shadow-war-and-the-iran-endgame/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/2zbktsng9abw5qvn/DEFCON_ZERQ_ep_053br4qo.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/badlands-media-5934327/episodes/defcon-zerq-ep-053-china-s-shadow-war-and-the-iran-endgame
Duration seconds: 6569

## Resource

Alpha Warrior and Josh Reid go long this week, starting with a General Kane budget speech that turns into a masterclass on how modern warfare is changing. From there they dig into what a mountain fortress in Iran might mean for classified weapons, why China keeps showing up behind the scenes of every major flashpoint, and how energy, chips, and rare earth minerals fit into a much bigger global chess match. There is a detour into claims about 2020 election interference backed by newly surfaced intelligence definitions, a candid conversation about artificial intelligence and where the real danger sits, and a healthy dose of hat talk, sponsor love, and community shoutouts along the way. It is a heavy episode with plenty of speculation mixed into the analysis, so bring your own filter and enjoy the ride.

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## Transcript

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