On this episode of Nothing But the Truth, host Trudy Stern is joined by retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery to examine the high-stakes moment unfolding with Iran, as renewed negotiations collide with an escalating U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf. Admiral Montgomery explains why talks over Iran’s nuclear program are likely buying time rather than producing a viable deal, outlining Tehran’s remaining nuclear capabilities, ballistic missile and drone threats, and continued support for proxy groups across the region. The conversation breaks down the strategic meaning behind America’s naval and air posture, the limits of diplomacy, and what real military enforcement would look like if negotiations fail—highlighting the serious implications for Israel, regional stability, and U.S. security.

As the Middle East undergoes a dramatic realignment, host Trudy Stern is joined by Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break down the shifting balance of power following Iran’s weakening and the degradation of its terror proxies. The conversation explores Saudi Arabia’s changing posture toward Israel, rising tensions with the UAE, Turkey’s growing regional ambitions, and the dangerous vacuum forming across Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Together, they examine whether Israel now faces stronger and more complex threats closer to its borders—and what these developments could mean not just for Israel, but for the West and U.S. interests more broadly.

As global crises unfold from Ukraine and the Middle East to Latin America and the Arctic, this episode of Nothing But the Truth examines how China is quietly shaping events behind the scenes. Host Trudy Stern is joined by Michael Sobolik of the Hudson Institute, author of Countering China’s Great Game, to break down Beijing’s strategy as a revisionist power exploiting global instability, expanding its military and economic reach, and preparing for potential conflict. The conversation also explores a new Heritage Foundation war game warning of U.S. weapons shortages in a high-intensity conflict with China—and what all of this means for America’s future.