The Orbis Sentry Report - Geopolitical Risk & Global Trends

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• War, Technology, and Worldview: What are the internal tensions driving us into the current crisis? 21.06.2026 28min

  We have discussed the external pressures on society in the West, but here we move into examining some of the internal pressures that are affecting how the crisis is playing out. In particular, we discuss how many of the internal conflicts in Western sociey (notably in America) are preventing the crisis from coming to a resolution, and are weakening Western society’s ability to develop a strong response to the external pressures that present existential threats. We also discuss the historical connection of the British Fabian Society to current political thought trends in the UK and the rest of Western societies.This is the third of a 3 part series between Carl Teichrib and George Olson on the current crisis of the West.The West is facing external pressure from hostile powers, technological disruption, supply-chain fragility, and military transformation. But its deeper vulnerability may be internal: a loss of moral confidence, institutional clarity, theological grounding, and civilizational purpose. Christians cannot afford simplistic answers or fearful withdrawal. They must understand the complexity of the moment and speak truth with courage, grace, and hope.note -Any statement that analyzes or draws conclusions on the logical outcome of a political point of view does not constitute an endorsement or a condemnation of that political point of view. Orbis Sentry is a non-political entity and does not attempt to influence a political stance or a pattern of voting. The purpose of Orbis Sentry is to encourage, inform, and equip the body of Christ in how to live effectively in the world today, without cowering in fear.Here are some other links for Orbis Sentry related material:Our discussion with Dr. Christian B. Keller on the US Civil War and Historical MindednessClick here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackCarl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• War, Technology, and Worldview: What is the Catalyst to get us to a War Economy? 14.06.2026 25min

  To view the full part series in one long form video, and for other long form videos, become a member on our website (it’s free) by following the link here, and you will see the link to other long form videos.This is the second of a 3 part series in which Carl Teichrib and George Olson deepen the conversation, moving from the mechanics of a war economy to the worldview conditions that make a war economy possible. Carl opens by arguing that a wartime economy is not merely an industrial arrangement; historically, it rests on a shared story, identity, or worldview. He uses Nazi Germany as a dark example of a society whose industrial, educational, religious, and political systems were permeated by a unifying myth of blood, soil, and national destiny. The point is not to equate every mobilized society with Nazi Germany, but to show that mass mobilization requires a binding cultural narrative.As Carl and George discuss the catalyst that could drive the transition to a war economy, they discuss all the peripheral issues surrounding the transition and what considerations must be made to bring the transition together.There is a contrast between the Christian worldview and the wider cultural narrative of human evolution, AI, spacefaring destiny, and Burning Man as a microcosm of the hoped-for future. Yet one thing that could unite the fragmented culture of the West is recognition of the need for our survival as a culture.War economies do not emerge from growth in technology. They emerge when a society’s worldviews, fears, industrial capacities, and survival instincts converge and find common ground. AI, drones, laser defense, and grid vulnerability are not separate topics; they are signs of a civilizational transition where utopian visions collide with hard security realities.note -Documentation backing up the the statement George made on the electric grid is based on the January 31, 2024 House Select Committee on the CCP hearing, titled “The CCP Cyber Threat to the American Homeland and National Security.” It was not the DHS Secretary, but Jen Easterly, Director of CISA, which is part of DHS, testifying alongside FBI Director Christopher Wray, NSA/Cyber Command Director Gen. Paul Nakasone, and National Cyber Director Harry Coker.More information on this hearing and links to congressional testimony can be found by clicking here.Here are some other links for Orbis Sentry related material:Our discussion with Dr. Christian B. Keller on the US Civil War and Historical MindednessClick here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackCarl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• War, Technology, and Worldview: A Christian Look Inside SOF Week 07.06.2026 35min

  The Beginning Stages of a Full Response to our Civilizational CrisisTo see all 3 episodes together, pre-released, click here to become a member on our website and access the long form videos which are available for members only. Membership to Orbis Sentry is free.YouTube link: This is the first of a 3 part series in which Carl Teichrib and George Olson start a discussion at the intersection of the civilian industries supporting military endeavors as revealed at SOF week. Then they bring out a discussion of supply chains, new technologies (AI, drones, robotics), geopolitical considerations, the spiritual belief systems undergirding the flow of events, and the calling of Christians living and operating in this world. Society, industry, technology, history, spirituality, geopolitics, and worldview changes are all converging at a point in time in which we pass through a systemic crisis that will re-shape the world. We are still “left of bang” in any sort of ekpyrosis level event, and there is still a chance that we can prevent a major conflagration from breaking out. However, it will require faith, courage, patience, and wisdom, and for us as believers to properly represent Christ without fear to a lost and dying world. Our salvation is not a collective human endeavor achieved by our own efforts, but instead one which requires faith and turning to our Creator in humility and repentance, knowing that He is the only one who can ultimately save us.The full YouTube playlist for this discussion, once it is complete, will be found here.Here are some other links for Orbis Sentry related material:Our discussion with Dr. Christian B. Keller on the US Civil War and Historical MindednessClick here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackCarl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Can History Warn Us About the Future? Dr. Christian B. Keller | U.S. Army War College (Part 3 of 3) 02.05.2026 28min

  Part 3 of 3 concludes our wide-ranging conversation with Dr. Christian B. Keller, Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College, as we examine how fear, identity, and human nature drive political conflict across generations.Dr. Keller explores the deep anxieties that fueled both the North and South before the American Civil War—economic fears, demographic fears, constitutional disputes, and competing visions of national identity. He explains how reactionary politics can rapidly reshape public opinion, drawing parallels to later crises in American and global history.The discussion then broadens to modern polarization in the United States and Canada, showing how cycles of action, reaction, and counterreaction continue to shape societies today. Most importantly, Dr. Keller emphasizes that while technology and institutions change, the human condition remains constant—making history an indispensable guide for understanding the present.This final segment offers powerful insights for citizens, leaders, churches, and anyone seeking wisdom in uncertain times.youtube URL:Click here for the full Historical Mindedness playlist on YouTubeHere are some other links for Orbis Sentry related material:Click here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackCarl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Can History Warn Us About the Future? Dr. Christian B. Keller | U.S. Army War College (Part 2 of 3) 02.05.2026 25min

  Part 2 of 3 continues our compelling conversation with Dr. Christian B. Keller, Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College, as we explore how serious historical thinking can sharpen judgment in today’s complex world.This segment dives into why societies often oversimplify the past into political slogans, moral soundbites, and shallow narratives. Dr. Keller explains why understanding true historical context matters—and how failing to do so can mislead citizens, leaders, churches, and institutions alike. The discussion covers wealth, power, social tension, the complexity of slavery-era America, Native American alliances during the Civil War, and why difficult events cannot be reduced to simplistic talking points.We also examine the strengths and limits of AI in researching history, the danger of cherry-picking evidence, and how honest inquiry requires confronting facts that challenge our assumptions. If you want to think more clearly about politics, culture, leadership, and faith, this episode offers practical wisdom.youtube URL:Click here for the full Historical Mindedness playlist on YouTubeHere are some other links for Orbis Sentry related material:Click here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackCarl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Can History Warn Us About the Future? Dr. Christian B. Keller | U.S. Army War College (Part 1 of 3) 02.05.2026 35min

  Part 1 of 3 of an in-depth conversation with Dr. Christian B. Keller, Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College, on the power of historical mindedness—using the past to better understand the present and make wiser decisions about the future.Dr. Keller explains why history is more than memorizing dates and facts. It is a discipline of asking deeper questions: How did we get here? What forces shaped today’s world? What mistakes keep repeating? The discussion explores how historical context helps explain modern political polarization, the roots of institutions like the United Nations and European Union, and the warning signs that preceded the American Civil War.This episode also examines how leaders, citizens, churches, and policymakers can use history to avoid repeating destructive patterns. If you want to better understand America’s current moment through the lens of the past, this conversation is essential listening.YouTube URL for this episode:Click here for the full Historical Mindedness playlist on YouTubeHere are some other links for Orbis Sentry related material:Click here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackCarl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Psychedelics, Consciousness, Mystical Experience, and Counseling an AI - SXSW Day 3 Debrief Part 2 16.04.2026 33min

  To watch this in video format, click the link below:In this second segment of our day 3 debrief, we discussed a seminar given by a materialist scientist on consciousness and psychedelics. In particular, the discussion focused on how the scientist had repudiated his materialist beliefs in favor of a re-enchantment belief system, where mystical experiences become the arbiter of truth. Then we reviewed a seminar in which a professional counselor shared how she counseled a human-AI couple - a man and his AI girlfriend. We wrap up day 3 with a discussion on the philosophy of festivals, how they are implemented, what the business ideas are behind them, and how they are having an impact.Disclaimer - In Orbis Sentry, we are not endorsing any particular agenda, political or otherwise. The purpose of these videos is to inform people as to what was talked about. In our discussions we review these ideas from a Christian perspective.Click here for all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.Here are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackHere are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Humanoid Robots, Amy Webb's Convergence Projections - SXSW Day 3 Debrief Part 1 16.04.2026 28min

  To watch this in video format, click the link below:In this first segment of our day 3 debrief, we discussed the well publicized Amy Webb seminar, in which she announced a shift in her futurist analysis away from trend focus and onto convergence focus. We also had a short discussion about the ideas presented at an LGBTQ workshop, in which they outlined how they intend to use media and governmental pressure to raise the popularity of LGBTQ issues. The basis for the discussion was the popular LGBTQ themed tv series, “Heated Rivalry.” We finish with a long discussion on AI and humanoid robots, how these things are being implemented into various industries, and what it means for the future.Disclaimer - In Orbis Sentry, we are not endorsing any particular agenda, political or otherwise. The purpose of these videos is to inform people as to what was talked about. In our discussions we review these ideas from a Christian perspective.Here is the link to all of our debrief discussions for South by Southwest (SXSW). Videos will be added to this playlist as we are able to process and publish them.https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKHUzPd53o3n9NlYmkvsvH3oteHFHT3H1&si=CJvvcsZq3pgHgzxEHere is the link to the full Amy Webb seminar at SXSW 2026:Here are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackHere are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• The War on Pause and Unstoppable Economic Effects 11.04.2026 34min

  This podcast was produced as part of the ministry of Orbis Sentry.For the video version of this podcast, click on the link below:Please note that the video contains images, many of which are AI generated for illustration, which are not included in the text below. So if you are interested in listening to this while seeing it illustrated, you might be more interested in checking out the video.April 9, 2026Who wins a war? And what will be the economic effects?by George OlsonWe have certainly seen some geopolitical theatrics over the past few weeks. After President Trump threatened to completely annihilate the country and the people of Iran, on Tuesday evening, April 7, he announced that the war was on pause. Two weeks ago, the Trump administration had sent Iran a 15 point proposal on ending the war. Because of the condition of the Iranian government and difficulty in determining who is actually making decisions for the entire nation over there, we don’t know who might have read it and considered its points. In any case, earlier this week Iran apparently sent a proposal to the USA on ending the war. Iran’s news agency released a copy of what it said was their 10 point proposal, but then the White House said that they received a different proposal. However, it was on this basis of receiving any proposal, not the one in the press and not based on the content of what the proposal said, that Trump officially “paused” the war and a tenuous ceasefire began. Annihilation is now on hold for the next two weeks to give the two sides a chance to iron out their differences and scale down the conflict.So let’s look at the 10 points of Iran’s peace proposal that was released publicly:* A guarantee of no further US attacks against Iran.* Iran maintains control of the Strait of Hormuz.* Ending the regional war on all fronts, including against Hezbollah in Lebanon.* Withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from all bases and positions in the region.* Reparations to Iran for war damages.* Acceptance of Iran’s right to nuclear enrichment.* Lifting all primary sanctions on Iran.* Lifting all secondary sanctions on Iran.* Termination of all resolutions against Iran by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.* Termination of all United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iran.iIf you read that carefully, it doesn’t look like an acknowledgment that the USA and Israel have won the war. It looks like Iran still has a lot of leverage, and they are demanding that the USA not only back off, but completely leave the area, and pay them war reparations. In addition, if the primary goal of the war was to completely dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, there is absolutely nothing in this proposal that indicates Iran has even budged an inch on this demand.If Iran was really a defeated power and they just wanted the American military to stop killing their soldiers and destroying their infrastructure, the proposal would look drastically different. You would be hearing them say, “Please stop, we will do what you say.” But that’s not the messaging that is coming from Iran. Instead, it is still defiant. Iran’s proposal reads like a victory proposal in which they, not the USA and Israel, are demanding the terms to end the war.The additional goal of regime change also seems to have failed, or at least it has not yet gotten started. If there was any indication of a rising civilian power in Iran actually threatening the rule of the IRGC,ii you would be hearing reports about it in all of the major news outlets. The mainstream media may not like the Trump administration, and they may skew the news to try and make him look bad, but they would not completely ignore a reality that is happening on the ground if it is actually there.The internal security apparatus of Iran apparently remains as strong as it was before the war started. The massive nationwide protests across over 100 cities in Iran back in January was so severely repressed, with tens of thousands killed by the regime, that it seems that there is no will among the population to rise up against their government. The IRGC and the Basij, who enforced the crackdown, have not fractured and remain as defiant as ever against the USA. There are no reports of military defections, which would be a key component for a revolutionary uprising to take root and succeed.So what have been the effects of the war? Here are some of the things I have observed. I am not making any judgments on this; just observing the facts.* The Iranian leadership from before the war was killed off, allowing a new crop of leaders to come to power.* The IRGC and the Basij remain in control, solidifying their grip on the entire country, and are able to solidly deter any uprising through severe repressive measures.* Iranian offensive weapons, as in missiles and drones, have been destroyed by the thousands.* We do not know how effective the destruction of production factories for the Shaheed drones and other missiles has been.* As far as we know, Iranian offensive missile capability against Israel has been significantly degraded for the time being.* We do not know what their capability will be to rebuild a missile arsenal, and we have no evidence that the material support and resupply efforts by Russia and China have been degraded.* The war was begun while an American team was involved in active negotiations for peace with an Iranian delegation. This signals to America’s enemies that American led negotiations will never be trustworthy, and could likely be considered a ruse to distract them before hostilities begin.* The enriched uranium fuel which was buried beneath rubble by bunker buster bombs last June remains unaccounted for.* The Strait of Hormuz has closed, sending oil prices significantly higher, putting stress on global trade relationships.* Sea mines that were laid in the strait are still there. Maritime insurance agencies don’t want to insure ships passing through the strait, which significantly raises the cost and reliability of shipping of any products coming out of that region.* Iran fully controls the Strait now, requiring a payment for permission to transit, whereas before the war it was free passage.* Based on various news reports, in April so far, maritime reporting agencies said that 11 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 7th and the 8th, and then 7 ships on the 9th, the first day of the ceasefire. So on the first day of the ceasefire, only 7 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz. This is compared to a pre-war average of around 130 ships per day transiting the Strait.iii* Petrochemical refineries and infrastructure all through the Middle East region have been damaged and taken off line. This has had a significant effect on the many products, including oil, natural gas, LNG, helium, ammonia, fertilizers, and others.* In particular, the impact on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is as follows. Qatar’s Ras Laffan refinery was damaged, taking 20% of global LNG production off-line.* LNG is critical for Europe and South Asia’s energy needs.* Fertilizer shortages are likely to have an impact on global food supply over the next year.* On April 9 (the day I started writing this), Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, after the supposed peace proposal negotiations started, said that Israeli strikes on Lebanon would render negotiations “meaningless.”ivThose are just a few of the facts.Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Here is what the situation looks like to me. President Trump was hoping that an attack on Iran, because of the overwhelming firepower of the US military, would quickly topple the Iranian government and cause a civilian uprising. There are 2 factors internal to Iran it seems that he didn’t consider. First, the violent suppression of protests in January which killed anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 Iranians likely scared the remaining Iranian people so badly that they have no fight left in them. They didn’t rise up against their own government. Second, the IRGC is so deeply embedded in all aspects of Iranian social, civilian, and economic life, that the act of killing off the leaders of the government would not have the effect of causing its collapse. The IRGC has been preparing for this kind of attack for years, and that is why they embedded themselves the way they did. There is no reason now to believe that the Iranian people are going to rise up and topple the IRGC or their government, especially now that a supposed ceasefire and negotiations have begun. This seems to have been a huge systemic and strategic failure on the part of the Trump administration when they were choosing to decide whether or not to initiate the war.In addition to the above, with the re-supply lines for armaments and munitions continuing from Russiav and China,vi we can expect that Iran will be able to re-arm and make more Shaheed drones and make more missiles over time, just like they did from last June until the start of this war. They also now have complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, and all of their adversaries in the region are economically crippled due to attacks on refineries. With the price of oil staying elevated, though it is not all the way up at 120 anymore, it could go there over time (the initial spike in the price was a reactionary event). If the ceasefire holds, the price could go up slowly on account of the significant reduction in supply. If the ceasefire fails and the war restarts, price will likely spike again. Regardless, damaged infrastructure will take years to rebuild. The fundamentals are in place for a rise in energy prices until these things work their way through the market. This is likely to cause a slowdown in economic activity over the entire world. Eventually this could result in a massive fall in energy prices, but for now energy prices are set to continue higher.Remember at the beginning of the pandemic when it was in the news that the price of a barrel of oil went negative for a short bit? That was because economic activity had stopped as everyone went home. Nobody needed oil because all of the factories were shut down and nobody was driving anywhere. Any time there is an economic slowdown, one of the effects is a drop in the price of oil because of what is called “demand destruction.” Factories that couldn’t afford to purchase the energy at the higher prices ended up closing their doors. The workers in those factories end up going home, maybe going back to some provincial area in their home country, planting gardens for food, and doing what humans do in order to figure out how to survive. That is what happens in a severe economic slowdown, also known as a depression. So even though the economic effects will start out with what looks like inflation, with energy prices rising, the longer term effect will be to slow down the economy, and even bring some parts of the economy to a complete halt.Here is the way I see the economic sequence of events playing out, assuming that things play out on a massive scale (which all indications are that they will). Either a slow or rapid rise in the price of oil due to this war causes a scramble for dollars in international markets as companies look to try and keep their factories going. This causes the strength of the dollar to go up compared to other currencies, which induces more selling of US dollar denominated assets, like US stocks and US treasury bonds. The reason those get sold off is that the owners of those assets need the dollars to buy the more expensive energy to pay debt and try and keep their businesses going. Many of the sellers are foreigners, as there are a huge number of foreigners that own both US stocks and US treasury bonds.viiYou can see from this graph I pulled off the Federal Reserve’s website that around $15 trillion of US stocks are held by foreigners, which makes up somewhere around 25%-30% of the overall market.As US treasury bonds sell off, US interest rates rise, making it very difficult for the US government to continue to finance its debt, something that is deeply integrated into the functioning of the world economy. As US stocks sell off, US tax receipts fall because they are directly correlated to the value of the stock market, making the problem worse. The only way to save the treasury market at that point and prevent the system from collapsing will be if the Federal Reserve not only cuts short term interest rates, but caps long term interest rates by purchasing US treasury bonds with printed money. This is the reason why the Trump administration had been pushing for the Fed to cut interest rates late last year. They were seeing that there is likely to be a coming economic crisis which will hit us hard, and they wanted to force cuts, rather than wait until the crisis gets here, when it may be too late. If they would have cut rates at the beginning of this year, instead of worrying about inflation, it might have been enough to induce economic activity strong enough to overcome the condition we are about to face. Of course it would have been inflationary, but inflation is only a problem when it is inflation without economic growth. If there is economic growth alongside inflation, and that economic growth is stronger than the inflation, goods and services may get more expensive, but most people still have the means to sustain themselves because of the growth. By waiting to cut rates, however, we are now facing inflation without economic growth, which will eventually reverse itself into a severe deflationary environment. That is the point where recession or depression sets in.The perfect economic storm happens if the price of oil rises at such a pace that at first it causes a selloff in US treasury bonds and US stocks, and then it stays elevated long enough to induce manufacturing shutdowns all over the globe. Trade will slow down significantly as economic growth stagnates with rising energy prices. The selloff in US treasuries and US stocks will make it very difficult for the US government to get financing for its operations. Rising energy prices will also cause a rise in fertilizer prices, especially nitrogen fertilizer, a petrochemical byproduct. This is a primary ingredient for corn, which is not only a food staple, but it is also a feedstock ingredient for many of the packaged foods that we all consume. So we are also looking at potentially significant inflation in food prices in the coming months.With oil and gas prices soaring, there will be a drive to push harder into other sources of energy, such as nuclear and solar. In order to facilitate this transition, we need to produce tons more copper and other industrial metals. Yet producing these metals will be problematic. Without copper, nickel, and uranium, this transition will go only in fits and starts. Then on top of this, there is the need for data centers, which would not only facilitate economic growth, but would help businesses and consumers remain competitive. However, the ability to build out data centers will be stifled. Not because of the lack of funds, but on account of the lack of materials available to physically build the electrical infrastructure needed for the transition. We need copper, nickel, steel, aluminum, uranium, and other industrial metals.So, why don’t we just produce more of those metals, especially copper, nickel, and uranium? Just ride over the regulations that get in the way and build more production plants and dig more mines? We have the resources for those materials in the ground in North America and can also get a lot of the ore from friendly countries. Well, all 3 of these metals that are critical for building out the electric grid depend not only on burning fuel to have the energy for production, but also on sulfuric acid as a reagent in the metallurgical process. Did you expect to hear that? Where does sulfuric acid come from? It is made in acid plants from raw sulfur. Raw sulfur is shipped all over the world in bulk, because it is safer to ship raw sulfur than to make the acid and ship the acid. So where does raw sulfur come from? It is a by-product of processing what is called “sour crude” into usable fuels.So let’s talk about sulfur and its connection to global energy markets. But first, what is sour crude? There are many different grades of crude oil, and sour crude is one of the ones that most of America’s refineries are designed to process. Where does it from, being the primary source of sulfur? Primarily the Middle East, and most of it passes through the Strait of Hormuz. There are other sources, thankfully, such as Canadian oil sands, but this is being held back from export by the environmental lobby’s influence on the Canadian government. There is also sour crude sourced from both Mexico and Venezuela, but those both have serious political obstacles to getting the sour crude to US refineries. Mexico has a challenge in that a cartel controls one of the areas their oil pipelines pass through, and the cartel members have been siphoning off much of it to sell for their own profits. Mexico is working on taking out the cartel that has been stealing oil, but that will take considerable time. Venezuela will be able to eventually begin supplying large volumes of sour crude again, but that also will take time as the oil fields need to be re-developed after years of mis-management under Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro’s leftist governments.So the loss of sour crude imports from the Persian Gulf means a reduction in sulfur production, leading to a reduction in sulfuric acid production, leading to a reduction in copper, nickel, and uranium production, leading to longer lead times in what is already a very delayed process to building out the US electric grid. Add onto this the current political backlash to building new datacenters in communities around the country, and things look even slower.In the meantime, China has already built out much of their electric grid, they are not stifled by an environmental lobby, and they already have significant competitors in AI to the American AI companies. If American datacenters can’t be built on account of not having a strong enough electric grid, American AI companies are going to lose the competition to China, because China’s grid is robust and growing. Then when the economic recovery finally begins to happen, at that point Chinese AI companies will have already surpassed American AI companies. The world will look to China instead of America for implementing AI processes as part of the necessary means to bring back economic growth, and China will become the new global hegemon as America fades into the background. In so doing, China will be able to export not only their economics, but their political philosophies of Maoism, Marxism, authoritarianism, and communism, along with their complete lack of ethics, all over the globe. Christian missions will come increasingly under scrutiny, as those authoritarian systems always look with suspicion on Christian activity.As far as the effects of rising oil prices on China, they will be somewhat insulated for several months on account of their huge strategic petroleum reserve. America also has a strategic petroleum reserve, but the Biden administration unnecessarily depleted it 3 years ago, and our government has only partially been able to re-fill it since then. So we don’t have the cushion that China has. Not only that, China controls rare-earths, the necessary materials to produce the magnets that our military needs for so many things, especially missiles. Since we have used up most of our stock of missile defenses in fighting Iran on the other side of the world, having pulled missile defenses out of South Korea and Japan in order to do so, China’s extra large military footprint in the Asia-Pacific region is by comparison growing even stronger and larger. It is possible that every country in the entire region could pivot to be becoming vassal states of China over the next 5 years, and forsake their relationships with the United States. This won’t happen because of sentiment; it will happen because it will be necessary for their survival. The United States will not be able to re-arm without China’s permission (i.e. sale of rare-earths to the USA), and hence the United States will not be able to defend Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, or any other country in that region. They will all be subject to bullying from China. After all, why would China sell rare-earths to the USA if it knew that the USA was just going to use those rare-earths to build up weapon systems to fight China?So this brings up the question, what will happen to Israel? I will have to hold onto that question for another essay, as it delves deeply into the religious ideas of many people and how those religious ideas are affecting geopolitics. The only thing I will point out here is that we have re-entered an era where religion is playing a role on the international stage in a much more prominent way once again, as it has through most of human history. The secularists of the past 80 years would say the solution is for the majority of the world to become non-religious. Of course, that is an absurd proposition and it will never happen. Human beings are religious by nature and this cannot be forced out of them, as much as Mao and the Chinese communists have tried to do for decades. Neither can it be educated out of them, as Western secularists pushing modernist ideas in schools have tried and failed to do for decades. It is far better to understand religious differences, just as we understand other areas of disciplined study, and develop frameworks for understanding each other so that we minimize conflict.Ultimately, when it comes to the war, the winner of the war is the one who dictates the terms. Even though tactically the USA has completely dominated Iran, we are very very far from a strategic victory. So far, Donald Trump has backed down on threats and indicated that he is ready to compromise on certain terms. On the other hand, Iran hasn’t backed down on hardly any of the terms, and their primary point of leverage is the Strait of Hormuz. They may end up compromising on some areas, but if they retain full control of Hormuz, when they didn’t have control of it before the war, that will indicate that regardless of the headlines, they are the strategic winners in this war.Of course eventually things are going to shift around. Iran’s neighbors will have a say if Iran tries to control the Strait of Hormuz unilaterally. They will do things like build new pipelines and infrastructure to ship out their oil that in some way is able to bypass the Strait. Also, other oil fields around the globe will be developed. Other energy sources, despite the difficulties in building them, will eventually become more established. In 5 or 10 years the Strait of Hormuz may not have nearly as much global significance as it does now. But all of those things will depend on the world figuring out how to overcome the economic difficulties caused by this war.I can’t think of any reasonable American that would be happy with an outcome of seeing Iran come out ahead at the end of this war and still being able to build nuclear weapons. Even most of Trump’s political opponents for the most part don’t want that to be the result, even though it would be a major strategic defeat for Trump, which would make them happy. But as unpleasant as that the idea of an Iran win is, reality dictates that we must consider it as one of the possible outcomes that may happen. After all, if you are like me, we don’t have an effect on policy decision makers; we are just observers. We have to prepare for what’s coming, but in general we can’t affect it except by normal democratic means, such as voting, writing your representative, and living life as a good citizen. Regardless, it does not affect my hope and my outlook on life. God is still God, and He is still a loving heavenly Father, we are still made in His image, and we still have a relationship with Him through Christ. And He is still sovereign over the affairs of nations in this world, so we have no reason to despair. We have a responsibility to do our part, and to keep the faith, but there is no reason to become despondent. The promises of God are certain and true for those who believe. So let us not lose hope, no matter what the outcome.I hope this was an encouraging message for you. Please stay tuned to our channel, and we will have more to share with you soon.Endnotes:i https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/08/world/middleeast/iran-10-point-proposal-trump-us-ceasefire.htmlii The IRGC is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a military organization set up to protect the Islamic revolution in Iran. The Basij are a paramilitary volunteer militia that serve as the IRGC’s auxiliaries. Together they have about 220,000 soldiers. These are responsible for sowing domestic terror among the Iranians to keep the Islamic revolution in power. They are also the ones who have sought to empower and equip the Iranian terrorist proxies in the Middle East, such as the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah. They are deeply embedded in all aspects of Iranian life, controlling businesses and trade in addition to their military duties. Extracting them from power would be extremely difficult.iii https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/see-which-ships-are-slipping-through-the-strait-of-hormuz-24eb931div https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-update-evening-special-report-april-9-2026v https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-supplies-iran-with-cyber-support-spy-imagery-hone-attacks-ukraine-says-2026-04-07/vi vii https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/BOGZ1LM263164100Q This chart shows that around $15 trillion of US stocks are held by foreigners, which makes up somewhere around 25%-30% of the overall market. If they need dollars to pay their bills, which is common, they will sell US stocks and US treasuries in order to get those dollars. At this volume, it could have a very outsized effect on all of the global markets.Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackHere are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire youtube geopolitical playlist from GeorgeOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• 2026 SXSW Day 2 - UFO Disclosure by Steven Spielberg and the Energy Grid 03.04.2026 43min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the link below:In this debrief, we go over the interview of Steven Spielberg in which he talked about his movie making philosophy, the UFO Disclosure movie coming out, and his views on alien life. We also go into an in depth discussion on the limitations of the energy grid based on a seminar that was presented by a Google executive.Here are some other links:Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Click here to donate to support our work!Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• 2026 SXSW Day 2 - An AI Bot Sits In on a Panel Discussion with 2 Futurists 03.04.2026 40min

  For the video version of this podcast, click on the link below:Here are some other links:Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Click here to donate to support our work!Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• 2026 SXSW Day 1 - AI in Agriculture and Eco-grief 31.03.2026 33min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the link below:In this segment we discussed the implementation of AI in agriculture, based on a seminar led by a Google executive. This led to a general discussion on how AI is being implemented and its ramifications, with commentary on what we are hearing the AI executives themselves talk about.We follow up with a discussion of a seminar on “Eco-grief,” in which the presenter talked about the stress that elementary age school children are feeling on account of the condition of the environment. They are being taught at a very young age that the world is hurtling towards environmental disaster, that it is the fault of older generations, and that they are the only ones that will be able to save the planet. We discuss how this practice is borderline abusive to children, as it subjects them to fears that are far outside their control, how it is based on questionable science, and is designed to turn young people into angry activists in order to stop climate change. We also discussed the very clear spiritual overtones that were presented in this seminar and how the climate change narrative is being presented as an existential threat to the entire earth, a threat that only activist children and AI will be able to save us from.Here are some other links:Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation to support our work!Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• 2026 SXSW Day 1 - Where are Funds Coming From for AI and Technology 31.03.2026 25min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the link below:In this segment we review a seminar we attended called “Who is Funding the Future.” In our review, we talk about how AI funding is coming through multiple angles, but much is coming through non-profit foundations. The implication is that this gives the board members of those foundations a seat at the table when it comes being involved in the civic discussions of how and where to implement AI. We then also discuss an educational seminar where the presenter offered a view towards education that was more about shaping the worldview of young people rather than teaching them basic skills necessary for life, such as reading, writing, history, math, science, etc. It was a very interesting discussion.Here are some other links:Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation to support our work!Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• 2026 SXSW Day 1 - AI Implementation and Overview 31.03.2026 18min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the link below:In this first segment of our day 1 debrief at South by Southwest, we talk about the philosophy behind the event, the connection to the cultural base of Western Civilization and Christianity, and the spiritual undertones. There was a lot of discussion on AI, what they are planning to do, how it can do good, and also how it poses a very serious challenge for humanity. There was discussion on evolution alongside AI.Here are some other links:Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation to support our work!Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• South By Southwest Day 1 Debriefing - unedited 17.03.2026 1t 14min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the following link:This is our day 1 debriefing, mostly unedited, except for the intro. Carl has posted the audio version of this on his substack feed, so I am re-posting this with video here, and with audio aligned for the podcast.South by Southwest (SXSW) sits at the convergence of trends in technology (especially AI), geopolitics, economics, the arts (primarily through music and film), psychedelics, worldview shifts, the overall re-enchantment mindset. In the same way that Burning Man represents an idea of where people hope the future direction of humanity is going with a strong spiritual emphasis, SXSW represents that same thing with less of a spiritual emphasis and more of an emphasis on the technology side. It is the practical application of Burning Man ideas in every day life as the world looks to what it hopes is its future.As followers of Christ and members of the eternal city, the City of God, we recognize what is happening, but hold our allegiance to Christ’s kingdom, not the kingdom of this world. We are His ambassadors - 2 Corinthians 5:20-21.I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.I will do my best to post our updates on video and on substack for the audio podcast as I find the time in between sessions to do my limited amount of processing. There will also be a separate playlist on youtube specifically for South by Southwest.If you would like to get them in real time, Carl is posting the raw audio on his substack and also on his facebook page, which you can follow here. Here are some other links:Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation to support our work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• The Moral Justification of the War with Iran 09.03.2026 31min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the following link:In this first part of a multi-part overview of the war, I discuss the moral arguments behind the justification of the war. This is only the beginning of a series that I want to continue to write.I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.Trying to keep up with the pace of what is happening in this war is very challenging. There are several things I want to address in this essay, so here is the basic outline:In this first part, I will address the justification of the war, from a moral point of view, a geopolitical point of view, and an inevitability point of view. I want to go through these arguments in a way that presents a clear picture. Then I want to go through the counter-arguments. These will be the arguments that are specifically countering the pro-war arguments. I want to examine these to see if they have merit. Then finally, I want to examine other arguments against the war that are not specific counter-arguemnts, and see what value they hold.In the 2nd part, I want to address the logistics and supply issues that determine whether it will be possible for the USA to obtain its objectives in this war. In addition, I want to examine the economic, political, and security effects that could ensue as a result of how the war plays itself out.The moral justification for the warBefore I begin, I want to preface this with the following. None of what you are about to read has any meaning if the USA and Israel cannot both fully win this war against Iran, and also put Russia and China at a significant strategic disadvantage in the process.Let’s look at the nation of Iran in the big picture. From what I have read, the leadership of Iran is entirely from the Twelver Shia tradition of Islam. Article 12 of the Iranian constitution states, “The official religion of Iran is Islam and the Twelver Ja’fari school, and this principle will remain eternally immutable.” Twelver theology holds that the 12th Imam(aka the Islamic Mahdi or the Hidden Imam), is currently in “occultation,” and will emerge to rule Islam and the rest of the world in the end times. This belief system is embedded in the minds of the leaders of Iran.There are several reasons this religious system manifests as an anti-American and anti-Israeli mission. First, the Twelver belief system holds that there is only one legitimate ruler of Islamic community – the Mahdi, or the 12th Imam who disappeared in 874 AD. Therefore, while awaiting his return no human being could legitimately rule the Islamic community, and so the Shia scholars in Najaf, Iraq, taught that Islamic clerics should guide society but should not rule the state. This became known as the “quietist” tradition in Shia theology , which became a predominant theological position for Shia Muslims for hundreds of years.However, with the Iranian revolution in 1979, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, he developed the revolutionary tradition. This holds to 4 core principles:* The Hidden Imam is the only rightful ruler* He is currently absent during his time of “occultation”* Islamic scholars under this school of theology are the ones who understand his divine law* Therefore a leading Islamic jurist should wield political authority until the return of the Hidden ImamEssentially this means that because the Hidden Imam is temporarily absent, Islamic jurists must rule in his stead. But not just any Islamic jurists – they must be from the Twelver belief system of Shia, and must be from Khomeini’s revolutionary school, because they are the only ones who truly understand God’s law. This is the doctrine of the Guardianship of the Jurist, or Wilayat al-Faqih. Among Shia Muslims, scholars have estimated that around 90% of Shia are Twelvers, and of the Twelvers, only 15% of them hold to Khomeini’s Qom school of revolutionary ideology. The rest are quietists, who do not believe that clerics should rule the land.So what this means is that under their belief system, the clerical rulers of Iran are on a divine mission, to protect the Islamic world while waiting for the return of the Mahdi. The supreme leader of Iran is therefore a deputy to the Mahdi, who is the Hidden Imam, appointed by Allah to rule the earth. Their mission, therefore, is uncompromising, even to the point of death.To take this further, the Twelvers look at Western powers as forces of injustice and domination. Historically, the Western powers held spheres of influence in Iran for roughly a century. This influence grew in proportion to the building up of the Iranian oil industry in the 20th century. Foreigners ended up having a significant amount of influence over the direction of the country, and on the policies of the Shah, which contributed to the negative view people had of the Shah. Technically Iran had not been a colony of any foreign nation, but much of the Iranian intelligentsia felt that Iran was de-facto colonized by Russia in the north and Britain in the south. This intelligentsia ended up siding with Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic revolution in 1979 to overthrow the Shah, even though not all of them were in agreement with the principles of Khomeini’s version of Shia Islam.As the Twelvers came into power after the 1979 revolution, Western powers were viewed as forces of injustice, domination, corruption, and resistance to Allah’s rule through Islam. Therefore, Twelvers saw themselves as divinely appointed guardians for establishing Allah’s rule on earth. The primary avenue of resistance to this came from Western powers, who were associated with foreign commercial interests. While Western business leaders were focused on their business interests, the Twelver clerics and their growing followers in Iran increasingly saw these business interests as being antithetical to Islam. With the formation of the nation state of Israel, aligned with the West, it came to be viewed as an extension of Western unbelief. It was a Western intrusion and occupation of Muslim land, which prevents unification of Muslims worldwide. And of course, a fundamental understanding within the Twelver school of theology, is that their view is the only right view. Eventual unification of the world under Islam will begin with unification of the Islamic world.If you understand the uncompromising religious belief of the Twelvers, it explains why the Twelvers who rule Iran are so brutal to anyone resisting their rule, and why they believe it would be right for them to obtain a nuclear weapon and use it against the forces that resist the rule of Allah. They are a single tightly bound religious community ruling over a wider religious community.The rule of the clerics of Iran ruling over that entire country and having such a significant outsized influence over the rest of the Islamic world because of their power is highly problematic. Imagine if there were a Christian sect, such as the mid-20th century white supremacist Christian Identity movement, that managed to gain significant power and wealth, and then take over the leadership of a large area of the United States. Suppose, for example, they carved out their own semi-autonomous state in the Pacific Northwest region around Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. Then imagine that they grew so powerful that their theology began to permeate other Christian traditions throughout the English speaking world. Then imagine that they became a sovereign nation, separate from the United States, and made public pronouncements claiming that it was their divine mission to dominate the entire globe with their version of Christianity, and it would be right to use political power to forcefully impose this on people everywhere. Then imagine that they were seeking to develop and obtain nuclear weapons.The analogy is not too far removed from what Nazi Germany did in World War 2. While the Nazi version of political Christianity never had a significant impact on theological interpretations in the rest of the Christian world, they were seeking to politically dominate by means of military conquest, and they were seeking to develop nuclear weapons. At the end of World War 2, during the de-Nazification campaigns in Germany by the allies, there were many reports of defeated Nazis who never gave up their beliefs. Some of them moved to South American countries, some of them slipped quietly into the shadows, and some of them sought to develop underground movements that would keep the Nazi dream alive in a dormant state until the day the world would open up to them again. They held to their belief in Nazi ideology with extreme religious zeal, and many of them went to their graves still holding onto that belief.This is very similar to the mindset of the revolutionary Twelver Shia clerics who rule over Iran. They have only grown in power and influence, while the Western world has been asleep, failing to recognize this growing danger. They follow the Islamic principle of taqiyya, developed by the Shia, which holds that it is morally justifiable to lie and use deception in order to further the cause of Islam and/or protect Muslims from harm. This is the basis for Iranian spokespersons saying for years that their pursuit of nuclear technology is for “peaceful purposes.” The entire world knows that they have been lying, and their intent has always been to develop nuclear weapons in order to use them. Since their stated enemies are Israel and the United States, as pronouncements against them form the foundation for clerics’ political legitimacy, it is not hard to guess who the targets would be if they ever got their hands on a nuclear bomb.While Israel and the United States would be the primary targets, it does beg the question, would they use a nuclear bomb on other Muslim nations? While we cannot know for certain, it is plausible to imagine that they probably would. Given that they have no qualms about massacring tens of thousands of their own citizens at a time, most of whom are Muslims, and that they have been willing to launch missiles against their Muslim neighbors in Saudi Arabia and other countries, I expect that they would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against them as well. While they would use nuclear weapons against Israelis, Europeans, and Americans without remorse, the difference is they would see using the nuclear weapons against fellow Muslims as a sad but necessary endeavor. The fact that the Iranian Twelvers might feel bad about it would make no difference to the dead.George Friedman of Geopolitical Futures had a really good explanation of this the other day. He talked about the possibility of what he called a “nuclear 9/11.” The idea is that in the same way that there was a completely unexpected attack on September 11, 2001, by Islamic terrorists flying planes into the World Trade Center towers, imagine if someone did something similar, except with nuclear missiles instead of airplanes? How could they carry it out? It is not hard to imagine. Using sophisticated intelligence networks with the help of the Chinese and/or Russians, they could put a nuclear bomb inside a container on a foreign flagged container ship carrying goods for import into New York. The Port Newark Container Terminal is right across the mouth of the Hudson River from Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan. Once the ship is in the area, a containerized cruise missile with nukes could be armed and these cities could be attacked. Russia has already developed a type of containerized cruise missile called the “Club K” – a system that looks like a standard shipping container, but when it arrives at its destination, it can be armed and primed to attack. The feasibility of conducting such an attack is a bit far-fetched, but not impossible, especially for extremists.Who would actually be willing to try and conduct such an attack? Knowing the character, history, and pronouncements of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and their willingness to sponsor terror activities all over the world, and their belief that it is their divine purpose to destroy America and Israel, it is not hard to imagine that they might actually try and do something like this. Imagine Russia sells them the technology to build a containerized missile system, China gives them the AI to smooth out the launch sequence and mitigate some of the human emotions that might get in the way of execution, and all of a sudden you have a very real system in place that could be extremely dangerous for the world.So this brings us to the first point of the moral justification for the war against Iran. Based on their own pronouncements that they will never give up their pursuit of nuclear weapons, their publicly verifiable belief system that their divine mission is the destruction of America and Israel, and their trade relationships with Russia and China to obtain materials and expertise for weapons manufacturing, they had to be stopped. At least, it seems that this must be the reasoning behind the actions of the Trump administration’s launching of the war against Iran.Looking at what has been uncovered so far, it is astounding. Iran has built up a massive arsenal and system of manufacturing of weapons. American and Israeli intel have found dozens of “missile cities” hidden underground for producing all kinds of missiles and drones that were intended to be used against Israel, America, and any countries that were willing to work with them. Iranian weapons makers were the early suppliers of Shaheed drones which Russia has used to devastate Ukraine. They have exported tons of missiles and drones to Hezbollah and the Houthis. So there is no indication that they were actually seeking any kind of peaceful activities. The Iranian economy is a huge mess, and the Iranian government has diverted all their resources to producing weapons. When their own people protested because they don’t have any money to buy food, instead of trying to help them, the security forces massacred over 10,000 of them. All for the sake of a Shia divine mission to bring back the Hidden Imam and usher onto the world a full Islamic republic to rule and bind all into submission.It then begs the question, would it have been wiser to wait until Iran actually made another attack, so that we could operate in a defensive posture and have the moral high ground? Well, Iran made an attack through Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, and the entire world has repeatedly condemned Israel by saying their response was disproportionate (and I am not here to argue whether or not it was; the point here is to understand Israel’s mindset in opposition to the world narrative). Yet the condemnation of Israel didn’t take long to get going once the war in Gaza began. It started literally just a few days after Israel was initially attacked. While Israel was engaging Hamas in battle, a Hamas rocket went off course and hit a Palestinian hospital, killing dozens of Palestinians. Then Hamas released a statement saying it was an Israeli rocket deliberately attacking a humanitarian target, even though they knew it was a Hamas rocket. The press immediately ran with that story, and from that point on all of the mainstream media coverage had a condemning undertone towards the Israelis. This sets the tone for how Israel responds now. Israel feels like there is no point in trying to obtain the moral high ground in the eyes of the rest of the world, as they will never get it no matter what they do, even when 1200 of their citizens are massacred in cold blood.So looking at the big picture, essentially we have had a genocidal death cult ruling the nation of Iran since 1979, sponsoring terror throughout the region, expanding their network, murdering dissidents, seeking to get nuclear weapons, and supplied and materially supported by the West’s 2 biggest adversaries – Russia and China. From a moral point of view, a war to eliminate this threat is something that is hard to oppose and could only do the world some good. Assuming, of course, that this is the right time to undertake such an endeavor.But again, I reiterate, none of this has any meaning if the USA and Israel cannot both fully win this war against Iran, and also put Russia and China at a significant strategic disadvantage in the process.The moral justification alone is not enough to fully justify the war. We must also look at other justifications, look at the practical feasibility of the war, and also consider the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th order derivative implications to see if the war really will be good for the USA, good for Israel, and good for the world.Thanks for reading Intersections with Orbis-Sentry! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.To listen to the podcast episode on viewing the war from a Biblical perspective, click this link:To read the substack episode on the beginning of the war, click this link:In addition, I was reminded of the essay I wrote about Kharg Island in June of last year, when the 12 day war was happening. Looking back on it and then understanding what is happening now is very interesting. You can read that essay here:Carl’s essay on the New World Order and history of the idea, really helps provide understanding:Carl recently wrote a very helpful and informative essay last week about the new “Board of Peace” that has been in the news recently. The timing of that essay fits right in with what we are seeing today, in this action of Israel and the United States against Iran. You can read that essay here:Here are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donate here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Viewing the War with Iran from a Perspective of Sound Biblical Reasoning 03.03.2026 35min

  For the video version of this podcast, click the following link:There is a lot of information, both good and bad, about what is happening geopolitically that is affecting our world. In this podcast we will touch on the war with Iran that just started in the last few days and the reasons behind it. We look at this from a biblical lens, which means that we are trying to understand things as they are from a point of view of sound biblical reasoning. We are not trying to speculate on whether these events are fulfilling specific biblical prophecies, but of course we are not opposed to studying that area. Our focus is to look at this with a view to how these events fit into the worldview changes that are happening around us during this time in which major epistemological shifts are underway.I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.To read the substack episode that I put out on Saturday evening, click this link:In addition, I was reminded of the essay I wrote about Kharg Island in June of last year, when the 12 day war was happening. Looking back on it and then understanding what is happening now is very interesting. You can read that essay here:Carl recently wrote a very helpful and informative essay last week about the new “Board of Peace” that has been in the news recently. The timing of that essay fits right in with what we are seeing today, in this action of Israel and the United States against Iran. You can read that essay here:Here are some other links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donate here This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• The Alternate Salvation Message from Global Governance Initiatives 21.02.2026 28min

  For the video version of part 2, see the following link:Part 2 of a 2 part series for The Orbis Sentry ReportAfter reviewing this video a 2nd time, I could also call it “How the Church has been complicit in encouraging a world movement that seeks salvation apart from Christ.” There is so much to unpack here, but I will encourage you all to review it in order to see how all this has happened. This is largely a historical analysis, which makes it a very objective study. The sequence of events from the end of World War 2, through the Cold War, and the undercurrent of global initiatives that have sought to unify humanity under one umbrella in order to “save” us all, illustrate how we have arrived at the point in time where we are today.And in so doing, it explains several things about the world around us today. Now that there is a greater understanding of the full implications of this global unity message, in how it erases cultures and traditions for the sake of a “greater good”, which is believed to be absolute, half of the citizens in the free countries of the world have risen up to try and resist this global unity system that the World Federalists and others have sought to implement. In the authoritarian world, the citizens don’t have the choice of resisting their governments, even though those governments are actively in open war against the free countries in many locations around the world.Let us continue to watch and pray. We do not despair, knowing that our Lord is going to win. We are on the winning team. In the meantime, the true salvation message, that which comes through Christ, not through forced global unity, is still available for anyone who is willing to listen, believe, and receive it by faith.I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.For the video version of part 1, see the following link:Here are some links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation to support our work! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• Did Global Governance Become a Political Religion Before its Recent Setback? 19.02.2026 26min

  For the video version of part 1, see the following link:Part 1 of a 2 part series for The Orbis Sentry ReportThere has been a lot of news here in early 2026 about the international rules-based order. At the recent World Economic Forum event in Davos in January, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney proclaimed that the order was effectively dead. He called it “a rupture, not a transition.” Then at the Munich Security Conference last week, Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that, “This order, as imperfect as it was even at the best of times, no longer exists.” Then just this week Fareed Zakaria, a columnist for the Washington Post and the New york Times, released an article blaming the demise of the international rules-based order entirely on U.S. President Donald Trump.Is the collapse of the rules-based order really because of President Trump? While we are not going to try and answer this for you, in order to understand what is happening more deeply, and come to a more educated and informed conclusion, we must understand what exactly the rules-based order was. We must also understand the philosophy behind its creation, how it was maintained, and what its ultimate goals were. This series helps form a significant part of that understanding.Carl Teichrib (from Orbis Sentry) delivered this lecture to The Berean Call in 2022, long before anyone was talking about the end of the rules-based order. Keep in mind that this was right at the tail end of the global Covid-19 pandemic, when people were just starting to take their masks off. There had been a tremendous amount of talk about the level of government over-reach intruding into people’s private and social lives at the time, and how people felt that this intrusion had been imposed on them by supporters of global enforcement mechanisms through the World Health Organization.In this first part of a two-part discussion, Carl examines the growing momentum behind modern calls for global unity and governance, from long before the time of the pandemic. The lecture begins by situating today’s debates within a deeper worldview conflict — between the biblical distinction of Creator and creation (“two-ism”) and the increasingly dominant belief in an underlying human and cosmic oneness (“one-ism”). From there, it traces how this philosophical shift has helped to fuel contemporary movements toward international coordination, global institutions, and integrated planetary solutions. Drawing connections from the ancient Tower of Babel narrative to modern political and cultural developments, Carl demonstrates how the drive toward unified global management often carries quasi-religious themes. By framing global governance as more than mere policy coordination, but instead as a form of political spirituality, Part 1 equips listeners to recognize the powerful ideas shaping today’s international landscape, which leads to a better and more nuanced understanding of the global picture. Then in the 2nd video, we will launch ahead into the deeper historical and institutional analysis to deepen our understanding of global governance.I hope you find this helpful and enlightening.Here are some links - Click one of the links below.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on AmazonThe entire geopolitical playlist from GeorgeSome other links:Orbis Sentry websiteCarl Teichrib’s substackGeorge Olson’s substackOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton DialogueOrbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcastFull audio podcast link on substackFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search enginesOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation Link This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com
• The Orbis Sentry Report, Conference Workshop - Standing Strong in the Light 10.02.2026 1t 7min

  This is a recording of a workshop I gave at a men’s retreat in January. The invitation to the workshop was as follows:Collective New Age beliefs have had a wide impact on the world, our society, and the people around us, including in our schools. We have all seen its manifestations as young people adopt LGBTQ ideological beliefs, look to mediums for answers to life’s questions, and explore the use of psychedelic drugs, among other things. What is behind all this, and why has this movement become so prominent? Come and learn about the bigger picture of what is driving these trends, and develop a better understanding so that you can protect your family from falling under the influence of the “spirit of the age,” while shining as Ambassadors for Christ.This lecture is longer than our normal format, about 1 hour, as it was delivered in a single session at the conference.It is important for God’s people in the church to understand these things, especially for those who are connected with young people at the high school and college level. Young people will tend to become political activists if they are stirred emotionally by what they are seeing in the world around them, especially if they are negatively affected by global events. If they notice that things are out of balance and not working, and they go to their pastors, parents, or youth leaders to ask what they think, they need to be given solid answers that make sense. If they are not given solid answers that make sense, they will then look for answers from those who do not hold to a Christian worldview, and will be pulled away into the Re-enchantment worldview that is constantly seeking to separate young people from a relationship with God through Christ.For the video version of this workshop, click below:Here are some links - Click one of the links below or copy and paste the URL beside the description into your browser.Carl Teichrib’s book about the changing worldview landscape, titled “Game of Gods”, on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Game-Gods-Temple-Man-Re-Enchantment/dp/1999492900/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1The entire geopolitical playlist from George:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKHUzPd53o3mYSq-W-Ghybqg4ceJv_mhz&si=z6La6fXNNIy9kfhTSome other links:Orbis Sentry website: https://orbis-sentry.org/Carl Teichrib’s substack: https://carlteichrib.substack.com/George Olson’s substack: https://schinaseatribe.substack.com/Orbis Sentry Rumble channel for Dayton Dialogue: https://rumble.com/c/c-7813298Orbis Sentry Rumble channel for postings similar to this podcast: https://rumble.com/c/c-7813320Full audio podcast link on substack: https://schinaseatribe.substack.com/podcastFull audio podcast RSS feed for podcast search engines: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/2054851.rssOrbis Sentry is a non-profit ministry that exists to equip and educate the body of Christ in the worldview changes and trends that are happening all around us. We are not monetizing through analytics or advertising, and are supported by generous donations from viewers like you. If you believe in what we are doing and would like to support our ministry, please click the link below or copy and paste the URL below into your browser to setup a donation. Orbis Sentry is a registered non-profit organization in the State of Texas and has approved non-profit 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.Donation URL: https://orbis-sentry.org/donate This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schinaseatribe.substack.com