Michael Lester: US foreign policy is inconsistent and overextended, the war in Iran lacks justification, and public apathy threatens political engagement | Shawn Ryan Show

US foreign policy inconsistencies and military overextension raise questions about national interests and resource allocation.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Apr. 10, 2026

Key Takeaways

• US foreign policy in regions like Venezuela and Cuba appears inconsistent from a national interest perspective.
• The US military is overextended, raising concerns about resource allocation and sustainability.
• The war in Iran is criticized for lacking justification and not benefiting American citizens.
• Direct engagement of US senators with foreign leaders raises ethical and legal concerns.
• Public awareness and sentiment often oppose the actions of their political representatives.
• Societal apathy towards significant issues is linked to comfort and disconnection.
• The information landscape is biased, affecting service members’ understanding of global events.
• Midterm elections are expected to yield surprises that could influence the presidential election.
• Intelligence handling by the US government in the Iran conflict is seen as inadequate.
• Israel’s ambition to become a superpower impacts its regional and global strategies.
• Many Americans are disengaged from critical political issues due to comfort and apathy.
• The media’s role in shaping perceptions is crucial, especially for military personnel.
• The ethical implications of political actions in international relations are under scrutiny.
• US involvement in foreign conflicts often lacks clear benefits for its citizens.
• The geopolitical ambitions of countries like Israel have far-reaching consequences.

Guest intro

Michael T. Lester is the founder of IronClad Family and an adjunct professor teaching graduate-level cybersecurity at St. Mary’s University and Wake Forest University. He is a decorated US Marine Corps combat pilot and US Naval Academy graduate who flew combat missions across Asia and the Middle East. His book We Are the Bad Guys examines US foreign policy through two decades of independent research sparked by contrasts between his overseas experiences and public narratives.

US foreign policy challenges

• The US foreign policy actions in regions like Venezuela and Cuba seem illogical from an American perspective.

  — Michael Lester

• The inconsistency of US foreign policy raises questions about national interests.

• I don’t think any of it makes sense right… as a country why do we do this as a country?

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding geopolitical context is crucial for analyzing US involvement in Latin America.
• The sustainability of US military commitments is a significant concern.

• Are we stretching ourselves a little thin here… where the fuck are we gonna get all these resources?

  — Michael Lester

• Knowledge of current US military engagements is essential for understanding resource allocation.
• The US is criticized for overextending its military resources in multiple conflicts.

Critique of the war in Iran

• The ongoing war in Iran is deemed unjustified and lacking benefits for Americans.

• I cannot support sending the next generation off to fight and die in a war that serves no benefit to the American people nor justifies the cost of American lives.

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding the geopolitical implications of US involvement in Iran is crucial.
• The influence of foreign lobbying on US foreign policy is a point of concern.
• The personal experience of military personnel shapes viewpoints on foreign conflicts.
• The cost of American lives in unjustified wars is a critical issue.
• The ethical implications of military interventions are under scrutiny.
• Public sentiment often opposes continued military involvement in foreign conflicts.

Ethical implications of political actions

• Direct engagement of US senators with foreign leaders can be seen as treasonous.

• Sink in a United States senator traveled and talked to a foreign leader and mentored them and coached them on how to get a better deal from our president that should be treasonous how is it not

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding diplomatic protocol is essential in evaluating political actions.
• The ethical implications of political actions in international relations are significant.
• The potential breach of diplomatic protocol raises legal concerns.
• The role of senators in foreign negotiations is controversial.
• The impact of political actions on national security is a critical issue.
• The ethical standards of political representatives are under scrutiny.

Public sentiment and political awareness

• The majority of informed individuals oppose the actions of their representatives.

• I feel that the people that are aware of what’s going on are by and far against this.

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding the political context is crucial for analyzing public sentiment.
• Many people are apathetic towards significant issues due to comfort and disconnection.

• I literally have them say I don’t care… they’re so comfortable that’s why.

  — Michael Lester

• Societal apathy is linked to a lack of engagement in political matters.
• The divide in awareness and concern among the populace is significant.
• Public engagement in political issues is influenced by comfort and disconnection.

Media influence on military personnel

• The current information landscape is misleading and unfair to service members.

• They’re getting all their information from one source that’s highly curated so the information they’re getting is leading them down a path that is not representative of the whole truth… there are so many nuances that go on with this stuff that I think are unfair to our service members.

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding media consumption’s impact on public perception is crucial.
• The consequences of biased information sources for service members are significant.
• The role of media in shaping perceptions is critical, especially for military personnel.
• The need for diverse information sources is essential for informed decision-making.
• The impact of media bias on military operations is a point of concern.
• The fairness of information provided to service members is under scrutiny.

Predictions for upcoming elections

• The midterm elections are expected to lead to significant political surprises.

• I think we’re gonna have some real surprises during the midterm elections… I think you’ll be paying attention after the midterms because that’s just gonna be a precursor of the next presidential election.

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding the current political climate is essential for analyzing election outcomes.
• The significance of midterm elections in the US is a critical issue.
• The potential impact of midterm elections on the presidential election is noteworthy.
• Political surprises during elections can influence future political strategies.
• The role of midterm elections in shaping political landscapes is significant.
• The anticipation of election outcomes is a point of interest for political analysts.

Mishandling of intelligence in Iran

• The US government is criticized for mishandling intelligence related to the Iran conflict.

• It just seemed like we were screwing up the intel piece you get representatives in the house and the senate who have no background whatsoever in national security.

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding the complexities of US foreign policy is crucial for analyzing intelligence operations.
• The competence of government officials in handling national security matters is questioned.
• The impact of intelligence handling on military operations is significant.
• The role of intelligence in shaping foreign policy decisions is critical.
• The need for expertise in national security among government representatives is essential.
• The consequences of inadequate intelligence handling are a point of concern.

Israel’s geopolitical ambitions

• Israel aims to establish itself as a superpower in the Middle East and globally.

• Netanyahu came out recently… he said we are going to be a superpower in the Middle East and a superpower in the world.

  — Michael Lester

• Understanding Israel’s geopolitical ambitions is crucial for analyzing regional conflicts.
• The impact of Israel’s military strategies on regional stability is significant.
• The role of Israel in global geopolitics is a critical issue.
• The influence of Israel’s ambitions on its foreign policy is noteworthy.
• The consequences of Israel’s geopolitical aspirations are far-reaching.
• The significance of Israel’s ambitions in shaping Middle Eastern dynamics is substantial.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.