The Middle East conflict escalates fast—and Americans are already paying the price at the pump and the grocery store. Sal Assante breaks down the latest strikes on Iran, potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and how this war is driving oil prices higher while pushing fertilizer and food costs through the roof. With inflation already squeezing working families, Sal examines the risk of U.S. ground troops, rising civilian casualties, and the troubling shift in American wartime standards that once avoided hitting civilian infrastructure. From Trump’s negotiation comments to domestic backlash, supply chain chaos, and long-term regime change risks, this episode connects the dots between foreign policy failures and your wallet. “We’re heading toward rationing and prolonged pain”—is this the cost of endless Middle East wars? 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wethepatriotsFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:44 - Iran's current state and recent military actions03:10 - Analysis of the Strait of Hormuz and economic impacts04:35 - Domestic inflation, rising fuel & fertilizer prices08:24 - Civilian casualties and implications for international law10:55 - Inflation trends and American economic struggles13:44 - Civilian targeting and war ethics14:12 - U.S. military's role and civilian casualties15:34 - Shift away from avoiding civilian harm and strategic consequences16:33 - Degradation of U.S. wartime standards and implications21:54 - Closing remarks and hopes for better news

Baseball is back—and the game just got automated. Sal Assante breaks down MLB's controversial new Assisted Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System (powered by T-Mobile), which debuted on Opening Day 2026. Players can now challenge umpire ball/strike calls with real-time tech verification, giving teams limited challenges that carry over if successful. Is this a win for accuracy and strategy, or the beginning of the end for traditional umpiring and the human element? Sal explores umpire reactions, job impacts, upcoming CBA negotiations, salary issues, and how automation could reshape America's pastime. He also delivers a quick geopolitical update on the ongoing Iran conflict, including recent US-Israel strikes, troop movements, and escalating tensions. Sports meets world events in classic We The Patriots fashion. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wethepatriotsFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:30 - Major changes in baseball: the Assisted Ball Strike System06:12 - Umpire reactions and adjustments15:11 - Upcoming CBA negotiations and automation20:21 - Iran tensions and troop movements

Sal Assante delivers a no-holds-barred interview-style deep dive into Trump's 2024 campaign promises—where they hit home and where they've crashed. Border security and mass deportations? Major strides with sharp drops in crossings, expanded detention, and National Guard deployments. But the Iran war? A "major failure" costing trillions, spiking fuel prices, and fueling inflation—far from "ending wars." National debt spirals toward crisis, military overspend balloons, Middle East entanglements escalate, and government weaponization/persecution lingers. Plus: Joe Kent's bombshell resignation as counterterrorism chief over the Iran push, highlighting elite pressures and broken anti-war vows. "US war costs exceed $8 trillion"—promises made, but the 'swamp' endures. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC0Z_Rt_SiPa_HGuyyNW5fLw/?themeRefresh=1Follow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:45 Evaluating Trump's Key Campaign Promises20:11 Resignation of Joe Kent and Its Implications31:11 Reflections on Trump's Administration and Future Outlook

The Iran conflict rages into its third week—no end in sight. Sal Assante delivers raw updates: US-Israel strikes hammer Iranian missile sites, nuclear facilities like Natanz, internal security, and Tehran itself, with reports of massive civilian displacement (3.2M+ fleeing), school casualties, and regime resilience under new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowing to choke the Strait of Hormuz. Domestically: Skyrocketing fuel prices/inflation crush Americans, government ramps up censorship on war coverage and independent reporting, Epstein files stay buried amid propaganda. Crypto twist—Bitcoin surges ~7% to ~$71K+ as a hedge amid turmoil, defying expectations as gold stalls and stocks dip. "The machine" drives endless war regardless of promises—civilian costs mount, free speech threatened. Mobilize, dissent, stay vocal. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Z_Rt_SiPa_HGuyyNW5fLwFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro

00:31 - Analysis of Iran's missile stockpile and US military outlook

01:05 - Domestic fallout, including economic impacts and government censorship

03:20 - Challenges faced by US military strategy and the unintended consequences

08:55 - Political shifts and military engagement under Trump's administration

09:25 - Casualty reports and the escalation of violence, including civilian casualties

17:01 - Non-transparent government actions and dismantling public trust

17:54 - Parallels with past US wars and propaganda manipulation

18:16 - Reflection on political promises versus reality in leadership

21:37 - Why Bitcoin no longer correlates with global turmoil as it once did

25:13 - Closing remarks: urging listeners to stay informed and vocal

Tensions explode—Sal Assante breaks down the massive U.S.-Israel joint strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, targeting nuclear sites, missile launchers, and leadership in a bold regime change bid after failed nuclear talks. Retaliation rains: Iran hits U.S. bases (3 American troops dead), Israel, and Gulf targets, sparking fears of wider war. Sal dissects media propaganda justifying escalation, Israel's heavy influence on U.S. policy, economic fallout (oil shocks, markets rattled), and echoes of Wesley Clark's "7 countries in 5 years" plan ending with Iran. "Propaganda is used to justify war"—vote out the warmongers before it's World War III rampant again. Geopolitics, military budgets, and hidden strategies exposed. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wethepatriots/videosFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:55 The Escalation of Conflict: Iran and the U.S.08:07 The Role of Israel in U.S. Foreign Policy15:31 The Consequences of Regime Change in Iran

Once "crazy conspiracies" are now undeniable facts—Sal Assante exposes how dismissed theories became reality. Food industry manipulation of dietary guidelines fuels obesity crises; Epstein scandal's elite ties (powerful names in 2026 releases) shield pedophiles over victims. COVID lab leak gains traction amid debated origins; Iraq's fake WMDs justified endless war; NSA's mass surveillance (Snowden-proven, ongoing FISA fights) erodes privacy in a "surveillance economy." "We are the product"—government protects itself, not us. Time for real accountability and transparency to rebuild trust. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wethepatriotsFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Conspiracy Theories02:03 The Impact of the Food Industry08:28 The Jeffrey Epstein Scandal13:04 The COVID-19 Pandemic20:12 Iraq WMD Intelligence25:26 NSA's Global Mass Surveillance

The long-awaited Epstein files drop—over 3.5 million pages released under the Transparency Act Trump signed—but Sal Assante calls it a massive letdown: heavy redactions, selective disclosures, and zero real accountability for the powerful. "This is not what we voted for"—disillusionment grows as the documents seem to shield elites (including awkward Trump mentions) rather than expose pedophilia networks and deliver justice for victims. Public trust in government hits rock bottom amid systemic corruption—no arrests, no term limits, no change. Sal pivots to cultural rot with the Super Bowl halftime show (Bad Bunny's performance drawing Trump's fury as a "slap in the face to our country" for not resonating with core American audiences). From political deception to entertainment disconnect, it's time to demand real reform and come out of the shadows. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wethepatriotsFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:50 The Epstein Files: A Controversial Release11:26 The Fallout of the Super Bowl Halftime Show

The house is always winning—and America is losing big. Sal Assante sounds the alarm on the explosive surge in online gambling since legalization, with nearly half of men 18-49 holding sportsbook accounts and 10% of young men (18-30) showing problem gambling signs—triple the national average. Pervasive ads bombard us, turning sports into a rigged casino where integrity crumbles under fixed-point scandals and youth swap investing for bets. Gambling addiction skyrockets, fueling financial ruin, mental health crises, and societal decay—young men hit hardest by debt, depression, and lost futures. Prediction markets add ethical nightmares, blurring lines in politics and beyond. "It's a disaster"—Sal calls for outright bans or strict regulations to save sports, culture, and the next generation before it's too late. 🔗 Useful Links:Follow on Substack: https://wethepatriots.substack.com/Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wethepatriotsFollow Sal on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salassante?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==X.com: @Sal_assante4Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:32 The Impact on Society and Sports09:13 The Call for Change in Gambling Laws