The Flash Traffic Podcast

My guest today is Thomas Mutch. He is a photojournalist and author who has covered the war in Ukraine since the beginning. We discuss war journalism, the Human Safari in Kherson, corruption, Russia’s economic troubles, and the future of this war. His new book is The Dogs of Mariupol: Russia's Invasion and the Forging of Ukraine's Iron Generation. Available anywhere books live, even Amazon....

My guest today is Thomas Theiner. A former member of the Italian army, Thomas is a film maker and historian. For many years he lived in Kyiv for working for Ukraine's largest film company and was there during the 2014 Maidan. We discuss the history of Russia and Ukraine, and why Russia is such a terrible place.

My guest today is Colin Freeman. He is journalist and author known for his firsthand reporting from conflict zones and his work as a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph. We discuss his new book about volunteer fighters in Ukraine, The Mad and the Brave, the war, and the time he was kidnapped for six weeks by Somalia pirates. Colin’s new book, The Mad and the Brave , is available anywher...

My guest today is Brad Crawford. Brad is a U.S. Army veteran who volunteers in Ukraine as a combat adviser and trainer, helping rebuild and train Ukrainian military units. We discuss training the Ukrainian Army, drones, battlefield adaption, lessons learned from this war, and more! The Tactical Combat Advisory Group website: TCAGUkraine.org Content: 00:00 Introduction and Overview of Volunteer Tra...

Today on the Flash Traffic Podcast, we discuss the Army’s troubles in adapting to drone warfare, a US military-industrial-complex scam brought to you by General Motors, a mine-clearing drone, how not to survive a drone attack, and more! Articles and Videos: 1. The Army’s Race to Catch Up in a World of Deadly Drones - The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/us/army-drone-warfare.htm...

My guest today is Dr. Jahara “Franky” Matisek. We talk about the Gaza cease-fire, the Colombia boat attack, the National Guard in Illinois, cockroach spies, landing a large cargo plane on an aircraft carrier, and more! Content 00:00 Introduction and Disturbing Trends in Drug Use 04:55 Current Events: Ceasefire in Israel and Gaza 09:37 US Military Presence and Hostage Negotiations 14:36 Nobel Peace...

My guest today is Ryan O’Leary. An American infantry company commander who has fought in Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. We talk about drones, Russian infantry tactics, the Ukrainian Army’s manpower issue, and more! Machines don't win wars, Soldiers do https://x.com/RyanO_ChosenCoy/status/1974189910757146944

On this episode, we discuss the dangers of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, snipers, drones, armored vehicles, steroids, and more! Articles and videos: 1. War Monitor Clips on X: "https://t.co/NjSbBJPXCA" / X — https://x.com/warmonitorclips/status/1974519886975234132?s=46 2. Roadrunner | Anduril — https://www.anduril.com/roadrunner/?_bhlid=19464e53fc6361c84554d8ce9db59034d396849d 3. Nucl...

On this episode, we discuss the government shutdown, the war with drug cartels, the joys of fentanyl, the evolution of MMA, drones attacking the police, when, if ever it’s appropriate to throw a knife, and much more! Truly a war weave Friday. Articles and videos: 1. Trump ‘Determined’ the U.S. Is Now in a War With Drug Cartels, Congress Is Told - The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/1...

Two retired military officers discuss Trump’s and Hegseth’s speech to the senior military officers. Policy is made or reiterated. Unforeseen repercussions inbound! Articles and videos: 1. Trump addresses top military leaders at Quantico - YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o-3Vd2KZIc 2. NSTRIKE on X: "‼️🇻🇪🇺🇲 The Venezuelan army, in response to Donald Trump’s threats, is preparing to f...

Trump has changed his opinion on Ukraine, again, and is contemplating sending US Tomahawk missiles. The US Army is cutting 20% of its aviation (helicopter) personnel. Pete Hegseth literally gets hit in the nuts. And more! Articles and videos: 1. Trump's pro-Ukraine shift based on new intel showing Russian battlefield, economic losses — https://nypost.com/2025/09/24/world-news/trumps-pro-ukrain...

The Pentagon is restricting reporting. The National Guard moves toward Memphis. The DoD buying expensive knock-off drones. And more! Articles and videos: 1. Pentagon Introduces New Restrictions on Reporter Access - The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/business/media/pentagon-restrictions-reporters-hegseth-trump.html?searchResultPosition=4 2. Trump Is Expanding the National Guard...

Today, Eric and I talk about Russia’s incursions into Europe’s airspace and air defense. Eric’s book (from his pseudonym John West) Fry the Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfare Buy it at: https://a.co/d/2TGmvFH Articles and videos: 1. Estonia says its airspace was violated by three Russian jets | CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/europe/estonia-airspace-russi...

Today, Eric and I look at the Israeli Defense Force incursion into Gaza City. Eric’s book (from his pseudonym John West) Fry the Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfare Buy it at: https://a.co/d/2TGmvFH Articles and videos: 1. Israel Pounds Gaza City as Fears Mount for Those Inside - The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/17/world/middleeast/israel-ga...

Trump makes a fake sanction proposal to NATO, Russia ups their drone production, the US Air Force sucks-up to Belarus, fake war bro podcasts, and more! Eric’s book (from his pseudonym John West) Fry the Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfare Buy it at: https://a.co/d/2TGmvFH Articles and videos: 1. Trump Says He Will Impose More Sanctions on Russia if NATO Does -...

The second edition of Eric’s sniper book was just released. Today we discuss the Kirk shooting, the difficulty required, and why this will happen again. Eric’s book (from his pseudonym John West): Fry the Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfare Buy it on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/2TGmvFH

Americans fighting in Ukraine, the evolution of the tank, Eric’s book on sniping, and more! Fry the Brain: The Art of Urban Sniping and its Role in Modern Guerrilla Warfare. https://a.co/d/jjstRSv Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sHS5vOkXzlU Articles and videos: 1. For Americans in Ukraine, Opportunity and the Lure of Combat - The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/world/europe/...

It’s War Weave Friday! We read viewers’ comments and answer questions. We talk about the fallout from the Venezuelan boat strike, Navy SEALs invade North Korea, and more! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/13ZLvqZwNys Articles and videos: Trump’s double dong dance. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=553898893309080 Trump Claims the Power to Summarily Kill Suspected Drug Smugglers - The New York Tim...

The US amassing an armada off the Venezuelan coast to interdict cigarette boats, drug cartels using modern military weapons and techniques, US private military companies in Ukraine, a new Ukrainian glide bomb, a Ukrainian blends in with Russian soldiers, and more! Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Fa-q4f5PKgs Articles and videos: TRUMP shares shocking video of U.S. ATTACK on VENEZUELAN DRUG BOAT...

Jeffrey Epstein, ICE, January 6th, Stormy Daniels, the Fed! My guest today is Dennis Brennan. Dennis is an author, historian, and attorney. His latest book is on the historical nexus between Aaron Burr and Donald Trump. Today we discuss many Trump topics, and what it’s like living in world where facts don’t matter. Video: President Trump's January 6 Rally Speech https://www.c-span.org/program/...

Russians shooting themselves for money, Ukraine changes its emigration policy, Denmark’s history of human rights violations, Flamingo corruption, a nuclear-like tank explosion, and more! Articles and Videos: Tymofiy Mylovanov on X: "Russian elite soldiers shoot each other for cash Dozens of paratroopers from the 83rd Air Assault Brigade shot themselves or each other in arms and legs to fake c...

JD Vance uncharacteristically blames something on Joe Biden, American spies in Greenland, a massive airstrike in Ukraine, the average Russian who loves helping the Ukrainians by taking cell phone video of drone strikes, and more! Articles and Videos: Vance on blowup with Zelenskyy: 'Sometimes people disagree' - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/27/jd-vance-oval-office-confrontat...

We talk about Ukraine, Venezuela, drones, assassinations, drug cartels, and more! Articles and Videos: The ‘Big Tactical Error’ in the Russia-Ukraine Negotiations https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/08/21/trump-ukraine-russia-negotiations-interview-00517411 Zaluzhnyi declined call from Vance days after Oval Office clash, Guardian reports - https://kyivindependent.com/zaluzhnyi-declined-cal...

It's War Weave Friday! We talk about how Trump is a self-proclaimed war hero, Ukraine's "new" V1 rocket, an update on Pokrovsk, Ukraine's version of the Desert Cross 1000, Nord Stream 2, and more! Articles and Videos: A Drunken Evening, a Rented Yacht: The Real Story of the Nord Stream Pipeline Sabotage https://www.wsj.com/world/europe/nord-stream-pipeline-explosion-real-stor...

On this episode Eric and I discuss the peace process thus far, including the bust that was the Anchorage summit, Trump's meeting with the Europeans on Monday, and what we currently know about the terms of a possible agreement. Articles and Videos: President Trump Greets the President of the Russian Federation - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PXqAswHcwU Putin agrees to NATO-style se...