Charlie and Peter Erickson discuss the hype around America’s new “Dark Eagle” hypersonic missile, why it doesn’t compare to Russian systems, and whether Iran has exposed the limits of US military power. They also examine Trump’s strategy, the collapse of US soft power, Hezbollah’s fight against the IDF in southern Lebanon, and what a weakening American empire could mean for Israel and the wider region. Timestamps:00:00 Intro and opening remarks01:13 Fox News hypes the “mother of all hypersonics”06:40 Why Dark Eagle is not a game changer12:01 Narrative politics, actors, and who really holds power17:53 Iran, US weakness, and the fading of American hegemony25:57 The collapse of US soft power and America’s identity crisis36:18 Iran winning the PR war39:48 Trump’s trap and the fallout from the Iran war43:18 Hezbollah vs the IDF in southern Lebanon53:58 Drones, tanks, and why Israel struggles to hold ground1:03:41 Lebanon’s government, Hezbollah, and regional realignment1:07:42 Israel’s future as US power declines1:12:43 Anti-Semitism, backlash, and the crisis of Israeli legitimacy Go Deeper: https://ruinsreport.com/ Substack: https://conversationsamongtheruins.substack.com/ Support the Conversation:Join as a Member: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW9CSfmP6gEjqtOdGTD_JKw/join Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/amongtheruins