Sep 18, 2026 · 31 min
UN weighs alleged US war crimes as NATO tensions rise
Did the US carry out war crimes in Iran?
The episode connects contested accountability for attacks in Iran with wider security risks, while tracing how climate, science and culture are changing lives.
- 1A UN report alleges a US missile strike may have been a war crime, while accusing Iranian authorities of crimes against humanity.
- 2NATO chief Mark Rutte argues that strength deters Russia as strikes near Poland raise fears of a future attack.
- 3Ice-sheet losses, caffeine sensitivity and a newly identified Bolivian tiger-cat show how science reshapes everyday risk and knowledge.
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The episode reveals that DNA testing of a rescued cat named Tigrino identified a distinct Bolivian tiger-cat species.
The brief
A UN report places alleged US and Iranian abuses at the center of the episode, including a disputed missile strike on a school and the slim prospects for legal accountability.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says Russian strikes near Poland expose the danger of miscalculation, making alliance strength central to deterrence.
The science segments explain why caffeine affects people differently, while researchers link more than 11 trillion tonnes of ice-sheet loss since 1979 to rising seas.
The Codex Azcatitlan’s return to Mexico revives an Indigenous record of Mexica history and Spanish violence, while DNA reveals a distinct Bolivian tiger-cat.
Asala’s return to Damascus and Dolly Parton’s posthumous recognition close the episode with competing visions of cultural memory, renewal and legacy.
Mark Rutte
Aztec Empire
Minab
Bashar al-Assad
United StatesListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.