On this episode of Nothing But the Truth, Trudy Stern turns the focus from Washington to Albany, examining how shifting power within the New York State Assembly could reshape life for New Yorkers. She is joined by Assembly District 69 candidate Stephanie Ruskay, a rabbi and longtime Upper West Side community leader, to discuss housing policy, bail reform, taxes, business regulation, antisemitism, and New York’s relationship with Israel. Ruskay shares her personal story—growing up in Manhattan, returning to raise her family, and building interfaith and civic partnerships—while outlining why she believes this race represents a broader battle over the direction of the Democratic Party and the future of governance in New York.

On this episode of Nothing But the Truth, Ambassador Yoram Ettinger joins Trudy Stern to deliver a stark warning about the true nature of negotiations with Iran. Drawing a sharp distinction between Western diplomacy and what he calls the “Ayatollah dictionary,” Ettinger argues that Tehran views negotiations as a tactic to stall, rebuild military capabilities, and advance long-term global ambitions against the United States. The conversation expands beyond Iran’s nuclear program to examine its ballistic missile development, terror proxy networks, sleeper cells, and deepening foothold in Latin America—particularly through alliances with drug cartels and anti-American regimes. Ettinger makes the case that Iran’s strategy is not just about Israel or regional dominance, but about directly challenging U.S. national security and reshaping the global balance of power.

On this episode of Nothing But the Truth, host Trudy Stern is joined by retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery to examine the high-stakes moment unfolding with Iran, as renewed negotiations collide with an escalating U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf. Admiral Montgomery explains why talks over Iran’s nuclear program are likely buying time rather than producing a viable deal, outlining Tehran’s remaining nuclear capabilities, ballistic missile and drone threats, and continued support for proxy groups across the region. The conversation breaks down the strategic meaning behind America’s naval and air posture, the limits of diplomacy, and what real military enforcement would look like if negotiations fail—highlighting the serious implications for Israel, regional stability, and U.S. security.

As the Middle East undergoes a dramatic realignment, host Trudy Stern is joined by Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break down the shifting balance of power following Iran’s weakening and the degradation of its terror proxies. The conversation explores Saudi Arabia’s changing posture toward Israel, rising tensions with the UAE, Turkey’s growing regional ambitions, and the dangerous vacuum forming across Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Together, they examine whether Israel now faces stronger and more complex threats closer to its borders—and what these developments could mean not just for Israel, but for the West and U.S. interests more broadly.

As global crises unfold from Ukraine and the Middle East to Latin America and the Arctic, this episode of Nothing But the Truth examines how China is quietly shaping events behind the scenes. Host Trudy Stern is joined by Michael Sobolik of the Hudson Institute, author of Countering China’s Great Game, to break down Beijing’s strategy as a revisionist power exploiting global instability, expanding its military and economic reach, and preparing for potential conflict. The conversation also explores a new Heritage Foundation war game warning of U.S. weapons shortages in a high-intensity conflict with China—and what all of this means for America’s future.

On this episode of Nothing But the Truth, Trudy Stern sits down with Congressman Randy Fine to unpack a series of rapidly unfolding domestic and global flashpoints. From a controversial proposal to annex Greenland and rising geopolitical tensions with Russia and China, to allegations of fraud, immigration enforcement, and political unrest in Minnesota, the conversation explores how foreign policy, national security, and domestic governance are increasingly intertwined. Together, they examine what these developments mean for American strength, sovereignty, and stability in a world growing more volatile by the day.

In a stunning display of American force, U.S. Special Forces remove Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in a rapid, high-precision operation that sends shockwaves across the globe. Trudy Stern is joined by leading international law expert Eugene Kontorovich to examine what the capture of Maduro means for Venezuela’s future, U.S. deterrence, and America’s adversaries—from China and Iran to Russia and Cuba. Together, they unpack the strategic message behind the operation, the legal authority underpinning it, the limits of regime change, and the dangerous precedents such actions may set in an increasingly unstable world.

As 2026 begins, Trudy Stern takes stock of a turbulent global landscape and asks whether President Trump’s promise to end wars and restore deterrence has delivered real results. Joined by Middle East and national security expert Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, the conversation examines the state of global conflict after 2025—from Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional proxies to shifting power dynamics in the Middle East, Ukraine, and beyond. Together, they assess where U.S. strategy has succeeded, where it has fallen short, and whether today’s conflicts are isolated crises or part of a broader global struggle shaping the year ahead.