Matt Hoh - What Happened to America First, Ukraine, Gaza, TRIPP in Armenia and Other US Adventures | Ep 491 - Nov 30, 2025 [EP491]
Posted on Sunday, Nov 30, 2025 | Category: USA, World Order, TRIPP | Series: cog, video
Groong Links:
Guest:
Topics:
- Venezuela
- Ukraine War
- Gaza
- TRIPP in Armenia
Episode 491 | Recorded: November 29, 2025
#Venezuela #AmericaFirst #USForeignPolicy #TRIPP #UkraineWar
Show Notes
Summary
This episode looks at Trump’s foreign policy ten months into his term. We discuss the widening gap between the America First promise and the reality of new foreign fronts, including Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza, and the TRIPP project in Armenia. Matt Hoh joins us to explain how these issues connect and what they reveal about Washington’s strategic direction.
Main Topics Addressed
- Trump’s move to shut down Venezuelan airspace and the risk of escalation
- The shift in the Ukraine war and the gap between battlefield reality and media coverage
- The Gaza ceasefire, Trump’s 20-point plan, and the growing divide inside the America First base
- The TRIPP route in Armenia and the long-term strategic cost for the region
- How these foreign engagements challenge the core idea of America First
Key Questions Discussed
- Why is Washington pushing toward confrontation with Venezuela, and what strategy is behind it?
- Why is there a major disconnect between official warnings on the Ukraine war and what appears in mainstream coverage?
- What is Trump’s actual goal in Gaza, and do these actions serve any defined U.S. national interest?
- Why is the America First movement splitting over foreign involvement?
- Does the TRIPP deal align with America First, and is the U.S. prepared for a 50 or 100-year commitment in the South Caucasus?
- Does Armenia matter to Washington beyond its value in pressuring Russia and Iran?
Referenced Articles & Sources
Venezuela
- Trump announces closure of Venezuelan airspace (Reuters): https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-airspace-above-surrounding-venezuela-be-closed-its-entirety-2025-11-29/
- The Intercept on U.S. logistics planning for a Caribbean buildup: https://theintercept.com/2025/11/25/trump-caribbean-venezuela-military-troops/
Ukraine War – Progress in the War
- NBC News on Dan Driscoll’s warning of “imminent defeat”: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/us-army-secretary-warned-ukraine-imminent-defeat-pushing-initial-peace-rcna245704
Ukraine War – Negotiations
- Putin reiterates territorial demands (Sonar21): https://sonar21.com/president-putin-reiterates-june-14-2024-conditions-for-ending-the-war-with-ukraine/
- Yermak rules out concessions (The Atlantic): https://www.theatlantic.com/national-security/2025/11/ukraine-zelensky-russia-trump-peace-land-red-line/685090/
Wrap-up
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Guests
Matthew Hoh
Capt. Matthew Hoh is EisenHower Media Network Associate Director. He’s a ‘Former USMC Captain and State Department Officer, and Iraq War combat veteran and Afghanistan War State Department officer.
Hosts
Asbed Bedrossian
Asbed Bedrossian is an IT professional, and for years oversaw the central IT enterprise infrastructure and services at USC. His decades of experience spanned across IT strategy, enterprise architecture, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, data center operations, high performance computing, ITSM, ITPM, and more.
Asbed founded the Armenian News Network Groong circa 1989/1990, and co-founded the ANN/Groong podcast in 2020.
Hovik Manucharyan
Hovik Manucharyan is an information security engineer who moved from Seattle to Armenia in 2022. He co-founded the ANN/Groong podcast in 2020 and has been a contributor to Groong News since the late 1990s.
Disclaimer: The views expressed by Hovik Manucharyan on the ANN/Groong podcast are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of his employer or any other organization.