Remember 2008?

Of course you do.

Every headline screamed disaster. Everyone was predicting the end of capitalism as we knew it.

I was the lone optimistic voice on CNBC.

(Little did I know, this would be one of many times they would laugh at me.)

That’s the thing about dire times—they always have that one glimmer of something better if you squint hard enough.

But lately, it feels like we might be squinting at the shadows of World War III.

This is against a backdrop of major advancements in areas like AI, crypto, healthcare, and robotics -- all of which have the potential to improve lives rapidly.

That’s why I had Brandon Webb on the podcast this week.

Brandon’s a former Navy SEAL and the guy behind SOFREP.com -- which delivers insider military and defense news, primarily from former special operations personnel.

He’s got his ear to the ground with all things military. This conversation wasn’t your typical “war is bad” chat; it was more like, “Are we actually in World War III right now?”

According to Webb, this isn’t some abstract possibility.

He painted a picture of a world more tangled in proxy wars than we realize, with a new kind of conflict that creeps in through the back door.

Webb and I dove into the big players: Russia, Iran, China, and the U.S. He brought up a chilling point—Russia is arming Iran with nuclear capabilities to boost its standing in the Middle East.

This isn’t a chess game with wooden pieces; this is one with live ammo. And that’s just one part of the picture. Iran isn’t acting alone; it’s backed by China and Russia, which makes this a geopolitical web that’s almost impossible to untangle.

As we talked, Webb noted how the U.S. has lightened sanctions on Iran, even releasing funds they claimed wouldn’t go to weapons.

“And yet here we are,” he said, pointing out how Iran has funneled support to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah for years.

Webb also highlighted a shift in the Middle East alliances.

Countries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia are finding themselves rooting for Israel—not because they’re best friends, but because they all want to see Iran's influence stamped out.

“It’s not like they’re holding hands and singing Kumbaya,” Webb said, “but it’s a case of ‘my enemy’s enemy.’”

But war isn’t just about who’s firing bullets. It’s also about who’s making money in the chaos.

Webb mentioned how there’s a lot of profit for the middlemen who deal in arms—like ammo dealers who play the role of shadowy brokers. Wars feed them fat, and as long as these people can line their pockets, they have little incentive to push for peace.

The stakes are high, and leadership is more critical than ever.

Webb didn’t mince words about the role a weak or distracted president can play.

He brought up Carter’s legacy of being compassionate but ineffective, and he didn’t shy away from discussing Biden’s perceived lack of strength.

So what does he think about Trump?

Check out the full episode to hear it for yourself.

And don’t miss Davis Wilson’s insights on AI… and the big bugaboo coming down the pike: job losses.