Political analyst shares three red flags with The Steady State Sentinel podcast guest host , warning that Iran, attacks on the judiciary, and targeting of U.S. citizens by the government are potentially incendiary threats to U.S. democracy and national security.

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Steady State Sentinel – Conversation with Jack Hopkins

Introduction

Margaret Hennock:
Good day. This is Margaret Hennock from The Steady State. I’m a 25‑year veteran of the CIA’s clandestine service, and I’m now working with The Steady State, a political advocacy group.

My guest tonight is Jack Hopkins — Navy veteran, behavioral consultant, and author of the Substack Jack Hopkins Now. I recommend it to everybody; it’s terrific.

How Jack Entered Political Writing

Margaret:
How did you get into the political writing business? When did you decide to do it? Was it a major change for you?

Jack Hopkins:
It was a major change. I sort of entered into it without realizing it. In 2018, I made a hard pivot.

I’d been a Republican for many years — though I voted for Obama in 2008, so I was always a bit of an odd case. Raised Republican, thought of myself as Republican, but never had a problem voting for the better candidate in a given race.

And then COVID happened.

As a former Navy hospital corpsman, EMT, and nurse — with family still in nursing — I pay close attention to medical issues. I subscribe to nursing journals, track medical trends.

Watching top epidemiologists get trashed — personally attacked — at a moment when millions were predicted to die? That lit a fire inside me. A fire I couldn’t have put out even if I wanted to.

I didn’t decide to write; I just started. And then suddenly I had a following. So I kept going.

Top National Security Threats Today

Margaret:
What do you think are the three most important or frightening national security challenges today?

1. Domestic threats

We didn’t used to talk about domestic threats as a national security issue, but now it’s front and center.
A toxic mix of:

• rising domestic enforcement, and

• collapsing public trust

…is extremely dangerous.

A subcategory is the escalation of ICE, which everyone has seen in recent months.

2. Threats to federal judges

We don’t have to like every judicial decision, but a functioning republic requires judges who can rule without fear of violence. Threats are rising, correlating with political rhetoric.

3. The Netanyahu–Trump–Iran triangle

Many see it as a regional issue — for now. But Netanyahu has signaled willingness to use military force against Iran. Trump signals the same daily.

One misstep could globalize the conflict.

What worries me most are the actors not on stage — players with vested interests we don’t see.

Digging Deeper Into the Netanyahu–Trump–Iran Nexus

Margaret:
Can you give a few more words on how that triangle might blow up?

Jack:
There’s a strange, ambiguous relationship between Netanyahu and Trump. Shared interests, overlapping agendas. Netanyahu has taken more openly Trump‑like positions recently.

But the bigger concern isn’t those two — it’s the people offstage. The ones who don’t like the spotlight but have power.

The domestic issues here at home are actually clearer because the president is openly describing his actions, defending the indefensible, and leaning into inflammatory behavior.

Meanwhile, in communities across the country, American citizens — not just migrants — are being beaten, injured, even killed in ICE‑adjacent incidents. That’s shifting public perspective dramatically.

On Public Anger and the Temptation Toward Violence

Margaret:
How do you see your influence on people who feel like violence is the only answer?

Jack:
I love that question.

A lot of people feel that years of resistance haven’t worked. They’re emotionally exhausted. They feel like violence is the only option left.

I understand it.
But:

Violence almost never produces the outcome people want.
It kills the wrong people.
It justifies authoritarian crackdowns.
It plays directly into Trump’s hands.

The things that actually work — calling lawmakers, emailing, showing up, forming groups, applying pressure — are “boring.” They don’t feel heroic. They don’t give you that gut‑fire sensation.

But they are historically effective.

And the emotionally intense actions people fantasize about right now are exactly what Trump hopes they will do. That’s the trap.

If widespread political violence erupts, I don’t know that we ever claw our way back.

How Trump Might Respond to Civil Unrest

Margaret:
What do you see him doing if the public reacts violently?

Jack:
He loves targeting blue states. Look at deportations — he’s comfortable wielding the state against political enemies.

If he invoked martial law or the Insurrection Act, I doubt it would be nationwide. I think it would be segmented:

• harsh crackdowns in blue states

• red states left largely alone

• targeted actions in red states against vocal Democrats

It matches his established patterns.

The “Worry Prevention System”

Margaret:
I loved your “worry prevention system” today. Is that connected to all this?

Jack:
Absolutely.

Worrying is a process, not a personality trait. People say “I’m a worrier” as if it’s genetic, but really, they’ve practiced the process for decades.

Once people realize worrying is something they do, not something they are, it gives them a key to their own emotional freedom.

Worrying feels like doing something, but it actually paralyzes you. And paralysis is deadly for democracy.

If worry keeps people home on Election Day, democracy loses.
Emotional regulation is civic engagement.

Closing

Margaret:
Jack, thank you so much. As always, I’ve really enjoyed this conversation.

Jack:
Likewise, Margaret. Anytime.

Margaret:
This is Margaret Hennock for The Steady State — still standing watch.

Thank you for listening to the Steady State Sentinel podcast. Don’t miss more insights from America’s premier global security experts. Subscribe to our Substack at substack.com/@SteadyState1 and join us next week.

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