Strait Up War Crimes

Episode of Pod Save America · April 7, 2026 · 1 h 37 min

Favreau, Lovett and Vietor discuss Trump's war-crime threats against Iran, the defense budget and deportations, then Lovett interviews Rep. Sarah McBride.

Summary

Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor opened with Donald Trump's Easter social media post demanding Iran "open the fucking straight" and his ultimatum to destroy all of Iran's bridges and power plants by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Vietor said he had consulted Yale law professor Oona Hathaway, who told him carrying out the threat would be a war crime, and argued that destroying the grid of a country of 90 million people would be collective punishment. Favreau detailed the humanitarian consequences of destroying power plants — hospitals, water treatment, food spoilage — while Lovett argued that because the administration cannot articulate a coherent military objective, no proportionality analysis is possible. The hosts also criticized Trump for divulging operational details of the rescue of two downed American airmen during a lengthy White House press conference, with Vietor saying his "NSC staffer head" was screaming for the administration to stop.

The hosts then turned to the war's economic fallout, citing Mark Zandi's prediction that pre-war prices may never return and criticizing JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon for appearing on Fox News to cheerlead the war. They discussed Trump's 2027 budget request of $1.5 trillion for the Pentagon, paid for by cuts to health, education and research, alongside hundreds of millions in White House renovations including the ballroom. Vietor argued Trump no longer cares about the midterms or the Republican Party's future. On immigration, they reviewed a New York Times profile of Stephen Miller, concluding he intends to pursue the same deportation agenda more quietly through financial surveillance, state reporting requirements and benefits investigations. They also noted Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton in the California governor's race, which they said probably prevented two Republicans from locking Democrats out of the runoff.

In the second half, Lovett interviewed Rep. Sarah McBride about her first year in Congress. McBride argued that the attention-seeking behavior of some Republican colleagues is better understood as a literal addiction to going viral than as rational pursuit of power, and described her strategy of refusing to take the bait — which she said led to more bipartisan bills than any other freshman. She predicted almost no Democrats would vote for a supplemental funding the Iran war, listed strategic consequences including a more hardline Iranian supreme leader and Russian and Chinese gains, and argued Democrats should be cautious about precedents such as conversion therapy bans that the right can repurpose. She favored structural policies — universal childcare, paid family leave, a higher minimum wage — over tax-code changes like raising the standard deduction, arguing voters remember programs rather than deductions.

Chapters

1:30
Opening banter and show rundown
The hosts welcome Tommy Vietor back from vacation, joke about a viral story, and preview the episode.
3:17
Trump's 'open the fucking straight' ultimatum
The hosts react to Trump's Easter Truth Social post and his press conference threat to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants.
7:56
Is it a war crime?
Vietor cites international law expert Oona Hathaway and the hosts dissect the administration's justification that power plants are legitimate targets.
14:48
The airmen rescue and leaked operational details
The hosts praise the military rescue of the downed pilots while criticizing Trump for divulging sensitive capabilities at the press conference.
22:53
Ceasefire prospects and public opinion
Discussion of the rejected 45-day ceasefire, Iran's incentives, and Trump's dismissal of Americans opposed to the war as 'foolish.'
36:04
Economic fallout from the war
Gas prices, Mark Zandi's forecast, Jamie Dimon's Fox appearance, and ripple effects on fertilizer, semiconductors and Gulf economies.
39:20
The 2027 budget and the ballroom
Trump's $1.5 trillion defense request, cuts to health and education, and hundreds of millions for White House renovations.
48:40
Stephen Miller and the quieter deportation campaign
The hosts discuss a Times profile of Stephen Miller, the Annie Ramos case, and plans to use financial and benefits data against immigrants.
56:34
Trump's endorsement in the California governor's race
Trump backs Steve Hilton, which the hosts say likely prevents two Republicans from advancing out of the jungle primary.
1:04:43
Sarah McBride on Congress as an addiction economy
McBride argues colleagues' viral antics are a literal addiction and explains how refusing to take the bait unlocked bipartisan work.
1:11:02
McBride on the Iran supplemental
McBride says Democrats should give no money to the war and lays out its strategic costs for Ukraine, China and Taiwan.
1:17:30
Precedent, freedom and LGBTQ policy
McBride and Lovett discuss parental and medical decision-making, conversion therapy bans, and how precedents can be turned against the left.
1:26:38
Democratic economic agenda
McBride argues for structural policies like universal childcare and paid leave over tax-code tweaks, and attacks Trump's daycare remarks.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Tommy Vietor
Vietor relayed that international law professor Oona Hathaway told him carrying out Trump's threats would be a war crime.
“She said it would be a war crime to carry out those threats. Destroying civilian infrastructure to foment civil unrest is clearly unlawful”
Listen from 8:38 · United States war with Iran
Tommy Vietor
Vietor argued that destroying all power plants serving 90 million people would be clear-cut collective punishment under the Geneva Conventions.
“explicitly threatening to bomb all of the power plants serving a country of 90 million people. That's about as clear cut of a war crime as I could think of”
Listen from 8:51 · United States war with Iran
Tommy Vietor
Vietor warned that Iranian retaliation against Gulf desalination plants would create a regional humanitarian catastrophe.
“when the Iranians respond by hitting desalination plants in Kuwait and Iraq and all these places. And then you have a genuine humanitarian catastrophe throughout the Gulf”
Listen from 12:58 · United States war with Iran
Jon Favreau
Favreau described bombing power plants as a humanitarian catastrophe affecting hospitals, water treatment and food supply.
“People die in hospitals right away if all the power is gone. It hurts water treatment”
Listen from 13:25 · United States war with Iran
Linked moment · 14:42Skip to 14:42 using a listen link in the info box.
Jon Lovett
Lovett argued that proportionality analysis is impossible because the administration has no stated rational objective for the campaign.
“How could it be proportional when we don't know why the fuck we're doing it? We don't even know what we're doing it for”
Listen from 14:42 · United States war with Iran
Tommy Vietor
Vietor said Trump's disclosure of rescue details risked exposing intelligence capabilities still needed in an ongoing conflict.
“the cia is bragging about creating a disinformation campaign to help the pilot get out of iran feels like those assets or tools would be useful as it's an ongoing conflict”
Listen from 17:02 · United States war with Iran
Jon Lovett
Lovett argued the rescue reflects credit on the military rather than the administration that put them in that position.
“This is not something that they did. This is something they put the military in a position to have to execute”
Listen from 19:05 · United States war with Iran
Tommy Vietor
Vietor said he saw no logic in Iran accepting a 45-day ceasefire and had no hope for a deal.
“I don't see the logic of this for them in any way. It seems like they've rejected the ceasefire”
Listen from 24:00 · United States war with Iran
Tommy Vietor
Vietor argued Trump no longer cares about the midterms or the Republican Party and is focused on personal enrichment and legacy.
“every day I'm more convinced that Trump does not give a shit about the midterms, does not give a shit about the future of the Republican Party, does not give a shit about J.D. Vance”
Listen from 28:15 · 2026 United States midterm elections
Jon Lovett
Lovett said he hoped Trump would be able to claim a face-saving win rather than carry out the threatened bombing.
“I would rather Trump be able to walk out in the Rose Garden tomorrow and say, I did it. I achieved everything I said I was”
Listen from 31:06 · United States war with Iran
Jon Favreau Prediction · due Nov 2026
Favreau predicted economic sentiment will not improve before Election Day even if the war ends immediately.
“I'm having a hard time imagining that people don't feel worse about the economy than they do today on Election Day”
Listen from 37:37 · Gas prices and inflation
Tommy Vietor Prediction · due Dec 2026
Vietor predicted gas prices, around $4.12 nationally, will rise further and possibly dramatically before falling.
“gas prices are what like 412 today is the national average i think that goes up before it goes down and it could go up dramatically”
Listen from 37:56 · Gas prices and inflation
Jon Lovett
Lovett said a $1.5 trillion defense budget paired with a costly White House renovation is an extraordinary gift to Democratic messaging.
“I don't think you'd come up with something better than not just a $1.5 trillion defense budget to cut health care and other social spending, but also north of $500 million on a Trump home reno”
Listen from 41:55 · White House ballroom project
Tommy Vietor
Vietor said much of the defense increase is for the Golden Dome system, which he doubts will work against intercontinental missiles.
“a lot of it, I think, is for the Golden Dome missile defense system, which probably doesn't work”
Listen from 45:31 · Golden Dome missile defense system
Jon Lovett
Lovett said Stephen Miller's new approach weaponizes financial and service data to target immigrants more quietly.
“more of an effort to weaponize the financial system, the information we gather about people, the way people have to access services and care”
Listen from 50:02 · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Tommy Vietor
Vietor said the Times profile showed Stephen Miller is directing immigration policy and is more politically skilled than other officials.
“He's calling the shots. Trump has outsourced immigration policy to him”
Listen from 52:09 · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Jon Favreau
Favreau said Trump's endorsement of Steve Hilton did for Democrats what their own campaigns had failed to do in the jungle primary.
“It's so funny. I think you and I talked about this and I was like, how have other Democratic campaigns not elevated one of the two Republicans by now?”
Listen from 56:49 · 2026 California gubernatorial election
Jon Favreau Prediction · due Nov 2026
Favreau predicted the next California governor will be Steyer, Porter or Swalwell.
“like those are probably one of those three candidates is going to end up being governor”
Listen from 1:01:06 · 2026 California gubernatorial election
Tommy Vietor Came true
Vietor urged low-polling Democratic candidates to drop out by mid-April, arguing that candidates under 5% cannot win.
“If you're not at 5% in the polls by like April 15th, when ballots are getting mailed to people, when this thing is really getting into the final stages, like you're not going to win”
Listen from 1:01:25 · 2026 California gubernatorial election
Sarah McBride
McBride argued that many members of Congress pursue viral attention as a literal addiction rather than a rational strategy for power.
“It's not in pursuit of a rational goal. It's actually an addiction”
Listen from 1:04:52 · Social media and adolescent mental health
Sarah McBride
McBride said refusing to respond to attacks deprived her antagonists of the reward they sought and opened bipartisan opportunities.
“it's to be essentially a clogged bong, like just to not give them the high that they want so that they will go and chase it elsewhere”
Listen from 1:06:06 · Social media and adolescent mental health
Sarah McBride Prediction · due Dec 2026
McBride predicted essentially no Democrats would vote for a supplemental funding the Iran war regardless of its size.
“I don't anticipate... Any Democrat, but maybe one obvious one in the Senate, and I don't know about any in the House, voting in favor of a supplemental”
Listen from 1:11:52 · United States war with Iran
Sarah McBride
McBride argued the war has benefited Russia's revenues and improved China's understanding of U.S. military capabilities ahead of any Taiwan invasion.
“they also now understand our military and operational capabilities far better today than they did two months ago, which means they would be better prepared to potentially invade Taiwan”
Listen from 1:11:52 · Cross-Strait relations
Sarah McBride
McBride said healthcare decisions for children belong to parents, child and provider even when families make choices she would not.
“the best place for decisions to be made around the healthcare of a child is between the parent, the child, and their provider”
Listen from 1:19:28 · Conversion therapy bans
Sarah McBride
McBride argued the left must be cognizant that well-intended precedents like conversion therapy regulations can be co-opted by the right.
“I do think we have to be cognizant of how the right can co-opt precedent in order to do really harmful things on a wide scale”
Listen from 1:19:57 · Conversion therapy bans
Sarah McBride
McBride argued Democrats should pursue structural programs rather than tax-code changes because voters remember programs like Social Security, not deductions.
“people don't remember – who created the standard deduction at $30,000, right? They do remember who created Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid”
Listen from 1:28:22 · Universal childcare
Sarah McBride
McBride argued paid leave and childcare are competitive as well as compassionate policy and should be at the heart of the Democratic agenda.
“We have a 1950s care infrastructure for a 2026 workforce”
Listen from 1:32:47 · Paid family and medical leave

People

In the conversation

Jon FavreauCo-host of Pod Save America and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama
Jon LovettCo-host of Pod Save America; diarization split of the same speaker during the economics segment
Tommy VietorCo-host of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World who conducted the Josh Turek interview
Sarah McBrideU.S. Representative from Delaware and the first openly transgender member of Congress

Discussed

Donald TrumpPresident of the United States whose conduct of the Iran war is the episode's main subject
Stephen MillerWhite House deputy chief of staff and architect of the administration's immigration agenda
Pete HegsethU.S. Secretary of Defense overseeing the Iran campaign
Oona HathawayYale Law School professor of international law consulted by Vietor on the legality of the threats
Marjorie Taylor GreeneRepublican former congresswoman who called Fox News 'fake news' over its war coverage
Jamie DimonJPMorgan Chase CEO criticized for appearing on Fox News in support of the war
Mark ZandiChief economist at Moody's who forecast lasting price increases
Steve HiltonRepublican candidate for governor of California and former Fox News host
Chad BiancoRiverside County sheriff and Republican candidate for governor of California
Nancy MaceRepublican U.S. Representative from South Carolina running for governor
Lauren BoebertRepublican congresswoman who opposed Trump's war supplemental
Dan CaineChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who declined to reveal operation details
Chris CoonsDemocratic senator from Delaware whose comments on war funding were questioned
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican congressman who voted against a bill criminalizing certain care for trans minors
Annie RamosDreamer married to an active-duty Army staff sergeant who was detained by ICE
Gavin NewsomGovernor of California, cited for his 2018 primary strategy
Katie PorterDemocratic candidate for governor of California
Cory BookerDemocratic senator from New Jersey
Tim MillerWriter at The Bulwark cited on opposing the war
Susan CollinsRepublican senator who noted Congress holds the power of the purse
Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of Israel

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From the publisher

Donald Trump gives Iran until 8pm Tuesday night to "Open the Fuckin' Strait" or he'll level all of the country's power plants and bridges. In the meantime, he spends an hour in the White House briefing room congratulating himself for the rescue of the downed American airmen — spilling a bunch of sensitive details in the process. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy react to Trump's latest performance, his request for huge budget increases for defense and White House renovations, the latest with the mass deportation campaign, and why Trump decided to do California Democrats a huge favor by endorsing in the governor's race. Then, Rep. Sarah McBride stops by the studio to talk with Lovett about how Democrats should approach the Iran war debate, and why her Republican colleagues are so addicted to going viral. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 27, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Politics·News Commentary·Government