United States war with Iran

Event in Politics

United States war with Iran has come up in 75 episodes across 12 podcasts in TMT, including Pod Save America, The Megyn Kelly Show, The Joe Rogan Experience. 12 people have made recorded remarks about it.

What people said

Tommy VietorCo-host of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World who conducted the Josh Turek interview

Vietor alleges the administration is lying about casualties and costs of the Iran war and urges oversight hearings.
“I think they're lying about the casualty count. I think the Pentagon is lying about the cost”
Pod Save America: Impeach Pete Hegseth? (Sep 29, 2026) · Listen from 36:16
Vietor says Iran is correctly betting that Trump does not want to return to war before the midterms.
“they're betting that Trump doesn't want to go back to war before the midterms. And I think they are right”
Pod Save America: Trump Honors Dead Friend, Restarts War (Jul 14, 2026) · Listen from 9:43
Vietor argued presidents are punished politically when they are perceived to have lost a war.
“if you end a war and are perceived to have lost the war, I think voters will punish you”
Pod Save America: Pool Me Twice, Shame On You (Jun 23, 2026) · Listen from 18:12
Vietor argued Trump has given up his leverage over Iran, making a better deal unlikely.
“Trump's leverage is just gone. He's given the sanctions relief. The threat of military action is gone”
Pod Save America: Pool Me Twice, Shame On You (Jun 23, 2026) · Listen from 9:43

All 12 quotes from Tommy Vietor →

Megyn KellyConservative broadcaster and podcaster

Kelly said she was glad the Iran war was ending and wished it had never begun.
“I'm happy it's ending. That's my take on this. I wish it had never started”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Meltdown Over Patriotic UFC at White House, with Glenn Greenwald, and Justin Baldoni's Attorney Bryan Freedman Gives Exclusive Details of Settlement | Ep. 1339 (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 40:39
Kelly believes Trump regrets the Iran war because it is damaging his poll numbers.
“Because he's not dumb, and he knows it's crushing him. It's crushing his numbers”
The Shawn Ryan Show: #309 Megyn Kelly - "I Now Have to Worry About Getting Shot Because of My Opinion" (Jun 1, 2026) · Listen from 1:01:11
Kelly argues Trump, not Netanyahu, bears responsibility for the decision to go to war.
“I do think it's important to remember Trump has agency and Trump is in charge of the U.S. military”
The Shawn Ryan Show: #309 Megyn Kelly - "I Now Have to Worry About Getting Shot Because of My Opinion" (Jun 1, 2026) · Listen from 58:48
Kelly asserts claims that Iran was near a nuclear weapon before the war were false.
“Iran was not close to getting a nuclear weapon. Those are lies”
The Shawn Ryan Show: #309 Megyn Kelly - "I Now Have to Worry About Getting Shot Because of My Opinion" (Jun 1, 2026) · Listen from 42:04

All 12 quotes from Megyn Kelly →

Joe RoganAmerican comedian and host of The Joe Rogan Experience

Rogan said the Iran war broke the Trump administration's 'no new wars' promise that many supporters believed.
“the no new wars thing is the one that fucked a lot of people”
The Joe Rogan Experience: JRE MMA Show #186 with Sean Sharaf (Oct 1, 2026) · Listen from 1:45:56
Rogan argues that if the US was going to attack Iran it should have done so during the Iranian protests.
“really if the United States was going to attack Iran, they should have attacked Iran when they had the protests”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2555 - Ron White (Sep 16, 2026) · Listen from 1:13:37
Rogan argues the US war with Iran may have been a mistake and was not wanted by conservatives.
“we might have fucked it up by going to Iran. I mean, this war is not something anybody that's conservative wanted”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2524 - Rupert Lowe (Jul 8, 2026) · Listen from 1:35:15
Rogan says the country would be in a different place had the US not bombed Iran a second time, and that most Americans oppose it.
“And the second time when we bombed them, I was like, oh, fucking great. Now, and the most people don't want it”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2514 - Cameron Hanes (Jun 12, 2026) · Listen from 38:17

All 10 quotes from Joe Rogan →

Jon FavreauCo-host of Pod Save America and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama

Favreau argues the Iran war has achieved none of its stated objectives, including regime change or setbacks to Iran's nuclear program.
“They didn't destroy the regime. They didn't get the, they didn't make any progress on their nuclear program”
Pod Save America: The Primaries Will Continue Until Morale Improves (Jul 21, 2026) · Listen from 18:51
Favreau predicts the Iran war supplemental funding bill will not pass given vulnerable Republican senators.
“I got to say, I think that supplemental is never getting through”
Pod Save America: Trump Honors Dead Friend, Restarts War (Jul 14, 2026) · Listen from 43:17
Favreau argued Iran knows Trump will not resume bombing as the midterms approach, undermining his threat.
“iran knows that as we get closer to the midterms he's not going to go back to bombing them”
Pod Save America: LIVE(ish) from the Obama Presidential Center (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 48:41
Favreau interpreted Condoleezza Rice's op-ed as an attempt to flatter Trump about the war while steering him away from a deal that releases money to Iran.
“anti-anti-Trump Republican thing of being like, I think we can play him, right?”
Pod Save America: Trump's Versailles on the Potomac (Jun 5, 2026) · Listen from 41:56

All 9 quotes from Jon Favreau →

Jon LovettCo-host of Pod Save America; diarization split of the same speaker during the economics segment

Lovett argues no Iran deal can work because Trump needs one better than Obama's while only worse deals are available.
“not demonstrably better than the Obama deal, but the only deal that will ever be on offer is one that's demonstrably worse”
Pod Save America: Trump Honors Dead Friend, Restarts War (Jul 14, 2026) · Listen from 9:01
Lovett suggested pro-Trump hawks hope to punt on Iran until after the midterms and then resume a bellicose posture.
“they can prevent the worst political blowback from the war, get costs down and then go back to being bellicose regime changers once the midterms are behind us”
Pod Save America: Pool Me Twice, Shame On You (Jun 23, 2026) · Listen from 13:08
Lovett argued that pro-Netanyahu hawks left Israel more isolated and unpopular than ever and dependent on Trump.
“Israel has never been more unpopular in its entire history. It's never been more isolated”
Pod Save America: LIVE(ish) from the Obama Presidential Center (Jun 19, 2026) · Listen from 48:50
Lovett argues the MOU is not a real deal but a U.S. surrender to restart negotiations.
“So this is not a deal. This is the U.S. surrendering in order to reopen the negotiations”
Pod Save America: 80-Year-Old Man Loses War (Jun 16, 2026) · Listen from 5:13

All 8 quotes from Jon Lovett →

Jiang XueqinYale-educated geopolitical analyst and commentator known for forecasts about global conflict and the decline of American hegemony

Jiang predicts the Middle East conflict will only escalate, though he declines to specify how.
“My prediction is this will only escalate. How it will escalate, I don't know”
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 44:30
Jiang predicts the United States will be forced to attack Iran's power plants and desalination infrastructure, causing starvation in Tehran.
“this response is, is to attack Iran's critical civilian infrastructure, which includes desalination plants and power plants”
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 44:30
Jiang says Iran's optimal strategy is random coordinated strikes to destroy confidence in shipping insurance and paralyse global trade.
“If you can't insure global shipping, global shipping ceases to work. So this is the madman theory, and this is Iran's best play moving forward”
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 41:48
Jiang says Chinese and Russian support means Iran could in theory sustain the war indefinitely.
“Both China... And Russia are supporting Iran in this conflict”
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett: Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order (Sep 14, 2026) · Listen from 20:09

All 5 quotes from Jiang Xueqin →

Scott HortonDirector of the Libertarian Institute, editorial director of Antiwar.com, host of The Scott Horton Show and author of Provoked

Horton describes his coined term 'backdraft' terrorism, citing an Austin shooting after the war began as an example.
“backdraft terrorism is when the consequences of your overt foreign policies just blow up right in your face”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2500 - Scott Horton (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:21:39
Horton argues Trump's war has boosted Iranian regional power about as much as George W. Bush's Iraq War did.
“what Donald Trump has done with this war is about at least equivalent to what W. Bush did in terms of enhancing Iranian power in the region”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2500 - Scott Horton (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:29:03
Horton recommends that the United States end the war and withdraw its forces from the Middle East.
“I really think that the thing to do is just quit. The thing to do is for America to just come home”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2500 - Scott Horton (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 2:15:41
Horton cites recent reporting that officials admit Iran retains most of its missiles and launchers.
“admitting now that the Iranians still have 70, 75 percent of all their missiles and launchers”
The Joe Rogan Experience: #2500 - Scott Horton (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:24:07

All 5 quotes from Scott Horton →

Hassan ShiblyAmerican Muslim civil rights attorney and activist

Shibly argues that the U.S. has already lost the Iran war because it failed to achieve immediate regime change.
“In a sense, the U.S. has already lost in the sense that it didn't achieve its mission. Its mission was to induce immediate regime change”
Digital Social Hour: Muslim Leader Exposes Who’s Really Controlling War | DSH #1961 (May 12, 2026) · Listen from 37:13
Shibly argues that the laws of war prohibit no-quarter orders and 'double tap' strikes, citing U.S. strikes on boats in South America.
“you cannot give an order not to give quarter. You cannot bomb those that are already disabled, like the double taps on the ships”
Digital Social Hour: Muslim Leader Exposes Who’s Really Controlling War | DSH #1961 (May 12, 2026) · Listen from 24:29
Shibly claims that more than 175 Iranian schoolchildren were killed on the first day of bombing.
“On the very first day of bombing, over 175 Iranian schoolchildren were killed”
Digital Social Hour: Muslim Leader Exposes Who’s Really Controlling War | DSH #1961 (May 12, 2026) · Listen from 10:25
Shibly argues that regime change does not work, citing the Afghanistan experience.
“Regime change doesn't work. You know, regime change is more likely to happen in the U.S. because of what we're doing”
Digital Social Hour: Muslim Leader Exposes Who’s Really Controlling War | DSH #1961 (May 12, 2026) · Listen from 10:25

All 5 quotes from Hassan Shibly →

Dan PfeifferCo-host of Pod Save America, author of the Message Box newsletter, and former White House communications director

Pfeiffer argued that anyone who would start the Iran war is incapable of ending it.
“anyone dumb enough to start this war is too dumb to get out of it”
Pod Save America: The Race to Replace Graham Platner (Jul 10, 2026) · Listen from 51:49
Pfeiffer argues the $88 billion war supplemental is politically toxic given polling that most think the war was not worth the cost.
“in that CVS poll, 69% of people think the war hasn't been worth the cost. We haven't even paid the $88 billion yet”
Pod Save America: Trump Sabotages Trump Agenda (Jun 26, 2026) · Listen from 16:47
Pfeiffer argues the Iran MOU is a very minor development, not a major peace agreement.
“Is it better that maybe a couple ships will get through there? Yes. Is this the Treaty of fucking Versailles? No”
Pod Save America: Is It Gay to Flip Texas? (May 29, 2026) · Listen from 6:33
Pfeiffer argued Hegseth sees himself as accountable only to Trump rather than to Congress or the public.
“in his mind, he is not accountable to Congress. He's not accountable to the Senate that approved his nomination”
Pod Save America: Did Trump's Supreme Court Rig the Midterms? (May 1, 2026) · Listen from 30:19

What Dan Pfeiffer has said about United States war with Iran →

Mark WarnerDemocratic U.S. senator from Virginia who called the data center moratorium idiocy

Warner says Trump deserves no credit for the war but that ending it was better than continuing.
“I'm not going to give him credit, but I'm glad he ended it rather than continued what could have led to even a worse circumstance”
Pod Save America: 80-Year-Old Man Loses War (Jun 16, 2026) · Listen from 1:02:53
Warner criticizes the U.S. for rejecting Ukraine's offer of anti-drone technology.
“it was so insane that we didn't take the Ukrainians offer in December, where they were going to say, we will give you our anti-drone technology”
Pod Save America: 80-Year-Old Man Loses War (Jun 16, 2026) · Listen from 56:37
Warner says public claims that most of Iran's ballistic missiles were destroyed are untrue.
“The earlier estimates, and I can say this because it's in the public, that we had eliminated 70, 80, 90% are just factually not true”
Pod Save America: 80-Year-Old Man Loses War (Jun 16, 2026) · Listen from 56:44
Warner says the war has left neither the U.S., Gulf allies, nor Israel stronger.
“None of that makes us, none of that makes our Gulf allies, none of it even frankly makes Israel stronger than when we started 107 days ago”
Pod Save America: 80-Year-Old Man Loses War (Jun 16, 2026) · Listen from 56:04

What Mark Warner has said about United States war with Iran →

Glenn GreenwaldAmerican journalist

Greenwald argued Trump was forced to end the war for economic reasons and ahead of the midterms.
“He had to get out of this war for the economy of the United States, for the world economy, and his political interest is the midterms approach”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Meltdown Over Patriotic UFC at White House, with Glenn Greenwald, and Justin Baldoni's Attorney Bryan Freedman Gives Exclusive Details of Settlement | Ep. 1339 (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 47:53
Greenwald argued Iran emerged from the war at least as strong as before, having not lost.
“if you don't want to say Iran won the war, certainly they didn't lose the war”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Meltdown Over Patriotic UFC at White House, with Glenn Greenwald, and Justin Baldoni's Attorney Bryan Freedman Gives Exclusive Details of Settlement | Ep. 1339 (Jun 15, 2026) · Listen from 44:23
Greenwald argues that every party except Israel would be fine if the U.S. withdrew from the war.
“So everybody would be fine if they left tomorrow except one country, and that country's name is Israel”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Colbert's Hissy Fit Farewell Tour, Xi's Ominous Comment, and Murdaugh's New Trial, with Glenn Greenwald | Ep. 1318 (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:20:06
Greenwald argues there is no exit for Trump because Iran will not meet his demands.
“The Iranians aren't going to give Trump the things he said he needs because they don't feel threatened enough”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Colbert's Hissy Fit Farewell Tour, Xi's Ominous Comment, and Murdaugh's New Trial, with Glenn Greenwald | Ep. 1318 (May 15, 2026) · Listen from 1:00:33

What Glenn Greenwald has said about United States war with Iran →

Ana KasparianAmerican progressive commentator, host and executive producer of The Young Turks

Kasparian argued the enriched uranium rationale for the Iran war was an Israeli cover story aimed at regime change.
“the whole thing with the enriched uranium is a cover story by the Israelis. Israelis just wanted to go to us into war”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Dems EAT Their Own in California, with Ana Kasparian, and Trump's "Softer" Deportation Approach, with Gregory Bovino | Ep. 1317 (May 14, 2026) · Listen from 48:51
Kasparian claimed Iran has been strategic and is winning the war against the United States.
“Iran has been incredibly strategic, incredibly strategic, and they are winning this war as a result of that”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Dems EAT Their Own in California, with Ana Kasparian, and Trump's "Softer" Deportation Approach, with Gregory Bovino | Ep. 1317 (May 14, 2026) · Listen from 23:35
Kasparian says Iran never posed a genuine threat to the United States but challenged Israel's expansionist aims.
“Iran has never posed an actual threat to the United States. They didn't have nuclear weapons, and their missiles did not have the capacity to hit the United States”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Sham "Dignity" Amnesty Bill, and the Crucial Lebanon Factor, with Michael Knowles and Ana Kasparian | Ep. 1292 (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 1:21:48
Kasparian argues Trump was manipulated into the Iran war by Israeli assurances it would be easy.
“There's no question that Trump was honestly manipulated by the Israelis who put into his head this notion that a war against Iran would be easy”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Sham "Dignity" Amnesty Bill, and the Crucial Lebanon Factor, with Michael Knowles and Ana Kasparian | Ep. 1292 (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 1:00:37

What Ana Kasparian has said about United States war with Iran →

Predictions

Partly trueRich Lowry
Lowry predicts the Iran memorandum will not be resolved within its 60-day window and will be extended.
“Certainly this is not going to be resolved in 60 days. There's going to be an extension”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Michelle Obama Upstages Barack, Euros Love America, and 2028 Rumblings, with Rich Lowry and Charles C.W. Cooke | Ep. 1341 (Jun 17, 2026) · Listen from 5:32 · United States war with Iran
As Lowry predicted, the US-Iran memorandum signed June 17, 2026 was not resolved: its 60-day window expired on August 17, 2026 with no final deal. His prediction of an extension proved wrong. Pakistani sources told Anadolu on August 12 that the two sides had agreed to extend it, but Iran denied any talks on an extension, and on August 17 Trump said 'No' when asked if he would extend it. Kurdistan24 reported the deadline passed with no agreed extension.
Sources: US-Iran Peace Prospects Dim as Trump Rejects Truce Extension - Bloomberg · US rules out Iran truce extension as Tehran official sets new deadline - Iran International · The 60-Day US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding Expires Today With No Final Deal - Kurdistan24 · US-Iran talks hit impasse as MoU's 60-day deadline expires - Jerusalem Post · US, Iran agree to extend 60-day ceasefire ahead of Aug. 17 deadline - Anadolu
Checked Oct 10, 2026
Didn’t happenCurt Mills
Mills said there is a reasonable chance a new war will begin within about three weeks despite the ceasefire.
“i think there's a very reasonable chance uh if you have me back on we're gonna be talking about a new war in three weeks but i think this piece is worth trying”
The Megyn Kelly Show: Iran Deal Risks and Fallout, with Curt Mills and Mark Halperin, Plus Jennifer Newsom's Wild Comments, with Damilare Sonoiki and Stepfanie Tyler | Ep. 1291 (Apr 8, 2026) · Listen from 31:28 · United States war with Iran
The April 7–8, 2026 US-Iran ceasefire held through late April, and Trump extended it indefinitely on April 21 while the Islamabad talks stalled. Intermittent fighting only began on May 4, and the ceasefire fully collapsed on July 8, well after Mills's roughly three-week window (about April 29). Mills framed it as a 'very reasonable chance,' but the predicted new war did not happen within that window.
Sources: 2026 Iran war ceasefire - Wikipedia · U.S.-Iran Ceasefire and Negotiations: Assessment and Issues for Congress | Congress.gov · US-Iran conflict: What's the latest as the Islamabad talks stall? | Al Jazeera · 2026 Iran war | Britannica
Checked Sep 30, 2026
Prediction · due Dec 2026Sarah McBride
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”
Pod Save America: Strait Up War Crimes (Apr 7, 2026) · Listen from 1:11:52 · United States war with Iran
Came trueJoe Kent
Kent is skeptical a ceasefire will hold and fears rapid escalation while combat forces are in theater.
“A ceasefire, I'm skeptical. Again, until the Israelis are restrained, there won't be a ceasefire”
The Shawn Ryan Show: #291 Joe Kent - His Message to President Trump on Ending the War With Iran (Mar 26, 2026) · Listen from 12:34 · United States war with Iran
No US–Iran ceasefire came into effect by March 31, 2026: attacks went on through late March, and Pakistan only put forward a peace initiative on March 31. The two-week, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire was announced April 7–8 and fell apart on July 8, both after the deadline.
Sources: US-Iran ceasefire and nuclear talks in 2026 - House of Commons Library · 2026 Iran war - Britannica · Islamabad Talks - Wikipedia · 2026 Iran war ceasefire - Wikipedia · Day 39 of Middle East conflict — US, Israel, Iran agree to ceasefire before Trump's deadline | CNN
Checked Sep 30, 2026

Coverage over time

Mar 2026Oct 2026

Episodes discussing it, by month of release.

Podcasts

Pod Save America · 29 episodes
The Megyn Kelly Show · 14 episodes
The Joe Rogan Experience · 12 episodes
Digital Social Hour · 5 episodes
REAL AF with Andy Frisella · 5 episodes
The Shawn Ryan Show · 3 episodes
The Tucker Carlson Show · 2 episodes
Modern Wisdom · 1 episode
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett · 1 episode
Danny Jones Podcast · 1 episode
Up First from NPR · 1 episode
Candace · 1 episode

Episodes

Have Republicans Already Blown the Midterms?
Pod Save America · Oct 18, 2026 · 1 h 11 min
Dan Pfeiffer and Cook Political Report's Amy Walter assess the 2026 midterm landscape two weeks out, covering Senate and House races, polling, Trump, and redistricting.
#346 James Lechner - Army Ranger Recounts the Battle of Mogadishu: Black Hawk Down
The Shawn Ryan Show · Oct 8, 2026 · 3 h 20 min
Retired Army Ranger James Lechner tells Shawn Ryan about fighting and being wounded in the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, turning around Ramadi, Afghanistan policy failures, and the war in Ukraine.
JRE MMA Show #186 with Sean Sharaf
The Joe Rogan Experience · Oct 1, 2026 · 2 h 21 min
Joe Rogan talks with UFC heavyweight Sean Sharaf about his 12-second upset knockout of Gable Steveson, possible retirement, MMA rules, Gaza, surveillance, and AI.
Impeach Pete Hegseth?
Pod Save America · Sep 29, 2026 · 58 min
Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor and Jon Lovett discuss diesel prices, a Republican data center bill, rogue AI models, a possible Pete Hegseth impeachment and Trump's taxpayer-funded ads.
“This Will Be The Most Violent Election Of Our Lifetime” - Robert Pape #1154
Modern Wisdom · Sep 24, 2026 · 1 h 43 min
Political scientist Robert Pape tells Chris Williamson that mass public support for political violence makes the coming US midterms the most dangerous election in living memory.
#2555 - Ron White
The Joe Rogan Experience · Sep 16, 2026 · 2 h 34 min
Joe Rogan and comedian Ron White discuss Kill Tony, cigars, cars, fitness, Texas politics, cannabis laws, the Iran war, Jelly Roll's Kimmel monologue, and religion.
Professor Jiang: Three Predictions On the Collapse of the World Order
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett · Sep 14, 2026 · 1 h 48 min
Geopolitical analyst Jiang Xueqin tells Steven Bartlett the petrodollar order is collapsing and offers predictions about war, finance and migration.
#425 - "They Control Trump & Netanyahu" The Secret Family No One Talks About | Professor Jiang
Danny Jones Podcast · Aug 24, 2026 · 4 h 4 min
Professor Xueqin Jiang tells Danny Jones how China really works and argues Chabad-linked messianic religious beliefs drive U.S. and Israeli policy.
Shawn Ryan: Trump’s Betrayal, Iran, Government Spying, Encounters With Demons, and Finding God
The Tucker Carlson Show · Jul 24, 2026 · 1 h 54 min
Tucker Carlson talks with podcaster and former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan about his disillusionment with politics, a harrowing ibogaine experience, spiritual conversion, surveillance, and the Iran war.
The Primaries Will Continue Until Morale Improves
Pod Save America · Jul 21, 2026 · 1 h 11 min
Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor discuss Trump at the World Cup final, the renewed Iran war, ICE killings, and Democratic primaries in Maine, Wisconsin and Michigan.