Iran
June 14, 2026 — Scott Johnson
Lee Smith has written three books supporting President Trump against his attackers: The Plot Against the President (2019), The Permanent Coup (2020), and Disappearing the President (2024). His most recent book is The China Matrix: The Epic Story of How Donald Trump Shattered a Deadly Pact (2025). Trump himself has praised Smith’s work: “Lee Smith is a great American patriot who has understood, from the very beginning, that the radical
»
June 13, 2026 — Scott Johnson
We interrupt this program to report that President Trump has more or less announced peace for our time on Truth Social: “The deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow.” Below is a screeshot of Trump’s text posted to Truth Social. President Trump is fluent in hyperbole. We will want to take a close like at the terms — the commitments and the mechanisms of enforcement — when they are made
»
June 12, 2026 — Scott Johnson
that our attack tonight has been called off. That was President Trump’s big news about our conflict with Iran yesterday. The attack had been advertised by Trump to take place last night. Trump’s announcement put me in mind of the title of Philip Gourevitch’s award-winning book about the slaughter of the Tutsis in Rwanda — We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families (1998).
»
June 11, 2026 — John Hinderaker
President Trump says an agreement with the IRGC has been reached “in both concept and great detail,” and has suspended further bombing for the time being: Trump subsequently had a brief call with the New York Post in which he said, “It’s pretty much all wrapped up.” Whether this time is different from the many previous occasions on which the President has said that a deal is very close, remains
»
June 11, 2026 — Scott Johnson
The idea of declaring victory and going home is attributed to the late Vermont Senator George Aiken with respect to the Vietnam War in 1966. He didn’t exactly say it or propose it, but the idea lives on. A declaration of victory wouldn’t have been true in 1966 and it wouldn’t be true now. However, might it be close enough for political comfort? Just a few thoughts. Let’s call the
»
June 10, 2026 — John Hinderaker
For the second night in a row, US forces are bombing Iran. There aren’t many details: U.S. Central Command said the strikes began at 5:15 p.m. ET “against multiple targets in Iran … in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.” A U.S. official told Axios all targets were in southern Iran and included air defense systems, radar systems, and drone command and control units. President Trump has grown impatient
»
June 9, 2026 — Scott Johnson
Jesse Watters to the contrary notwithstanding, Israel is not “spying on the United States.” It is not “freelancing in Lebanon.” It is defending itself from attacks by Hezbollah that have depopulated large swaths of northern Israel. The Hezbollah attacks, by the way, violated the purported “ceasefire” negotiated by President Trump. What does Vice President Vance have to say about that? In what has become a characateristically “disappointing” performance, Vance sees
»
June 9, 2026 — Scott Johnson
In the early days of Israel’s war on Hamas after 10/7, we frequently relied on the assessments of IDF Lieutenant Colonel (reserve) Jonathan Conricus to understand the state of play. Conricus was the IDF spokesman then. He is now a fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Via X, this is his current assessment of the new status quo — he calls it “the interim score” — following this
»
June 8, 2026 — John Hinderaker
Last night I was on the Rita Panahi Show, with Caroline Marcus filling in for Rita. It was a good interview, covering the latest from Iran, NBC’s claim that Israel is spying on the Trump administration, Trump’s walkout on the Welker interview, drama queen Scott Pelley and his alleged foxhole experiences, Graham Platner’s complaint that his enemies are using his past against him, and California’s lax election processes. You shouldn’t
»
June 8, 2026 — Scott Johnson
As I wrote earlier this morning, I knew it was almost noon in Israel and Amit Segal would be filng his daily dispatch presently. It has now arrived. I see it does not contrast with my own observations, but his are harsher. I thought some readers might appreciate his perspective from Israel. This is a long excerpt of the column he headlines “Israel vs. Iran: Round 3”: * * *
»
June 8, 2026 — Scott Johnson
I thought it was difficult to understand the status quo with Iran. Last week I posted General Keane’s assessment here. Suffice it to say that he was dubious about the prospects of a peaceful resolution. John posted Condoleezza Rice’s assessment here. She noticed that Iran’s exertion of control over the Strait of Hormuz constituted a dangling thread. Leaning on Khaled Abu Toameh and Victor Davis Hanson, I posted my own
»
June 4, 2026 — Scott Johnson
Jack Keane is the retired four-star General, former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and chairman of the Institute for the Study of War. He is smart and well-informed. He discusses where we are and whither we are tending in the conflict with Iran. His observations on the status quo help to arbitrate the differences between John and me. He is the guest on the current What the Hell
»
June 4, 2026 — John Hinderaker
I have often expressed puzzlement over the Trump administration’s cease fire in Iran and its strategy going forward. In general, my views align with Scott’s, as expressed earlier today. However, for a more optimistic view, check out Condoleezza Rice’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal: The war against Iran has been a limited war, and its outcome is likely to be inconclusive. But it has achieved enough to produce a
»
June 4, 2026 — Scott Johnson
Once upon a time during the heyday of the Vietnam War, Johnny Carson had William F. Buckley on the Tonight Show as a guest. For his opening question, Johnny asked Buckley something to this effect. United States Ambassador to Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge says that the war may not come to a defintive conclusion, but that it may just fade away. What do you think? In his slowest British drawl,
»
June 2, 2026 — Scott Johnson
It is difficult to understand the alleged ceasefire that President Trump claims to have obtained with Iran. Iran seems to keep on keeping on. "I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut… I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop." – President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/DJhysrmVnO —
»
June 1, 2026 — John Hinderaker
Last night on the Rita Panahi show, we had a wide-ranging conversation that started with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wearing a hijab, covered Zohran Mamdani scorning Israel Day in New York, the status of a deal (or not) in Iran, and Graham Platner, including this post on Platner’s anti-Semitism. We finished up with the City of Boston’s “Trans Period Pride” event. All in all, an entertaining segment. The video starts with Lefties
»
May 29, 2026 — Bill Glahn
There is a concept in geometry called an asymptotic curve, which as it curves towards another line (such as an axis) it gets ever closer, but never quite touches or crosses it. In regard to the peace plan with Iran, the “deal” draws ever closer to finality, but never quite makes it. From Zerohedge, But close enough for the stock market. From Barrons, Stock Market News From May 29, 2026:
»
