Here & Now Anytime What swing voters think of the war in Iran
Mar 12, 2026
David Archuleta, singer-songwriter and former American Idol finalist turned memoirist, reflects on coming out and leaving the Mormon church. Radin Yad, Iranian expatriate and English teacher, shares firsthand views from family in Tehran about war damage, shortages and fears. They discuss the human cost, worries about escalation, and how distant conflicts shape personal and political concerns.
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Family Calls Cut Short By War And Sanctions
- Radin Yad describes scarce communication with family in Tehran after the war began, speaking to his mother only once and getting updates via a neighbor's brief internet access.
- He recounts damaged city sites, shattered windows from bombs, and his aging grandmother struggling to access medical care amid sanctions and inflation over 100%.
Sanctions Are Blocking Essential Medicine
- Sanctions intended to pressure Iran are indirectly restricting medicine imports because banks lack SWIFT/IBAN access and suppliers fear secondary sanctions.
- Radin explains that even non-sanctioned medical supplies become inaccessible when companies and banks avoid any transactions with Iran.
External Attacks Can Strengthen Internal Regimes
- Radin expects external military strikes will fuel patriotic resentment and reduce the likelihood of internal reform, arguing lasting change must come from Iranians themselves.
- He stresses optimism but notes past government crackdowns have repeatedly crushed reform chances.
