The Morning Meeting New War With Iran Looms as Trump Mulls "Limited Strike" To Spur a Nuclear Deal
Feb 23, 2026
They dig into the Iran standoff and talk through reports of possible limited strikes and diplomatic moves. State of the Union logistics and who might attend get a tactical breakdown. Politics and optics around polling, Kash Patel, and high-profile media moments get debated. Other headlines include Epstein revelations, Mexico's security moves, tariffs, and signals from Gavin Newsom.
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Independent Approval Predicts Midterm Risk
- Hosts highlight consistent polling showing the president's approval near the high 30s overall and much lower with independents (mid-20s).
- They warn low independent approval could produce major midterm losses even if national numbers improve slightly.
Kash Patel Celebrated With U.S. Hockey Team Locker Room Visit
- Mark Halperin recounts Kash Patel celebrating with the U.S. hockey team in the locker room wearing a Team USA jersey and gold medal.
- Hogan and Jaime recall Patel told reporters he'd reimburse any personal expenses and call the moment poor optics but forgivable.
Avoid Obsessing Over Cheap Optics
- Jaime Hyma and Hogan advise Democrats to avoid over-focusing on Kash Patel optics and stay on message about affordability and policy.
- They argue obsessing over locker-room photos distracts from bigger issues that affect voters' lives.