To The Contrary with Charlie Sykes Trumpology and the Iran Quagmire
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Mar 17, 2026 
Susan Glasser, New Yorker staff writer known for sharp political and foreign policy analysis. They unpack Trump's social media focus amid crisis. They explore concentrated presidential power and how that shapes decision-making. They critique performative strikes, sudden outreach to allies, and the international spread of MAGA-aligned tactics.
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Trump's Social Media Avoids The War
- Donald Trump is publicly focusing Truth Social on his hardcore base while avoiding sustained messaging about the Iran war.
- Susan Glasser notes his social posts are ~80% unrelated to the conflict, signaling political calculation and possible disinterest in managing the war publicly.
Concentrated Power Forces Trumpology
- Power is highly concentrated in Trump, forcing 'Trumpology' to decode contradictory impulses for national-security decisions.
- Glasser warns this concentration bypasses institutional process, leaving diplomats and Americans unprepared for sudden conflict.
Trump's Information Blindspots Increased Risk
- Trump likely ignored or failed to absorb operational warnings about risks like the Strait of Hormuz closure.
- Glasser cites his poor information consumption and tendency to dismiss contradictory briefings as a probable cause of insufficient prewar planning.