Impolitic with John Heilemann Bill Kristol: No Nukes, No Joy, No Easy Way Out in Iran
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Mar 20, 2026 
Bill Kristol, veteran conservative commentator and co-founder of The Bulwark, weighs in on the widening war in Iran. He discusses allied shock and eroding trust, how initial hopes for a brief strike unraveled, the risk of escalation traps and asymmetric Iranian responses, and the domestic political fallout reshaping conservative media and 2028 GOP dynamics.
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Kristol's Tech Migration Anxiety
- Bill Kristol joked about syncing a new laptop and phone while feeling anxious during the interview.
- He described replacing an eight-year laptop using his wife's computer and visiting the Apple store Genius Bar.
Decide Rapidly To Avoid Costly Escalation
- Decide quickly whether to pursue a face-saving exit because prolonged escalation increases economic and military costs.
- Kristol warns the longer the conflict drags, the likelier ground troops or severe recession become.
Iran Demonstrated Strategic Patience And Rebound Capability
- Iran's missile and drone tempo rebounded after an initial lull, showing strategic patience and capability to sustain pressure.
- Kristol notes attacks rose from ~15 per day back up to much larger coordinated strikes on regional targets.