The Dispatch Podcast Are We Winning the War in Iran?
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Mar 17, 2026 
Mike Warren, Dispatch senior editor offering editorial perspective; Tim Mak, on-the-ground reporter and founder of Iran War Dispatches; Mike Nelson, retired Army Special Forces officer focused on national security. They discuss tactical vs strategic success in Iran. They cover on-the-ground reporting, internet blackouts and Starlink, drone warfare and Russian support, and diverging U.S.-Israeli goals.
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Why Media Scrutiny Of The Campaign Is Valid
- Media skepticism about the war isn't mere doomsaying; it raises legitimate questions about objectives, collateral damage, and economic fallout.
- Headlines criticizing planning (e.g., Strait of Hormuz risks) reflect reporters probing unclear political goals.
Iran War Dispatches Ground-Level Reporting Approach
- Tim Mak built Iran War Dispatches to apply Counteroffensive's human-centered reporting to Iran.
- His team reports from Armenia and Iraq to profile Iranians, exiles, and Kurdish fighters instead of only listing strikes.
Internet Blackout Is A Tool To Prevent Uprisings
- There's a near-total internet blackout inside Iran, so many citizens lack reliable information and cannot coordinate protests.
- Starlink or foreign SIMs give rare connectivity but are risky; the blackout is an intentional repression tool.