The Warning with Steve Schmidt Steve Schmidt & Don Lemon: Trump's Iran War Lies & Fallout After Kristi Noem’s Abysmal Testimony
Mar 5, 2026
Steve Schmidt, longtime political strategist and commentator, weighs in on the escalating conflict with Iran and the tangled, conflicting rationales behind recent U.S. actions. He outlines regional sectarian risks, economic and human costs, and how U.S.-Israel dynamics erode American leverage. The conversation then shifts to Kristi Noem’s criticized congressional testimony, alleged shady contracts, and warnings about threats to future elections.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
War Launched Without Strategic Plan
- Donald Trump’s decision-making on the Iran action reflects fascistic tendencies that prioritize spectacle over strategy.
- Steve Schmidt argues the administration acted without coherent planning, risking a sectarian war by arming Sunnis against a Shia Persian majority across many countries.
U.S. Action Driven By Israeli Decision
- Marco Rubio framed the U.S. action as compelled by an Israeli decision, implying U.S. loss of leverage with Netanyahu.
- Schmidt highlights this shifts U.S. motive from self-defense to acting for an ally, deepening regional escalation and consequences.
Civilian Toll Undercuts Precision Claims
- Precision strikes caused large civilian casualties, exposing contradictions between claimed precision and outcomes.
- Schmidt notes a precision munition hit a school killing 168 young women, undermining stated justifications and planning.