The Beat with Ari Melber Trump Plagued by Gas Prices, War in Iran, Clash with Pope
Apr 17, 2026
Jay McInerney, novelist known for Bright Lights, Big City, chats about his new COVID-era novel and New York social life. Ty Cobb, former Trump White House attorney turned legal commentator, analyzes DOJ shifts and signs of waning presidential judgment. They debate religious rhetoric, geopolitical confusion, and the Iran conflict’s risks in short, punchy conversations.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Religious Rhetoric Intensified Diplomatic Backlash
- Trump administration's religious messaging backfired by mixing theology with foreign policy and offending many, including Catholics and non-Christians.
- Pete Hegseth's Jesus comparison and J.D. Vance's clash with the Pope escalated diplomatic and political costs during the Iran war debate.
Pope's Just War Critique Has Doctrinal Roots
- E.J. Dion argues the Pope's critique of the Iran war rests on just war doctrine origins and that the war lacked necessary preconditions like exhausting negotiations.
- J.D. Vance's private advice against the war ironically aligns with the Pope's public challenge to its justice.
War Eroded Core Voter Support
- The Iran war has eroded Trump's support among core voters, notably white working-class, narrowing previous approval margins.
- Economic pressure from the war, like higher prices, compounds political damage because voters expected lower costs from Trump.
