The Brian Lehrer Show Sen. Andy Kim on War With Iran
Mar 4, 2026
Andy Kim, U.S. senator from New Jersey and former national security official, explains why he opposes the president's decision to attack Iran. He dissects the lack of congressional authorization and argues for diplomacy over unilateral strikes. He warns about troop safety, evacuation failures, and the broader geopolitical risks of a wider war.
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Reservists Killed Were Ordinary Citizens With Civilian Lives
- Kim highlights fallen reservists and questions whether they knew what they were fighting for.
- He notes many were reservists with civilian lives, like a 20-year-old studying cybersecurity and a 35-year-old with a political science degree.
President Launched Iran War Without Congressional Approval
- The president declared an open-ended Iran war without coming to Congress or the American people first.
- Andy Kim says this bypasses constitutional war powers and sent troops into harm's way without required deliberation or resources.
Bring Public Deliberation Before Going To War
- Involve the American people and Congress before committing to war.
- Kim recounts a town hall where zero attendees supported war but every hand wanted a public deliberation first.