Compact Podcast A Tale of Two Wars
6 snips
Mar 4, 2026 Stephen Adubato, assistant editor and commentator, joins the conversation. They debate U.S. strikes on Iran and whether modern media can rally public support for war. The discussion then shifts to the EU drive to ban conversion practices, covering broad definitions, affirmation‑only therapy risks, detransitioners, and who gets to define identity.
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Death Of A Cohesive War Narrative
- Modern war lacks coherent propaganda because media fragmentation prevents a single master narrative.
- Geoff Shullenberger argues states still wage effective wars despite the collapse of centralized war storytelling since the Bush era and 9/11.
Powerful Apparatus Pushes Presidents Toward Intervention
- Presidents face structural incentives to use military power because a massive apparatus sits ready to be wielded.
- Geoff Shullenberger says this explains why many presidents become interventionist even without a clear defining vision after the Cold War.
Trump's Managerial Hawkishness
- Trump's approach mixes hawkish action with populist managerial rhetoric focused on outcomes not ideology.
- Matthew Schmitz notes Trump opposes 'forever wars' but favors spectacular interventions that appear decisive and advantageous.