THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Trump Press Sec Goes Full Cult as New Leaks on War Humiliate Him Badly
Mar 26, 2026
Emily Horne, former NSC and State Department staffer who writes the Spin Class Substack. She discusses leaks about Trump’s Iran briefings being sanitized video montages. They critique Karoline Leavitt’s grand claims and the danger of truth being defined by spin. The conversation covers how hagiography and sycophancy harm decision making and constrain White House options.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Public Cannot Trust War Messaging
- The White House and Pentagon messaging on the Iran war is inconsistent and untrustworthy, leaving the public unable to know who is telling the truth.
- Emily Horne says there’s no clear definition of success, conflicting U.S. and Israeli aims, and no diplomatic off-ramp described.
Ask For A Clear Definition Of Victory
- Demand concrete definitions of success from the administration instead of vague 'mission accomplished' claims.
- Horne urges reporters to ask what victory looks like and how officials will know objectives are met.
Press Spin Claims Unify Allies Contrary To Reality
- Karoline Leavitt portrayed Trump as a global unifier despite allies' refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
- Emily Horne calls this a willful assertion of an alternate reality that reporters should directly challenge in briefings.