Useful Idiots with Katie Halper and Aaron Maté 85 SECONDS TO MIDNIGHT (or: US senators can't stop smiling)
Feb 9, 2026
They dissect senators openly calling for regime change in Iran and the political theater around arms control. Nuclear risks from New START's collapse and the Doomsday Clock get tense attention. Election interference, voter ID debates, and ICE detention practices are examined. Stories range from Trump’s racist video fallout to new disclosures in the Epstein files.
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Episode notes
Bipartisan Thirst For Regime Change
- Mark Warner and hosts highlight bipartisan appetite in Washington for regime change in Iran.
- They show debate focuses on strategy and allies rather than questioning the right to intervene.
Questioning Iran Casualty Claims
- Aaron Maté notes many cited Iranian casualty figures come from U.S.-funded groups with limited verification.
- He cautions that those sources can be biased and not inside Iran.
Arms Control Needs Broader Buy-In
- Mark Warner and hosts link arms-control progress to bringing China, Britain, and France into talks.
- They emphasize any limits on major powers reduce nuclear danger even if imperfect.
