THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent

Adam Smith, U.S. Congressman and ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, weighs in on looming escalations. He discusses leaked plans for large supplemental war funding and possible ground troop deployments. He warns about risks of impulsive military moves, questions the Pentagon’s priorities, and outlines how Congress could push back and demand oversight.

Emily Horne, former National Security Council and State Department official who writes the Spin Class Substack, breaks down why Joe Kent’s resignation undercuts the case for invading Iran. She explains how counterterrorism assessments shape war planning. The conversation also digs into the growing MAGA split and what it means for Trump’s foreign policy credibility.

Molly McKew, international relations expert and author on great-power politics, offers sharp analysis. She breaks down Trump’s Iran tirades, his fraught relations with allies, and the New York Times revelations about his misunderstandings. They also probe risks of pressure on the press and how foreign influence shaped decisions.

Tara McGowan, former Democratic strategist and founder of the progressive news site Courier, analyzes the GOP’s internal fight over voter suppression and strategy. She discusses why Trump’s push for making voting harder traps Republicans. The conversation covers rising state-level losses, concerns about turnout, and energized Democratic organizing ahead of the fall.

Nicholas Grossman, international relations professor and analyst of U.S. foreign policy, breaks down the Iran-Hormuz oil shock. He explains the scale of the Strait closure and its global economic fallout. He discusses White House alarm, limits of Trump’s brinkmanship, who benefits from higher oil prices, and possible paths forward.

Elizabeth Saunders, Columbia political scientist specializing in foreign policy, breaks down U.S.-Iran tensions. She explains why closing the Strait of Hormuz threatens global oil, how tanker blockages and mines create an energy shock, and why concentrated presidential power and purged expertise warp decision-making. She also discusses the fallout from a deadly school strike and the limits of unilateral moves to end the war.

Paul Waldman, political columnist and commentator who writes The Cross Section, breaks down why Trump’s Iran war failed to gain public backing. He dissects a viral exchange where Trump admitted he lacked facts after blaming Iran for a school bombing. The conversation covers chaotic White House messaging, weak rallying effects, and a tougher press probing the administration.

Norman Ornstein, veteran congressional scholar known for expertise on Congress and elections, breaks down the SAVE Act’s voter suppression mechanics. He analyzes how Trump’s frantic demands clash with Republican midterm messaging. The conversation covers Senate math, filibuster pressure, risks to overseas and mail voting, and frightening scenarios for election subversion.

Amanda Marcotte, political journalist skilled at decoding right-wing politics. She dissects Caroline Leavitt's cultlike praise of Trump and what that signals about MAGA dynamics. Short takes explore claims about Iran surrender, shrinking war support, the party’s reliance on personal loyalty, and the political risks as Trump's standing falters.

Tori Otten, deputy editor at The New Republic who covers Trump-era messaging and MAGA politics, joins the conversation. She breaks down Karoline Leavitt’s furious pressroom outburst and why Republicans are skittish about the Iran conflict. They explore MAGA’s mix of fantasy and reality, sanitized war imagery, and the political risks of voter remorse.