Background Briefing: April 22, 2026
Our Reality TV President is at War With Reality in Iran
We begin with the “art of the deal” failing our Reality TV president who is unable to deal with reality as he desperately throws out carrots and sticks at the Iranians in the hope they will let him out of the trap he put the country and the world in. Joining us is Harrison Mann, Associate Director for Campaigns and Policy at Win Without War, a progressive national security advocacy network. His advocacy and public commentary focus on reforming U.S. Middle East policy and illuminating the connections between foreign and domestic policy. He is a former US Army major assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency who resigned in protest of the Department of Defense’s support for the Israeli military during its war on Gaza. He has an article at Zeteo, “We’ve Spent Trillions on Our Pentagon Budget. So Why Are We Losing Against… Iran?”
Trump Is Also Losing on the Domestic Front After Yesterday’s Election in Virginia
Then, with yesterday’s special election in Virginia handing the Democrats 4 more House seats, we examine how, not only are Trump’s foreign policy moves disastrous, his domestic political attempts to rig the next election appear equally incompetent. Joining us is Jacob Heilbrunn, the Editor at the National Interest and a non-resident senior fellow at The Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center and a columnist for The Spectator. His books include They Knew They Were Right: The Rise of the Neocons and America Last: The Right’s Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators. He is also editor-at-large of The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune and he has an article at The Spectator we discuss, “Virginia referendum loss adds to Trump’s woes.”
On Earth Day a World Addicted to Oil Looking For a Fix as the Dealers Fight Over the Supply
Then finally, with a world addicted to oil and looking for a fix as the drug dealers fight over the supply, we speak on this Earth Day with Kathleen Rogers, the President of Earth Day Network who has worked for more than 20 years as an environmental attorney and advocate. She is the lead organizer for the Earth Day March for Science rally and teach-ins on the National Mall and she has an article at American Forum we discuss, “Why Earth Day Matters More Than Ever.”