In this episode of The Hot Dish, Heidi and Joel talk to Tom Nichols, staff writer at The Atlantic and professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, about the complexities of the U.S. military actions in Iran, the geopolitical fallout, and the state of American politics amid ongoing conflicts. 

Nichols brings a sharp, clear-eyed perspective on military strategy, foreign alliances, and domestic political implications. This conversation offers valuable insights into how these military decisions were made, their global consequences, and the internal political ripples they stir.

Key moments in this episode:

• Tom Nichols explains the current state of military operations in Iran and evaluates their strategic effectiveness.
• He discusses the contradictions in Donald Trump’s foreign policy, including our strained alliances and his unpredictable decision-making.
• Tom and Joel discuss the internal U.S. political landscape, especially the disillusionment settling in among MAGA supporters.
• Tom explains how decades of U.S. foreign policy regarding the influence of foreign powers, such as China and Russia, in Iran and the Middle East have changed overnight.

Resources & Links:

• Tom Nichols at The Atlantic
• Books by Tom Nichols 
• Tom Nichols on Bluesky

The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit OneCountryProject.org, or find us on Substack (Onecountryproject.substack.com), and on YouTube, Bluesky, and Facebook (@onecountryproject).

• (00:00) - Introduction to the Discussion on Iran