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Why would a president risk a war in the Middle East in an election year? 

Dan is joined by Walter Russell Mead to unpack the strategic and political gamble behind the U.S. conflict with Iran. They discuss why Trump may have chosen this moment to act, how generational attitudes toward war shape the debate, and what success (or failure) could look like. The conversation also explores Iran’s potential strategy, its impact on Russia and China, and how countries like India are viewing the unfolding conflict.

In this episode:

- 05:45 – Trump’s High-Stakes Bet on War

- 08:15 – Why the Case for the War Feels Unclear to Many Americans

- 10:25 – The Generational Divide on U.S. Military Power

- 15:40 – Why Trump Chose This Moment to Strike

- 23:20 – What “Winning” the War Could Actually Look Like

- 26:20 – Iran’s Endurance Strategy: Drag the U.S. Into a Quagmire

- 30:05 – What Russia and China Want to See Happen

- 32:10 – Why India Is Watching This War Closely

See Rachel Goldberg-Polin in conversation with Dan at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center on April 20 to discuss her upcoming book "When We See You Again.” Purchase tickets before they sell out.

More Ark Media:

Credits: Ilan Benatar, Adaam James Levin-Areddy, Brittany Cohen, Ava Weiner, Martin Huergo, Mariangeles Burgos, and Patricio Spadavecchia, Yuval Semo