U.S. and Israeli war on Iran continues

The U.S. is now four days into its war against Iran, jointly with the Israeli military, and without congressional approval.

Casualties so far include some U.S. service members and hundreds of Iranians, including the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei ruled for 36 years and built Iran into a powerful anti-U.S. adversary, while suppressing opposition at home with digital surveillance, mass arrests and lethal force.

Following the U.S. strike on Iran, the conflict has spread to other Middle East countries, including Lebanon and Cyprus, causing the International Committee of the Red Cross to say civilian lives across the region are in grave danger.

The Trump administration has sent mixed messages over its basis for attacking Iran, with President Donald Trump on one hand, urging the Iranian people to take over their government, while on the other, insisting this war was not about a regime change, but about nuclear and ballistic missile capability.

Trump said Monday, "An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East but also to the American people. Our country itself would be under threat and it was very nearly under threat."

We'll start Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas" talking about the war with Iran, including how we got here and what happens next.

Guest:

- Avi Cover, Law Professor & Director, Institute for Global Security Law & Policy, Case Western Reserve University

Remembering WAKC

Thirty years ago, Akron lost its only TV newsroom. After struggling for years to compete with Cleveland television, WAKC was sold and the new owners dropped local programming.

The close-knit staff from WAKC, and WAKR radio, gather each year to reminisce about their time covering the Rubber City.

Ideastream Public Media's Kabir Bhatia visited their reunion in 2016, and turned it into an audio postcard.

Guest:

- Kabir Bhatia, Senior Arts Reporter, Ideastream Public Media