The Washington Roundtable discusses the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, and the possibility that the United States will join the fray by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. They are joined by Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a longtime Iran expert. “What is going to drive events is not the national interest of the United States or the national interests of Iran, but this duel between these two men, Donald Trump and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei,” Sadjapour says. “What I really fear is that both of these men feel like their honor is on the line.” 


This week’s reading:
“Donald Trump’s No-Strategy Strategy on Iran,” by Isaac Chotiner
“The Trump Crackdown on Elected Officials,” by Jonathan Blitzer
“What Is Israel’s Endgame with Iran?” by Robin Wright
“The Military’s Birthday Parade Rolls Quietly Through Trump’s Washington,” by Antonia Hitchens
“After Attacking Iran, Israel Girds for What’s Next,” by Ruth Margalit
“Why Netanyahu Decided to Strike Iran Now,” by Isaac Chotiner
“President Trump’s Military Games,” by Ruth Marcus
“Is the Anti-Trump Opposition Getting Its #Resistance Back?” by Jon Allsop

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The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.