In this episode, I unpack why the United States finds itself effectively at war with Iran in early 2026—and why the justifications don’t pass the smell test. I contrast older clips of Donald Trump and key allies denouncing Middle East entanglements with today’s rhetoric, highlight Marco Rubio’s “preemptive because Israel might strike” logic, and examine how this flips even the most generous versions of just war theory on their head. I also explore claims about the political deals and pressures that may have paved the way—Big Tech influence, Susie Wiles’ role, and alleged promises to the Israel lobby—while considering the blowback risks at home and abroad. Along the way, I bring in perspectives from Thomas Massie on corporate capture, Charlie Kirk’s critique of regime-change zeal, Eric Prince’s surprising dissent, and a broader pattern that echoes post-9/11 security-state expansion. I close by reflecting on the corrosive effects of endless war on American civic life, the likelihood of a longer, bloodier quagmire, and the manufactured divisions that keep us distracted while the surveillance and security apparatus grows. Whether you once believed “no new wars” or never did, the throughline is clear: foreign and special interests are being served first, and Americans are left paying the price—in treasure, liberty, and increasingly, lives. Expect more pressure for digital IDs, surveillance growth justified by terrorism fears, and a shrinking world that looks uncomfortably like a reboot of the early-2000s war playbook—just with better drones and worse honesty. (AI Slop summary)