Summary
Overview
Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci discuss Donald Trump's increasingly desperate moves, including a low-energy primetime speech about the Iran conflict and his unprecedented appearance at the Supreme Court during the birthright citizenship case. They analyze Trump's erratic foreign policy that benefits Russia and China, his declining approval ratings, and whether America has become a 'rogue state.' The episode also examines how the judiciary remains the last line of defense against executive overreach, while Congress remains largely silent.
Trump's Nothing-Burger Iran Speech
After a full day of White House buildup suggesting major announcements about NATO or the Iran conflict, Trump delivered a lackluster 20-minute primetime address that made little actual news. The speech was confused and contradictory, claiming victory while also threatening to bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Age,' saying Iran wants a ceasefire (which Tehran denies), and presenting no clear strategy. Despite the anticlimactic speech, tens of thousands of American troops remain deployed in the region, suggesting the real signal is military positioning, not the presidential rhetoric.
- White House leaked all day that either Trump was pulling out of NATO or abandoning the Straits of Hormuz
- Trump's speech was low-energy, on prompter (which he hates), and didn't really make any news
- He claimed to end Iran's nuclear program and achieve regime change while simultaneously saying it's all up to allies now
- The Iranians deny they're negotiating or begging for a ceasefire as Trump claimed
" We're going to bring them back to the Stone Ages where they belong "
Russia and China: The Real Winners
Scaramucci lays out how, if he were an agent of Vladimir Putin, he would do exactly what Trump is doing - attack Iran while unsanctioning Russian oil, wreck relationships with Gulf allies, and threaten NATO withdrawal. Russia is clearly benefiting from the Iran conflict through rising oil prices, unsanctioned oil flowing billions back to Moscow, and the degradation of American alliances. Meanwhile, China gains influence as America becomes unreliable, though the White House may be gambling on using oil leverage to force Chinese involvement in regime change in Iran.
- Russia is advising Iran on drone strike patterns similar to those used in Ukraine
- Iran is using Russian satellite data to target America's Gulf allies
- Russia dropped plans for budget cuts because it's doing so well from higher oil prices and unsanctioned oil
- China controls 40-50% of its oil from the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz
" If I'm an agent of Vladimir Putin and I happened to run the American government, here's how I could really make a mess of everything and really help the Russians "
" Turns out none of that is a red line for MAGA but you know what is a red line for MAGA? Gas prices because when they go to fill up their pickup truck their 2007 pickup truck the gas prices are heading for six to seven dollars a gallon "
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