How Iran Is Defeating The Washington Blob

Friday, June 5, 2026, IstanbulUS lawmakers finally stood up to the Trump administration this week, voting in a surprise move to call on President Donald Trump to halt the war in Iran or seek Congressional approval.Huge segments of official Washington are finally catching up with the overwhelming American public consensus that the war is a disastrous mistake. But why did it take so much and so long to overcome?In today’s podcast, Washington-based scholar Sina Toossi and I discuss the hawkish Beltway consensus that led to a war that is badly damaging the world economy.Other topics in today’s edition:* The latest updates on Iran’s nuclear program* The rift between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Lebanon* Iran’s remaining military capabilities* Iran’s increasing abuse of dissidents and use of the death penalty* What to expect ahead Iran’s arrival to North America for the World Cup* And Sina’s picks on some of the best restaurants in WashingtonPlease watch, listen, share, and subscribe!badlands is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit borzou.substack.com/subscribe