What’s Going On: A “War of Choice,” Israel, and the Risks of Escalation

Send a textThe fellows debate the U.S. becoming more deeply involved in a Middle East conflict, calling it a “war of choice” tied to Israel and pointing to shifting official explanations. They connect today’s tensions to U.S. history in Iran, arguing that democracy requires participation and that non-participation has enabled fascism and weakened checks on presidential power, with Republicans and the courts failing to restrain Trump. The conversation covers naval attacks, drone strikes, evacuations, embassy closures, and plans to ramp up wartime production, along with concerns about rising gas and food prices, global isolation, and the risk of wider escalation involving China or North Korea. They also raise fears of terrorism, possible nuclear use, a return of the draft, and war being used to disrupt midterms.Support the show