Radio War Nerd EP #532 — Trump Bombs Iran: Operation Midnight Hummer
Recorded: June 23, 2025
Another emergency ep, reviewing Trump's bombing raid on Iran. (Recorded a couple of hours before Trump's most recent 180, from "regime-change" to "ceasefire". Must've had his old clogged heart softened up by all the post-bombing FoxNews flattery...)
Music interlude by Brendon Anderegg. Check out music from his group Mountains here
Total time: 1:07:04
Direct link to this episode's mp3 here
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Comments (42)
Golan/Globus mentioned
We’re allowed to talk about Geoengineering without being called conspiracy theorists now right? In any event, would recommend you guys consult the robust body of evidence for this, most of which can be sourced from what can broadly be considered “reputable” (sources (or at least non-controversial ones, e.g. PBS). I only mention it because there is a very real geopolitical element involved and it seems to me that, at this juncture, any conversation not informed at some indirect level by its existence, well, it’s kind of just not war nerd level in my opinion. anyways, hope everyone has fun dunking on me 🤙
if you make another episode about this the ceasefire will break down before it's released
All the Bannons and the Tuckers have to bend the knee because Trump got lucky: he pulled off his "peace through strength" – yet again. It's not that different from him killing Soleimani (and not to forget, he bombed Syria and Afghanistan too, also in big, showy ways). WWIII did not happen; gas prices stayed low. So it was not a betrayal: this *was* "anti-interventionism," Trump's own brand of it! And the base loves it; they always have. The thing is, this time it was riskier. His options are fewer and worse should Iran go for the bomb.
I'd love to see a study or piece about this new concrete John mentioned
Iran is finished
It is funny to think that the empire loses its military advantage because they couldn’t stop getting horny for bigger, stupider, more expensive “weapons” systems
Mark the reason why there are not active dsa chapters in smaller cities today (there were many in 2017-2020) is that dsa is structured around concentrations of Democratic Party/liberal NGO/union staffers who make up the activist cadres that keep dsa running, so they are naturally concentrated in big liberal cities and have consistently resisted pushing resources to small chapters in red states and small cities. These circumstances has made reforming dsa into an organization that can extend its appeal beyond its natural power bases in NYC, Chicago and parts of California extremely difficult unfortunately and many people who were active in those areas have left the organization.
That's really too bad. I've heard a lot along those lines too. But I also hear that it varies so much chapter to chapter, town to town. My sense is that a lot of the first wave in 2017-20 weren't so much socialists or radicals as disillusioned young liberals who wanted something better than what the liberal establishment offers. So most of them fell off after 2020/1. I would think Zohran's success should make things more possible in 2nd-tier or Red State cities, but it'll need more successes and momentum to keep that going (using the Populists as one model).
Hi, big fan of the War Nerd here. Your piece about assassinations there in The Exiled was one of my big eye-openers. It seems that the biggest Israeli strategy against Iran is to assassinate every important opposing Iranian and leave worthless, forever loyal to the west generals and politicians. Do you think Pezeshkian and Qaani are loyal to Iran or West simps that have been carefully left alive by Mossad to make sure they sink Iran from within?
Totally unrelated to the subject of the episode… can someone confirm whether I am having insane deja vu or not in thinking you guys discussed Native American interpretations of tornados and cyclones in another episode’s intro?
Wow. This is starting to look more and more gentlemanly as time goes on: Exclusive: Iran given advance notice as US insisted attack on nuclear sites is ‘one-off’ https://amwaj.media/en/media-monitor/exclusive-iran-given-advance-notice-as-us-insisted-attack-on-nuclear-sites-is-one
The assassinations that kicked off the war were not very gentlemanly. Good article and interesting website, though. Thanks.
I doubt anyone 75 years ago was questioning the need for manned bombers (assuming you saw a "need" for dropping bombs in the first place). Missiles that could get nukes to Russia definitely lay in the future. Also, you didn't want to put all your eggs in one basket.
Exactly what I was thinking. Pretty stupid to put all your $5 billion dollar Hollywood ass stealth bombers in the same place at one time. wtf what a joke. Are they all on that 50 year old aircraft carrier too? Someone is trying to cash in on insurance or something lol
The War Nerd for the second time proves they have no expertise on the Indian subcontinent by saying Iran has a much more stable elite than Pakistan. Nothing could be further from the truth if you actually did some research, john/gary aka War Nerd.
elaborate
It must be extremely frustrating to make a podcast about something happening real time like this
Really appreciate you guys, its so hard to find any information that is objective.
At around the 46 minute mark, I know this book is having a resurgence, but I'm reminded of "Bowling Alone" and the fight against atomization. Really happy to hear your son found purpose and camraderie in protest!
Any subject should reference the Third Policeman. And At Swim, but especially 3rd Policeman.
Catherine the Great had a quote about how you can always quell internal dissent by starting a war The more things change the more they stay the same
we just need you guys to livestream for the next month
Mordecai Vanunu has been out of prison for many years now but he’s not allowed to leave Israel.
Apparently the planners of Midnight Hammer were Top Gun Maverick fans.
Well, the bad news is the ceasefire has collapsed and the cycle of violence continues But the good news is the cycle of episodes becoming outdated 5 minutes after they come out has been broken
Anybody seen tthat the first shipments moved by rail between China and Iran in May? Seems kind of significant in view of all the strait of Hormuz talk.
i was genuinely moved by Mark's anecdote about his son's experience at the protest
Thanks, I agree!
ere's a YouTube from 2 years back called "Can Iran Stop U.S. Bunker Buster Bombs?" which explains that in fact Iran is a world leader in super-strong concrete due to a long running expertise developed originally because of the frequency of earthquakes. https://youtu.be/33IfCt-fAOk?si=KGquNOEO2t7Zc
The war may be ‘over’ but it’s only Monday. Plenty of time for a new apocalyptic crisis.
Can you please provide a link to the story regarding reinforced concrete that you referenced at around 11:45?
Geez, I guess I was right about total air dominance after all. And it was used as I thought. Now, the real question is will a popular uprising come about, or does the Basij have the fortitude to slaughter their people again.
Usually you don't need to do deception tactics and a stealth attack in the dead of night with the most highly advanced stealth bombers on the planet if you have "total air dominance". Don't get your hopes up champ.
Schrödinger's Enriched Uranium
You guys should do another YouTube livestream next time you record anything for current events lol
And now what is happening in Iraq. I feel for you guys - the world is moving too fast
GOD BLESS THE WORLD!
Dude I can't imagine how frustrating it is to post episodes that are obsolescent by the time they finish uploading. Praying for yall. Free Palestine!
Aaaand the wars “over”
Huh huh huh huh huh huh ::butthead chuckle::
Thanks. Been waiting for this one. Listening ASAP.