Radio War Nerd EP #595 — Iran War Update: The Countdown
Recorded: April 7, 2026
We discuss Trump's threat to exterminate Iran, the politics of a decaying empire & grim futures
Total time: 52:19
Direct link to this episode's mp3 here
*
Buy & review John Dolan's new book, They Should Have Been Hanged: War Nerd Essays on the U.S. Civil War
Subscribe to Radio War Nerd at patreon.com/radiowarnerd
Sound production by Telescope Audio
Comments (60)
I think Ali Khamenei's son is named Mojtaba. (I only remembered it because I used to work with a guy with the same name.)
John mentioned the fearsome Iranian operators in the 80s. Any books about this you’d recommend? Would love to learn
Great episode, a classic. Full of nuggets of insight
Miami is native for "people south of the lake." That's why there's one on lake Erie and on lake Okeechobee
Horrific bombings happening in Lebanon right now- Israel wants collapse, no matter what the sugar daddy (America) says
The fact that this ceasefire is happening at all is a huge victory for Iran.
Some important things to point out about Tucker Carlson and MTG, they are against the war and unconditional support for Israel, because they have openly said they believe in prosecuting a war at home against their domestic political enemies, and Carlson has also insisted that the “real” enemy should be China. These are people who no one with any progressive or left political principles can go into coalition with in any meaningful way because they will turn on us as soon as it is convenient. As long as the left remains focused on which politician or media figure makes them feel warm and fuzzy instead of focusing on rebuilding the social base for carrying forward a left program people will forever be getting bogged down by our system of managed “democracy” and getting nowhere while the world literally burns.
If you’re interested in Mule Drawn Canal Boats, please visit me at the National Canal Museum in PA!
"They could squeek out a win" with all the feelings of saying squeek out a sh*t.
40:00 wasn’t it the murdoch press that had all the epstein leaks ?? Before the war. Maybe bibi and murdocch were subtly threatening trump.
That's what I always thought too. Plus Netanyahu meeting DJT at Mar-a-lago late last year, the suspicious timings of the Iran "protests"
12:00 “the right hasn’t ever split this early”. I think thats the point. Tucker clearly isn’t an anti war guy. The split is being sheepherded/safely managed when there’s no consequences during voting. Watch them all row in behind trump when it matters.
MTG seems to be having some genuine weird moral conversion though. Palling around with Medea Benjamin and stuff. I mean she’s still a transphobic Christian Nationalist but 🤪
In the spirit of things written and said before Trump pivoted tonight, which I don't believe is stable. I wrote a poem. For a long time I have been inspired by Refaat Alareer, murdered by Israel. It doesn't match him, but I have his book, I've studied his poetry, and I know it's not at his level, but this is my tribute. The hopelessness the oppressive feeling of being in the heart of empire helpless google asking how can I improve your thoughts? what did you mean, what did you think. I DON'T KNOW I'm hanging on I'm someone who looks at everything trying to understand because you have to and as the world grinds down into dust as everyone accepts that this is what it is this is who we are and I weep for what was, what could be. Crying out for anything but this. - I'm a bit more hopeful than when I wrote that a couple days ago, but the terrible feeling, while temporarily alleviated, is not gone. I saw someone describe it as your abuser pointing a gun to your head, lowering it, and asking, "aren't you glad I didn't pull the trigger?"
after listening to 20 mins in, your outlook is deeply twisted by twitter. Listen to the people you know in real life over the deeply botted and manipulated algorithm.
I know, since the no kings clever sign contest hasn’t gotten their attention, how bout we piss them off with a national “buy a Chinese product day”?
Bagel boycott?
Of course it’s gotta hold But Iran made the full force of the empire flinch.
Even if ceasefire holds, huge amounts of oil and gas still offline. Dubai ain’t coming back. More like Dubain’t. Isreal took real damage, the army is on the brink of collapse (says its commander?) and I wager the economy is fragile as well
It was clear going into 2026 that War with Iran was a distinct possibility. The Democrats had points of leverage with funding and war powers, but actively refused to use those levers. It was obvious that a number of these members just didn't want to have to go on record as supporting the war. They (and their major donors) wanted Trump to do it, with the understanding that Trump would also take the heat if and when things went wrong. People kind of took the most cynical lessons from the 2002 Iraq War Authorization. Not a great sign for the current state of democracy.
Merry Christmas (War is Over) (for now)
When it comes to the behaviour democratic leadership the explanation that makes sense that they view any return to "resistance politics" as risking a 2020 crisis years in advance of any electoral safety valve. Sure this war is a Suez level catastrophe for the American empire. But calling people on to the streets (and that's all their numbers in congress give them the power to do) risks a Russo-Japanese war style catastrophe.
And core to that contention is the notion that the ICE mass operations in cities show that the democratic base has a lot more fight in it than the leadership feel they can control. In that context pushing rightwing anti war figures makes a lot of sense demonized maga voters are less disruptive than mobilizing the Democratic rank and file.
Your kids growing up on the down slide of the acme is still so fucking privileged and you’re whining. Billions of people just have kids because that’s what people do. Stunning and brave analysis. You took a ma who only acts and speaks in bad faith in good faith. BTW, look at Vietnam. The U.S. beat them with the dollar after depopulating the region. Westmoreland is an idiot, but be realistic about what happened for the last fifty years.
Huh
Evil will always win because Good is dumb.
Good isn’t dumb, it ls just bound by limits and is often reactionary
Yay for a ceasefire, here's hoping it lasts
The Miami River in Ohio is named after the Miami Tribe that lived in part in Western Ohio
Just settling in and starting to listen. You guys have put out more than your standard clip. You're both very thoughtful and trustworthy, I always jump at the opportunity to listen to a level read of the situation from people that know their stuff. I really appreciate it, makes me a bit less anxious
Statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council https://x.com/i/status/2041658177901797867 Zolghadar sounds pretty pleased.
he finally found an enemy that's more fruity than he is. made for each other
Hasan mentioned!
I know each co host is “young” for their age, but as you both get older the world is only getting crazier. The rate of episodes and current events to follow is exponentially higher then when the show started. Plus you still cover historical stuff. Not to mention John’s multiple books since 2015. So I think others would agree, but thanks for all you two (three, Brendan) do for the show
Amen
On the topic of antiquated Constitution & useless Dem opppsition, I teach political philosophy to undergrads and its funny how whenever we go into the rationale behind seperation/balance of powers, purpose of representative government, etc., there are always a few exasperated comments that are some variation of "ok but why does none of that shit actually work?". Usually not even in a dismissive way, just taking for granted that the system doesnt do what it says on the tin and genuinely asking for an explanation of why it doesnt. Im young and it still feels like a noticeable shift from the kind of ubiquitous political cynicism I was raised in that had the flavor of "the people and parties in power are corrupt/dumb/etc but American system is basically good and right." Obv just an isolated anecdote but its striking to me to hear a variety of young students not debating whether the system works or what its flaws are, but treating its fundamental inadequacy as a given.
Trump truthed, the conflict is over. He’s super cereal this time. God bless Pakistan!
Looks like Trump dropped another bunker bluster
I'll abjure on your behalf John 🫡
Literally minutes after posting Trump caves and agrees to negotiate Iran's 10 point plan.
classic RWN
It's ok everyone Keir Starmer stopped the Kanye concert just in the nick of time 🫠
I was talking to my dad and his take is that whatever happens the US wrt/ Iran is fine because they have the Venezuela oil and China loses a huge amount of its own supply. He's not even really a trump guy he's just a weird tankie-ish contrarian [edit: I guess he's a rare-ish tankie who likes Putin but dislikes Xi]
This is basically the “sophisticated maga” and/or “edgy liberals who are supposed to hate trump but support his foreign policy” take on this war. No matter how bad it’s going or how ugly it’ll get for the homeland, it’s all worth it because, And I quote , “we’ll control all of chinas oil and it’ll ruin them”
my grandfather would shoot me for saying this but glory be to shia allah inshallah
as if the americans were not baffled and scared by the suni afghans the shia these fuckers will be suicidal if they face iranians as colonizers
Just after you posted, Trump announced a two week ceasefire
pakistani peace deal baby
On such an important news day I need to check in on noted journalist Matt Taibbi to get the pulse of what’s going on. *checks Taibbi’s Substack* wow did you guys know that AOC was very rude in a tweet to Ted Cruz 3 years ago?
Oh my god. Mark's alien voice is terrifying and hilarious at the same time.
So Trump wants to TACO, but have the Iranians agreed to open the strait? https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/apr/07/iran-war-live-updates-trump-hormuz-threats-deadline-strikes-middle-east-conflict?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-69d586828f082af210bc57e8#block-69d586828f082af210bc57e8
it's been on honor, everyone. take care
TACO tuesdays?
Now Trump saying he’s suspending bombing for two weeks but we’ll see
“I meant April 7 2027 at 8pm!”
here we go
Ruling by daily cliffhanger is truly demented. Truly an american product this trump creep
Governed by sweeps week.
Sam Patch mentioned :)
Never clicked on an ep this fast before, thanks fellas 👋