What’s the Point of the Iran War?
Political Gabfest
Mar 05
What’s the Point of the Iran War?
What’s the Point of the Iran War?

Political Gabfest
Mar 05
Shownote
Shownote
This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the possible
political outcomes of the war in Iran given the complexities of Iranian society
with guest Karim Sadjadpour
[https://carnegieendowment.org/people/karim-sadjadpour], whether the primary
election results could mean that Texas will finally turn blue, and the amazing
legal back-and-forth between the embarrassed Trump DOJ and the victorious Big
Law firms who fought back against its clear abuse of executive power.
For this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode, Emily, John, and David discuss this
week’s Supreme Court arguments over whether the federal government can bar
marijuana users from owning a gun.
In the latest Gabfest Reads [https://slate.com/podcasts/gabfestreads], John
Dickerson talks with Father James Martin about his new book, Work in Progress:
Confessions of a Busboy, Dishwasher, Caddy, Usher, Factory Worker, Bank Teller,
Corporate Tool, and Priest
[https://www.amazon.com/Work-Progress-Confessions-dishwasher-corporate/dp/0062694480/tag=slatmaga-20].
They discuss the spiritual lessons learned through eight different jobs,
Martin’s controversial LGBTQ ministry that made him a target of criticism within
the Catholic Church, and what the Gospels demand about welcoming strangers and
caring for the marginalized.
Email your chatters, questions, and comments to gabfest@slate.com. (Messages may
be referenced by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)
Podcast production by Nina Porzucki
Research by Emily Ditto
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Find out more about David Plotz's monthly tours of Ft. DeRussy,
[http://secretfortdc.com/] the secret Civil War fort hidden in Rock Creek
Park.
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Highlights
Highlights
This week, the hosts delve into the complex geopolitical landscape of US-Israel relations with Iran, the shifting political tides in Texas following a key primary, and the chaotic legal confrontation between the Trump administration and major law firms.
Chapters
Chapters
Tensions with Iran, Texas Politics, and Trump's Legal Battles
00:00Why the US and Israel See Iran So Differently
06:39The Fractured Opposition: Why 80% of Iranians Aren't Protesting
10:06Can Colin Allred's Latino Support Turn Texas Blue?
24:20The Trump DOJ's Chaotic War with Big Law Firms
39:32Economic Paradoxes and a Controversial DHS Ad Campaign
52:08Listener Chatter: The Joy of Seeing the Same Broadway Show
58:35Transcript
Transcript
David Plotz: Hello and welcome to the Slate Political Gabfest. March 5th, 2026, the What's the Point of the Iran War? Edition. I am David Plotz of CityCast here in Washington, D.C. I'm joined from New Haven, Connecticut, where she is one year older, but fo...