Senators Briefed On U.S. Strikes In Iran, Offer Conflicting Reaction

A marathon Senate voting session is underway, known as a “vote-a-rama,” where lawmakers are offering changes to President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” before a final vote. Meanwhile, Elon Musk tells Republicans: vote yes and say goodbye to another term. Plus, the man accused of murdering four college students takes a plea deal. How it came about and where it leaves four families seeking justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court ruled to limit the ability of lower courts to issue nationwide orders that temporarily stop the government from enforcing a policy, giving presidents more unchallenged power. President Trump says he'll use it. Plus, new satellite new photos show earth-moving equipment at the Fordow nuclear site in Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The ceasefire between Israel and Iran continues to hold, but many questions remain about exactly what the state of Iran's nuclear capabilities are, as well as what their intentions are, and what will happen next. Today, members of the Senate were briefed behind closed doors by the administration with many emerging from the meeting divided over what they heard. Anderson speaks to Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, former senior operations manager with the CIA Norman Roule, and retired Air Force general and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Philip Breedlove. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump says the U.S. will meet with Iran "next week" about a potential nuclear agreement and maintains the strikes against the country's nuclear facilities caused "total obliteration.” Meanwhile, CIA Director John Ratcliffe on Wednesday issued a statement saying the agency had obtained “a body of credible evidence (that) indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes.” He goes on to say, “This includes new intelligence from a historically reliable and accurate source/method that several key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and would have to be rebuilt over the course of years.” This comes after an early U.S. intelligence assessment found the U.S. strikes on three nuclear sites over the weekend did not destroy the core components of Iran’s nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to sources briefed on the report. Anderson speaks to Norman Roule, a former senior operations manager with the CIA, who is now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former U.N. Weapons Inspector David Albright. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. military’s strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend did not destroy the core components of its nuclear program and likely only set it back by months, according to an early U.S. intelligence assessment that was described by sources briefed on it. The White House acknowledged the existence of the assessment but said it disagreed with it. Plus, those concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza for Palestinians and the health and safety of hostages being held by Hamas and others are hoping attention will return to negotiations for a deal on a ceasefire and hostage return. Anderson speaks to Rachel Golberg and Jon Polin, whose son Hersh was taken hostage during the October 7th attacks and executed by Hamas.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Trump has announced on social media an Israel-Iran ceasefire. The White House says Israel agreed to it on the condition Iran stops its strikes.  And Iran’s foreign minister says Tehran has “no intention to continue our response” if Israel stops attacks first.  Anderson has all the new developments from Tel Aviv.  Plus, he gets reaction from two lawmakers in Washington, Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski and Colorado Democratic Congressman Jason Crow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tensions continue to rise in the Middle East with Israel and Iran trading more missile fire. Anderson reports live from Tel Aviv. And, Brett McGurk, the former Middle East & North Africa Coordinator for the National Security Council, talks about how we got to this point. “Right now, this is blowback on decisions that Iran has made from October 7th on,” said McGurk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran, Iran where he and his team have been hearing an increase in aerial activity over the city. Plus, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi talks with Anderson about a key report from the agency that has fueled arguments on both sides of this fight about how close Iran is to a nuclear weapon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

President Donald Trump held a Situation Room meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss U.S. options in the Israel-Iran conflict. A person familiar with the matter told CNN that the President has reviewed attack plans for Iran, but is holding off to see if Tehran steps back from its nuclear program.  Plus, how domestic politics and a political divide the President faces over deeper American involvement overseas, could shape the coming days. Anderson is live from Tel Aviv.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iran and Israel are exchanging strikes for a sixth day, with Israel’s defense minister saying the country plans on striking “very significant targets in Tehran," and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posting on social media, “In the name of the noble Haidar, the battle begins.” President Trump has demanded an “unconditional surrender” by Iran, and met Tuesday with his national security team, according to the White House. Before the meeting, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli source familiar with the matter. All this as the President weighs further U.S. involvement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices