The Trump Administration Can’t Get Their Iran War Story Straight

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov host a LIVE recording of Raging Moderates, and are joined by special guest Texas Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), fresh off his Senate primary win. They discuss how he approached the campaign — which drew record Democratic turnout in the state, how he plans to approach governing if he does win a Senate seat, what his signature policies will be, and how he plans to defend himself against the onslaught of right-wing attacks coming his way — including a recent attack from President Trump. They also discuss problems facing young adults — and young men in particular — in the state of Texas, and what can be done to help those who are struggling. This event was live-streamed from the Vox Podcast Stage at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 14, 2026. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov.  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway. Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MAGA world is starting to crack. Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down the growing backlash against Donald Trump from his own base over the escalating conflict with Iran and a brewing fight inside the right over mass deportations. But first, they discuss two disturbing attacks this week: a man driving a truck into Temple Israel outside Detroit before exchanging gunfire with security, and a shooting at Old Dominion University involving a suspect previously convicted of attempting to provide support to ISIS. Plus, a bizarre new statue on the National Mall is once again putting Trump’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein back in the spotlight. And longtime Democratic kingmaker James Clyburn announces he’s running again at 85 — reigniting the debate over generational change inside the Democratic Party. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The U.S. has already spent more than $11 billion in the first week of fighting with Iran. Gas prices are nearing a four-year high, and tensions across the Middle East are rapidly escalating. Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov sit down with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, one of the most popular governors in the country, to discuss the growing conflict with Iran, the human and financial costs of war, and the death of Benjamin Pennington, a Kentucky soldier killed in the fighting. Governor Beshear also weighs in on a new lawsuit from the United States Department of Justice seeking access to voter registration databases across multiple states, including Kentucky. Plus: how a Democrat wins over Donald Trump voters in a deep-red state, why Beshear vetoed a bill restricting gender-affirming care, and what the future of the Democratic Party actually looks like. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a post-Trump world, what will happen to the MAGA base? Jessica Tarlov is joined by comedian and The Daily Show co-host Jordan Klepper to talk through it. Jordan has spent the past decade at Trump rallies, talking with voters on the right about what they believe, who they distrust, and what’s really galvanizing their movement. Jessica and Jordan also discuss White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s latest attempt to avoid accountability for strikes in Iran, Lindsey Graham’s lust for being close to power, and whether or not Democrats can transform from a party widely seen as feckless and ineffective in opposition to Trump… into a movement inspired by authenticity, community, and even fun.  And, in a media landscape dominated by right-wing corporate conglomeration on the one hand and online creators on the other hand, how has The Daily Show — a thirty-year-old television program — managed to actually gain Gen Z viewers? Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPodSubscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the war in Iran roils on, with devastating effects on the oil markets, what is Trump’s plan to get the U.S. out of another regional quagmire? Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov discuss the latest developments on the war in Iran from the administration — including a befuddling announcement from Trump, startling messaging from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and a foreboding sense from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Cuba is next. Plus — Scott explains why the markets seem to have rebounded from yesterday’s oil price spike, and Jessica unpacks why Trump’s refusal to provide strong support for Ukraine in its war with Russia may have already hurt the U.S. in Iran. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov. Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the rapidly escalating war with Iran as it enters week two. Tehran has installed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader — a move that effectively turns the Islamic Republic into a dynasty, decades after the revolution that was supposed to end dynastic rule. Meanwhile, casualties are rising, oil has surged past $100 a barrel, and global markets are starting to react. They discuss the economic fallout — from spiking energy prices to the potential impact on inflation and markets. Plus: what Mojtaba’s rise means for Iran’s future, how much influence Washington actually has over who leads the country, and whether Trump has a clear endgame for the conflict. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down the political, economic, and legal fallout from Trump’s war with Iran. As the president openly talks about replacing Iran’s leadership and admits Americans may die, the war is already rattling markets, pushing up gas prices, and emerging as a defining issue heading into the midterms. Jess and Aaron discuss why early polling shows the strikes are deeply unpopular — and what that could mean for Republicans, Democrats, and the future of the MAGA movement. They also examine Trump’s latest foreign policy rhetoric after he suggested Cuba “is going to fall” and hinted at a potential deal with Havana — raising the question: is Cuba Trump’s next target? Plus, the fallout from Kristi Noem’s firing as DHS secretary and what Markwayne Mullin’s nomination could mean for immigration enforcement and the future of ICE. And the Justice Department releases another batch of Epstein-related files, including a previously missing interview involving allegations against Trump — as Attorney General Pam Bondi faces a subpoena from Republicans. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the political and economic fallout from Trump’s escalating conflict with Iran. After the Senate votes down an effort to limit the president’s war powers, the path is cleared for the fight to continue — even as American troops have been killed, gas prices climb, and the Pentagon warns the conflict has only just begun. Scott and Jess dig into what the war could mean for the issue voters care about most: affordability. With energy markets already reacting and the White House reportedly scrambling to contain rising gas prices, they explore how the conflict could hit your wallet — and why Democrats are still struggling to deliver a clear message. Jessica also discusses a major shake-up inside the administration: Trump abruptly fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after mounting criticism over her leadership, including the handling of the immigration crackdown and disaster response. Plus, a dramatic moment on Capitol Hill as a Marine veteran is forcibly removed from a Senate hearing while protesting the war. Is this the start of a broader anti-war backlash? Then, they turn to why the House committee subpoenaed Attorney General Pam Bondi over the still-withheld Epstein files. With Republicans breaking ranks and lawmakers like Thomas Massie raising questions about timing, Scott and Jess ask the uncomfortable question — is the war drowning out scrutiny of the Epstein investigation? Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway  Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Tarlov sits down with historian and On Tyranny author Timothy Snyder to tackle a big question: what does history tell us about where Trump’s war in Iran could be headed? Trump rose to power blasting regime-change wars. Now, after U.S. strikes in Iran and calls for political upheaval, he’s embracing the language of liberation. Jessica and Tim explore the historical parallels — from past American interventions in the Middle East to the familiar pattern of presidents whose views evolve once they’re in office. Does bombing a country weaken authoritarian regimes — or harden them? And when leaders promise freedom without a clear plan, who ends up paying the price? Then they shift to the first major primary night of the midterm cycle. In Texas, state Rep. James Talarico won the Democratic Senate primary, while Republicans saw John Cornyn fend off challenges from Wesley Hunt and Ken Paxton — sending the GOP race to a runoff. With voting confusion in Dallas and dueling court rulings over polling hours, what does it signal for November — and for the broader state of American democracy? Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov dig into the growing cracks inside Trump’s MAGA coalition as U.S. strikes on Iran spark backlash from the right. JD Vance once sold Trump as the president who “started no wars” — now, with American casualties rising and only a quarter of Americans backing the strikes, that promise is under pressure. From Capitol Hill to conservative media, the movement is split: is this still “America First,” or something else entirely? Scott and Jess break down the White House’s defiant message to Republicans, and what this fight could mean for the midterms — and for Vance’s credibility with the anti-war right. Then, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces Congress for the first time since the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Lawmakers press her on DHS enforcement tactics, detention policies, and whether national security is being compromised amid escalating tensions with Iran. What kind of oversight should Congress demand right now? Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov Follow Prof G, @profgalloway Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices