{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/57cc3c7d-b0fd-4930-9279-4e84c75df457/69b42de01b5a7dfbdf6565ea?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The politics of the Iran war","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62e286a834d4d9a8af874246/1773415888068-ac0d61bc-f956-4c8d-9291-9f03767cded5.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>There’s often a rally-round-the-flag effect when a president <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/03/07/checks-and-balance-pete-hegseth-and-the-risks-of-a-macho-military?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=checksandbalance&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">takes a country to war</a>. But not for Donald Trump: his approval rating is stalling at near 40%. That’s almost identical to the percentage of Americans who support <a href=\"https://www.economist.com/united-states/2026/03/08/why-maga-backs-donald-trumps-war-for-now?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=checksandbalance&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the attacks on Iran</a>. What are the political consequences of the war?&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Guests and hosts:</p><ul><li>Charlotte Howard, New York bureau chief and executive editor</li><li>James Bennet, Lexington columnist</li><li>Robert Guest, deputy editor</li><li>Sam Beal, Washington correspondent</li><li>Adam Smith, Democratic congressman</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Topics covered:</p><ul><li>MAGA support for the war</li><li>Why Iran is less popular than previous conflicts</li><li>How Democrats should respond</li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>Transcripts of our podcasts are available via </em><a href=\"http://economist.com/podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>economist.com/podcasts</em></a></p><p><br></p><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—</em><a href=\"https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>subscribe to Economist Podcasts+</em></a> <em>&nbsp;</em></p><p><br></p><p><em>For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href=\"https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p>","author_name":"The Economist"}