{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/6abfb834bb036379d38e4972?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Trump uses US border funds for ‘propaganda’ as Republicans turn on Iran war ","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1790949446468-0a497077-7701-403b-bf05-02fd1ff2b3a7.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Republicans are revolting over soaring prices from the Iran war and there is turmoil inside the Pentagon. The polls predict Donald Trump could lose the House and the Senate in the 2026 US midterms - are they right?</p><p><br></p><p>On today’s bonus episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks with Politico’s senior defence correspondent Connor O&#39;Brien and defence reporter Leo Shane III about why the economic fallout from the war is leading GOP candidates to distance themselves from Trump. The president is responding by taking $20 million in Homeland Security funds for personal ads that Democrats have described as “propaganda”. </p><p><br></p><p>Plus, what we learned from Pete Hegseth’s ‘State of the Force’ address: the White House consolidates power over the US military, the growing Pentagon void from personnel cuts, and news of an Autonomous Warfare Command.</p><p><br></p><p>Highlights</p><ul><li>Trump uses US border funds for ‘propaganda’ as Republicans turn on Iran war </li><li>Pentagon unveils new drone command and personnel cuts</li></ul><p><br></p><p>CONTRIBUTORS:</p><p>Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey</p><p>Connor O&#39;Brien, Politico senior defence correspondent @connorobrienNH</p><p>Leo Shane III, Politico defence reporter @LeoShane</p><p><br></p><p>WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: <u><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk</a></u></p><p><br></p><p>CONTENT REFERENCED:</p><p>US midterm elections 2026: How do they work and what could they mean for Trump?</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/09/14/us-midterm-elections-2026/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/09/14/us-midterm-elections-2026/</a></u></p><p>Pete Hegseth vows to rid US army of ‘fatties, trannies and weirdos’</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/01/pete-hegseth-elon-musk-us-military-state-of-address/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/10/01/pete-hegseth-elon-musk-us-military-state-of-address/</a></u></p><p>Stalled military nominees leave a Pentagon void</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/23/military-nominees-pentagon-void-01090209\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/23/military-nominees-pentagon-void-01090209</a></u></p><p>Dems plot to take on Hegseth if they win in November</p><p><u><a href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/10/dems-plot-target-hegseth-01069194\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/10/dems-plot-target-hegseth-01069194</a></u></p><p><br></p><p><em>Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026</em></p><p><em>The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026</em></p><p><br></p><p>Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower </p><p>Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh</p><p>Studio Operator: Andy Watson</p><p>Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey </p><p><br></p><p>► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day&#39;s biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor</p><p>► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk</p><p>► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/</p>","author_name":"The Telegraph"}