125: Did Netanyahu misread Trump? With Ross Douthat
Summary
NYT columnist Ross Douthat discusses the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding and the strained U.S.-Israel relationship. He analyzes Trump’s failed regime-change strategy, noting that while the war clarified Israel’s influence, it exposed U.S. military limits. Douthat argues that American skepticism stems from deep cultural identification with Israel, making its actions feel like domestic failures, alongside rising anti-Semitism.
Topics discussed
Introduction, sponsor reads, and guest welcome
Assessing the strained U.S.-Israel relationship post-war
Trump's strategy: Decapitation strikes and regime change
Analysis of the Iran deal and Vance's role
Israeli miscalculations and the limits of U.S. support
The unique intensity of global protests against Israel
Rising antisemitism on the left and right
JD Vance, the Christian right, and political alliances
Advice for Israelis on engaging American discourse
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