It was wonderful to join AngryMaleVet’s podcast today! Against the backdrop of negotiations in a glamorous Swiss resort, we discussed the the state of play in the US-Iran-Israel-Lebanon war.
The topics we spoke about included:
The JCPOA — the Iran nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama with the P5+1, Donald Trump’s disastrous decision to abrogate the deal in 2018, and whether the Trump Admin is likely to get a deal as good as the JCPOA was
Venezuela Counterfactual — the role Operation Absolute Resolve played in Trump’s decision to join Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in launching war against Iran, and whether Trump would’ve made the same decision had the Venezuela operation gone poorly
Unprecedented leverage for Iran — While under the JCPOA, the US and other signatories had the right to “snap back” sanctions on Iran, now it is Iran that has the ability to damage to the world economy by snapping back the closure of the Strait of Hormuz
The Israel-Lebanon Dimension — Why Israel’s ongoing occupation of Lebanon will continue to frustrate attempts to get a US-Iran deal and what must happen to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and provide security to the north of Israel
The US-Iran deal, Netanyahu, and Israeli public opinion — How angry Israeli reactions to Iran’s war victory and the US-Iran deal, Netanyahu’s stubborn pursuit of his own personal-political interests, and the upcoming Israeli election are likely to impact the US-Iran talks
Big thanks to AngryMaleVet for having me on his program! As always, I’m looking forward to hearing what y’all think.
Friends, I’ve been working hard to bring you top-tier, multifaceted analysis to keep you informed throughout the US-Israeli war against Iran. I need your help in order to continue this work. If you appreciate the insights The Debrief brings you, please consider becoming a paid subscriber now. You can also show your support with a one-time donation in any amount. Thank you.
Up Next:
Wednesday, June 24, at 11am Eastern:
Shifting gears back to US domestic politics…
As all of The Debrief’s subscribers in New York will know, tomorrow is Election Day in the Empire State. In deep blue NYC, the winners of the Democratic primaries are nearly assured to receive seats in Congress.
On Wednesday, join me and Rabbi Margo Hughes-Robinson post-election to break down the results. Margo is the new Executive Director of New York Jewish Agenda (NYJA), which “promote[s] the values of liberal Jewish New Yorkers to influence state and local policies, politics, and the communal discourse.” NYJA’s former ED, Phylisa Wisdom, took over the helm of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.
In NY-10, will Debrief alum Brad Lander succeed in dethroning Congressman Dan Goldman?
Who will emerge victorious in the crowded field vying to replace retiring Congressman Jerry Nadler in NY-12? Will it be Micah Lasher, Alex Bores, Jack Schlossberg, George Conway, or someone else?
What will happen in NY-13, where AIPAC-backed Congressman Adriano Espaillat faces a challenge from Mamdani-endorsed candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has a long history of pro-Palestine activism?
Who will succeed retiring Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez in NY-7? Will Claire Valdez, a Queens Assembly Member who is endorsed by Mayor Mamdani and a member of the DSA prevail over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso?
Join Margo and me to discuss the much-anticipated election results and what they mean for NYC’s Jewish community.
Resources to Dive Deeper on US-Iran-Israel-Lebanon
Folks who have been with The Debrief know that we’ve had so many insightful conversations since the US and Israel launched the war against Iran. I’ll just recommend a few resources here. Check out The Debrief’s podcast archive for more!
My June 16, 2026 appearance on TRT World Now:
Poll on Israeli attitudes toward Iran war, US-Iran deal, war in Lebanon, & Netanyahu (by Hebrew University and the Agam Institute) that I referenced in today’s podcast
Hope to see many of you on Wednesday at 11am!
Til then, thanks for reading and watching, folks.
Sending huge thanks to The Debrief’s paid subscribers for your investment in this work.
Warm regards,
Debra
