Americast – Trump Threatens TV Networks Over "Unpatriotic" Iran Coverage

BBC News | March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Americast unpacks the Trump administration’s escalating battle with the media over coverage of the ongoing war with Iran. The hosts examine President Trump’s recent threats to revoke broadcast licenses from TV networks he accuses of unpatriotic and "fake news" reporting. They contextualize these attacks within the broader American tradition of wartime media pressure, explore the implications of recent government actions, and analyze deepening rifts within the Trump-supporting MAGA base over the war in Iran and U.S.-Israel relations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Fury over War Coverage (01:08–04:12)

• Trigger Incident: Trump was enraged by a Wall Street Journal report about U.S. refueling tankers allegedly damaged in an Iranian missile strike, which he characterized as "intentionally misleading".
• On his Truth Social network, Trump lambasted multiple outlets (Wall Street Journal, New York Times), claiming, "the fake news Media wants the U.S. to lose the war" and accusing the press of damaging the country.
• Trump’s statements were strongly echoed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Notable Quote (reading Trump post):

"The people of our country understand what is happening far better than the fake news media."
— Anthony, quoting Trump ([03:01])

2. The "Patriotic Press" and Media Management (04:12–08:43)

• Pete Hegseth argues that media headlines (e.g., “Mideast War Intensifies”) are written intentionally to undermine the administration, calling for more “patriotic” reporting.
• Hegseth prefers banners such as “Iran Shrinking, Going Underground,” framing U.S. advantage.
• The discussion pivots to how media and patriotism have long been intertwined in war coverage.

Notable Quote:

"For an actual patriotic press. How about Iran Shrinking Going Underground. … The only thing that is Widening is our advantage."
— Pete Hegseth ([05:24])

Context & Comparison:

• Justin draws parallels to UK government efforts in the Falklands War and WWII to pressure the BBC for more patriotic coverage.
• Anthony: “It is normal for a government to want the press to cover a war in a way that's favorable to them… here, though, [the Trump administration is] picking apart the strap lines… and talking about the press’s role as ‘patriotic.’” ([07:05])

3. How War Coverage & Media Roles Evolved (08:43–11:42)

• Historically, U.S. wartime press (e.g., WWII) was overtly propagandistic.
• Vietnam marked a turning point when the media, led by journalists like Walter Cronkite, shifted to more critical reporting after official narratives broke down.

Memorable Moment:
Insert of Cronkite’s 1968 CBS News editorial:

"It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate not as victors, but as an Honorable people..."
— Walter Cronkite ([10:41])

4. Fact-Checking Administration Claims (11:42–13:34)

• Justin and Anthony highlight that even prominent establishment voices (e.g., John Bolton) have critiqued the administration’s Iran strategy, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
• Anthony argues there’s a "fog of war": initial media reports can’t always be perfect, and presidential attacks are not always fair.

5. Government Leverage Over the Media (13:34–16:46)

• The Trump administration has barred mainstream outlets and photographers from Pentagon briefings, conditioning press access on restrictive pledges.
• Brandon Carr (FCC), in an X post, threatens not to renew broadcast licenses for networks running "fake news."
• FCC regulation only covers broadcast affiliates, not cable or streaming platforms—but for now, it’s still a significant tool.

Notable Quote:

"Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions... have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. ... They will lose their licenses if they do not."
— Anthony, quoting FCC head Brandon Carr ([14:57])

• As TV moves online, FCC threats will lose teeth, but government frustration remains acute.

6. The Deeper Problem: Public & Party Skepticism (17:12–19:24)

• Justin and Anthony shift focus from press battles to broader domestic pressures.
• War with Iran is unpopular with the public and with segments of the Republican base. Many MAGA supporters—and even some Trump advisers—are uneasy about the war.
• "A majority of Americans wanted more diplomatic efforts… were worried about this becoming quagmire," says Anthony ([18:01]).

7. Influencers and Dissatisfaction from the Right (19:24–22:04)

• Joe Rogan, influential podcaster, voices the sense of betrayal among voters who took Trump at his word about avoiding ‘endless wars.’

Notable Quote:

"He ran on no more wars and these stupid senseless wars. And then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it."
— Joe Rogan ([19:48])

• Anthony notes Trump’s turn from "peace president" branding toward Iraq/Bush-era rationales is fueling discontent, even among those not anti-Israel.

8. MAGA/Right-Wing Fractures, Israel, and Antisemitism (22:04–26:00)

• On the far right, figures like Carrie Pridgin Boller and Joe Kent have publicly denounced Trump's Iran policy, linking it explicitly to Israeli influence and indulging in conspiratorial or antisemitic narrative streams.

Memorable Moment:

"I think that we are an occupied nation. I think that a foreign country has occupied our government... MAGA is dead."
— Carrie Pridgin Boller ([22:31])

• Kent, ex-counterterrorism official, resigned with a letter blaming Israel and U.S. pro-Israel lobbying for the war, “no pretense” about anti-Israel sentiment creeping into Trump’s base.
• Anthony and Justin warn that this white nationalist and antisemitic strain is breaking open in MAGA, threatening coalition stability for Trump's future and for heir-apparent figures like J.D. Vance.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:08 – Trump’s week of rage against Iran war coverage
• 03:01 – Summarizing Trump’s Truth Social post on the Wall Street Journal report
• 04:22 – Defense Secretary Hegseth’s press conference on media “patriotism”
• 07:05 – Historical comparisons to government/media tension in UK, US
• 10:41 – Walter Cronkite’s Vietnam breaking point
• 13:48 – Pentagon press access restrictions, photographer bans
• 14:57 – FCC's Brandon Carr and threats over broadcast licenses
• 18:01 – MAGA, public unease with Iran war
• 19:48 – Joe Rogan’s critique on broken anti-war promises
• 22:31 – Carrie Pridgin Boller denounces Trump, claims “MAGA is dead”
• 23:52 – Joe Kent’s resignation and anti-Israel rhetoric in the Trump base

Notable Quotes

• "The people of our country understand what is happening far better than the fake news media." — Trump, via Anthony ([03:01])

• "What should the banner read instead? How about Iran? Increasingly desperate, because they are. ... The only thing that is Widening is our advantage." — Pete Hegseth ([05:24])

• "It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate not as victors, but as an Honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy and did the best they could." — Walter Cronkite ([10:41])

• "Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions... have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. ... They will lose their licenses if they do not." — FCC head Brandon Carr, via Anthony ([14:57])

• "He ran on no more wars and these stupid senseless wars. And then we have one that we can't even really clearly define why we did it." — Joe Rogan ([19:48])

• "I think that we are an occupied nation. ... MAGA is dead." — Carrie Pridgin Boller ([22:31])

Tone & Language

The hosts (Justin Webb and Anthony Zurcher) maintain a balanced, analytical, and conversational tone. They mix historical context, quoted material, and personal insight, often using wry humor and clear attributions. They approach sensitive subjects—particularly antisemitism and intra-party divisions—with care and nuance, highlighting both legitimate policy debates and the dangers of conspiratorial rhetoric within political coalitions.

Conclusion

This episode illuminates the complex interplay between the Trump administration, the American press, and the shifting sands of public and party opinion on war and patriotism. Government efforts to pressure or threaten broadcasters echo longstanding wartime traditions but arrive in a digital media landscape that is rapidly moving beyond traditional regulation. Meanwhile, Trump faces erosion within his own coalition—not only from the anti-war left or moderate center but from hard-right elements whose mistrust sometimes veers into antisemitism. The hosts conclude that these media wars are not just noise, but symptomatic of much deeper anxieties—about truth, loyalty, and the changing face of both American conservatism and American power.