Deadline: White House

Episode: “An end to the war? Or an escalation?”
Date: March 23, 2026
Host: Alicia Menendez (in for Nicolle Wallace)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the rapidly shifting landscape of the ongoing U.S.–Iran war on its 24th day, with focus on the Trump administration’s contradictory messaging: Are we near an end to armed conflict, on the verge of escalation, or simply seeing political improvisation in the face of economic and political pressure? Alicia Menendez leads an in-depth roundtable with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.), NPR’s Greg Myhre, and Amanda Carpenter (Protect Democracy) to dissect developments, including conflicting statements from administration officials, unclear military objectives, and political maneuvering at home. Additional topics include the marginalization of the Pentagon press corps, ICE agents at airports, and growing political rifts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Status of U.S.–Iran Conflict and Trump's Messaging

• Contradictory Announcements: Trump oscillates between threats of escalation (striking Iran’s power grid if Strait of Hormuz remains closed) and hints at peace negotiations, claiming talks are underway to end the war.
• Administration Delegates: Steve Witkoff (Trump’s envoy) and Jared Kushner (no official government role) are named as leads in negotiations, but Iran denies such talks.
• Vague Claims: Trump asserts Iran won’t pursue nuclear weapons and suggests regime change is possible—all without clarity or confirmed interlocutors.

“We have had very, very strong talk.”
— Donald Trump [02:33]

“Will Iran still be able to control the flow of oil?... Maybe me.”
— Trump [03:02–03:08]

{Segment: War Escalation or Off-Ramp}

[01:01–04:28]

• Alicia Menendez recaps the weekend’s head-spinning series of announcements, highlighting the uncertainty gripping decision-makers and the public.

[04:28–05:22] Greg Myhre:

• Notes possible indirect talks via Oman or other intermediaries, but nothing official. Observes Trump toggling between escalation and de-escalation, suggesting reactive, not strategic, decision-making.

• “Trump’s trying to do both... he was talking over the weekend about smashing Iranian power plants. Today he’s talking about possible peace deals.” [04:28]

2. Lack of Clarity, Strategy, & Political Accountability

[05:13] Alicia Menendez:

• Expresses concern about the “caveats” necessary in discussing presidential statements during war—reflecting a general lack of reliable information.

[05:22–06:37] Amanda Carpenter:

• Critiques the absence of strategy and accountability. Notes conservative media reluctance to address the war, tying it to electoral politics and the divisive nature of Middle East conflicts in the GOP.

  “We are being walked into a war and it seems like nobody wants to talk about it because we do not understand what is happening…Trump continues to get a free pass on this. I think people really just have to demand answers.” [05:22]

[07:00–08:42] Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling:

• Warns of a “chaotic and dysfunctional war” marked by last-minute, unplanned directives, gaps in military logic, and lack of public persuasion.

  “Every single thing he was talking about hitting would have been an element of a war crime… When a president goes to war, he convinces the American people to support him. When that doesn’t occur, it’s a chaotic and dysfunctional war. And that's what we’re seeing right now.” [07:00]

3. Credibility Gaps: Iran’s Nuclear Program

[09:03–10:40]

• Trump claims Iran will abandon nuclear weapons, but IAEA director (Ralph Grassi) and experts suggest there is “no clear framework” for oversight or agreements.

• Greg Myhre dismisses Trump’s claims as highly implausible and a product of rushed, unserious negotiations.

  “It’s hard to believe that they’ve had any kind of serious talks… One of Iran's best cards… they're not going to give that up easily.” [09:42–10:40]

4. Allies, the “Trump Doctrine,” & Global Consequences

[10:40–12:33]

• Trump urges U.S. allies who use the Strait of Hormuz to “police it themselves,” reflecting a “we broke it, but you own it” approach (attributed to Richard Haass).

• Amanda Carpenter and Alicia Menendez discuss the move as an abdication of U.S. leadership and a deepening of global uncertainty.

  “We have no point of information to go to... to even get an official government line, even knowing that may be flawed.”
  — Amanda Carpenter [11:38]

• The administration’s focus on the economic impact (gas prices, market timing) underscores the political cost over strategic clarity.

  “Trump understands that high gas prices work against him because he wielded that so effectively against Joe Biden.”
  — Amanda Carpenter [12:52]

5. Military and Congressional Reactions: Troops, Strategy, and Costs

[13:59–15:58]

• Disconnected and contradictory signals continue:

  • Scott Bessant, Treasury Secretary, is the most visible spokesperson on the war, a choice that offends military professionals.
  • Allies (notably Israel and Arab states) are described as either demanding U.S. “finish the job” or reluctant to get involved.
  • Military planners are “disturbed” by the lack of an end-state or coherent objective.

• New York Times reports Israeli officials say their campaign is “midway,” questioning the premise that peace talks are real.

  “Right now [military planners] are fighting battles as part of an operational campaign with no strategic objective, or at least not one that the American public knows about and which they have to support.”
  — Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling [15:44]

6. Congressional Messaging & Political Resistance

[16:05–18:15] Lindsey Graham's Soundbite:

• Senator Graham likens the campaign to Iwo Jima, expressing unwavering faith in Marines taking objectives.

• Hertling counters the historical ignorance and tactical naiveté:

  “I would ask most people to take a look at... what happened on Iwo Jima and how there were tens of thousands of deaths and injuries... Senator Graham is very competent in the Marine Corps. But I would question... his military [experience]...when he’s an Air Force Reserve JAG officer.” [16:57]

• Amanda Carpenter observes that the only political resistance comes from fissures exposed by such rhetoric, with even Trump’s base showing signs of division.

Press Freedom and Pentagon Access

{Segment: Attack on the Press Corps & Court Ruling}

[20:24–26:37]

• Federal judge voids the Pentagon's restrictive press credential policy, ruling in favor of the New York Times and free press advocates. This policy had required journalists to only report information pre-approved by the Pentagon.

  “It really is remarkable...reporters...risk their entire careers to go fight this out in court. And today they won."
  — Amanda Carpenter [22:38]

• Greg Myhre and Amanda Carpenter articulate that Trump’s appointee Pete Hegseth moved to actively expel and control the Pentagon press corps, reducing transparency at a critical wartime moment.

  “This is an administration that wants to control the free flow of information so they can protect their political narrative.”
  — Amanda Carpenter [22:38]

• Hertling defends the essential role of the press:

  “Freedom of the press is important because it informs the American public...the civilian leadership inside the Pentagon better start trying to find a way to get along with members of the fourth estate.”
  — Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling [24:18]

ICE Agents at Airports: Political Stunt or Security Measure?

{Segment: ICE at Airports amid Funding Fight}

[28:16–31:20]

• ICE agents are deployed in 14 airports as part of Trump’s political clash with Democrats over DHS funding, but both reporting and traveler testimony demonstrate confusion and anxiety.
• ICE agents, unmasked and armed, are tasked to “assist” but lack clear directives, raising concerns from current and former officials about misuse of federal law enforcement and mission drift.

“You have Donald Trump effectively taking a federal law enforcement force and moving them around the country to solve his political problems… Elections are a political problem. What else will he be using these agents for?”
— Amanda Carpenter [36:30–37:17]

• Jason Hauser, former ICE/DHS official, is sharply critical:

  “We now have ICE doing TSA’s job…taking Homeland Security investigations...off of their mission set...to do patrols in airports...because the administration cannot come to the table around common sense immigration reforms…”
  — Jason Hauser [33:30–35:23]

Traveler Reactions (Newark Airport)

[31:30–32:56]

• Most travelers are unsettled by ICE’s presence, uncertain of their function, and attribute blame directly to Trump and the political standoff.

Political Manoeuvring, Shutdowns, and the SAVE Act

[38:24–42:13]

• Congress remains deadlocked over DHS and ICE funding, with Trump using the shutdown as both leverage and political theater—positioning ICE at airports as a partisan gambit.

• Amanda Carpenter points out that for some in the GOP, painful airport lines and the public’s discomfort with ICE are seen as “elegant solutions”—all while Republicans, particularly the election denialist wing, benefit from protracted fights over voting rights narratives linked to the SAVE Act.

  “It is insane that we have DHS shut down while we’re going to war with Iran over this SAVE ACT fight.”
  — Amanda Carpenter [41:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling [07:00]:
  “We not only have a chaotic strategy, we also have last-minute discussions and orders to do things that haven’t been planned out from the military perspective.”

• Amanda Carpenter [36:30]:
  “What I am concerned about from a democracy perspective is that you have Donald Trump effectively taking a federal law enforcement force and moving them around the country to solve his political problems.”

• Greg Myhre [04:28]:
  “Trump’s trying to do both…he was talking about smashing Iranian power plants. Today he’s talking about possible peace deals.”

• Alicia Menendez [12:33]:
  “Whether they are selling it as an economic story...it does seem to be factoring into their thinking.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:01–04:28: Overview of the war status and Trump’s conflicting statements
• 05:22–06:37: Amanda Carpenter on political/media avoidance and lack of accountability
• 07:00–08:42: Gen. Hertling on military confusion/chaos
• 09:03–10:40: Iran nuclear weapons—Trump’s claim vs. reality
• 13:59–15:58: Allies, budget needs, Israeli perspective
• 16:05–18:15: Sen. Lindsey Graham/Iwo Jima comparison; military realities
• 20:24–26:37: Pentagon press crackdown and court victory for journalists
• 28:16–32:56: ICE agents at airports—purpose, public confusion, and political consequences
• 38:24–42:13: Capitol Hill showdowns; the politics of ICE and airport delays

Final Thoughts

This episode underscores the uncertainty and dysfunction at the intersection of war, executive messaging, and domestic politics. The panel lays bare the perils of war without declared aims, the dangers of eroded institutional checks, and the substitution of clarity with political theater.

Theme in a Quote:

“Everything seems to be about the politics, and almost nothing about the strategy.”
— Alicia Menendez [throughout]