Federalist Radio Hour — ‘You’re Wrong’: With Mollie Hemingway and David Harsanyi
Episode 194: "Ceasefire"
Released: April 8, 2026
Participants: Mollie Hemingway (Editor-in-Chief, The Federalist), David Harsanyi (Senior Writer, Washington Examiner)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mollie Hemingway and David Harsanyi provide in-depth analysis and candid conversation on the recent U.S.-Iran ceasefire, President Trump's rhetoric and decision-making, reactions to military strategy, the politics of Israel's influence, the reporting of the New York Times, and ongoing domestic issues such as recent DOJ leadership changes. The hosts blend sharp historical and philosophical context with personal viewpoints, memorable quips, and an assessment of both media narratives and governmental accountability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trump’s Rhetoric and Negotiating Style

• The episode opens with discussion of President Trump's bombastic language regarding Iran, the public’s tendency to interpret his threats literally, and his established negotiation tactics.
• Hemingway argues that while Trump's over-the-top statements can be alarming, they are a deliberate part of his negotiation strategy. She emphasizes the historical and philosophical imperatives of war rhetoric, comparing Trump’s communication style to Reagan:
  • "Say what you want about Donald Trump. This is the way he speaks... He negotiates, beginning with kind of an absurd position and then works back from there." (02:29)
• Both hosts agree the U.S. and Israel have shown “moral restraint” in warfare, emphasizing that civilian casualties, while tragic, are not intentional policy:
  • "We do not target civilians. There is always tragedy in war." – Harsanyi (05:40)

Military Victory, Ceasefire, and Iran’s Position

• The hosts describe the ceasefire as a U.S.-Israeli military and strategic victory, with significant degradation of Iran's military capabilities and leadership.
  • "We eliminated their air force, we eliminated their navy. We took out over a thousand senior leadership military people... I don't think a regional power has ever been defeated as quickly.” – Harsanyi (18:33)
• Debate continues over the future, with skepticism about Iranian demands, nuclear issues, and the durability of the ceasefire:
  • "If the Iranians don't give in on the 10 points...I could see the bombings resuming." – Harsanyi (21:35)

Media Coverage and the New York Times Piece

• Both hosts address a recent New York Times story by Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman about the origins and process behind the war decision.
  • Hemingway is critical of Haberman’s objectivity but credits Swan’s accuracy.
  • Both note the piece shows Trump exercised agency and was not manipulated by Netanyahu, countering much of the online right’s narrative:
    • "The idea that he didn’t have agency here or that he was somehow cajoled into doing it is just preposterous." – Harsanyi (08:57)
    • "It conveys that Trump believed more the Israeli version of how it would go down than how it actually has gone down." – Hemingway (14:56)
• The significance of regional (Gulf) actors such as Saudi Arabia is raised, noting their greater interest in regime change than Israel and the lack of media discussion around them.

War Goals and Domestic Political Implications

• Goals of the campaign are debated, with Trump focusing on military degradation rather than full regime change or inciting civil war in Iran.
  • "Trump was like, all in on 1 and 2, 3 and 4. That's not our concern. Like, that's their business." – Hemingway (29:34)
• Domestic policy risks are discussed, with several advisors urging Trump to consider the effects on his domestic agenda.
  • "What it does to the Trump agenda at home, how Middle Eastern wars have a way of grabbing you for the long haul..." – Hemingway (30:13)
• The importance of open dissent and responsible counsel among Trump’s advisors (e.g., Rubio, Vance) is highlighted.

NATO and Transatlantic Frustrations

• Discussion shifts to NATO’s role, European reluctance to assist with the Straits of Hormuz, and broader alliance fatigue.
  • "I don't know what NATO's point is anymore. Just to prop up Ukraine, which I'm all for, but is that it?" – Harsanyi (25:14)
  • "If these are one way alliances...I think they owe us." – Harsanyi (26:52)

Critique of DOJ Leadership and Political Lawfare

• The hosts touch on Pam Bondi’s dismissal, frustrations with the pace of DOJ accountability, and divergent media narratives.
  • "The lack of accountability, of achieving accountability for some of those horrific acts done by the Department of Justice was untenable for Trump." – Hemingway (36:34)
  • They also lampoon the media’s sympathetic coverage of figures like Cassidy Hutchinson, critiquing her credibility and the priorities of anti-Trump actors.

Attorney General Successor Speculation

• Hemingway suggests Ron DeSantis, Eric Schmitt, and Mike Lee as potential picks for AG, valuing both managerial competence and "fight" against institutional resistance:
  • "Ron DeSantis is very good at running organizations...And he desperately needs a way out from what his failed candidacy put him in." (42:13)

Culture & Life: College Tours, Parenting, and Book Recommendations

• Hemingway discusses visiting Liberty and High Point Universities, highlighting positive experiences outside traditional elite schools. Emphasizes frugality and delayed tech adoption for her children.
  • "We make our children pay for their own school...It does motivate the kids to do well in school, pick schools that are more affordable, and try to get as many scholarships as possible." – Hemingway (48:55)
• Harsanyi recommends Last Kings of Hollywood and shares thoughts on contemporary college costs.
• Both discuss reading their own writing for promotion and preparation; Hemingway highlights her new book on Justice Samuel Alito.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump's Rhetoric and War:
  • Mollie Hemingway: "Who we are as a people have to have standards about that and have to be justified in our actions." (04:51)
• On Military Victory:
  • David Harsanyi: "Iran cannot really threaten anyone. They have one leverage point and that is the strait that they can close down." (21:16)
• On Media Critique:
  • Mollie Hemingway: "Maggie Haberman... won a Pulitzer for her role in perpetuating the false and delusional Russia conspiracy hoax." (10:31)
  • David Harsanyi: "The idea that he didn't have agency here or that he was somehow cajoled into doing it is just preposterous." (08:57)
• On the Future of Iran:
  • Harsanyi: "I'm not so sure regime change failed...the regime will be much weaker. We will see what happens over the next year or two or three." (28:30)
• On Alliance Burdens:
  • Harsanyi: "We propped up Western Europe for 50 years...I think they owe us." (26:52)
• On Raising Kids Without Smartphones:
  • Hemingway: "We make our children pay for their own school...and they don't even get phones until they drive..." (48:55)
• Book Promotion:
  • Hemingway: "You're going to want to know all about Samuel Alito, the Justice that you know very little about and that you should know a lot more about because he's awesome." (45:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:31 — Episode/Segment Start: Trump’s Iran rhetoric and public/media reaction
• 02:29 — Analysis of Trump’s negotiating style and rhetorical strategy
• 05:40 — War conduct, morality, and just war doctrine
• 08:57 — Dissection of the New York Times piece on the war’s origins
• 14:56 — Expectations versus reality in the military campaign
• 18:33 — Detailed assessment of military achievements and goals
• 21:16 — Remaining leverage for Iran; prospects if ceasefire fails
• 25:14 — NATO's role, alliance strains, and the Strait of Hormuz
• 36:34 — DOJ firing (Pam Bondi), critiques of accountability and lawfare
• 41:41 — Mocking media narratives and the Cassidy Hutchinson saga
• 42:13 — Speculation on new Attorney General candidates
• 45:49 — Culture segment: Parenting, college visits, and the Alito book
• 48:55 — Rationale for parenting decisions, college costs, and technology
• 51:25 — Book recommendations and final cultural notes

Tone and Style

The conversation retains the candid, irreverent, and at times sardonic tone characteristic of The Federalist’s "You’re Wrong": sharp-tongued, skeptical, and unfiltered, but consistently anchored by references to primary reporting, policy history, and a clear-eyed, often critical perspective on both U.S. foreign and domestic policy.

This summary covers the major arguments, memorable lines, and the clash between military affairs, diplomacy, and how both are portrayed in the media, all while preserving the original spirit of Hemingway and Harsanyi’s repartee.