Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff

Episode 462: Inquiry: US at Fault in Iran School Strike. Guest: Dan Lamothe

Date: March 11, 2026

Overview

This episode of Independent Americans dives deep into the evolving conflict in Iran, highlighting critical new reporting that the U.S. military was responsible for a devastating missile strike on an Iranian school. Host Paul Rieckhoff is joined by returning guest Dan Lamothe, military affairs analyst at the Washington Post, for a timely, no-nonsense discussion about wartime accountability, military readiness, press freedom, and the politics shaping America’s involvement. Together, they confront uncomfortable truths about the war’s popularity, transparency in Pentagon briefings, the emerging role of artificial intelligence in targeting, and how public perception and partisanship are clouding the national dialogue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The US at Fault for the Iranian School Strike

Timestamps: 00:50–07:26, 34:12–36:53

• Breaking news: Preliminary Pentagon inquiry finds that outdated targeting data led to the US mistakenly striking an Iranian school, killing over 140 children.
• Rieckhoff’s take: "A school full of children is dead because of the American military. We should apologize, we should investigate, we should ensure it never happens. And we should do our best to ensure that Trump doesn't lie about it." (00:50)
• Media implications: The world is focused on this, and the US response will have long-term consequences for allies and enemies.
• Lamothe explains, "It's how did you go about assigning a value to this building as a military target when it's not at least anymore? … Where did the United States as an entity lose that plot?" (34:46)

2. Pentagon Briefings and Propaganda

Timestamps: 29:36–33:42, 56:30–57:43

• Pentagon’s return to regular briefings under Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Kane, but with major changes—assigned seating and media management.
• Dan laments diminished press access: "It's a different vibe, for sure... They assign seating. That's not something we ever saw. The accredited press corps… was in the second to last row last time." (30:22)
• Right-wing media (OAN, Newsmax) get front row, while traditional outlets are pushed back.
• Photographer access curtailed after unflattering images of Hegseth. Dan clarifies: “They have dressed the scoped back. How many independent photographers are going to be in the building at least for the foreseeable future during these events?” (56:30)

3. Artificial Intelligence and Modern Targeting

Timestamps: 36:17, 36:36

• Significant questions about whether AI played a role in processing targeting data that led to the school strike.
• Dan: “Central Command has been on the record talking about how artificial intelligence is helping them process targeting here. So I think whether A and B are tied here, I think that bears more reporting.” (36:36)
• Rieckhoff: “This is a really, really important question, you know, as the kind of moral fabric of how the kill chain decision making is unfolding.” (36:53)

4. Civil-Military Divide: Spending Scandals and Morale

Timestamps: 12:41–16:00, 51:56–55:43

• Social media outrage over alleged Pentagon frivolous spending (steak, lobster, donuts) is overblown and reveals how disconnected civilians can be from military life.
• Rieckhoff: “Food is often a rare highlight. And it is not frivolous.” (12:41)
• Dan: “Step one, I've had steak at Camp Leatherneck… It's a treat for people in some pretty challenging circumstances and away from home.” (53:14)
• Trend reporting and context are often missing in viral outrage stories.

5. Readiness, Draft Rumors, and Operational Tempo

Timestamps: 40:30–43:32

• 82nd Airborne’s abrupt cancellation of a training exercise may be tied to preparations for expanded operations or evacuations in Iran.
• Dan: “I think a reasonable assumption… is they're having to crunch through what the next steps would be. Certainly a concern a lot of Americans would have would be, is the 82nd Airborne all or in part going to be in Iran proper?” (40:30)
• Trump’s musings about a draft are adding anxiety to military families and the broader public.

6. Truth, Transparency, and the “First Casualty of War”

Timestamps: 39:34–40:30, 45:16–47:22

• The school strike underscores old lessons about the difficulty accessing truth in war.
• Disinformation and selective releases continue to challenge transparency.
• Dan: “Anytime you have blast injuries like that, if you have that many dead, you wonder immediately how many more are hurt, how many more could die.” (45:16)

7. Below-the-Radar Concerns: Supply Chain, Munitions Depletion, and Chinese Observation

Timestamps: 59:12–63:45

• US has burned through $5.6 billion in munitions in the opening days, raising concerns about depleted inventories.
• Dan: “Secretary Hegseth and others are not wrong to say they have a lot of munitions left. They do. They have an extraordinary amount of JDAMs and other bombs… They have much fewer when it comes to the interceptors. (59:12)
• China is closely observing US tactics, which could have future strategic implications.

8. Culture & Sports: Distraction or Reflection?

Timestamps: 23:23–24:50, 64:09–67:04

• Sports updates offer a break and reminder of unity: US loses to Italy in baseball, Bam Adebayo scores 83 points in NBA.
• Paralympics praised as a true example of American resilience and spirit, especially highlighting veteran athletes.
• Dan: "March Madness is here very soon. For me, it's one of the handful of events we have left that people will sometimes put down their sword and shield and just watch the damn games." (66:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rieckhoff on the war’s unpopularity: “76% of Americans now oppose the war in Iran. That's more than any war in recent history, much higher than Iraq, which was only about 46%.” (05:44)
• Dan Lamothe on targeting errors: "Where did the United States as an entity lose that plot? Where did we lose understanding of what that building was and who was inside?" (34:46)
• Dan on Pentagon press access: “The longtime tradition at the Pentagon briefings with the Associated Press had the first question… it was a seasoned journalist who knew how to level set the briefing on what the likely questions of the day that should be answered would be.” (33:42)
• Rieckhoff on the latest military injury reporting: "If you still feel that way a week later or two weeks later, that's a higher echelon of care. And I think we're sorting through that at the moment.” (47:22)
• Dan on morale controversy: “For me, this was something that I would teach in a journalism class. You had a story that went out with some pretty eye popping numbers, contexts missing, important context missing...” (53:14)
• Dan on China's role: “It would not be a reach to think they’re learning all they can about the way the American military operates in this moment and how that looks different than ten years ago… Russia, China and others are no doubt paying attention.” (63:06)
• Dan on sports as respite: "It's a spot where we always find some sort of inspiring story. We always find some underdogs, you know, and we crown a champion… I feel like we watch these games in a way that kind of feels old timey in a way, and I hope we don't lose that." (66:53)

Important Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | US At Fault in Iran School Strike, War Update | 00:50–07:26 | | US/Iran War Unpopularity, Political Commentary | 05:44–08:00 | | Pentagon Press Briefing Dynamics, Media Management | 29:36–33:42 | | Investigation into Iran School Strike, AI Targeting Questions| 34:12–36:53 | | Civil-Military Divide: Spending Controversies | 51:56–55:43 | | 82nd Airborne Readiness & Draft Rumors | 40:30–43:32 | | Munitions Supply and Industrial “Weaponization” | 59:12–62:33 | | Below the Radar—China’s Observation | 63:06–63:45 | | Sports and Paralympics—Hope & Resilience | 64:09–67:04 |

Tone & Language

Paul Rieckhoff maintains a candid, passionate, and sometimes irreverent tone—critical of both parties, deeply patriotic, unsparing in exposing mistakes, and adamant about the need for vigilance and public service. Dan Lamothe brings a calm, analytical perspective, always emphasizing journalistic rigor and context, with relatable anecdotes and humility about what remains unknown.

Conclusion

This episode stands out as a clear-eyed, unflinching look at the costs and complexities of the US war in Iran—particularly a tragic American mistake—and the importance of integrity, context, and accountability. With sharp reporting and personal insights, Rieckhoff and Lamothe model how to hold power to account, explain military realities to civilians, and stay independent in the storm of partisanship and propaganda.

For more:

• Follow Dan Lamothe’s reporting on X (@danlamothe) and at the Washington Post
• Subscribe to Independent Americans for deep dives beyond the partisan noise
• Timestamps help cross-reference major topics for further listening or research