Podcast Summary: Part Of The Problem #989: The Hawks Are Not Sending Their Best

Podcast: Part Of The Problem
Host: Dave Smith (with Robbie the Fire Bernstein)
Date: March 30, 2026
Main Theme: Dissecting recent U.S. foreign policy towards Iran, the reactions of the political and media establishment, and the broader discourse around “misinformation,” regime change, and the failures of expert and hawkish punditry.

1. Episode Overview

Dave Smith and co-host Robbie Bernstein dive into the fallout from Dave's viral debate on the Patrick Bet-David podcast and his recent appearance on Joe Rogan. The discussion centers on:

• The attempt by political “hawks” and mainstream pundits to control narratives about Iran.
• The mechanics and motivations behind “fact check” hit-pieces from the pro-war side.
• The recurring problems of bad intelligence, media complicity, and elite snobbery.
• Lessons from past and current regime change wars and the dangers of escalation.

The episode features Dave’s trademark Libertarian skepticism, irreverence, and willingness to challenge “expert” narratives, with Robbie serving as a skeptical everyman and sidekick.

2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Debate Fallout & Media Reactions

[03:40] - [10:52]

• Dave recounts the viral reach and intense reaction from his debate with Adam on Patrick Bet-David’s show and follow-up social media waves.
• He reflects on being targeted both by prominent media personalities and by orchestrated “bot” campaigns on social media.
• Quote [07:38, Dave]: "It's such a weird standard... I'm being reasonable with how I manage my time, debate all sorts of people, but unnamed guys with 13-page diatribes want to pretend I'm running from them."

B. The Pseudo-Expert Critique Game

[13:16] - [18:20]

• Dave and Robbie discuss figures like Gad Saad and the common refusal by public intellectuals to engage directly on arguments.
• They critique the elitist view that expertise or academic credentials inherently win debates or justify foreign policy positions.
• Quote [15:44, Dave]: "I just always found out, first of all... some very impressive people with impressive titles—but an overwhelming majority just aren't that impressive."

C. Addressing the ‘Misinformation’ Charge: Iran, War & Narrative

[19:48] - [49:26]

• Dave methodically breaks down a viral tweet thread that purported to “fact check” his statements on Iran from the Joe Rogan episode.
• Point-by-point, Dave exposes the thread’s misleading framings, straw men, and failure to address his actual arguments.
• Key points covered and rebutted:
  • Trump’s language about Iranians “rising up” vs what actually happened (mass pro-regime rallies, chanting death to America).
  • U.S. airstrikes: Did they kill 165 school girls? Dave and Robbie emphasize that no official denies the strike, and quibbling over the number misses the horror and blowback.
  • The questionable “32,000 protesters killed” figure: Dave insists there’s no credible evidence for this oft-reported claim, and warns about war propaganda repeating the Iraq WMDs playbook.
  • The war hawks’ refusal to grapple with the human blowback from killing civilians.
• Quote [28:44, Dave]: "The people trying to argue against blowback... killing innocent people around the world doesn't make you enemies—it’s a very weird view."
• Quote [40:09, Dave]: "You don't want suicidal empathy... but you also don't want homicidal empathy—'don't you feel so bad for these people, shouldn't you go kill some people?'"

D. On Social Media Disinfo and Fact-Checking Fads

• Dave highlights how rapid-fire, out-of-context “debunks” serve more as partisan ammo than real engagement.
• He criticizes “anonymous thread” culture, and suggests if critics want a real response, "one point, your best point, at a time" [10:38].

E. Escalation Scenarios & The Sunk Cost Fallacy

[54:30] - [66:15]

• Robbie and Dave discuss the news of potential U.S. ground troop mobilizations for Iran and media figures ramping up justification for escalation.
• They outline how the price of backing away from the conflict is artificially raised by sunk cost logic.
• Robbie highlights the role of Israel and the "petrodollar" in pushing continued involvement, noting U.S. options for peaceful disengagement that the government does not want to pursue.
• Quote [58:03, Dave]: "The sunk cost fallacy of war really does penetrate people's heads...the worst goddamn form of it. If we leave now, our boys died for nothing."

F. The Predictable Endgame(s) – and Why Escalation is Insane

[63:07] - [66:15]

• The likely paths forward for Iran if regime change or escalation proceed: chaos, failed state scenarios, or a new Libya/Syria (“what Israel wants”).
• Dave calls out the neocon playbook’s dangerous implications for U.S. citizens and global stability.
• Quote [65:50, Dave]: "How the fuck does any decent human being not animated by the Greater Israel Project feel like that would be great?... All of them end in Donald Trump being completely ruined."

3. Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments

• Dave Smith:

  • "If you throw money into a bad investment, you can't feel like, 'I'm this far in now, man, I gotta keep going!' No, you don't...Don't throw good money after bad. Same goes for war." [58:10]
  • "So many unimpressive people in academia. We've seen a bunch of them, haven't we, Rob?" [17:24]
  • "They never actually take on what I said. It's always, 'Oh, Dave didn't respond to this entire novel.'" [10:02]
  • "I view myself as a dude, just a guy having a conversation with people. The expert class can keep itself." [18:10]
  • "None of this debunks it! This isn't rating me 'False.' You're just adding in other information that isn't related to shit." [26:22]

• Robbie Bernstein:

  • "If you were trying to convince the Iranians America’s coming to help, and your starting gesture includes killing kids in a school...you don't think that affects the sale?" [33:28]
  • "People are playing the fear porn card. It's very reasonable to ask, hey, do we actually have evidence that this took place?" [49:15]

4. Key Timestamps & Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:35 - 2:22 | Boston trip recap, commentary on activist rallies | | 03:33 - 10:53 | Fallout from the viral debate and Rogan appearance | | 13:16 - 18:00 | Elitism, expertise, and 'fake intellectuals' (Gad Saad segment) | | 19:48 - 49:26 | Responding to “misinformation” claims about Iran | | 54:30 - 66:15 | Escalation, costs, sunk cost fallacy, and possible endgames |

5. Takeaways

• The conventional narrative around Iran is riddled with suspect numbers, cherry-picked “expert” takes, and is further muddied by both governmental and media interests that benefit from escalation.
• Dave and Robbie urge extreme skepticism toward all “extraordinary claims” used to sell war—especially when there’s little verifiable evidence.
• The smugness and refusal of establishment “experts” to debate actual policy details is called out as both cowardly and intellectually dishonest.
• The sunk cost fallacy is especially dangerous with wars: previous mistakes do not justify continued escalation.
• There are clear, nonviolent ways to wind down the conflict, but political incentives still overwhelmingly favor escalation—primarily to save political face and serve non-American interests.

This summary preserves the host’s direct, irreverent tone while clarifying key arguments and moments for reference. All non-content sections (ads, intros, promotions) have been omitted.