The Josh Hammer Show

Episode: Epic Fury and the New Geopolitical Map
Date: March 25, 2026
Host: Josh Hammer

Episode Overview

In this episode, Josh Hammer, Newsweek’s Senior Editor-at-Large and a prominent voice for the New Right, explores the evolving geopolitical landscape amidst the ongoing US-Israel operation against Iran, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” The show features incisive conversations with Jason Greenblatt, former White House Middle East envoy, and Erin Malan, an Australian commentator and media colleague, discussing the nature of alliances, the shifting moral compass in Western societies, and the stakes of American global power. Hammer also analyzes the current airport security shutdown in the US, emphasizing the political blame game, before diving deep into foreign policy debates that are shaping the right’s approach to law, politics, and culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The US Political Shutdown and Airport Security Crisis

Timestamps: [02:00]–[06:30]

• Hammer criticizes Democrats for what he coins the “Democrat Shutdown,” asserting that their actions are inconvenient—and even dangerous—for travelers during heavy travel seasons like Easter and Passover.
  • “Not a particularly good time to be playing politics with all things air travel and airport related, not just because there was this horrific tragedy at LaGuardia Airport a few nights ago.” – Josh Hammer [02:34]
• Blame is explicitly assigned to Democratic leaders such as Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, with Hammer urging the GOP to make this the center of political advertising.
  • “This is the Democrat Shutdown. This is 1,000% the Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffrey shutdown. And those ads really ought to reflect that.” – Josh Hammer [04:34]
• Stresses John Fetterman as the only Senate Democrat voting to fully fund ICE and DHS.

2. Defining “Ally” in the Geopolitical Arena

Timestamps: [06:30]–[13:29]

• Josh Hammer expands on his “ally heuristic”:
  • An ally is a nation whose pursuit of its national interest incidentally strengthens American interests.
    • “If a country acts in its own national interest...and then that has the effect of emboldening and increasing America’s geopolitical posture, increasing our security...that’s an ally.” – Josh Hammer [08:52]
  • Israel is held up as a model, especially amidst the Iran conflict.
• Highlights the global significance of the Strait of Hormuz and the emerging “Hormuz coalition” led by the British Navy to secure this choke point.
  • Hammer challenges European and Gulf states to follow through as true allies, stating major European cities are now within Iran’s missile range.
    • “They can hit every single European continental capital...They just show that with these failed missile strikes at Diego Garcia…Berlin is at risk. Vienna, Prague, Rome, all these cities are at risk.” – Josh Hammer [10:23]
  • Questions whether Saudi and Emirati leaders will move from quiet support to overt military cooperation.
• Heuristic conclusion he wants listeners to keep in mind:
  • “An ally is a country that when they act in their country’s interest, the American national interest is improved and emboldened as a result of that.” – Josh Hammer [11:54]

3. Interview: Jason Greenblatt on Operation Epic Fury & the Middle East

Timestamps: [13:29]–[23:20]

a. Trump’s Iran Doctrine and Consistency

• Greenblatt defends Trump’s steadfast opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and resistance to the JCPOA.
  • “It's no secret Trump has been against the Iranian regime and their desire to have a nuclear weapon and the JCPOA, the terrible JCPOA for so long now. I find it comical that people are trying to talk against him.” – Jason Greenblatt [14:48]
• Dismisses “forever war” accusations as premature and politically motivated.

b. State of the War: Achievements & Diplomacy

• Air superiority established; many high-level Iranian leaders eliminated, sounding the “possible collapse” of the regime.
• Trump’s approach is described as diplomacy-first but backed with readiness for escalation if no genuine negotiations arise.
  • “Let me see if I could get a deal before I attack. He couldn’t get a deal. He saw through them and did what he had to do.” – Jason Greenblatt [16:58]

c. Regime Change in Iran: Degrees & Realism

• Hammer questions whether full-scale regime change is necessary; posits a “MINO” (Mullahs In Name Only) as an analogy.
• Greenblatt: Wholesale collapse is preferable, but even a less fanatical regime would be a huge improvement.
  • “It would be better for everybody to have a total collapse of the regime, but even a non total collapse...with different aims and goals...That is possible and not something that should be overlooked.” – Jason Greenblatt [19:09]

d. The Gulf Arab Perspective & Reluctance

• Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, etc.) have always known Iran was the main threat but hoped for containment.
• Hammer questions the lack of overt Arab military involvement despite private encouragement.
• Greenblatt attributes this to self-preservation logic:
  • “If they don’t think that they can really add anything to the equation and they...can reduce the risk...that’s the way they're going to do it.” – Jason Greenblatt [22:07]
  • Notes possibility of clandestine help (intelligence, etc.).

4. Interview: Erin Malan on Australia, Moral Compass & Western Civilization

Timestamps: [24:33]–[45:26]

a. Why Stand Up for Israel? A Personal & Moral View

• Malan explains her public stance despite not being Jewish: raised by a father who modeled doing what’s right; views October 7 as a moral, not political, issue.
  • “This wasn’t a political issue. This was pure good versus evil. ...Zero regrets. It’s an honour to stand up and fight for what I believe in and to be on the right side of history.” – Erin Malan [26:13]

b. The West’s Failing Moral Compass

• Hammer and Malan lament the loss of a shared Western moral compass, referencing increasing anti-Semitism and apathy.
  • Malan: Australia’s passivity allows a small, radical fringe to dominate public space with hate—most are “laid back,” not confrontational.
  • “The moment has passed where we can be silent and when everyday people can sit back and watch silently. ...I’m still waiting for the rest of the country and the rest of the west to join me.” – Erin Malan [29:40]
  • “Politically in the UK, Starmer is controlled essentially by Islamic extremists. ...The Muslim vote here controls so much of what they do.” – Erin Malan [30:01]

c. Australia’s Political Leadership and Social Cohesion Response

• Albanese government’s attempts to appease all sides after anti-Semitic attacks are called out as weak, performative, and ultimately undermining social cohesion.
  • “After the Lakemba mosque incident...he did a photo saying, diversity is our strength. I mean, you could not make it up.” – Erin Malan [33:43]

d. The New Anti-Western Right: Danger or Exaggeration?

• Hammer and Malan discuss rising voices (Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens) they believe want to burn down the current American Right and replace it with a bizarre anti-Western, Islamophilic alternative.
  • “They want nothing less than the burning down of the current iteration of the American Right and to build some anti Western civilization, neo pagan, Islamophilic, very bizarre entity in its place.” – Josh Hammer [36:22]
  • Malan agrees, warning that voices on both extremes are weakening the West from within.
    • “We're so silly...enemies...tell us what they're going to do, scream it, write it down...Yet when it happens, oh, who would have thought.” – Erin Malan [37:30]

e. America’s Influence and Australian Need for Strong US Leadership

• Hammer queries how much Australians care about America and whether they appreciate the US security umbrella.
• Malan: Australians may have mixed or negative media-fueled views of the US and especially Trump, but nonetheless, "We need a strong America. Anyone who thinks otherwise in Australia is naive, stupid or has another motivation." [40:37]
  • “My child's future depends on the strength of your nation.” – Erin Malan [45:08]
• Media bias discussed: Australian media heavily anti-Trump, skews Israel-Hamas conflict in favor of Palestinian narratives.
• Australia’s vulnerability in the region highlighted; Malan warns that without strong US support, Australia is defenseless against threats like China.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Allies:
  • “An ally is a country that when they act in their country’s interest, the American national interest is improved and emboldened as a result.” – Josh Hammer [11:54]
• On Trump’s Iran Policy:
  • “Trump’s been against the Iranian regime and their desire to have a nuclear weapon...for so long now. I find it comical that people are trying to talk against him.” – Jason Greenblatt [14:48]
• On Standing Up for Israel:
  • “This wasn’t a political issue. This was pure good versus evil...It’s an honour to stand up and fight for what I believe in.” – Erin Malan [26:13]
• Australian Politics:
  • “If China goes to take Taiwan, we are screwed...when war breaks out in our region and we're like, ‘Hey, Trumpy, it's Albo here,’...I would fully understand if they said sod off.” – Erin Malan [43:59]
• On Politics & Friendship:
  • “If you want a friend in politics, get a dog. I mean, you're not in this for being liked. You're in this for doing the right freaking thing.” – Josh Hammer [34:02]

Significant Segment Timestamps

• US Shutdown & Airport Security Politics – [02:00]–[06:30]
• The “Ally” Heuristic & Global Stakes – [06:30]–[13:29]
• Interview: Jason Greenblatt on the Middle East, Iran, Regime Change, Gulf States – [13:29]–[23:20]
• Interview: Erin Malan on Morality, Australia, Western Collapse, American Power – [24:33]–[45:26]

Takeaways

• The concept of an “ally” should be rooted in shared strategic interests, not narratives or sentimentality.
• The US-Israel coalition in “Operation Epic Fury” signals a new, more explicit phase in Middle Eastern and global geopolitics, with Europe and Arab Gulf states facing pressure to clarify their allegiances.
• Western societies—including the US and Australia—are portrayed as undergoing a “moral unraveling,” with anti-Semitism and radical ideologies on the rise, often abetted by media bias.
• The episode warns against both apathy and the radical remaking of Western civilizational values—from within or without.
• Despite growing skepticism about American power, allies like Australia believe their future security depends fundamentally on a robust United States.

For listeners or readers seeking a clear, principled look at current conservative thought on the Middle East, Western values, and international alliances, this episode provides both strategic analysis and forthright moral commentary, in the unmistakable voice of Josh Hammer and his guests.