The Listening Post (Al Jazeera)

Episode: Trump battles for credit for his Iran intervention
Date: June 28, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Listening Post dissects the recent 12-day war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, focusing on former US President Donald Trump’s quest for recognition for his role in the conflict's resolution. The analysis critiques how the Western media portrayed these events, explores the narratives around Iran’s nuclear program, and connects the Iran conflict to the ongoing crisis in Gaza, highlighting media misrepresentation, propaganda, and selective reporting.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump's Shifting Role: The Theater of Diplomacy

• Trump’s behavior during the Iran conflict is characterized as performative and self-serving, with his repeated pivots between aggressive action and calls for peace framed as narrative strategy rather than true diplomacy.
  • “Donald Trump's persistent pivoting has less to do with diplomacy than it does with the narrative.” – Narrator/Reporter [01:36]
  • Trump moves from tough action on Iran, to ceasefire-making, publicly chastising Israel while also supporting it, unveiling a "trademark Trumpian 180 degree turn." [01:36-03:02]
• Trump’s need for credit:
  • “It’s important to him that he gets credit for what he does, that the media give him credit. That’s what really matters to him.” – Political Analyst [03:37]
• Strategic Ambiguity:
  • “He’s the master of theatrics to create ambiguity about what he wants to do so that he can have various options as things change. He can go back and say, ‘I told you so.’” – Strategist/Commentator [05:22]

2. Media Framing: Western Double Standards

• Misleading Narratives: Western media continues to paint Iran as an existential, irrational threat, while Israel’s nuclear trail and military actions are less scrutinized.
  • “The narrative has been that they have been developing a bomb specifically against Israel... but it was never directed at Israel.” – Middle East Expert [08:30]
  • Comparison of headlines: Israeli strikes are “preemptive,” Iranian actions are “escalation” or “threat.” [16:51]
• Headline Impact:
  • “Headlines are very often the only part of a news piece that gets read... so it’s important to get headlines right.” – Asal Rad [16:09]
• Institutional Bias:
  • "It's an institutional bias, an establishment perspective, and the victor's version of history." – Media Analyst [22:47]

3. The Iran Nuclear Narrative and Reality

• US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites (using GBU-57 bunker busters) are described as "completely and totally obliterated" by Trump, but these claims are disputed by US media and on-ground analysis.
  • “President Trump’s declaration that those sites had been obliterated was quickly contradicted by US news organizations.” – Narrator/Reporter [06:43]
  • Trump's inflammatory response: “CNN is scum.” – Trump Supporter/Commentator [07:31]
• Western media largely ignores or minimizes Israel’s undisclosed nuclear arsenal while magnifying Iran’s regulated program.
  • “The Israelis have had nuclear weapons for decades but refuse to acknowledge that...” – Narrator/Reporter [07:33]
• Pragmatism in Iran’s response is outlined. Their retaliation was carefully measured to avoid American casualties and escalation.
  • “Iran has behaved in a pretty pragmatic way through this crisis.” – Political Analyst [09:48]

4. Regime Change Myths and Iranian Unity

• Western assumptions that military action or internal unrest in Iran will swiftly lead to regime change are challenged.
  • “Another myth has been that...the Iranian people would rise up and overthrow the mullahs.” – Middle East Expert [11:49]
• Signs of unity instead of division appeared in post-attack Iran.

5. Gaza Genocide & Humanitarian Crisis: Media Attention Deficit

• The crisis in Gaza continues with dire humanitarian conditions, especially at GHF aid stations, which are described as "death traps" due to lack of safety and basic infrastructure.
  • “The sites are exposed. There’s no shade...which has led to UN officials calling them death traps.” – Field Reporter [13:17]
• Israeli restrictions on aid and US funding for controversial organizations deepen the crisis.
  • “Aid trucks...sit just a few kilometers away at border crossings, blocked from entering Gaza by the Israelis.” – Field Reporter [14:20]
• Media fatigue and declining coverage further obscure ongoing atrocities in Gaza.

6. Media Critique: The Mechanics of Propaganda

• Asal Rad and others dissect how terminology and framing skew perceptions:
  • Israeli actions are justified or “preemptive”; Iran’s are “threatening” or “escalatory.”
  • “Fundamentally, we have an issue with terminology and framing.” – Media Analyst [17:57]
• Institutional censorship and editorial red lines are the real forces behind distorted coverage, not always the fault of individual journalists.

7. Symbolic Political Shake-up in New York

• The shocking Democratic primary win of Zohran Mamdani (a pro-Palestinian, anti-Netanyahu Muslim candidate) for NYC mayor disrupts dominant narratives and stokes reactionary media accusations of antisemitism.
  • “Mamdani has said that should he become mayor...he would order the police to arrest Netanyahu, who has an ICC warrant out in his name.” – Narrator/Reporter [24:32]
  • Media and critics decry his rise as frightening and label him antisemitic. [25:21-25:33]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump's persona:
  • "Trump's whole Persona is based on deal making...Now it's the theater of diplomacy." – Political Analyst [03:24]
• On strategic ambiguity:
  • “It's a combination of political theatrics and strategic ambiguity, which is a very effective way of pursuing policy.” – Strategist/Commentator [05:22]
• On Israeli and Iranian policies:
  • “What made President Trump's criticism of Israel's ceasefire violation so extraordinary...was that Trump was still calling out an ally." – Narrator/Reporter [05:13]
• On Western media framing:
  • “Iran is everyone's favorite boogeyman. Even when the United States own intelligence says there is no nuclear bomb being developed, it's dismissed.” – Critic/Commentator [10:25]
• On headlines’ impact:
  • “Headlines are very often the only part of a news piece that gets read...So it's important to get headlines right.” – Asal Rad [16:09]
• On NY Times framing of options:
  • “Trump's Iran choice: Last chance diplomacy or a bunker busting bomb. Really? Who decided those are his choices?” – Media Analyst [18:43]
• On institutional bias:
  • "It's an institutional bias, an establishment perspective, and the victor's version of history." – Media Analyst [22:47]
• On political change in New York:
  • “Zohran Mamdani is now one step closer to becoming the city's first Muslim mayor...his victory...shocked anyone familiar with the politics of a city that has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.” – Narrator/Reporter [24:32]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump’s shifting positions: [01:36-03:37]
• Media double standards and narrative analysis: [07:33-09:48], [16:09-19:56]
• Humanitarian disaster in Gaza: [13:17-15:01]
• Headline critique by Asal Rad: [16:09-19:56]
• Zohran Mamdani’s NYC primary victory: [24:29-25:33]

Tone and Language

Throughout the episode, the speakers maintain a critical, investigative tone, with sharp, direct language aimed at both political leaders and media institutions. The episode features a mix of dry analysis, frustration with media misrepresentations, and moments of biting irony.

Summary

A deep dive into the performance and self-promotion underpinning Trump’s approach to the Iran conflict, this episode critiques how Western media shape public perception through selective framing and headline writing. The narrative exposes institutional biases, connects the Iran conflict to ongoing war and genocide in Gaza, and spotlights emerging shifts in domestic US politics, all illustrated with pointed commentary, expert analysis, and incisive headline corrections.