41:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 43:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 44:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"ShareButton"] 46:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/2ys9ev5m3_24i.js","/_next/static/chunks/3pomb8r7ja54n.js","/_next/static/chunks/42spz6paskvb6.js","/_next/static/chunks/178kgr5-cejk9.js","/_next/static/chunks/1v5ewlr55okcj.js","/_next/static/chunks/3jnlvw-emqotx.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3a:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-1 font-mono text-[12px] uppercase tracking-[0.1em] text-[color:var(--fg-3)]","children":[["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2026-03-16T09:00:56.000Z","children":"March 16, 2026"}],["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"00:26:27"}],false]}] 3b:["$","p",null,{"className":"max-w-[60ch] text-[18px] leading-[1.5] text-[color:var(--fg-2)]","children":"Is the actual point of the Iran War to bring about the end of the world?"}] 42:T4ca,

If no other explanations for the Iran War seem satisfying, have you considered that the point is to bring about the end of the world and the return of Jesus Christ? The people in power have.

Guest: Tim Dickinson, senior writer and editor at The Contrarian.

Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.

Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, and Rob Gunther.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.