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Washington Week with The Atlantic

Trump's mixed messages and shifting goals in the Iran war

Season 2026 Episode 13 | 9m 44s

There are at least two Iran wars taking place right now. There’s the war being waged by the U.S. military and the Israelis. In this war, Iranian targets are being methodically destroyed according to carefully designed plans. The other war is playing out inside the brain of Donald Trump. The panel discusses how we don’t know the goals of this war, or the metrics of success.

Major funding for “Washington Week with The Atlantic” is provided by Consumer Cellular, Otsuka, Kaiser Permanente, the Yuen Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Extras
Watch • 6:22
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Backlash against data centers unites Americans
Backlash against data centers unites Americans
Clip: S2026 E36 | 6:22
Watch • 16:50
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Will we be ready when AI goes rogue?
Will we be ready when AI goes rogue?
Clip: S2026 E36 | 16:50
Watch • 17:04
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Trump’s war with Canada
Trump’s war with Canada
Clip: S2026 E35 | 17:04
Watch • 5:46
Washington Week with The Atlantic
What NATO allies think about Trump's treatment of Canada
What are U.S. allies thinking about Trump's treatment of Canada and South Korea?
Clip: S2026 E35 | 5:46
Watch • 26:46
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/28/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 28, 2026.
Episode: S2026 E35 | 26:46
Watch • 26:46
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/21/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 21, 2026.
Episode: S2026 E34 | 26:46
Watch • 13:48
Washington Week with The Atlantic
As national debt climbs, Trump gives Washington a makeover
As the national debt climbs, Trump gives Washington a makeover
Clip: S2026 E34 | 13:48
Watch • 9:46
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Trump shrugs off $40T national debt after vowing he'd cut it
Trump shrugs off $40 trillion national debt after campaigning on cutting it
Clip: S2026 E34 | 9:46
Watch • 26:46
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Washington Week with The Atlantic full episode, 8/14/26
Full Washington Week with the Atlantic broadcast from August 14, 2026.
Episode: S2026 E33 | 26:46
Watch • 10:18
Washington Week with The Atlantic
Trump’s secret flight
Trump’s secret flight
Clip: S2026 E33 | 10:18