April 9, 2026 - Hussein Banai | Anthea Butler | James Galbraith

·1 hr·5 clips

Trump is desperate to make a deal with Iran, accepting their terms to escape a mess he created, disregarding global consequences.

The episode begins with Ian Masters introducing the show's focus on multiple news stories. He first speaks with Hussein Banai, an Iranian-American scholar, about Trump's efforts to make a deal with Iran, emphasizing Trump's self-interest and lack of expertise in the region. Banai explains that the U.S.-Israel war has inadvertently strengthened Iran's regime by providing a lifeline during internal protests and economic crises. He details Iran's ideological commitment to regime survival as a religious duty, contrasting it with Trump's transactional approach. The conversation covers Iran's retaliation against Saudi oil pipelines and the ceasefire's fragility. Next, James Galbraith joins to discuss his article on U.S. military obsolescence. He argues that traditional military technologies like aircraft carriers are outdated against drones and missiles, leading to a strategic defeat. Galbraith advocates for demilitarization and domestic renewal, referencing FDR's economic bill of rights, and critiques the dollar's role as a trap that undermines American living standards. He dismisses fears of Chinese empire-building, suggesting a concert of nations instead. Finally, Anthea Butler analyzes Pope Leo's Easter message calling for peace, which contrasted sharply with Trump's aggressive tweets. She reveals the Pentagon threatened the Vatican's representative, invoking the Avignon captivity, leading the pope to cancel a U.S. visit. Butler discusses the rise of a militant Protestant Christianity in the administration, exemplified by figures like Pete Hegseth, and its clash with Catholic teachings. The episode concludes with reflections on the 25th amendment's feasibility.

As heard by us

Iran, American power, and the democratic costs of war as policy.

Reports of Trump trying to make a deal with Iranian officials give this Background Briefing episode its hard political edge. Ian Masters centers the dispute on the lack of Iran specialists in government, arguing that the pressure campaign has strengthened the brutal, repressive…

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You want Iran policy, American power, and the price of a war of choice put in the same frame.

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