The Washington Roundtable discusses Donald Trump’s address on the Iran war and the playbook that has defined his career in business and politics when confronted with a crisis: escalate and blame others. The panel discusses how that same playbook is being applied to the Iran conflict with potentially disastrous results. “He’s immune to any possibility of accountability,” the staff writer Evan Osnos says. “That became not just one of the ways he tells his own story but actually how he imagines history will unfold in his hands.”This week’s reading:<ul>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washington/trumps-case-for-war-fails-to-mention-how-to-win-it">Donald Trump’s Case for War Fails to Mention How to Win It</a>,” by Susan B. Glasser</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-team-behind-a-pro-iran-lego-themed-viral-video-campaign">The Team Behind a Pro-Iran, Lego-Themed Viral-Video Campaign</a>,” by Kyle Chayka</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/04/06/he-helped-stop-iran-from-getting-the-bomb">He Helped Stop Iran from Getting the Bomb</a>,” by David D. Kirkpatrick</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/how-pakistan-became-a-major-player-in-peace-negotiations-between-the-us-and-iran">How Pakistan Became a Major Player in Peace Negotiations Between the U.S. and Iran</a>,” by Isaac Chotiner</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/the-spectacle-of-war-and-the-struggle-to-protest">The Spectacle of War and the Struggle to Protest</a>,” by Jay Caspian Kang</li>
</ul>The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Tune in to The Political Scene<a href="http://swap.fm/l/tny-tps-extref"> wherever you get your podcasts</a>.

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The Art of No Deal: Trump’s Approach to the Iran War

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