Some People Just Aren't Good with Soundbites. Trump and the War in Iran

One For the Road 1776 · Mar 23, 2026 · 8m

To read the full text of the podcast and the links to the quoted materials, please see: ⁠ https://erm76.substack.com/p/podcast-and-full-text-some-people⁠ During a press conference with reporters in the White House, Trump was asked why the US didn't inform its allies about the upcoming attack against Iran. Trump answered, “We wanted surprise,” he said, with Ms. Takaichi seated next to him. “Who knows better about surprise than Japan, OK? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK? Right?” Pearl Harbor was a horrible situation. And yet, Trump made an off the cuff…