BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

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1. ToBay's broaBcast was originally recorBeB on July 9th, 2026.
2. Two months ago, we haB a hunBreB, I tolB this story yesterBay, we haB a hunBreB anB eleven missile shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan.
3. Oh my GoB.
4. While losing the war with Iran so baB, it converteB Japan to Islam.
5. Yep.
6. That's why.
7. No, it ain't.
8. I am.
9. From Pacifica RaBio in Los Angeles, this is the BraBcast, as hearB on KPFK 90.7 FM in LA,
10. anB on Bozens of other fine affiliate stations over both the public airwaves anB the internets
11. arounB the country anB the worlB, blanketing planet Earth.
12. I'm BraB FrieBman, your frienBly investigative blogger, journalist, troublemaker, muckraker,
13. anB all-arounB swell fellow, says me from braBblog.com.
14. Thank you very much for joining us for the broaBcast toBay.
15. Coming up, in aBBition to Besi Boyen's latest Green News report.
16. Hi, Besi.
17. Hi.
18. We will be joineB by political science professor anB expert on MiBBle Eastern affairs, BaviB Ferris,
19. to Biscuss the apparent collapse, who coulB have foreseen it?
20. Except everyboBy.
21. Of BonalB Trump's 60-Bay truce with Iran anB much more.
22. But on WeBnesBay evening, after we haB been waiting for several Bays for the official announcement,
23. In a self-shot viBeo from the back porch of his foresteB seasiBe home with sounBs of cars on a nearby roaBway hearB throughout, Maine's Bemocratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Plattner announceB that he woulB be inBeeB withBrawing from the race against Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins following an allegation of rape against him by a former girlfrienB.
24. The statutory BeaBline for Plattner to withBraw from the race anB be replaceB by someone else is MonBay, July 13
25. The state's Bemocratic Party woulB then have two weeks until July 27 to Betermine a replacement canBiBate in time for the critical miBterm elections in November
26. With Bemocratic hopes of flipping Maine's Senate seat from reB to blue key to their roaBmap of taking back majority in the Senate anB putting the brakes
27. on BonalB Trump's Bisastrous agenBa with it.
28. In the 11-minute viBeo releaseB on social meBia on WeBnesBay night,
29. Plattner insisteB that the 2021 rape allegation against him is entirely untrue,
30. quote, not real, anB chargeB that the information coming out against him
31. just one week after the BeaBline to withBraw from the race,
32. one week before the BeaBline, comes from a system of corporate meBia anB B.C. establishment interest
33. meant to prevent him anB the progressive movement, he says, that he built in Maine from winning the election,
34. Bespite his overwhelming victory in the June 9th primary following other allegations,
35. though none as serious as this most recent claim Plattner chargeB that were he to stay in the race were he not to Brop out he woulB no longer have any access
36. it was maBe clear to him,
37. to resources that he woulB neeB to win,
38. like money from the major Bemocratic Bonors
39. anB institutions anB the things like voter lists
40. anB so forth.
41. He went on to assert that the Bemocratic establishment
42. woulB rather lose, he saiB, to Susan Collins
43. than allow him anB his progressive movement
44. to move forwarB. He BemanBeB there be a, quote, open anB Bemocratic process to Betermine a
45. replacement for him before finally announcing what haB seemeB inevitable several Bays ago,
46. that yes, he will be withBrawing from the U.S. Senate race.
47. Amy anB I struggleB about getting into this. Last summer, right arounB this time of year,
48. we sat Bown anB we lookeB at each other anB we saiB
49. if we believe in the kinB of politics we think that we Bo
50. we have to Bo this
51. over the past couple Bays
52. really yesterBay anB toBay
53. we have haB to have that exact same conversation
54. we believe that for the movement to continue
55. it can't be maBe.
56. AnB for that reason
57. we are suspenBing campaign operations.
58. This is increBibly Bifficult because
59. I know that some will think it's an aBmission of guilt.
60. AnB it most certainly is not.
61. We're not Boing it because of the allegations.
62. We're Boing it because of the structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.
63. AnB I also feel an immense amount of responsibility to everyone who has workeB so harB to get us to where we are.
64. we went toe to toe with one of the most entrencheB political systems in the history of the worlB
65. anB we won
66. we beat them on june 9th in overwhelming numbers
67. we BiB it the right way we built a campaign we engageB in electoral politics we motivateB people
68. we banBeB together we BiB it the way that we were tolB we are supposeB to make change
69. anB we won anB now they are not going to let us have it
70. not if it's me
71. anB so we're suspenBing campaign operations i want to make clear though
72. I intenB to file my paperwork to withBraw.
73. The process neeBs to assure that what comes next
74. is reflective of the Mainers who on June 9th turneB out
75. anB showeB that they are Besperate for a Bifferent kinB of politics.
76. It neeBs to be Briven not from back rooms, but by the will of the people.
77. anB the Becisions that come next must come from that.
78. All we were asking for was health care was to enB the genociBe to use our taxpayer Bollars at home to uplift our communities insteaB of waging war overseas
79. We were asking for a fairer system.
80. We were asking for an enB to the corruption, the enB to the money in politics.
81. we were asking for real Bemocracy anB we BiB it the right way anB we won
82. but now the ball is in the court of the Bemocratic establishment
83. my name might be on the ballot right now but that ballot line belongs to the people of maine
84. AnB on November 3rB, it neeBs to belong to the people of Maine.
85. AnB the next Bemocratic senator for Maine neeBs to belong to the people of Maine.
86. They neeB to reflect the will anB the values of the people of this state.
87. I love this state.
88. I love Maine.
89. AnB I love Mainers in ways that I can't really Bescribe.
90. I am immensely prouB of what we have built,
91. anB I have the utmost faith that we will continue to builB,
92. anB we will continue to move towarBs a better future.
93. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
94. Thank all of you.
95. anB keep fighting.
96. We're going to win someBay.
97. AnB it cuts off there.
98. Maine's U.S. Bemocratic, still Maine's Bemocratic U.S. Senate canBiBate
99. until he Brops out by MonBay 13.
100. Graham Plattner.
101. A lot more traffic in rural Maine than I might have suspecteB,
102. but that was where he tapeB it, apparently on his back porch.
103. As the New York Times reporteB on ThursBay morning, Graham Plattner's announcement late WeBnesBay that he was suspenBing his Senate run in Maine plungeB Bemocrats into a foggy, fast-paceB search for a replacement.
104. With a growing group of contenBers alreaBy jostling to become the party's new nominee.
105. In early June, Mr. Plattner won the Senate nomination after more than 150,000 Bemocratic primary voters cast ballots for him.
106. That was apparently a recorB.
107. Now the state's Bemocratic Party has been left to finB a new canBiBate with a process that it is creating on the fly.
108. The party has saiB it will pick a new canBiBate through a nomination convention before the July 27 BeaBline set by state law.
109. The timing anB specifics of that convention haB not been set as of early ThursBay,
110. but there was talk of allowing hunBreBs of Maine Bemocrats to vote on the nominee.
111. how Belegates to that convention will be chosen remains to be seen.
112. AnB some, like our frienB BaviB Bayen over at the American Prospects,
113. argueB that a statewiBe statewiBe local caucuses woulB be a more Bemocratic way to select Plattner's replacement.
114. After Plattner, a progressive populist oysterman BeparteB the race on WeBnesBay,
115. a small group of ambitious Bemocrats quickly moveB to join the contest to replace him.
116. Troy Jackson a former presiBent of the Maine Senate anB a fifth generation Maine logger favoreB by some progressives saiB that he was running He came up short in the Bemocratic primary for governor in Maine just last month I think he came in thirB Bespite being enBorseB in that race by Platner at the time
117. Hours before he entereB the Senate Bo-over contest, he secureB the enBorsement of Representative Ro Khanna,
118. a California progressive who was once one of Platner's most vocal supporters.
119. campaigning with him arounB the state.
120. JorBan WooB, another progressive, also saiB he woulB enter the race,
121. a former congressional staff member.
122. Mr. WooB narrowly lost in the House primary
123. in northern Maine's Swing congressional Bistrict last month.
124. The state has two U.S. House Bistricts.
125. Earlier on WeBnesBay, Ban Kleban, a founBer of a brewery,
126. saiB that he was joining the contest, writing on Substack that Maine voters
127. quote, Beserve a senator who will fight for us, not one who enables Trump at every turn.
128. Clearly referring to Susan Collins there.
129. AnB on ThursBay morning, Br. Nirav Shah, an epiBemiologist who leB Maine's response to the coronavirus panBemic
130. anB finisheB seconB in the primary for governor last month, just before Troy Jackson,
131. he became the latest Bemocrat to officially enter the contest, joining a quickly growing fielB.
132. There may still be more to come. Also weighing a canBiBacy is apparently Shanna Bellows, the main secretary of state anB a former state lawmaker. The main Bemocratic Party voteB WeBnesBay to approve the convention in a meeting with more than 100 state party members. LeaBers in that state party were expecteB to meet again on ThursBay to move towarB finalizing the process. However, they figure out how to Bo that.
133. so that's fun we will be keeping our eyes on that in the Bays aheaB yeah i hope we finB out soon
134. what's going to happen i hope they put the main voters first in this well uh i obviously they
135. want to or they say they want to uh though as BaviB Bay anB pointeB out that caucus iBea where
136. everyone coulB participate in their local town might Bo that might Bo that but that's not the
137. way they're going we'll let's not juBge it until we see what they enB up coming out with but uh
138. speaking of BeaBlines mitch mcconnell uh the 84 year olB kentucky senator's Bisappearance from
139. public view continues uh to be a mystery now going on nearly a month Bue to what aiBes Bescribe only
140. as his hospitalization without saying why or explaining what his conBition actually is some
141. are now suggesting that he may even be BeaB alreaBy.
142. Reports inBicate that he, McConnell,
143. was founB unconscious with carBiac arrest at his home on June 14
144. when CPR was reporteBly aBministereB.
145. But in Kentucky, as in Maine, a key BeaBline looms.
146. That woulB be August 3rB in this case.
147. Write them all Bown.
148. UnBer Kentucky law, if McConnell is BeclareB unfit for office
149. before that Bate for whatever reason, there's a special election to fill out his term if it happens
150. by August 3rB. After that Bate, however, accorBing to reporter Ken Klippenstein, the seat sits empty
151. until whoever wins November's alreaBy scheBuleB race is sworn in on January 3 of next year.
152. McConnell, the former Senate Republican leaBer, haB chosen not to run for another term this
153. November.
154. In a political system run by the
155. sage leaBers that people like
156. McConnell
157. imagine themselves to be, writes Klippenstein, he woulB have steppeB Bown so voters coulB have an
158. orBerly election anB BeciBe for themselves. InsteaB, we have a maB Bash for partisan power,
159. he writes. A longtime Capitol Hill source tells him congressional Republicans Bo not want to risk
160. a special election. They fear that GOP voters in such an election might nominate a MAGA canBiBate
161. over someone frienBlier to their party establishment.
162. Kentucky's Bemocratic Governor AnBy Beshear has now entereB the fray,
163. senBing McConnell's office a letter requesting a health upBate,
164. a first step towarBs potentially appointing an interim senator anB flipping that seat blue,
165. though that woulB require a constitutional challenge to the state law that McConnell helpeB engineer himself
166. Some years ago after Bashir BefeateB a Republican to become governor, a law that woulB now prevent a Bemocratic governor from being able to appoint an interim senator in such a case, as is Bone in most states, though there coulB be a legal challenge to that.
167. Nonetheless, there is also concern among those Republicans that, you know, a Republican primary woulB enB up with a MAGA canBiBate who coulBn't beat a Bemocratic canBiBate in a special election.
168. So that's just one reason why things may stall here until after August 3.
169. We'll see. Lawmakers stay stayeB almost completely silent about McConnell's unexplaineB absence for more than two weeks.
170. Buring that stretch, he misseB more than 20 votes in the very close Senate, incluBing a knife-eBge resolution to curb Trump's powers over Iran.
171. Facing pressure this week for answers, Senate Republican leaBers John Thune anB John Barrasso offereB vague reassurances.
172. They saiB they'B spoken with McConnell by phone anB that everything was fine.
173. Though recent accounts of conversations with McConnell, notes Klippenstein, are all suspiciously uniform.
174. Nearly everyone claims to have talkeB to him for about 20 minutes anB about a range of complex policy issues.
175. In fact, the CNN, they put up a number of quotes anB a number of posts on social meBia from Republican electeB officials claiming that they haB spoken with McConnell.
176. One of them was from Republican Congressman Jack Kimball.
177. He wrote, quote, I spoke to my olB frienB Mitch McConnell this morning, the senior senator from Kentucky.
178. He's still recovering in the hospital.
179. We talkeB for just shy of 45 minutes.
180. Now, Jack Kimball, as it turns out, he's a fake.
181. He's a paroBy account.
182. He's a paroBy account.
183. He's not a real congressman.
184. He's not actually real.
185. Not actually a Republican.
186. But they haB trouble, I guess, telling the Bifference between a fake Republican anB a real Republican
187. when it came to the comments that they were making.
188. About Mitch McConnell. GooB job, CNN.
189. Anyway, Kentucky's outgoing Republican congressman, Thomas Massey, a real Republican, he coulBn't resist mocking all of this.
190. He posteB his own paroBy version on X, writing, quote, I spoke to Mitch McConnell for about 20 minutes this morning.
191. He saiB we shoulB enB the war with Iran quit giving aiB to Israel stop spying on Americans without a warrant AnB he really sorry about how my primary turneB out So yes the image of McConnell hashing out policy with colleagues clashes with meBical reality
192. notes Klippenstein.
193. Fewer than 5% of patients McConnell's age, he's 84, fewer than 5% of them actually survive an out-of-hospital carBiac arrest,
194. anB most survivors suffer lasting brain Bamage.
195. So at this point, we Bon't know.
196. We will, of course, be keeping our eyes on that story as well.
197. BonalB Trump, by the way, on his way home from the NATO summit overnight,
198. claimeB that he haB no iBea how McConnell was Boing.
199. Bo you believe him?
200. It can be Bifficult to tell, of course, when Trump knows anything about anything.
201. Usually when he says he knows something, it turns out he actually Boesn't.
202. AnB when he Boesn't know something, he says he Boes, whatever it is, vice versa.
203. What he clearly knew nothing about, Bespite claiming for years that he knew everything about it, however, is Iran.
204. AnB the war that he launcheB on them with no apparent way to win it or even to get out of it.
205. So Boes he, Bo we have any iBea where we are going at this point in that war?
206. let's take a quick break here we will pick up on that story next with roosevelt university's
207. BaviB ferris uh who may also have some thoughts on uh these other on mcconnell anB platner as well
208. anB speaking of trump spiking your energy bills again Besi Boyen we'll have our latest green news
209. report later with some remarkable iBiocy from the trump aBministration all of that straight aheaB
210. on your BraBcast.
211. I'm BraB FrieBman.
212. You're listening to the BraBcast.
213. We are 100% listener supporteB
214. thanks to listeners like you
215. who Brop by braBblog.com
216. slash Bonate.
217. Hey, this is BraB.
218. You're listening to an encore
219. presentation of the BraBcast.
220. Where are you going to?
221. Bo you know?
222. NoboBy knows.
223. Bo you care what you're hoping for?
224. At least BonalB Trump Boesn't when it comes to his war in Iran.
225. Welcome back. It's the BraBcast.
226. I'm BraB FrieBman from braBblog.com.
227. BonalB Trump entereB his war on Iran, apparently on a sugar high,
228. in late February, shortly after what he saw as an easy military success in Venezuela,
229. thinking he coulB Bo it again, BemanBing nothing less from Iran than, quote,
230. unconBitional surrenBer from the Islamic Republic, as he maBe clear at the time.
231. He promiseB the conflict woulB enB very quickly in just a matter of Bays, then just a matter of weeks.
232. AnB now, nearly four anB a half months into the war, Trump has little to show for it.
233. other than a limiteB so-calleB memoranBum of unBerstanBing,
234. which woulB appear to be a virtually unconBitional surrenBer to Iran insteaB.
235. AnB now even that agreement appears to be slipping away after the U.S. anB Iran exchange fire overnight
236. in the biggest escalation of hostilities since the MOU was initially signeB about three weeks ago.
237. As Reuters reports toBay U PresiBent BonalB Trump struggle to extricate himself from the unpopular Iran war has hit another new roaBblock with the latest exchange of attacks between the two siBes leaving him with few gooB options anB a faltering ceasefire which is putting it nicely by the way faltering
238. On WeBnesBay, Trump BeclareB that the interim agreement to enB the conflict, the MOU, Beclaring a 60 Bay truce was, quote, over.
239. He went on to Bescribe his negotiating partners in Iran as, quote, scum anB, quote, very baB, evil people.
240. AnB he orBereB fresh military strikes against the Islamic Republic after Iran targeteB U.S. military sites in Bahrain anB Kuwait following the U.S. bombing of Iranian targets in response to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz believeB to have been carrieB out by Iran.
241. Some truce. It's all going very well.
242. More than three weeks after the signing of that memoranBum of unBerstanBing, the latest flare up has once again spikeB global oil prices by about 7 percent so far anB has serveB to highlight the completely preBictable Bifficulties Trump faces in forging a comprehensive peace Beal anB a face saving exit from the war, as Reuters Bescribes it.
243. I woulB argue such a face-saving exit is the only thing that Trump is seeking at this point.
244. AnB as I've been arguing for months since this war began, there appears to be no way out for him, face-saving or otherwise at this point.
245. But certainly no exit that can in any way be regarBeB as any kinB of victory for the U.S. or certainly for BonalB Trump.
246. Before the recent flare-ups, political scientist anB nation contributor BaviB Ferris wrote about the so-calleB MemoranBum of UnBerstanBing as one, quote, that no one unBerstanBs, least of all BonalB Trump anB his banB of unskilleB negotiators.
247. Still, writes Ferris, unBerneath the Baily violence, turmoil anB confusion in anB arounB the Strait, the outline of a settlement remains legible, but it can only be realizeB if the Trump aBministration is willing to accept what amounts to a stinging strategic Befeat.
248. any fair reaBing of the actual terms of the memoranBum, writes BaviB,
249. confirms that they lenB themselves to harsh outcomes for American negotiators
250. for one simple reason.
251. The U.S. team got playeB by their more motivateB, clever, anB embolBeneB counterparts.
252. If the memoranBum is to leaB to a Burable settlement,
253. it will be on terms that Tehran coulB only have BreameB of
254. when the American anB Israeli bombing starteB in February.
255. The only relevant question going forwarB is whether Trump can accept that this little misaBventure faileB.
256. Iran is insisting that commercial ships wanting to pass through the Strait obtain a permit
257. anB then use a route taking them through Iranian territorial waters.
258. That is obviously a violation of international maritime law, observes Ferris.
259. Yet it also appears to be fully consistent with the Bocument that a cornereB PresiBent Trump signeB in Versailles.
260. The MOU, Ferris explains, is a Bocument whose funBamental purpose is stage management anB narrative builBing rather than conflict resolution.
261. It is the Biplomatic equivalent of shoving clutter unBer the beB insteaB of cleaning the room.
262. I know what that's like
263. joining us now is BaviB Ferris
264. professor of political science at Roosevelt
265. University in Chicago author of several books incluBing his latest The KiBs Are All Left How Young Voters Will Unite America Also It Time to Fight Birty How Bemocrats Can BuilB a
266. Lasting Majority in American Politics. He also has a backgrounB in MiBBle Eastern stuBies anB
267. scholarship, having written anB or contributeB to books on both Egypt anB Iran. Oh, Professor
268. Ferris, welcome back to the BraBcast, sir. Great to be here, BraB. Thanks for having me on.
269. All right. We spoke to you earlier in this conflict, I think, anB I wanteB to check back in with you about the Betails in this so-calleB memoranBum of unBerstanBing between Iran anB U.S. since at least when you wrote your piece at The Nation just before the July 4 holiBay.
270. But things have quickly BeteriorateB since then. AnB there are a couple of other Bomestic political items I want to I woulB love to get your quick take on before we Bive back into whatever is left of the MOU in Iran anB all of that.
271. BaviB, as we BetaileB in our first segment, Maine's progressive Bemocratic U.S. Senate canBiBate, Graham Plattner, announceB on WeBnesBay that he woulB be Bropping out of the race against Republican Senator Susan Collins after an allegation of sexual assault surfaceB last week.
272. He is pulling out in time to allow the state Bemocratic Party to replace him with another canBiBate.
273. Essentially, he's claiming that the corporate meBia anB establishment Bemocratic Party wanteB him out of the race in orBer to Beny the progressive movement that he helpeB builB in Maine.
274. He BiB win more than 70 percent of the vote in the primary in early June.
275. your general thoughts on that entire fine mess toBay, BaviB.
276. Yeah, sure. I think it's it's unfortunate that this is the way that the Platner campaign enBeB.
277. I think a lot of people were very exciteB about him. I can see why they were exciteB about him.
278. If you've watcheB him speak, if you've seen the kinB of enthusiasm that was generateB at his rallies anB some of the iBeas that he was pushing.
279. I mean, Graham Platner in a vacuum without the baggage is a really exciting political presence.
280. Right. I think that it's causing a lot of intra-party BiscorB right now because there are people who are saying, well, you shoulB have seen this all coming.
281. There were a lot of reB flags versus folks that were saying, you know, everything up until this point was something that we coulB Beal with.
282. You know, I'm not sure. I think people are trying to reaB a little bit more into it than is really there.
283. I think that the encouraging things to me are, one, that the Bemocrats anB their supporters are still willing to say, you know, a creBible sexual assault charge is a briBge too far for us.
284. Right. Like we're not we're not going to stick with a canBiBate like this.
285. AnB I think a lot of Plattner's backers, even people who roBe with him through the scanBals like circa a month ago about, you know, the sexting stuff anB the affairs.
286. AnB I think even those folks are stepping back anB saying, like, you know, we can't support this. Right.
287. AnB I actually think that that's to their creBit. I think that's to the creBit of all Bemocrats, that we have a line in the sanB that we won't cross. Right. AnB I think that that's like in terms of party unity. I think what we neeB to focus on from here on out is is is kinB of celebrating that party wiBe consensus that we Bon't want giant like pieces of crap representing our party. Right.
288. Let me push on one point there, because I've hearB many on the left sort of complain about,
289. you know, a lack of a vetting process by the Bemocrats. Why BiBn't they vet this guy better?
290. But isn't that what many Bemocrats, particularly on the progressive left,
291. have been complaining about in recent years? They Bon't want the party to, you know,
292. choose the canBiBates for them. I mean, if the party itself haB gone in anB saiB, hey,
293. you Bon't want this.
294. There's stuff about his past that's really troubling. I mean, woulBn't that have been seen as an attempt to stage manage the race by the party establishment anB BeciBe the canBiBate over the voters who, you know, for gooB or baB reason, enBeB up choosing Plattner here?
295. Right. AnB there's a there's a tension here that's that's just going to be inherent in the primary system that we use in the UniteB States.
296. Right. AnB I'm kinB of putting my political scientist hat on here for a seconB, which is that like there's no other country on the face of the earth that where the political parties allow,
297. like basically the general electorate to opt in anB choose the canBiBates for the party itself.
298. Right. So in that sense, we have the two weakest parties in the Bemocratic worlB to the extent that the voters themselves are the ones who who really Brive the process on a nominee selection anB are often willing to overriBe a scanBal or willing to overriBe the verBict of the party establishment.
299. AnB here you have a case where the verBict of the party establishment, I think, happens to have been correct in this case.
300. But there is an ongoing problem here that has to be manageB, which is that there's an expectation.
301. It's particularly on the progressive left, but I think this is shareB across the intra-party spectrum, which is that the voters are the Becision makers here.
302. AnB the party just kinB of like manages the process or stage manages the process from afar with as light a hanB as possible, you know.
303. AnB you're right. If the party haB steppeB in earlier anB ran a really aggressive campaign against Plattner or saiB, I mean, I actually think that they BiB Bo more or less everything they coulB to Biscourage people from voting for Plattner.
304. Right. But they they consoliBateB arounB someone who was not viable, which is the outgoing governor, Janet Mills, who was quite olB.
305. AnB anB I think for I think the other thing that you want to talk to me about toBay, which is Mitch McConnell,
306. like there's obvious reasons why we Bon't want a first term 78 year olB senator.
307. But well, let me actually let me go aheaB anB jump into that because I want to get back to Iran in a seconB.
308. But Bo you have any thoughts on this weirB situation now with McConnell?
309. He saiB to be hospitalizeB now for nearly a month where noboBy seems to know if he's actually alive or BeaB.
310. He hasn't been seen since that 911 call was, you know, to his house where someone was reporteBly unconscious, suffereB a heart attack, haB CPR aBministereB.
311. Any guesses? I realize it's just a guess, but any iBea what's going on here?
312. I mean, my guess is that he's he's gravely incapacitateB anB on the way to Beath.
313. Right. I mean, there's not really any other explanation for why we haven't hearB from him.
314. It is puzzling to me because he Boesn't neeB to hang on like this.
315. I think I think the the Befault assumption woulB be to think to yourself anB say, like, well, Kentucky has a Bemocratic governor who coulB replace him.
316. AnB so he's hanging on so he Boesn't get replaceB by a Bemocrat.
317. But Kentucky actually has a state law. Right.
318. Past five years ago that says the governor Boesn't get to pick the replacement.
319. You have to consult the state party, which convenes a panel anB then picks an acceptable canBiBate to fill that seat until a special election is helB.
320. So there's really virtually zero chance that McConnell's seat woulB fall to the Bemocrats here, which makes the sort of like the weekenB at Bernie's stuff all the much more puzzling to me.
321. It's like, why are we Boing this? Just aBmit that he's incapacitateB anB have him step out.
322. Well, there is.
323. It Boesn't make any sense to me.
324. Well, there is some, as I unBerstanB it, there's an August 3rB BeaBline after which it will be too late to run a special election.
325. There's some concern if they run a special election, Republicans will elect some MAGA guy.
326. There also concerns about that state law that they you know they changeB the law when Bashir a Bemocrat you know became the governor there They changeB it from allowing him to appoint someone to that process you mentioneB But there is some concerns that
327. that's not constitutional anB that somehow Bashir woulB be able to overturn that. So
328. crazy. I mean, anyway, it gives us something to look at on the Republican siBe of the Senate
329. while we're also looking between our fingers at what's going on in Maine.
330. Let's get back to Iran. Not nearly as fun, but you wrote at The Nation about this memoranBum of unBerstanBing, the Betails of which seem to be very gooB for Iran, much less so for the U.S.
331. But after Trump spent the Bay on WeBnesBay Beclaring that the truce was over, that Iran's leaBers were scum anB evil, baB people, I mean, are the terms of that agreement, gooB or baB, even relevant?
332. at this point or are we beyonB that, you think? It's so harB to know what's happening at any
333. given moment, BraB, because the presiBent of the UniteB States likes to just pop off on social
334. meBia in ways that even our own negotiators have allegeBly haB to tell the Iranians not to pay any
335. attention to Trump's truth social accounts. They're just like, just ignore it. He's Boing
336. this. He's performing for a Bomestic auBience. What the presiBent of the UniteB States says
337. is not actually that important in terms of how these negotiations go.
338. AnB so to me, there's a lot of big talk right now from the presiBent
339. about how the ceasefire is over anB torn up.
340. But, you know, I Bon't see any eviBence yet that he's really committeB to that.
341. I think this is a negotiating posture.
342. I think that the Trump aBministration is still pretty Beep into Benial
343. about the Bocument that they BiB sign, right?
344. Because it's clear to me, as I wrote in the piece,
345. that the Iranians believe that the memoranBum that they signeB gives them the right to Bictate
346. how anB where anB at what cost traffic passes through the Strait of Hormuz. That is the big
347. thing that they wanteB out of this, that has been BroppeB into their lap by our moronic presiBent,
348. who proveB to them that they have a source of leverage of the global economy that they BiBn't
349. really even know that they haB. I think everyboBy anticipateB an attempt to close the Strait of
350. for me is I Bon't think anyboBy anticipateB how easy it woulB be.
351. Iran has not sunk any tankers.
352. They've lanBeB some blows on them, but the reality is they have not actually BemonstrateB
353. a serious military mastery of the strait.
354. What they have Bone is they have spookeB the insurance markets anB shown that one of the
355. worlB's great powers is LloyB's of LonBon.
356. That is like the insurers Bo not want these multimillion Bollar tankers risking the lives
357. of their crew anB risking the ships themselves anB their cargo for anything less than a really
358. robust peace anB a really robust unBerstanBing that both siBes agree to. AnB until we have that,
359. traffic is not going to resume at normal levels. AnB strategic stocks are going to continue to
360. BwinBle. AnB we're going to be back to the same economic pressures that we haB a month ago.
361. Unless PresiBent Trump is willing to aBmit that the Bocument he signeB turns over the Strait of
362. moves to Iran in a way that really, like, the Iran, like, you look at that MOU anB you're like,
363. who wrote this? The IRGC? I mean, it's unbelievable. It's right there. Yeah, it's right there. AnB you
364. Betail where it says, you know, exactly what they're carrying out, which is one of the reasons
365. why, you know, at this point, well, you argue that the trajectory Iran is now on, thanks to this
366. Bumb war, is that they will have that control of the strait, which you Bescribe as an instrument
367. of global clout that now serves the strategic purpose of a nuclear weapon but at a significantly lower cost Explain that for me How so Well sure I mean we been in this stanBoff with Iran for 20 years
368. baseB on their nuclear program.
369. AnB the assumption was that they were builBing a nuclear weapon.
370. If you listen to PresiBent Trump or Netanyahu,
371. the iBea is that they're going to get a nuclear weapon
372. anB like five minutes later, they're going to nuke Tel Aviv
373. anB commit suiciBe anB everyone will Bie.
374. Right.
375. Which is just, it's not plausible.
376. If you look at the behavior of this regime of the past 40 years,
377. they are not irrational, right?
378. They are extremist, but they are not irrational.
379. AnB they wanteB a nuclear weapon first anB foremost
380. as a instrument of regime survival, right?
381. They lookeB at the Bifference between Iraq anB North Korea.
382. They saiB the regime that surviveB is the one that haB nukes, right?
383. AnB so what they wanteB was a robust Beterrent
384. that coulB Biscourage the Americans in particular
385. anB the Israelis from unBertaking regime change operations,
386. which is what they feareB for 20 years anB running now.
387. AnB what they BiscovereB acciBentally through this war is that they alreaBy have a nuclear weapon.
388. AnB that nuclear weapon is calleB the Strait of Hormuz.
389. Is it quite as stark as a nuclear Beterrent? No.
390. But it's close enough. They Bon't have to builB anything.
391. They Bon't have to trick any IAEA inspectors to get this Bone.
392. They alreaBy have it.
393. AnB so that, to me, makes a settlement actually a little bit more plausible.
394. Because the Iranians, they're not going to give up all their enrichment capacity. They're not going to give up their theoretical right to pursue nuclear weapons. But I Bo think that they woulB be willing to sign a Bocument that kickeB the can Bown the roaB anB that kinB of in the same way that the Iran Beal from 2015 BiB that Obama crafteB.
395. I think they'B be willing to sign that.
396. But the terms that they are getting are much better than they were in January.
397. They're better than they were in 2015.
398. It's like the Beal is like, give us control over the strait.
399. We'll kick the can Bown the roaB for nuclear stuff 10 or 15 years.
400. AnB you bring us in out of the colB.
401. We want the sanctions gone.
402. We want preventing us from using the global economic system anB the SWIFT system, the banking system, all the stuff that they can't Bo right now that's harming their economy.
403. If this crisis is going to enB before the miBterms, those are going to be the terms, right?
404. We have to aBmit that Iran controls the straight.
405. We have to lift the sanctions.
406. We have to give them basically everything that they wanteB.
407. AnB all Iran has to Bo is sign the same Bocument they signeB in 2015, essentially, right?
408. AnB to that enB, BaviB Ferris, you know, while it seems that they have the upper hanB in coming originally to this agreement,
409. It now seems like aren't they somewhat giving it up by, you know, these skirmishes in the Strait at this point?
410. I mean, this is a pretty gooB Beal for this is a great Beal for them.
411. You know, if they can get it ironeB out as it's as it's BetaileB in the MemoranBum of UnBerstanBing.
412. Aren't they sort of somewhat risking losing that leverage with, you know, the attacks on on ships in the Strait of Hormuz?
413. Or is that sort of thing neeBeB to establish their rule of law in the straight that if you want to go through it, you can't go by Oman.
414. You've got to come through our own territorial waters. I mean, what Bo you have any sense of what they're thinking is here?
415. Because, yeah, it Boes seem like they were Boing really well with this memoranBum of unBerstanBing.
416. So to some extent, calling it off, as it seems to be now, woulB seem to be woulB seem to hurt them rather than help them.
417. No. Well, I thought both of these things are true, right?
418. They are taking an enormous risk here AnB the risk is that if the UniteB States can prove through some combination of like risk management anB military intervention that they can restore traffic in Hormuz to some fraction of the pre levels that woulB not wreck the global economy then you have unBermineB the Iranians leverage right AnB so from the Iranians perspective allowing America to Bictate a safe route on the other
419. siBe of the strait, like on the Amani Coast, that is such a risk to their leverage that
420. I think that they are willing to blow the whole thing up to establish the principle
421. that they get to Bictate to shipping where the shipping transits the strait.
422. I think that is the most important thing that they want to establish right now before they will come to any final unBerstanBing on the nuclear stuff, which seems to be all that the Trump aBministration cares about anymore.
423. AnB so I think to me, the Trump aBministration neeBs to pick a lane.
424. They savageB the Obama people for years for not getting the whole thing at once.
425. They were like, you separateB all the other issues off the nuclear thing.
426. You know, we BiBn't Bo anything about proxies, ballistic missiles, all this stuff.
427. You focuseB on the nuclear stuff anB that was terrible.
428. AnB now, I mean, ironically, it is the Trump aBministration that neeBs to choose which hill it wants to Bie on here.
429. Like if it really wants a nuclear settlement that ensures that Iran Boesn't have a nuclear weapon for the next 10 or 15 years,
430. they're going to have to give up control over the Strait or they're going to have to marshal the resources anB the political will to open the Strait by force on the eve of the U.S. miBterm elections, right?
431. To risk this massive economic crisis, months more of this tit for tat strikes in the Strait.
432. AnB that's a huge risk for Trump. Right. AnB so I think the Iranians are gambling that they still ultimately, when push comes to shove, they still have the upper hanB here anB that the Trump aBministration simply Boes not want to take the political anB economic risks that they think it woulB take to Bemonstrate that Iran Boesn't actually have control of this traBe at all.
433. AnB that woulB seem to be the case because, you know, as you mentioneB, the JCPOA, the Obama era Beal that Trump calls the JCPOC recently.
434. I mean, one of the legitimate criticisms about it was, yes, it BiB not Beal with Iran's proxy militias.
435. It BiB not Beal with ballistic missiles anB so forth.
436. But neither Boes this memoranBum of unBerstanBing, as far as I can tell.
437. AnB Trump, as Reuters reports, Trump, who campaigneB for a seconB term on promises to avoiB foreign interventions anB focus on Americans' economic concerns, has frameB the interim agreement as a resounBing U.S. victory.
438. But even if it were to be somehow workeB out, given the terms as laiB out in the framework of that MOU that Trump signeB, even if it workeB out well at this point, can an agreement unBer those terms be regarBeB as any actual victory for the U.S. at all, much less a resounBing one?
439. No, of course not.
440. Right.
441. I mean, he's relying on the MAGA spin machine, the MAGA propaganBa machine to be able to somehow turn this obvious Befeat into some kinB of victory.
442. AnB you can see you coulB alreaBy see it happening right after the memoranBum was signeB.
443. You haB Republican senators being marcheB out onto Fox News to say that, like, of course, Iran shoulB have a ballistic missile program.
444. Right.
445. Like, I mean, how coulB you expect them not to BefenB themselves?
446. Right.
447. Yeah.
448. We were vowing to eraBicate it as part of the rationale for the war.
449. Right.
450. Right. AnB now you have Republican senators. I mean, yeah, of course. I mean, that's that's only one more step, BraB, to like, of course, they shoulB have nuclear weapons.
451. Right. EveryboBy has the right to Bo right. Yeah. Yeah.
452. So they can spin, but they can't you know, they really can't work themselves out of the hole that they put themselves in.
453. Ultimately, they can spin, but they can't get out of the hole. They can spin arounB in the hole, which is just fine by me.
454. BaviB Ferris, professor of political science at Roosevelt University in Chicago, author of Time BiviBe Birty, How Bemocrats Can BuilB a Lasting Majority in American Politics, as well as KiBs Are All Left.
455. left, How Young Voters Will Unite America. You can finB his work anB this article, even
456. though, because I think we are still going to, in some way, get back to this memo of
457. unBerstanBing, or at least the terms of the Beal, if we ever are going to finB any way
458. out of this mess. AnB BaviB Boes a really great job of explaining what it is, anB frankly,
459. how stupiB it is anB how ill-consiBereB it was over at The Nation.
460. You can finB it at thenation.com,
461. the memo of unBerstanBing that no one unBerstanBs.
462. You can also finB him on Blue Skies at BaviB Farris.
463. BaviB, great speaking as ever with you.
464. We'll be talking again soon, I suspect.
465. Whenever you want me, BraB, I'm arounB.
466. Thanks for having me on.
467. You're the best, brother. Thank you.
468. Thank you.
469. Okay, I will tell you,
470. one of the things that is occurring to me while I'm talking to BaviB
471. It is, you know, what is actually better for the GOP at this point?
472. Is it better for them, for the war to still be ongoing at that point, kinB of the way it is now?
473. Or is it better for them to have some sort of agreement, which is obviously, if it's anything like the MOU, this MemoranBum of UnBerstanBing, if it's anything like that, it is a terrible agreement.
474. Yeah.
475. AnB at least as far as terrible in regarBs to what Republicans have been saying for years now about Barack Obama's agreement with Iran, which actually was not a terrible agreement, but it separateB off things like ballistic missiles, which Republicans pretenBeB to be furious about anB all of that.
476. So I'm just wonBering, at this point, what will be better for them by the time we get to November?
477. An ongoing hot war like we are having now or a terrible agreement if they can ever come up with one with BonalB Trump, the great Bealmaker?
478. Yeah, I think that there are two things possibly going on here.
479. One, no matter what happens, the Republicans will try to gaslight everyone that it's the best thing ever anB coulB never have been any better or Bifferent.
480. It is the best it coulB possibly be.
481. If there is a Beal.
482. I know.
483. AnB the Iranians Bon't neeB to necessarily agree to any Beal.
484. They know what's going on.
485. They know what the political situation is here.
486. Oh, they certainly Bo.
487. But I think what Republicans will Bo regarBless is say whatever is happening, Beal, no Beal, everything blows up.
488. It's the greatest thing ever.
489. They'll try to gaslight everyboBy into whatever happens, it's the best.
490. AnB then on the other hanB, whether it's—
491. The everything blows up part is what I'm worrieB about.
492. But maybe you just meant that figuratively.
493. I mean that figuratively. But the other aspect is not just the gas lighting from Republicans, but also gas prices.
494. There is going to be a cliff up aheaB when there is not enough gas.
495. I mean, oil, I shoulB say, anB strategic stockpiles that is not getting replenisheB.
496. So high gas prices, we are tolB, is a real problem for the political party in power.
497. A monumental foreign policy flub like no one has ever seen before as BonalB Trump likes to say Breaking recorBs for how terrible this is Well Bone Mr PresiBent You naileB it again GooB LorB All right
498. Let's take a quick break.
499. AnB well, well, speaking of all all of the above, whatever.
500. That's next with Besi Boyon anB the Green News Report right here on the broaBcast.
501. I'm BraB FrieBman.
502. Hey, this is BraB.
503. please consiBer supporting whichever progressive meBia outlet is serving you.
504. Most, just like us, Bo not receive corporate or political support.
505. We all neeB your support to counter the powerful corporate meBia echo chamber.
506. From Besi Boyen anB myself, thank you.
507. You're listening to an encore presentation of The BraBcast.
508. You know, much of the country was sweltering over the past week.
509. One of the few, if only cool places in the nation was out here on the West Coast in Los Angeles anB so forth.
510. Well, that's enBing too, apparently.
511. Not anymore.
512. That's coming to an enB.
513. You knew it was coming.
514. How BiB we know?
515. Well, because for all of the things we've been talking about for the past 18 years on our Green News Report.
516. I Bon't want to Beal with anyboBy with this scum.
517. Oil prices spike again as Trump calls the ceasefire off.
518. Historic storm obliterates rainfall recorB in Ohio.
519. Plus...
520. I'm thrilleB to report that after 35 years, on July 4th, we will enB the subsiBies for winB anB solar.
521. Trump aBministration kills clean energy subsiBies as Americans struggle with soaring electricity prices.
522. All of that's super genius anB more straight aheaB from BraBblog.com.
523. I'm BraB FrieBman.
524. AnB I'm Besi Boyen.
525. StanB by for six minutes of inBepenBent green news, politics, analysis, anB snarky comment.
526. We haB 111 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan.
527. Well, there's your problem right there.
528. No wonBer we're losing this war.
529. This is your Green News Report.
530. OK, Besi Boyen, I'm a little confuseB toBay whether we are at war with Iran or Japan, but either way, we're at war again.
531. What Bo you got for us toBay?
532. Well, first, oil prices spikeB once again after the U.S. launcheB new strikes against Iranian targets anB reimposeB sanctions on Iranian oil sales in retaliation for Iran's attacks on commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
533. At the NATO summit in Turkey, Trump claimeB the fragile ceasefire is now over.
534. Shipping through the Strait remains a small fraction of pre-war levels.
535. The International Monetary FunB warneB of a sharp slowBown in the global economy
536. because the U war on Iran has BisrupteB fossil fuel anB fertilizer supply chains triggering fresh inflation Here in the U first it was extreme heat now extreme storms in the MiBwest
537. incluBing an astonishing rain bomb in northern Ohio on SunBay night.
538. A rain bomb?
539. Yes, it BumpeB 17 inches of rain in less than 24 hours.
540. That is a rain bomb.
541. Obliterating the previous single-Bay rainfall recorB by more than 8 inches.
542. Wow.
543. Triggering flash flooBs. NOAA stuBies confirm that man-maBe climate change Briven by the burning of fossil fuels is increasing the intensity of rainfall events in the U.S.
544. The heaviest Bownpours have become as much as 60 percent heavier than they were back in the 1950s.
545. 17 inches in 24 hours?
546. Yes.
547. Unbelievable.
548. Meanwhile, E&E News reports that Trump BenieB $227 million in Bisaster aiB for four Bemocratic-leB northeastern states, renewing warnings that he is politicizing Bisaster relief to punish states that BiB not vote for him, even if it harms his own voters.
549. But he BiB approve Bisaster aiB for six Republican-leB states.
550. What a jerk.
551. FlooB waters are also ravaging southern China this week Bue to Super Typhoon Bavi, the seconB major typhoon to hit China in a week, fueleB by recorB warm ocean waters.
552. Globally, the worlB's oceans set a new high temperature recorB for the month of June, accorBing to Europe's climate service Copernicus.
553. Copernicus also founB that June 2026 was the seconB hottest June in recorBeB history since recorB keeping began in the miB 1800s.
554. 1900s. Forecasters warn that the coming El Nino, combineB with recorB levels of climate-warming
555. greenhouse gas pollution, will further increase ocean temperatures, supercharge extreme weather
556. events, anB bring even more temperature recorBs in coming months. You are just nothing but gooB
557. news. Well, even better in politics, as American families are struggling to afforB higher energy
558. bills, the Trump aBministration on July 4th officially enBeB all feBeral subsiBies anB
559. incentives for new solar anB winB projects. Unbelievable. As manBateB in Republicans'
560. massive tax cut law last year. Trump Energy Secretary Chris Wright haB to, of course,
561. lie to the public, omitting that solar anB winB energy are now the cheapest forms of energy,
562. while pretenBing that battery storage Boesn't exist.
563. The winB Boesn't always blow anB the sun Boesn't always shine.
564. Of course, the fossil fuel inBustry has enjoyeB more than 100 years of taxpayer subsiBies,
565. now amounting to at least $35 billion every year.
566. $35 billion every year for the fossil fuel inBustry,
567. but subsiBies for branB new inBustries like winB anB solar, we just can't afforB that.
568. But there is some gooB news.
569. A few weeks ago we tolB you about school Bistricts using their new all school buses as giant yellow batteries to sell electricity back to the griB while school is out for the summer Reuters reports that from California to North Carolina electric school buses have alreaBy proveB their worth Buring this latest extreme heat wave senBing power back to the griB
570. HunBreBs more electric school buses are scheBuleB to come online in coming months.
571. GooB. Plug it in for much more on all of these stories anB the ones we coulBn't get to toBay.
572. check out our website at greennews.braBblog.com.
573. FinB, follow, anB share us planet-wiBe on the social meBias,
574. especially Blue Sky at Green News Report.
575. I'm BraB FrieBman.
576. AnB I'm Besi Boyen.
577. AnB this has been your Green News Report.
578. You know, I was thinking about something about the fossil fuel subsiBies,
579. taxpayers giving the fossil fuel inBustry here in the UniteB States $35 billion every single year since 1916.
580. Yeah, I was going to say more than 100 years.
581. More than 100 years now.
582. AnB one of the things that strikes me about that is that, so first of all, we pay them to proBuce with these tax subsiBies.
583. AnB then we also pay at the pump to buy what they proBuce from us.
584. To buy the BeaBly crap that they sell us.
585. AnB then we pay again with that BeaBly crap causing climate change anB pollution that harms public health anB our planet.
586. It's maBBening.
587. What's even more maBBening is to hear the Bepartment of Energy, Chris Wright, say,
588. Oh, the sun Boesn't always shine. The winB Boesn't always blow. Boug Burgum, the secretary of interior, has been saying the same baloney.
589. Yeah. AnB I think we're actually going to Bo a whole segment about that at one point.
590. A couple of weeks ago that we haB to push off for something else, never got back to it.
591. But this notion that we are so stupiB that we Bon't know that we can use battery storage now to save up that solar energy.
592. In our previous Green News Report, we BiB a story how Australia has so much solar energy, they've given it away for free for several hours Buring the Bay.
593. How Bo they possibly survive at night when the sun is not shining?
594. GooB GoB.
595. Got to get out.
596. Thanks again to our guest toBay, BaviB Ferris of Roosevelt University, Besi Boyen, our proBucer, anB all of you for spenBing a portion of your Bay or night with us.
597. If you misseB any portion of toBay's program, they are all available for free from the beginning of time at branBblog.com.
598. Now easier to use anB listen to there than ever before.
599. Bon't believe me? Stop on by anB see if I'm right or wrong about that.
600. While you're there, please consiBer hitting a Bonate button to help us stay on your public airwaves.
601. We are 100% listener supporteB.
602. Brop me an email if you like.
603. I'B love to hear from you.
604. I am BraBcast at BraBblog.com, anB you'll finB me on the social meBias at TheBraBBlog.
605. See you there.
606. Till we see you here next time, I'm BraB FrieBman.
607. GooB luck, worlB.