On this week’s episode of The David Frum Show, The Atlantic’s David Frum opens with his thoughts about the recently reported peace talks between the United States and Iran. David argues that these reported talks indicate the United States is losing the war in Iran, and that the loss highlights what has always been true: The presidency is too big a job for Donald Trump.
Then David is joined by Representative Jason Crow of Colorado to discuss Trump’s politicization of the American military, lessons from the war in Iran, and the chaos at Pete Hegseth’s “Department of War.”
David ends with a discussion of James Boswell’s classic biography, The Life of Samuel Johnson.
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00:00 Introduction
00:32 Reaction to Iran War News
01:42 War Aims and Reality Check
03:35 Trump as a Faction Leader
10:27 Congressman Jason Crow
11:20 Iran War Update
14:50 Rushed Decisions Endanger Troops
17:24 Politicizing The High Command
24:20 Illegal Orders and Elections
29:30 Caribbean Strikes
36:56 Recruiting Democrats for 2026
42:02 The Life of Samuel Johnson