Trump's Iranian Justification Eroding by the Minute

This week’s Reason Roundtable podcast picks up where last week‘s left off: Iran. Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the administration’s ever-shifting storyline, flickers of principled opposition/oversight in Congress, and playground-style argumentation for war.

Then, straight oughtta this morning’s headline, the gang assesses the import of Sen. Cory Booker (D–N.J.) leaving of the presidential race and the possible meanings of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) continuing to rise in the polls ahead of Tuesday night’s debate. There are also mentions of the Academy Award nominations, “hand-wavy pay-fors,” and the passing of Rush drummer/lyricist Neil Peart.

Audio production by Ian Keyser and Regan Taylor.

Music credit: “Lurking” by Silent Partner

Relevant links from the show:

“More Holes in the ‘Imminent Threat’ Story on Soleimani,” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

“Escalation Breeds Escalation, in Iran and Beyond,” by Bonnie Kristian

“No War With Iran, House Tells Trump. Next Up: Finally Forbidding Military Force in Iraq?” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

“Republican Rep. Thomas Massie Signs On to House Bill Ending War in Iraq,” by Scott Shackford

“Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, and Lindsey Graham Try to War-Demagogue Like It’s 2004,” by Matt Welch

“Cory Booker, Who Urged Democratic Unity, Drops Out of Presidential Race,” by Billy Binion

“Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Gavin Polone on Hollywood Hypocrites, Bad Film Subsidies, and the Future of the Industry,” by Zach Weissmueller

“Neil Peart, Champion of Individualism,” by Christian Britschgi

“Future Nobel Laureate Warns: The Antichrist Is Coming!” by Jesse Walker