BREAKING: Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz; Delusional Leavitt Presser

In this high-stakes reaction episode of The Bulwark, hosts JVL and Andrew Egger dissect Caroline Leavitt's press conference following a fragile, newly announced ceasefire in the Iran conflict. They express deep skepticism about the administration’s portrayal of a 'mission accomplished' moment, highlighting the stark contradiction between the White House’s upbeat messaging and ongoing military activity—especially Iran’s reported closure of the Strait of Hormuz and continued attacks on shipping. The hosts critique Leavitt’s evasiveness, particularly her refusal to confirm who is bombing Iran and her dismissal of reports of new explosions in Iran, while emphasizing that Iran’s public messaging to ships remains unchanged: vessels must still seek approval from the Revolutionary Guard Corps. The episode also scrutinizes President Trump’s sudden pivot toward endorsing a joint U.S.-Iran tolling system on the Strait, a proposal that contradicts the official stance and raises serious legal and strategic concerns. The conflict in Lebanon, where Israel launched a massive strike on Hezbollah, further complicates the ceasefire, as Iran claims it’s a violation, while the U.S. insists it’s outside the agreement’s scope. The hosts conclude that the administration is desperately clinging to a fragile truce while failing to address the fundamental imbalance of power and the lack of real enforcement mechanisms.