Michael Weiss: Iran Is Not Likely to Forget about the War

In this episode of The Bulwark, host Charissa engages in a wide-ranging discussion with Michael Weiss, editor at The Insider and author of 'ISIS Inside the Army of Terror,' focusing on the aftermath of the U.S.-led military campaign against Iran and its geopolitical implications. Weiss argues that while the U.S. has inflicted significant damage on Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, the regime remains intact and will not forget the war. He warns of a potential long-term pattern of periodic kinetic operations—what he calls 'mowing the grass'—to prevent Iran from rebuilding its capabilities, a new normal that could persist across future administrations. The episode also examines the fractured U.S. foreign policy landscape, with Trump’s erratic behavior, the failure of J.D. Vance’s diplomatic mission in Islamabad, and growing pressure from both Israeli and Gulf allies to maintain pressure on Iran. Weiss highlights the strategic importance of recent political developments in Hungary, where the defeat of Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party marks a major democratic reversal, exposing Russian espionage and restoring independent media. This victory, he suggests, offers a hopeful model for resisting authoritarianism. The conversation concludes with a sober assessment of Trump’s foreign policy legacy—marked by economic chaos, strategic overreach, and a dangerous erosion of U.S. credibility—while underscoring the urgent need for Europe to prepare for a world where American leadership is no longer reliable.