Selling the war: Purges, polygraphs and propaganda
With U.S. midterm elections only weeks away, the Trump administration is attempting to present the war with Iran in a favorable light. Rising fuel and grocery costs, the president's contentious social media activity, and tensions between the Pentagon and journalists are complicating that messaging.
Why It Matters
Because the administration is racing to shape public perception ahead of closely timed elections, economic strains and strained media relations could undermine its ability to sell a continuing conflict to voters. These dynamics also intersect with other major media stories the program flagged, including contentious reporting on Israel and renewed scrutiny of pandemic coverage.
Key Facts
- Timing: U.S. midterm elections are described as being just weeks away.
- Main program: The Listening Post discussed the issue.
- Administration challenges: Climbing fuel and grocery prices, the president's provocative social media posts, and the Pentagon's combative relationship with the media.
- Contributors: Laicie Heeley (Editor-in-chief, Inkstick); Mark Kimmitt (Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State); Negar Mortazavi (Host, The Iran Podcast); Samira Mohyeddin (Founder, On The Line Media).
- Israel reporting: Haaretz published revelations about what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew before the October 7 attacks; Netanyahu called the reporting fabricated and is threatening legal action (report by Ryan Kohls).
As the U.S. heads into midterm voting weeks, the Trump administration has been working to frame the ongoing conflict with Iran in a positive light. The Listening Post highlighted the difficulty of that task, noting mounting domestic pressures that complicate the narrative the White House seeks to present.
Several developments are making it harder for official messaging to stick. Consumers are facing higher costs for fuel and groceries, the president’s provocative postings on social media have drawn attention, and the Pentagon’s increasingly adversarial stance toward journalists has strained relations with the press. Together, those factors are eroding the space for a simple, optimistic account of the war.
The program brought in commentators and analysts to unpack the situation, including Laicie Heeley of Inkstick, former State Department official Mark Kimmitt, Iran-focused host Negar Mortazavi, and media founder Samira Mohyeddin. Their contributions examined how political timing, economic pain, and media dynamics interact as the administration tries to sustain public support.
The show also flagged other major media stories on its radar. Reporting in Haaretz about what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allegedly knew before the October 7 attacks has provoked a sharp backlash from Netanyahu, who has called the coverage fabricated and threatened a lawsuit. Separately, The Listening Post revisited pandemic-era journalism, noting that six years after COVID-19 emerged the topic is back in headlines and prompting discussions about how coverage during the crisis affected public trust, featuring experts such as Amesh Adalja, Frances E. Lee, and Jeanne Lenzer.
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