Hello and welcome back to the Americano show.

My name is Freddie Gray.

I am the deputy editor of the spectator and the US editor.

And I'm pleased to tell you that this is the 10th year of the Americano podcast.

And I think it's fair to say it's been a fairly fascinating time

in American politics, life and culture. And that's what we talk about every episode on this

podcast. So please keep listening and provide as much feedback as you like. A special emergency

episode of the Americano at the weekend

because in the early hours of this morning,

America and Israel began a dramatic series of strikes against Iran.

Donald Trump did a little speech. He stood at a lectern wearing a white cap

and said that this was to protect the American people, but he also made it quite clear that it was a

regime change war, or that regime change is part of the plan, at least so it seems.

It's menacing activities directly in danger. The United States, our troops, our bases overseas,

and our allies throughout the world. For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted death to America and waged an unending campaign

of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people

in many, many countries.

Among the regime's very first acts was to back a violent takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran,

holding dozens of American hostages for 444 days.

I'm delighted to be joined by Jacob Harbrun, who came on our last emergency weekend podcast.

Thank you, Jacob.

It's very early in the morning for you for getting up.

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