So listeners we had a whole episode about the election plan for this week.

Yeah, finally getting to the bottom of Tim Walz's hot dish.

But then as so often happens, American politics got interrupted by the Middle East.

We are coming on the air because ABC News has now confirmed

Iran has just launched a retaliatory missile attack targeting Israel, a US

senior administration official telling ABC News now that Iran is expected to

fire 240 to 250 missiles at four targets in Israel.

And then don't forget this from NBC News.

Israel has launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon.

The IDF says it is conducting quote limited, localized and targeted ground raids against Hezbollah.

Needless to say, the election episode is on hold.

We've got plenty of time, right?

This week, we're giving ourselves a little challenge.

We're going to explain the entire crisis in the Middle East

in a single 30 minute episode. Wait the entire thing? Israel, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon,

what happened this week, the historical roots, where it's headed all of it you rested

and ready max what no I was up all last night reading the news too bad

I'm Aaron Ryan and I'm Max Fisher and this is how we got here a series where we explore a big question behind the week's headlines and tell a story that answers that question

Our question this week is a little bigger than why did Israel invade Lebanon or why did Iran launch 180-some missiles at Israel?

A question this week is why are Iran and Israel enemies in the first place and why is

the rest of the Middle East once more getting sucked into that rivalry?

It's a big topic. The Cold War between Iran and Israel has for a long time now

...