Why Iran marks the end of neoconservatism
Americano
The Spectator
4.0 • 762 Ratings
🗓️ 5 March 2026
⏱️ 46 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Spectator World columnist – and Heritage Foundation fellow – Daniel McCarthy joins Freddy Gray to explain how Trump's war with Iran could mark the end of an era, that of neoconservatism. For Daniel, there is no contradiction between Trump's 'America First' policy and its overseas interventions: Trump is pursuing a version of hegemony that will reduce the need for future interventions. If all goes to plan, this could mark an ideological watershed that stretches back to the first Gulf War in the early 1990s – but it's a big 'if'. What if the conflict spirals out of control? To what extent was this driven by Trump, or by Netanyahu? And what are the dynamics at play between the leadership figures in Maga?
Produced by Patrick Gibbons.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | On Tuesday the 24th of March, our speakers will debate the motion, |
| 0:04.0 | this House believes we should abolish the licence fee. |
| 0:07.2 | Spectator Chairman Charles Moore and the telegraphs Alison Pearson |
| 0:10.2 | will propose the motion with Spectator editor Michael Gove |
| 0:13.4 | and former BBC America editor John Sopel opposing. |
| 0:16.8 | I'm Isabel Hardman and I'll be in the chair to maintain decorum and take your pressing questions. |
| 0:22.2 | Join us on Tuesday the 24th of March at 7pm and book your tickets at spectator.com |
| 0:27.7 | forward slash debate. |
| 0:36.3 | Hello and welcome back to the Americana Show. My name is Freddie Gray. I am the deputy editor of the |
| 0:41.9 | spectator and the US editor. And I'm pleased to tell you that this is the 10th year of the |
| 0:48.3 | Americano podcast. And I think it's fair to say it's been a fairly fascinating time in American politics, life and culture. |
| 0:58.1 | And that's what we talk about every episode on this podcast. |
| 1:02.1 | So please keep listening and provide as much feedback as you like. |
| 1:09.7 | Hello and welcome back to the Americano show. |
| 1:12.5 | Today I am delighted to be joined by Daniel McCarthy, who is a columnist for the spectator. |
| 1:18.4 | And as of recently, a distinguished fellow in conservative thought at the Heritage Foundation, |
| 1:24.9 | a well-earned post, Dan. Congratulations on that. And congratulations too on your |
| 1:30.1 | latest piece, which we've just sent to press, about Trump's Iran intervention. Dan, |
| 1:37.3 | let's start with how you start the piece, which is that I'll just read out your opening line. |
| 1:43.3 | Win or lose, Donald Trump has begun the last war the United States is ever likely to fight in the Middle East. And I haven't read, I've read quite a lot about this in the last few days. I haven't read anyone kind of approach the subject in that way. How could you be so sure, I suppose, it's the first question. You know, there's, on the one hand, a historical dimension to it, and then there's also |
| 2:02.7 | Donald Trump's own thinking about foreign policy. |
| 2:05.2 | So the historical dimension is the United States' relationship with Iran is unique, going |
... |
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