Alex here. Sometimes it feels like red and blue states are drifting so far apart. They might as well be different countries, like post-World War II, East and West Germany. If you also feel this way, check out the Signal Award-winning podcast, the future of our former democracy from our friends at more equitable democracy. Back for a brand new season, the show examines what the U.S. can learn from Germany's political history and how the aftermath of Nazi Germany shaped a more resilient democratic system and what that might mean for America's current challenges.

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listening now.

Hi, everyone.

After another week of deadly and seemingly senseless warfare in the Middle East,

President Trump is claiming great progress in discussions with Iran's leaders.

On the other hand, Iran's leaders say there are no actual negotiations happening with

United States.

And as these negotiations are or are not underway,

Trump is also threatening to obliterate Iran's electrical grid, its desalination plants,

and other civilian infrastructure, all of which could be in violation of international law.

Which is really weird diplomacy, as is the new threat this week of a possible

U.S. ground invasion. Again, not your typical route to winding down a war. Meanwhile, over

1,500 Iranian civilians have been killed. Tens of thousands more are wounded or displaced.

The Iranian government has turned the strait of Hormuz into a toll road,

and the national average cost of gas in the United States has officially reached $4 a gallon.

Things do not seem to be going well on any front,

which is maybe why Trump is trying to make this whole thing someone else's problem.

Here's men's grooming expert and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth hoping out loud that some

other country comes to the rescue.

...