# Hegseth in the firing line after six months of war

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846/hegseth-in-the-firing-line-after-six-months-of-war
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846/hegseth-in-the-firing-line-after-six-months-of-war.md
Podcast: [Iran: The Latest](https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846)
Published: 2026-08-28T16:04:35+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/battle-lines-israel-gaza/episodes/hegseth-in-the-firing-line-after-6-months-of-war
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/e/6a91b193ae4f283336788d70/media.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iran-the-latest-6656846/episodes/hegseth-in-the-firing-line-after-six-months-of-war
Duration seconds: 1634

## Resource

Six months into the Iran conflict, the war has devolved into an economic ‘quagmire’ as the US shifts strategy from kinetic strikes to prolonged blockade tactics under "Operation Economic Outcast".  On today’s episode of Iran: The Latest, Henry Bodkin speaks with Chief Washington Correspondent Connor Stringer to discuss why Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be in the firing line for a post-midterm cabinet purge as Trump desperately seeks a scapegoat for his low approval ratings and Iran war stalemate. They analyse how outgoing Mossad chief Dedi Barnea is pushing for total regime collapse in Tehran, and why Benjamin Netanyahu is openly defying Trump on Gaza peace terms. Plus, they dissect CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s flight to Moscow, Mark Carney’s trade counter-attacks and the growing friction over prospective British sanctions in the West Bank. Highlights Six Months of War: The Iran Quagmire & Operation Economic Outcast Trump Isolated? Netanyahu Defiance, Carney Tariffs, and UK West Bank Sanctions CONTRIBUTORS: Henry Bodkin, Jerusalem correspondent @HenryBodkin Connor Stringer, chief Washington correspondent @connorstringer WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Audio Producer: David Dargahi  Video Producer: Max Bower Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh Studio Operator: Andy Watson Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey  ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Edit…

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## Transcript

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