{"podcast":{"title":"Iran: The Latest","slug":"iran-the-latest-6656846","podcast_index_feed_id":6656846,"rss_url":"https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8","website_url":"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran--the-latest/","image_url":"https://assets.pippa.io/shows/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/1772473555635-cba7af84-d6d4-4f86-919d-4324a711e2a4.jpeg","author":"Louisa Wells","episode_count":409,"summary":"Iran: The Latest is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs news podcast providing deep-dive analysis on the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you the latest updates from The Telegraph ’s award-winning journalists, plus exclusive interviews with world-class experts in military strategy, international relations, and Middle East policy. From attacks on the Gulf to Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen to the threat of nuclear escalation, stay informed with the best of The Telegraph’s Middle East coverage in one place. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, subscribe for essential updates on the security shifts defining our global future. Battle Lines, a defence podcast with a wider scope and created by David Knowles, previously lived on this feed. Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-26T08:22:08.192110+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846"},"episode":{"title":"Trump facing midterms nightmare as approval ratings plunge over Iran war","slug":"trump-facing-midterms-nightmare-as-approval-ratings-plunge-over-iran-war","published_at":"2026-09-06T07:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846/trump-facing-midterms-nightmare-as-approval-ratings-plunge-over-iran-war","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846","url":"https://shows.acast.com/battle-lines-israel-gaza/episodes/trump-facing-midterms-nightmare-as-approval-ratings-plunge-o","audio_url":"https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6583019ebbd71a00175001c8/e/6a9ad6fd2a7730b8964e190d/media.mp3","summary":"Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to a record low as the military and economic toll of the US-Iran war collides with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections - and the pressure is on.  On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest , Venetia Rainey speaks to US correspondents Ben Smith and Poppy Wood to examine how the conflict in the Middle East is threatening Trump’s control of Congress and driving inflation at American gas pumps. With oil prices surging past $90 a barrel due to sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, Republican candidates from Texas to Maine are increasingly worried.  Plus, amid a growing mutiny inside the Pentagon over the Iran war, could Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth be on the chopping block if the midterms go badly for Trump? Highlights Donald Trump’s approval rating plummets to a record low Could Pete Hegseth be on the chopping block if the midterms go badly? CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Ben Smith, Washington correspondent @bsmithjourno Poppy Wood, US correspondent @poppyeh WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk CONTENT REFERENCED: Out with the old: Democrats replace stalwarts with young blood https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/08/15/elderly-democrats-forced-retire/ US army secretary to step down after tension with Hegseth https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/08/21/us-army-secretary-step-down-hegseth/ 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 202…","meta_description":"Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to a record low as the military and economic toll of the US-Iran war collides with the upcoming 2026 midterm…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1759,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/iran-the-latest-6656846/episodes/trump-facing-midterms-nightmare-as-approval-ratings-plunge-over-iran-war/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/iran-the-latest-6656846/trump-facing-midterms-nightmare-as-approval-ratings-plunge-over-iran-war.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}