Overview of The Rest Is Politics US — “Trump Vs Netanyahu: Who’s Calling The Shots?”
In this episode, Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci focus on two overlapping themes: Donald Trump’s influence over the Israel-Iran confrontation and his combative relationship with the press. The hosts argue that Trump has boxed himself into a corner in the Middle East, where his main leverage is restraining Israel rather than forcing Iran into a clean diplomatic win. They also dissect Trump’s contentious Meet the Press interview, using it as a case study in how he challenges journalists, rewrites facts, and sets up future claims that elections are “rigged.”
Middle East: A Ceasefire in Name Only
Trump’s role in restraining escalation
The episode opens with the fragile state of tensions between Israel and Iran. The hosts describe a situation where both sides exchanged strikes, but Trump reportedly urged Benjamin Netanyahu not to launch a major retaliatory attack on Tehran.
Their core argument:
- Trump wants to avoid a wider war.
- He is using pressure on Israel as his key lever.
- He appears more focused on keeping oil prices and inflation under control than on pursuing a full confrontation.
Why a full deal is unlikely
They conclude that a formal breakthrough is not imminent. Instead, the most likely outcome is a temporary freeze or cold peace:
- Iran needs revenue from oil sales and cannot afford a prolonged war.
- Trump wants oil prices kept below damaging levels.
- Israel is internally divided, with Netanyahu facing pressure from both hawks and political rivals.
The hosts suggest that the best-case scenario is not a grand settlement, but a fragile, transactional pause that keeps the Strait of Hormuz open and limits immediate escalation.
Trump’s unusual leverage
A major theme is that Trump’s real power in the region is not military escalation, but his ability to:
- restrain Israel,
- signal policy through public comments,
- and shape market expectations through Truth Social posts.
The hosts argue this creates a strange dynamic where Trump effectively gives counterparties a live readout of his thinking, while still trying to negotiate from a position of strength.
Trump, Netanyahu, and the Politics of Pressure
Netanyahu’s dilemma
The discussion frames Netanyahu as politically boxed in:
- He needs to appear tough on Iran.
- He also depends on U.S. backing for logistics, refueling, and broader military support.
- But Trump does not want renewed fighting, which limits Netanyahu’s room to maneuver.
The hosts suggest Netanyahu may have to choose between:
- satisfying domestic hawks, or
- keeping Trump onside and preserving strategic support.
The likely “deal”
The episode argues that if any agreement emerges, it will probably be a limited, practical arrangement rather than a sweeping nuclear deal. That could mean:
- some Iranian funds being unfrozen,
- partial or temporary opening of shipping routes,
- oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz resuming,
- and a managed pause rather than resolution.
Anthony’s view is blunt: Trump will likely have to accept some upfront economic concessions if he truly wants de-escalation.
Trump vs the Press: Meet the Press and the Politics of Disruption
The interview walkout
The second half of the episode shifts to Trump’s interview with Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press, which ended with him walking out after a heated exchange over:
- the 2020 election,
- January 6,
- and Trump’s repeated false claims about election integrity.
The hosts note that Trump did not like being challenged and appeared visibly irritated throughout the encounter.
Why this matters
Katty argues that the interview was less about revisiting 2020 than laying the groundwork for future claims of election fraud, especially regarding:
- California’s mail ballot counting process,
- and any future election Trump loses.
She explains that California legitimately counts ballots slowly because postmarked ballots can still be valid when they arrive days later, but Trump frames that as “rigged” to prepare a public narrative of stolen elections.
How Journalists Should Handle Trump
The central dilemma for the media
A major discussion point is how journalists should respond to Trump’s falsehoods without letting the interview become a mere fact-checking exercise.
The hosts debate whether reporters should:
- stop the interview when Trump lies,
- isolate one falsehood at a time,
- or continue pressing him while making the record clear.
Their conclusion is that Trump is often using interviews strategically to:
- dominate the news cycle,
- undermine trust in journalism,
- and position himself as the only trustworthy source for his supporters.
Media bias and public trust
The conversation broadens into a critique of mainstream media:
- Katty argues that major U.S. outlets are often coastal, elite, and out of touch with the heartland.
- Anthony agrees that there can be a small “liberal” tilt in mainstream institutions, but says Trump exploits that to delegitimize all coverage that doesn’t serve him.
They distinguish between:
- legitimate conservative grievances about media culture, and
- Trump’s cynical use of those grievances to erode trust in democracy.
Business, Power, and the CBS/Paramount Angle
The episode also touches on the business side of media, with Katty offering a cynical interpretation of recent CBS-related decisions: that corporate incentives, not just ideology, may be shaping editorial and personnel changes.
The broader takeaway is that media institutions are under pressure from:
- political polarization,
- corporate dealmaking,
- and Trump’s willingness to attack any outlet that does not show him total loyalty.
Key Takeaways
- No big Middle East deal is near; the best outcome may be a fragile freeze.
- Trump’s main leverage is restraining Israel, not forcing Iran into surrender.
- Oil prices and shipping routes are central to the diplomacy.
- Netanyahu is politically constrained and cannot fully act without U.S. support.
- Trump uses press interactions strategically to normalize falsehoods and undermine trust.
- The media challenge is not just bias, but how to handle a politician who treats truth as negotiable.
- The hosts see election denialism as Trump’s long-term project, not just a reaction to 2020.
Bottom Line
This episode argues that Trump is both overexposed and under-controlled: he dominates the narrative, but his options in the Middle East are limited by economics, allies, and market realities. Meanwhile, his conflict with the press remains central to his political strategy, because controlling the story is part of controlling power.