Trump’s secret war
7/6/202626 min
America's longest ongoing conflict isn't with Iran. It's in Somalia. But almost no one is talking about it.
This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.
Officers from Somalia's security agencies perform prayers on top of their jeeps at a security checkpoint in the outskirts of Mogadishu. Photo by Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSean Rameswaram· Host0:00
[upbeat music] The president's half rally, half national address on the Fourth of July was evacuated, delayed, but eventually delivered just before the clock struck Fifth of July. He talked about communism so much it felt like 1954 out there on the National Mall.
Speaker 20:14
America will never be a communist country. Won't happen.
Sean Rameswaram· Host0:18
[crowd cheering] He talked at length about some of the nation's past military glories, and he spoke briefly about some of his recent interventions.
Speaker 20:25
Like our recent victory by sinking the entire Iranian Navy, 159 ships, to the bottom of the sea. [crowd cheering] All done in just a moment's time.
Sean Rameswaram· Host0:35
He did not mention that he still hasn't really managed to end his war in Iran.
Speaker 20:39
You look at Iran, we wiped it out.
Sean Rameswaram· Host0:41
And the president made zero mention of the nation's longest ongoing military intervention. In fact, he seldom talks about it. Few people in Washington do. But President Trump has been quietly ratcheting up airstrikes in Somalia, so we are going to talk about that on Today Explained from Vox.
Speaker 30:58
[upbeat music] Here's something most wellness influencers won't tell you: obsessing over supplements, powders, cold plunges, wearables, and hacks, that's going to undermine your goals. I call it majoring in the minors, and it is one of the five mistakes I see people make most on their wellness journeys. I'm Robin Arzon, VP and Head Instructor at Peloton, and this week on my podcast, Project Swagger, I'm sharing all of those mistakes and what I want to see you do instead. Follow Project Swagger now wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 41:25
[gentle music] Climate change is making