What to make of Trump’s mixed-messages on the Iran war
6/12/202622 min
President Trump sent a lot of mixed messages on the war in Iran this week, starting with imminent peace on Monday, threatening to take control of Kharg Island on Thursday, followed by more imminent peace and then more threats. We discuss what to make of the back-and-forth.
This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, political reporter Elena Moore, White House correspondent Franco Ordoñez, and senior national political correspondent Mara Liasson.
This podcast was produced by Bria Suggs and edited by Rachel Baye.
Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsAshley Lopez· Host0:00
The World Cup is back in the US, and the NPR network is covering the fans, [crowd cheering] the tensions- When two teams take the field, their nation's histories take the field alongside them ... the local transformations- Just world-class soccer right here ... and, of course, the games. Follow along on and off the pitch with the NPR app. [upbeat music] Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast. I'm Ashley Lopez. I cover politics.
Franco Ordoñez· Panelist0:32
I'm Franco Ordoñez. I cover the White House.
Mara Liasson· Panelist0:34
And I'm Mara Liasson, senior national political correspondent.
Ashley Lopez· Host0:38
And we're recording this at 12:20 PM Eastern Time on Friday, June 12th, 2026. It's been another busy week in politics, uh, one with a lot of whiplash as President Trump went back and forth between making threats to Iran and suggesting a peace deal may be imminent. I mean, let's take a quick trip down memory lane. Stay with me, guys. This is, like, a lot of back and forth. So Trump started off on Monday early in the morning with a Truth Social post that he reiterated later during a tele-rally for South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Donald Trump· Soundbite1:06
We're negotiating now, and they want to make a very good deal. They're willing to give us everything. They're willing to give us no nuclear weapon.
Ashley Lopez· Host1:14
And on Wednesday, he seemed to reverse himself.
Donald Trump· Soundbite1:17
Well, we're gonna be attacking them and attacking them very hard.
Ashley Lopez· Host1:21
Cut to Thursday morning, he doubled down, threatening to take Kharg Island in another social media post before, again, reversing course both on social media and during