Next Up with Mark Halperin Partisan Divide on Iran, Inside Trump’s Big Decision, with Rachael Bade, and Sage Steele Unfiltered
Jun 24, 2025
Join Sage Steele, former ESPN sportscaster turned political commentator, and Rachael Bade, Capitol Bureau Chief at Politico, for riveting discussions. They dive deep into the partisanship surrounding Iran’s nuclear threat and Trump’s military decisions, urging for unity in turbulent times. Sage shares her journey of finding her voice after leaving ESPN, emphasizing the power of kindness amid public scrutiny. Rachael offers a behind-the-scenes look at the GOP’s shifting dynamics and the urgent need for bipartisan efforts in national security.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Bipartisan Consensus on Iran Nuclear Threat
- The bipartisan consensus has long been that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons due to threats to Israel and the US.
- Donald Trump acted decisively to address Iran's nuclear threat, continuing a challenge that troubled many presidents before him.
War Powers Act Ignored By Presidents
- Presidents have consistently ignored the War Powers Act despite Congress's intent to restrain unilateral war-making.
- Partisan outrage over Trump's military actions continues despite past precedents set by presidents of both parties.
Partisanship Divides National Security
- Partisanship now dominates national security debates, preventing unified support even on broadly agreed issues.
- Historically, moments like post-9/11 saw unity, but such bipartisan support is rare today.