On Episode 32 of the Rational Policy Podcast, hosts Mike Coté and Art Vandelay talk about something entirely different. Just kidding, we talk about the Iran War, obviously. We catch up on everything that has happened since we last convened, starting with the incredible combat search and rescue feat that our military pulled off over Easter weekend, safely evacuating a downed airman from Iranian territory. Next, we discuss the risible social media posts from President Trump threatening mass devastation on Iranian infrastructure, teasing out whether he was ever serious about them and how the overly outraged reaction (“He’s threatening genocide!”) undermined a very solid argument. Finally, we spend most of the podcast detailing the apparent ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. Detailing may not be the right word given the complete lack of specifics and the seeming inability for anyone involved to agree on what terms were actually approved, but we break it all down regardless. We discuss whether this pause is necessary (it isn’t), if it will end the war (it won’t), and whether it will make it the full two weeks (doubtful).
