Friday Focus: Iran’s Gains and America’s Political Reckoning

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Rudyard and Janice examine the midterm results through the lens of the Iran conflict. Tehran may be the biggest beneficiary: a wounded U.S. president, a vice-president openly citing the war as a factor in the Republicans’ defeat, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s political prospects diminishing Israel. If the Iranian regime can survive the conflict, it may emerge into a dramatically altered strategic environment. The next two weeks could prove decisive. What will Iran’s gains – as a relatively weak military power – signal to China and Russia about American power?

In the second half of the show, Rudyard and Janice turn to what the midterms mean for Canada. A more moderate United States would be a welcome development, and Tuesday’s results may open the door to a return to political normalcy and a retreat from chaos. But Canada must also draw its own lessons: it needs to invest in its strength and resilience to protect itself against the next Trump-like threat.