Iran: The Latest is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs podcast providing deep-dive analysis on the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you the latest updates from The Telegraph’s award-winning journalists, plus exclusive interviews with world-class experts in military strategy, international relations, and Middle East policy. From attacks on the Gulf to Hezbollah in Lebanon to the Houthis in Yemen to the threat of nuclear escalation, stay informed with the best of The Telegraph’s Middle East coverage in one place. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, subscribe for essential updates on the security shifts defining our global future. Battle Lines, a defence podcast with a wider scope and created by David Knowles, previously lived on this feed. Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs.
Curated by: The Telegraph (416 videos)
Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to a record low as the military and economic toll of the US-Iran war collides with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections - and the pressure is on. On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to US correspondents Ben Smith and Poppy Wood to examine how the conflict in the Middle East is threatening Trump’s control of Congress and driving inflation at American gas pumps. With oil prices surging past $90 a barrel due to sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, Republican candidates from Texas to Maine are increasingly worried. Plus, amid a growing mutiny inside the Pentagon over the Iran war, could Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth be on the chopping block if the midterms go badly for Trump? #Trump #USIranWar #2026Midterms #GasPrices #PeteHegseth #IranTheLatest #TrumpApprovalRating #StraitOfHormuz #USEconomy #MiddleEastConflict 00:00 - Introduction and Midterms Overview 00:56 - Trump's Approval Rating and the War's Impact 02:52 - Republican Dilemma Ahead of Midterms 04:45 - Democrats' Strategy and Inflation Focus 05:43 - Generational Shift in the Democratic Party 07:33 - The Role of Israel in Democratic Primaries 08:31 - Laredo, Texas: Border Town Perspective 10:14 - Economic Strains and Gas Prices in Texas 14:04 - Border Patrol, ICE, and Local Paranoia 19:24 - Texas Political Outlook and Senate Race 21:45 - Chaos at the Pentagon and Hegseth's Leadership 23:44 - Media Access and Reporting on the Pentagon 27:04 - Conclusion CONTRIBUTORS: Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey Ben Smith, Washington correspondent @bsmithjourno Poppy Wood, US correspondent @poppyeh CONTENT REFERENCED: Out with the old: Democrats replace stalwarts with young blood https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/08/15/elderly-democrats-forced-retire/ US army secretary to step down after tension with Hegseth https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/08/21/us-army-secretary-step-down-hegseth/ Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026 Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026 The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026 Audio Producer: Max Bower Video Producer: Peter Shevlin Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh and Lucy Hadlow Studio Operator: Andy Watson Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey ► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor ► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk ► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/