‘Bloodbath’: Why Trump could lose the House over the Iran war

‘Bloodbath’: Why Trump could lose the House over the Iran war

Author: The Telegraph August 23, 2026 Duration: 26:58

As the Strait of Hormuz closure pushes US petrol prices past $4 a gallon and Donald Trump’s approval ratings hit rock bottom, the Republicans are increasingly worried the Iran war could create a “bloodbath” in the midterms. 


In this bonus episode of Iran: The Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by chief Washington correspondent Connor Stringer to look at five ways the Middle East conflict is actively reshaping domestic US politics, from the economy to splits in the Democrats and Republicans to record spending pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC. Could Trump lose the House of Representatives because of the war?


Plus, how the November US midterm elections work, what’s a Super PAC, and the key primary races you need to know about. 


Highlights

  • Why Trump could lose the House over the Iran war
  • ‘It could be a bloodbath for the Republicans’


CONTRIBUTORS:

Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey

Connor Stringer, chief Washington correspondent @connorstringer


WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVAif-vifC6F2aoPB8GIw6dk


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: Joleen Goffin and David Dargahi

Video Producer: Max Bower

Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh

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/



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


For those trying to understand the complex and rapidly shifting landscape of the Middle East, Iran: The Latest offers essential context. This Telegraph podcast moves beyond the headlines to examine the military, diplomatic, and strategic forces shaping the ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Hosted by veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey, each episode synthesizes frontline reporting from the paper's award-winning journalists with insightful conversations. You'll hear from specialists in areas like regional security architecture, covert operations, and geopolitical theory, providing a clearer picture of the stakes involved. The analysis considers historical grievances, economic pressures, and potential flashpoints, from proxy conflicts to direct confrontations. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to grasp not just what is happening, but why it matters and what might come next. By drawing on deep sourcing and expert commentary, this podcast delivers a nuanced perspective that is both timely and thoroughly researched, making sense of a critical and often misunderstood arena of global affairs.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Iran: The Latest
Podcast Episodes
Trump prepares 14-Day Iran blitz as US tanker struck in Mediterranean [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:16
The conflict between Iran and the US has intensified sharply as President Trump delivers on his promise to strike “very hard,” launching a massive wave of attacks against IRGC command centres and drone facilities. Furthe…
Red Sea chokepoint: Houthi rebels replicate Iran’s Hormuz strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:14
Seventeen days into the conflict between the US and Iran, the frontline is expanding as drone attacks continue to test the ceasefire and new flashpoints emerge in the Red Sea. Is the Houthi blockade of critical shipping…
US ‘runs out of missiles’ as Trump halts Iran strikes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:04
The US has halted its air strikes on Iran, creating a sudden pause in a conflict that has raged for nearly two weeks. Is this a strategic move to allow for diplomacy, or has the American military been forced to back down…
Trump’s Lebanon dilemma: Why Israel can't win this war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:00
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met US President Donald Trump in Washington this week with a historic proposal: end the war between Lebanon and Israel, force an Israeli withdrawal from the south, and disarm Iran’s proxy g…
Trump weighs 'massive attack' as Iran threatens UK bases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:05
As this new round of war enters its 13th day, US President Donald Trump has signalled he is close to deciding whether to launch a "massive attack" on Iran. The IRGC has declared that UK bases including RAF Fairford are l…