Iran’s Dangerous Game, Trump’s Midterm Challenge, and Letitia James’ War on Trump
September 3, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readVictor Davis Hanson opened the episode by dismissing recent polling that shows Republicans trailing in key Senate races. He argued that many of these polls are conducted by left-leaning firms that historically overcorrect for Democratic candidates, citing past misses in Wisconsin, Florida, and elsewhere. He suggested the polls serve two purposes: to help Democratic candidates raise money by showing momentum and to suppress Republican turnout. He warned that the same pollsters often adjust their numbers in the final week before an election to avoid complete disgrace, so the current figures should not be taken at face value.
Hanson then turned to what he sees as the deeper structural challenge. He argued that Democrats have the natural advantage in any midterm, but the election is still nine and a half weeks away, and a lot can change. He pointed to several potential game-changers: a collapse of the Iranian regime, a drop in oil prices, or effective deployment of the $400 million in PAC money controlled by Donald Trump. He also stressed that Republicans need to run a smarter campaign, one that avoids the bullying tone Trump sometimes uses and instead adopts a more tragic, regretful posture. The key, he said, is to frame the Democratic Party as no longer a center-left party but a revolutionary coalition that includes Islamicist elements and open socialists. If Republicans can mak
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **Episode Open & New York Lawfare** - Victor opens with a blunt assessment of Letitia James' Trump prosecution and the broader weaponization of government.
- 2 (02:37) **Canada Trade War & Trump’s Approach** - Victor analyzes the U.S.-Canada trade dispute, defending Trump's tough stance on tariffs, NATO contributions, and border security.
- 3 (17:20) **Democratic Interference & Midterm Context** - Victor explains how Democratic politicians like Barack Obama and Gavin Newsom are undermining Trump's foreign policy by signaling to adversaries that the administration will be temporary.
- 4 (20:18) **Iran: The Military Campaign & Missed Opportunities** - Victor critiques the administration's incremental military strategy against Iran, arguing for a much more aggressive approach early on.
- 5 (25:05) **The Left’s Nihilistic Hatred & Iran’s Calculus** - Victor argues that the Iranian regime believes they can outlast Trump because they see a sympathetic left-wing coalition in America that will stop him.
- 6 (31:33) **Midterm Polling Analysis** - Victor reviews the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregates showing Republicans trailing in key Senate races.
- 7 (39:00) **The WNBA as "Women's Wrestling Entertainment"** - Victor pivots to a cultural analysis of the WNBA, arguing it has become a polarized entertainment spectacle rather than a pure sport.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
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Victor Davis Hanson examines Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Trump’s strategy toward the regime, the political stakes of the 2026 midterms, and the growing influence of Caitlin Clark on the WNBA, on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”
Hanson and Jack Fowler also discuss Trump’s tensions with Canada and Prime Minister Mark Carney, arguing that Canada’s economic, immigration, and defense policies are increasingly at odds with the United States.
The episode also dives into New York politics, highlighting Letitia James’ pursuit of Donald Trump and his associates. Hanson discusses how Trump’s legal battles revealed a broader politicization of the FBI, CIA, IRS, and other institutions, and warns that the Left’s “victim-victimizer” worldview has created a system of political and cultural double standards.
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