IRAN ~ Hellfire continues to shroud the skies of the Middle East after the U.S. and Israel launched offensive air strikes on Iran, triggering a response by launching retaliatory missile barrages at Israel and U.S. military bases across the region.
President Donald Trump spoke at a Medal of Honor ceremony on Monday, awarding three medals and addressing the volatile situation in the Middle East. “An Iranian regime armed with long-range missiles and nuclear weapons would be an intolerable threat to the Middle East, but also to the American people,” he claimed during his speech. “Our country itself would be under threat, and it was very nearly under threat.”
The Iranian Red Crescent Society has confirmed the deaths of 555 people from the airstrikes, including the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 165 people in Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in Minab. The Pentagon confirmed the first U.S. casualties of the conflict, reporting that four American military personnel have been killed as of Monday morning from Iran’s military response.
PODCASTS:
March 2, 2026 ~ Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, joins Ryan Ermanni to discuss the latest developments in the U.S.-Israel strikes in Iran that began over the weekend.
March 2, 2026 ~ Congressman Shri Thanedar (MI‑13) gives his view from Capitol Hill on the U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran and how Michigan communities could be impacted.
March 2, 2026 ~ Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-6) discusses President Donald Trump striking Iran without Congressional approval.
March 2, 2026 ~ Chris Renwick, Lloyd Jackson, and Jamie Edmonds spoke with Austin Gullett, a naval officer, diplomat, and foreign policy consultant, about the expanding war in the Middle East and U.S. strikes against Iran.
March 2, 2026 ~ Political analyst and Oakland University professor Dave Dulio breaks down how the Iran strike could shape the midterms, particularly in Michigan.
March 2, 2026 ~ Former Congressman and Army veteran Peter Meijer breaks down the latest U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran. He brings military insight to a fast‑moving international crisis.
(CONTINUED) These deaths occurred among personnel based in Kuwait, according to multiple defense officials, with this country also seeing a reported “friendly fire incident” that downed three U.S. fighter jets Monday morning. Footage shows pilots parachuting from a jet spiraling to the ground, with all crew reportedly surviving the incident.
President Donald Trump acknowledged the troop losses in a weekend video address, warning that more casualties may occur as the military barrels forward with what he described as a large-scale, ongoing offensive targeting Iranian military infrastructure. He added that the military campaign could last for 4-5 weeks.
In response to the joint Israeli-U.S. airstrikes, Iranian forces launched waves of missiles and drones at U.S. and Israeli positions across the region, striking targets in Israel, Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Israeli officials said their forces have intensified strikes on Tehran, while air-defense systems across the Middle East continue to intercept incoming fire, causing concern of falling shrapnel onto civilians in these countries.
Following the killing of Khamenei, reports of people being killed have emerged from Pakistan after protestors stormed a U.S. consulate in the city of Karachi.
The current conflict followed months of rising tension over speculation of Iran’s nuclear program and a breakdown in diplomatic talks.
PODCASTS
March 1, 2026 ~ U.S. Senator Gary Peters joins WJR’s special coverage to share his concerns about the U.S. strikes on Iran, the heightened threat environment at home, and the need for clearer communication from the administration. He discusses why he believes Congress should have a more defined role in authorizing military action and raises questions about the intelligence behind the president’s decisions.
March 1, 2026 ~ Former House Intelligence Committee chair Mike Rogers joins WJR’s special coverage to discuss Iran’s long history of sponsoring terrorism, the state of its nuclear program, and why he believes the current U.S. action could reshape the region. He explains how intelligence findings inform his view of Iran’s intentions and why he sees this moment as a potential turning point for stability.
March 1, 2026 ~ Congressman Tim Walberg joins WJR’s special coverage to share his perspective on the U.S.‑Israeli strikes against Iran, the possibility of regime change, and why he believes the moment represents a pivotal shift for regional alliances. He discusses concerns about Iran’s brutality toward protesters, the strategic implications of the strike, and his view that the president acted appropriately without broader congressional consultation.
VIDEO
March 1, 2026 ~ On Sunday evening, President Trump outlined the latest developments in the Iran conflict, acknowledging the first American casualties while warning there could be more.
