Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In partnership with the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, renowned foreign policy voices Danielle Pletka and Julia Ioffe join moderator-in-chief John Donvan for a timely, debate-esque conversation on the Iran war and its far-reaching implications for global stability – perfect for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping today’s foreign policy landscape. As the conflict reshapes the dynamics in the Middle East and raises questions about the risk of regional escalation, the discussion examines what comes next for U.S. strategy, alliances, and adversaries alike. Pletka and Ioffe offer competing perspectives on the future of American leadership under President Trump’s second term, exploring how the war could affect U.S.-Iran relations, Russia’s role in the region, the balance of power among major global actors, and the broader international order.
This debate was recorded on June 6, 2026, at the Cascades PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle, Washington.
Our Guests:
Julia Ioffe, Founding Partner and Washington Correspondent at Puck; Author of "Motherland"
Danielle Pletka, Distinguished Senior Fellow in Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
#opentodebate #debate #iran #war #usa #russia
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00:00:00 – Introduction: World on the Brink?
00:03:02 – Introduction of the Guests
00:07:00 – Has the U.S. Lost the Iran War?
00:12:00 – What Would Success in Iran Actually Look Like?
00:15:48 – Could the War Transform the Middle East?
00:22:04 – Can the Iranian Regime Survive?
00:24:26 – Should U.S. Allies Be Supporting This War?
00:29:55 – Is America Reasserting Itself in the Middle East?
00:33:01 – Is the Iran War Good for Russia?
00:39:33 – Does Putin Still Have Imperial Ambitions?
00:44:22 – How Much Support Does Putin Really Have?
00:47:38 – Is the World Becoming More Dangerous for America?
00:52:53 – Lessons from Gaza and Russia
01:01:10 – Final Thoughts
In partnership with the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, renowned foreign policy voices Danielle Pletka and Julia Ioffe join moderator-in-chief John Donvan for a timely, debate-esque conversation on the Iran war and its far-reaching implications for global stability – perfect for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping today’s foreign policy landscape. As the conflict reshapes the dynamics in the Middle East and raises questions about the risk of regional escalation, the discussion examines what comes next for U.S. strategy, alliances, and adversaries alike. Pletka and Ioffe offer competing perspectives on the future of American leadership under President Trump’s second term, exploring how the war could affect U.S.-Iran relations, Russia’s role in the region, the balance of power among major global actors, and the broader international order.
This debate was recorded on June 6, 2026, at the Cascades PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle, Washington.
Our Guests:
Julia Ioffe, Founding Partner and Washington Correspondent at Puck; Author of "Motherland"
Danielle Pletka, Distinguished Senior Fellow in Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute
Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates
#opentodebate #debate #iran #war #usa #russia
Visit our Substack to watch more insightful debates and subscribe to our newsletter.
===================================
Subscribe on Substack: opentodebate.substack.com
Official site: opentodebate.org
X: twitter.com/OpentoDebateOrg
Facebook: facebook.com/BeOpentoDebate
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/opentodebate
Instagram: instagram.com/opentodebateorg
TikTok: tiktok.com/@opentodebateorg
Open to Debate Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/bdzmz5xt
Open to Debate Spotify Podcasts: tinyurl.com/22tuxu7h
===================================
00:00:00 – Introduction: World on the Brink?
00:03:02 – Introduction of the Guests
00:07:00 – Has the U.S. Lost the Iran War?
00:12:00 – What Would Success in Iran Actually Look Like?
00:15:48 – Could the War Transform the Middle East?
00:22:04 – Can the Iranian Regime Survive?
00:24:26 – Should U.S. Allies Be Supporting This War?
00:29:55 – Is America Reasserting Itself in the Middle East?
00:33:01 – Is the Iran War Good for Russia?
00:39:33 – Does Putin Still Have Imperial Ambitions?
00:44:22 – How Much Support Does Putin Really Have?
00:47:38 – Is the World Becoming More Dangerous for America?
00:52:53 – Lessons from Gaza and Russia
01:01:10 – Final Thoughts
