Did Congress Just Hand Iran the School Yard?

Episode summary:

In this Daily Update, we look at how a handful of Republicans just helped Democrats send exactly the wrong message to Iran. The House passed a resolution trying to tie President Trump’s hands in the Middle East, signaling to Tehran that Washington is divided and unsure of itself. I break down why the region still runs on schoolyard politics, where the biggest bully sets the rules whether we like it or not. And we talk about why, if America wants real peace, we have to be willing to act like the bigger power instead of letting Iran run the playground.

What you’ll learn / Key moments

• 00:01 – How four GOP members helped Democrats pass a resolution on Iran.
• 00:14 – What the House resolution actually demands from President Trump.
• 01:05 – Why “schoolyard politics” still explains power in the Middle East.
• 01:31 – The case for calling the Iran conflict a “just war.”
• 02:02 – How GOP fractures encourage Iran to stall, demand more, and act like the regional strongman.

What you can do 

If you care about how America deals with Iran and the wider Middle East, don’t just skim the headlines — listen to the full update and share it with a friend who follows politics. Then, let your representatives know whether you think tying the president’s hands makes us safer or weaker in a very dangerous neighborhood. Finally, subscribe, leave a rating, and check out The Wilmington Standard online so you never miss a Daily Update on what Congress is really doing in your name.

Congratulations to four members of the GOP.  You may have just prolonged the war with Iran.

This is the Wilmington Standard Daily Update for Thursday, June 4 2026.

Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution directing President Trump to withdraw all military forces from around Iran, stop all hostilities, and require Congressional authorization to move forward.  Republican Congressmen Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett  and Warren Davidson joined every Democrat to pass the resolution.  David Rouzer – who represents East Carolina’s Seventh District - voted against it.

President Trump will almost certainly veto the resolution – and there are neither the numbers nor the desire in the House to override it.  But more than anything else, this action demonstrates that many members of Congress – and the people they represent for that matter – have no idea how policies work in the Middle East.   And we just blew it.

When dealing with Iran, Iraq, the UAE, or any other country in that region you care to name, we must remember that it is school yard politics that rules the day.  School yard politics – where the biggest and baddest bully on the yard determines the rules.  Until he is overthrown either by a united force or by another even bigger or badder bully, the school yard does well to remember who is in charge. 

We have talked elsewhere about how this conflict with Iran is a just war in every aspect.   Iranian leadership is thoroughly evil and needs to go.  President Trump recognizes this fact, and up until now has been able to play the global political game knowing that the if we want lasting peace in the region, the United States needs to be the bigger bully.  Not necessarily badder – but bigger – and ready to come down on Iran like the wrath of God if they do not play by our rules.

Up until now that is. 

Because of this fracture in the governing party of the GOP, Iran will continue to delay and press for more of their own demands.  It is a strategy that has worked for them since 1979 – and they know how to play that game well – because Iran continues to insist that they are the strongman in playground of the Middle East – and it is they who determine what everyone else will do.

Democrats – and four Republicans – just let them.

For the Wilmington Standard, I’m Reuel Sample.  Thanks for listening.