
About this episode
As the war with Iran enters its second week, two big questions loom: How did we get here? And how will it end? We put those questions to Scott Anderson. Scott is a veteran war correspondent who has reported from Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Sudan, and El Salvador. He’s also the author of King of Kings, a riveting account of the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He helps us unpack the long, complicated history between the US and Iran — countries that were once close allies — and looks ahead at what may come next. "In the Middle East," he says, "things can always get worse."
Sponsored By:
Bitdefender — Get 30% off your plan at bitdefender.com/idea
Fabric — Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family at meetfabric.com/nbi
Factor — Head to factormeals.com/idea50off and use code idea50off to get 50% off your first box
Granola — Get three months free at granola.ai/idea
Shopify — Start your $1/month trial at shopify.com/nbi
Get every episode summarized
Each time The Next Big Idea publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from The Next Big Idea

Best Of: Tony Fadell’s Guide to Building Products, Startups and Careers
The Next Big Idea
Apr 16, 20261:01:56failed

Demis Hassabis Wants to Build AGI. Should We Trust Him?
The Next Big Idea
Apr 13, 20261:13:44failed

Patrick Radden Keefe on a Double Life, a Gilded City and a Mysterious Death
The Next Big Idea
Apr 9, 202658:18failed

How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay
The Next Big Idea
Apr 6, 202648:02failed