March 2, 2026
Breaking: “We Didn’t Start This War… But We Are Finishing It”: Fiery First War Briefing
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RSS Feed For the first time since Operation Epic Fury began over the weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth along with the Joint Chiefs Chairman held a Pentagon press briefing. There are now 4 confirmed U.S. casualties and there were repeated warnings of more potential loss of American lives. We also learned everything is potentially on the table, Hegseth refusing to rule out boots on the ground, promising an extended, but not endless war.
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00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey, there're folks. It is Monday, March second, and we just got our first full briefing about the war in Iran from the administration, and with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. We will kill you Robes. That was kind of that's a direct quote, by the way, from this press conference, which included a lot of bravado.
00:00:22
Speaker 2: Yes, the quote that kind of stood out to me that I found myself jotting down to remember. Instead of death to America, death to Israel, it's now death from America, death from Israel. I thought that was fairly dramatic and memorable and a way to twist their mantra against us right back at them, We're.
00:00:45
Speaker 1: Going to kill you. And if you don't know, now you know that's a direct quote, folks. That is not me making up a line. He said that it saw almost like a rap battle was going on to a certain degree with some of the language we're not used to hearing. Some people will applaud yet, yes, we need to project strength. Others will have a different opinion. But Pete, he sat along with the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff just finished moments ago as of this recording, and Robes. This was a big deal for them having a press conference. There's been dribs and drafts, and even the President has put out some information, but this was the first time that we got a full briefing on the war in Iran and they took questions.
00:01:21
Speaker 2: Yeah, but the questions we should just point out for those of you who don't remember, remember that thing a couple months ago where if you didn't sign this pledge that you weren't going to report anything out of the Pentagon unless the Pentagon was aware and approved your reporting. If you didn't sign that pledge, you weren't allowed into the Pentagon briefing room. So yeah, the folks who were asking questions, we started looking up when they named where they were from. They were all from conservative leaning, right leaning outlets, so they weren't facing any questions that might actually be I don't want to say difficult to answer, but ver serial or at least questioning in a way that we're used to hearing media. Members of the media question and administration, especially after a declaration.
00:02:09
Speaker 1: Of war, and you know some will tell you, no, excuse me, the administration will tell you that the questions coming at them should be in support of America and support of our troops. How dare you question us at all? That's been kind of the mindset Robes, and at least for the reporters that did introduce where they were from. We literally had to google what is that news outlet? And yeah, they're right wing outlets, and that's fine. They can be legitimate journalists working for those outlets. But to your point, Robes, it's it's it's pretty clear, yes, this is what the administration wanted and what Pete Hegseth might have wanted in that press briefing room. We're just we've been in this game a long time, Robes, and you got to have certain questions asked, and you have to have some pushback. And the press is in there representing the questions that Americans want to be answered. And I don't want to say these were softball questions or something.
00:03:00
Speaker 3: It was different, but they were.
00:03:02
Speaker 2: And I mean, I'll say it, but the role of the media is not to continue to disseminate what the administration wants you to disseminate, or to be pro America at all costs. The role of the media in a democracy, and certainly in this country up until now, has been to question authority, to make sure that you hold your elected officials accountable for the actions that they deem necessary. And yes, this is what we're hearing from our administration, that this was a necessary war to protect Americans. But then it is the role of the media at that point to question that, to push for transparency, not to have a pro America press conference.
00:03:45
Speaker 1: But that's the price of admission these days into the Pentagon briefing room and getting to ask a question is to be America first, and to only toe the line and put out the information that comes out of Pete Hexa's mouth and to take his word for it. Yes, we did see this preefing what it went about forty five minutes or so, Yes, this morning, but we did get some new information. We got more about the operational details of how this all went down. But he once again robes, I think it might be shifting, but I think it's it's clear that they feel they need to sell this war and this justification for it to the American people. We saw this start with the President. He started with in his remarks for forty years ago. So we're going back to the ogs of the Supreme Leader to essentially now build a case for why we are getting them back, not necessarily from what they're doing now, but for over fifty years. And Hegseth seemed to continue that today. It sounded political in some ways.
00:04:47
Speaker 2: Yeah, I did ask you towards the end of this press conference to make sure that I didn't miss something either in President Trump's remarks when he made that video over the weekend at two thirty in the morning, or from what we heard from Pete Hegseth or even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Was there some sort of immediate something that happened other than them not coming to the table, to the negotiating table with the willingness to say we will never pursue a nuclear weapon. Did anything else precipitate this this military action other than we're fed up with the negotiations.
00:05:24
Speaker 3: And the answer is I don't think.
00:05:26
Speaker 1: So that's what they're giving us. I mean, that's we listened very closely to every word that came out of his mouth. No one has come and said there was an confirmed been reports out there, but no, that's been knocked down. So they're saying, we want to make sure we heard before. Oh you caught it. You caught it Robes when he said the point of last summer's twelve day war Operation will Hammer.
00:05:50
Speaker 3: Operation Iron Hammer, Midnight Hammer was.
00:05:53
Speaker 1: To wipe out their nuclear capability. President Trump, how many times do we hear the word obliterated?
00:05:58
Speaker 3: Obliterated?
00:05:59
Speaker 1: Heg saith and this one seems to contradict how effective that one was. Robes.
00:06:04
Speaker 2: Uh, Yes, because that is the justification that we need to make sure they aren't able to actually create a nuclear weapon. If we just took out all of their capabilities to create a nuclear weapon a few months ago, why the need then for this operation that wasn't asked?
00:06:23
Speaker 3: In a follow up, he.
00:06:25
Speaker 1: Put it this way. The justification Robes three things now, to destroy their missile capability, to destroy their navy, and also no nuclear weapons. He then he put it in these terms, Robes, that we need to destroy all their missile capabilities. We need to destroy all their whole navy, because that's the thing that's possibly protecting them in pursuit of a nuclear weapon. That was the justification that he laid out today. It was a little different from what the President is saying, but it seems to be shifting. We have to destroy these things so they can't use those things to protect themselves from doing the ultimate thing of a nuclear weapon, which we obliterated their ability to do so last time.
00:07:02
Speaker 3: Yeah, the two can't actually coexist.
00:07:05
Speaker 2: And someone had to have exaggerated words at some point for this to be necessary.
00:07:10
Speaker 3: Now that do you call it the umbrella of protection?
00:07:13
Speaker 2: Yes?
00:07:13
Speaker 3: I think that was the word he used, and so yes.
00:07:17
Speaker 1: He kept throwing that one.
00:07:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, the one, the one moment actually that even got contentious again among right linging leaning media members. But someone asked about the objectives, and he said, did you not just listen to what I said?
00:07:32
Speaker 1: Yeah? It was, and there was a tone okay, fine.
00:07:35
Speaker 2: Can you imagine if the mainstream media was there, because those were very calm and uh, I don't want to say easy questions, but questions that were almost prompting. Heg Seth and the chairman to be able to just say what they wanted to say. There was no actual questioning and certainly no follow ups that forced them to have to answer to something or defend something.
00:08:00
Speaker 3: So the one time she asked something.
00:08:04
Speaker 2: He he uh, he was quick to respond.
00:08:08
Speaker 1: Okay, it was sarcastic, it was condescending, it was okay, whatever. Some people don't have a problem with that, but we are just not used to seeing these types of briefings in this type of language, in this type of tone at a time of war. But some plenty will applaud what we saw. He did make a point Rodes and they're gonna push and push and push this because I saw Hakeem Jeffreys on this morning and they're starting to use that term regime change war, regime change war, and he tried to, at least on a couple of occasions, say this is not the case this time around.
00:08:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, he said, this is not a so called regime change war, but the regime sure did change.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: Boom bike drop, it was. It was. It was that kind of moment. And that's true. However, the president did he not in his opening statement, Yes, tell the Iranian people, We're about to give you an opportunity to go take over your government.
00:08:57
Speaker 2: Yes, and we specifically targeted and took out their leader, the leader of their regime. So that seemed to be a very targeted objective of this mission from the beginning, So that was a little confusing. Also, the other thing that I would have loved to follow up question to you was Pete Hegseth talking about how this is the opposite of nation building.
00:09:18
Speaker 3: So I'm confused.
00:09:20
Speaker 2: We go in, we take out your leader, we bomb your buildings, we obliterate your ability to defend, protect or even lead your country, but we're not going to rebuild your nation at all. Like that's on, y'all gonna we're gonna go in and destroy everything. So well, we're into nation destruction, but we aren't into nation rebuilding.
00:09:39
Speaker 3: I just thought that was interesting.
00:09:41
Speaker 2: That's that's the hill he was really gonna die on, like we are not into nation building because we know that's very anti Republican like that, that's not typically what you see from the Republican Party wanting to engage in.
00:09:54
Speaker 1: But none of us have much of a stomach for that, Rhodes, given all we have going on in this country, given oh yes, I'll keep forgetting that we're in a shutdown. We just stay in shutdowns to almost forgot and world, we don't have a stomach for seeing this. Once again on television, we got Maduro sitting at a jail across the water from us, literally here, what are we doing there? What are we building? What resources are going towards that? Now here we are. They tried to, and you know what it did con continguous the idea how long is this going to last? Weeks? Five weeks? He was He seemed to get a little annoyed when people were questioning the timeline and any idea that this is a protracted war.
00:10:36
Speaker 2: Yes, because he said, we're not going to tell you or you or the enemy what we plan to do or how long we plan to be there.
00:10:44
Speaker 3: I get it.
00:10:45
Speaker 2: He could have probably said that a little bit differently. But look, everyone's remembering the pottery barn rule. If you break it, you buy it, you own it. So if we go in there and we and we tear everything down, and we take out the leader, and we take out many of the clerics who would have assumed a similar way of governing, what's left and how would we just leave? That is a fair question. And the timing and how long we're going to be there, those are all legitimate questions that the American people are owed. I understand we don't want to strategically tip our hand to the enemy, but I do think it'd be fair to say, look, we're going to be in this until we fix it, like at least give some sort of reassurance even to the Iranian people. We're not just going to bomb you and bag out.
00:11:33
Speaker 3: But I don't know. It's hard to know what our plan is.
00:11:36
Speaker 1: But he was asked directly something that's on the minds of a lot of Americans. Will we see American troops on the ground in Iran? And is it even possible to have regime change or even when this war without it? We'll tell you what he said in regards to that, and that's certainly we'll be making headlines. And the other thing. They did confirm at least four American deaths so far in this war, but they told us to be braced for more. Stay here, all right, folks, we continue here on Amy and TJ's it's a short time ago listening to the first full press briefing since the war in Iran has started. My goodness, Robes, it is you. I have to slow down and take my time to stop from saying war in Iraq, warren Iraq, war in Iran is under way now. Of the first press briefing in Robes, he talked about how to win this war, how quickly this war can be won, and the question was asked about are you able to do all the meat these objectives without boots on the ground. Our ears perked up. And giving his.
00:12:51
Speaker 2: Answer, he didn't say no, that was the big headline. He didn't say no. He said basically that they would do what it takes, and that they are not going to say what they will, what we're willing to do, or what we're not willing to do. So he made it very clear that he was not going to answer that question. He wasn't going to pigeonhole the military strategy. Based on what he was telling the members of the press and the American people at that point, he's he was. My interpretation was anything and everything is on the table, and that is very different from what we heard from President Trump.
00:13:26
Speaker 1: It is an American you talk there. That's something I wonder if they're going to come out and clarify or there will be a follow up to this, because it was a he had a chance and it actually makes sense. Why would I tell you the press what we're going to do. And that's fine, but this is something Americans need to hear. This isn't this is maybe that's a political answer romes versus a battlefield strategic question or answer, but Americans need to wait, wait, what where? Wait what You're going to send our men and women where? Now? For this again, they might need to clarify they I.
00:13:59
Speaker 2: Think they absolutely have to and look and to your point, I understand why someone who is leading a war right now would not want to give their strategy to the enemy.
00:14:10
Speaker 3: I get that. But to have the President.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: Basically say that troops wouldn't be on the ground, and then for the Secretary of War to say that he wouldn't say whether or not they would be, that's a departure and that's not staying in the same lane.
00:14:29
Speaker 1: Basically, many folks will pick up on that. I don't think he had any other choice, but the answer the way he did, It's not up to him necessarily, right the secretary, we.
00:14:36
Speaker 2: Could have just said that, of defns, you should ask President Trump. He's our commander in chief and he's the one who makes that call, not me.
00:14:42
Speaker 1: You know, he did take the opportunity to answer it the way he wanted to answer. He actually did, but saying nothing is off the table, we will do what we need to do have to do. But that is already getting some attention that he would not rule it out.
00:14:55
Speaker 2: I'm actually surprised that President Trump wouldn't have said that as well, just in terms of, hey, we we are prepared. If we go in, we go in all the way. We would prefer not to have our men and women on the ground there, but we will do what it takes to win this war. I mean, I think people would accept that if you're going into attack another country and that might be required. I think everyone understands that that could be required. So to say it isn't and then to say well maybe or we're just not going to tell you.
00:15:24
Speaker 3: There's a difference, it's a I hope that's it's a huge difference.
00:15:28
Speaker 1: And maybe you know, maybe I don't know, Brokes, but that jumped out at us. The other thing that certainly rope they are they are speaking on, and the President said it in his first remark, that there might be American losses. They did confirm already the reports they were out there, but they talked about it in this press conference. The number had been three, but now the confirmed number of deaths by US military members.
00:15:52
Speaker 2: Yes, And he was asked specifically how it happened, and he used a term squirter. I remember we were like ooh, but he said you know, they have amazing surface to air missiles to try and take out any sort of Iranian retaliation at US bases around the area, and apparently one.
00:16:11
Speaker 3: Made it in or made it through, and that's what happened.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: It's all they're in Kuwait. But yes, the number had been out three that we had been reporting. But they did confirm, in fact, four US service members have been killed so far this operation. They did speak on They said an investigation is on the way, but we knew going into this. They did confirm that three US fighter jets were shot down in Kuwait, but not by enemy fire. Yes, incredible that friendly fire. Yeah, in first couple of days, three jets. I was, it was amazing that they are Okay.
00:16:40
Speaker 3: I I am so grateful.
00:16:42
Speaker 2: Obviously, all of this country is grateful that those six service members were able to eject safely before their f sixteens crashed to the ground. But you know, you can see the video they are it is dramatic traumatic. I mean, I also was thinking, I know, this isn't of great concern. I guess, given what resources we've put into this and will continue to do so.
00:17:00
Speaker 3: But the amount of money each one of those jets costs.
00:17:03
Speaker 1: My god, what is the number?
00:17:04
Speaker 2: Tens of millions of dollars and maybe more. I might be underestimating it, but to lose three at the hands of enemy fire, Look, that's just how chaotic war is. Obviously they've got, you know, Iranian retaliation coming in and they see something flying overhead and boom.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: They didn't say how they think that, and again he said he just deferred. He didn't want to say much because it's on their investigation. But the idea Robes, three of them shot down, what in goodness, gracious did happen until your point, we've done stories on the program. The spider jets are fifty one hundred million dollars. To look at the video and to see fifty million dollars in taxpayer money falling out of the sky is.
00:17:47
Speaker 2: Yes, and thankfully we can talk about it in those terms and not loss of life, thankfully.
00:17:50
Speaker 3: But still that is a price to pay it.
00:17:52
Speaker 1: We shouldn't they said, they're all stable, like all doing the amazing. Well, that is amazing, Robes, as we The last thing we want to hit on is what is the last question in this press briefing. Some might love it, Robes, some might think it was a good opportunity. Some might say this is what we should be talking more about, but others will tell you at a time of war, and this is the first time we're getting to question the Defense secretary. There were other things to possibly ask that maybe trump this question, but it was the final one. I didn't catch you asked it, did you?
00:18:25
Speaker 2: They?
00:18:26
Speaker 3: She didn't say who it was. It was a female reporter.
00:18:28
Speaker 2: She didn't say her name or where she is with, which is interesting because not everyone did. I'm used to hearing that, and you're used to hearing CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, you know those are what you're typically MSNBC or MS. Now this was from someone and the final question to the first press briefing we have about the United States going to war with the run what is your prayer for them, meaning the troops?
00:18:58
Speaker 1: And he had a long kind of an answer for it. And I think that's fine, And a lot of people might look at that and say it's a relief to hear something like that, or to give him an opportunity to speak on a more human level. And that's fine. And I don't know what publication, what outlet this woman was from. She might be with some Christian outlet, and that was an important question for them. That's why you're looking at me like, damn, DJ you always final way. Yes, I'm trying to give the room and I appreciate it.
00:19:21
Speaker 2: I appreciate what you're saying, and you make a very good point. My mind immediately went to, was that question planted for the end? And the cynical, the cynic in me is thinking that, yes, some of this is orchestrated. Obviously they've orchestrated who is in the room, who gets to ask questions, He gets to then choose who to call on. And so now you're almost incentivized as a journalist in the room to not piss off the Secretary of War so that you get called on. But yes, to have the final question be a beautiful, poignant wrap up of a press conference just seemed a little too.
00:19:57
Speaker 1: Just.
00:19:58
Speaker 3: I don't know, is that a quinki ink is a coincidence? Okay, maybe maybe it is.
00:20:02
Speaker 2: And sure, I know I'm not devaluing the importance of prayer and what this country, what many people in this country are doing with their loved ones off now fighting on behalf of the United States, and that's serious, and that's real, and I get that.
00:20:18
Speaker 3: It just seemed unusual for that's all wrap up like that with that final question.
00:20:22
Speaker 1: Nice, So what are we expecting what's next for today? Actually, they tell us ropes to this thing will ramp up versus then down in the next several days. They are going to keep this up. It was an amazing number to hear that they hit one thousand targets in the first twenty four hours of this, and they said this will keep up and up and up until what exactly.
00:20:45
Speaker 2: Until they're no longer able to defend themselves is what it sounded like. Until they've taken out all of Iran's military capabilities to defend itself and to retaliate. That's the goal from what I understood, So that could be quite some time.
00:21:01
Speaker 1: Well, folks, we just wanted to hop on give you the updates there. As we always say, there are a plenty these dames these days. It seems top right corner of your Apple podcast app, where you see our show page, there's a little button that that's follow click that you can make sure you subscribe and get our updates coming to you. And there haven't been a lot of breaking news updates here as of late, but we always appreciate you spending some time with us on t J. Holmes on behalf of my dear Amy Robot. We will talk to you also
Speaker 1: Hey, there're folks. It is Monday, March second, and we just got our first full briefing about the war in Iran from the administration, and with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. We will kill you Robes. That was kind of that's a direct quote, by the way, from this press conference, which included a lot of bravado.
00:00:22
Speaker 2: Yes, the quote that kind of stood out to me that I found myself jotting down to remember. Instead of death to America, death to Israel, it's now death from America, death from Israel. I thought that was fairly dramatic and memorable and a way to twist their mantra against us right back at them, We're.
00:00:45
Speaker 1: Going to kill you. And if you don't know, now you know that's a direct quote, folks. That is not me making up a line. He said that it saw almost like a rap battle was going on to a certain degree with some of the language we're not used to hearing. Some people will applaud yet, yes, we need to project strength. Others will have a different opinion. But Pete, he sat along with the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff just finished moments ago as of this recording, and Robes. This was a big deal for them having a press conference. There's been dribs and drafts, and even the President has put out some information, but this was the first time that we got a full briefing on the war in Iran and they took questions.
00:01:21
Speaker 2: Yeah, but the questions we should just point out for those of you who don't remember, remember that thing a couple months ago where if you didn't sign this pledge that you weren't going to report anything out of the Pentagon unless the Pentagon was aware and approved your reporting. If you didn't sign that pledge, you weren't allowed into the Pentagon briefing room. So yeah, the folks who were asking questions, we started looking up when they named where they were from. They were all from conservative leaning, right leaning outlets, so they weren't facing any questions that might actually be I don't want to say difficult to answer, but ver serial or at least questioning in a way that we're used to hearing media. Members of the media question and administration, especially after a declaration.
00:02:09
Speaker 1: Of war, and you know some will tell you, no, excuse me, the administration will tell you that the questions coming at them should be in support of America and support of our troops. How dare you question us at all? That's been kind of the mindset Robes, and at least for the reporters that did introduce where they were from. We literally had to google what is that news outlet? And yeah, they're right wing outlets, and that's fine. They can be legitimate journalists working for those outlets. But to your point, Robes, it's it's it's pretty clear, yes, this is what the administration wanted and what Pete Hegseth might have wanted in that press briefing room. We're just we've been in this game a long time, Robes, and you got to have certain questions asked, and you have to have some pushback. And the press is in there representing the questions that Americans want to be answered. And I don't want to say these were softball questions or something.
00:03:00
Speaker 3: It was different, but they were.
00:03:02
Speaker 2: And I mean, I'll say it, but the role of the media is not to continue to disseminate what the administration wants you to disseminate, or to be pro America at all costs. The role of the media in a democracy, and certainly in this country up until now, has been to question authority, to make sure that you hold your elected officials accountable for the actions that they deem necessary. And yes, this is what we're hearing from our administration, that this was a necessary war to protect Americans. But then it is the role of the media at that point to question that, to push for transparency, not to have a pro America press conference.
00:03:45
Speaker 1: But that's the price of admission these days into the Pentagon briefing room and getting to ask a question is to be America first, and to only toe the line and put out the information that comes out of Pete Hexa's mouth and to take his word for it. Yes, we did see this preefing what it went about forty five minutes or so, Yes, this morning, but we did get some new information. We got more about the operational details of how this all went down. But he once again robes, I think it might be shifting, but I think it's it's clear that they feel they need to sell this war and this justification for it to the American people. We saw this start with the President. He started with in his remarks for forty years ago. So we're going back to the ogs of the Supreme Leader to essentially now build a case for why we are getting them back, not necessarily from what they're doing now, but for over fifty years. And Hegseth seemed to continue that today. It sounded political in some ways.
00:04:47
Speaker 2: Yeah, I did ask you towards the end of this press conference to make sure that I didn't miss something either in President Trump's remarks when he made that video over the weekend at two thirty in the morning, or from what we heard from Pete Hegseth or even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Was there some sort of immediate something that happened other than them not coming to the table, to the negotiating table with the willingness to say we will never pursue a nuclear weapon. Did anything else precipitate this this military action other than we're fed up with the negotiations.
00:05:24
Speaker 3: And the answer is I don't think.
00:05:26
Speaker 1: So that's what they're giving us. I mean, that's we listened very closely to every word that came out of his mouth. No one has come and said there was an confirmed been reports out there, but no, that's been knocked down. So they're saying, we want to make sure we heard before. Oh you caught it. You caught it Robes when he said the point of last summer's twelve day war Operation will Hammer.
00:05:50
Speaker 3: Operation Iron Hammer, Midnight Hammer was.
00:05:53
Speaker 1: To wipe out their nuclear capability. President Trump, how many times do we hear the word obliterated?
00:05:58
Speaker 3: Obliterated?
00:05:59
Speaker 1: Heg saith and this one seems to contradict how effective that one was. Robes.
00:06:04
Speaker 2: Uh, Yes, because that is the justification that we need to make sure they aren't able to actually create a nuclear weapon. If we just took out all of their capabilities to create a nuclear weapon a few months ago, why the need then for this operation that wasn't asked?
00:06:23
Speaker 3: In a follow up, he.
00:06:25
Speaker 1: Put it this way. The justification Robes three things now, to destroy their missile capability, to destroy their navy, and also no nuclear weapons. He then he put it in these terms, Robes, that we need to destroy all their missile capabilities. We need to destroy all their whole navy, because that's the thing that's possibly protecting them in pursuit of a nuclear weapon. That was the justification that he laid out today. It was a little different from what the President is saying, but it seems to be shifting. We have to destroy these things so they can't use those things to protect themselves from doing the ultimate thing of a nuclear weapon, which we obliterated their ability to do so last time.
00:07:02
Speaker 3: Yeah, the two can't actually coexist.
00:07:05
Speaker 2: And someone had to have exaggerated words at some point for this to be necessary.
00:07:10
Speaker 3: Now that do you call it the umbrella of protection?
00:07:13
Speaker 2: Yes?
00:07:13
Speaker 3: I think that was the word he used, and so yes.
00:07:17
Speaker 1: He kept throwing that one.
00:07:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, the one, the one moment actually that even got contentious again among right linging leaning media members. But someone asked about the objectives, and he said, did you not just listen to what I said?
00:07:32
Speaker 1: Yeah? It was, and there was a tone okay, fine.
00:07:35
Speaker 2: Can you imagine if the mainstream media was there, because those were very calm and uh, I don't want to say easy questions, but questions that were almost prompting. Heg Seth and the chairman to be able to just say what they wanted to say. There was no actual questioning and certainly no follow ups that forced them to have to answer to something or defend something.
00:08:00
Speaker 3: So the one time she asked something.
00:08:04
Speaker 2: He he uh, he was quick to respond.
00:08:08
Speaker 1: Okay, it was sarcastic, it was condescending, it was okay, whatever. Some people don't have a problem with that, but we are just not used to seeing these types of briefings in this type of language, in this type of tone at a time of war. But some plenty will applaud what we saw. He did make a point Rodes and they're gonna push and push and push this because I saw Hakeem Jeffreys on this morning and they're starting to use that term regime change war, regime change war, and he tried to, at least on a couple of occasions, say this is not the case this time around.
00:08:38
Speaker 2: Yeah, he said, this is not a so called regime change war, but the regime sure did change.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: Boom bike drop, it was. It was. It was that kind of moment. And that's true. However, the president did he not in his opening statement, Yes, tell the Iranian people, We're about to give you an opportunity to go take over your government.
00:08:57
Speaker 2: Yes, and we specifically targeted and took out their leader, the leader of their regime. So that seemed to be a very targeted objective of this mission from the beginning, So that was a little confusing. Also, the other thing that I would have loved to follow up question to you was Pete Hegseth talking about how this is the opposite of nation building.
00:09:18
Speaker 3: So I'm confused.
00:09:20
Speaker 2: We go in, we take out your leader, we bomb your buildings, we obliterate your ability to defend, protect or even lead your country, but we're not going to rebuild your nation at all. Like that's on, y'all gonna we're gonna go in and destroy everything. So well, we're into nation destruction, but we aren't into nation rebuilding.
00:09:39
Speaker 3: I just thought that was interesting.
00:09:41
Speaker 2: That's that's the hill he was really gonna die on, like we are not into nation building because we know that's very anti Republican like that, that's not typically what you see from the Republican Party wanting to engage in.
00:09:54
Speaker 1: But none of us have much of a stomach for that, Rhodes, given all we have going on in this country, given oh yes, I'll keep forgetting that we're in a shutdown. We just stay in shutdowns to almost forgot and world, we don't have a stomach for seeing this. Once again on television, we got Maduro sitting at a jail across the water from us, literally here, what are we doing there? What are we building? What resources are going towards that? Now here we are. They tried to, and you know what it did con continguous the idea how long is this going to last? Weeks? Five weeks? He was He seemed to get a little annoyed when people were questioning the timeline and any idea that this is a protracted war.
00:10:36
Speaker 2: Yes, because he said, we're not going to tell you or you or the enemy what we plan to do or how long we plan to be there.
00:10:44
Speaker 3: I get it.
00:10:45
Speaker 2: He could have probably said that a little bit differently. But look, everyone's remembering the pottery barn rule. If you break it, you buy it, you own it. So if we go in there and we and we tear everything down, and we take out the leader, and we take out many of the clerics who would have assumed a similar way of governing, what's left and how would we just leave? That is a fair question. And the timing and how long we're going to be there, those are all legitimate questions that the American people are owed. I understand we don't want to strategically tip our hand to the enemy, but I do think it'd be fair to say, look, we're going to be in this until we fix it, like at least give some sort of reassurance even to the Iranian people. We're not just going to bomb you and bag out.
00:11:33
Speaker 3: But I don't know. It's hard to know what our plan is.
00:11:36
Speaker 1: But he was asked directly something that's on the minds of a lot of Americans. Will we see American troops on the ground in Iran? And is it even possible to have regime change or even when this war without it? We'll tell you what he said in regards to that, and that's certainly we'll be making headlines. And the other thing. They did confirm at least four American deaths so far in this war, but they told us to be braced for more. Stay here, all right, folks, we continue here on Amy and TJ's it's a short time ago listening to the first full press briefing since the war in Iran has started. My goodness, Robes, it is you. I have to slow down and take my time to stop from saying war in Iraq, warren Iraq, war in Iran is under way now. Of the first press briefing in Robes, he talked about how to win this war, how quickly this war can be won, and the question was asked about are you able to do all the meat these objectives without boots on the ground. Our ears perked up. And giving his.
00:12:51
Speaker 2: Answer, he didn't say no, that was the big headline. He didn't say no. He said basically that they would do what it takes, and that they are not going to say what they will, what we're willing to do, or what we're not willing to do. So he made it very clear that he was not going to answer that question. He wasn't going to pigeonhole the military strategy. Based on what he was telling the members of the press and the American people at that point, he's he was. My interpretation was anything and everything is on the table, and that is very different from what we heard from President Trump.
00:13:26
Speaker 1: It is an American you talk there. That's something I wonder if they're going to come out and clarify or there will be a follow up to this, because it was a he had a chance and it actually makes sense. Why would I tell you the press what we're going to do. And that's fine, but this is something Americans need to hear. This isn't this is maybe that's a political answer romes versus a battlefield strategic question or answer, but Americans need to wait, wait, what where? Wait what You're going to send our men and women where? Now? For this again, they might need to clarify they I.
00:13:59
Speaker 2: Think they absolutely have to and look and to your point, I understand why someone who is leading a war right now would not want to give their strategy to the enemy.
00:14:10
Speaker 3: I get that. But to have the President.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: Basically say that troops wouldn't be on the ground, and then for the Secretary of War to say that he wouldn't say whether or not they would be, that's a departure and that's not staying in the same lane.
00:14:29
Speaker 1: Basically, many folks will pick up on that. I don't think he had any other choice, but the answer the way he did, It's not up to him necessarily, right the secretary, we.
00:14:36
Speaker 2: Could have just said that, of defns, you should ask President Trump. He's our commander in chief and he's the one who makes that call, not me.
00:14:42
Speaker 1: You know, he did take the opportunity to answer it the way he wanted to answer. He actually did, but saying nothing is off the table, we will do what we need to do have to do. But that is already getting some attention that he would not rule it out.
00:14:55
Speaker 2: I'm actually surprised that President Trump wouldn't have said that as well, just in terms of, hey, we we are prepared. If we go in, we go in all the way. We would prefer not to have our men and women on the ground there, but we will do what it takes to win this war. I mean, I think people would accept that if you're going into attack another country and that might be required. I think everyone understands that that could be required. So to say it isn't and then to say well maybe or we're just not going to tell you.
00:15:24
Speaker 3: There's a difference, it's a I hope that's it's a huge difference.
00:15:28
Speaker 1: And maybe you know, maybe I don't know, Brokes, but that jumped out at us. The other thing that certainly rope they are they are speaking on, and the President said it in his first remark, that there might be American losses. They did confirm already the reports they were out there, but they talked about it in this press conference. The number had been three, but now the confirmed number of deaths by US military members.
00:15:52
Speaker 2: Yes, And he was asked specifically how it happened, and he used a term squirter. I remember we were like ooh, but he said you know, they have amazing surface to air missiles to try and take out any sort of Iranian retaliation at US bases around the area, and apparently one.
00:16:11
Speaker 3: Made it in or made it through, and that's what happened.
00:16:14
Speaker 1: It's all they're in Kuwait. But yes, the number had been out three that we had been reporting. But they did confirm, in fact, four US service members have been killed so far this operation. They did speak on They said an investigation is on the way, but we knew going into this. They did confirm that three US fighter jets were shot down in Kuwait, but not by enemy fire. Yes, incredible that friendly fire. Yeah, in first couple of days, three jets. I was, it was amazing that they are Okay.
00:16:40
Speaker 3: I I am so grateful.
00:16:42
Speaker 2: Obviously, all of this country is grateful that those six service members were able to eject safely before their f sixteens crashed to the ground. But you know, you can see the video they are it is dramatic traumatic. I mean, I also was thinking, I know, this isn't of great concern. I guess, given what resources we've put into this and will continue to do so.
00:17:00
Speaker 3: But the amount of money each one of those jets costs.
00:17:03
Speaker 1: My god, what is the number?
00:17:04
Speaker 2: Tens of millions of dollars and maybe more. I might be underestimating it, but to lose three at the hands of enemy fire, Look, that's just how chaotic war is. Obviously they've got, you know, Iranian retaliation coming in and they see something flying overhead and boom.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: They didn't say how they think that, and again he said he just deferred. He didn't want to say much because it's on their investigation. But the idea Robes, three of them shot down, what in goodness, gracious did happen until your point, we've done stories on the program. The spider jets are fifty one hundred million dollars. To look at the video and to see fifty million dollars in taxpayer money falling out of the sky is.
00:17:47
Speaker 2: Yes, and thankfully we can talk about it in those terms and not loss of life, thankfully.
00:17:50
Speaker 3: But still that is a price to pay it.
00:17:52
Speaker 1: We shouldn't they said, they're all stable, like all doing the amazing. Well, that is amazing, Robes, as we The last thing we want to hit on is what is the last question in this press briefing. Some might love it, Robes, some might think it was a good opportunity. Some might say this is what we should be talking more about, but others will tell you at a time of war, and this is the first time we're getting to question the Defense secretary. There were other things to possibly ask that maybe trump this question, but it was the final one. I didn't catch you asked it, did you?
00:18:25
Speaker 2: They?
00:18:26
Speaker 3: She didn't say who it was. It was a female reporter.
00:18:28
Speaker 2: She didn't say her name or where she is with, which is interesting because not everyone did. I'm used to hearing that, and you're used to hearing CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, you know those are what you're typically MSNBC or MS. Now this was from someone and the final question to the first press briefing we have about the United States going to war with the run what is your prayer for them, meaning the troops?
00:18:58
Speaker 1: And he had a long kind of an answer for it. And I think that's fine, And a lot of people might look at that and say it's a relief to hear something like that, or to give him an opportunity to speak on a more human level. And that's fine. And I don't know what publication, what outlet this woman was from. She might be with some Christian outlet, and that was an important question for them. That's why you're looking at me like, damn, DJ you always final way. Yes, I'm trying to give the room and I appreciate it.
00:19:21
Speaker 2: I appreciate what you're saying, and you make a very good point. My mind immediately went to, was that question planted for the end? And the cynical, the cynic in me is thinking that, yes, some of this is orchestrated. Obviously they've orchestrated who is in the room, who gets to ask questions, He gets to then choose who to call on. And so now you're almost incentivized as a journalist in the room to not piss off the Secretary of War so that you get called on. But yes, to have the final question be a beautiful, poignant wrap up of a press conference just seemed a little too.
00:19:57
Speaker 1: Just.
00:19:58
Speaker 3: I don't know, is that a quinki ink is a coincidence? Okay, maybe maybe it is.
00:20:02
Speaker 2: And sure, I know I'm not devaluing the importance of prayer and what this country, what many people in this country are doing with their loved ones off now fighting on behalf of the United States, and that's serious, and that's real, and I get that.
00:20:18
Speaker 3: It just seemed unusual for that's all wrap up like that with that final question.
00:20:22
Speaker 1: Nice, So what are we expecting what's next for today? Actually, they tell us ropes to this thing will ramp up versus then down in the next several days. They are going to keep this up. It was an amazing number to hear that they hit one thousand targets in the first twenty four hours of this, and they said this will keep up and up and up until what exactly.
00:20:45
Speaker 2: Until they're no longer able to defend themselves is what it sounded like. Until they've taken out all of Iran's military capabilities to defend itself and to retaliate. That's the goal from what I understood, So that could be quite some time.
00:21:01
Speaker 1: Well, folks, we just wanted to hop on give you the updates there. As we always say, there are a plenty these dames these days. It seems top right corner of your Apple podcast app, where you see our show page, there's a little button that that's follow click that you can make sure you subscribe and get our updates coming to you. And there haven't been a lot of breaking news updates here as of late, but we always appreciate you spending some time with us on t J. Holmes on behalf of my dear Amy Robot. We will talk to you also