Lindsey Graham champions sending troops to Iran despite Americans' weariness of endless war



Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.) skipped over a few recent wars in an interview Tuesday to make a historical argument in favor of an American military intervention in Iran — action he has urged for well over a decade.

Gillian Turner, a talking head at Fox News, where Graham has been a frequent guest in recent days, told the senator that while a Ronald Reagan Institute poll found that 84% of Americans say that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon matters to U.S. security and prosperity, "the rub, as you well know, is probably like 110% of Americans don't want to have another 20-year-long or even 20-month-long war in the Middle East."

'I'd rather open up Pandora’s box than empty it.'

A poll conducted by the Economist and YouGov June 13-16 found that 16% of Americans think "U.S. military should get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran." Sixty percent of respondents said America should not get involved, and 24% said they weren't sure. When asked whether the U.S. should continue to engage in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, 56% said yes.

"If you think radical Islam can be dealt with and ignored — dealt with without being dealt with — then you're wrong," said Graham. "You got to stand up to these people."

RELATED: A treacherous week for America First (and Israel, too)

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

"We live in a world where we have to defend ourselves," continued the senator, a former proponent of the false Iraqi weapons of mass destruction narrative who co-sponsored the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq resolution of 2002. "I don't think it's going to be 20 months, but here's what I do believe: If we don't get it right now, we're going to pay later."

Graham employed different language but more or less made the same argument 15 years ago, years before he said that "the world is literally about to blow up."

RELATED: Iran is not the next Iraq War — unless we make the same mistake twice

Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun/Anadolu via Getty Images

"If you use military force against Iran, you've opened up Pandora's box," he reportedly told a crowd at the American Enterprise Institute in September 2010. "If you allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon, you've emptied Pandora's box. I'd rather open up Pandora's box than empty it."

Graham also suggested at the time that military operations should be executed with regime change in mind — something he supported in Iraq, Libya, and Syria.

'The men and women who serve, they're the ones going.'

When asked in the interview Tuesday whether he could "make the commitment that this would not lead to a longer war," Graham said, "I can guarantee you that if the ayatollah gets a nuclear weapon, he would use that."

Graham then appeared to insinuate that American troops are required in Iran, stating, "The men and women who serve, they're the ones going — not people answering the poll. And if you ask them, 'Would you be willing to risk your life to stop the ayatollah from having a nuclear weapon?' All of them would say, 'Yes.'"

"We live in a world where you got to confront problems," said Graham. "You want to avoid World War III? Learn the lessons from World War II."

RELATED: Israel’s strategy now rests on one bomb — and it’s American

Photo (left): Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images; Photo (right): Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

The senator appeared to insinuate that a failure to help attack Iran was akin to appeasing Adolf Hitler, stressing that American freedom was conditional on attacking Iran: "If we do not fight for our freedom, we will lose it."

Fox News' John Roberts subsequently alluded to the opposition by some Republicans to another regime-change war, referring to Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent tweet in which she noted, "Anyone slobbering for the U.S. to become fully involved in the Israel/Iran war is not America First/MAGA. Wishing for murder of innocent people is disgusting. We are sick and tired of foreign wars. All of them. And this one will quickly engulf the Middle East, BRICS, and NATO as countries are required to take a side."

Graham said the Republican opposition to "supporting Israel against Iran could literally be put in a phone booth" and claimed Greene simply doesn't understand the threat posed by the "religious Nazis."

In a separate interview on the same network, Graham implored President Donald Trump to go "all in" on Iran, suggesting that the U.S. should "do joint operations" with Israel if necessary.

On Tuesday, Trump noted on Truth Social that he knew exactly where Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was "hiding." While indicating that Khamenei was "an easy target, but is safe there," Trump promised not to "take him out (kill!), at least not for now."

After indicating American "patience is wearing thin," Trump wrote, "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!"

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Bernie Sanders hates oligarchs, unless it’s him: 'You think I’m going to be sitting on a waiting line at United?'



On May 7, Fox News’ Bret Baier interviewed Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on “Special Report” about Sanders’ and New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, which focuses on issues like wealth inequality and opposition to Trump’s policies.

During the interview, Baier cited a “Free Beacon” report noting that Sanders’ campaign committee, Friends of Bernie Sanders, spent over $221,000 on private jets in just the first quarter of 2025. He pressed Sanders on the apparent contradiction between his anti-oligarchy rhetoric and his use of private jets — a mode of travel associated with wealth and high carbon emissions.

One thing Pat Gray loves is when a hypocrite is exposed. He revels in the embarrassing footage of Sanders floundering as he attempts to justify his elitism.

“When’s the last time you saw Donald Trump during a campaign mode at a national airport?” Sanders fired at Baier.

“He’s also not fighting the oligarchy,” Baier countered.

“You run a campaign, and you do three or four or five rallies in a week. It’s the only way you can get around to talk to 30,000 people. You think I’m going to be sitting on a waiting line at United? … No apologies for that. That’s what campaign travel is about. We’ve done it in the past; we’re going to do it in the future,” Sanders defended.

Pat is disgusted at the hypocrisy.

Sanders’ point about Donald Trump taking private jets falls completely flat given that “Donald Trump isn't b***hing about income inequality all the time.”

“Donald Trump is not a socialist; you are! That's why there's a different standard for you, because you're a hypocrite,” condemns Pat.

If contradicting his stance on wealth inequality wasn’t bad enough, Sanders traveling on private jets also clashes with his position on climate change, which criticizes airplane travel for its high CO2 emissions and global warming impact.

“Donald Trump doesn't believe in man-caused climate change. That's why Donald Trump isn't asked that question. Nobody expects him not to take private jets,” says Pat.

Compare him to Sanders, who not only beats the climate change drum but also unapologetically travels via private jet, claiming he’s far too important to fly domestically.

“You expect me to be with the unwashed proletariat? No, no — not when I'm part of the bourgeoisie,” mocks Pat.

“I mean he is clearly stating that he is the oligarchy, and that’s okay,” says co-host Keith Malinak.

“The unapologetic hypocrisy there is staggering,” says Pat.

To see the footage of Sanders’ interview with Baier and hear more of the panel’s commentary, watch the episode above.

Want more from Pat Gray?

To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

IndyCar Bucks The System Of Endless Sports Streaming With Single Broadcast Option

Unlike most other sports leagues, which have sliced and diced their licensing rights to maximize revenue, IndyCar has done the opposite.

Trump Says He Will Cut Energy Bills In ‘Half’ During Fox News Town Hall

Former President Donald Trump pledged to cut energy bills in half during a Fox News town hall with women voters aired Wednesday. “Everything starts with interest rates,” Trump said, adding that a solution to the inflation crisis also “starts with energy.” “I’m making this pledge here,” Trump said. “But I have made it a couple […]

Obesity Kills Christian Gospel Singer Mandisa More Than 30 Years Early

On Tuesday, People Magazine reported Mandisa died in April at just 47 years old after struggling with class III obesity.

Mark Levin EXPOSES Joe Biden’s high crimes



Special counsel Robert Hur’s report is overflowing with examples of Joe Biden’s felonies.

These felonies took place under the Espionage Act when he was vice president, when he was a private citizen, and when he was a senator.

“There’s scores of examples of his committing felonies, and the only reason they didn’t bring the case they said is because he’s an imbecile,” Mark Levin explains to Brian Kilmeade, adding, “There’s enough probable cause in this document to bring hundreds of charges against Joe Biden.”

Levin read the report over a weekend, and the evidence is damning.

“There are times where he walks into the room with his ghost writer and he says, ‘Look, I have classified documents here,’” Levin says, adding, “He even says to the ghost writer, ‘They don’t know I have these.’”

“So, that’s a confession, the man’s guilty of numerous Espionage Act violations,” he continues.

In addition, evidence continues to trickle out about Biden’s involvement in his son’s business dealings.

“At least 20 times when he had business dealings going on, his dad either showed up or called in, but he says it’s no big deal,” Kilmeade says.

Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has also slept with young prostitutes, didn’t pay his taxes despite pulling in over $30 million, and bought a gun illegally.

“He hasn’t signed up as a foreign agent despite all the foreign business,” Levin says, adding, “but the Democrat Party is corrupt. They don’t care about the country at all.”


Want more from Mark Levin?

To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.

Five Years Ago Today, Joe Biden Spread The Jussie Smollett Hate Crime Hoax

Monday marked the fifth anniversary of President Joe Biden's online condemnation of a 'hate crime' that never happened.