Tom Nichols: “Shoot Your Mouth Off & Carry a Pop Gun”

John welcomes back U.S. Naval War College professor emeritus and Atlantic staff writer Tom Nichols to discuss the Iran war at the eight-week mark—where things stand, what comes next, and whether there’s any end in sight. Tom weighs in on Donald Trump’s strategic incoherence and tactical flailing; the embarrassing spectacle of Iran jerking J.D. Vance around; Pete Hegseth's holy roller cosplay and ongoing purge of the military's senior ranks; and Tucker Carlson’s public apology for his role in Trump’s reelection. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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Tom Nichols: “Shoot Your Mouth Off & Carry a Pop Gun” is an episode from Hell & High Water with John Heilemann by Audacy | Puck.

This episode is 59:04 long.

This episode was published on Apr 24, 2026.

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