About this episode

The episode discusses Iran's escalating attacks, the implications for U.S. policy, and the cultural significance of The Odyssey in modern education and politics.

Iran’s attacks continue to escalate, prompting calls for a stronger U.S. response. Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler argue America should abandon a limited “tit-for-tat” strategy and instead pursue decisive action to deter the Iranian regime.Conversation then turns to the controversy surrounding Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and what today’s debates reveal about America’s understanding of Western civilization. The question of modern education standards affecting how much people truly know about The Odyssey. This episode also takes a look at reports that Democrat Graham Platner was being groomed as a future presidential contender—and what his rapid rise and fall says about today’s Democrat Party. NEW FILM: “Sacred Honor: The Declaration That Defines a Nation,” featuring Victor Davis Hanson, is OUT NOW! https://youtu.be/O1d3gn_H8ow   My Patriot Supply - Get $250 off My Patriot Supply’s best-selling 6-month emergency food supply! Available now at https://preparewithvdh.com Hillsdale - Sign up right now for Hillsdale College’s newest free online course, “The Odyssey.” Go to https://hillsdale.edu/VDH to enroll. It’s totally free.  Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit…

People in this episode

Host: Victor Davis Hanson

Guest: Jack Fowler

Topics covered

• Iran's threat
• U.S. foreign policy
• The Odyssey
• Democrat Party
• modern education
• Western civilization

Keywords

• Iran
• U.S. response
• The Odyssey
• Graham Platner
• Democrat Party
• education standards
• Western civilization

Sponsors

My Patriot Supply, Hillsdale College, Alliance Defending Freedom

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Odyssey, Sacred Honor: The Declaration That Defines a Nation

More episodes of Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words

• The War with Iran, the Left’s Anti-Semitism, and America’s Election Battle | Victor Davis Hanson · July 21, 2026 · 1h 26m
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• Updates on the Iran Strategy, the Democrats’ Working-Class Crisis, and the Battle Over DEI | VDH · July 17, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Mamdani’s War on American History, Hamas Sympathy Grows, and California’s Ebonics Comeback · July 16, 2026 · 1h 15m
• Victor Davis Hanson: Iran War Update, Mexico’s Cartel Problem, and the Tyler Robinson Case · July 11, 2026 · 1h 12m
• Why Graham Platner’s Dropped Out Now, Hitting Iran Harder, Europe’s ‘Breakup’ Talk & Smithsonian Rewrite · July 10, 2026 · 1h 20m

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