US Strikes Iran, Remembering Lindsey Graham, Rare Earths vs China | Your News Talk America | July 13, 2026
Your News Talk America
Daily Show Notes · July 13, 2026
Today's Guests
Jeffrey Lord · Host of the Word of the Lord podcast, a contributing writer for NewsBusters, and a contributing editor to the American Spectator. Jeffrey joins Jake for two segments today.
9:00 Show Open: Remembering Lindsey Graham
Jake opens the show reflecting on the legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham and on a photograph of Mitch McConnell that surfaced yesterday, with his wife reportedly back at his side from China.
- How are you going to remember Lindsey Graham?
- Did anyone else find it strange that a Lazarus like photograph of Mitch McConnell surfaced yesterday, with his wife suddenly back from China at his side?
On this segment: DIAL producers and callers.
9:20 CENTCOM Strikes Iran, Iran Claims Retaliation
US Central Command announced it completed a wave of offensive strikes against Iran on Monday morning, aimed at degrading Iran's ability to keep attacking international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, in turn, claims a multiphase retaliatory operation against US bases in the region.
- In a statement on X, CENTCOM said US fighter aircraft, naval vessels, aerial drones, and sea drones struck dozens of targets across Iran.
- The stated goal: degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking international shipping flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- An Iranian official brags of tripled drone capacity. Is there outside help behind it?
- The IDF is reportedly coordinating with the US military in preparation for possible strikes.
- Iran claims it hit US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain overnight, describing it as a multiphase retaliatory operation, according to Iranian state media.
- Tehran claims it struck Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, allegedly starting a fire and damaging US equipment, and that the IRGC damaged US equipment at two bases in Kuwait and hit a US site in Bahrain.
Source: The Jerusalem Post · Live updates
On this segment: Paul Davis, Vice President at the Institute of World Politics.
9:35 Monologue: Uncertainty
Jake's daily monologue. Today's theme: uncertainty.
9:45 Is Iran Escalation Inevitable?
Jake takes it to the audience on where the Iran confrontation goes next and on the questions still surrounding Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell.
- Is Iran escalation inevitable at this point?
- Did Lindsey Graham's Friday visit to Ukraine contribute to his cardiac event on Saturday?
- With Mitch McConnell's condition and whereabouts in doubt for days, what was your reaction that, hours after Graham's death, McConnell was finally heard from?
On this segment: DIAL producers and callers.
10:00 Iran, Russia, and the Spiritual War
Brigadier General Blaine Holt joins Jake for a wide ranging national security conversation, from the CENTCOM strikes on Iran to the politics of a possible war, the NATO Summit, Russia and Ukraine, and what he calls the spiritual war facing the nation.
- CENTCOM's wave of strikes on Iran and Iran's claimed retaliation against US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
- Democrats are posting billboards calling Iran "Trump's War." Is that fair, or just politics?
- The controversy over switching Air Force One in Turkey during the NATO Summit.
- The latest on the Russia and Ukraine war and the Russia sanctions bill.
- Why a spiritual war may be underway, and what it means for the nation and the world. See Episode 44 of his podcast, The Spiritual War.
Source: The Jerusalem Post · Live updates
On this segment: Brigadier General Blaine Holt, USAF (ret), host of the Dangerous Intellectuals podcast.
10:30 Rare Earth Milestone: US Army Moves to Break China's Grip
President Trump's push to rebuild a domestic rare earth supply chain reached another milestone as the US Army partners with industry to expand North American processing capacity for materials used in military equipment, part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on China.
- The REAlloys CEO says the military partnership ensures nothing is reliant on other countries for critical materials.
- The Army is moving to expand North American processing of the rare earth metals defense equipment depends on.
Source: Fox Business
On this segment: Anupam Ghildyal, Chief Operating Officer of REAlloys.
11:00 Graham, McConnell, and the Senate Map
Jeffrey Lord joins Jake to work through a shifting Senate picture: the death of Lindsey Graham, the mystery around Mitch McConnell, and what it all means for 2026.
- Jeffrey's reaction to the death of Lindsey Graham.
- The mystery surrounding Mitch McConnell and the news that his wife returned to China. Does that help Republicans for the midterms?
- Could MAGA candidates replace Graham and McConnell in the Senate next year?
- What to make of the Platner mess in Maine.
Source: The American Spectator
On this segment: Jeffrey Lord (see Today's Guests above).
11:20 "Trump's War" and Pennsylvania Politics
Jeffrey Lord stays on for a second segment, turning from the Iran fight to the politics of Pennsylvania.
- It looks inevitable that the country is heading back to war with Iran. Democrats are calling it "Trump's War." Is that fair, and is it helping them politically?
- With public images of John Fetterman and Dave McCormick working together for Pennsylvania, does that news help Fetterman politically?
- What are the reelection chances of Scott Perry, Jeffrey's congressman, in Pennsylvania?
On this segment: Jeffrey Lord (see Today's Guests above).
11:30 Late Breaking News
Segment left open for late breaking news.
On this segment: DIAL producers and callers.
11:50 Salute the Troops
Today's salute honors Colonel Lindsey Graham.
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