🟠 News Club - Making history in real time

In the 24 hours since Trump announced US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, each news update has felt like watching history unfold in real time. With everything moving so quickly, I wanted to take a step back and try to make sense of how we got to this moment…

Making history in real time

Last week, this newsletter posed the question about whether a broader regional war was on the cards after Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership. Since then, it’s only become more obvious that we’re watching something pivotal - and dangerous - unfold. 

Fast-forward to yesterday, and President Donald Trump announced he had given the green light for the US military to strike 3 Iranian nuclear facilities. It’s the first time America has directly attacked Iran. 

As I watched his brief address from the White House, flanked by his team, the ‘what the heck’ factor of what had just happened made me feel like I was still getting my bearings. That’s weird because over the last week, I’ve watched a lot of TV news, listened to so many podcasts, and doom-scrolled late into the night - but it still has a ‘that can’t happen’ quality.

Reading more this morning, it’s clear the scale of this escalation is extraordinary - and the ripple effects are only just beginning. So this week's Club Picks take you through the key threads of this story. 

1. The behind-the-scenes story of how Trump got pulled in by Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is a great backgrounder. The New York Times ‘The Daily’ podcast and this article go down the bumpy road to taking out Iran’s nuclear capabilities - including the Israeli’s ‘weird’ presentation to Trump in February. 

2. A diplomatic breakdown sealed Iran's fate. According to Axios, the plan to negotiate came when Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei couldn't be reached. Turkey was keen to facilitate talks between Trump and Iranian President Pezeshkian, but when Khamenei couldn't be contacted to approve the talks, the window slammed shut.

3. The New Yorker's podcast ‘Radio Hour’ explores why Israel believed it had no choice but to launch preemptive strikes. From Israel's viewpoint, Iran was months away from a nuclear weapon, and even Netanyahu's internal critics believe it was the right thing do. 

4. From an Iranian perspective, The Guardian has spoken to 2 Sydney sisters who returned to Iran after 38 years away. They found themselves witness to the bombing raids on their homeland, and their story captures the heartbreak of watching violence unfold in a place they love.
   

What strikes me most about this moment is how quickly decades of careful diplomacy can unravel. One missed phone call, one leader in hiding, one window closing - and suddenly we're in uncharted territory. 

Adding to my sense of discombobulation - and maybe yours too - who knows what this week will bring…

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