By Brannon Howse
On today’s Brannon Howse Live, I was joined by Colonel Rob Maness, a trusted voice on national security and military strategy, to unpack the latest developments in the U.S.-led strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and President Trump’s growing frustration with the situation. What emerged was a sobering look at the complexities of warfare, the failures of mainstream media, and the internal battles within the conservative movement over America’s role in the Middle East.
The conversation kicked off with a clip from what I’ve dubbed the “Cartoon Fox News Network,” where Brian Kilmeade—now affectionately known as “Cartoon Kilmeade”—suggested that B-2 and B-52 bombers could be launched from an aircraft carrier. As Colonel Maness and I laughed at the absurdity, he clarified that these massive planes operate from land bases like Diego Garcia or even the U.S., not carriers. This isn’t just a gaffe; it’s a symptom of the shallow analysis peddled by Fox News, which misleads viewers about the realities of military operations.
Then there’s Kayleigh McEnany, former Trump press secretary, claiming on Fox that Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear facility could be taken out “with one swoop of an airplane.” Colonel Maness set the record straight: neutralizing Fordow required an air campaign with 14 to 30 specialized bombs, not a single strike. He noted that the operation likely involved 12 bombs on Fordow alone, creating “six penetrator holes” that would have obliterated anything inside. Yet, Fox’s oversimplification led some MAGA supporters to attack Maness for his accurate assessment, blindly trusting the network’s narrative of a quick, clean strike.
The real concern, however, is the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s highly enriched uranium. Maness pointed out that Iran had ample warning—60 days from Trump’s initial signals and nine days of escalating tensions—allowing them to potentially evacuate 60 kilograms of uranium. “Nobody should be surprised if it’s running around loose out there,” he warned. While satellite photos showed trucks at the site, confirming some equipment was moved, the final bomb damage assessment will take weeks to compile, relying on seismic data, communications intercepts, and more. This complexity is lost on outlets like Fox, which prefer soundbites over substance.
President Trump’s frustration was palpable in a clip from his departure to the NATO summit. He expressed displeasure with both Iran and Israel, particularly over a rocket launched by Israel after a ceasefire he personally negotiated was broken. Maness believes Trump’s anger is directed primarily at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, by authorizing the strike, defied Trump’s orders as the commander-in-chief of an allied operation. “When the U.S. entered this war at Israel’s urging, Israel became a protectorate,” Maness explained. “Netanyahu forgot that Trump is now in charge.”
This dynamic underscores a broader tension within the conservative movement. On one side, neocons like Mark Levin and Senator Lindsey Graham are pushing for regime change in Iran. Graham spent hours on the Senate floor advocating for it, while Levin, recently appointed to a DHS advisory board, publicly criticized Trump’s ceasefire efforts and disdain for regime change. Trump, however, made his stance clear in an Air Force One interview: “I don’t like regime change. It creates chaos.” He emphasized that Iran should rebuild and thrive—without nuclear weapons—but regime change isn’t his goal.
On the other side are America First advocates like Maness, Steve Bannon, and Jack Posobiec, who support Trump’s “peace through strength” approach: no new wars, but no nuclear Iran. Maness expressed frustration with MAGA supporters who, misled by Fox and neocons, have attacked him for opposing regime change. He recounted a spat with Levin, who smeared him and others as “isolationists.” Maness fired back, noting his family’s military service since the Continental Army. “Don’t call me an isolationist,” he said. “We demand our country puts our kids in harm’s way deliberately, not recklessly.”
The colonel also highlighted internal sabotage, pointing to media hits on Tulsi Gabbard, a Trump ally, as evidence of efforts to undermine the president’s agenda. “There are people inside the government opposed to Trump’s policies,” he warned, urging MAGA supporters to seek better information from sources like WorldViewTube.com and his own platform, RobManess.com.
As Maness put it, the MAGA base must stop attacking its own—especially pro-Israel voices like himself—and focus on the mission: supporting Trump’s vision of strength without endless wars. If Netanyahu has any doubts, he needs to remember that Commander-in-Chief Donald J. Trump is calling the shots. For real analysis, tune out Cartoon Fox News and join us daily at 2 p.m. Central on WorldViewTube.com or follow Colonel Maness at RobManess.com and on X.
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