New This Week: With the Iran War Over, Is the World Still on the Brink?

LIVE from the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival

Jun 21, 2026

Photo by Christopher Nelson / Courtesy of Cascade PBS

Open to Debate was delighted to accept the invitation to appear once again at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in Seattle, part of our growing presence at national and international thought leadership forums. We broke slightly from our traditional format and hosted a debate-inspired conversation featuring foreign policy commentators Danielle Pletka and Julia Ioffe. It was a packed and energized room, with expert moderation from Open to Debate’s moderator-in-chief John Donvan, and where both sides discussed the Iran war and other regional conflicts.

As of this writing, Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding during the G7 summit in France. Many global leaders are watching the initial deal closely and are welcoming it as a way of ending regional instability and reducing inflationary pressure, despite critical issues, such as Iran’s nuclear capacity, remaining unresolved. What we do know is the MOU is already in effect, with Iran beginning to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. lifting its naval blockade, and both sides committing to further talks to reach a final agreement in sixty days. Assuming the deal holds, we are planning a follow-up in a few weeks in our classic format: “Who Won the Iran War: Trump or Tehran?”

We thank the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival and its leadership team for their support. Listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, and as always, let us know what you think.

Our Guests:

Julia Ioffe, Founding Partner and Washington Correspondent at Puck; Author of “Motherland”

“I think we come up with these plans of, like, ‘Wouldn't it be better if...' in Washington, but then it turns out reality doesn't cooperate. And yes, would it be better if there were no regime like this in Iran? 100%. They are an evil, horrible regime. But the problem is that if you, you know, if you go to shoot the ayatollah, you best not miss, right? They didn't miss with the ayatollah, I will say. But it didn't make it any better. In fact, it may have made it worse.”

Danielle Pletka, Distinguished Senior Fellow in Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute

“If you think about the possibility that there wouldn't be this regime or that there would be a better version of this regime in the future, it would change the entire Middle East. Think about it. Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, the so-called Hashd Shaabi, the Popular Mobilization Forces that exist in Iraq. These are all disruptive, terrorist, corrupt forces that destabilize the region. If the Iranian regime went away, oh my God, it would be transformational… But we do need to recognize that there is, I don't want to call it a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, because in the Middle East, there's never a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. But you know, something that looks better.”

Photo by Christopher Nelson / Courtesy of Cascade PBS

Join Us for Our Exclusive LIVE Conversation with “Keen on America” Host Andrew Keen

Join us for an exclusive live conversation “Democracy and Debate with Andrew Keen, John Donvan, and Lia Matthow” on Wednesday, June 24th at 5 PM ET. Five-time debater Andrew Keen will speak with Open to Debate’s moderator-in-chief John Donvan and CEO Lia Matthow about the state of democracy today, the difference between winning an argument and understanding another perspective, and the role of civic dialogue as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary and Open to Debate is soon to celebrate its 20th.

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Open to Debate Recommends: Japan Society

From time to time, Open to Debate highlights and shares initiatives of former debaters and other nonprofits with aligned missions.

This week, we bring you a film series by Japan Society, which is a leading U.S. organization committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan in a global context.

If you live in New York, you may want to check out their upcoming event “JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film Powered by Canon.” See details below:

“NYC’s biggest Japanese film festival is back! JAPAN CUTS returns to Japan Society this July 8–18, bringing an incredible slate of contemporary Japanese cinema to New York. Catch a thrilling lineup of must-see premieres, restored classics, and exclusive screenings you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you crave heartfelt dramas or high-octane thrillers, your perfect cinematic escape awaits. Explore the full schedule and secure your tickets today!”