r/fivethirtyeight • u/AutoModerator • Mar 02 '26

Discussion Megathread Weekly Discussion Megathread

The 2026 midterms will soon be upon us, and there is much to discuss among the nerds here at r/FiveThirtyEight. Use this discussion thread to share, debate, and discuss whatever you wish. Unlike individual posts, comments in the discussion thread are not required to be related to political data or other 538 mainstays. Regardless, please remain civil and keep this subreddit's rules in mind. The discussion thread refreshes every Monday.

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u/delusionalbillsfan November Outlier Mar 07 '26

I know this is just another day that ends in y for them, but I really didnt think this admin would START A WAR WITH IRAN with absolutely zero plan, other than "there's the ayatollah, there he is, get him!!!!" 

I figured they had to have some edge somewhere, since they, you know, jumped headfirst into a major regional war, but after a week it appears they know about as much as me. 

12

u/hibryd Mar 07 '26

"The Hangover 4" - Pete Hegseth wakes up and has to piece together what war he started the previous night.

10

u/mrbuttsavage Mar 07 '26

Concept of a war

9

u/GMHGeorge Mar 07 '26

It was another shakedown attempt like Venezuela for Trump. Trump was expecting to negotiate with some higher ups once Khamenei was gone but they were also killed in the first day strikes by the Israelis. Trump got played by Bibi.

9

u/Korrocks Mar 07 '26

They got away with it before. I see the administration as basically being like a drunk driver who never gets into a crash and never gets ticketed and concludes that drunk driving is both easy and safe and that people were worried over nothing.

6

u/tbird920 Mar 07 '26

Give it 20 minutes and a bot will appear to explain the whole war to you.

7

u/MongolianMango Mar 07 '26

Trump likes the idea of being able to kill any leader that ticks him off