Salem Radio Network host Scott Jennings sparred with Washington Post analyst Josh Rogin on Thursday regarding the trajectory of Operation Epic Fury. During a heated segment on CNN NewsNight, Rogin claimed that the conflict in Iran is expanding and causing a growing domestic energy crisis. Jennings pushed back against the pessimistic outlook, reminding the panel that current gas prices remain lower than those seen during the Biden administration.
"Gas looks like it’s $3.73 a gallon. It got somewhat higher than that during the Biden administration," Jennings noted. He argued that the Commander-in-Chief must make national security decisions based on intelligence that the public does not have. Jennings emphasized that Republican and MAGA-friendly voters clearly trust the President’s judgment on this mission.
Rogin countered by calling the conflict the most unpopular war in American history and predicted it would become a prolonged engagement. Jennings immediately questioned how Rogin could be certain of the timeline, citing the swift success of the Venezuela operation. Rogin attempted to deny that the capture of dictator Nicolas Maduro constituted a war, despite the heroism of American soldiers in that mission.
The debate grew more intense as Rogin listed a series of escalating global concerns, including inflation and attacks on the homeland. "Everything is getting worse every day," Rogin maintained, suggesting that the conflict is moving in the wrong direction. Jennings finally cut him off, asking, "You’re not exactly a glass-half-full kind of guy, are you?"
The clash comes as recent polling shows only 27% of Americans supported the initial strikes on Iran. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has also seen his polling numbers dip as the operation enters its fourth week. Despite the media's focus on these figures, supporters of the President argue that the objective remains a necessary neutralization of Iran's nuclear ambitions.
As the 2026 midterms approach, the effectiveness of Operation Epic Fury is expected to be a central theme for voters. Jennings maintained that the focus should be on the President's duty to protect national security regardless of short-term political risks. For now, the administration continues to push for a swift conclusion to the hostilities while maintaining pressure on the Iranian regime.