šļøThe Ensemble: Swalwell that ends well
Weekend wraps with embattled Democrat congressman suspending CA gubernatorial campaign plus JD Vance returns home 0 for 2: no Iran peace deal and a historic loss for Hungarian ally Viktor Orban
Is it just me or was this week three years long? Can you believe it was only Tuesday when the President of the United States posted a threat to end an entire civilization in Iran? Only to then bait and switch and attempt to gaslight us by declaring the regime has in fact been changed after a Pakistan brokered two week ceasefire was announced? Followed by beefing with none other than the Pope - the latest drop being tonightās Truth Social post in another episode of āIs This Real?ā
In the midst of covering possibly the obliteration of my paternal ancestral home (from which Iām exiled for being a journalist) by the President of my birthplace and homeland, I received a text from a former colleague about another earthquake brewing: The Curious Case of Eric Swalwell.
āInteresting that, as I read, rumors of #metoo allegations against Rep. Eric Swalwell are shaking up the California governorās raceā¦. You certainly got that vibe off him, didnāt you?ā He was referring to when together we met the Democrat congressman from California while reporting a story nearly a decade ago now. Men especially pick up on these things and while the congressman was ultimately respectful with me, maintaining a professional rapport as a Capitol Hill reporter, he was known to make moves on women and getting his way - consensually, to my knowledge.
Until the story of a former staffer dropped alleging sexual assault. We tried getting Swalwell on our podcast but my texts went opened and unanswered, including what we know to be his preferred method of comms as of late: Snapchat DM.
Heās not the only congressman whose personal life is threatening his professional one, with neither party spared. Texan Republican lawmaker Tony Gonzales is facing a House ethics probe after a staffer he admited to having a sexual relationship with, committed suicide.
Recently I was watching a film where a hetero courtship encounter was so foreign it dawned on me how much flirtation has evolved in the post #metoo era. Has romance become a casualty of predators? Times columnist Evan Barker seems to think so.
THE JEWISH SUMMER CAMP MOVIE YOU DIDNāT KNOW YOU NEEDED
Speaking of movies, before I move on to the Middle East, I let my hair down on Friday night and went to the NoVA film festival where for once I was attending as a guest and not the Executive Producer. Our supportive and generous H2H paid subscriber Shai Korman has produced a hilarious and wholesome film about Jewish summer camp called The Floaters, featuring Netflixās āNobody Wants Thisā fan favorite Jackie Tohn. In an era of divisive headlines surrounding Israel, it was a breath of fresh air and humanizing reminder of the connective tissue that binds us together across faiths and identities: the longing for belonging and the blessing of finding your tribe. Also the Camp Daveed merch is H2H approved. In fact it was spotted at Dulles, today. Head over to the Helmet to Heels Instagram account to catch the story before it disappears. And make sure youāre following !
EVIN PRISON SHORT DOC GOES ON FESTIVAL TOUR AS IRANIAN POLITICAL PRISONERS IN GRAVE DANGER
While weāre thrilled to announce our film That Night will be screening at more festivals this month including Dallas International Film Festival and Hot Docs in Toronto, the subject of our film - political prisoners in Evin Prison - are in far more danger now than they were before the war started. As President Trump declares āregime changeā the so called āless radicalā group theyāve left in charge are calling for expedited executions to prevent an uprising. I joined MSNowās Antonia Hylton to discuss how any talk of a peace deal without human rights on the table, is not peace. Even MAGA isnāt buying it. One supporter sent me an IG DM saying: āregime change is the only way Trump can win this politically.ā
Of course whatās abundantly clear is the Iranian regime doesnāt actually want peace. After all, the former Iranian foreign minister Dr Javad Zarif wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine that it was time to lay down their arms and end the 47 year war with America. Heās right in that itās the only way the regime would survive, but I was also shocked to see it and wondered if he had IRGC backing for it. His email reponse to my request for him to join our Global Power Shifts podcast indicated he did not; he told me heās not able to get security clearance for minimal arrangements - whereas his successor Foreign Minister Araghchi clearly can. Unsurprising then that in the days that followed, hardliners called Zarif a traitor.
JD VANCE WENT TO PAKISTAN AND ALL HE GOT WAS A HANDSHAKE
The Vice President after flying all the way to Islamabad while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump enjoyed a UFC match in Miami together, has returned with no diplomatic breakthrough other than being the highest ranking US official to shake an Iranian regime official hand since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In 2013 when I was covering the UN General Assembly, President Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had a phone call. That was the beginning of a thaw until Trump took office in 2017.
US officials say among the factors leading to the peace talks breaking down is the Iranian regimeās refusal to end funding for Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. Meanwhile the average Iranian citizen is struggling. If you actually care about governing rather than power, you empower your own people first. This is why Iranians in country poured into the streets calling for an end to the Islamic Republic. And they were massacred in masse because of it. The Iranian regime is showing it cares more about exporting its Islamic revolution to Arabs in the region, than taking care of Iranians.
If you want to understand more about what real Iranians inside the country think, feel and want, listen to our deep dive with Rouzy Vafaie who spent the last few years of upheavel inside the country, living the story.
HISTORIC HUNGARIAN UPSET AS PRO PUTIN LEADER AND TRUMP ALLY VIKTOR ORBAN IS OUSTED AFTER 16 YEARS
Rouzy was also on the ground in Budapest and witnessed an electric vibe tonight: democracy in action as Hungarians voted for change and a clear message that JD Vanceās controversial trip and endorsement couldnāt save Orban from the will of the people, who turned out in record numbers at a historic 78%.
Rouzy is starting to remind us Forrest Gump. How does he always end up in the center of the headlines? Heāll be filing for us tomorrow - but for now you can get a sense of the scene from the rave outside Parliament.
And finally, for fashion - our sartorial therapy, emotional support through chaotic headlines, the balm when the world is burning up. This week was bridal fashion week and as my sister Marvaās maid of honor (and myself still a newlywed!) I was excited to discover a new collection by Iranian designer Sareh Nouri āPersian Muse ā A Tribute to the Women Who Rise.ā The collection is in honor of the women āwho carry strength and softness simultaneously. Who honors where they come from while boldly stepping into who they are becoming. Sareh and I are now cooking up something of impact, so stay tuned.
To end on a saucy note, our favorite find of the week is classic H2H functional, modular, fashionable made for the girls and guys on the go: sushi dipping rings!
Until next time, in the words of the icon that is Miranda Priestly as we impatiently count down to the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere: thatās all.
