NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 7 p.m. ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.  

See Gates, Bob

Iran’s attack on Israel this weekend and Israel’s promised “clear and forceful” counterattack on Iran proves former Defense Secretary Bob Gates correct once again. 

• “I think (Vice President Biden) has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades,” Gates said back in 2014. 

Again, Biden’s problem isn’t that he’s wrong — it’s that he shows no desire to understand why whatever he’s doing (push for electric vehicles, student loan forgiveness, Bidenomics) isn’t working. 

Look back: He’s got the same national security adviser who bragged the Middle East was “quieter today than it has been in two decades” just over a week before the Oct. 7 attacks. 

Look forward: Biden becomes Obama 

• Former President Barack Obama famously lost all meaningful deterrence in the world when Syria’s Bashar al-Assad crossed his red line on chemical weapons, and Obama did nothing. 
• Putin and the ayatollah both defied Biden’s warning of “DON’T!”  
• As well the Israelis — they have no other choice (more on that below). 

Warnings, red lines and “don’t”s are only worth something in the world if they are backed up by consequences. Mr. Biden’s are not and nor were Mr. Obama’s. 

When our allies don’t trust us and our enemies don’t fear us, the world is a far more dangerous place. 

Fundamental misunderstanding: 

• Biden’s domestic election considerations drive much of his foreign policy. He must show the left of his party he is constraining Israel. 
• This shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the Israeli psyche. The more supported Israel is, the less it feels the need to strike and the more likely it is to heed private pleas of restraint.
  • For example, during the Trump years — even during a war with Gaza — Israel showed far more restraint, never fanned the flames of hitting Iran and rarely acted unilaterally. 
  • The 1991 Gulf War illustrated a perfect example of how to keep Israel out of a conflict.
    • Former President George H.W. Bush, faced with Israel hitting Iraq in response to Saddam’s Scud launches, doubled down on support for Israel.
      • The Israelis held their fire. 
    • To prove my point:
      • Imagine if rather than Biden’s “readout” of his call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden held a press conference Sunday announcing:
        • The reimplementation of all Trump-era sanctions against Iran and a return to the maximum pressure campaign (which worked)
        • The threat of a full oil embargo should Iran strike again 
        • A demand that the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain all cease their commercial cooperation with Iran
        • A clear statement that a choice to do business with Iran is a choice not to do business with the U.S. 
        • Threaten to de-list any bank from SWIFT that does business with an Iranian-linked bank 
      • The Israelis would gladly call back their jets. 

Watch tonight: Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, member of the Senate Committee of Armed Services and combat veteran, will discuss her bipartisan push in the Senate for those kinds of sanctions. 

Zzzzz Trump Trial

Former President Donald Trump reportedly fell asleep in the opening hours of jury selection for the Stormy Daniels hush money trial. 

• REALLY? Trump is the ultimate showman: Did he really go to sleep or just act like he was asleep? Does it matter? 
• Look forward: We have weeks of jury selection to come. Famed jury consultant Jo-Ellan Dimitrius joined us last week to explain just how unusual (unfair?) the Trump process will be — it was a fascinating segment and worth watching. 

The politics: ABC host George Stephanopoulos thought he had New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu cornered on how Trump’s problems will make him unelectable. Sununu delivered a strong cross back about supporting Trump: “Yeah. Me and 51% of America.” 

Honest question: First Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and now Sununu — has Stephanopoulos lost his fastball? 

Watch tonight: We’ll have Jo-Ellan Dimitrius and Tom Dupree on to discuss the latest in the jury selection process. Bill O’Reilly will get into the politics of it. 

Union Joe Warning

The Teamsters just wrote a $5,000 check to Missouri populist Sen. Josh Hawley. Aside from his stands on social issues, it’s hard to call Hawley a Republican.

BUT as Axios points out, the traditionally Democratic union’s contribution should send a warning to Union Joe.

Exit Polling for Movies

The new movie “Civil War” debuted over the weekend. 

• Watch our segments last week about the progressive love of framing traditional Americans as dividing America. 

From Deadline: “Screen Engine/Comscore’s PostTrak polled Civil War attendees’ politics reporting that 22% considered themselves Liberal, 19% were Democrats, 11% considered themselves moderate, whereas registered Republicans (6%), Evangelical Christians (6%) and politically conservative folks (5%) showed up as a minority.”

Maybe, just maybe, progressives in America deserve some of the blame for dividing the country? 

Combine the Deadline exit poll with the New York Times polling showing a growing nostalgia for America under Trump.

Tune into “On Balance with Leland Vittert” weeknights at 7/6C on NewsNation. Find your channel here. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of NewsNation.