Hello GB News members, what a week it has been. Despite a recent stream of guests on the Late Show Live studio debating “when” rather than “if” President Trump would begin bombing Iran, the reality of the United States in open armed conflict still came as a shock early on Saturday morning.
I had been on a promotional trip for GB News in New York, and on the train back to DC, we decided that we must provide an extended Late Show Live from 12-6 am, handing over to Breakfast on Sunday morning.
Since then, the U.S., alongside Israeli forces, initiated a sustained military operation against Iran, quickly moving beyond isolated strikes into what officials are calling a full-scale campaign against Tehran’s military infrastructure.
Operation “Epic Fury” began with coordinated air and missile strikes against hundreds of targets across Iran, including military sites, missile launchers, air defences and naval facilities.
In the chaos of those first hours, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a further 48 senior IRGC members were killed, a major blow to Iran’s leadership hierarchy.
The images came thick and fast, including the shocking realisation that Iran was not only focused on Israel, but also hitting US targets across the UAE, Jordan and Dubai, home to thousands of Brits.
On Sunday night, I interviewed Ant Middleton, who had coincidentally returned to London that weekend, but whose wife and children remained in Dubai.
Ant described the fear of talking to them on the phone as buildings shook, and like many, he scrambled to see how he could evacuate them as quickly as possible.
Over the past few days, we’ve watched an intensification of hostilities. Tehran has fired missiles and drones at U.S. bases and allied territories. U.S. forces have expanded their operations deeper into Iranian territory.
Iran has been both professionally and personally challenging. This is my honest verdict so far - Bev Turner
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It feels surreal to say “we are at war,” yet that is the stark reality. U.S. officials continue to talk with defiance and determination, but polls show that the majority of Americans do not support Trump’s actions.
They question whether it sits within the ‘America First’ objective and fear another protracted Middle Eastern conflict, a repeat of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth’s job will become more difficult as faces and names are put to lost American forces. We announced the first four names released during The Late Show Live, and the reality hit home, especially with my American guests who bowed their heads.
Hegseth continues to press that America’s advantage means that it will easily “outlast” the Iranian response, and he is surely right. But then what? The succession of power remains impossible to define.
The communications challenge for the Republican government lies in convincing the US population that they are being saved from a potential future nuclear threat from Iran, and that’s a tough sell indeed.
Economically, the President still has much to do here.
Despite lower mortgage rates and falling unemployment, people still feel poor. Groceries are still eye-wateringly expensive.
Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ tax benefits are yet to be realised in many pay packets, and recent wins over gas prices might now be undone.
Oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices surging and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz threatening global supply chains.
Governments around the world are scrambling to adjust their forecasts. For me, this week has been both professionally and personally challenging.
We have a responsibility at such a point in history to give our GB News followers as much information as possible. Everyone has been working longer hours, and the London newsroom has gone into overdrive.
The scale and complexity of this crisis are unrelenting. It is also underpinned by huge uncertainty. How long will this last? Will it widen?
What are Russia and China thinking as they watch the West distracted by the Middle East? What will it mean for global security, and is the UK currently at greater risk from terrorism? There is a lot to consider.
Trump still faces questions from Democrats about presidential war powers, international law, and whether diplomatic avenues were exhausted before conflict erupted.
From everyone I have spoken to in DC, I believe the intentions are nothing but honourable and well-intentioned. Via terrorism and a determined nuclear programme, Iran has posed a threat to the West for decades and has grown increasingly focused on capabilities to target the UK and the USA.
Trump’s team know that it must be stopped in its tracks and has concluded: “If not now, when..?” As we look ahead, the one thing I know for certain is this.
Events of this magnitude will define the next decade, if not more. Without a weakened military and a less radical Iranian government, the chances of a grand regional peace settlement in the Middle East will never happen.
It is early days, but such sunny uplands may truly be in sight for the first time in history. And here at GB News, I’ll be right here with you, reporting the truth as it unfolds, giving voice to the people impacted, and trying to make sense of the senseless.
Stay safe, stay informed, and thank you for being part of our GB News community.