The Takeout with Major Garrett, 5/11/26

In this episode of The Takeout with Major Garrett, the focus centers on a high-stakes interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a multi-day assignment in Tel Aviv. Garrett explores the current state of the war with Iran, emphasizing Netanyahu's claims that Iran's regime is at its weakest point since 1979, with significant degradation of its nuclear and missile programs. A major revelation from the interview is Netanyahu's assertion that 20 top Iranian nuclear scientists have been eliminated—12 in the first minute of Operation Roaring Lion and eight more in a recent phase—marking what he calls the most significant Israeli accomplishment in the conflict. The discussion also delves into the U.S.-Israel alliance, particularly the growing tension between Netanyahu and President Trump over strategic foresight regarding Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump claiming he anticipated the move and calling the current ceasefire proposal 'unacceptable' and 'on life support.' Garrett further examines the deteriorating support for Israel in the U.S., attributing it to a coordinated social media campaign by foreign actors using bot farms to manipulate public opinion. CBS contributors H.R. McMaster and Elliot Ackerman weigh in, underscoring the strategic importance of countering disinformation and linking battlefield successes to a coherent political strategy. The episode concludes with a shift to domestic news, including the quarantine of American cruise ship passengers exposed to Hantavirus and a legal update on the suspect in the White House Correspondents’ Dinner security breach.