As anyone who has watched any of his high-octane performances in the Pentagon briefing room could attest, there are three main things War Secretary Pete Hegseth wants Americans to know about the war in Iran: We are winning decisively, this is not a quagmire, and most of the media are lying to you.

“A dishonest and anti-Trump press will stop at nothing to downplay progress, amplify every cost, and call into question every step,” Hegseth fumed at reporters sitting in front of him at a March 19 morning briefing, many of whom were hand-picked for their perceived loyalty to the MAGA agenda.