The USS Abraham Lincoln and the Toll of the Iran War

The San Diego-based naval carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been deployed to the Middle East to support Iran war operations for nearly nine months. The ship has not stopped at port since
December 2025, setting a record for the most consecutive days at sea without a port call. Sailors aboard the Lincoln and their families are now sounding the alarm, reporting food shortages, sanitation issues and deteriorating mental health among personnel. One crew member was rescued after going overboard. We look at what the Lincoln’s historic deployment reveals about the demands of the war in Iran — and the military’s ability to protect service members.

Guests:

• John Ismay, reporter, The New York Times; former naval officer
• Kate Kuzminski, Director of Studies, Center for a New American Security
• Alison Bath, covers the Navy for Stars and Stripes
• Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator representing California