Lobbing Scorchers’ Noah Riffe welcomes a very special guest to the show: Congressman Adam Smith of Washington's 9th District, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, for an interview covering soccer, immigration policy, the U.S. war with Iran, and the future of American soccer development. Smith shares stories from attending the first-ever event at the Kingdome (Sounders versus the New York Cosmos, with Pelé bagging two goals), watching his son grind through years of premier club soccer, and how he ended up an Aston Villa supporter along the way.

Smith and Riffe round out the show with the newly signed 14-point US-Iran memorandum of understanding, what it actually includes, what was left off the nuclear program, and why Smith says Trump dug the hole this deal climbed out of. Benjamin Netanyahu's perpetual war strategy measured against the Egypt and Jordan peace blueprint. The 2027 NDAA provision deepening US and Israeli military co-development, and why Smith now opposes its inclusion. Plus Smith's pitch for economic populism, more affordable housing and healthcare, and a stronger American labor movement.

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U.S. House Rep. Adam Smith Talks World Cup, Youth Soccer and Iran Deal

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About Lobbing Scorchers

Lobbing Scorchers is a Seattle Sounders and MLS focused show brought to you by Sounder at Heart. Hosted by Major League Soccer’s Ari Liljenwall and Noah Riffe. Join us as we lob our scorching takes on the American soccer landscape, Seattle Sounders, Major League Soccer, USMNT and more.

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Ari Liljenwall

A soccer columnist and journalist for Major League Soccer covering soccer in America’s top flight league. Liljenwall has over ten years of experience reporting on the Seattle Sounders, beginning his career as a beat writer in 2014. Liljenwall is a graduate of Western Washington University and hails from New Mexico.

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Noah Riffe

Director of Content for Sounder at Heart with roots in traditional reporting. Riffe began his career covering FC Dallas in 2015 before interning with Sporting Kansas City in 2018 also making a career at The New York Times and USA Today. A Seattle native and lifelong Sounders fan, Riffe brings nearly a decade of experience in soccer storytelling across multiple MLS markets.

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