9/14/26: Houthis Take New Strait, Lebron Games Gambling Ads, Midterms

September 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The episode opens with a startling image: Houthi fighters in sandals, carrying AK-47s, parading seized US military equipment that was originally sold to Saudi Arabia. This is not a sideshow. The hosts argue this battlefield collapse has produced a genuine strategic disaster — the Houthis now control the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a maritime bottleneck that gives them effective veto power over Red Sea shipping, threatening Egypt’s economy and creating leverage for several African nations.

The situation is compounded by damage to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which the hosts say has knocked 4% of the global oil supply offline. Saudi officials have admitted they will run out of oil for exports if the pipeline is not restarted within days; current estimates suggest weeks. This means Saudi Arabia must dial back production, which is difficult to restart. All of this is now reflected in prices: Brent crude is at $109 a barrel, the national average for gas is $4.31 (up 30 cents in two weeks), and diesel has hit a record $6.23 a gallon. In California, one gas station has reached $9.99 — the physical limit of its three-digit sign.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:29) **Houthis Seize Bab al-Mandeb Strait & Saudi Pipeline Hit** - The hosts detail the Houthi capture of US-supplied Saudi military equipment and the strategic takeover of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, combined with damage to Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline.
2 (02:53) **Dire Oil & Gas Price Reality Hits US** - The hosts connect the Middle East crisis to surging US gas and diesel prices, reporting $109 Brent crude, a $4.31 national gas average, and $6.23 diesel.
3 (05:28) **California Gas Hits $9.99 & Crushing Consumer Sentiment** - A San Diego gas station hits the physical limit of its three-digit sign at $9.99 a gallon, while the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey is described as "disastrous."
4 (08:11) **Why the Houthis Attacked Now: Ghost Soldiers & Iran Ties** - The hosts analyze the strategic reasons for the Houthi offensive, including the collapse of Saudi-backed "ghost soldiers" and the group's increased regional esteem from standing with Palestine.
5 (10:11) **US Military Munitions Crisis & Loyalty Over Truth** - The hosts discuss a CENTCOM commander's denial of a munition shortage, contrasting it with reports that the US has already fired 45% of its Patriot missiles.
6 (12:14) **China Re-enters Oil Market & Provides Intel to Iran** - The hosts note Chinese oil imports are rebounding, potentially to replenish stockpiles or to deliberately drive up US gas prices for strategic advantage.
7 (15:26) **Gambling Deluge: $14 Billion Bet in One Week** - The hosts report that a record $14.1 billion was bet on prediction markets in the last week, the first NFL Sunday where gambling was legal in all 50 states.

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Show Notes

On today's show Krystal and Saagar discuss the fallout from the Houthis taking the Bab al-Mandeb strait, Lebron James and Sydeny Sweeney hawking Gambling ads, and a dire outlook for the GOP in the midterms.

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