AI Summary
5 min readThursday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben - 3/12/26
The war with Iran that the Trump administration launched is spiraling into a grinding conflict of attrition that the United States did not prepare for, and Gulf states that thought they had bought security through business deals with Trump are now furious and considering regional security arrangements with Iran. Oil is surging toward $95 a barrel, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to American and allied shipping, and the administration's own Treasury secretary acknowledged in a press conference that the White House had planned for the Strait to close and for oil supply to be shut down — a claim Ben Meiselas treated as an admission of foreknowledge rather than competence.
The war on the ground and at sea
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:04) **War in Iran escalates** - Ben opens with breaking developments on the spiraling conflict Trump initiated, including Gulf states feeling betrayed and considering security deals with Iran.
- 2 (02:33) **Iranian military tactics and Strait of Hormuz** - Details on advanced drones, ballistic missiles, cluster munitions, and attacks on 14 tankers including U.S.-linked vessels.
- 3 (05:49) **Red Sea risks and proxy involvement** - Houthis and Iranian proxies eyed as next flashpoint as ships reroute; Russia and China providing support to Iran.
- 4 (06:21) **Russian officials meet Kushner and Witkoff in Miami** - Kirill Dmitriev and others discuss economic deals while Russia aids Iran; Kushner/Witkoff role in failed negotiations highlighted.
- 5 (09:39) **Trump Cincinnati speech clip** - Trump claims "never been a better year" and success stopping wars; contrasted with reality of markets crashing and oil surging.
- 6 (10:50) **Interview with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries** - Jeffries calls the war a failure of choice, criticizes GOP retreat at Mar-a-Lago, and discusses midterms and need for House flip.
- 7 (22:55) **Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clip** - Bessent claims Navy escort plans for Strait were always part of the plan; Ben fact-checks with market and oil price reality.
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Show Notes
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on breaking news from the day.
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