Thursday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben 9/17/2026
September 17, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readThursday Afternoon Breaking News Updates with Ben 9/17/2026
Ben Meiselas opens this solo episode with a sweeping assessment of a world in crisis. Five years into Donald Trump's second term, the promises of 2024 — peace in Ukraine within 24 hours, $2 gas, halved grocery prices — have collapsed into what Meiselas calls a catastrophic, unlawful war in Iran, escalating conflict in Ukraine, and a rapidly reconfiguring global order that is leaving the United States isolated and weakened. The episode moves between international diplomacy, domestic economic pain, and the crumbling political standing of the Trump administration.
The Iran War and a New Multipolar World
The central development is the ongoing war in Iran, which Meiselas argues is being lost. He reports that Trump told Axios reporter Barak Ravid, "I have a big decision coming up. Do I want to go in and annihilate them, or do I not?" — language Meiselas insists targets Iranian civilians, not just the regime, consistent with civilian casualties in Minab, Lemaire, and a wedding in Syria. He notes that Trump recently sold $2.8 billion worth of 5,000-pound bombs to Netanyahu.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:34) **Opening: Trump's Broken Promises and Escalating Global Conflict** - Ben opens by tying Trump's broken campaign pledges (peace in Ukraine, lower prices) to the current reality of war in Iran and Russian strikes on Ukraine.
- 2 (05:08) **Global Realignment: Canada and the EU Forge New Alliances** - Ben reports on the new global order forming as allies distance themselves from the U.S., highlighted by Canadian PM Carney's historic speech to the EU Parliament.
- 3 (06:20) **Domestic Pain: Interest Rates Spike Under Trump's Fed Chair** - Ben explains that the Federal Reserve, now led by Trump's own appointee Kevin Warsh, has unanimously raised interest rates, worsening the housing crisis.
- 4 (09:09) **The Houthi Crisis and the Collapse of US Deterrence** - Ben details how the Houthis now control key straits, crippling Saudi Arabia, as a direct consequence of Trump's failed Iran war.
- 5 (11:05) **China and Russia Veto UN Sanctions on Iran** - Ben reports on the diplomatic defeat for the US as China and Russia block the extension of international sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council.
- 6 (13:09) **Trump's Petty Distractions: Demolishing the Kennedy Center** - Ben contrasts the grave global situation with Trump's childish fixation on destroying the Kennedy Center after a judge blocked him from renaming it.
- 7 (15:27) **The New Rules-Based Order Excludes the U.S.** - Ben argues that while Trump tears down the old system, a new one is forming that will not favor the United States, leaving it weaker and isolated.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on breaking news from the day.
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