Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar 3/18/26: Trump Threatens To Leave NATO, US Iraq Embassy Hit, Ben Shapiro Crash Out
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Mar 18, 2026 They debate a presidential threat to pull the U.S. out of NATO and the politics around alliance funding. They unpack a drone strike on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and what Iraq’s instability reveals. They examine military readiness, Iran’s capabilities, and fallout from political resignations and conservative backlash.
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Trump Threatens NATO Exit Over Allied Support
- Donald Trump publicly threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO while saying he doesn't need congressional approval to do so.
- He framed NATO as a one-way street, criticizing allies for not supporting U.S. actions on Iran and Ukraine despite trillions spent defending them.
Strait Closure Cuts Both Ways But Doesn't Halt Exports
- Closing the Strait of Hormuz hurts Iran economically but doesn't prevent sanctioned Iranian exports because Tehran uses alternate payment routes and selective passage.
- Saagar and Krystal note Iran continues exporting roughly 1 million barrels per day and instructs ships to trade in yuan to transit.
Launch Drop Doesn’t Equal Long Term Degradation
- Reported steep declines in Iranian missile and drone launches partly reflect an initial theatrical spike rather than total degradation of capacity.
- Israel and U.S. strikes hit many launchers, but Iran retains manufacturing and underground facilities that enable sustained attacks.