The Rest Is Politics 521. Trump’s Naval Blockade: Is America Becoming a Rogue State?
394 snips
Apr 14, 2026 Trump’s Strait of Hormuz blockade sparks fears of global economic chaos, collapsing diplomacy with Iran, and a US drift into permanent emergency politics. There’s also a look at why ceasefires keep falling apart, how Washington’s moves could reshape alliances, and what stood out in a striking conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskyy about leadership and Europe’s future.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump Defies Prediction Even In Real Time
- Rory Stewart says Trump’s decisions are fundamentally unpredictable, so analysts should admit they cannot reliably model his next move.
- Within days, the story could have been de-escalation, stasis or escalation; instead he jumped to a blockade unprecedented in modern US practice.
Trump's Nighttime Posting Signals Unchecked Impulse
- Alastair Campbell argues Trump’s overnight posting spree shows a leader driven by insomnia, impulse and unchecked narcissism.
- He lists posts about being Jesus, an Arc de Trump on the moon, then the Hormuz blockade after midnight with no aides visibly restraining him.
America Is Starting To Behave Like A Rogue State
- Rory Stewart argues the US is moving beyond isolationism toward a permanent emergency that openly flouts global norms.
- He links tariffs, assassinations, Greenland threats and the Hormuz blockade into a pattern of sovereign power without legal restraint.
