The Daily Beast Podcast Why Trump’s ‘Psychosis’ Has Insiders Terrified
24 snips
Mar 23, 2026 
David Rothkopf, a veteran foreign policy editor and columnist with deep intelligence and diplomatic ties, delivers a chilling insider portrait of the Iran war. He outlines frantic Washington misgivings, the absence of strategy despite tactical competence, looming global economic shocks, risks in the Strait of Hormuz, and how decisions are being driven by instinct and politics.
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Energy Shock Risks Global Recession
- Economic shock is a central fear: energy disruptions have driven oil toward $120 a barrel, risking recession triggers.
- Attacks on gas fields and a long repair timeline for major plants amplify food and fertilizer price spikes globally.
Hormuz Can Be Crippled By Small Tactics
- The Strait of Hormuz can be paralysed by low-tech Iranian tactics like explosive boats and shoulder-fired missiles.
- Even with U.S. naval presence, insurance, tanker losses, and supply disruptions make keeping it open costly and fragile.
Decapitation Didn’t Produce Regime Collapse
- Decapitation of leadership and facility strikes haven't toppled Iran; know-how, enriched uranium, missile and drone capabilities remain.
- Regime durability and domestic repression make rapid regime change unlikely despite assassinations.