The Opinions High Gas Prices Are Just the Beginning
30 snips
May 9, 2026 
David Wallace-Wells, a Times Opinion science writer on climate and future risks, and David French, a conservative columnist and legal analyst, discuss how the Iran war could reshape the global economy. They cover supply shocks from the Strait of Hormuz, fertilizer and food risks, evolving drone warfare and great-power strategy, political accountability, and an unexpected push toward green energy.
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Economic Shock Could Outlast The Combat
- The conflict has choked global supply lines and may produce larger economic fallout than the kinetic fighting.
- David Wallace-Wells warns the Strait of Hormuz closure's full effects on prices and supply chains may arrive months later.
Fertilizer Shortages Could Cause Global Hunger
- Fertilizer price spikes risk driving tens of millions toward extreme hunger in vulnerable regions.
- Wallace-Wells cites surveys of U.S. farmers and warns poorer countries lack buffers, amplifying famine risk.
Low Cost Weapons Erode Superpower Advantage
- Cheap drones and missiles have eroded U.S. conventional dominance, letting smaller powers inflict outsized damage.
- Wallace-Wells points to low-cost drones striking high-value ships and bases, reversing presumed military advantage.
