DeProgram with John Kiriakou and Ted Rall TACO Toos-Day | DeProgram with Ted Rall and John Kiriakou
Mar 27, 2026
Sharp talk about repeated deadline delays for strikes on Iran and how markets and oil traders react. Discussion of Gulf power plays, Kushner’s regional dealings, and shifting calculations about U.S. bases. Vivid prison stories about gangs and survival. Notes on DHS funding moves, cryptic White House posts, and the symbolism of a president’s name on currency.
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Trump Delays Against Iran Reflect Market Pressure
- Donald Trump's repeated deadline extensions on Iran (kicking the can to April 6) signal face-saving and market-sensitivity rather than firm military resolve.
- John Kiriakou and Ted Rall point out financial markets and oil futures forced the administration to pause planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure.
Prison Support Visits And Widespread Psychiatric Treatment
- John Kiriakou describes prison life support: his wife visited regularly and he used antidepressants (venlafaxine) to cope.
- He notes the prison system medicates many inmates, saying 85% have diagnosable mental illness according to a prison psychiatrist.
Account For Market Reactions Before Military Moves
- Recognize economic signals matter more than rhetoric: rising oil futures and stock drops constrain military adventurism.
- Traders price in worst-case scenarios (e.g., $180–$200 oil), so policymakers must account for market reactions before escalating.