Marketplace All-in-One Tariffs come for the Friday fish fry
Mar 13, 2026
Kaylee Wells, a local reporter in Akron/Kent, Ohio, covers how higher seafood prices are affecting a community fish fry. Samantha Fields, an international and environmental reporter, explains threats to desalination plants in the Middle East. They explore tariffs, supply strains, and risks to regional water systems in short, focused reports.
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Desalination Is A Cornerstone Of Gulf Water Security
- Gulf countries rely heavily on desalination for potable water during drought-prone conditions.
- Peter Glick says Kuwait and Oman get ~90% and Saudi Arabia ~70% of their water from desalination, creating high vulnerability if plants are attacked.
Water Infrastructure Has Become A Target In Modern Conflicts
- Attacking water infrastructure is used strategically to pressure populations and economies in conflicts.
- David Mikkel and Marcus King note historical examples like Kuwait 1991 and modern hits in Ukraine and Gaza showing this tactic's growing use.
Attacks On Desalination Offer Outsized Strategic Impact
- Even actors with limited offensive options can inflict outsized harm by hitting desalination, creating psychological and practical crises.
- Marcus King warns Iran could 'have a multiplier effect' by bombing plants because water impacts life directly.