Apple News Today — March 17, 2026

“This is not our war”: the countries refusing Trump’s call for help

Host: Cecilia Le
Notable Guests: Nick Timirose (The Wall Street Journal), Christopher Rowland (The Washington Post)
Main Theme: International reluctance to heed President Trump’s call for military support in the Middle East, global repercussions, U.S. domestic policy battles, and the evolving U.S. healthcare marketplace, particularly around weight loss drugs.

Episode Overview

This episode examines President Trump’s diplomatic struggles in persuading U.S. allies to support his Middle East campaign, especially in securing critical oil shipping lanes, amidst deep economic and energy uncertainty. The episode also dives into the Federal Reserve’s political standoff, the “cash only” explosion in the weight-loss drug market, and several rapid-fire news updates, offering a vivid panorama of the current geopolitical and economic climate.

Key Segments and Discussions

1. Trump Calls for Military Support — Allies Skeptical

(00:05 - 03:49)

• Context: As the global energy crisis worsens due to conflict in the Middle East, President Trump publicly calls on U.S. allies to deploy military resources to keep oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.

  “We strongly encourage other nations whose economies depend on the Strait far more than ours ... they should be jumping to help us because we've helped them for years.”
  — Donald Trump (01:03–02:54)

• Allied Responses:

  • The UK and Germany openly refuse military engagement, emphasizing public skepticism:

    “We will not be drawn into the wider war. There will be no military participation, and we can't be at every place to support a war which we didn't start.”
    — Cecilia Le summarizing government statements (01:41–01:49)

  • Other key U.S. allies (Australia, Japan, Italy) also decline to send warships.
  • France offers only indirect military aid to avoid direct conflict with Iran.

• Diplomatic Chill: Trump’s frustration is clear; NATO allies remain reticent, citing their defensive, not interventionist, posture.

  • German leader Friedrich Mears: “NATO was a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one.” (02:54)

• European Impact: Even as European nations reject military involvement, they suffer from high gas prices, placing pressure on governments to subsidize consumer costs.

• Contrasting Tone in Finland:

  • Alexander Stubb, Finnish President, offers a more measured response:

    “Those countries that have the capacity and the will to help the United States will do that and should do that.”
    — Alexander Stubb, via Bloomberg (03:37–03:49)

2. The China Factor

(03:49–04:40)

• Trump postpones a critical summit with Xi Jinping due to lack of Chinese support.
• Despite China’s reliance on Iranian oil, Bloomberg reports China’s stockpiles limit immediate pressure, reducing their urgency to intervene.

3. The War Escalates

(04:40–05:04)

• Escalating violence: Iran launches missiles at Israel and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; U.S./Israeli strikes knock out power in Tehran.
• Ongoing regional instability compounds the global economic and diplomatic challenges.

4. The Federal Reserve’s Independence Under Threat

(05:04–08:17)

• Upcoming Fed Decision: Powell and the Federal Reserve grapple with interest rates amid war-induced price shocks (mainly oil/gas).
  • Trump pressures Powell to cut rates, threatening the Fed’s traditional independence.
• Legal Battle: DOJ subpoenas and a federal judge’s ruling spotlight alleged White House tactics to coerce or replace Powell.

  “There was abundant evidence that the main role of all this ... was to, quote, harass and pressure Powell either to yield to the president or to resign.”
  — Nick Timirose citing U.S. District Judge Boasberg (06:20–06:40)

  • Powell responds in a January video:

    “No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law. But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.”
    — Jerome Powell (06:57–07:26)

• Succession Drama: Trump’s nominee, Kevin Warsh, faces Senate skepticism; Sen. Thom Tillis vows not to move forward on Warsh until the DOJ investigation into Powell is closed.
• Potential Deadlock: This legal-political struggle could leave the Fed leaderless upon Powell’s term expiration.

5. Cash-Only Weight Loss Drug Market Disrupts the Industry

(08:34–11:49)

• Market Shift: Exponential demand for GLP-1 drugs (e.g., Wegovy, Zepbound) for weight loss has led to a booming cash market, with insurance rarely covering for this indication.

  “A cash market has developed because insurance really does not cover these drugs very adequately for weight loss.”
  — Christopher Rowland (08:59)

• Consumer Behavior: Patients like Ashley Hardin shop online to find affordable options, often turning to compounded versions from independent pharmacies.
  • Providers such as Hims & Hers capitalize by partnering with compounders and telehealth promotions.
• Regulatory Backlash:
  • Earlier FDA allowances for compounded drugs due to shortages have been rescinded.
  • FDA warns against marketing compounded products as equivalent to brands.
  • Hims & Hers now pivots, announcing a partnership with Novo Nordisk and halting compounded drug ads.
• Industry Impact:

  “It's really been very disruptive and it's creating a very consumer-oriented marketplace, which is highly unusual for the pharmaceutical industry.”
  — Christopher Rowland (11:33–11:49)

6. Rapid News Roundup

(11:49–end)

Cuba’s Energy Collapse

(11:49–12:24)

• U.S. sanctions and the capture of Venezuela’s Maduro lead to Cuba's grid collapse.
• Cuba now negotiates with the U.S. amid a nationwide blackout impacting 10 million people.

Vaccine Policy Blocked

(12:24–12:54)

• A judge suspends RFK Jr.'s vaccine policy changes, citing lack of scientific basis and unqualified advisory board members. The ruling is appealed by the Biden administration.

World Cup Celebration

(12:54–13:23)

• Mexico City hosts the largest soccer class ever—9,500 people—celebrating the lead-up to the FIFA Men’s World Cup opening match on June 11.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Trump on Allied Assistance:

  “We built the greatest military in the world and we protect people. … They should be jumping to help us because we've helped them for years.” — Donald Trump (02:25–02:54)

• German Caution:

  “NATO was a defensive alliance, not an interventionist one.” — Recap by Cecilia Le (02:54)

• Federal Reserve Independence:

  “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.” — Jerome Powell (06:57–07:26)

• On Unprecedented Disruption in Pharma:

  “It's creating a very consumer-oriented marketplace, which is highly unusual for the pharmaceutical industry.” — Christopher Rowland (11:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump’s Call to Allies & International Responses: 00:05–03:49
• China’s Position and Ongoing Escalation: 03:49–05:04
• Federal Reserve Standoff & Legal Drama: 05:04–08:17
• GLP-1 Weight Loss Drug Market Disruption: 08:34–11:49
• News Roundup (Cuba, Vaccines, World Cup): 11:49–13:23

Summary Takeaways

• President Trump’s calls for international coalition-building in the Middle East have largely been rejected, signaling a new era of global caution and skepticism.
• Escalations in the region are feeding uncertainty at home, most notably economic instability and tense fights over leadership at the Federal Reserve.
• In healthcare, consumer-driven, cash-only access to weight loss drugs is upending decades-old pharmaceutical practices.
• Rapid-fire news items underscore how tightly interlinked global conflict, energy, and policy have become—and how they touch daily life far beyond headline politics.