Mike Force Podcast

Episode: Supply Chains are about to Break!

Host: Mike Glover
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

Mike Glover delivers a deeply practical, urgent look at how the ongoing war with Iran—currently at day 31 and affecting the Strait of Hormuz—will trigger a global supply chain crisis far more extensive than just “higher gas prices.” He insists these disruptions will soon hit Americans across everyday goods: fuel, plastic, and fertilizer, ultimately impacting food prices and supply. Glover moves from high-level geopolitical factors to hands-on advice for household preparedness, issuing a detailed “stockpile” list inspired by official advice from France.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Strait of Hormuz: Catalyst for a Chain Reaction

• Military Situation:

  • War with Iran has led to a de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping artery.
  • The U.S. response includes deploying 60,000 troops (with more on the way), special forces, and likely imminent ground operations in the region.
  • Glover predicts U.S. boots will be on the ground in the strait for security within the next 7–10 days.
  • “[If] we have boots on the ground in any way in the Strait, there is likely going to be mass casualties because we need air overhead always to protect the troops on the ground.” (Mike, 07:16)

• Broader Impact:

  • Initial focus is often on oil, but the real issue is a system-wide supply chain squeeze that will play out over months to years.

2. Three Immediate Impact Zones

• a. Fuel and Diesel (First to Hit):

  • 20% of U.S. oil and gas supply moves through the strait.
  • Diesel is more crucial than gasoline as it drives freight, agriculture, construction, deliveries, and generators.
  • Price spikes in diesel quickly cascade into all consumer goods via higher transport costs.
  • “It starts in freight and freight infects the entire economy.” (Mike, 11:56)
  • Locally in Utah, diesel hits $5+, gas at $4+, highest since late 2022. (21:00)

• b. Plastics and Manufacturing (Hidden Industrial Shockwave):

  • Many critical chemicals and plastics derive from Middle East petrochemical flow, especially for polyurethane.
  • Dow’s price for this type of plastic doubled from 15¢ to 30¢ a pound in the U.S. and Canada, effective April 1.
  • Plastics are foundational: packaging, water bottles, food storage, medical, automotive, construction, and household goods are all affected.
  • “This is where the oil story becomes a consumer goods story. If plastics double, it’s not just Tupperware—it’s packaging, medicine, auto parts, and the cost of basic household goods.” (Mike, 13:53)
  • Shortages seen in packaging delay even simple goods delivery (coffee bags, auto parts, Amazon shipments).

• c. Fertilizer and Food Supply (Delayed but Severe Hit):

  • Many fertilizers (urea, ammonia) and chemical feedstocks transit through the conflict zone or are restricted, particularly by China tightening exports by up to 75%.
  • This isn’t about home gardens: it’s about national agriculture.
  • Higher fuel + less fertilizer = higher food prices, lower crop yield, hits to meat, dairy, grain, processed foods, and produce.
  • “Fuel hits first, plastics hit next, food hits last. But food is what people remember. This is the slow bleed.” (Mike, 18:23)

3. Second/Third-Order Escalations

• Escalation: Israeli strikes on Tehran’s civilian power infrastructure signal major risk for widespread humanitarian crisis.
• Iran retaliates with attacks on a UAE aluminum facility, further disrupting global industrial supply.

4. What to Watch For: Indicators of Breakdown

• Diesel price outpacing gas (already happening in some places)
• Surging price of fertilizer, plastics/packaging, trucking surcharges, shipping delays
• Empty shelf gaps showing up first in non-food essentials (olive oil, plastics, additives)
• “When you see those gaps on the shelf, it’s a good indication that there’s no turning back.” (Mike, 20:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “When a rubber band stretches out, we don’t pay attention...but it snaps back always and causes all of these issues. There’s going to be a consequence.” (Mike, 04:26)
• “This is not about panic buying. I’m not saying to go out and panic buy. Even though I’m going to go out and stockpile some more. I actually have doubled down on this.” (Mike, 19:21)
• “I have a buddy, Kyle, who has a roasting process for coffee. He can’t even get coffee bags to put that coffee in. It’s delayed.” (Mike, 20:21)

Practical Preparedness Advice

France's Official Minimum Stockpile List (23:26)

• White rice
• Pasta
• Dried legumes (lentils, etc.)
• Canned vegetables
• Canned proteins
• Cooking oil (add olive oil)
• Sugar
• Salt (fine and coarse)
• Ground coffee
• Dried fruits/fruit pouches
• Mineral water
• Toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste
• Lighters/matches

“That is a very good breakdown of what you should have at a minimum...This list you should have at all times.” (Mike, 23:50)

Mike’s Additional Stockpiling Priorities (19:56, 23:56)

• Shelf-stable foods with 25-year shelf life (freeze-dried meat, etc.)
• Household consumables packaged in plastic (trash bags, etc.)
• Food storage materials (plastic bins, water containers)
• Common farm/ranch supplies for rural residents
• Spare auto parts, especially for older vehicles (alternator, spark plugs)
• Wild game and fish—increase freezer supply if possible

Conclusion & Takeaways

Mike Glover’s message is clear and urgent. The Strait of Hormuz closure triggers much more than higher gas prices: it’s a slow-rolling but inevitable disruption of basic industrial and food supply lines that will hit every American household. His preparedness advice is delivered in a grounded, proactive tone—not to stoke fear, but to inspire actionable steps. The episode’s final minutes review France’s preparedness checklist—rice, canned goods, hygiene—and urge listeners to prepare now, before the “snap back” becomes unavoidable reality.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Strait of Hormuz, Military Situation & First Predictions: 05:10 – 09:20
• Fuel/Diesel & Freight Explained: 09:21 – 12:03
• Plastics & Silent Supply Chain Shockwaves: 12:04 – 16:37
• Fertilizer & Food Supply Delays: 17:13 – 19:29
• Indicators to Watch, Shelf Gaps, and Practical Advice: 19:29 – 21:12
• France’s Stockpiling Minimums and Mike’s Checklist: 23:26 – 25:20

For more preparedness content, find Mike Glover’s book “Prepared: A Manual for Surviving Worst Case Scenarios.” (Mentioned 25:00)