BOLLING! - April 13th, 2026

Summary

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Real America’s Voice: BOLLING! – April 13th, 2026 (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode of “BOLLING!” centers on the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, particularly the U.S.-led blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, its implications for global energy markets, the strategic moves involving China and Iran, and the broader political landscape driving these decisions. Through distinguished guests — author and China expert Peter Schweitzer, former CIA covert operations officer Mike Baker, and shipping industry insider Richard Appel — the show dissects geopolitical strategy, intelligence capabilities, and the shipping realities involved in this standoff. The episode also touches on related domestic issues such as immigration, social spending, and key U.S. political dynamics, and features on-air commentary and listener voicemails.

The tone is urgent, opinionated, and frequently combative — characteristic of Real America’s Voice — with pointed critiques of adversaries, praise for perceived strategic brilliance, and a focus on unapologetic conservative analysis.

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Key Segments & Insights

1. Energy Markets and the Fulcrum Effect (02:53–05:37)

• Eric Rassmussen (Host) opens with a review of the day on Wall Street, connecting shifts in oil prices with equity market swings. He notes oil’s volatility amid global tension, particularly a spike in prices and subsequent correction as U.S. actions take hold in the Gulf.
• Crypto’s surge and gold’s relative steadiness are noted, reflecting investor uncertainty.

“Oil goes up, equity markets go down. Oil goes down, equity markets — that’s what happened all day.”
— Eric Rassmussen (03:15)

2. U.S. Blockade Strategy: Squeezing Iran, Pressuring China (05:37–13:21)

Guest: Peter Schweitzer (Author, China Expert)

• The episode’s first major guest, Peter Schweitzer, discusses the implication of the U.S. blockade for China and Iran.
• Schweitzer credits Trump’s administration with forcing China into a dilemma: maintain ties with Iran at the cost of energy insecurity, or pressure Iran to halt interference in shipping.
• China’s prior support — especially military technology — has failed to protect Iran against U.S./Israeli actions, leaving Iran frustrated with Beijing.
• Schweitzer speculates that internal turmoil in China’s military and Xi Jinping’s ongoing purges limit Beijing’s ability to project power or decisively respond.
• The coming Trump-Xi summit is examined as a high-stakes venue where the U.S. will press China hard, not only on Iran but also on fentanyl and tariffs.
• Schweitzer offers a nuanced view: China paradoxically might benefit from Iran’s physical destruction (infrastructure contracts) so long as the regime remains, but the U.S. priority is halting Iran’s nuclear program rather than regime change.

“What Donald Trump has done is basically put China in a corner … it’s really a brilliant strategy.”
— Peter Schweitzer (05:52)

“The irony here, of course, is that in a weird way, Eric, I don't want to sound too crass about this, but China wins if Iran is decimated, but the regime stays in power because to rebuild, they're going to be spending a lot of money in China.”
— Peter Schweitzer (12:02)

3. U.S. Intelligence & Verification Challenges (19:22–29:00)

Guest: Mike Baker (Former CIA, Host, Portman Square & President's Daily Brief)

• Eric questions Baker about trusting Iranian promises in peace talks, referencing Iran’s deception of nuclear inspectors.
• Baker is deeply skeptical, arguing technology and intelligence have advanced but cannot substitute for human intelligence in closed states like Iran. He suggests Iran’s regime is unchanged in intent and practice, and that Western negotiators regularly misread ideological regimes.
• Regarding the blockade, Baker sees it as smart but notes the hesitation and reluctance of major Western allies (UK, Spain, Australia) to join. He understands the domestic pressures but sees it as a disappointing lack of unity.
• Both agree blockading Iranian oil is a non-military way to force change, targeting Iran’s economic lifeblood.
• They note that strategic logic for Iran is different from Western logic; the regime claims ‘victory’ merely by surviving, making Western approaches to negotiation and pressure difficult.

“There is no reason why we should trust them now. There’s no precedent for the Iranian regime to negotiate in good faith.”
— Mike Baker (20:15)

“It has always been very difficult. We’ve had to rely on our liaison partners, the Israelis and others … denied areas, areas like Iran, areas like North Korea, it's the toughest requirement you've got when you're talking about recruitments.”
— Mike Baker (21:45 & 22:43)

4. The Realities of Blockading the Strait of Hormuz (31:26–41:47)

Guest: Richard Appel (CEO, Odin Marine Group)

• Shipping industry veteran Richard Appel provides granular insights into what a blockade “looks like” operationally.
• There will likely be several inspection and screening points around the strait. He notes that ship tracking and identifying suspicious tankers is technologically feasible, even with Iranian attempts to ‘go dark.’
• Discusses how oil smuggling could still occur via ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait, but that the U.S. Navy has the capabilities to monitor these.
• Current risks, especially from mines, mean that tankers are highly reluctant to transit until the area is demonstrably safe; navies themselves are cautious about entering the most dangerous zones.
• The Panama Canal’s increased traffic is mentioned as a secondary logistical bottleneck due to rerouted shipping.
• Ultimately, both Rassmussen and Appel conclude that true change will only come when the Iranian economy “is strangled” and domestic discontent forces internal change.

“If the U.S. Navy is not confident yet to really traverse the area where the hot spots are ... how can a tanker who goes 12 knots be safe?”
— Richard Appel (38:16)

“It ends, Rich. It ends when the Iranian economy is strangled because they can't get their oil in, they can't get their money out. And the people say, you know what? Enough is enough. Not the IRGC, not the Mullahs. The people have to say, enough.”
— Eric Rassmussen (40:17)

5. Domestic & Political Commentary: Immigration, Socialism, Identity Politics (44:44–55:36)

• Eric pivots to U.S. domestic issues, particularly the debate over immigration policy and mass deportation, framing opposition as cynical self-interest (“follow the money”/“follow the power”).
• Critiques political and religious figures who oppose strict enforcement, suggesting media coverage is engineered to split Trump supporters.
• Skewers progressive city initiatives like "free grocery stores" in NYC as unsustainable socialist experiments, tying them to historical socialist failures.
• Lambasts the identity politics of Democratic officials, reading a comment from Sen. Mark Kelly about the dangers of a non-diverse space shuttle crew and mocking Canadian and NYC leaders for their anti-Trump grandstanding.
• Takes several shots at figures like Kamala Harris and left-leaning demonstrators, framing liberal activism as out-of-touch performance.
• The commentary is sharp, sarcastic, and unfiltered, with little attempt at neutral analysis.

“I think a good, good mode of operation for Republicans right now is just to let the Democrats say stuff. Because when they speak ... they say things that prove that Democrats are the party of racism.”
— Eric Rassmussen (51:11)

“It doesn't work. [Socialism] has killed over 100 million people. Socialism has. 100 million people have starved under socialism.”
— Eric Rassmussen (50:36)

6. Listener Q&A: Senate Voting and Mideast Boots on the Ground (56:23–59:20)

• Listener from North Carolina asks why some Congressional bills require 60 vs. 51 votes. Eric explains the legislative process around unanimous consent, filibusters, and cloture in the Senate.
• Another listener asks why Israel hasn't committed ground troops in Iran, questioning whether the burden should fall on the U.S.
• Eric reiterates his opposition to U.S. boots on the ground, arguing air and naval strategies are preferable and highlighting that economic pressure on Iran should be the principal lever.

“I'm against the boots on the ground thing. I think we can do this by air, we can do it by drone. And I think Trump is brilliant to come up with the idea of blockade the strait with ships.”
— Eric Rassmussen (58:43)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the strategic dilemma for China:

“China always likes to engage in the strategic initiative. By Trump's actions, he has put them very much on the defensive.”
— Peter Schweitzer (09:06)

On Iran’s mindset:

“We've never been particularly good at understanding the ideologues, the fundamentalists, the radical Islamists ... It feels illogical to the west that the Iranian regime is saying, yeah, we won, we're victorious. That doesn't make any sense to us. But we're not thinking the way that they do.”
— Mike Baker (27:06)

On shipping risks:

“The US Navy's not even prepared to put themselves at risk. Neither are the other navies of the other NATO countries. That's the reason why they're not saying, hey, we're ready to go in ... It's going to take time to set it up.”
— Richard Appel (38:16)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Energy Markets Overview — 02:53–05:37
• Blockade Strategy and China — 05:37–13:21
• U.S. Intelligence Operations in Iran — 19:22–29:00
• Shipping & Blockade Logistics (Richard Appel) — 31:26–41:47
• Immigration and Political Rants — 44:44–55:36
• Listener Voicemails (Senate votes, Israel, Iran) — 56:23–59:20

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Conclusion

This episode offers a deep dive into the real-time chessboard of U.S. power projection, economic warfare, and the intersection of foreign policy with domestic political battles. With frank, opinion-heavy discussions, guests tease out the complexity and risks in confronting Iran, the limits of intelligence work, and the massive logistical tasks on the high seas. The overarching message is that economic strangulation, not military occupation, is the path to regime change in adversarial states — a strategy reliant on the patience, unity, and nerve of the U.S. and its allies.

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For anyone wanting a direct, unvarnished take on U.S. foreign policy as seen through conservative-nationalist eyes, this episode delivers in spades — with expert guests, real-world detail, and a healthy dose of ideological fervor.

Transcript

[Eric Swalwell]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Peter Schweitzer]

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[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

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[Peter Schweitzer]

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[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

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[Eric Swalwell]

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[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

There it is, the closing bell. The closing bell.

[Richard Appel]

There it is.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Ring diversified energy. Wow. What about that energy minority? G is all the rage right now. Wall street and all around the world actually. Global energy markets are roiling up, down. Can't figure it out. Left, right. We opened the day this morning. Last night it was looking very, very grim. We were down 700 points in the Dow, 4 or 500 points in the Nasdaq. Oil was up $8 a barrel at the time. We opened up New York trading similar numbers and then everything started to correct in the right direction. Oil started to come down. So there's a fulcrum effect. Oil goes up, equity markets go down. Oil goes down, equity markets. That's what happened all day. So 100405 this morning on the oil market. 98 going out. Equity markets went from the lows down 4, 500 up to 300 higher in the Dow 280 higher. Nasdaq S&P had a nice day as well. And like I said, oil ended the day 98 just a little bit higher than it was on Friday. Gold was watching on the sidelines. $19 announced movement. Crypto making its move back up. Now 73,000 over 73,000. So crypto is kind of running with the equity markets. All right. This year marks a critical moment for our country as the opposition grows more aggressive and unapologetic. The fight now reaches into the everyday decisions we make. Patriot Mobile has been standing on the front lines fighting for freedom for more than 12 years. They don't just deliver top tier wireless service. They're activists like us who truly care about our country. Patriot Mobile offers prioritized premium access on all three major US networks, giving you the same or better coverage than the main carriers. That means fast speeds, dependable nationwide coverage backed by 100% US based customer support. They also offer unlimited data plans, mobile hotspots, international roaming and more. With simple seamless activation, you can switch in just minutes. Keep your phone number, keep your phone or you can upgrade one or both. And here's the difference. When you switch to Patriot Mobile, you'll be part of a powerful stream of giving that directly funds the Christian conservative movement. Take a stand today. Go to patriotmobile.com rav or call 972 Patriot P A T R I O T 972 Patriot and use promo code RAV for a free month of service. Don't wait. That's patriotmobile.com rev or call 972-patriots all right, let's bring in our first guest. The American elites and foreign powers are using immigration as a power. You know, I want to do this. I want to go right to Peter Schweitzer, and here's what I want to do. Peter, you are my man on China. I've you and I have talked China for the better part of 20 years, two decades. So I'm watching what's going on in the Middle East. I'm watching Iran. I'm watching our blockade. And I'm thinking all the time, the biggest loser so far. And now some people argue with this. But the biggest loser so far maybe not be the Iranian people. It may be China because they are massively dependent on Iranian oil, Middle Eastern oil, with the Strait of Hormuz being at least partially blockaded by the United States. Now, tell me how China is playing this.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Yeah, it's a great question, Eric. What Donald Trump has done is basically put China in a corner because on the one hand, Iran is their major ally in the region. On the other hand, they want the Straits of Hormuz open. So what Donald Trump is essentially telling China, make your choice, either go with the Iranians or talk to the Iranians and tell them that the Straits need to remain open and they need to stop meddling with it. So it's really a brilliant strategy. What China is trying to do right now, I think, is split the difference. They're trying to maintain that relationship with Iran. There certainly are supplies that have made their way to Iran even since the bombing is taking place. They're going to continue to provide technical support. But when you look at the fact that roughly 20% of their oil comes through the Straits of Hormuz, this is a massive problem. They're going to focus on their homeland. And I think that if they aren't already, they're going to start applying real pressure to Iran and saying, look, you can do a lot of things, we'll support you on a lot of things, but you need to stop threatening shipping in the Gulf of Hormuz, in the Straits of Hormuz. Because what Donald Trump has said is either all the ships get through or none of the ships get through. We're not going to this situation where Iran gets to pick and choose. So only those bound to China get to their destination.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

One of the fascinating things that goes on so we've been Sanctioning Iranian oil, but China's been buying it under the table, below market prices. And Iran says, you know what, our oil sanctions, so we'll take, we'll take a cut price for you. They get it through the strait, they get it over to China, but now they can't do that. So this is the, this is really taking the Strait of Hormuz, which was Iran's choke point. It was there, it was a bargaining, their trump card, so to speak. And Trump took it back with, with the blockade. You're right. China is one of their biggest. India, China and others, Europe are biggest customers. The customers got to step up and say, hey, Iran, cut the crap, you know, let's open this thing. Right?

[Peter Schweitzer]

Yeah, no, absolutely. I mean, the other, the other rub here, Eric, is from the Iranian standpoint, they have a little, they have to be a little frustrated, more than a little frustrated with Beijing. Beijing and of course, for that matter, Moscow have done nothing to help them as they've undergone this barrage from the United States and Israel. And what China provided before the war has not stood up to the test. The Chinese last year provided what they described as advanced air defense weaponry to Iran. That was supposed to help them protect and own the skies over their country. Those anti aircraft systems really have done no damage to American aircraft. So the Iranians have to be very frustrated that Beijing has not really stepped up to help them in any way. And the military assistance that they provided has not worked out very well either. It simply has not been effective against the United States or Israeli aircraft.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

There's some rumors that China may want to get involved and to what extent, I don't even know. I don't even know if they would want to get involved to help, you know, usher some ships through to get some their oil to them. But which is, is China's very quiet, right? Ominously quiet. So what if they're thinking what's going on behind the Chinese wall, so to speak?

[Peter Schweitzer]

Well, one of the things we have to remember, Eric, is that President Xi over the last 18 months has been purging senior experienced officers from the Chinese military. Not, not as bad as what Stalin did in the 1930s. But you have a lot of the most experienced, effective generals in the Chinese military that are no longer serving. So there's some tumult there. Also, China does not have a great ability to project power to Iran. I think what Donald Trump has done is exactly right. I would not be surprised if he has not even gone to the Chinese and say, guess what? You can help us Keep the Strait of Hormuz open. You can help escort ships to going through that near its passageway if you want your oil that that bad. And again, that puts them in this dilemma because they would then be taking action directly against Iran. So it's a very complicated, perplexed situation. Iran always likes to. Sorry. China always likes to engage in the strategic initiative. By Trump's actions, he has put them very much on the defensive. And I think that they are conflicted in terms of what their next steps should be.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Peter, there's a meeting between Xi and China. Xi and China and Trump coming up. Well, what's the. Yeah. How did that go down? I famously. Trump bombed Syria while Xi Jinping was having. I don't. Baked Alaska at Mar a Lago. What is this meeting going to be? And does Trump show another show of power again while he's meeting with Xi?

[Peter Schweitzer]

Well, I think he's going to continue to do in Iran what he's done. I think we can expect more bombings. Remember, before this cease fire was instituted, we were flying a large number of B52 bombers to the region. Those have not really come into full play yet. So I would not be surprised if Tehran engages in some military activities and other provocative behavior that we wrap up those military actions. Trump recognizes that diplomacy and military power are different sides of the same coin, and you have to view them as such, and China understands that. And let's remember, in addition to this, you have the issue of tariffs, you have the issue of fentanyl. Trump's been very aggressive with China in terms of are you going to help us with fentanyl? Because they are so deeply intertwined in the production, creation and distribution of fentanyl in the United States. So I think it's going to be quite a meeting. I think China is not in a position to cancel it. They need this meeting. And I think Donald Trump is going to put his foot on the accelerator in terms of pushing for the policy initiatives that he wants the Chinese to join him on.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Peter, it's believed that China has approximately 600 nuclear warheads. Has China been assisting Iran in the preliminary proliferation of. Of nuclear power?

[Peter Schweitzer]

Yeah, they have been. Russia's been the more senior partner because they've been there longer. But yes, technology assistance, infrastructure in terms of energy weapons programs, etc. China is involved in all of that. The irony here, of course, is that in a weird way, Eric, I don't want to sound too crass about this, but China wins if Iran is decimated, but the regime stays in power because to rebuild. They're going to be spending a lot of money in China to rebuild on these major infrastructure projects. So it's a odd relationship. I think Trump is playing it correct in the sense that our objective has been the nuclear program, to make sure it is gone for good. We would love to see regime change, but we're not going to engage in it. We're not going to put boots in the ground. That means that, you know, it's going to take a little bit longer in terms of achieving this immediate objective. But we are not looking at a long term military commitment of the United States, certainly not with boots on the ground.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

All right, Peter, the new book, the Invisible Coup, How American Elites and foreign Powers Using Immigration as a weapon. We didn't get to that, but we want to tell you folks, it is a New York Times bestseller. Once again, Peter Schweitzer, great author. I had to go to China because he's my man on China. Peter, appreciate, appreciate your time, my friend.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Great to see as always, Eric. Thanks man.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

All right, folks, take a look at this. At some point you realize something's off. You're working, you're paying attention, you're doing what it you're supposed to be doing. And it's still just not adding up. That's the moment right there. But most people ignore it. I don't. On the edge. We break down what's actually happening, why prices aren't what they seem to be, why healthy isn't always healthy. In fact, sometimes something label healthy is actually killing you. Ever wonder why some people keep moving forward while others stay stuck in place in a rut? The Edge. We expose the posers, the fraudsters and the cheatsters on the edge. No politics, no lectures, no waste of time. Just clarity. Pure thought success. New episodes every week if you're ready for that shift. Subscribe to the Edge. The first step to a healthier life is by hitting that subscribe button right now. Do it now. Thousands have already done just that.

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[Public Investing Sponsor]

for the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers. Growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500 then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this

[Martha Stewart]

is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret when prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless. It is thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it. Done. Available in the Reynolds Wrap aisle at Walmart.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

When I was diagnosed, all I wanted

[Peter Schweitzer]

to do was get back to work.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I wanted to get back to that trajectory that I was on prior to the cancer. I always felt like I had value. I had a place on the team to just be treated with dignity. It means everything.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Research shows there is a significant connection

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

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[Eric Swalwell]

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[Mike Baker]

You know what? We'd have to go back to a long time ago when I remember us both standing on a set wearing suits and ties.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I do. I think that was Fox. And it may have been Fox and Friends or maybe. But I do recall those days. Boy, do I, am I happy I don't do that anymore. All right, let's talk about these peace talks. Right, Mike? And you're being the former CIA covert officer, agent, whatever you want to call it. You watch these Iranians and we saw them the first time they did this. Remember, we had the Iranian deal And they, they promised to let the inspectors come in and inspect, and they lied. They locked the inspectors out. They, they sent them to the wrong locations. They obfuscated, they, they diverted attention, they deflected. They did everything in their power to hide the fact that they're enriching uranium to weapons grade levels. Why should we trust, is there, are we much better with intel now that we can actually verify what they're, what they're actually doing now?

[Mike Baker]

We are better at it because technology has moved on and you develop new sources and et cetera, but it's not perfect by any means. And so there is no reason why we should trust them now. There's no precedent for the Iranian regime to negotiate in good faith. It hasn't happened. They don't have a track record of it. And I know that the White House keeps saying, look, this is a new regime, they're reasonable people. I would push back on that. It's the Islamic Republic, its new faces because they created a lot of headroom during the past six weeks, but it's the same regime. And so I am very cynical about this idea that we would negotiate with them, that we would give them concessions. But I'm concerned that that may be the way it goes because there's so much pressure, so much desire to get a deal and to move on.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Mike, we have, I mean, we just saw the CIA assist in rescuing two pilots by, by using some intelligence, using some technology where we can actually see a man moving in a hidden place on the side of a mountain. How can our CIA clandestine people, folks, not know what they're doing in Iran? I mean, there must be some way to infiltrate them or whether it's even, you know, all the methods that you and they use. They can use money, bribery, getting in there themselves. Can't we, can't we get our eyes inside their uranium enrichment facilities?

[Mike Baker]

Well, it's always been a heavy lift. I mean, it's not that people aren't trying and haven't been trying ever since 1979 to understand the plans and intentions and motivations and activities of the regime, but it's always been a heavy lift. That rescue of the second crew member, that was amazing. And the science and technology group of the agency played a tremendous role in that because just so damn smart. And they've created some technology that is incredible. But gathering intelligence on something like the Iranian nuclear program, I mean, really getting inside there, I just, I can't stress it enough. It has always been very difficult. We've had to rely on our liaison Partners, the Israelis and others within the Gulf State area. So, you know, it doesn't surprise you.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Let me ask you this, brother. I got to ask you this. We have informants inside Russia, don't we? Do we have informants inside China, don't we? Why. Why can't we get those folks inside Iran?

[Mike Baker]

Well, I'm not saying we don't, but, you know, it's, it's not like a, it's not like a Tom Clancy book. Right. I mean, the, you know, the, the process of intelligence, not much new under the sun when it comes to recruiting assets. You know, we get new technology and that changes how you collect information remotely or, you know, through technical means. But, you know, the process of bumping up to assessing, developing, recruiting, running a human asset really hasn't changed, you know, for, well, ever. So it is, it is something that is always top of mind and they work very hard at it. But I'm just saying denied areas, areas like Iran, areas like North Korea, they, It's, it's the toughest requirement you've got when you're talking about recruitments.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

The new blockade, the blockade goes into effect. Interestingly, the uk, Spain, Australia said they're not going to be part of it. The European Union, as a union together, said they're still weighing the options, as is France, Russia and China said no also. But what are your thoughts on, on these? I don't know. Uk, Spain and at least Australia saying they're going to sit this one out.

[Mike Baker]

Yeah. UK and France are hosting a summit of some 40 nations and they've said they're going to come up with a plan to help, you know, to secure the strait.

[Richard Appel]

We.

[Mike Baker]

Once the conflict is over.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Yeah.

[Mike Baker]

So, you know, once the conflict is over, I think the strait's going to be open because that's sort of the defining point here.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

So it is.

[Mike Baker]

It's disappointing. I understand it, I guess, on one level, I look at it and go, yeah, okay. From a, you know, a certain. How are they thinking? I get what they're thinking. I don't agree with it in any way, but I understand what they're thinking in their own internal domestic political pressures, etc. So it's not, I guess, a surprise. It is frustrating, enormously frustrating and disappointing for all of those who understand how long we've supported and promoted and resourced the NATO alliance. They'll step in at a certain point and they'll provide help, but it's disappointing that they've decided not to come in.

[Richard Appel]

Earlier.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I've been talking about this, this war for 45 days with Ban in almost every day on war room. And I didn't see this blockade coming. I think it's a brilliant strategy, like really brilliant strategy. You don't have to go wipe out a civilization. You could literally choke off their ability to, to, to, to make any money versus if Iran held the straight and they could charge tolls and whatnot. You choke everything off and. But the point is, I think the real brilliance behind the strategy, I mentioned it to Schweitzer just a minute ago, is because you forced the customers, you forced China and India to say we still need the oil. Stop, like stop playing games with America. Open the straits, we can get the oil. What are your thoughts on, did you see this one coming?

[Mike Baker]

Well, they were going to have to do something and all the talk was around the idea of escorting the ships through the strait. Obviously there was an understanding from the Pentagon that they were going to have to do the mine clearing before they could do that. But the guys truth is the idea of blockading the Iranian ports, it's a very smart idea. My concern is for how long, how long does that work for? Because once we leave, if the existing regime is still there, the insurance industry, the shipping industry, they may well go back to square one, right, and say risk. So we're backing off again. So this is a, this is a temporary resolution. As long as the existing regime is

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

there, it just feels like this is the one thing, you know, they'll fight to the death, Mike. Right? They'll, they martyrs. Martyrdom is, is what they all aspire to, or at least the IRGC does. So they, they're willing to fight till the last, you know, drop of blood is spilled in Iran. And that's dangerous if you're the other side with rational thought. Like Americans, like why do really need to risk these blood and treasure. It just feels like you're choking their, their ability to, to survive. And the people, at some point, if their economy goes even further into the dumpster, the people uprise and say this isn't working. Irgc, mullahs, let's try something new. Is that pie in the sky?

[Mike Baker]

Well, no, but I mean you pointed out something that's really important here, which is that we have never been particularly good at understanding the ideologues, the fundamentalists, the radical Islamists, however you want to refer to them. We've never been very good at understanding them, understanding their thought process, how they process information. So right now it feels illogical to a lot of people. After all, the degrading of their military capabilities. It feels illogical to the west that the Iranian regime is saying, yeah, we won, we're victorious. That doesn't make any sense to us, right? But we're not thinking the way that they do because it's a very difficult thing to put yourself in their shoes and understand how they process. But they do believe they've won because they're still standing. And they also understand that this is it. It was always going to fall onto the Strait of Hormuz. That was always going to be the linchpin in this effort, which is why they spent so many years figuring out asymmetrical warfare and how to block off the Strait. So the next few days, the next week or so as this blockade takes effect, as a mine clearing happens, is going to be a real tell as to how this might get resolved. If they are anywhere near the logic train, at some point they will want to come in and make a deal. But I'm cynical about that logic train

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

left the station in 1979. It just hasn't come back. We're winning, we're winning. I'm dead. I guess we lost. That's literally the mentality and it's a dangerous when you're we have rational thought, common sense to fight an enemy like that, which is always best to just choke, choke the living daylights out of the economy. That for me, it's the best way to go. Mike Baker, Portman Square CEO Portman Square and the President's Daily Brief A great podcast. Gotta watch it folks. Mike, thank you.

[Mike Baker]

Thank you so much man.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Take care. Back in two and a half minutes folks.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosure is available at public.com disclosure

[Martha Stewart]

closures this is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret. When prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless it is thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it, done. Available in the Reynolds wrap aisle at Walmart.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

When I was diagnosed, all I wanted to do was get back to work. I wanted to get back to that trajectory that I was on prior to the cancer. I always felt like I had value. I had a place on the team to just be treated with dignity. It means everything.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Research shows there is a significant connection

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place for healing.

[Eric Swalwell]

Learn more and sign the [e-mail]

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

all right, next guest, the CEO and managing director of the Odin Marine Group, an international shipping company which is very involved in the Middle east and crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Happy to have Richard Appel back with us. Really, really wanted you in the seat today. Richard called the producers. I said get, get Richard back because he, he knows the Strait of Hormuz. He's, he's transited the Strait of Hormuz with ships. So tell us, and I really want you to give us a visual, Richard, of what is going what is it going to look like? Where, where's the blockade happening? How big is it now? I think in the, the, the choke point of the Strait of Hormuz is only 21 miles wide. So it's wider at the Gulf of Oman. Tell us how this will look and how will operate in your opinion, being experienced transitor of oil through there or of product through there.

[Richard Appel]

Thanks, Eric. Well, as I mentioned last time I was on the show, it was a lot different situation back in 1987 than it is today. Though there'll be some similarities, I believe as this blockade goes on and then hopefully ships get in tankers and whatnot, get escorted in and out. But I think what's going to happen here, you're going to have a number of different screening areas, right. You're going to have a screening area that's outside the Straits of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman. And then you're going to have a screening area right at the choke point, right at the straits. And then even maybe something when you get inside, of course, when you get to the straits and when you get inside it gets more dangerous for the, for the military vessels that are doing the screening or whatever vessels do it. So I think you're going to have a multi or three pronged kind of inspection area. They're not going to inspect every vessel that goes through, even though, you know, in normal times there's 150 ships about that go through the Straits of Hormuz before the, this whole thing started. That's not that many. It's feasible to check all of them. But you're not going to need to do that because you're going to have other information. You're going to have a list of who the ship owners are, which, which owners are legitimate, which ones are going to require more care or, you know, need to need to be checked. You're going to get that information from both intelligence, you're going to get it from who the ship owners are. You're going to get it from insurance companies and things like that.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I'm sorry, will they all have that? Will they all be able to be identified? Because I know Iran is, is famous for selling oil on the black market. They may even, you know, hide some, you know, some ships flags and whatnot. Captains are willing to do it. They're paid very well to transport oil. That's, that's sanctioned oil, definitely.

[Richard Appel]

I mean they're going to turn off their AIs system. That's an, that's a, an automated system that identifies the vessels. They're going to shut that down. You know, that's, that's, that's required for all ships. But that's, they've been, the ghost vessels of the dark fleet's been shutting that down for a while. You know you're going to have that. But it's again, it's not that, you know, 20 miles, 21 miles is not that big when you have technology that the US Navy has, right. So they're going to be able to tell, they're going to know where the ships are moving from. You can't stop the surveillance of the vessel regardless of them shutting off their identifiers. Right. There's not that many load ports in Iran. Right. Between the petrochemical ports, which you know, is I'm, I'm more involved in. But and the oil ports, you're only talking about 8, 9, 10 main loading ports. The, the Arabian Gulf is a very shallow area, right? So you can't just, you don't have all these ports lining the coast because the ships can't get it so easy to identify.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

So a VLCC very large crude carrier has, carries about 2 million barrels of oil. There are some bigger vessels. Can a bigger vessel transverse the Strait of Hormuz?

[Richard Appel]

Well, a VL is big, right? That's about as big as they get. They also have ULCC ultra large. You know, that's like the 400,000 ton, you know, huge. You don't see them too often. You see them in the 70s and the 80s and even the 90s. But VLs are more common and they're much handier size like 70,000 tonners, that kind of thing as well. Those ships are, are, are much smaller than uls and, or uls but they're still bit too big, too deep to get into the, the ports. And the births designed in Iran and not only there, in other areas in the Arabian Gulf are shallow water ports. That's why Card island is an island. Right? And it's, it's, it's not because the oil sitting under the island is that they pipeline it to the island so the ships can get in, it's deeper there in that re in that area. Right. So there's only really there aren't that many ports where these ships can load, especially the bigger ones. So it's going to be easy to track them from a radar point of view, you know, visual and anything, any other kind of, you know, of course technology that the navy has, which I'm probably not even aware of. So I don't think it's gonna be a problem to identify it.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

So what happens is just take us through this. Trump said if any of the, the fast boats, the ones that Iranians use to you know, annoy ships and whatnot and maybe threaten ships, what happens if, if a, a crude carrier decides it doesn't want to stop to a U S Navy blockade, how would that potentially go down?

[Richard Appel]

Well, if a, if it, if a ship carrying Iranian product doesn't want to stop, what would happen? Yes, it would be pretty easy to interdict. I mean, you know, one of the things that they haven't figured out yet, now I'm a little surprised they haven't. The Trump administration didn't really figure this out before. First of all, I don't know why they haven't started the blockades much earlier. Why are we waiting till now? We knew that it could be because we didn't want to irritate China. China gets a lot of that Iranian crude. Maybe we let them go. Right. For that reason, let's not irritate the Chinese, even though they don't want to get involved in anything geopolitical. They just. They're about trade. Right. But it could be the reason because I'm not sure why we waited. But anyway, it's not that hard to interdict the ship and stop it. Right. I think what you really have to do more of is after it gets through the Straits or Hormuz, if a VESS passes all the inspections, it could transfer that product outside the Straits of Hormuz on the high seas, and then.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Oh, you mean transfer it to an Iranian flagship or someone buying crude from Iranians. From the Iranians.

[Richard Appel]

Correct. Or. Or a ghost ship, not necessarily an Iranian vessel. There aren't that many Iranian flag vessels. Remember that. There's not many American flag vessels. There's not many French flag vessels. These are all flags of convenience. Liberian and Greek and Maltese and that kind of thing. So, you know, you don't identify a ship by its flag. You identify by who the ship owner is and the history of the vessel. And you know, you have histories on ships. You know where every ship's been trading. You go back years, right? Now, the way the technology works. So it's not going to be easy to identify. It's not going to be hard to identify the vessels that are shaky. Right? The ones you have to pay attention to.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Rich, last time you were here, we were talking about just the threat of mines, water mines, underwater mines. Would. Would be enough for Captain to say, no, I'm not doing it. Would be enough for you to say, you said, I wouldn't do it either. Doesn't matter if there's 20 billion or $100 billion of insurance. I'm not going to risk my crew and my ship or the company's not going to risk the ship because they're very valuable. We sent two, just, I believe two destroyers through there, and they made it through. Is that enough to give Rich appel confidence that he can transverse this straight without being blown up?

[Richard Appel]

But, you know, I think the point I was going to make a second ago and I forgot to make it, was that if the U.S. navy is not confident yet to really traverse the area where, where the hot spots are, right? They're. They're kind of around the area, but they're not like, in the spot where they're at highest risk. They're outside that zone. Well, how can a tanker who goes 12 knots be safe? Right, Versus a Navy ship that goes 40? So, you know, right now, the US Navy's not even prepared to put themselves at risk. Neither are the other navies of the other NATO countries. That's the reason why they're not saying, hey, we're ready to go in, that eventually it will happen, but we're not there yet. And it's going to take time to set it up. So you got the blockade as, as, you know, starting this whole thing off. And then you're going to have the escorts that, that go on. It's going to be a number of weeks before this thing really starts moving.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Are they talking about escorting ships? Like, I thought it was just a blockade. Are we going to take the risk of escorting vessels through the strait?

[Richard Appel]

See, this is the thing where it's not really clear to, to. No, all the blockade is, it has nothing to do with blocking ships outside of vessels that are loading Iranian products. It has. They're not going to blockade any other vessels. You know, in fact, the, the US Came out just today with a memo about how this is going to work. And it's basically saying, we're not going to bother you. You can go in and out anytime you want, unless you're in a. Unless you're carrying product that's going to go either into Iran or out from Iran. And by the way, there are Chinese vessels that are bringing rocket propellant into the Arabian Gulf. That's another thing they got to start watching because they're running low on rocket propellant. Right. So there are actually ships going in that you have to watch as well. Those are less, you know, they're not as frequent as coming out, but it's happening. So that's another thing the US Navy's got to detect is the incoming stuff to supply the Iranian regime not only with rocket propellant, but, you know, anything else. They're, they're running short, right? And then, you know, the only way that this is probably going to end is when the Iranian economy is just strangled because of the ships not going in and out.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Agree. It ends rich. It ends when the Iranian economy is strangled because they can't get their oil in, they can't get their, their money out. And the people say, you know what? Enough is enough. Not the irgc, not the Mulls. The people have to say, enough.

[Richard Appel]

People is. It's all about that, but how long is that going to take? And politically, how long can the Trump administration go before that happens? And you know, by the way, just to mention, and this is probably something that's not mentioned by many unless you're in my industry, the Panama Canal is also being, is a problem there right now. I don't know if you remember two years ago there were droughts there and they shut, basically the canal was shut down and you had to go in one at a time. And there were auctions to get the ships through. And the auctions could be as high as back then, five, $10 million just to get it. You think the Iranian tariff or the tolls for the Iranians were high? The Panama Canal was charging for some gas carriers $10 million when it used to cost 200,000. That's happening again to a lesser degree because the influx of vessels going through Panama Canal has gone up because they're not trading in this in the Arabian Gulf anymore. So there's more ships coming through the canal. They can't hit all the traffic. So now we have a toll situation there and you have to bid on, you have to make a bid to get through the Panama Canal. This is slowing down things as well very quickly.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Rich, I'm already over time. Fifteen ships went through on Sunday, yesterday. What do you foresee this, this blockade and assistance by the US Give me a number that we might see in a week or two.

[Richard Appel]

The blockade is only stopping stuff coming out. The blockade, it's not going to be much different than the 15 ships in a week or two. That's, that's the point. It's going to take a long time.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Got it, Got it. Boy, that means these people are, there's no way of knowing where oil is going, folks. There's no way I care what Trump says or what Iranians say. There is just no way to predict this right now. It's going to be very bumpy ride, as they say. Rich Appel, the Odin Marine Group CEO Managing partner, thank you so much. We'll get you back again as this thing goes on. Thank you.

[Richard Appel]

Thanks, Eric.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

All right, folks, two and a half minutes. Be right back.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI it all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index, and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this

[Martha Stewart]

is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret when prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless it is thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it done. Available in the Reynolds Wrap aisle at Walmart.

[Eric Swalwell]

I need to be healthy every day to survive it and go through the next chemo round and the next chemo round. So it's important that work was part of that to keep my mind busy for eight, nine hours. And then I had to go back and face the reality. I had a goal and the goal is to survive.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Research shows there is a significant connection

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

between the ability to continue to work and cancer recovery. We can make work a better place

[Eric Swalwell]

for healing, learn more and sign the [e-mail].

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

To say that whenever a group, any group, comes out staunchly against President Trump's immigration policy and the deportations, they have something of their own at stake. Either they built a business that runs on illegal migrant labor so they follow the money, or they know they need the votes of illegal immigrants in order to get or keep control of power. So you follow the power in that one. In this case, when Cardinals go on 60 minutes to rail against the president and his immigration policy, it's a little bit of both sprinkled with a whole lot of Trump Derangement syndrome.

[Peter Schweitzer]

This is a roundup of people throughout the country, people who have been living

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

good, strong lives, been here a long time Raised their children here. Men and their children born here and are citizens.

[Peter Schweitzer]

That's what our objection is.

[Eric Swalwell]

He promised to secure the border.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

He talked about deportation and a majority of cabinets, Catholics voted for the policy.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

I would like to know what Catholics

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

feel about this indiscriminate mass deportation. I think that it's very clear the American people are saying we really didn't vote for this. While the American people, they vote for millions of illegals pouring in under Joe Biden now did they? And I don't recall these cardinals sitting down to discuss the women and children among others who have been brutally terrorized by or murdered by illegal aliens. I don't know. It happens every single day. What is this all? Is this just 60 minutes in CBS pumping up this little feud that's going on between the Pope and Donald Trump? Is that what they're doing? Are they just trying to drive a wedge into between maga? Is that what it is? Sure feels like that, right? Will she or won't she? Regardless of what the queen of words salad decides to do in 2028, she probably run. We know that if she does decide to run for president again, Kamala Harris will certainly provide us with much entertainment by not knowing much about anything. Your openness to talk to the American people. As I said in introducing you, you and I go back over a quarter century. Yes. And if there's anyone that has had open communication as you and I. So are you going to run again in 20? So here. Okay.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

I tried to be subtle but I

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

just figured I'd go right in. Well that's as subtle as Revenue Sharpton could ever be. We love you for many things, but not being subtle.

[Eric Swalwell]

Listen, I might, I might.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I'm thinking about it.

[Eric Swalwell]

I'm thinking about it.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Please do. Please, please do. Ron. I can't wait to see your words salads and your the passage of time. We should think about the passage. What the heck was that? What is probably the dumbest candidate we've ever had, Dan Quayle, maybe equal the Democrat party's favorite jihadist communists is out making more speeches to promise more things his state and city can't afford in a speech on his first 100 days in destroying New York as its mayor. So Zobama Mamdani is still promising free grocery stores. During our campaign we promised New Yorkers that we would create a network of five city owned grocery stores, one in each borough.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Today we make good on that promise.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I am proud to announce that we will open every single one of these

[Public Investing Sponsor]

stores by the end of Our first term and the first one will open next year.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Okay. Five stars by the end. In four years, I think. Four years for mayor. I think maybe six. Who knows? Five stores in four years and this is what people are screaming about. You imagine what those stores are going to be like. Free grocery stores are going to be sold out of. Everything's been gone. Everyone's been fighting to get stuff in there. And who pays for it? New Yorkers do. They already pay the highest taxes in the country. Even California. What are you thinking? Is it really that important to get applause lines? Because that's all it is. It's gonna be a disaster. They have to shut them down. They'll open them and they shut. In a week or two, people will be killing each other to get free stuff in grocery stores. Especially where they're going to put them. Right? The Bronx. Really? Brooklyn. Really? You really want to do that? Lower Manhattan. Got it. If you really want to understand the deal with the socialist devil made by New Yorkers, all you really need to do is hear. Is this right here. Delivered through that creepy smile of his mom. Dummy seems to have mastered that thing.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

I have thought often of the Margaret chapter quote. The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

If anything, my friends, it seems that

[Public Investing Sponsor]

you eventually need a socialist to clean up the mess.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

On January 1, I told New Yorkers

[Public Investing Sponsor]

that City hall would hold a singular

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

purpose to make this city belong to

[Public Investing Sponsor]

more of its people than it did the day before. For 102 days we have endeavored to do exactly that. Delivering both public goods and public excellence.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I call this guy's Obama Mandami because he is Barack Obama reincarnated as a Muslim. Oh, maybe they're both, I don't know. Who knows? Zobama Mandani. Think about what he just said. It takes a socialist to clean up the mess. I'll wait. I'll wait. Anyone? Any you folks? Mamdani, Just tell me one socialist society that's worked ever in the history of the world. Ever. Just one. They all fail. And they all fail miserably. And people starve to death under socialism. It doesn't work because the people who are running things take all the stuff. And the people who are working to create the things get left with nothing. It doesn't work. It's killed over 100 million people. Socialism has. 100 million people have starved under socialism. I think a good, good mode of operation for Republicans right now is just to let the Democrats just let them say stuff. Let them Say things as often as possible, as freely as possible. Because when they speak, like the treasonous Senator Mark Kelly, they often say things that prove that Democrats are the party of racism. When you're the commander, you get some

[Mike Baker]

say in who your other crew members

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

are going to be.

[Mike Baker]

So the last thing I would want in a space shuttle crew would be 7 white guy US Navy test pilots like me. It would be a disaster.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Yeah, like you, it would. Yeah, I can see that. Because, you know, maybe the space station is so important. If so many things are relying on what they're doing up there. A lot of, of experimentation, a lot of technology development, keeping astronauts alive. Maybe they should just go with the most capable, qualified people instead of worrying about what color their skin is, Mark, or their hair color like yours. Canada's leader, leader Mark Carney, a known globalist leftist, and Trump here gave a speech about how Canadians should stay in their own country to own President Trump over tariffs. Don't come, don't visit the United States, he says. Carney always seems more high and mighty when he's not in the room with Trump, doesn't he?

[Peter Schweitzer]

You know, Canada's tourism sector had a record breaking summer. 50,000 more train rides, 13% more visits to our national parks, 15% more visits to our national museums.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Small individual acts of solidarity. When he gets in the room, Trump, it's like Mandani. Remember Mandani went to the Oval Office and he's like, oh, buddy, buddy, Trump. And then he gets out and starts spewing garbage. Solidarity. We love solidarity. Because nothing says solidarity like your former prime minister traipsing through Coachella festivals in California with his astronaut girlfriend, Katy Perry. So much solidarity. It's beautiful to see, isn't it? That guy. I, I don't even understand that one. All right, one more. I'm not sure if many Democrats still actually pay attention to James Carville. Guys lost his mind now, if at all. Or I know they did remember, he was the one who developed it's the economy stupid for Bill Clinton. That I would believe actually won Bill Clinton that election because it was about the. It still is, by the way. But lately, lately Carville's rants against President Trump certainly seem to represent the violence and anger of so many on the left.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Want to be clear on this? I do not want that man to die.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

I want to, I want to watch him suffer.

[Peter Schweitzer]

And I can't watch a dead person suffer.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

So I want him to be fully cognizant come November. So when people. He's out there now. It used to be like left leaning, progressive, but it's just a normal kind of guy from, I think he's from New Orleans. But now he's like out there ranting like calling Trump a fat F and screaming. And this is really, really, I guess, is he that thirsty to stay on television that he's going to do things like that? Performative stuff. Well, finally, some young liberal women performed a bizarre dance while blindfolded and wearing leotards with the Epstein files printed on them to protest against President Trump. We are just waiting for them to come out and dance today for all of Eric Swalwell's victims. Just watch this for a second, folks. Just watch this. What is this? This is liberalism defined right here. Don't these folks have anything better to do? And whose opinion did you sway dancing that stupid? It's Democrats. Democrats. I. Take a look at this, please. At some point you realize something's off. You're working, you're paying attention, you're doing what you're supposed to be doing and it's still just not adding up. That's the moment right there. But most people ignore it. I don't. On the Edge, we break down what's actually happening, why prices aren't what they seem to be, why healthy isn't always healthy. In fact, sometimes something labeled healthy is actually killing you. Ever wonder why some people keep moving forward while others stay stuck in place in a rut? The Edge. We expose the posers, the fraudsters and the cheatsters on the edge. No politics, no lectures, no waste of time. Just clarity. Pure thought. Success. New episodes every week. If you're ready for that shift. Subscribe to the Edge. The first step to a healthier life is by hitting that subscribe button right now. Do it now. Thousands have already done just that.

[Public Investing Sponsor]

Now.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

We love your voicemails. Mr. Ben is going to be busy today doing some war room stuff, but we want to hear a couple of voicemails before I forget. By the end of the show, I'm going to try and show you about something to tell you about this. On Wednesday, we're going to be in the west coast of Florida to seed the table. It's a very conservative man who put together a monster huge agricultural business. He's got a huge beautiful grocery store. It's got restaurants and bars in it. We're going to broadcast live. Oh, do we have that? Well, yeah. Look at that. Look at what a. What an amazing group of producers we got here. Look at that. See the table? We have a couple of confirmed guests Sheriff Marcino, we're talking to Ted Nugent, we're talking to Byron Donalds, we're talking to a couple others as well. It's going to be a great show. Live from See the table on the west coast of Florida. All right, Ben, do we have a couple of voicemails?

[Peter Schweitzer]

We do. We have a viewer who has a

[Richard Appel]

question about congressional votes.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Hey, Eric, I'm from North Carolina and

[Peter Schweitzer]

I watch your show basically every day that I can. And I'd like for you to explain

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

why certain bills take 60 votes and

[Peter Schweitzer]

certain bills don't take but 51. I think that would help a lot of undecided voters which way to go during the midterms. That has not been explained at all. I appreciate it and thank you for taking my call.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

So the way this works is in the House, it's a simple majority. When it sends over to the Senate, they need, well, they can, they can pass it with 51 votes if there's unanimous consent. Both sides say, okay, let's just do this, they pass. If one side filibusters, they say, no, we're not in favor of passing this right away. Let's have a conversation. Once they kick it into that conversation, it becomes a debate and then you need 60 votes. So it depends on how divided the Senate is on the issue. If they're, if they're not too divided on it, it goes right to vote. And if they do, it becomes a little bit more of a, a to do. And then what happens is the filibuster is very interesting. You're allowed to filibuster the, the vote. You're, in other words, keep talking until you talk yourself or that someone else into moving their vote. But you, as, as a party, you have to keep talking until, until you give up. So that's why it's called a talking filibuster. You can't just talk for a while and go to vote. You keep, otherwise it literally is at that moment. You'll lose the vote that way. So they keep talking, talking, talking, talking until someone says, you know what, let's give up, let's just vote. That's wacky way they do business. That's the way they do business in this, in the, in the Senate side of, of the, of of D.C. ben,

[Richard Appel]

we have a viewer who has questions about Israeli ground troops.

[Peter Schweitzer]

Yes, Mr. Boland, why doesn't Israel, if they need boots on the ground in Iran, why doesn't Israel put up their boots, their people, their military people, boots on the ground? Why does it have why should Trump even suggest that we do it? That's all I got to say. You have a blessed day and a happy Easter.

[Eric Rassmussen (Rav)]

Oh, thank you. Thank you. You're right. Where's. Where's Israel? Where are the other. Where are other allies in the region? Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar? They're supposedly our allies. Right, well, you want, you want to open the straight, put some boots on the ground if you want to do it. I, you know me, I'm against the boots on the ground thing. I think we can do this by air, we can do it by drone. And I think Trump is brilliant to come up with the idea of blockade the strait with ships. This is absolutely a brilliant strategy. Keeps us from putting boots on the ground, and it allows us to really choke the Iranian economy. Choke them out. Literally choke them out. They have no other sources of income other than oil. They need that straight to. They don't get paid until the oil hits the terminal of the country that bought or the company that bought their oil. What a perfect way. And again, folks, I believe this. It won't end. It won't end by Trump being harder on them or bombing them more. It'll end. Not even when the mullahs decide. It'll end when the people of Iran decide. I've said this from a long, long time ago. It's not a very popular opinion, but you really have to hurt their economy to the point where people just say, listen, enough is enough. Time to move on, folks. Again, Wednesday, you have that full screen real quick, Ben Wednesday will be at seat to table on the west coast of Florida. Coming live from. You got to see this place. You have to see this place. You will be blown away at what Alfie Oaks has done with a very conservative pro Trump crowd in that part of the country, that part of the state. See you tomorrow. War Room is coming up next. Have a great night. And we will be back here tomorrow again, Wednesday.

[Eric Swalwell]

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