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Ryan Reynolds
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John Law
From executive producer Isaac.
Ryan Reynolds
Saul, this is Tangle.
Isaac Saul
Good morning, good afternoon and good evening and welcome to the Tangle Podcast, a place where you get views from across the political spectrum, some independent thinking and a little bit of my take. I'm your host Isaac Saul and on today's episode we're going to be discussing President Donald Trump's strikes in Yemen against the Houthi rebels. I'm going to share some of my very torn up and complicated take on this issue. And of course we'll share some views from across the political spectrum as well. With that, I'm going to send it over to John to break down today's main topic and I'll be back for my take.
John Law
Thanks Isaac and welcome everybody. Here are your quick hits for today. First up, Israel carried out large scale airstrikes in Gaza against what it said were Hamas targets. The Hamas controlled Gaza Ministry of Health said the strikes killed approximately 400 Palestinians, reigniting fighting in Gaza and ending a two month ceasefire. Number two, the Justice Department asked a federal appeals court to replace the district court judge overseeing the case challenging the Trump administration's deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. The Justice Department claims the judge committed an inappropriate exercise of jurisdiction in attempting to pause the deportations. Number three, President Trump said that former President Joe Biden's pardons on his last day in office were invalid because they were signed with an auto pen, a machine that automates signatures on documents. Trump said those who received pardons, specifically the lawmakers who served on the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot, should not consider themselves immune from investigation. Number four the US State Department declared that South Africa's ambassador to the United States, Ibrahim Rasool, has until Friday to leave the country. The decision follows President Trump's order to pause US Funding for South Africa over its government's policies. And number five, Texas State Police arrested a Houston area midwife on charges of performing illegal abortions, the first criminal charges brought under the state's law banning abortion in virtually all cases.
Isaac Saul
John these are the most significant airstrikes since President Trump returned to the White House and the first time US jets have struck these Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since President Trump returned to the White House. US officials say F18 Super Hornets from.
John Law
The flight deck of the USS Harry.
Isaac Saul
S. Truman were the vanguard of the strikes, along with Air Force fighter jets and drones.
John Law
Houthi rebels backed by Iran are claiming.
Ryan Reynolds
They'Ve targeted an American warship as retaliation for US Strikes. Danielle Hamamjan is with us and Danielle.
John Law
There are concerns about the potential for escalation now. Over the weekend, the United States carried out a series of aerial and naval strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels. President Donald Trump said the strikes were retaliation for the Houthis attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, adding that the assault would continue until the attacks stopped. At least 53 people, including five children, have been killed by the strikes, according to a Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson. White House National Security Adviser Mike Walls said multiple Houthi leaders were killed. For context, the Houthis are an Iran backed political and religious group that has declared itself part of a resistance to Israel, the United States and other Western countries. Shortly after returning to office, President Trump redesignated the group as a terrorist organization after President Joe Biden removed the Trump era designation to allow aid deliveries to civil in Yemen. You can read our previous coverage of President Biden's response to the Houthi attacks with the link in today's episode description after emerging in the 1990s, the group took control of large parts of yemen in the 2010s and engaged Saudi led forces in a protracted civil war that killed more than 160,000 people and displaced 4 million. A UN brokered truce has been in effect since April 2022. Shortly after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, the the Houthis began targeting merchant vessels passing through the Red Sea, which they claimed were in retaliation for Israel's aerial bombardment and invasion of Gaza. The Biden administration and British government carried out strikes on The Houthis in January 2024 with support from Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, hitting an estimated 260 targets. The Houthis paused the attacks when Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire in January. On March 11, the group said it would resume attacks on Israeli ships in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza. After the US Strikes, the Houthis reportedly attempted at least two retaliatory attacks against a USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, but both attempts were unsuccessful. On Monday, President Trump said further attempts to attack US Forces would be construed as attacks by Iran. Writing on Truth Social Iran will be held responsible and suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be dire. Iran has rejected the claim that it is backing the Houthis, but the country has a well documented history of supplying Yemen with weapons, including drone parts, missile warheads and anti tank missile units. Today we'll share perspectives from the left and the right on the Trump administration strikes on the Houthis and then Isaac's take.
Isaac Saul
We'll be right back after this quick break. This episode of Tangle is brought to you by Wild Grain. Wild Grain is the first bake from frozen subscription box for artisanal breads, pastries and pastas. Wildgrain's boxes are fully customizable to your taste and dietary restrictions. In addition to their classic variety box, they recently launched a new gluten free box and a plant based box that is 100% vegan. Best of all, they take the hassle out of baking since all items bake from frozen in 25 minutes or less with no mess or cleanup. I recently got a box of wild grain products and included in it was their six pack of the Parmesan Herb Biscuits. These things were unbelievably delicious. They actually tasted like freshly baked bread after just throwing them in the oven for 25 minutes straight from frozen so I can personally attest to how good some of this stuff really is. So if you are ready to bring all your favorite carbs right to your doorstep, be sure to check out Wild Grain so you can begin building your own box of artisanal breads, pastas and pastries for a limited time only. Wild Grain is offering our listeners $30 off their first box plus free croissants in every box when you go to wildgrain.comtangle to start your subscription. You heard me. Free croissants in every box and $30 off your first box when you go to wildgrain.comtangle that's wildgrain.comtangle and you can use promo code tangle at checkout.
Ryan Reynolds
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John Law
All right, first up, let's start with what the left is saying. The left is mixed on the strikes, with many expressing concern about the US Being pulled deeper into conflicts in the Middle East. Some say the attacks are hypocritical after Trump ran on ending military engagements abroad. Others say the stricts are justified but require a broader strategy. In Bloomberg, Paul Wallace suggested hitting the Houthis UPS midi stakes for Trump Donald Trump's most significant military action since he returned to power. Weekend airstrikes on Yemen's Iran backed Houthis will likely have far reaching consequences for the wider Middle east and the oil market, wallace wrote. The US Says for now there's no need to consider sending in ground troops. Still, the Houthis control western parts of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the crucial port of Hodeida. Past experiences suggest it won't be easy to stop them from the air alone. While the Houthis have been weakened, their attacks dropped off in recent months. They're still far from being toppled and continue to prevent most Western shipping firms from taking the Suez Canal route while sailing between Asia and Europe. Moreover, there's a danger they could lash out against Trump by targeting oil rich Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with drones and missiles. Wallace said the Middle east will be watching the showdown to gauge how relentless Trump's willing to be in backing his words with military action. In the intercept, Ada Chavez wrote. Trump reasserts the US as the world's policeman, framed by the US As a move to protect crucial Red Sea shipping lanes. The illegal escalation is a shift from the retaliatory strikes of the Biden administration to what appears to be a return to a full scale regime change war, chavez said. The escalation makes for awkward politics in America. Trump ran on ending wars, emphasizing his desire to avoid new wars in his inaugural address. In turn, his America first loyalists, whatever their motives, are cheering his deal making with the aim of ending the war in Ukraine. Yet the administration is now barreling toward more bloodshed in the Middle east, where both Trump and Joe Biden have let brutal allies run amok while trying to extricate the US Itself from regional conflicts. Now the Trump administration is pushing an explicitly deeper and more involved intervention in Yemen, chavez wrote. That risk of full blown regional conflict too is growing as Trump himself threatens Iran, a major backer of the Houthi movement and a prime enemy of US Top allies Israel and Saudi Arabia. In foreign policy, Daniel B. Shapiro said targeting Houthi leaders is warranted but not enough. The Biden administration, in which I served, struggled with the Houthi challenge. President Joe Biden also authorized extensive strikes against the Houthis. Unlike the description of some Trump administration officials, these were not pinpricks nor purely responsive strikes. On at least seven occasions, US Forces, sometimes with UK participation, struck underground weapons and storage facilities and command and control centers, shapiro wrote. But the attacks did not restore deterrence. The Houthi leadership and its deep anti Israel, anti American ideology seemed emboldened by the exchanges. In order to mount a sustained campaign against such targets, the US Military requires additional intelligence and needs cooperation, both analytical and operational, from key regional partners, Shapiro said. From Trump administration officials, descriptions of their strikes, it sounds as though the intelligence picture has matured enough to target Houthi leaders. That is necessary and appropriate, provided care is taken, to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible. But this will need to be a sustained effort. All right, that is it for what the left is saying, which brings us to what the right is saying. The right is mostly supportive of the strikes, arguing that Trump is protecting global commerce. Some say the threat from the Houthis justifies military action. Others question Trump's change in tack. After previously criticizing Biden's strikes, the Wall Street Journal editorial board wrote Trump takes on the Houthis. One of the Biden administration's worst failures was letting Iran's terror proxies in Yemen shut down a crucial global shipping lane and shoot at the US Military with impunity. President Trump sent a better message on the weekend by ordering significant airstrikes against the Houthis that are a step toward restoring deterrence in the region, the board said. Mr. Trump often talks tougher than he acts, so it's important to see if this is the start of a larger campaign to target Houthi leaders and eliminate the group's weapon stores and Iranian supply lines. Notably, Mr. Trump also included Iran in his Truth Social warning to the Houthis. This is significant because the Houthis like to claim that they are independent from Iran, but Tehran is their main arms supplier. The Houthis wouldn't be nearly as large a threat without that help, the board wrote. Deterring the Houthi attacks is crucial to restoring the freedom of global commerce. They have all but shut down the Red Sea route between Europe and Asia for ships that aren't Russian, Chinese or Iranian. The cost of shipping and insurance has soared. It's encouraging that, at least in this case, Mr. Trump believes in American global leadership. In National Review, Charles C.W. cook said, Blow the Houthis out of the water. Has there ever been a case for American military action as strong as the case for hitting the Houthis? Cook asked. The internationalists ought to be happy that the federal government is protecting trade. The nationalists ought to be happy that the federal government is retaliating against attacks on US Naval assets. If consumer inflation is your preoccupation, this helps. If respect for the United States is your concern, this works out. If you want an interventionalist government, you'll like it by default. If you want a government that acts only in extremists, this counts. The federal government exists to represent and protect the United States on the world stage, and the Houthis represent both a direct and indirect threat to that charge. They have attacked our ships, which is an act of war that the executive branch is permitted to respond to unilaterally, and they have attacked our economy, cook said. That President Trump has chosen this course of action is surprising only because his predecessor chose to dilly dally. Sometimes sending a gunboat is both the simplest and most righteous response in reason. Matthew Petty criticized Trump for reopening the conflict in Yemen. Candidate Donald Trump thought that bombing Yemen was just a failed mentality when then President Joe Biden did it. It's crazy. You can solve problems over the telephone. Instead, they start dropping bombs. I see recently they're dropping bombs all over Yemen, end quote. Trump is now dropping bombs all over Yemen, petty wrote. Instead of calling Biden a warmonger, as he had a year ago. Trump claimed on Sunday that Biden's pathetically weak policy had allowed an unrelenting campaign of piracy, violence and terrorism against American shipping. In fact, those attacks had already stopped earlier this week, thanks to Trump picking up the phone. The Houthi movement, one of two rival governments in Yemen, had tried to blockade the Red Sea in support of the Palestinian cause. After Trump brokered an Israeli Palestinian ceasefire, the Houthis declared an end to their attacks on foreign shipping. American ships then returned to the Red Sea. All right, let's head over to Isaac for his take.
Isaac Saul
All right, that is it for what the left and the right are saying. Which brings us to my take. So I try to be pragmatic in my political commentary, but I also try to be human. And those goals are often contradictory, especially on days like this, when the world shows that it can be a cold, hard place full of violence and destruction. Case in point, this morning, after working on this take yesterday, I woke up to the devastating news that the Israel Gaza ceasefire had gone up in flames. After a couple weeks full of stories about halted aid exchanges that included deceased hostages and ramped up clashes in the West Bank, Israel carried out one of its largest attacks ever in Gaza, an attack whose lasting image will almost certainly be a dead Palestinian baby in a rainbow onesie that went viral on social media. The image was verified by a Fox News war correspondent as a new father. It's hard to process that kind of picture, even amid reports that key Hamas fighters were also killed in the strike. War has a way of breeding more conflict, not just on the ground, but internally. When I read news correspondences and see these images, my brain and my heart, the pragmatic and the human, they're set against each other. The Trump administration strike on Yemen might read like a simple show of force, but the Houthis are claiming we killed dozens of civilians, including five children. How do we possibly weigh that human reality against the pragmatism of deterring future Houthi attacks? Since there still seems to be some debate about this, I'll just steal from my previous writing to make the case quickly again that the Houthis are not the good guys here. Newsflash. The Houthis are not doing this because they care about the Palestinian cause. They are not bent out of shape about civilian deaths, as evidenced by their and Saudi Arabia's total disregard for civilian casualties in Yemen, where their own people are dying by the hundreds of thousands. Nor is this all new. Long before the latest incursion into Gaza. Houthi rebels were attacking and hijacking ships in the Red Sea. They are doing this because they are literally pirates, Islamic extremists who want money, power, and death to the infidels. Their slogan is a call for death to America, Israel and Jews, and victory for Islam. They are working hard to bring back slavery in Yemen. They are not the Yemeni government and shouldn't be conflated as such. Attacking foreign ships that are not part of the conflict in Gaza as they try to transport goods through the Red Sea is also not an effective way to wage a war against Israel. None of this is to absolve Israel for the mass civilian deaths in Gaza, or the US for its funding of Saudi Arabia and the war in Yemen, or the Saudis for inflicting so much horror in Yemen over the last 10 years. But it is to say the Houthis are not fighting some moral battle, nor have they demonstrated they care at all about the deaths of Palestinians or Yemeni. That was from a piece I wrote back in 2024. And in our cold, hard and violent world, a show of force from an unrestrained US Military against pirates like the Houthis can be incredibly effective. However, it can also dramatically worsen a bad situation. So in one way, I don't know what other kinds of action Trump can take, which is more or less what I said. When Biden ordered strikes against the Houthis in 2024, Biden took criticism from just about everyone from the left for risking a wider war in the region, from some conservatives for not attacking the Houthis persistently enough, and notably from Donald Trump, who suggested he pick up the phone and find a way to resolve the issue. In the year and a half since the Gaza war broke out, the Houthis have been attacking ships that pass the Red Sea near their coastline. These attacks have often been carried out against cargo ships that are totally uninvolved with the conflict in Gaza. In that time period, the Houthis have targeted over 100 commercial vessels with missiles or drones, sunk in two ships, and killed four sailors. That's to say nothing of the 174 attempted attacks on US Navy assets and even an attempt on a US fighter jet. The United States, United Kingdom, and Israel have expended a great deal of resources trying to protect commerce passing through the area, and we've had to put our own navy in harm's way. Nothing this coalition has done, aside from reaching a now broken ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza, has dissuaded the Houthis if the Houthis have decided they will attack ships in the Red Sea without a peace deal in Gaza, which Biden, Trump, Israel and Hamas and the international community have now failed to deliver, then they can expect continued military reprisal for their decision. That's the destructive pragmatism of the often violent world that we live in. At the same time, escalating with this particular group doesn't seem wise. For starters, the Houthis have survived encounters like this going back to George W. Bush. They have survived the onslaught from the U. S. Backed Saudi forces. They became more entrenched during the Biden administration strikes. Nothing about the latest US Response is particularly novel, and the Houthis appear undeterred, attempting a retaliatory strike on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and promising to soon find new ways to inflict pain on our troops. The idea that you're going to do this massive wave of airstrikes and the Houthis are just going to lay on their backs and take it is absurd, Mohamed Al Basha, the founder of a US Based Middle east security advisory Basha Report, told the Wall Street Journal. They're going to retaliate and retaliate severely. It's going to be a vicious cycle. While the safety of the USS Harry S. Truman is probably not at stake here, the Houthis could turn their attention to US bases some 800 miles from Yemen in the United Arab Emirates. Their solidarity with the Palestinian cause, if you believe it's earnest, has earned them a great deal of support in the Arab world. And it seems like the group feels the wind at their backs despite taking heavy losses in the last year. That kind of confidence could embolden them to continue to escalate rather than look for an off ramp. A military response also creates a genuine political question for Trump. Since 2016, he's been running on a kind of isolationist anti war position that appeals to a generation of Americans who deeply resent getting dragged into Iraq and Afghanistan. One can reasonably argue that this anti war campaign rhetoric has never matched his actions. But his administration is now openly promising a sustained campaign against the Houthis while also warning Iran that they could be next. This latest strike has snapped US Navy ships into action and put our soldiers in the region on heightened alert. It is not unreasonable to think this opens Trump up to dissent from his own ranks, especially the ascendant isolationist right who might view his response as the first step to dragging our troops into another Middle east conflict. Again, I understand Trump's predicament as someone just reacting to this conflict, I'm pulled in different directions by my head and my heart. The president has his own dilemma risk appeasement through an action or risk entrenchment with a response. In the absence of a ceasefire, the Houthis have not been dissuaded by tough talk or the occasional strike, so a reasonable next step could be a large scale sustained onslaught. But if Trump doesn't get the Houthis to back off, he'll definitely risk not just more violence in the region and more danger for US Troops, but also political blowback back home. We'll be right back after this quick break.
Ryan Reynolds
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Isaac Saul
All right, that is it for my take. Which brings us to your questions answered. This one is from Ruth, who wrote it and said you didn't do your homework on the last article about the Palestinian who Trump deported. Since he has a green card, which is a privilege, not a right, and he's not an American citizen, then deporting him is legal and the president has the authority to do so. Did you see Marco Rubio's interview with Margaret Brennan? Okay, so first of all, yes, I actually saw Rubio's interview, which came out well after our edition on Khalil's arrest. Rubio did give another statement, much more, shortly after that addition, though still after it. And I talked about how it was the best argument we'd encountered yet in favor of Khalil's deportation. I talked about that on our Sunday podcast. However, I still thought his argument fell short for two reasons. First, Rubio conflated the process of granting a green card with the process of revoking one. He also repeatedly muddied the waters on student visa versus green card holder. It's all well and good for Rubio to say that the State Department has the authority to reject green card applications at its discretion, but revoking one after issuing it is a different matter because US Residents with green cards are conferred constitutional protections and as clearly stated in our Constitution, these rights are inalienable and not privileges to be meted out at the Secretary of State or president's discretion. That said, Rubio has also argued that the Secretary of State has the discretion to deport a visa holder if the Secretary does deems their presence or activities would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. If Khalil is granted his due process, we'll see the Trump administration argue that this rarely used power can be applied to him in court, but I am skeptical that they will succeed either way. We've yet to see a clear case for Khalil's deportation, even under this obscure law that spells out the specific threat he constitutes or describes any crime he committed beyond protesting in a manner the government didn't like. So for now, I stand by the argument that this is a dangerous infringement on free speech that could be easily used against a wide range of permanent and legal US Residents. All right, that is it for your questions answered. I'm going to send it back to John for the rest of the pod and I'll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good one. Peace.
John Law
Thanks, Isaac. Here's your under the radar story for today, folks. Gen Z is gradually trying to break into the housing market, filling 13% of U.S. home mortgage applications in 2024, up from 10% in 2023. As this age group, roughly ages 12 to 28, grapples with high housing costs and limited supply, many are choosing to buy homes in relatively affordable parts of the Midwest and South, while eschewing coastal metropolitan areas. Omaha, Detroit and Salt Lake City were among the cities with the highest share of Gen z homebuyers in 2024, while Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco were among the lowest. Axios has this story and there's a link in today's episode Description alright, next up is our numbers section. The number of people in Yemen whom the United nations classifies as in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection services is 21.6, roughly 2/3 of the population. The estimated number of people internally displaced in Yemen is 4.5 million. The number of people in Yemen at risk of famine is 5 million. The number of attacks carried out by the Houthis in the red Sea between October 19, 2023 and March 7, 2025 is 313, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project. The percent increase in the cost of shipping a container from Asia to Northern Europe from December 2023 to December 2024 is 270%, according to Freightos. The percentage of Yemenis living in Houthi controlled areas, government controlled areas, and areas of divided control, respectively, with a positive view of the Houthi's Red sea operations is 35%, 28% and 25%, according to a February March 2024 poll from the Sanaa center for Strategic Studies. And the percentage of Yemenis living in Houthi controlled areas, government controlled areas, and areas of divided control, respectively, with a positive view of Houthis as a whole is 8%, 3% and 3%. And last but not least, our have a nice day story on average, 951 soccer jerseys are sent to UK landfills every minute. An annual campaign called Green Football's Great Save aims to encourage players to keep sports uniforms and equipment in use for longer by upcycling, reusing or donating them. The initiative has organized a secret drop of star players used and signed jerseys to charity shops across the country and incorporates on site repairs for old kids. I love the idea that instead of sitting unused, it can now help someone else stay in the game while also reducing waste, professional soccer player Demi Stokes said. Positive News has this story and there's a link in today's episode description all right everybody, that is it for today's episode. As always, if you'd like to support our work, Please go to readtangle.com where you can sign up for a newsletter membership, podcast membership or a bundled membership that gets you a discount on both. We'll be right back here tomorrow. For Isaac and the rest of the crew, this is John Law signing off. Have a great day. Peace.
Isaac Saul
Our podcast is written by me, Isaac Saul and edited and engineered by Duke Thomas. Our script is edited by Ari Weitzman, Will K Back daily Saul and Sean Brady the logo for our podcast was made by Magdalena Bova, who is also our social media manager. The music for the podcast was produced by Diet75. And if you are looking for more from Tango, please go check out our website@readtangle.com that's readtangle.com.
Ryan Reynolds
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Podcast Information:
In the March 18, 2025 episode of Tangle, host Isaac Saul delves into the recent military actions taken by former President Donald Trump against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The episode aims to dissect the complexities of these strikes, presenting viewpoints from across the political spectrum and offering Isaac's nuanced perspective on the implications of such actions.
[04:21] Isaac Saul introduces the gravity of the situation:
"These are the most significant airstrikes since President Trump returned to the White House and the first time US jets have struck these Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since President Trump returned to the White House."
The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have been a persistent threat in the Red Sea, targeting commercial shipping vessels. The recent strikes involved F18 Super Hornets from the USS Harry S. Truman, along with Air Force fighter jets and drones. The Houthis claim responsibility for retaliating against these strikes by targeting an American warship, raising concerns about potential escalation.
[04:43] John Law provides additional context:
"Houthi rebels backed by Iran are claiming they've targeted an American warship as retaliation for US strikes."
The attacks resulted in significant casualties, with at least 53 people killed, including five children, according to the Houthi Health Ministry. White House National Security Adviser Mike Walls stated that multiple Houthi leaders were eliminated in the strikes.
The left exhibits a spectrum of reactions, ranging from apprehension about deepening US involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts to cautious support for the strikes under a broader strategic framework.
[07:34] Isaac Saul summarizes left-leaning analyses:
Paul Wallace in Bloomberg contends that Trump's strikes are poised to have extensive repercussions for both the Middle East and global oil markets, emphasizing that while ground troops are not currently contemplated, the Houthis' control over significant Yemeni territories poses ongoing challenges.
"The Middle East will be watching the showdown to gauge how relentless Trump's willing to be in backing his words with military action." ([04:43] John Law)
Ada Chavez in Intercept critiques the action as a hypocritical deviation from Trump's campaign promises to end military engagements abroad. She argues that the strikes symbolize a shift from Biden's reactive measures to Trump's proactive, and potentially destabilizing, military interventions.
"The escalation makes for awkward politics in America...the administration is now barreling toward more bloodshed in the Middle East." ([07:34] Isaac Saul)
Daniel B. Shapiro offers a nuanced perspective from his experience in the Biden administration, suggesting that while targeting Houthi leaders is justified, it remains insufficient without sustained intelligence and regional cooperation.
"This will need to be a sustained effort...provided care is taken, to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible." ([07:34] Isaac Saul)
Conversely, the right largely supports Trump's military actions, viewing them as necessary measures to protect global commerce and assert American leadership.
[07:34] Isaac Saul highlights key arguments from conservative voices:
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board lauds Trump's decisive strikes as a means to restore deterrence and protect crucial shipping lanes, criticizing the Biden administration for its perceived complacency.
"President Trump sent a better message on the weekend by ordering significant airstrikes against the Houthis that are a step toward restoring deterrence in the region." ([07:34] Isaac Saul)
Charles C.W. Cook from National Review advocates for strong military action, emphasizing the protection of American economic interests and national respect.
"If consumer inflation is your preoccupation, this helps. If respect for the United States is your concern, this works out." ([07:34] Isaac Saul)
Matthew Petty voices skepticism about Trump's consistency, critiquing him for abandoning his isolationist rhetoric in favor of renewed military engagement.
"It's crazy. You can solve problems over the telephone...instead, they start dropping bombs." ([07:34] Isaac Saul)
Isaac Saul provides expert analysis, referencing historical interactions and the broader geopolitical landscape:
The Houthis have been a longstanding adversary, entrenched in Yemen's civil war, and have demonstrated resilience against US and Saudi-led forces since the early 2000s.
Iran's involvement is implied through support in weapon supplies, although Tehran denies direct backing.
The strikes come after a failed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, indicating a volatile regional backdrop where multiple conflicts intersect.
[16:57] Isaac Saul offers a heartfelt and pragmatic perspective:
"The Houthis are not the good guys here...They are literally pirates, Islamic extremists who want money, power, and death to the infidels."
Isaac grapples with the moral complexities of military intervention, acknowledging the tragic civilian casualties resulting from the strikes. He emphasizes that while strategic deterrence is necessary, escalating military actions could exacerbate the already volatile situation in Yemen and the broader Middle East.
"A show of force from an unrestrained US Military against pirates like the Houthis can be incredibly effective. However, it can also dramatically worsen a bad situation."
Isaac reflects on Trump's isolationist campaign rhetoric versus the administration's active military stance, highlighting the potential for political backlash from both isolationist factions and those advocating for sustained intervention.
"If Trump doesn't get the Houthis to back off, he'll definitely risk not just more violence in the region and more danger for US Troops, but also political blowback back home."
[25:12] Isaac Saul addresses a listener named Ruth, who challenges a previous stance on the deportation of a Palestinian individual by Trump:
Ruth's Query: Questions the legality of deporting a green card holder who isn't an American citizen, asserting it's within presidential authority.
Isaac's Response: Acknowledges the complexity, differentiating between granting and revoking green cards. He critiques Marco Rubio's statements on the matter, emphasizing constitutional protections for green card holders and expressing skepticism about the Trump administration's legal justification for deportation without clear evidence of wrongdoing.
"US Residents with green cards are conferred constitutional protections and as clearly stated in our Constitution, these rights are inalienable and not privileges to be meted out at the Secretary of State or president's discretion." ([25:12] Isaac Saul)
Isaac underscores the potential dangers of using deportation as a tool against political dissent, labeling it a "dangerous infringement on free speech."
John Law presents additional insights and statistical data:
Gen Z Homebuyers: Increasing presence in the housing market, with a rise from 10% in 2023 to 13% in 2024, favoring affordable regions like Omaha and Detroit over high-cost metropolitan areas.
Yemen Humanitarian Crisis:
Houthi Attacks:
Public Opinion in Yemen:
Environmental Initiative:
The March 18, 2025 episode of Tangle provides a comprehensive analysis of President Trump's military actions against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. By presenting diverse political perspectives and expert insights, host Isaac Saul facilitates a nuanced understanding of the strategic, humanitarian, and geopolitical ramifications of these strikes. The episode underscores the delicate balance between pragmatic defense measures and the ethical considerations inherent in military interventions, leaving listeners with critical reflections on the future trajectory of US involvement in the Middle East.
Notable Quotes:
Isaac Saul [04:21]: "These are the most significant airstrikes since President Trump returned to the White House..."
John Law [04:43]: "Houthi rebels backed by Iran are claiming they've targeted an American warship as retaliation for US strikes."
Isaac Saul [07:34]: "The Middle East will be watching the showdown to gauge how relentless Trump's willing to be in backing his words with military action."
Isaac Saul [16:57]: "A show of force from an unrestrained US Military against pirates like the Houthis can be incredibly effective. However, it can also dramatically worsen a bad situation."
Isaac Saul [25:12]: "US Residents with green cards are conferred constitutional protections and as clearly stated in our Constitution, these rights are inalienable..."
This summary encapsulates the key discussions, diverse viewpoints, and critical insights presented in the episode, ensuring that listeners gain a thorough understanding of the intricate issues surrounding Trump's strikes against the Houthis without needing to access the original podcast.