Trump Panics as Iran Blocks Ship

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Panics as Iran Blocks Ship
Date: July 1, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas (MeidasTouch Network)

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Overview

In this lively and incisive episode, the Meiselas brothers break down the latest international crisis unfolding in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran forcefully blocks a ship attempting to use a U.S.-proposed shipping route. President Trump and his administration, particularly J.D. Vance, are in full damage control, claiming control of the situation despite abundant evidence to the contrary. The brothers offer sharp analysis, fact-checking, and signature banter as they dissect the official narratives, point out contradictions, and highlight the potential geopolitical and economic impacts. The episode also features mockery of recent Trump appearances—including a bizarre, AI-assisted encounter with a digital Teddy Roosevelt.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran's Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz

• Tension in the Gulf: The episode opens with news that Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) has blocked a foreign container ship attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz using a U.S.-promoted route.
  • "Donald Trump is panicking as Iran has once again blocked a ship..." (00:30)
• Strategic Control: Ben highlights that, despite Trump's claims, satellite evidence shows tankers are still using the IRGC-approved route, not the U.S. route.
• Iran's Warning: Iran broadcasts footage of the grounded cargo ship and reiterates threats against unauthorized passage:
  • “Iran says it repeatedly warned captains, ship owners...Any entry or exit through routes other than the route of authority in the Persian Gulf could lead to irreparable incidents.” (01:07)

2. Trump Administration Spinning the Narrative

• JD Vance Speech Analysis:
  • JD Vance boasts about U.S. military action against Iran and “full control” of the Strait, a claim the hosts mock for its clear inaccuracy.
  • Ben comments on the disengagement of the military audience during Vance’s speech:
    • "Who were just incredibly bored and disengaged by this terrible speech." (02:08)
• Fact Check on Oil Markets:
  • Ben explains ‘crack spreads’—the pricing difference between crude and refined products—and how market manipulations are impacting gasoline prices.
    • "I know I may sound like a broken record about this, but the crack spreads are the delta..." (02:36)
  • Strategic oil reserves are near technical bottom, compounding the crisis.
  • The hosts urge listeners to look for economic "receipts" rather than White House spin.

3. JD Vance on Iran and U.S. Policy

• Claimed Free Transit & Military Strikes:
  • Vance asserts that U.S. bombs secured “free commercial transit” (04:07), which the brothers refute.
• War Aims and Contradictions:
  • Vance claims, "The President will tell you exactly what you’re going for" if asked to go to war—contrasted with Trump’s vague or false war aims in the past.
  • Ben points out the hypocrisy:
    • “No, he didn’t even tell anybody what we were going for last time…"(04:38)
• Iran's Nuclear Capabilities:
  • Vance claims Iran is “further away from developing a nuclear bomb than they’ve ever been”—a statement Ben dismisses as fabrication.
    • "Just making up numbers while focus on what's happening in the Strait. They don't want you to focus on that." (05:50)

4. Negotiation vs. Endless War (Rubio & Neocon shade)

• Negotiation as Strength:
  • Vance throws shade at Marco Rubio and others for criticizing negotiations, presenting them as “strength, not weakness” (06:26).
• MOU Misconceptions:
  • The hosts clarify that the Trump administration treats the signed MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) as a new negotiation, rather than a binding implementation, frustrating allies and foes alike.
    • “But it’s not a new deal. And the issue...is that you do fake deals.” (06:56)
  • Trump allegedly used the MOU as a stalling tactic to build stockpiles and leverage markets.
• Critique of U.S. War Record:
  • Vance attempts to distance the administration from past neoconservative adventurism—despite the current administration mirroring those very actions.
    • "But you are the neo cons. You're the neo cons just like them who lost." (08:48)

5. Economic Fallout & Deal Structure

• Nuclear Issues Deferred:
  • The brothers break down how, under the new MOU, discussion of Iran’s nuclear program is contingent on U.S. fulfillment of specific obligations (lifting fund freezes, regional concessions).
    • "That only happens when the United States fulfills its obligations under the mou. Unfreezing the funds for Iran..." (09:36)
• International Frustration:
  • Arab states express confusion and anger over supposed $300 billion funds, as outlined in the poorly communicated deal.

6. Trump’s North Dakota Speech & AI Teddy Roosevelt

• Bizarre Spectacle:
  • Trump arrives at the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Center by train, with horses escorting his motorcade in an ostentatious show of bravado.
    • “Trump is arriving in his choo choo train.” (11:40)
  • He interacts with an AI simulation of President Teddy Roosevelt, apparently mistaking the digital performance for genuine wisdom.
    • Ben: "AI Teddy Roosevelt is trolling Donald Trump because Trump’s like, do you think the Panama Canal is your greatest achievement?" (12:05)
    • AI Roosevelt:
      • "It isn't always the biggest or boldest job that matters most...Parks set aside, food and drugs made safe, the square deal given to all, not just to a few." (12:41)
    • Trump’s reverent, somewhat confused replies add to the comedic tone.
      • “I just want to say it's an honor to be with you today.” (13:44)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the U.S. Route in the Strait of Hormuz:
  • "Iran's IRGC grounded a foreign container ship in the Strait of Hormuz trying to use a US Lane moments ago." (01:00)
• Ben on Administration's Excuses:
  • “Let’s focus on the receipts here.” (03:13)
• J.D. Vance attempting to spin military engagement:
  • "But what we must never do is drop bombs just for the sake of dropping bombs...He’ll ask you to go to war. Yes. But...he’ll tell you exactly what you’re going for." (05:19)
• AI Teddy Roosevelt’s wisdom:
  • "The job of a president is beyond a single thing like that. You must care about the people...Not just to a few." (12:41)
• Ben on the administration’s failures:
  • "You do fake deals... and now you’re gonna lecture on what the neocons did, who are horrible people, but you are the neocons." (08:48)

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Important Timestamps

• 00:30 – 03:00: Iran blocks the ship; breakdown of events and Iran’s messages.
• 03:00 – 04:30: Analysis of JD Vance’s speech, oil crack spreads, and economic impact.
• 05:19 – 06:26: Vance on “bombing” policies, negotiation, and neocon critiques.
• 09:36 – 11:16: Structure and implications of the MOU, deferred nuclear negotiations.
• 11:40 – 13:58: Trump’s arrival in North Dakota, interaction with AI Teddy Roosevelt, and the satirical fallout.

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Tone and Takeaway

• Satirical, Direct, and Analytical: The Meiselas brothers maintain their blend of humor, informed skepticism, and an unapologetic defense of democratic norms.
• Urgent Critique: The episode calls out government disinformation, hypocrisy, and policy missteps with sharp insight and clear evidence.
• Memorable Satire: Trump’s AI Teddy Roosevelt encounter ends the episode on a comedic yet telling note about political vanity and the search for historical validation.

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For Listeners

This episode provides a thorough, skeptical, and often hilarious look at a developing international crisis, the narrative management attempts of the Trump administration, and the reliability (or lack thereof) of official pronouncements on U.S. foreign policy. Whether you’re following the Strait of Hormuz news closely or just want incisive political analysis with a comedic edge, this is a must-listen.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

of $45 for three months, $90 for six months or $180 for a 12 month plan. Required $15 per month equivalent taxes and feeds. Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy. See terms.

[C]

Donald Trump is panicking as Iran has once again blocked a ship trying to traverse the Strait of Hormuz using the unauthorized route. Trump and J.D. vance have been bragging, we've opened up our own route in the Strait of Hormuz that we control. The IRGC released a video saying, no, you don't. And by the way, you may want to take a look at some of these satellite footage because all of the tankers right now, the VLCC mostly, all using the IRGC route. And in terms of the transponders on these tankers on the other route, you ain't seeing any ships traversing over there. So Iran's IRGC grounded a foreign container ship in the Strait of Hormuz trying to use a US Lane moments ago. Iran says it repeatedly warned captains, ship owners and officials of shipping companies around the world that any entry or exit through routes other than the route of authority in the Persian Gulf could lead to irreparable incidents. And I'll show you right here because the IRGC just released footage of the foreign cargo ship stuck in the Strait of Hormuz after attempting to transit using a US Suggested route this morning, calling it an incident even worse than sinking, per the Iranian broadcast network. Here's what they just showed moments ago.

[D]

Let's play it.

[C]

Shut up, buddy. So as the Trump regime has been panicking, they sent J.D. vance to act like a tough guy in front of members of our military who. Who were just incredibly bored and disengaged by this terrible speech. JD Vance was giving the speech and he was like, do you all know we dropped bombs a couple of days ago on Iran. You know why? Because Iran was shooting at commercial ships that were using our route. And now there's complete transit through the Strait of Hormuz not using the IRGC route, using our route. We did it. Mission accomplished. That's not what's happening. And And I implore everybody to look at the crack spreads right now. I know I may sound like a broken record about this, but the crack spreads are the delta or the difference between the crude prices that you see, which are below $70 a barrel. Right. That's the WTI and Brent crude. But look at what the refiners are charging because our strategic reserves are hitting technical or functional tank bottom. And so the refiners see, wait a minute, we don't have the ability to provide this level of gasoline at the pump while something's going on with the market, to manipulate it. So it's lower right now than it was under former President Biden in like 2023 and 2024 when the Strait of Hormuz was open. But the refiners see what's happening. That's why I keep on saying, let's focus on the receipts here. So when something happens, we like, where did that come from? I'm telling you what's happening right now. Watch what JD Van said.

[E]

Let's play it thing that matters to the American people. We dropped some bombs a couple of days ago. You know why? Because the Iranians were shooting at commercial ships. So we dropped some bombs, we applied some leverage, and we've had free commercial transit for the last three days.

[C]

Then JD Van said, look, and here's what we're going to be doing. If the Iranians try to rebuild the nuclear program, we've got options. If Iranians try to threaten their neighbors, we've got options. But what we must never do is drop bombs just for the sake of dropping bombs. I agree that J.D. vance, but that's not what you did before. You dropped bombs for the sake of dropping bombs on Iran because y' all went with Netanyahu to engage in this catastrophic war in the first place. And then J.D. vance is like, he'll ask you, Trump will ask you to go to war. Yes. But when he asks you, he'll tell you exactly what you're going for. No, he didn't even tell anybody what we were going for last time. Oh, yeah, he said that it was going. We were going to go there for regime change and replace the ayatollah and that he and Netanyahu would be viewed as conquering heroes. This is what JD Vance said moments ago.

[D]

Let's play it.

[E]

If the Iranians try to rebuild the nuclear program, the president's got options again because of you. If the Iranians try to threaten their neighbors or fund terrorism, we've got options again because of you. But what we must never do is drop bombs just for the sake of dropping bombs. And that is what the President will never ask you to do. He'll ask you to go to war. Yes. But when he asks you to go to war, he'll tell you exactly what you're going for. And I think that is what you should expect out of your political leadership.

[C]

And then JD Vance lies and said the Iranians are further away from developing a nuclear bomb than they've ever been. Just making up numbers while focus on what's happening in the Strait. They don't want you to focus on that.

[D]

Here, play this clip of JD and

[E]

now, and trust me, I know, because I look at the intelligence estimates. If you look at what our own intelligence says about their nuclear program, they are further away from developing a nuclear bomb than they have ever been since basically the last 20 or 30 years. And that is because of you and because of your hard work.

[C]

And then JD Vance throwing obvious shade at Marco Rubio here, saying there are people in this country who want to keep going and going. Why do we engage in negotiation? It's not out of weakness, but it's out of strength. By the way, I agree with JD Vance. However, the negotiations are over. I mean, you did the MoU. The issue right now is that y' all are pretending that the document you signed and that Donald Trump held up in Versailles isn't a real thing. You do an mou, and then you go, aha. Now the negotiation begins. No, now the technical implementation of the deal begins. But it's not a new deal. And the issue that so many in the international community see is that you do fake deals. And as you said yesterday when you were on Michael Nol's show, the purpose of the MoU was to buy time in 60 days to build up the stocks. I mean, maybe quite literally, Donald Trump's portfolio trading 21,000 times in 2025. But I think you mean the oil stocks and the weapon stocks, because you said, when that goes on, we'll judge how Iran did and we'll determine if we want to go back to war. It's like a test. No, it's a deal. You have to follow the deal or don't do the deal in the first place. Let's watch what JD Says.

[D]

Let's play this clip.

[E]

But today, as I sit here, there are people in this country who want you to just keep going and keep going and attack the President of the United States for using the leverage that you gave him to engage in negotiation. Why do we engage in Negotiation, because of you, it's not out of weakness, but it's out of strength. And again, I go back to that time that I served in the United states military from 03 to 07. We made a lot of mistakes back then.

[C]

And then JD Van says, what I noticed about people who were attacking our administration for negotiating is that they're the very same people who encourage us to drop a few more bombs on places like Afghanistan. By the way, I agree with JD Vance here. However, he's acting like they didn't just get us in this catastrophic war in Iran in the first place. Like, we're here because you all invaded Iran and you lost the war. So now you entered into the mou and now you're gonna lecture on what the neocons did, who are horrible people, but you are the neo cons. You're the neo cons just like them who lost. You lost. So now you sign the mou.

[D]

Here, play this clip.

[E]

And what I notice about the people who are attacking the administration for negotiating is that they're the very same people who, for example, encouraged us to just go a little bit further and just drop a few more bombs in places like Afghanistan. But again, if you go back to the mistakes that were made, those very same people, they refused to say, what were we dropping bombs for. Now the President, United States maintains a lot of options today in 2026.

[C]

And then JD Vance said, But don't worry everybody, we'll get to the nuclear issue in the future. We're gonna start talking about that. I think this is a very revealing. I'll play the clip in a moment. We're gonna start talking about that. You realize that under Obama, we didn't just start talking. We stopped talking because we did a deal called the jcpoa. What's notable about the MOU is that the start talking about the nuclear stuff. That only happens when the United States fulfills its obligations under the mou. Unfreezing the funds for Iran. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, making a $300 billion fund available for Iran, which Marco Rubio went to the Middle east and said, we're not even discussing that with Arab nations. Why would we even talk about that? Cuz it's in the deal. And we heard from the foreign ministers of Arab nations and they said, yeah, why would we talk about $300 billion funds? We don't know anything about that because it's in the deal. And everybody in the Trump regime said the Arab nations would be paying for it and then Israel would netanyahu would have to leave southern Lebanon. When those conditions are met, which Iran realizes that y' all aren't going to meet, then you get to discuss the nuclear stuff, the nuclear information. So that doesn't happen until the other stuff is fulfilled. That's the way the agreement that you all signed is structured. If you like it, if you don't like it, your feelings are not really what's at issue here. It's what the MOU says here.

[D]

Let's play this clip.

[E]

And that, that's what they're focused on. And you know, we're going to, obviously we're worried about the nuclear issue. We're going to start talking about that. So right now the talks are going well. It's still pretty early, but talks are going well.

[C]

When you spoke at the now, while that's going on, Donald Trump is heading to this speech in North Dakota at the Teddy Roosevelt Presidential Center. And Trump is arriving in his choo choo train. This is him arriving in his choo choo train.

[D]

Everybody play this clip.

[C]

And he's then having horses escort his motorcade so he can feel tough.

[D]

Here, play this clip.

[C]

And then Donald Trump is having a conversation with AI President Teddy Roosevelt that Trump seems to think is real. And it seems that AI Teddy Roosevelt is trolling Donald Trump because Trump's like, do you think the Panama Canal is your greatest achievement? And AI Teddy Roosevelt is like, the job of a president is beyond a single thing like that. You must care about the people like stuff that Donald Trump doesn't do at all.

[D]

Here, play this clip.

[F]

Do you consider the Panama Canal your greatest achievement? Well,

[G]

right then, yes. The canal stands as one of my proudest battles, no question. But greatness is a strange thing. It isn't always the biggest or boldest job that matters most. Panama Canal showed what America could achieve if we held steady and acted fast when the world dragged its feet. That said, I measure my greatest work by the lives and improved. Parks set aside, food and drugs made safe, the square deal given to all, not just to a few. Still, when I stood in the mud watching those steam shovels, knowing ships would pass through, changing the world's map forever, I felt I'd left a mark that would last.

[F]

Okay, you did. Thank you.

[C]

And here's more of Donald Trump telling AI Roosevelt that that it's an honor to be with him, that it's such an honor to be with you.

[D]

Here at Play the squid.

[G]

Every day, a president faces storms most people never see. Keep your nerve and remember the nation comes first. You get through.

[C]

I know you.

[F]

You'll get healing yourself. Well. I appreciate those words. Those words are fantastic. And I just want to say it's an honor to be with you today. We are making a little bit of a tour. Some of the the fantastic things you've done.

[A]

There you have it.

[C]

Let me know what you all think. Folks, hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. Thanks for watching. Want to stay plugged in? Become a subscriber to our [e-mail] you'll get daily recaps from Ron Filipkowski, ad free episodes of our podcast and more exclusive content only [e-mail]

[H]

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