Trump Panics as Iran Responds to Blockade!!!

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast Summary
Episode: Trump Panics as Iran Responds to Blockade!!!
Date: April 13, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, Jordy Meiselas

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the escalating crisis between the United States and Iran following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a blockade over the Persian Gulf, and Iran’s pointed response. The Meiselas brothers dissect the strategic, military, and political fallout, highlight Iran’s mockery of both Trump and the U.S. military, examine the implications for global oil supplies, and critique Trump’s public statements on the crisis and his unusual attack on the Pope.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Persian Gulf Blockade: Announcement & Fallout

• President Donald Trump claims to be imposing a blockade on Iran, supposedly only restricting ships going into Iranian ports. However, as Ben argues, the ramifications for international shipping—and global oil flows—are much broader and poorly thought out ([03:00]–[04:00]).
• Iranian officials and state-linked social media accounts ridicule the U.S. response, implying Trump’s threats are hollow and tantamount to “blockading by tweet” ([04:30]).

Quote:

“You do realize that by doing that, you would only be further closing the Strait of Hormuz. So your plan to open the Strait of Hormuz is now to put a blockade on everyone internationally from doing any business, basically, in these Strait of Hormuz.” — Ben ([03:22])

2. Iran’s Counter-Threats and Military Posture

• Iran responds by threatening to also shut down the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea via its Houthi allies, a move that would further strangle global oil shipments ([06:10]).
• Iranian leaders and former officials openly mock the effectiveness and credibility of the Trump administration’s military policies ([07:00]).
• Detailed breakdown of Iranian naval capabilities, including fast attack boats, submarines, and drone technology, contradicts Trump’s claims that Iran's military is “devastated” ([08:00]–[10:30]).

Quote:

“Iran is not a place to be blockaded with tweets and fanciful schemes.” — Mohsen Razi, Iranian official ([07:40])

3. US Military Morale and Credibility at Low Ebb

• Reports surface of plummeting morale within U.S. ranks, an explosion of service members seeking conscientious objector status, and damaged military equipment being pressed back into service ([12:30]).
• Ongoing difficulties in negotiating with Iran attributed to Trump’s shifting positions and “maximalism” in talks ([11:15]).

Memorable Moment:

• Ben recounts US destroyers supposedly succeeding on a mission, only to be exposed by video showing them turning away from Iranian threats ([05:15]).

4. International Ramifications and Oil Markets

• Iran claims control over global chokepoints for oil, forecasting a spike in oil prices to $200/barrel and mocking the U.S. for being unprepared for the consequences ([10:45], [11:35]).
• Iran’s parliament leader jokes the public will soon feel nostalgic for $4–$5 gasoline as energy markets reel ([12:05]).

Quote:

“Enjoy the current pump figures with the so-called blockade. Soon you'll be nostalgic for $4 to $5 gas.” — MB Gallaba, Iran’s parliament leader ([12:05])

5. Trump’s Public Comments: Defensiveness and Evasions

• Audio clips played of Trump at Joint Base Andrews after a golf trip, where he insists “other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil” ([15:41]), and that the blockade will be “very effective.”
• Trump shrugs off Iran’s return to negotiations, claims Iran is “in very bad shape” and repeatedly asserts Iran will not have a nuclear weapon ([15:08]).
• When asked about allies for the blockade, Trump evasively replies, “They're all coming up. They're all coming to me. We're doing this routine again” ([13:57]).

Quote:

“Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted... we haven’t ripped down too many bridges. We did one only because they broke their word. They broke their promise.” — Donald Trump ([14:19])

6. International Politics & Trump’s Attack on the Pope

• The brothers note Trump’s refusal to discuss Hungary’s far-right defeat, then shift to his attacks on Pope Leo XIV ([16:45]).
• Trump accuses the Pope of being “bad on crime,” claiming “he likes crime” and is “a very liberal person who doesn’t believe in stopping crime or standing up to countries with nuclear ambitions” ([18:05]).

Quote:

“We don’t like a pope that's going to say that it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a pope that says crime is okay in our cities. I’m not a big fan of Poplio.” — Donald Trump ([18:05])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:00] – Breakdown of Trump’s blockade announcement and Iranian response
• [06:10] – Iran threatens Bab al-Mandab Strait, global oil impact
• [08:00] – Detailed analysis of Iran’s military resilience and capabilities
• [12:30] – Internal problems within the U.S. military, low morale
• [13:57] – Trump’s press comments on coalition and blockade effectiveness
• [14:19] – Trump’s claims about Iran’s military depletion
• [15:08] – Trump’s repeated assertion that Iran “is in very bad shape”
• [16:45] – Trump dodges questions on Hungary, pivots to attacking the Pope
• [18:05] – Trump’s critical comments on Pope Leo XIV

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Notable Quotes

• Ben Meiselas ([03:22]):

  “…by doing that, you would only be further closing the Strait of Hormuz. So your plan to open the Strait of Hormuz is now to put a blockade on everyone internationally from doing any business… it is so hard to kind of wrap our heads around how utterly weak… [Trump] is.”

• Mohsen Razi, Iranian official ([07:40]):

  “Iran is not a place to be blockaded with tweets and fanciful schemes.”

• MB Gallaba, Iran’s parliament leader ([12:05]):

  “Enjoy the current pump figures with the so-called blockade. Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas.”

• Donald Trump ([14:19]):

  “Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted... we haven’t ripped down too many bridges. We did one only because they broke their word. They broke their promise.”

• Donald Trump ([18:05]):

  “We don’t like a pope that's going to say that it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon.…I’m not a big fan of Poplio.”

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Memorable & Dramatic Moments

• Iran openly mocking CENTCOM and the U.S. military on social media for perceived retreat and bluster ([04:30], [05:15]).
• Trump’s ad-libbed claims, bluster, and refusal to answer clear questions from reporters, especially around coalition strength and policy specifics ([13:57]–[16:45]).
• Trump’s unusual attack on Pope Leo XIV, linking a religious leader to crime and nuclear policy ([18:05]).

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Summary

The MeidasTouch brothers use their trademark wit and clarity to underscore the confusion, rising risk, and diplomatic chaos around Trump’s Iran blockade gambit. With a mix of hard news, analysis, and humor, they call out the administration’s international posturing, Iran’s deft countermoves, and the realities of military and political isolation. Their play-by-play of Trump’s posturing, Iran's robust counter-messaging, and the spat with the Pope adds up to both a comprehensive and entertaining rundown of a dangerous inflection point in American foreign policy.

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Transcript

[A]

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[C]

Donald Trump is panicking as Iran is publicly mocking him for saying he's putting on a blockade over the entire Persian Gulf. Iran says, look, we want to reach a resolution so long as you negotiate within the 10 point framework that you previously agreed to. But now that you're just escalating and talking about imposing a blockade, it's the reason why you can't do do a deal with Donald Trump and his regime. It's the reason why negotiations failed in Islamabad. And now you're saying you're going to impose a blockade. You do realize that by doing that, you would only be further closing the Strait of Hormuz. So your plan to open the Strait of Hormuz is now to put a blockade on everyone internationally from doing any business, basically, in these Strait of Hormuz. I know the CENTCOM statement said, well, the blockade only applies to ships going into an Iranian port. Well, it's much more murky than that if you actually understand the flow of oil. Because when you look at the Persian Gulf, oftentimes Iranian oil moves to other areas and areas that are considered to depart from Iranian ports end up stopping by in nearby countries. So that it doesn't just stop in an Iranian port. But, okay, Trump regime and Centcom, you're doing a blockade 10am today. That's what you're saying. We'll see how long that actually lasts. Because with everything, you've tended to back down right away. I mean, the Iranian social media accounts are posting things like this in response to US centcom threats about imposing a blockade. Today. They write, you know, you can't execute a blockade by posting on X. Right? Like, you have to actually bring your ships closer. That's what the United States has become right now. And it's so hard to kind of wrap our heads around how utterly weak. I know Trump's weak and pathetic, but you've got Iran mocking centcom. Iran is mocking centcom and saying, you know, if you want to do a blockade, centcom, you got to move your ships closer. I mean, you remember two days ago during those failed negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan, where CENTCOM posted that two Navy destroyers went through the Strait of Hormuz and engaged in a successful minesweeping operation. And then it turned out it was utterly false. And yesterday, video emerged of Iranian naval vessels approaching the US Naval destroyer saying, turn around or we will destroy you. And the US Naval destroyers complied and turned around. And then CENTCOM lied and claimed it was a successful mission. That is how weak and pathetic Donald Trump is. That. That is what he's turned our proud and strong Navy into. In the hands of a weak and pathetic human being like Donald Trump, even the strongest navy, the strongest army, the strongest military, is reduced to becoming a Trumpian bankrupted casino and is a sad sight to see. Iran right now is saying, okay, though, you do that blockade, you know what we do next? We will shut down the Bob Al Ma Mandib Strait in the Red Sea. Not only can we control the Strait of Hormuz, but our proxies, the Houthis in Yemen, they're right there by the Red Sea. And we will shut down the other strait, and all oil flows will be completely shut down. So have fun with your $200 per barrel of oil there, Donald Trump. Ali Akbar Valiati, a former Iranian foreign minister and veteran diplomat known for his influence within the establishment, warned Sunday that unified command of the resistance front views the Bab Al Mandib Strait as it does Hormuz. By the way, the resistant front. That means the Houthis over there. If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single Move, Valiati wrote, and it was reported by Iranian state owned press. Then you had motion Razi, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander and senior Iranian official, posted the following America, just as it suffered a historic defeat against Iran and failing to open the Strait of Hormuz, is also doomed to failure in its maritime blockade. Iran's armed forces will not grant America such permission and possesses major untapped levers for countering it. Iran is not a place to be blockaded with tweets and fanciful schemes again mocking the Trump regime as being a paper tiger social media account as opposed to a viable international power again humiliating for the United States that that's what we've been reduced to. Even the New York Post is reporting. I mean that's a Murdoch paper. Majority of of Iran's fast attack ships remain patrolling the Strait of Hormuz and are still Yes, a majority of Iran's naval fast ships patrolling the Strait of Hormuz are intact. And as Patricia Marins writes and she's been very good on these issues. She writes, repeating what I said a few days ago, Iran still has at least 30 patrol ships equipped with missiles and torpedoes, plus hundreds of other fast boats also equipped with missiles and some classes with torpedoes. Hundreds more boats have rocket launchers, many of which have already received guidance kits. It is said that Iran can operate up to 4000 and fast boats I estimate at least 1500 of which 300 to 350 are armed with missiles. Recapping the already devastated Iranian navy still operates around 30 patrol ships, 300 to 350 missile boats and about 18 to 22 submariners and mini submariners. And that doesn't even factor in the unmanned vessels, those underwater drones that have been used before by the Iranians and we saw in the the Russian invasion of Ukraine. These unmanned vessels have been used a lot as well. By the way, that doesn't even include what we're talking about. The ballistic missiles and the missile launchers and the FPV drones and the Shahi drones, which Iran has thousands if not tens of thousands and less than half of that inventory has been destroyed. Iran's President possession posted the following message. If the American government abandoned its totalitarianism and respects the right of the Iranian nation, ways to reach an agreement will certainly be found. I commend the members of the negotiating team, especially my dear brother Mr. Dr. Golubov and me say God gives you strength. That's Golubov, the parliament leader. Iran's other social media accounts are posting things like this naval blockade of Iran. Bob El Mandab coming soon, again referring to shutting down the Strait of Bab El Mandab the way they now control the Strait of Hormuz, but using the Houthis, who they consider part of their resistance front to do that. Foreign Minister of Iran Iraqi posted the following message. In intensive talks at the Highest level in 47 years, Iran engaged with the US in good faith to end war. But when just inches away from the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding mou, we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts and blockades. Zero lessons earned or zero lessons learned. Goodwill begets goodwill. Enmity begets enmity. And also NPR is reporting that cracks are forming inside the United States military driven by low morale, ethical unease and a growing number of service members choosing to retire early, declining to reenlist or walking away from their contracts regardless of the consequences. The GI rights hotline has seen call volume more than double since the Iran war began. The majority of callers are asking about conscientious objecting. I mean, just look at what some of the United States planes look like. Take a look right here at one of those big Strato tankers and those big, you know, those big airplanes of the US Air Force. Right there you got the shadow tankers, the C130s. You know, they all have these like bullet holes in them right now, the KC135s. After recent losses and damages to its aerial refueling fleet during operations linked to the Iran conflict, the US Air Force has reactivated a retired KC135 tanker aircraft which includes a 68 year old Strato tanker built in 1958, now undergoing maintenance for possible return to service. We did see a lot of US Air Force transport activity heading to the Middle east last night. I think that's worth noting as well. And MB Gallaba, Firon's parliament leader, posted the following message. Enjoy the current pump figures with the so called blockade. Soon you'll be nostalgic for $4 to $5 gas. And he posts a formula which talks about the compounding increase in oil prices with the Strait of Hormuz under their control and a Trump regime blockade. A few other things I want to point out as well. Iranian member of Parliament who attended the Islamabad talks in Pakistan said America was not even really seeking an agreement. Mohammed Nabavian, deputy chairman of Iran's Parliamentary Security Commission and a member of the Iranian delegation in Islamabad, said the US Entered the talks without genuine intent to reach a deal. In a now deleted post on X, he said that Washington made three demands that Iran rejected a Shared stake, the joint venture Donald Trump wants to control the Strait of Hormuz, the removal of enriched uranium from Iran and the suspension of Iran's right to ENRICH Uranium for 20 years. So what's going on now? Well, Donald Trump says that he's considering his next steps against Iran in addition to the blockade. Wall Street Journal reports that the options include limited military strikes. A full scale bombing campaign is on the table, but unlikely since it could destabilize the region and lead to a prolonged conflict again. The US May also try this temporary blockade scheme and see if, if that works. Meanwhile, Israel is waiting for the command and they said that they're ready to attack Iran on a given notice from Donald Trump. Former foreign minister of Iran is also saying. Javid Zarif says that Trump is clutching at straws. The worst gamblers don't know when to leave a losing table. This was a foreign former foreign minister of Iran Javad Zarif says, clutching at straws, blockading Hormuz, which is not blocked to help global economy. Another art of the deal masterstroke. The worst gamblers don't know when to leave the table. That leads me to last night, Donald Trump ranting and raving like a lunatic at Joint Base Andrews after coming back from Florida where he was golfing on the taxpayer dime. A reporter asked Donald Trump, are there other countries who are willing to help with this blockade? The answer is no. But Donald Trump says yes. They're all coming up. They're all coming to me. We're doing this routine again. Play this clip.

[D]

They lied. Yeah, they're coming up and they're helping us. We have many other countries.

[C]

A reporter then says, how long are we waiting for Iran to come back to the negotiating table? Because you said they're going to come back. And Trump's like, I don't care if they come back. Play this clip the other night.

[D]

Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. Oh, I don't know. I don't care if they come back or not. If they don't come back, I'm fine. Their military is gone. Their missiles are largely depleted. The manufacturing capability for missiles and drones is largely defeated. It we've been very nice. We haven't ripped down too many bridges. We did one only because they broke their word. They broke their promise. And remember, their promise was that they were going to open the harmonious strait. They didn't do it. They lied.

[C]

Then Donald Trump says, but I can tell you they're very desperate. Play this clip.

[D]

I think Iran is in very bad Shape. I think they're very desperate. We had a meeting that lasted 21 hours. We understand the situation better than anybody, and Iran's in very bad shape. And just so you understand, Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. We'll not have. There is no way that they're going to get. They still want it. And they made that clear the other night. Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.

[C]

And here's what he says about the blockade. Let's play it.

[D]

Droppers are gone. We have a lot of people. As you know, at 10:00 clock tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect. That'll be 10 o' clock tomorrow. Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil. And that will be very effective. But what we want to do is we want to. And again, we don't need it. What we notice and what we see and what I think is maybe my idea, maybe not, I don't know. But there are many boats heading toward our country to fill up with oil and then go and take it. So they're not going to go through the hormone strait and ultimately that'll be corrected. But in the meantime, they're using us. We have. Have more oil because of drill, baby, drill. We have more oil than Russia and Saudi Arabia put together. So if you look at Russia and Saudi Arabia, two big ones, we have much more oil than they have put together. And what's happening is boats are coming over here, filling up. We don't have to go through the hormones.

[C]

Certainly Donald Trump did not want to take any questions about Viktor Orban. Donald Trump and Putin's puppet in Hungary losing the election big to Peter Magyar. The opposition leader destroyed Viktor Orban in the election. And the opposition party, the pro democracy, pro European party, went on to win great victory there for, for the new prime minister. And here's what Donald Trump says as he went away. Play this clip.

[D]

Serious examination. Thank you very much. All right.

[A]

And Michael Hanlon.

[C]

And then last night, I'll do a whole other video on this. But Donald Trump kept on attacking the Pope and saying that the Pope is bad on crime and that the Pope is bad. Yeah, the Pope is bad on crime and bad on foreign policy. He ranted and raved and said, you know, the Pope likes crime. And Donald Trump was asked why. Why are you attacking the Pope? Why are you attacking Pope Leo xiv? Here's what Donald Trump said, let's play it.

[D]

And they're gonna go back filled up with oil.

[A]

Why did you attack Pope Leo on Christosil?

[D]

I don't think he's doing a very good job. He likes crime. I guess. He hit us. Think of it. He's worried about fear. What about the fear when the ministers and the priests and all of those great people that were arrested during COVID and in many cases they're outside 10ft apart and they were arrested. So we don't like it. We don't like a pope that's going to say that it's okay to have a nuclear weapon. We don't want a pope that says crime is. Is okay in our cities. I don't like it. I'm not a big fan of Popple. He's a very liberal person and he's a man that doesn't believe in stopping crime. He's a man that doesn't think that we should be toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world. I'm not. I'm not a fan of Poplio.

[C]

There you have it. Let me know what you think. Everybody hit subscribe. Let's get to 7 million subscribers. We appreciate you. Thanks for watching. Be sure to add the Midas Touch podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast for new updates every single day.

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