The Young Turks
The Young Turks
April 18, 2026

BREAKING: War Back On! Ships Bombed! Strait of Hormuz Closed Again!

Quick Read

The Strait of Hormuz has closed again after Iran bombed two ships, with the host arguing this is a direct consequence of Trump's alleged lies about a peace deal and broader US foreign policy subservience to Israel.
Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and bombed two ships after Trump allegedly lied about a peace deal, claiming total victory without concessions.
The host asserts that Trump's low intelligence and 'Israel-first' advisors led to diplomatic failures and left US troops vulnerable in the Gulf.
Mainstream media is accused of pro-Israel propaganda, ignoring widespread American and Jewish American opposition to the Israeli government's actions.

Summary

The host reports that the Strait of Hormuz is closed again after Iran bombed two ships, attributing this to a breakdown in negotiations. He claims President Trump falsely announced a deal where the Strait would reopen and the US got all its demands without conceding anything, leading Iran to feel betrayed after briefly reopening the Strait. This alleged deception, combined with ongoing US blockades, prompted Iran's retaliation. The host criticizes Trump's intelligence and the influence of 'Israel-first' advisors, arguing that US troops were left vulnerable in Gulf bases while protection was prioritized for Israel. He also lambasts mainstream media for propagating pro-Israel narratives and misrepresenting public opinion, including that of Jewish Americans, on the Israeli government's actions. The host warns of rising oil prices, inflation, and global economic instability due to the Strait's closure, urging unity among disparate political factions to oppose war and establishment corruption.
The re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit choke point, directly impacts international energy markets, leading to higher oil and gas prices and increased inflation. The host's analysis highlights how perceived political incompetence and external influence on US foreign policy can escalate geopolitical conflicts, endanger military personnel, and destabilize the global economy. It also underscores a deep distrust in mainstream media's coverage of international conflicts and US political leadership.

Takeaways

  • Iran re-closed the Strait of Hormuz and bombed two ships, citing Trump's alleged breach of a prior agreement.
  • The host claims Trump falsely announced a deal where Iran reopened the Strait but the US maintained blockades and conceded nothing.
  • US troops in Kuwait were allegedly sent to unprotected bases, resulting in casualties, while missile defense was prioritized for Israel.
  • The host criticizes Trump's intelligence, labeling him one of the 'lowest IQ people to ever be in office'.
  • Mainstream media is accused of hiding the global economic impact of the Strait closure and promoting pro-Israel propaganda.
  • The host states that 61% of Americans and 63% of Jewish Americans hold a negative view of Israel or oppose its current government, contrary to mainstream media narratives.
  • Only a few politicians, like Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders, are seen by the host as actively fighting against war and corruption.

Insights

1Trump's Alleged Deception Triggered Strait of Hormuz Re-closure

The host argues that Iran initially reopened the Strait of Hormuz, expecting a deal, but Trump then publicly declared the US achieved all its demands and Iran received nothing, while maintaining blockades. This perceived betrayal led Iran to re-close the Strait and bomb two ships, escalating the conflict.

Trump said 'we got everything we wanted. They got nothing in what they wanted and we're still blocking their ports' after Iran briefly reopened the Strait. Iran's response was to close it again and bomb ships.

2US Troops Left Vulnerable Due to 'Israel-First' Policy

The host claims that US military bases in the Gulf were left inadequately protected against retaliation, leading to casualties, because missile defense systems were instead allocated to protect Israel. This alleged prioritization is presented as a consequence of 'Israel-first' advisors influencing Trump.

A story detailed US soldiers in Kuwait in a base with '10 walls and nothing on the roof' hit by a missile, killing six. Soldiers reported being unprepared, with protection diverted to 'beloved Israel'.

3Mainstream Media's Pro-Israel Bias and Misrepresentation of Public Opinion

The host asserts that mainstream media actively promotes pro-Israel narratives, even when they contradict public sentiment. He claims media outlets misrepresent the views of Americans, including Jewish Americans, who increasingly oppose the Israeli government's actions.

The host cites 61% of Americans and 63% of Jewish Americans having a negative view of Israel or opposing its current government, stating mainstream media gives the 'exact opposite sense'.

4Political Incompetence Across Both Major US Parties

The host criticizes both Donald Trump and Democratic leadership, labeling them as unintelligent and ineffective. He argues that this widespread incompetence prevents effective governance and leads to disastrous foreign policy decisions.

Trump is called 'one of the lowest IQ people to ever be in office' (). Democratic leaders are described as 'dumber than Donald Trump' ().

Lessons

  • Unite with individuals and groups across the political spectrum who agree on specific issues, such as opposing war and genocide, rather than demanding 100% ideological alignment.
  • Support politicians like Ro Khanna and Bernie Sanders who actively challenge establishment narratives and vote against military funding for Israel, even if they are a minority within their party.
  • Be critical of mainstream media narratives, especially concerning international conflicts, and seek out alternative sources that provide different perspectives on public opinion and political actions.

Quotes

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"You have to be in the single digits in IQ to believe that."

Host
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"If Israel's talking, Israel's lying. And in this administration, this government of current government of Israel, I have never seen them tell the truth. Never."

Host
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"If you go attack all your neighbors, at some point they're going to defend themselves. And when they defend themselves, you're going to pretend you're doing defense."

Host
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"The number one victim of Israeli propaganda in this country is Jewish Americans because they've been propagandized from the day they were born."

Host

Q&A

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