Oil Markets Hang On Trump’s Every Word About Iran
Left, Right & Center
KCRW
3.9 • 5K Ratings
🗓️ 13 March 2026
⏱️ 50 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
A president’s words alone can have a big impact. Like when President Trump told a reporter that the war in Iran is nearly over, oil prices dropped. That was a good sign for consumers, but was that responsible leadership from the president? We’re asking the same question of Congress where one senator said let’s not debate the war because a publicly divided legislative branch isn’t good for our troops abroad.
Also, there will be a change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security, with Kristi Noem out and Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin picked to take her place. We’ll talk about the next secretary’s immense challenges ahead, including funding for the agency on hold and concerns about our preparedness for possible terrorist attacks.
Plus, we’ll take your questions as we talk with our panelists Mo Elleithee on the left and Will Swaim on the right.
Producer: Leo Duran
Host: David Greene
Guests:
- Mo Elleithee, executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee
- Will Swaim, CEO of the California Policy Center - @WillSwaim
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | All right, welcome to left, right and center, everybody. I'm David Green. Here's a question, |
| 0:06.2 | what does responsible leadership look like in a time of war? It's one question I really want to dig into |
| 0:12.0 | today as this war in Iran is raging on. We have heard our leaders talk about the possible timeline |
| 0:18.5 | in this conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on 60 Minutes. |
| 0:22.6 | This is only just the beginning. |
| 0:23.6 | Only just the beginning of this war. |
| 0:25.6 | It's a little confusing when you have his boss, President Trump, saying this about U.S. military objectives. |
| 0:31.6 | Some people could say they're pretty well complete. |
| 0:34.6 | Objectives complete. |
| 0:35.6 | War only beginning. Are you confused? Yeah, I am too. |
| 0:39.7 | And we should say these are not just words. The shifting narrative, scrambled oil and stock markets around the globe. |
| 0:48.4 | Meanwhile, multiple polls show most Americans are against this war. And maybe that makes sense when you have a White House |
| 0:54.8 | struggling to offer clear goals and Congress not really engaging in any meaningful debate. |
| 1:00.8 | Moa Lathie is here on the left. On the right today, we have Will Swain back. He is co-host of National |
| 1:05.4 | Review's Radio Free California Podcast and is the CEO of the California Policy Center. Guys, thanks for being here. A lot to talk about. Thank you. Will, let me start with you. We haven't had your take on this war yet. And I guess the question I want to frame this around is, is it not the responsibility of leaders taking a country into war to define the mission and goals clearly for us. Certainly in a democracy it is. |
| 1:29.1 | And we are in one. |
| 1:30.1 | I mean, we should add. |
| 1:32.0 | Late stage. |
| 1:33.4 | Yeah, of course. |
| 1:34.8 | And I think that's actually one of the weapons that democracies have, the weapon of public opinion. |
| 1:41.0 | And those who wield it well go to war, I think, less as Trump has, |
| 1:47.0 | in which one person is making all critical, strategic, and tactical decisions, or maybe |
... |
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