Trump Is Kicking the Economy While It’s Down

Radio Atlantic

The Atlantic

News, Society & Culture, Politics

4.3 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 19 March 2026

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Iran is blocking oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Consumers around the world are already seeing higher gas prices as a result, but the global oil supply affects so much more than just prices at the pump. Soon, shoppers could see higher prices on food, clothes, e-commerce, and everything in between. The Atlantic staff writer Rogé Karma explains that a healthy economy could probably weather an oil shock like this. A weaker economy, however, such as the one the United States has now, could slip into a recession. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Project Hail Mary is an awe-inspiring masterpiece.
0:03.0	I'm not an astronaut.
0:06.0	Critics are in agreement. It's utterly spellbinding.
0:09.0	So, I met an alien.
0:11.0	Mesmerizing and profoundly moving.
0:13.0	It's now or never.
0:15.0	Thumbs up, baby.
0:16.0	Project Hail Mary.
0:17.0	Amaze, amaze, amaze.
0:19.0	In Cinemas now.
0:32.6	We are now in week three of the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran, the purpose of which President Trump has still not clearly explained.
0:35.3	The consequences of the war may have seemed abstract to many Americans
0:38.6	at the beginning, but now they're showing up very concretely on the big pylon signs at the gas
0:44.6	station. The U.S. average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.68. Gas prices continue to rise
0:51.6	over the weekend, with AAA saying the national average now is
0:54.7	sitting at about 372 a gallon.
0:57.0	The average price for a gallon of gas, 379, that's up 82 cents now since the start of the
1:02.3	war.
1:03.3	These climbing prices are because Iran is doing something the White House did not seem to
1:07.4	have fully anticipated, shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.
1:12.5	About a fifth of the world's oil passes through the strait, and by pledging to attack vessels,
1:18.4	Iran has effectively stopped commercial shipping from the Gulf.
	...

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