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Lever Time

Will The Strait Of Hormuz Sink The American Empire? (With Daniel Bessner & Derek Davison)

Lever Time

The Lever

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.8560 Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2026

⏱️ 49 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Despite recent claims from President Donald Trump that the war in Iran has “terminated,” hundreds of ships are still stranded in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the ceasefire has never fully taken hold. Meanwhile, gas prices keep climbing, shortages are spreading, and economic uncertainty is growing. Is this really Trump’s “best plan ever?”  Today on Lever Time, David Sirota sits down with Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison, hosts of the foreign policy and global affairs podcast American Prestige. They examine the deeper meaning and long-term consequences of Trump’s war in Iran — including the Republican Party’s internal divisions over U.S. foreign policy, the role of Israel and China in the conflict, whether high gas prices are the new normal, and why, despite everything, they’re hopeful about our future. You can check out the American Prestige podcast here. Get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and extended interviews by becoming a member at levernews.com/join. To leave a tip for The Lever, click here. It helps us do this kind of independent journalism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're listening to the free ad-supported version of our podcast. For an ad-free experience, visit levernews.com

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slash upgrade. Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money, whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings. There's a money side to every story. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now at

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Bloomberg.com. If you find yourself asking, can the president really do that? Then check out

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the new season of You Might Be Right, hosted by former Tennessee governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam.

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Recently featured as a must listen podcast by Spotify,

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tackling timely policy conversations with world and American luminaries like Al Gore,

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Judy Woodruff, and more.

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You'll hear balanced perspectives without the shouting matches found in

0:55.6

mainstream news. If you need a place to start, check out their recent episode that poses the

1:00.5

question, should a president be able to take control of a state's National Guard to restore order,

1:06.3

even if a governor disagrees? It's a thoughtful debate featuring Rosa Brooks and John Yu,

1:12.1

discussing the power to federalize the National Guard

1:15.0

and the unique role the Guard plays in times of crisis.

1:18.4

It's well worth to listen.

1:20.5

So follow, you might be right on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

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or wherever you get your podcasts.

1:28.4

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1:30.1

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1:32.3

I'm Tara Palmieri, an independent journalist,

1:34.7

and for nearly two decades,

1:36.5

I've chased the story's powerful people,

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