March 20th, 2026: U.S. Airpower Is Now Hitting Iran In The Strait & An American Cartel Takeover
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What recent developments are occurring in the Strait of Hormuz?
It's Friday, the 20th of March. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage, and what a world stage it is. All right, let's get briefed. First up, a potential shift from Europe and Japan, well, possibly, on securing the Strait of Hormuz. But as allies stop short of specifics, U.S. air power, including A-10 Warthogs, is already striking Iranian assets to reopen the waterway. I'll have the details. Later in the show, a bizarre and troubling turn in the cartel war with a California-born figure now leading Mexico's most dangerous drug empire. Well, that'll complicate things.
How is U.S. airpower being utilized against Iranian assets?
Plus, a new U.S. intelligence assessment is turning heads, suggesting China may not be preparing to invade Taiwan after all, at least not on the timeline that many had feared. And in today's Back of the Brief, another reminder of the Iranian regime's brutality, where a teenage champion wrestler is among those publicly executed as part of a widening crackdown on protesters. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We begin with signs that some of America's key allies may be inching closer to helping secure the Strait of Hormuz, although details are in short supply. In a joint statement, European powers, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, along with Japan, said they're prepared to support what they described as, quote, appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait.
Now, on the surface, that does sound like progress. For weeks, the White House has been pressing allies to step up and assist in reopening one of the world's most critical energy choke points. And this is the first real indication that some of those countries may be moving in that direction. But let's take a closer look at that language, because the phrase, quote, appropriate efforts, Well, that phrase can have many interpretations. Are we talking about naval deployments, destroyers escorting tankers through contested waters? Maybe we're talking about mine clearing operations to deal with Iranian sea mines or air support to deter drone and missile attacks. Or does appropriate mean something far less direct, diplomatic coordination or increasing oil production or tapping strategic reserves to stabilize markets, at least temporarily?
At this point, there are no specifics, no commitments, just a carefully worded statement that signals a willingness, perhaps, without locking anyone into action. And that hesitation becomes more glaring when you look at what's actually happening in the strait right now. Because while the waterway isn't completely shut down, it's no longer functioning as a reliable global oil artery. And try saying that. Three times fast. Global oil artery. I dare you. Come on. Since the war began, most commercial shipping traffic has ground to a halt. Under normal conditions, roughly 70 to 100 vessels pass through the strait every single day, including about 20 to 30 oil tankers. A new report from the Associated Press says that since the conflict started, only about 90 ships in total have managed to make the journey.
And even that number comes with caveats. Many of those transits are what maritime analysts call, quote, dark voyages, ships operating without full tracking, often tied to sanctions evasion and Iranian oil exports. In other words, the traffic that is getting through isn't exactly business as usual. It's Iranian oil heading primarily to China. Meanwhile, roughly 20 vessels have been attacked in or around the strait, reinforcing just how dangerous the environment has become.
What is the significance of the new leader in Mexico's drug cartel?
So yes, some oil is still moving, again, mostly to China, but the system for the rest of the world is disrupted and unreliable. And that is not good, as you might imagine, for global energy markets. And that's why this latest statement from Europe and Japan, while notable, still feels like a few steps short of what the situation would demand. Meanwhile, as allies are talking about, quote, appropriate efforts, the United States is already deep into active operations to try and secure the waterway.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What recent developments are occurring in the Strait of Hormuz?
0:12–0:52
2
How is U.S. airpower being utilized against Iranian assets?
0:52–3:51
3
What is the significance of the new leader in Mexico's drug cartel?
3:51–6:39
4
How does the U.S. intelligence assessment change perceptions of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
6:39–9:50
5
What are the implications of a U.S. citizen leading a drug cartel?
9:50–12:17
6
What challenges arise from targeting an American citizen involved in organized crime?
12:17–15:01
7
What brutal actions has the Iranian regime taken against dissenters?
15:01–18:02
8
How do elite Iranians live differently from ordinary citizens under the regime?
18:02–25:48
Speakers
3 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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