skinny.

Latest / badlands podcast by borzou daragahi

The Stalemate In The Middle East Won’t Last (S01E160)

Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Istanbul

More and more oil is getting out of the Strait of Hormuz, helping the Trump administration bolster its argument is “winning” its conflict against the US.

But is the US framing of the contest even the right way to look at the conflict, especially when sneaking oil out of the Persian Gulf is costing American taxpayers untold millions and perhaps billions.

In the latest episode of badlands, I discuss what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz and assess the contention that the US is “winning.”

Also, I interview strategic analyst Ali Ahmadi on a gamut of…

The skinny

The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.