October 08, 2026

The American Conservative Morning Briefing · Oct 8, 2026 · 3m

Good morning! Today is Thursday, October 8th 2026, and this is The American Conservative's Morning Brief. Eight months into the Iran War, administration claims of "winning the battle of Hormuz" obscure a basic fact: the strait was open before the war began, while the U.S. now spends $1.3 billion a month on a blockade with no end in sight. Brent crude sits near $100 a barrel and diesel shipments remain scarce, with experts warning that Tehran may be allowing the strait to stabilize only to maximize the shock of its next escalation. The U.S. quietly pulled its B-1 bombers from Britain's…