Friday Focus: Trump is learning that Iran is not Venezuela

Rudyard and Janice unpack the big surprises in the war from this week, specifically Iran's escalating attacks against Gulf States beyond their military bases, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz which is disrupting the world's oil supply. Did the U.S. fundamentally misunderstand their opponent before heading into this conflict? Why did this administration not understand that Iran is not Venezuela? This president relies on his gut to make important decisions, and now it will be hard for Trump to end the war without an agreement from Iran and U.S. concessions to the Islamist regime. In the second half of the program Rudyard and Janice discuss the big winners so far. There is an increased demand for Russian natural gas and there are less missile interceptors flowing to Ukraine. The U.S. is overextended at home and abroad. Could Russia and China use Iran as a way to undermine the U.S while it is vulnerable? Will this war spread beyond the Middle East? Become a Munk Donor ($50 annually) to get 72-hour advanced access to the full length editions of Friday Focus. Go to to sign up.

You can listen to Friday Focus: Trump is learning that Iran is not Venezuela online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Friday Focus: Trump is learning that Iran is not Venezuela is an episode from The Munk Debates Podcast by iHeartRadio Podcasts.

This episode is 25:52 long.

This episode was published on Mar 13, 2026.

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