Trump’s Risky Strategy to Blockade Iran’s Blockade
The Daily
Over a month into a war with Iran that has no clear end, President Trump has enforced a blockade, which went into effect on Monday at the Strait of Hormuz.
The New York Times reporters David E. Sanger, Rebecca F. Elliott and Eric Schmitt discuss the strategy behind the blockade, the dangers that it poses and whether or not it’s actually working.
Guest:
- David E. Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.
- Rebecca F. Elliottcovers energy for The New York Times.
- Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Mr. Trump is setting up a test of which side can endure more economic pain with his blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
- His oil blockade could provoke retaliation that inflicts more damage on energy assets and the global economy.
Photo: Reuters
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sou.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
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Raw Description
<p>Over a month into a war with Iran that has no clear end, President Trump has enforced a blockade, which went into effect on Monday at the Strait of Hormuz.</p> <p>The New York Times reporters David E. Sanger, Rebecca F. Elliott and Eric Schmitt discuss the strategy behind the blockade, the dangers that it poses and whether or not it’s actually working.</p> <p>Guest: </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>David E. Sanger</strong></a>, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/rebecca-f-elliott" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Rebecca F. Elliott</strong></a><strong> </strong>covers energy for The New York Times.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Eric Schmitt</strong></a><strong>, </strong>a national security correspondent for The New York Times.</li> </ul> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>Mr. Trump is setting up a test of which side can endure more economic pain <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/us/politics/iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-economy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">with his blockade</a> of the Strait of Hormuz.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/business/energy-environment/iran-trump-blockade-oil-prices.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">His oil blockade could provoke retaliation</a> that inflicts more damage on energy assets and the global economy.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Reuters</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>
Show Notes
Over a month into a war with Iran that has no clear end, President Trump has enforced a blockade, which went into effect on Monday at the Strait of Hormuz.
The New York Times reporters David E. Sanger, Rebecca F. Elliott and Eric Schmitt discuss the strategy behind the blockade, the dangers that it poses and whether or not it’s actually working.
Guest:
- David E. Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.
- Rebecca F. Elliottcovers energy for The New York Times.
- Eric Schmitt, a national security correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- Mr. Trump is setting up a test of which side can endure more economic pain with his blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
- His oil blockade could provoke retaliation that inflicts more damage on energy assets and the global economy.
Photo: Reuters
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?sou.... For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Raw Description
<p>Over a month into a war with Iran that has no clear end, President Trump has enforced a blockade, which went into effect on Monday at the Strait of Hormuz.</p> <p>The New York Times reporters David E. Sanger, Rebecca F. Elliott and Eric Schmitt discuss the strategy behind the blockade, the dangers that it poses and whether or not it’s actually working.</p> <p>Guest: </p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/david-e-sanger" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>David E. Sanger</strong></a>, a White House and national security correspondent for The New York Times.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/rebecca-f-elliott" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Rebecca F. Elliott</strong></a><strong> </strong>covers energy for The New York Times.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/eric-schmitt" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Eric Schmitt</strong></a><strong>, </strong>a national security correspondent for The New York Times.</li> </ul> <p>Background reading: </p> <ul> <li>Mr. Trump is setting up a test of which side can endure more economic pain <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/us/politics/iran-war-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-economy.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">with his blockade</a> of the Strait of Hormuz.</li> <li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/14/business/energy-environment/iran-trump-blockade-oil-prices.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">His oil blockade could provoke retaliation</a> that inflicts more damage on energy assets and the global economy.</li> </ul> <p>Photo: Reuters</p> <p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>