Breaking Afternoon Updates with Ben Meiselas 9/24/2026
Summary
Ben Mycelis analyzes Xi Jinping’s state visit to the White House, contrasting Trump’s fawning behavior with Xi’s warnings about the "Thucydides trap" and geopolitical shifts. The episode details escalating tensions in the Middle East, including Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which are driving global oil and diesel prices higher. Mycelis argues that the Trump administration’s proposed diesel export ban is economically illiterate, citing Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s admission that such a move would reduce supply and raise gasoline costs. The…
Topics discussed
Xi Jinping's warning on the Thucydides Trap
Trump's physical reaction to B-1 flyover
Panda diplomacy and US-China trade deals
G20 invitation to Putin and Ukraine war status
Life in Kyiv and US diplomatic visits
US military kneeling for Xi's red carpet
War footage and NATO Article 5 concerns
FBI hacks and foreign cyber threats
China's stance on Iran sanctions and flights
Economic impacts: yields, inflation, and soybeans
Sponsor segments: Ridge, IQ Bar, SelectQuote
Oil prices, crack spreads, and public suffering
Strait of Hormuz control and Saudi morale
Critique of US strategy and civilian casualties
Diesel export bans and refinery supply shocks
Iranian parliament leader's post and debt yields
Sponsor segments: SelectQuote, Kepos, Cash App
Energy Secretary on export tariffs and supply
Proposed solution: US withdrawal from Hormuz
Trump's 'expert on stone' remark and UN remarks
Netanyahu's comments on NYC Mayor Mamdani
Cover-ups, suicide attempts, and hacking incidents
Conclusion: Values, shared humanity, and book promo
Listen ad-free on Castria