Economic war: US boasts of "collapsing" Iran's economy with sanctions

Economic war: US boasts of "collapsing" Iran's economy with sanctions

Author: Ben Norton February 7, 2026 Duration: 26:40
The United States is waging medieval economic war. Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran is "designed to collapse its already buckling economy", boasted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Ben Norton explains how the US is trying to suffocate Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba by collapsing their currencies and causing extreme inflation, using illegal sanctions and blockades. VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AQWr6Rtybg Topics 0:00 Economic war 1:02 USA has sanctioned 1/3rd of countries 1:40 Sanctions kill 560,000 people per year 2:46 US sanctions on Iran 3:54 Trump threatens to bomb Iran (again) 5:20 Map of US troops in Middle East 6:58 Economic war against Iran 8:21 (CLIP) Scott Bessent: "Collapse" Iran 10:17 (CLIP) Bessent: Crash Iran currency 11:13 (CLIP) Bessent: Stop Iran oil exports 11:34 Dollar hegemony & financial system 12:33 "Making Iran broke again" 13:09 Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman 14:20 Inflation & US sanctions on Iran 20:40 Goal: "hunger, desperation and overthrow" 22:25 "Make the economy scream" 23:15 More US sanctions 23:50 UN experts: US sanctions are illegal 25:25 How to help the Iranian people 26:29 Outro

Trying to make sense of international headlines often feels like seeing only the ripples on the water's surface, without understanding the powerful currents moving beneath. Geopolitical Economy Report, hosted by journalist Ben Norton, dives into those deeper forces. This isn't just a recap of the day's events; it's a dedicated exploration of how economic systems, historical context, and raw power politics fundamentally shape global conflicts and alliances. Each episode builds on the work of the independent news outlet of the same name, translating its original journalism and analysis into a compelling audio format. You'll hear detailed discussions that connect financial policies to social movements, or trace the historical roots of a modern trade war, always with an eye toward understanding the larger, changing structure of the world. For anyone tired of superficial news cycles and seeking a more substantive, connected perspective on why nations and institutions act the way they do, this podcast offers a crucial and clarifying lens. Tune in for a regular dose of context that the mainstream frequently overlooks.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Geopolitical Economy Report
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