Iran War, Taiwan's U Turn & De-Dollarization | Silk and Steel

Iran War, Taiwan's U Turn & De-Dollarization | Silk and Steel

Author: UK Column April 2, 2026 Duration: 1:05:31

Angelica sits down with Carl Zha, host of the Silk and Steel podcast, to unpack the rapidly escalating geopolitical crisis. From the US-Iran conflict threatening global energy security to Taiwan's dramatic nuclear energy reversal and a historic KMT delegation to Beijing, we cover the stories mainstream media is ignoring.

Plus: Carl shares his harrowing experience with YouTube channel termination and how creators can fight back.


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Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:26 - The "Frog Boiling" Moment: Comparing 2025 to March 2020

01:25 - Energy Crisis Deep Dive: Why no oil means no food, no medicine

02:47 - Taiwan's Vulnerability: 40% LNG-dependent with only 11 days supply

03:43 - The Strait of Hormuz: Irreversible damage to global shipping

05:06 - Taiwan's Nuclear Reversal: A vindication for energy realists

07:01 - Taiwan's Economic History: From "Made in Taiwan" to semiconductors

08:30 - The "Made in Taiwan" stigma: George Clooney clip and Taiwan's transformation

10:30 - The Helium Crisis: 70% of Taiwan's helium comes from the Gulf – AI bubble at risk

12:30 - The Butlerian Jihad: How Iran is killing the "thinking machines" (Dune reference)

14:00 - Why the US and Israel are self-harming with no plan

16:30 - The KMT Chairwoman's Historic Trip to Beijing (April 7)

18:30 - KMT internal politics: The whisper campaign against Cheng Li-wen 20:30 - DPP vs. KMT: Why attitudes on Taiwan are shifting

23:00 - Comparing KMT infighting to the Democratic Party establishment 25:00 - Energy vulnerability: How this crisis could flip elections in Taiwan 26:45 - Bali's tourism crisis: Australia's jet fuel shortage and what it means 28:30 - The Vietnam parallel: 3,500 Marines to 500,000 troops

30:00 - The tactical nuke scenario: What if things spiral?

32:00 - The Democratic Party's cowardice: Why they won't oppose the war 34:30 - The "neolib" disappointment: How Obama-style imperialism persists 36:30 - China's overinvestment vindication: EVs, batteries, and solar

39:30 - Iran's yuan pivot: How lifting sanctions backfired on the US

42:00 - The dollar cauldron: Nezha 2 and the de-dollarization allegory

44:00 - Why sanctions are becoming obsolete

46:00 - China's role: Can Beijing mediate?

48:00 - Iran's impossible demands: US withdrawal from West Asia

52:00 - The 10-day pause: Is Trump buying time for troops?

54:00 - Carl's YouTube termination story: How he got his channel back 58:00 - How to reach a human at YouTube: @TeamYouTube on X

62:00 - Closing thoughts: A new world is coming


Tune in to UK Column News, a daily podcast from the independent news organisation of the same name. This isn't a recap of headlines from the mainstream wire services. Instead, the team at UK Column digs into the stories and narratives shaping public perception, focusing on what they term the 'information war.' Each episode provides analysis you're unlikely to find elsewhere, examining the interplay between government policy, media reporting, and institutional influence. Because they operate without any corporate backing, advertising, or funding from political groups, their perspective is uniquely supported by their audience through memberships and donations. This independence is the core of the podcast, allowing for straightforward commentary free from external pressures. Listeners will hear detailed discussions on current events in the UK and beyond, often connecting dots between seemingly separate issues to present a broader picture of governance and societal change. The tone is analytical and deliberate, prioritising depth over soundbites. For those seeking an alternative to conventional news cycles and curious about the mechanics behind the stories that dominate the day, this podcast offers a consistent and critical voice. It’s for anyone who questions the prevailing narrative and wants news analysis that answers to its listeners, not to sponsors or shareholders.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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