Tuesday Afternoon News Updates: The Iran War Goes From Bad to Worse – 7/21/26
Hi all, Ben here. Thanks to everyone who joined us live for the MeidasTouch Podcast last night and listened to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other audio platforms today.
My brothers and I really enjoyed breaking down all the latest news with you. Of course, the news never stops, so let’s get into what’s going on this Tuesday.
Here’s what we’re tracking right now:
U.S. forces reportedly evacuating bases across the Middle East, moving refueling aircraft and fighter squadrons into Israel
A Washington Post intelligence assessment concluding U.S. strikes are unlikely to move Iran toward the negotiating table
Kuwait’s air defenses responding to a wave of Iranian missiles and drones
Iran’s IRGC claiming it destroyed an Amazon data center in Bahrain, and naming Tesla, Microsoft, Google, Apple, Nvidia, and Oracle as future targets
At least eight oil tankers reversing course through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after a Houthi blockade
Brent crude surging past $91 a barrel, and national gas prices hitting $4 a gallon for a second time this year
U.S. crude oil inventories at a 45-year low
Trump hosting Lebanon’s president at the White House the same day Israel fired on the Lebanese Army
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich saying Israel has no interest in joining the broader Iran-U.S. war
Iran’s parliament speaker mocking the U.S. troop buildup as a bluff
Pentagon confirming nearly 100 U.S. service members injured this month, while the New York Times reports the Department of Defense withheld updated injury numbers
Trump telling reporters Iran is “begging” for a deal, and floating a strike on Pickaxe Mountain
Trump commenting on Venezuela, Canada tariffs, Hezbollah, and calling Lebanon’s president handsome
Todd Blanche’s written Senate testimony on Jan 6 settlements, the Ed Martin pardon office, Kash Patel allegations, and the Epstein files
Epstein survivors publicly opposing Blanche’s confirmation
A federal appeals court upholding Peter Navarro’s contempt of Congress convictions
Electricity prices up 18 percent, the exact opposite of what Trump promised
Over 500 journalists asking the White House Correspondents Association to confront Trump at Friday’s dinner
Thanks again to all of you who’ve already preordered our new book, WTF America?!: The Way Out of This Hell and Back to Democracy and making it the bestseller in its category! If you’ve preordered, be sure to let me know in the comments!
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Now let’s get into it.
