Democracy Now! Thursday, April 23, 2026

This episode of Democracy Now! examines the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S.-led war on Iran, now in its 55th day, and its far-reaching global consequences. The show features University of San Francisco professor Stephen Zunas, who argues that Democratic Party leaders have long enabled the conflict through hawkish rhetoric, congressional resolutions, and support for military escalation—despite recent opposition to the war. Zunas highlights how Democratic platforms and figures like Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer have repeatedly framed Iran as an existential threat, undermining diplomatic efforts like the Iran nuclear deal. The episode also explores the looming global food crisis, with UN officials warning that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could push 45 million more people into hunger and starvation due to disruptions in fertilizer, oil, and natural gas supplies. Professor Adam Hania of SOAS explains how the Green Revolution tied global food systems to fossil fuels, making countries dependent on Gulf-produced fertilizers, and how the war has exacerbated existing debt and climate crises in the Global South. Finally, the show investigates allegations that Trump administration officials and staffers profited from insider trading on prediction markets like Polymarket, where traders placed massive bets on military actions and political events just before announcements, raising serious ethical and national security concerns. The episode concludes with calls for accountability and a reevaluation of U.S. foreign policy and financial regulation. Key takeaways include: 1) The Democratic Party’s long-standing hawkish stance on Iran has paved the way for military escalation; 2) The closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens a global food crisis by disrupting fertilizer and energy supply chains; 3) The U.S. war on Iran has created a humanitarian emergency in vulnerable nations like Sudan; 4) Prediction markets are being exploited for insider profits, with potential national security risks; 5) The U.S. regulatory framework is failing to prevent financial exploitation of war and political events; 6) Reinstating the Iran nuclear deal could prevent further escalation and stabilize regional relations; 7) The intersection of debt, climate, and food crises in the Global South demands urgent international attention; 8) The Trump administration’s deregulation of financial markets has enabled unethical speculation on war and death.