Tracy Alloway and Jordan Ritter Conn: The Global Economic Shock from a Stupid War

In this episode of The Bulwark Podcast, host Tim Miller engages in a dual conversation with two prominent guests: Tracy Alloway, co-host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast, and Jordan Ritter-Kahn, author of the new book American Men. The first segment dives into the global economic fallout from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to geopolitical tensions, analyzing how market volatility, supply chain disruptions, and speculative behavior are reshaping energy markets. Alloway highlights the paradox of rising stock market performance amid deep structural risks, including inflation, stagflation, and long-term supply constraints, while questioning the sustainability of Trump-era economic strategies that blend political messaging with market manipulation. She emphasizes that even if the strait reopens, the world will not return to pre-crisis energy stability, as nations now prioritize strategic stockpiling. The second segment explores the emotional and social crisis facing American men, as Ritter-Kahn unpacks his new book, which weaves together the lives of four diverse men confronting identity, loneliness, and masculinity in a changing world. Through stories of a West Point graduate, a Black trans man in Ohio, a gay Native American with a history of violence, and a law student from Alabama, Ritter-Kahn reveals how economic shifts, declining community structures, and rigid cultural expectations have left many men adrift. He argues that the solution lies not in blaming men or dismissing their struggles, but in rebuilding authentic human connection, accountability, and purpose—whether through faith, work, or intentional friendship. The episode closes with a poignant reflection on how crisis can sometimes spark profound community, as seen in Minneapolis during civil unrest, reminding listeners that human connection remains possible even in the bleakest moments.