Erick Erickson Show: S15 EP68: Hour 1 – Iran, the Pope, and the President

The episode opens with a sponsor segment for IQ Bar, followed by Eric Erickson’s commentary on the escalating geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and U.S. military strategy. Erickson details how the U.S. is enforcing an embargo on Iran by blocking ships from the Strait of Hormuz, countering Iran’s demand for a $2-per-barrel cryptocurrency toll. He highlights Iran’s economic vulnerability, citing unpaid military personnel and intelligence reports of Chinese-supplied advanced anti-aircraft missiles. Erickson critiques the media’s shifting stance, noting that outlets like Tom Friedman now admit they previously underestimated Iran’s economic collapse. He then pivots to a sharp critique of President Trump’s controversial social media behavior, particularly a deleted post depicting Trump as a glowing, AI-generated Jesus, which Erickson labels as blasphemy. He argues this post alienated both Catholic and evangelical supporters, with prominent figures like Bishop Robert Barron and conservative Christians condemning it. Erickson contends that Trump’s repeated inflammatory posts—on the Pope, Rob Reiner, and religious imagery—undermine his political standing and threaten Republican prospects in the midterms. He concludes with a call for Trump to delete his Truth Social account, warning that his online conduct is a growing liability to the party and the nation’s stability.