Russia BETRAYED Iran

As midterms are approaching fast, Americans are getting squeezed by out-of-control gas prices. This could spell disaster for Trump and the Republicans. But Trump has a plan. Enter Vladimir Putin. Welcome to America Uncovered, I'm Chris Chappell. On Friday, Donald Trump made a call to Russian President Vladimir Putin. A call that apparently went so well that neither of them wanted to be the first one to hang up. Tee hee, you hang up. No, you hang up. Yes, the world is being led by middle schoolers, apparently. Honestly, that explains a lot. But anyway, this call wasn't about the latest issue of Teen Magazine. It was about the fuel crisis that's currently gripping the industrialized world. Specifically, diesel fuel. After the call, Trump announced that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel to the US and global markets. This would be followed by another 500,000 tons in November, a million tons after that, then another 3 million tons within a short period of time. And he promised prices would be coming down in record numbers at fast. So to make it happen, the Treasury Department issued a license waiving sanctions on Russian diesel through April 2027. That's the first time since the Ukraine War began that a specific diesel waiver has run longer than the usual 30 days. It's worth mentioning that only a month ago, Trump signed a sweeping Russian sanctions bill into law. That's why the Associated Press called this new deal a stunning reversal of years of US pressure on Moscow. But I take issue with that framing. Yeah, it's a reversal, but stunning? Where have you been for the past decade? Trump's foreign policy is like the weather. If you don't like it, just wait 15 minutes. Anyway, diesel. Diesel prices are up about 70% since the US and Israel went to war with Iran back in February. Last month, the national average hit a record $6.52 a gallon. This is significant, since diesel isn't just what goes into your pickup. It moves the freight trucks, trains, and tractors that move everything else. When diesel goes up, don't be surprised when the price of your groceries goes up as well. The election is November 3rd, just three weeks away. And Republicans know high fuel prices are a problem for them. Biden had a similar problem during the midterms in 2022, which is why he released oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve before people went out to vote. The difference is that Biden was selling America's own oil. Trump, on the other hand, is easing sanctions on a country that's currently at war with one of America's partners. That complicates the picture, to say the least. But it's worth noting that this isn't Trump's only plan to bring down the price of diesel. In recent weeks, the White House floated a ban on US diesel exports, opened up access to tax-free farm diesel, and leaned on Europe to dump its emergency reserves onto the market. He's pulling out all the stops on this one, and you can see why. Tamping down on fuel prices isn't just necessary for winning the midterms. Trump sees it as crucial for winning the war with Iran. Trump has accused Tehran of stalling peace talks until after the midterms, because it believes that high prices will cost Republicans control over Congress. And if Democrats do take control, Trump can expect a lot more fights over keeping the operation funded. And that's what's so funny about this deal between Trump and Putin. Iran, Russia, and China were supposed to be the three amigos, but now Russia has turned around and given Trump the space he needs to keep pummeling Tehran. But can you really blame them? Russia has been making serious bank on this whole Middle Eastern oil crisis thing. As the AP points out, the fallout from the Iran war has boosted Moscow's ability to profit from its energy exports. Now that's the heart of the deal. But that leads us to the obvious question. Will this deal actually work? Well, if we're talking about the long term, it probably won't matter all that much. Take the first shipment Trump listed, the 300,000 tons of diesel. That would only cover US consumption for around 14 hours. That's right, not 14 weeks, not 14 days, 14 hours. As energy experts said, it's a bit like shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic. But here's the thing, gas prices are not just about the number of barrels. They're about perception. Diesel futures dropped nearly 5% following the announcement. before a single drop of Russian diesel went anywhere. Oil traders essentially bet on headlines. And if that dip trickles down to the pump before November 3rd, that may be all the White House needs. But like I said, that comes with its own price tag. Namely, America's reputation abroad. First, Russia will get money it can spend on the war in Ukraine. This deal is basically telling Moscow that American sanctions are really just a suggestion. At least when gas prices get high enough. So we can expect the Kremlin to always keep that one in their back pocket. America's allies, meanwhile, aren't exactly thrilled with the deal. Most European leaders haven't said much, because they also still buy a ton of Russian energy. But Ukraine's president, Zelensky, called it a weak decision by strong partners. Of course, Trump hit back, saying it's time that Ukraine got a new president. You just gotta love how petty international politics has become. Anyway, Trump blames Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian refineries for a lot of the diesel shortage. But if we look at that chart from before, the spike really only started with the Iran War. That said, putting a temporary halt on those strikes could take some pressure off the fuel markets. On Sunday, Trump announced, "...effective immediately there is an energy ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine." Zelenskyy said the deal was news to him, but he did say he's open to it so long as Moscow plays along. And that didn't last long. Hours after Trump said the two countries agreed to the energy ceasefire, Ukraine was hit by blackouts after Russian strikes on Ukrainian power plants. So what can we take away from all this? Well, everyone in this story is trading long-term leverage for short-term relief. Trump wants cheaper diesel before the midterms. Putin wants cash for his war, even if it means letting Iran burn. And Zelensky is stuck in the middle. It really speaks to what politics is at its heart. A series of compromises and temporary agreements. Ideology, principles, and alliances be damned. Like Bismarck said, politics is the art of the possible, the attainable, the next best. And beyond just politics, it really shows off the trap that geopolitics has become. We live in a globalized economy. A war on one continent will have a ripple effect on another. Free trade, the global order we've become so used to, has many advantages. But it's a volatile arrangement. And it's pretty much designed to force countries to work together with other countries they otherwise would prefer not to. be it in energy, manufacturing, or the flow of currency itself, it shouldn't be any surprise when an enemy becomes your most important friend. Until the day America truly becomes self-sufficient, what happens on the other side of the planet will affect what happens here. As economist Christopher Balding puts it, if you don't want to even open the door for these types of decisions, put yourself in a position where you don't need them. What do you think? Leave your comments below. I do read as many as I can. But I read every comment on AmericaUncovered.tv, where you'll get access to thousands of episodes ad-free, plus a community chat, live streams, and more. Just click this button here or the link below. I'm Chris Chappell. Thank you for watching America Uncovered.