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From the Straits of Hormuz to the Streets of Minneapolis—Plus, Mamdani and the Midterms

On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols analyzes the politics of the Iran war, and Maurice Mitchell talks about political movements and voting.

Jon Wiener

Today 5:00 am

Commercial vessels are pictured offshore in Dubai on March 11, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)

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From the Straits of Hormuz to the Streets of Minneapolis, plus Mamdani and the Midterms / Start Making Sense
byThe Nation Magazine

Trump’s war in Iran is bringing economic chaos and suffering to much of the world, but for American voters, the biggest effect is the soaring price of gasoline – and the political implications for Republicans in the midterms are clear to everyone. Meanwhile Minneapolis has shown how Americans can resist unjust and illegitimate power.

Also: The Working Families Party is organizing voters not just to win a Democratic majority in Congress but for a movement election, a historic expansion of the electorate that includes a demand for significant change. Maurice Mitchell, the party’s National Director, explains.

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On this episode of Start Making Sense, John Nichols analyzes the politics of the Iran War, and Maurice Mitchell talks about political movements and voting.

Trump’s war in Iran is bringing economic chaos and suffering to much of the world, but for American voters the biggest effect is the soaring price of gasoline—and the political implications for Republicans in the midterms are clear to everyone. Meanwhile, Minneapolis has shown how Americans can resist unjust and illegitimate power.

Also: The Working Families Party is organizing voters not just to win for a Democratic majority in Congress but for a movement election, a historic expansion of the electorate that includes a demand for significant change. Maurice Mitchell, the party’s national director, explains.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

From the Straits of Hormuz to the Streets of Minneapolis, plus Mamdani and the Midterms / Start Making Sense
byThe Nation Magazine

Trump’s war in Iran is bringing economic chaos and suffering to much of the world, but for American voters, the biggest effect is the soaring price of gasoline – and the political implications for Republicans in the midterms are clear to everyone. Meanwhile Minneapolis has shown how Americans can resist unjust and illegitimate power.

Also: The Working Families Party is organizing voters not just to win a Democratic majority in Congress but for a movement election, a historic expansion of the electorate that includes a demand for significant change. Maurice Mitchell, the party’s National Director, explains.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Jon WienerTwitterJon Wiener is a contributing editor of The Nation and co-author (with Mike Davis) of Set the Night on Fire: L.A. in the Sixties.


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