
Epic Heat Check
From Geopolitical Cousins by Jacob Shapiro & Marko Papic
March 6, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 1 · Episode 49
About this episode
The episode features Matt Gertken discussing the escalating US-Iran conflict with a focus on the implications of drone warfare and the Strait of Hormuz.
Distantly related cousin Matt Gertken joins the GC crew to dissect the escalating US-Iran conflict, and while he IS on record as the self-proclaimed "godfather of fading geopolitical risk" - even he's alarmed. His singular fixation: drones and the Strait of Hormuz. Forget the ballistic missiles, forget Tehran's skyline. If Iran can disrupt that chokepoint - even as a failed state - the world faces a global recession. -- Timestamps: (00:00) - Welcome (00:47) - Oval Office Firings (01:29) - Is This Becoming Regional War (05:04) - Closing Hormuz Drones Threat (08:57) - Iran Pain Threshold And Escalation (12:37) - Azerbaijan Kurds Regime Change Signals (13:44) - Why Iran Hits Everyone (19:53) - Why Trump Shifted On Iran (23:38) - Israel Influence Conspiracy Talk (27:07) - America Heat Check And Oil Shock (34:37) - Sparta Versus Athens Worldview (38:07) - Deep State Distraction Theory (39:36) - Strait of Hormuz Pain Threshold (41:43) - Red Lines for Escalation (44:39) - Iraq and Hezbollah Wildcards (46:25) - Why America Reveres the Military (51:54) - Let Them Drink Bleach Scenario (56:47) - April 5 Base Case Forecasts (01:03:50) - Polling and Midterm Pressure (01:08:52) - Eurotrip…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jacob Shapiro, Marko Papic
Guest: Matt Gertken
Topics covered
- US-Iran relations
- geopolitical risk
- drones
- global recession
- military influence
- oil prices
Keywords
- geopolitical risk
- Iran
- drones
- Strait of Hormuz
- global recession
- US-Iran conflict
- oil prices
- military influence
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hezbollah, Azerbaijan, Israel
Places: Iran, United States, Strait of Hormuz
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