Episode 277 Audio: Ryan Grim
From Krystal Kyle & Friends by Krystal Kyle & Friends
May 9, 2026 · 1h 8m
About this episode
The episode discusses the media narratives surrounding Trump's war on Iran with guest Ryan Grim.
With the help of our special guest Ryan Grim, in our latest conversation about the ongoing mess of a war Trump is waging on Iran, we take a close look at the media narratives shielding Trump from ultimate responsibility for that conflict. In one of those narratives, Saudi Arabia becomes a main architect of the war in pursuit of its own economic and political interests. This line we’ve been fed on Saudi Arabia’s position in the conflict might have made sense at the most basic level — it has been a close ally for the U.S. in the Middle East — but the narrative pays no attention to the fallout that this conflict has had on Saudi Arabia’s own industry, not to mention on the industries of other Gulf Arab states. The region’s luxury tourism industry has been devastated, and while the conflict may not fully impair Saudi’s ability to deliver oil, that situation is far more grave for the other countries relying on the Strait of Hormuz. Hence the recent refusal of the Saudis to allow the U.S. into their airspace, forcing Trump to backpedal on Project Freedom. Unlike Saudi Arabia, though, Israel is actively fueling the flames of this war and likely will continue to do so as peace talks…
People in this episode
Host: Krystal Kyle & Friends
Guest: Ryan Grim
Topics covered
- Iran conflict
- media narratives
- Saudi Arabia
- Israel
- U.S. foreign policy
- Gulf Arab states
- luxury tourism
Keywords
- Trump
- Iran
- Saudi Arabia
- Israel
- media narratives
- Gulf Arab states
- luxury tourism
- Project Freedom
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Saudi Arabia, Israel
Places: Beirut, Strait of Hormuz, Middle East
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