August 25, 2026

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, August 25th 2026, and this is The American Conservative's Morning Brief. On day 178 of the Iran War, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveils an "economic D-Day" targeting nations still trading with Tehran, as Iran vows to shut down Persian Gulf oil flows and Brent crude climbs past ninety-three dollars a barrel. Andrew Day argues that Trump, the self-declared nationalist-in-chief, has a curious blindspot — failing to anticipate that his aggressive posture activates nationalist backlash abroad, from a defiant Canada rallying behind Mark Carney to an Iranian public closing ranks around its regime. Jack Hunter traces Ted Cruz's remarkable ideological journey from Tea Party ally of the Pauls and critic of "crazy neocons" to the most nakedly hawkish, pro-Israel contender eyeing the 2028 Republican nomination. and now for the details. We begin on day one hundred and seventy-eight of the Iran War, where the Trump administration is opening a new front — this time financial rather than military. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, writing in a Sunday op-ed for the Financial Times, announced what he called an "economic D-Day," describing it as the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary. The specifics are expected at a Monday press conference, but Bessent's op-ed signaled new punitive measures targeting third countries that continue doing business with Tehran. Nations that cut Iranian ties, he suggested, will gain deeper access to global capital; those that don't should expect to share in Iran's isolation. Tehran responded with defiance. Mohsen Rezaei, the new head of Iran's National Security Council, warned that if the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will leave the Persian Gulf — and that any country participating in the American campaign will be treated as a combatant. As Jude Russo reports for The American Conservative, this escalation comes as military strikes have failed to force Iranian capitulation, and as Pakistan's military chief travels to Tehran in an effort to revive stalled peace talks. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains depressed. Brent crude opened Monday at over ninety-three dollars a barrel, and AAA reports the national average price of regular gasoline now stands at four dollars and ten cents. That economic pressure campaign against Iran is part of a broader pattern that Andrew Day examines in a new essay for The American Conservative. Day argues that President Trump, who has done more than perhaps any modern figure to promote American nationalism, has a curious blindspot: he seems unable to anticipate that other nations feel nationalism too — and that his aggressive posture can activate those sentiments against American interests. Consider Canada. Last week Trump said a trade deal was near; instead, the two countries are on the verge of a trade war. Canadian favorability toward America has dropped from fifty-four percent in 2024 to about a third today. Prime Minister Mark Carney, under domestic pressure not to yield, imposed reciprocal tariffs and framed Trump's demands as an infringement on Canadian sovereignty and French-Canadian culture. Seventy-six percent of Canadians back him. Day quotes Montreal writer Theodore Shouse, who told TAC that Canadians across the political spectrum are looking past their differences in the face of Trump's aggression, with Canadian flags now flying even in upper-middle-class Liberal neighborhoods. The same dynamic, Day writes, is playing out in Iran. After Trump killed the country's leadership and threatened to annihilate Iranian civilization, the Islamic Republic hardened and its people rallied around the regime. Tens of millions turned out for the funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Day concludes that until Trump develops what analysts call strategic empathy — an intuitive grasp of the pride and attachment that motivate other peoples — he will struggle to secure the interests of the nation whose nationalism he understands so well. Those are today's highlights. For the full stories and more, visit theamericanconservative.com. Thank you for starting your morning with us.