Spreadsheets Started It And AI Finishes It

June 20, 2026 | Season 8 | Episode 20One oil chokepoint can shake the entire tape, and this morning’s market setup makes that painfully clear. We start with the Strait of Hormuz and the high-stakes back-and-forth between the US, Iran, and regional players, then translate the geopolitics into the language investors care about: crude oil pricing, energy volatility, inflation expectations, and how quickly sentiment can flip in futures and equities.We dig into the “safe passage” dispute inside the US–Iran memorandum of understanding, where a single phrase can be read as freedom of navigation or as a claim of sovereign control. That legal gray zone helps explain why tanker harassment, drone strikes, and sudden pauses in hostilities can all occur with the ink barely dry. We also layer in the Lebanon and Hezbollah angle and the tightrope Washington walks in supporting Israel while trying to keep a fragile deal from blowing up.Then we zoom out and do something most market commentary skips: we look backward to move forward. The 1980s personal computer and spreadsheet boom rewired Wall Street dealmaking, and the echoes are loud in today’s AI revolution. From hedge funds using large language models to parse global central bank speeches, to the open question of whether AI creates productivity or reduces headcount, we frame what “disruption” can actually look like in real markets.We close with investable themes: drone warfare upending defense economics, Micron’s effort to reshape the memory cycle amid AI demand, Alphabet’s dip and valuation debate, and high-yield income ideas across bonds, dividend ETFs, and mortgage-backed securities. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more investors can find us.** For informational and educational purposes only, not intended as investment advice. Views and opinions are subject to change without notice. For full disclosures, ADVs, and CRS Forms, please visit https://heroldlantern.com/disclosure **To learn about becoming a Herold & Lantern Investments valued client, please visit https://heroldlantern.com/wealth-advisory-contact-formFollow and Like Us on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn | @HeroldLantern