Washington was all agog this week after the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats came out swinging against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which refused to influence OPEC-Plus against cutting oil production last week. The move has the potential to roil already struggling energy markets and right before the November midterm elections. Biden is hopping mad — but is he surprised? And why did it seem to take him this long to get wise to MBS's venal machinations? We talk to Middle East expert Jon Hoffman about this and other dynamics that are making the Americans look like fools and sops in the region. In the first segment, we talk about those midterms and whether or not the Ukraine War will affect them — or be affected by them.
More from Jon Hoffman:
The Abraham Accords and the Imposed Middle East Order -- The National Interest, 10/3/22
The United States Doesn’t Need to Recommit to the Middle East -- Foreign Policy, 7/11/22
Counter-revolutionary? A deeper look at Israel’s relationships with Arab autocrats -- Responsible Statecraft, 1/28/22
Washington’s Blank Check for the United Arab Emirates Must End -- Foreign Policy, 11/3/21
Jon Hoffman says he is shocked! Shocked! That Saudi Arabia is a fickle friend