Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 507-478-7579 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/smerconish *Paid Partnership*
Why could the Strait of Hormuz still be closed when Americans vote in the midterms?
Michael Smerconish breaks down University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape’s striking analysis of Iran’s ability to keep one of the world’s most important shipping lanes shut down.
The problem comes down to scale. Iran can deploy relatively inexpensive Shahed drones capable of reaching the Strait from an enormous launch zone — including mountainous terrain where finding and destroying enough of them could prove extraordinarily difficult. According to Pape, reducing that threat enough to restore confidence among commercial shippers and insurers may be virtually impossible before Election Day without a far greater U.S. military commitment.
With the midterms approaching, gas prices elevated, and Iran facing enormous economic pressure of its own, the question becomes both military and political: Can Washington reopen the Strait before voters go to the polls — or can Tehran simply wait America out?
Vote on today's poll and subscribe to the daily newsletter at smerconish.com
Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial 507-478-7579 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/smerconish *Paid Partnership*
Why could the Strait of Hormuz still be closed when Americans vote in the midterms?
Michael Smerconish breaks down University of Chicago political scientist Robert Pape’s striking analysis of Iran’s ability to keep one of the world’s most important shipping lanes shut down.
The problem comes down to scale. Iran can deploy relatively inexpensive Shahed drones capable of reaching the Strait from an enormous launch zone — including mountainous terrain where finding and destroying enough of them could prove extraordinarily difficult. According to Pape, reducing that threat enough to restore confidence among commercial shippers and insurers may be virtually impossible before Election Day without a far greater U.S. military commitment.
With the midterms approaching, gas prices elevated, and Iran facing enormous economic pressure of its own, the question becomes both military and political: Can Washington reopen the Strait before voters go to the polls — or can Tehran simply wait America out?
Vote on today's poll and subscribe to the daily newsletter at smerconish.com
Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
