Category: News
US Chemical Companies “Net Beneficiaries” Of Middle East Energy Disruption Crisis
US Chemical Companies “Net Beneficiaries” Of Middle East Energy Disruption Crisis
Bloomberg News headlines indicate that Iraq has begun shutting down oil output at Rumaila, the world’s largest “supergiant” oil field, while other Gulf states have idled some of the world’s largest refineries and major energy hubs following Iranian drone strikes. This signals that a massive energy disruption is set to hit global energy markets as the Strait of Hormuz remains paralyzed.
Goldman analysts led by Duffy Fischer have released a note assessing whether U.S. chemical manufacturers have exposure to Middle East energy disruptions. They find that “U.S. companies are likely to be net beneficiaries” of the Middle East conflict and the resulting energy disruptions.
Fischer pointed out that as oil prices rise, naphtha-based competitors in Europe and Asia are squeezed, while U.S. chemical makers that rely more on natural gas are relatively insulated due to domestic production. That, in turn, widens the U.S. margin advantage.
These U.S. chemical manufacturers use raw materials such as natural gas, crude oil liquids, salt, sulfur, and other minerals to produce products like:
basic chemicals: ethylene, propylene, methanol, chlorine, ammonia
plastics/resins: polyethylene, PVC, polyurethane inputs
fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphate products
industrial chemicals: solvents, coatings, acids, adhesives
specialty chemicals: ingredients used in electronics, autos, construction, packaging, and consumer goods
Fischer explained:
The oil to gas ratio is a large driver of U.S. chemical production profitability. With oil prices increasing (see our Commodity team’s note and podcast), this will push up the price of naphtha, which is likely to increase the cost of European and Asian feedstocks. Since many naphtha crackers are currently near breakeven levels, that should force them to raise prices. This should lead the spot and export prices higher for U.S. product. The result would be an increase in U.S. margins as their natural gas feedstocks are not likely to be impacted. Lastly, while the industry believed that the March PE contract prices would roll flat, the events would significantly increase the possibility of U.S. producers achieving pricing in March.
Next, the analysts assess whether U.S. chemical manufacturers have exposure to the Middle East. They point out that Middle East disruptions would benefit U.S. chemical manufacturers.
Here’s how:
Significant amounts of competing chemical products are produced in the affected Middle East region. If this product is offline or is not able to ship then that would start to tighten global supply-demand and open up more volume opportunities for US producers. We look at three buckets of production (Iranian, UAE/Kuwait/Qatar, and Eastern Saudi Arabian). The impact on Iranian production is unclear and ships carrying production from Eastern Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar through the Straight of Hormuz appear to be disrupted. Exhibit 1 shows the greatest impact to the least for impacted chemical chains: Nitrogen, Sulfur, Methanol, MTBE, Phosphate, Polyethylene, MDI, TiO2, Chlorovinyls. While U.S. companies are likely to be net beneficiaries, there are some U.S. companies with assets in the region that may see negative impacts. Barring any U.S. assets being kinetically impacted, the net should be positive for all U.S. chemical companies.
Exposure:
Regional Exports by Chemical Chain as a % of Global Exports
Company Asset Exposure to the Middle East
More in the full Goldman note (here) available to pro subs.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 03/04/2026 – 05:45
Experience crystal clear sound with top waterproof Bluetooth speakers
Choosing the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker
Jamming out to your favorite tunes poolside or at the beach can take a good day and make it great. But if you want to do it, you need a durable and waterproof Bluetooth speaker. They can stand up to the elements, are battery-powered and are capable of streaming songs from mobile devices so that you can rock out anywhere.
There are many waterproof Bluetooth speakers to choose from these days, but not all are created equal. In fact, some aren’t technically even waterproof. To help you separate the wheat from the chaff, we have put together this handy buying guide.
How to know if a speaker is genuinely waterproof
If you are considering purchasing any waterproof product, it is vital to understand the Ingress Protection Code. Many companies tout their speakers as waterproof, even though they only carry an IP4 rating. An IP4 rating means the item can withstand sweat, light rain and the occasional splash of water. In other words, it is only mildly water-resistant. As the IP rating value increases, the better protected a speaker or other electronic device is against water intrusion.
To be considered truly waterproof, a speaker must carry at least an IPX7 rating. This may sometimes be written as IP67 if it has a dust and solid particle ingress protection rating. IPX7-rated speakers can be submerged down to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes without sustaining damage.
What to consider when buying a waterproof Bluetooth speaker
Battery life
Battery life varies significantly in waterproof speakers. Some lesser-quality models may only offer two to three hours of battery life, while others can run for up to 20 hours or more before needing to be recharged. If you want a speaker that can last a full day at the beach or pool, make sure to choose a model with optimum battery life.
Connectivity options
All waterproof Bluetooth speakers will allow for wireless connection to a smartphone or tablet. However, some offer additional connectivity options that can be useful. Models with an AUX jack will enable you to connect to old, non-Bluetooth-equipped MP3 players via an audio cable. If you want to playback from an SD card, look for a speaker with a memory card slot. Many units also feature a USB port for playing music from a flash drive and charging mobile devices.
Sound quality
Bluetooth technology has come a long way. While Bluetooth speakers may not satisfy true audiophiles, the quality is more than adequate for most users. The majority of people can’t even tell the difference between the quality of music streamed over Bluetooth versus music sent via a cable.
Watts and volume
Watts can be a helpful indicator of how loud a speaker can get, but only in very broad terms. A 1,000-watt speaker will be louder and offer better sound quality than a 100-watt speaker, but this isn’t necessarily true for a 150-watt speaker versus a 100-watt speaker.
Other specifications like sensitivity and sound pressure levels also make a difference. Certain companies, such as Bose and JBL, are known for making low-wattage speakers with excellent sound quality that get very loud.
9 best waterproof Bluetooth speakers
Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker overall
Producing deep bass from a reasonably small package, the Charge 4 is easy to take on the go and loud enough to be heard over the sounds of crashing waves and energetic conversations. It features eye-catching LEDs and offers 12 hours of playback time per charge.
Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for bass
This boombox delivers rich and powerful sound that can get a party started, and, thanks to its 24-hour battery life, it can keep on going all night long. Though it’s a bit heavy, at 11 pounds, it has a handle for convenient carrying.
Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for travel
It’s easy to take the Clip 4 on all of your adventures with a compact and lightweight design and an integrated carabiner for attaching it to a backpack. It recharges quickly via a USB-C port and comes in several stylish colors.
Best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for parties
You can link up to 50 EcoBoulder Max speakers together, with up to 30 feet between each one, so no matter how big the crowd is, everyone can jam to the same music quality. A telescoping handle and rear wheels make it easy to move, and the passive oval subwoofer produces a nice, deep bass.
Waterproof Bluetooth speakers worth considering
The Wonderboom 2 offers big sound from a small package, and it even floats in water in case you drop it in the pool. A boost button enhances the sound and clarity for noisy outdoor environments, and the 13-hour battery life should see you through a full day’s use.
Thanks to its 360-degree output, people on all sides of the Boom 3 will be able to hear the music clearly. It offers simple operation, with just a single button for playing and pausing music and skipping tracks.
The SoundLink Micro proves you can get good sound from a small package. It has a microphone for use as a speakerphone, and its audio is surprisingly crisp and clear. However, its six-hour battery life is lackluster.
Wrapped in a ruggedized rubber jacket, the Jolt can stand up to just about anything. In addition to boasting an impressive 30-hour battery life, it also features a Qi-enabled wireless charging pad for keeping your phone topped up.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Today in History: President Abraham Lincoln inaugurated for a second term
Today is Wednesday, March 4, the 63rd day of 2026. There are 302 days left in the year.
Today in history:
On March 4, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for a second term. With the end of the Civil War in sight, and just six weeks before his assassination, Lincoln declared:
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the fight as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
Also on this date:
In 1789, the Constitution of the United States took effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York.
In 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the first president to be inaugurated in Washington, D.C.
In 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated for his first term as president; he was the last U.S. president to be inaugurated on this date (subsequent inaugurations have been held on Jan. 20). In his inaugural speech, Roosevelt stated, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
In 1966, John Lennon of The Beatles was quoted in the London Evening Standard as saying, “We’re more popular than Jesus now,” a comment that caused an angry backlash in the United States.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on the Iran-Contra affair, acknowledging that his overtures to Iran had “deteriorated” into an arms-for-hostages deal.
In 1998, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that workplace sexual harassment laws are applicable when the offender and victim are of the same sex.
In 2015, the Justice Department cleared Darren Wilson, a white former Ferguson, Missouri, police officer, in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a Black 18-year-old, but also issued a scathing report calling for sweeping changes in city law enforcement practices, which it called discriminatory and unconstitutional.
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In 2020, daredevil Nik Wallenda successfully walked across a 1,800-foot tightrope spanning the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, completing the trip across the steel cable in just over 31 minutes.
Today’s birthdays: Film director Adrian Lyne is 85. Author James Ellroy is 78. Musician-producer Emilio Estefan is 73. Actor MykeltiWilliamson is 69. Actor Patricia Heaton is 68. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota is 68. Actor Steven Weber is 65. Rock musician Jason Newsted is 63. Author Dav Pilkey is 60. Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma is 58. NBA forward Draymond Green is 36. NFL wide receiver George Pickens is 25. Singer Cameron Winter is 24.
Today in Chicago History: Billy Goat Tavern — of ‘Cheezborger, cheezborger’ fame — opens on Michigan Avenue
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 4, according to the Tribune’s archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Front page flashback: March 4, 1978
The newsstand at Randolph and Clark streets sells the last edition of the Chicago Daily News on March 4, 1978. (Karen Engstrom/Chicago Tribune)
1978: The Chicago Daily News published its final edition.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
High temperature: 73 degrees (1983)
Low temperature: Minus 12 degrees (1873)
Precipitation: 1.75 inches (1985)
Snowfall: 8.5 inches (1982)
Pastry chef Albert Wolf, of Albert’s Cafe, and associate chef Cliff Arnett work on the 685-pound official cake on March 6, 1987, for the city’s 150th birthday party at Navy Pier. The cake represents the Water Tower. (Michael Fryer/Chicago Tribune)
1837: Chicago was incorporated as a city.
President Abraham Lincoln stands under cover at the center of the U.S. Capitol steps during his inauguration in Washington on March 4, 1861. (AP)
1861: Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated president in Washington, D.C., for the first time. The Bible that was used during the ceremony was used again in 2008 when Barack Obama was sworn into office.
“We are quite sure that no document can be found among American state papers embodying sounder wisdom and higher patriotism, — breathing kindlier feelings to all sections of the country, or stamped with firmer purpose to maintain the Union and Constitution inviolate — than the Inaugural Address of PRESIDENT LINCOLN,” the Tribune reported.
Lincoln’s second inauguration was also on March 4 in 1865. Also in attendance was the man who shot and killed Lincoln weeks later — John Wilkes Booth.
1902: Nine small motor clubs met in Chicago to create a national group called the American Automobile Association (AAA).
William “Billy Goat” Sianis at his restaurant Billy Goat Tavern off Lower Michigan Avenue in Chicago, circa 1968. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)
1964: The Billy Goat Tavern opened in the Apollo Savings and Loan building on lower Michigan Avenue.
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Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.
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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/march-4-chicago-history/
Edinburgh Leader Hails City Diversity After Migrant Stabbing Spree Hospitalizes Two
Edinburgh Leader Hails City Diversity After Migrant Stabbing Spree Hospitalizes Two
Authored by Thomas Brooke va Remix News,
In the wake of Monday’s stabbing spree by a suspect reported by one national newspaper to have been a Somali immigrant, the leader of City of Edinburgh Council has praised the capital’s diversity and said she wants the city to “stay that way.”
Cllr. Jane Meagher spoke out after a man was arrested in connection with Monday morning’s violence, which saw armed officers swarm a block of flats and nearby streets following reports of a suspect carrying two large knives.
Footage of the suspect circulated widely on social media, showing a Black man wielding large blades in both hands.
🏴‼️ A knifeman has reportedly stabbed multiple people in Edinburgh, Scotland.
He is believed to have smashed up a convenience store before entering an apartment block.
Schools have been placed in lockdown and armed police descended on the Calders area of the city.
“The two… pic.twitter.com/iYf3HITutH
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) March 2, 2026
The suspect’s nationality has not yet been confirmed by Police Scotland.
At least two people were injured during the attack, with one man suffering injuries “consistent with being stabbed” and a woman sustaining a head wound. Both were taken to hospital in the Scottish capital.
In a statement issued after the suspect was taken into custody, Meagher said she was “deeply shocked” by what had happened and paid tribute to emergency responders and council staff.
“Moments like this remind us of the need to stand together – and of the importance of community spirit and tolerance,” she said.
The response from Edinburgh City Council to Monday’s stabbing spree that left two people in the hospital has been to praise diversity, calling it the city’s “biggest strength.”
Council leader Jane Meagher said everyone has a part to play in making sure it remains welcoming and… pic.twitter.com/ZkYm9GvruQ
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) March 2, 2026
“Edinburgh is a proud, welcoming, and diverse city. Our biggest strength lies in those who live here – people from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds – and we all have a part to play in making sure it stays that way,” she added.
The attack prompted a major police response, with firearms officers deployed and a large cordon placed around flats near Calder Gardens. Local schools were also locked down.
Two men told BBC Scotland they saw a man holding what appeared to be two blood-stained knives outside a shop. One said, “I got out of my car, and the guy came up to me with his hands behind his back. He said, ‘Can I speak to you?’ He had the two knives behind his back, covered in blood.”
“He started going towards the school, so I was just trying to chase him back. He was coming towards me the whole time. He walked away up to the flats,” the witness added.
The man filmed walking around Edinburgh with two large knives amid reports of multiple stabbings has holed up in an apartment block, surrounded by police.
Locals tell him to jump.
Two people have been hospitalized for their injuries. pic.twitter.com/d4KvrzP4gU
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) March 2, 2026
At a nearby supermarket, staff and customers hid in a back room after a worker raised the alarm. Shopkeeper Asif Hussain told the Scottish Sun newspaper that an employee phoned him to report that “a guy with a knife” had entered the premises.
“I told them, ‘Keep yourself barricaded in the back,’” he said. “That’s our procedure if anything like that happens. You barricade yourself in the back of the store.
“The guy tried to force open the door but couldn’t get in. He went behind the counter and started to smash up anything he could get his hands on.”
The suspect then headed towards a nearby primary school before holing up in a high-rise apartment block.
Video footage showed him grinning at locals as they hurled abuse at him, telling him to jump.
After several hours, the man was eventually apprehended and remains in custody.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 03/04/2026 – 05:00
Un hijo del difunto líder supremo de Irán, candidato a reemplazarlo mientras arrecia la guerra
Por JON GAMBRELL
DUBÁI, Emiratos Árabes Unidos (AP) — Mojtaba Jamenei, hijo del fallecido líder supremo de Irán, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, ha sido considerado durante mucho tiempo un aspirante al cargo, antes incluso de que un ataque israelí mató a su padre al inicio de la guerra la semana pasada y a pesar de que nunca ha sido elegido ni nombrado para ningún puesto en el gobierno.
Figura hermética dentro de la República Islámica, a Mojtaba Jamenei no se le ve en público desde el sábado, cuando el ataque aéreo israelí contra las oficinas del líder supremo se cobró la vida de su padre, de 86 años. También mató a la esposa del más joven de los Jamenei, Zahra Haddad Adel, que procedía de una familia ligada desde hace tiempo a la teocracia iraní.
Se cree que Jamenei sigue vivo y podría haberse ocultado mientras los ataques aéreos estadounidenses e israelíes siguen golpeando el país, aunque la prensa local no han informado sobre su paradero.
El perfil del hijo de Jamenei cobra relevancia tras ataque
El nombre de Mojtaba Jamenei sigue circulando como posible candidato para reemplazar a su padre, algo que se criticó en el pasado por considerar que podría crear una versión teocrática de la antigua monarquía hereditaria de Irán.
Pero ahora, con su padre y su esposa considerados por los sectores más conservadores como mártires en la guerra contra Estados Unidos e Israel, es probable que Jamenei haya ganado relevancia entre los envejecidos clérigos de la Asamblea de Expertos, de 88 miembros, que seleccionará al próximo líder supremo del país.
Quienquiera que salga elegido obtendrá el control del ejército iraní, que está sumido en la guerra, y de una reserva de uranio altamente enriquecido que podría utilizarse para construir un arma nuclear, así lo decide.
Jamenei había desempeñado un rol similar al de Ahmad Jomeini, hijo del primer líder supremo de Irán, Ruhollah Jomeini, “una combinación de edecán, confidente, guardián e intermediario con el poder”, según United Against Nuclear Iran, un grupo de presión con sede en Estados Unidos.
Nacido en la disidencia
Nacido en 1969 en la ciudad de Mashhad, unos 10 años antes de la Revolución Islámica de 1979 que transformaría Irán, Jamenei creció mientras su padre protestaba contra el sha, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Una biografía oficial sobre la vida de Ali Jamenei relata cómo la policía secreta del sha, la SAVAK, irrumpió en su casa y golpeó al clérigo. Más tarde, cuando se despertaron, a Mojtaba y al resto de los hijos de Jamenei les dijeron que su padre se iba de vacaciones.
“Pero les dije ‘No hay necesidad de mentir’. Les dije la verdad”, dijo el mayor de los Jamenei, según el libro.
Tras la caída del sha, la familia se mudó a la capital, Teherán. Jamenei combatió en la guerra contra Irak con el Batallón Habib ibn Mazahir, una división de la Guardia Revolucionaria, la fuerza paramilitar de Irán, varios de cuyos miembros ascendieron a cargos de poder dentro de la inteligencia de la fuerza, probablemente con el respaldo de la familia Jamenei.
Su padre se convirtió en líder supremo en 1989, y pronto Mojtaba Jamenei y su familia tuvieron acceso a miles de millones de dólares y a activos empresariales repartidos por las numerosas bonyads iraníes, o fundaciones creadas a partir de industrias estatales y otras riquezas que antes estaban en manos del sha.
Su poder aumenta junto al de su padre
Su propio poder creció a la par del de su progenitor, trabajando en sus oficinas en el centro de Teherán. Cables diplomáticos estadounidenses publicados por WikiLeaks a finales de la década de 2000 comenzaron a referirse a Jamenei hijo como “el poder detrás de las túnicas”. Uno recogía una acusación según la cual Jamenei había intervenido el teléfono de su propio padre, actuaba como su “principal guardián” y había estado formando su propia base de poder dentro del país.
Jamenei “es visto ampliamente dentro del régimen como un líder y administrador capaz y enérgico que algún día podría suceder, al menos, a una parte del liderazgo nacional; su padre también podría verlo de ese modo”, indicaba un cable de 2008, que también señalaba su falta de credenciales teológicas y su edad.
“Sin embargo, debido a sus habilidades, riqueza y alianzas inigualables, Mojtaba podría ser visto por varios miembros del régimen como un candidato plausible para un liderazgo compartido de Irán tras la muerte de su padre, ya ocurra pronto o en el futuro”, añadía.
Jamenei ha trabajado estrechamente con la Guardia Revolucionaria, tanto con comandantes de la Fuerza Quds expedicionaria como con el cuerpo de voluntarios Basij, que reprimió violentamente protestas nacionales en enero, según el Departamento del Tesoro de Estados Unidos.
La Casa Blanca lo sancionó en 2019, durante el primer mandato del presidente Donald Trump, por trabajar para “impulsar las ambiciones regionales desestabilizadoras y los objetivos opresivos internos” de su padre.
Eso incluía las acusaciones de que Jamenei, desde las sombras, respaldó la elección del presidente conservador Mahmoud Ahmadinejad en 2005 y su controvertida reelección en 2009, que desató las protestas del Movimiento Verde.
Mahdi Karroubi, quien fue candidato a la presidencia en 2005 y 2009, calificó a Jamenei como “el hijo del amo” y denunció que intervino en ambas votaciones. Según los reportes, su padre había dicho entonces que Jamenei era “un amo en sí mismo, no el hijo del amo”.
En juego, el poder del líder supremo
Solo ha habido otra transferencia de poder en el cargo de líder supremo de Irán, el máximo responsable de la toma de decisiones desde la Revolución Islámica de 1979. El ayatolá Ruhollah Lomeini murió a los 86 años tras ser la figura emblemática de la revolución y gobernar el país durante su guerra de ocho años con Irak.
Ahora, el nuevo líder asumirá tras la guerra de 12 días con Israel del pasado junio y mientras un nuevo conflicto con Estados Unidos e Israel trata eliminar la amenaza nuclear y el poder militar de la República Islámica, con la esperanza de que el pueblo se levante contra la teocracia.
El líder supremo está en el centro de la compleja teocracia chií y tiene la última palabra en todos los asuntos de Estado. También se desempeña como comandante en jefe de las fuerzas armadas del país y de la Guardia, que fue designada por Estados Unidos como organización terrorista en 2019, y a la que su padre reforzó durante su mandato.
La Guardia, que ha encabezado el autodenominado “Eje de la Resistencia”, una serie de grupos insurgentes y aliados en todo Oriente Medio destinado a contrarrestar a Estados Unidos e Israel, también posee una vasta riqueza y participaciones en Irán. Además, controla el arsenal de misiles balísticos del país.
___
Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Sri Lanka dicen que barco de la Armada iraní se estaba hundiendo. Al menos 32 tripulantes son hospitalizados
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka dicen que barco de la Armada iraní se estaba hundiendo. Al menos 32 tripulantes son hospitalizados.
Visualizing The Generation Gap In TV Consumption
Visualizing The Generation Gap In TV Consumption
Perhaps the main threat to “traditional” television isn’t that Americans stopped watching video content, it’s that video is everywhere.
Young Americans in particular tend to get their video fix in the “snack aisle”, i.e. on TikTok, Instagram or YouTube, where shorts, reels, highlight clips or whatever the algorithm serves up next are taking up a growing share of screentime.
That helps explain why heavy TV use skews older.
As Statista’s Felix Richter shows in the chart below, based on data from Statista Consumer Insights, 47 percent of respondents aged 55 to 64 years old, the oldest group included in the survey, watch TV for more than 11 hours per week.
You will find more infographics at Statista
In the youngest group, those aged 18 to 24, only 22 percent of respondents said the same.
So while TV is still very much alive, it’s competing in an increasingly crowded video universe where the default for young people is no longer “what’s on tonight?” but rather “what’s next?”
Tyler Durden
Wed, 03/04/2026 – 04:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/visualizing-generation-gap-tv-consumption
El jefe de la judicatura iraní amenaza a “los que hagan o digan cualquier cosa” en apoyo de los ataques de EEUU e Israel
DUBÁI, Emiratos Árabes Unidos (AP) — El jefe de la judicatura iraní amenaza a “los que hagan o digan cualquier cosa” en apoyo de los ataques de EEUU e Israel.
Fin de la sintonía: La guerra con Irán muestra grietas en el apoyo mediático conservador a Trump
Por DAVID BAUDER, MEG KINNARD y ALI SWENSON
NUEVA YORK (AP) — Algunas de las críticas más duras que ha recibido el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, en los primeros días de la guerra con Irán llegaron de figuras mediáticas antes leales, mucho más acostumbradas a colmarlo de elogios.
Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly y Matt Walsh están entre quienes mostraron su descontento. La Casa Blanca lo ha notado y se ha puesto a la defensiva en redes sociales y entrevistas.
Estos críticos son una minoría en la esfera mediática proTrump, donde las principales estrellas de Fox News siguen siendo sus principales defensores. Pero sus palabras ilustran la influencia de los medios conservadores y lo valiosos que son para el presidente cuando todo funciona como una máquina bien engrasada y, por el controario, lo problemático que puede ser si se produce una fractura.
Gran parte de las críticas se han centrado en la influencia de Israel en la decisión de Trump de ir a la guerra. Carlson, la exestrella de Fox News que ha montado su propio medio independiente, dijo a ABC News durante el fin de semana que el ataque fue “absolutamente repugnante y malvado”.
“Es difícil decir esto, pero Estados Unidos no tomó la decisión”, afirmó Carlson en su podcast, aludiendo al primer ministro de Israel. “Benjamin Netanyahu la tomó”.
“Nadie debería tener que morir por un país extranjero”
Kelly, otra exconductora de Fox que ahora trabaja por su cuenta, comentó en su programa, acerca de las bajas estadounidenses, que “nadie debería tener que morir por un país extranjero. No creo que esos militares hayan muerto por Estados Unidos. Creo que murieron por Irán o por Israel”.
Las declaraciones del secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, antes de una sesión informativa en el Capitolio fueron un punto de fricción. Rubio dijo que Trump había dado luz verde a la operación sabiendo que Israel estaba preparado para atacar y que temía represalias de Irán contra bases estadounidenses en la región.
“Sabíamos que, si no íbamos tras ellos de manera preventiva, antes de que lanzaran esos ataques, sufriríamos más bajas”, señaló Rubio. El presidente de la Cámara de Representantes, Mike Johnson, apuntó que, si la Casa Blanca no hubiera actuado, los legisladores se habrían preguntado por qué.
Walsh, presentador de The Daily Wire, escribió en la red social X que Rubio estaba “diciéndonos sin rodeos que estamos en una guerra con Irán porque Israel nos obligó. Esto es, básicamente, lo peor que podría haber dicho”.
Trump le dijo a la periodista Rachael Bade en una entrevista que no creía que las opiniones de Carlson y Kelly fueran compartidas por su base de seguidores. “Creo que MAGA es Trump”, manifestó refiriéndose al movimiento Make America Great Again (Hagamos grande a Estados Unidos otra vez). “MAGA no son los otros dos”.
La exrepresentante Marjorie Taylor Greene, quien se ha forjado una imagen de influencer y figura mediática desde su amargo alejamiento de la órbita de Trump, dijo en el podcast de Kelly que estaba furiosa por la acción militar de Estados Unidos. “Make America Great Again (… ) se suponía que era Estados Unidos primero, no Israel primero”, apuntó Greene.
¿Volverán los seguidores de Trump al redil?
Trump probablemente tiene razón al pensar que la mayoría de sus seguidores volverán al redil si están descontentos con el ataque a Irán, dijo Jason Zengerle, autor de “Hated By All the Right People: Tucker Carlson and the Unraveling of the Conservative Mind”. Dada la coherencia de sus opiniones sobre el tema, Carlson es probablemente el más destacado de los críticos conservadores del presidente, agregó.
“Si la guerra sale mal, creo que eso refuerza la posición de alguien como Tucker”, indicó. “De todos modos, todo esto es un debate sobre lo que pasará cuando Trump ya no esté”.
El apoyo de los medios conservadores a Trump ya presentaba grietas antes del conflicto de Irán, especialmente por las amplias y enmarañadas narrativas en torno al informe Epstein. Pero las críticas de esta semana desataron una sorprendente acritud interna. Ben Shapiro, de “The Daily Wire”, calificó a Kelly de “sumamente inconsistente” y cobarde. Elisabeth Hasselbeck arremetió contra Kelly por su sugerencia de que los militares estadounidenses murieron por Israel. “¿Cómo te atreves?”, preguntó Hasselbeck el martes en “The View”.
Sean Hannity, de Fox News, apuntó que Carlson “no es la persona que conocí cuando estaba en Fox”. Kelly calificó a Hannity como un adulador que “nunca diría nada que no fuera para alabar a Donald Trump”.
Conviene recordar que la mayoría del contenido que los lectores y telespectadores ven en la prensa conservadora respalda a Trump. Howard Polskin, editor del boletín The Righting, estimó el martes que alrededor del 95% de lo que ha monitoreado en webs está del lado del presidente. “Trump se mantiene firme ante Irán”, tituló The American Spectator.
Los rostros más populares de Fox News —que es todavía el medio de referencia entre los conservadores— siguen apoyándolo. Hannity, Brian Kilmeade y Mark Levin estuvieron entre los más vehementes antes y después del ataque. “El presidente ha mostrado más valentía y este Pentágono, el Pentágono de Pete Hegseth, ha vuelto a actuar de forma brillante”, aseveró Kilmeade, copresentador de “Fox & Friends”.
“Creo que MAGA le da el beneficio de la duda, sin duda”, dijo el martes en su podcast Sean Spicer, secretario de prensa de la Casa Blanca durante la primera parte del primer mandato de Trump. “Creo que ha acumulado muchísima credibilidad con la base (…) Miren, ustedes tienen un trastorno de estrés postraumático por muchos de nuestros líderes anteriores, en especial por Irak y Afganistán, que solo conocen guerras interminables, y lo entiendo. Pero este presidente ya ha demostrado dos veces que sabe lo que está haciendo”.
Críticas a la guerra provocan reproche específico de la Casa Blanca
Los podcasts de influencers que ayudaron a acercar a muchos hombres jóvenes al bando de Trump durante la campaña de 2024 han permanecido en gran medida en silencio hasta ahora.
Algunas de las críticas vertidas por Walsh esta semana parecieron molestar tanto que obtuvieron un reproche específico de la secretaria de prensa de la Casa Blanca, Karoline Leavitt.
“Hasta ahora hemos escuchado que, aunque matamos a todo el régimen iraní, esta no fue una guerra de cambio de régimen”, escribió Walsh el lunes. “Y aunque destruimos su programa nuclear, tuvimos que hacerlo precisamente por su programa nuclear. Y aunque Irán no estaba planeando ataques contra Estados Unidos, también podría haberlo hecho, dependiendo de a quién le pregunte. Y aunque no estamos librando esta guerra para liberar al pueblo iraní, ahora son libres, o podrían serlo, dependiendo de quién tome el poder, y no tenemos idea de quién será. El mensaje sobre esto es, por decirlo suavemente, confuso”.
Leavitt publicó una extensa respuesta en X explicando los argumentos de Trump. “En pocas palabras”, escribió, “el régimen terrorista iraní no diría que sí a la paz”.
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Kinnard informó desde Washington.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
