Trump Sold 17.8 Million Barrels from Strategic Petroleum Reserve Risking Depletion
"I found out yesterday that he sold something in the neighborhood of 17.8 million barrels of oil. Just this within the last week as an effort to suppress the prices of oil, to keep it below $110 per barrel. At this rate, our Strategic Petroleum Reserve will probably be exhausted by the end of July, beginning of August."
About this episode
Hosts Clayton and Natalie Morris of Redacted presented a two-hour deep dive into escalating conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, featuring retired US Army Colonel Douglas McGregor as the primary guest. McGregor delivered stark warnings that Russia is preparing what he called annihilating strikes to end the Ukraine war, with forces massed in Belarus and eastern Ukraine preparing to seize Odessa, Kharkov, and potentially Kiev. He estimated Ukrainian death tolls have reached 1.8 million and stated that Foreign Minister Lavrov has warned diplomats to evacuate ahead of unprecedented Russian military operations. The most controversial segment came when McGregor accused Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu of exercising veto authority over Trump administration foreign policy, claiming Trump cannot act independently on Iran because Israeli billionaires who funded his campaign threaten to withdraw support if he defies Netanyahu. McGregor also revealed Trump has sold 17.8 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in recent weeks, potentially exhausting it by summer, and warned inflation could hit 6% triggering financial system collapse. He predicted a 36% global economic contraction worse than the Great Depression, noting America's 125% debt-to-GDP ratio leaves no cushion. The hosts spent considerable time documenting US-backed attacks killing over 100 civilians in single incidents across the Middle East spanning decades, including the 1988 downing of Iranian civilian Flight 655 killing 290 people, arguing Americans are propagandized to view Iran as terrorist while ignoring US-funded massacres. McGregor concluded that only popular uprising triggered by economic collapse could break the cycle, as 90% of US spending comes from 10% of the population in an unsustainable wealth distribution.
Key takeaways
- McGregor claimed Netanyahu has veto authority over Trump administration decisions and Israeli billionaires control the president through financial leverage and campaign funding.
- Russia is massing forces in Belarus and eastern Ukraine preparing to seize Odessa, Kharkov, and Kiev with annihilating strikes after Lavrov warned diplomats to evacuate.
- McGregor estimated 1.8 million Ukrainians have died in the war, far exceeding official Western casualty reports and attributing deaths to US-European enabling of Kiev.
- Trump sold 17.8 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in one week and could deplete reserves by August trying to suppress oil prices below $110.
- McGregor warned of potential 36% global economic contraction exceeding the Great Depression driven by resource disruptions and America's 125% debt-to-GDP ratio.
- Morris documented US-backed attacks killing 100-plus civilians per incident including 1988 Iranian Flight 655 downing and 1991 Amiriyah shelter bombing killing hundreds.
- McGregor stated only economic collapse triggering popular revolt can change US policy as 90% of spending comes from 10% of population in unsustainable distribution.