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On NewsNation’s Katie Pavlich Tonight, former senior economic adviser to President Trump Stephen Moore didn’t mince words: “Iran has become a quagmire.” He blamed that chaos for wrecking a June forecast that gas would fall to about $3.50 a gallon, and he used the moment to praise a “drill, baby, drill” approach tied to President Trump’s energy policy. It wasn’t gentle analysis — it was a political wake-up call dressed up as economic commentary.
“Iran has become a quagmire” — what Moore meant
Moore’s short line captures a lot. By calling Iran a quagmire, he meant the conflict is messy, unpredictable, and directly driving energy market anxiety. When a hot spot halfway around the world threatens oil shipping or prompts supply worries, U.S. pump prices react. That’s not rocket science. What is worth noting is who Moore blamed for making the market harder to read: geopolitical instability, not domestic production problems.
Gas prices, missed predictions, and market reality
Back in June Moore said that, if the Iran situation eased, the national gas average could fall to roughly $3.50 a gallon. Instead, Americans are paying more than that — national averages are up, hovering above $4 a gallon. Moore used his missed forecast to underline a simple point: foreign crises matter. Markets don’t care about earnest wishful thinking from pundits or politicians. They care about barrels, routes, and risk.
“Drill, baby, drill” and President Trump’s energy policy
Moore’s plug for “drill, baby, drill” is no accident. His argument is that higher U.S. oil and gas production blunts price shocks when the world goes sideways. The United States is producing at high levels, and that matters. If you want lower prices at the pump, you want reliable supply — not virtue-signaling bans or promises to cripple domestic energy jobs. That’s the practical case for a pro-production energy policy, and Moore made it bluntly.
What voters should take away
The takeaway is straightforward: global instability can spike fuel prices, and domestic energy output is insurance. Voters who care about pocketbook issues should pay attention when commentators like Moore connect geopolitics to gasoline prices and energy policy. Skeptics can roll their eyes, but when the bill at the pump arrives, you don’t get to vote on pundit predictions — you only pay. Sound energy policy should be about keeping that bill as low as possible, and right now the “drill” argument deserves a hearing.
