In today’s Politics Chat: Since September 8, Iran-backed Houthi forces have seized much of Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including the port of Mocha, about 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening a second major oil chokepoint alongside the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude jumped to around 106 to 109 dollars a barrel, and diesel hit a record 6 dollars a gallon, up from 3.70 dollars a year ago. CNN reported the United States already has about 100 advisers on the ground assisting Saudi forces against the Houthis. Trump's approval rating has fallen to an average of 32 percent. At a nearly two-hour rally, Trump promised every American adult a 5,000 dollar check if Republicans keep control of Congress, a proposal that would cost about 1.3 trillion dollars and is illegal to offer as an inducement to vote. The national debt has passed 40 trillion dollars. The New York Times reported that Vice President JD Vance opposed escalating the Iran conflict from the start. Elon Musk's website, VoteSafe[dot]org, is collecting personal data for targeted political advertising. Politics Chat is recorded live on YouTube and Facebook every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 pm Maine time (3 PM PT / 6 PM ET). Watch today's recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/MThDbwLkwHs?si=gvG18ovKn18OXf90 Get full, free access to Letters from an American here: https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe You can also find me: Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hcrichardson.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathercoxrichardson/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathercoxrichardson/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hcrichardson Get full access to Letters from an American at heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe (https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)