Hogg kicks things off with a familiar refrain, lamenting that young Americans were promised “no more forever wars,” lower prices, and even the release of Epstein files — only to claim, dramatically, “we have seen him go back on every single one of those promises.”
Fine. That’s a political argument. But then comes the pivot from opinion into… whatever this was.
“Our entire lives… our country has been at wars in the Middle East that have gotten us nowhere but more in debt,” Hogg says, before winding up for the big swing: “anybody with an elementary school understanding of foreign policy could have told you the Strait of Hormuz was going to get shut down and that is exactly what happened.”
And that’s where the wheels don’t just come off — they roll into oncoming traffic. Because when pressed — repeatedly — on a very basic question, Hogg faceplants.
“Who controls the Strait right now?”
It should be a layup if you’re going to lecture the nation about “elementary school” geopolitics. Instead, Hogg fumbles, deflects, and finally blurts out: “We control the Strait. We are in charge of this conflict right now.”
CNN’s Scott Jennings, playing the role of the adult in the room, doesn’t even need to overcomplicate things. He just keeps asking the same simple question. Who controls it? Hogg never lands an answer grounded in reality.
Let’s linger on that line: “anybody with an elementary school understanding of foreign policy…” That’s the kind of comment you make when you’re absolutely sure you’re about to dunk. Instead, it lands like a self-own for the ages.
Because the basics here aren’t obscure. The Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints — is influenced heavily by Iran, not “controlled” by the United States in the way Hogg casually asserts. The U.S. Navy patrols and protects shipping lanes, sure. That’s not the same thing as being “in charge of the conflict” or “controlling the strait.”
That distinction? It’s not graduate-level foreign policy. It’s the kind of nuance you’d expect from, well… someone with at least the understanding Hogg claims everyone else should have. What really stands out isn’t just that Hogg is wrong — it’s how confidently he’s wrong.
He accuses others of using “last week’s talking points,” then proceeds to deliver a grab bag of his own, stitched together without much regard for accuracy. When challenged, he doesn’t clarify or correct — he doubles down.
Meanwhile, Jennings keeps it simple, grounded, and — crucially — factual. That contrast is brutal.
Hogg is speaking in sweeping, emotional generalities about generational frustration and endless wars. Jennings is asking basic, verifiable questions about reality on the ground. One is arguing vibes; the other is dealing in facts.
Guess which one holds up better.
It’s almost too easy. Watch the smackdown on Hogg right after he says “Anyone with an elementary school understanding of foreign policy could have told you…” pic.twitter.com/J0K0gxVzsd
— thedailybs w/ Snerdley (@thedailybs_Bo) April 16, 2026
