# Strait talk: Why the oil crisis is getting worse

An episode of [The Indicator from Planet Money](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1320118593), 17 Sep 2026, 8:34.

Audio: https://prfx.byspotify.com/e/play.podtrac.com/npr-510325/npr.simplecastaudio.com/0a4e8d3b-fe23-4948-9e39-20fcf16f9331/episodes/dc30a586-2b4d-4575-8b61-3059dc99dab2/audio/128/default.mp3?awCollectionId=0a4e8d3b-fe23-4948-9e39-20fcf16f9331&awEpisodeId=dc30a586-2b4d-4575-8b61-3059dc99dab2&feed=IFy3imsg&t=podcast&e=nx-s1-5971249&p=510325&d=514&size=8233465

A vital artery for Saudi oil exports is under siege and it’s not the Strait of Hormuz. Today on the show, we explain what’s going on in the Bab el-Mandeb shipping lane connected to the Red Sea, why it’s important, and why the global oil crisis is poised to get even worse. Fact checking by Sierra Juarez. Your Next Listen — Fixing the oil crisis might not fix the Persian Gulf Connect with The Indicator — Sign up for The Indicator’s weekly newsletter! — Buy the Planet Money book — Find our socials, YouTube and more! — For sponsor-free episodes, subscribe to NPR+ Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

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