Trump Threatens ‘Economic D-Day’ Against Iran | Balance of Power 08/20/2026

"Balance of Power: Late Edition" focuses on the intersection of politics and global business. On today's show, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York says the US should "hold the Chinese to account" for facilitating Iran's illicit oil trade as President Donald Trump pushes an economic "D-Day" against Tehran. Josh Lipsky, Vice President & Chair of International Economics at the Atlantic Council, says Beijing is betting President Donald Trump wants to make a "big show" of economic pressure on Iran but will stop short of squeezing Chinese banks. Dana Stroul, Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says imposing more punishing economic pressure on Iran will depend on cooperation from partners including the UAE and China. Chapters: 00:01:27 Bloomberg’s Jeff Mason on Scott Bessent’s Treasury Strategy 00:03:57 Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) on the $40 Trillion National Debt 00:08:24 Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) on AI Data Centers, Energy Demand & Local Opposition 00:10:32 Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) on China, Iranian Oil & Sanctions 00:12:53 Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) on The CLARITY Act & Crypto Regulation 00:16:49 Power Moves: Top Financial Moves 00:18:56 Josh Lipsky, Vice President & Chair of International Economics at the Atlantic Council, on US Debt & Global Investor Confidence 00:21:19 Josh Lipsky on Trump’s Economic Pressure Strategy Against Iran 00:23:42 Josh Lipsky on US Canada Tariff Negotiations 00:26:50 Dana Stroul, Senior Fellow and Director of Research at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, on Trump’s Iran Economic Strategy 00:28:17 Dana Stroul on UAE Cuts Economic Ties With Iran 00:30:30 Dana Stroul on Iran’s Military Rebuilding & US Munitions 00:32:00 Dana Stroul on US Aircraft Carriers & the Costs of the Iran Conflict 00:34:56 Bloomberg’s Tyler Kendall Interviews Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev on the CLARITY Act & Trump Meeting 00:42:46 Political Panel Reacts: Can the CLARITY Act Pass?, White House Legislative Affairs Shake-Up, Could the Senate End Up 50-50? -------- More on Bloomberg Television and Markets Like this video? Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss any videos from Bloomberg Markets & Finance: https://tinyurl.com/ysu5b8a9 Visit http://www.bloomberg.com for business news & analysis, up-to-the-minute market data, features, profiles and more. Connect with Bloomberg Television on: X: https://twitter.com/BloombergTV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloombergTelevision Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergtv/ Connect with Bloomberg Business on: X: https://twitter.com/business Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloombergbusiness Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloombergbusiness/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bloombergbusiness?lang=en Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/bloomberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomberg-news/ More from Bloomberg: Bloomberg Radio: https://twitter.com/BloombergRadio Bloomberg Surveillance: https://twitter.com/bsurveillance Bloomberg Politics: https://twitter.com/bpolitics Bloomberg Originals: https://twitter.com/bbgoriginals Watch more on YouTube: Bloomberg Technology: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergTechnology Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/@business Bloomberg Quicktake: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergQuicktake Bloomberg Espanol: https://www.youtube.com/@bloomberg_espanol Bloomberg Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@BloombergPodcasts