nothing in the news cycle is there BECAUSE it happened. To assume that is to misunderstand what the news cycle is. You wouldn't expect a work of fiction to include raw factual details of real world events would you? You wouldn't turn on Eastenders or Bridgerton to find out what just happened today outside your immediate circle. Because you know it's not their job to inform you of things like that. And you know a piece of fiction based on real world events is going to parse those events inline with the effect the author wants to have on his/her audience. It will simplify, merge characters, create drama, conflict, completely reimagine outcomes and totally invent characters - because it's designed to entertain, not inform. Think of the news cycle like that. Its carefully curated and managed storylines are about creating effect not reporting events. They're woven with care to keep you hooked on discovering "what happens next", anxious, invested, committed to a hoped-for outcome, or fearful, panicked and looking for reassurance. And if real-life appears in them it's been edited, processed, given a meaning it never had, narratives it never contained and - yes, even people that never existed - in order to continue the all important conscious and subliminal messaging.

"Economic damage will continue after the Strait of Hormuz is open [...] People might change their habits". Translation: We will keep on artificially damaging the economy UNTIL people change their habits.