Polygraph

Iraq is the top provider of oil to California.

Posted by The Dan Bongino Show, Checked

Polygraph verdictMixed
Sources
2 contradict2 support2 context
Said
1 time·
Confidence
60%
The Dan Bongino ShowOct 16, 2026
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74 claimsThe check →

The claim that Iraq is California's top oil provider is only partly supported.

This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.

What was said

… again, you look at oil: by some measures, we have the second largest oil reserves in the world, except the people in charge are leaving it in the ground, destroying jobs here in California. And so we are now importing nearly 80% of the oil that we use, including our top provider right now is Iraq in the Middle East. It's insane, but the other thing behind me can see is how we're closing this campaign with that very simple message: we've done it the same way for 16 years. Isn't it time to do something different? Just try it. …
The Dan Bongino Show · · from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Contradicts. The California Energy Commission's 2025 foreign crude import data ranks Brazil first (17.99%) and Iraq second (17.53%), and another analysis of the same 2025 data also places Brazil ahead of Iraq.[2][4]

Supports. The CEC data for 2024 ranked Iraq first (21.26%) among foreign sources of California crude, and a 2025 Senate analysis of 2024 data called Iraq the largest source.[2][3]

Supports. Kpler data cited in May 2026 reported Iraq supplying about 21% of California's foreign oil in March and April 2026, which would be the largest share if Brazil was lower, but the source does not state Iraq was top.[5]

Context. Iraq's share of California's foreign crude fell during 2025 and 2026 as Middle East supply was disrupted by the Iran war, and PPIC reports Middle East oil imports dropped about 55% as of July 2026.[1][6]

Sources

6 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 primary, 3 not rated

  1. 1California hit by much higher oil prices as Iran war stresses ...reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
  2. 2Foreign Sources of Crude Oil Imports to Californiaenergy.ca.gov · primary source · cited for: contradicts, supports
  3. 3[PDF] SENATE HEALTHseuc.senate.ca.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
  4. 4LIGHTS OUT. GAS UP. CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY EMERGENCYstatic1.squarespace.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
  5. 5California Braces for Oil Shortfall After Gulf Shipments Haltgoverning.com · not rated · cited for: supports
  6. 6California's Trade Is Stable amid Policy Shifts and War in Iranppic.org · not rated · cited for: context

Where this claim was made

Said in 1 published post

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