Hanging By a Thread

 

Friends, DJT is not well pleased with the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran still claims to be in control, where they seem to be demanding tribute from anyone who wants to engage in lawful commerce, and where, in fact, almost no ships are passing, because of ongoing fear of Iranian aggression.  Trump says this situation is unacceptable, and he's right, so....what shall be done?  I bet our servicemen in the theater have some ideas!

 

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116377109535639790 

 

The Iranian leadership seems fairly oblivious to the immense damage that has already been done not only to the country's armed forces but also to the leadership class itself.  Do they really want to come back for more???  It's looking like they may believe their own propaganda that Trump is a weakling and the U.S. has been put in its place.  We may have to disabuse them of such notions!

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/09/centcom-chief-iran-has-suffered-a-generational-military-defeat-40-year-military-build-up-crushed-in-under-40-days/ 

Burying the Hatchet?

 

Friends, we now have a ceasefire of sorts in place with the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Basically, the U.S. has agreed to stop bombing Iran for 14 days, and Iran has promised to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (apparently under their supervision and subject to the payment of tribute to them).  Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to nothing and will carry on bombing Iran all it likes.  It doesn't sound like much of a basis for "peace" to me, but it is a basis for continued negotiations, about which DJT is surprisingly optimistic.  We shall see.  I guess Persian "civilization" gets a two-week reprieve, so good for them!

 

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116365796713313030 

 

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-2026-trump-deadline-latest-news?st=7o681D 

 

In other news, Marjorie Taylor Greene's successor will be...a Republican, and a much less crazy one than her (which admittedly is a low bar)!  This is good news.  We certainly don't need to be losing deep red districts to the dastardly Dems.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r40erdj6mo 

A Bridge Too Far?

 

Friends, we're now less than 24 hours from President Trump's deadline for Iran to accept a deal to end the war -- a deal that must include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz to traffic from all nations.  If Iran demurs, Trump has pledged to destroy all the country's bridges and power plants, rendering its military even more impotent and life for civilians close to unbearable.  Will Iran blink?  Will Trump back down?  Who can say...

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj8ep9w1pno 

 

There's an important caveat, however: the Strait of Hormuz isn't really "closed", at least not as much as many people assume.  Quite a few ships are transiting the Strait, and quite a few countries have been promised safe passage by the Iranians.  Needless to say, the U.S. and Israel aren't targeting anyone's commercial vessels.  Even Iran is still exporting oil!  This renders a lot of the handwringing over the global oil market somewhat phony, mind you.  Prices are high, but they haven't skyrocketed, in part because the supply shortage isn't nearly as severe as it could be -- and perhaps will be, if Iran's civilian infrastucture is obliterated, and the mullahs take the gloves off and try to close the Strait completely.  If I had to bet, I'd wager that the Strait will be more open a month from now than it is today, but I could be wrong.  Stay tuned.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79jqx1xdy9o 

Happy Easter, One and All!

 

Friends, here's hoping the "good news" of Easter (and every day, come to think of it) has reached your receptive ears, which may or may not be bunny ears -- I don't judge!

 

In other news, one U.S. serviceman got the best Easter present of all: he was rescued in the wilds of Iran by his brave comrades and thus won't be falling into the clutches of fanatical Islamists.  Hooray!

 

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116351956955900185 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2vpz1kwreo 

H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks!!

 

Friends, the United States and Iran are both threatening to unleash "hell" on one another, which, in the case of Iran, seems speculative at best, since they can't even deliver an explosive payload anywhere they aim at.  Missile fragments, maybe.  Be that as it may, the world thinks Iran is "winning", because the world hates Donald Trump so much that it's rooting for the theocratic loons instead -- and of course the global media tells them that, indeed, the U.S. is sinking ever deeper into a "quagmire".  Well, maybe at some point these talking heads, and the mullahs, will wake up and smell the coffee.  Alas, it probably won't be today.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y90jl8veyo 

 

In other news, the latest Newsmakers show is the usual tour de force of exquisite analysis.  Brian and I cover everything from A.I. to Western security arrangements.  Don't miss out!

 

https://wysl.podbean.com/e/newsmakers-4-4-26/ 

Bondi Out, Zeldin In?

 

Friends, today President Trump fired Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General.  Apparently he is strongly considering EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, a fellow New Yorker, as her replacement.  First, allow me to state the obvious: if Pam Bondi was the wrong person to lead the DOJ, then ultimately her selection reflects badly on the man who chose her...whomever that may be.  I really couldn't say.  Second, from my perspective, the second term of DJT is looking a little more like his first term each and every day, and that isn't a compliment.  Turnover is never a good thing.  It shows indecisiveness and its begets chaos.  Third, a lot of us New Yorkers think highly of Lee Zeldin, who came close to winning the governorship here, and it's hard to imagine, if we're to be honest, that he could do any worse than Pam Bondi has in holding the Dems' and leftists' feet to the fire, legally speaking.  Literally no one on the Left has been convicted of anything under Pam Bondi, which is, well, kind of an opportunity area for her successor.  So, while I am troubled by these developments, I'm also hopeful that ultimately the DOJ will perform better in the months and years ahead.  To be clear, the goal is not to weaponize the justice system to persecute our opponents.  The goal is to remind the Democrats that they too are subject to the law, which they could be forgiven for forgetting, since all of them have been treated like they have blanket immunity for any and all crimes under red and blue presidents alike.  It's high time, in short, that our criminal justice system started to work for the American people, and not just for the left-leaning establishment.  Those are my two cents.

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pam-bondi-already-fired-attorney-general-cabinet-official-teed-up-replacement-sources#431 

In Scoring Position

 

Friends, President Trump tonight addressed the nation and attempted to justify and explain his campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran.  He did a passable job of it, I must say, but I do question why he's doing it now instead of at the outset of the conflict.  As I've said on numerous occasions, President Trump underutilizes the primetime address, which is a great way to end-run the mainstream media and talk directly to the American people.  Be that as it may, better a late defense of his administration's approach on Iran than none at all.  I naturally agree with almost everything he said.  The problem is that no one, except his most ardent supporters, will be listening.  Oh well.  The fact remains that, as per Trump's remarks, the attacks on Iran will continue until he feels that our objectives have been met -- and, once the campaign wraps up, America's political dynamics, as well as the stock market and oil prices, will be back to square one in short order.  In the meantime, the threat posed by Iran will have been massively reduced, and we will all benefit, for decades to come, from that achievement.  Thank heavens for that!

 

https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2026/04/01/watch-live-donald-trump-delivers-primetime-address-on-iran/ 

 

In other news, Trump is saying that the reluctance of our NATO allies to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz is causing him to doubt the wisdom of our membership in NATO.  I should hope so!!!  The Western Alliance, if we're to be honest, has been a one-way street since its inception, and our European "partners" are determined to keep it that way.  It's high time, in my humble opinion, that we went our separate ways and challenged the Europeans to provide for their own defense...and to go and secure their own oil, if it comes to that.  Unfortunately, I very much doubt that President Trump will have the courage of his convictions when it comes to NATO, given the establishment's unanimous devotion to it, but I would love to be proven wrong.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79je4vldq5o 

 

In yet other news, NASA's Artemis II mission, which involves the first manned flight to the Moon since 1972, is currently underway after a picture-perfect launch this evening.  Godspeed!  This is yet another powerful demonstration of America's world-beating technology and gumption, and I couldn't be more pleased and proud!

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cwydnrmggnno 

 

Finally, in a related development, Elon Musk's SpaceX, which has established its dominance in the space launch industry, is about to go public, which hopefully will mean even more exciting progress in space exploration and exploitation, and will almost certainly spell even greater wealth for Musk himself.  Assuming he contributes a healthy share of it to Republican candidates in 2026 and beyond, I say: well done, Elon!!!  Ad astra per aspera.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2k35lg92dpo 

My Wish Has Been Granted!

 

Friends, just when you were sure you were living in "the best of times", they go and get even better!  For one thing, I asked for "more kings", and it turns out that Britain's King Charles III is about to arrive for a state visit.  Marvelous!  Will he shower DJT with titles, awards, and fawning praise?  I can only assume he will.  Might DJT crown himself emperor to mark the occasion and one-up his regal visitor?  Could be!  Let's cling to hope, shall we?

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w3dpgjzj8o 

 

But there's more!!!  Eric Trump has unveiled plans for the Trump Presidential Library in Miami, which looks less like a library and more like an opulent futuristic skyscraper.  I know I would enjoy visiting it someday.  Of course, if the Dems have their way, after he leaves office Trump will be locked away in a Supermax prison, but that's only if they get their grubby mits on the White House again, and I trust my fellow Americans won't let that happen.  Well, I hope they won't!

 

https://x.com/EricTrump/status/2038773279788331022 

More Kings, Please!

 

Friends, in the wake of the latest "No Kings" protests, only one conclusion is possible: a Trumpian monarchy would be infinitely preferable to any "democracy" that empowered the sort of people who attend No Kings rallies.  I jest (or do I?), but they were a sorry bunch.  Good natured, for the most part, but entirely captive to a series of delusions (of the sort spoon-fed to elderly white liberals on certain "news" networks that need not be named).  Ah well.  That's the American way: we're free to trumpet our ignorance to our hearts' content!  Luckily, these protests will have precisely zero impact on the governance of the country, although the midterms are a different story, and the sheer energy the Left is manifesting could be consequential there.

 

https://nypost.com/2026/03/28/us-news/no-kings-protests-turn-violent-as-unruly-mob-waving-palestinian-flags-hurl-cement-blocks-at-dhs-agents/ 

 

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/josephchalfant/2026/03/28/the-no-kings-protests-were-even-more-insane-than-you-wouldve-thought-n2673597 

 

In other news, President Trump is talking openly about limited special operations missions inside Iran, and about seizing control of Kharg Island, which would effectively give the U.S. control over Iran's oil exports.  Of course, arguably U.S. naval dominance already gives us control over, well, everyone's oil exports, to the extent that we choose to exercise said control.  The sooner the Iranians figure this out, the better!  Now, is all this talk of boots on the ground mere gamemanship that is designed to get the Iranians to concede more in negotiations?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  Quite possibly even Trump doesn't know the answer, as yet.

 

 https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c8jke9v9xv9t

 

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-middle-east-news-updates?st=4ZFkzJ 

Lèse-Majesté

 

Friends, if the legions of protestors tomorrow are to be believed (a big "if"), then our country has already achieved the pinacle of perfection: we've made the great and glorious Donald J. Trump our King-Emperor, and thus we've left democracy in our regal dust.  Oh, if only it were so!  The powers of President Trump seem all too limited, from what I can tell.  He doesn't even command respect, let alone obedience.  Be that as it may, I wish the lefties a pleasant day of kvetching, which is surely their favorite pastime. 

 

Meanwhile, President Trump is trying to solve problems created by Democrats, as per usual.  He's ordered that TSA agents should be paid, despite the partial government shutdown.  Can he do that?  Probably not, since liberal judges won't let him do anything, but I applaud him for making the effort!

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/03/27/no-kings-protest-trump-iran/89331992007/ 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33l4j03kr3o